The Crossroads Brotherhood by Robert Fabbri Read Free Book Online Page A

then?’
    ‘Well after that she started saying that I must be very important to have that sort of information and how much important men like me excited her…What she can do with her—’
    ‘I know mate,’ Magnus cut in, ‘I’ve had her too. Just tell me the part I need to know.’
    ‘Sorry. Well she carried on asking me about the Cohort and the raid … you know … now and again … until I told her that it wasn’t to be the first raid, there was going to be one in three days time on an establishment on the Viminal owned by easterners.’
    ‘And she swallowed it?’
    Aelianus raised his eyebrows and nodded, grinning. ‘Yeah, all of it.’
    Magnus slapped him on the shoulder. ‘You did well, my friend, I hope you’ll be as successful with the fire.’
    ‘It won’t be a problem Magnus but I’d appreciate a couple of your lads to help me spread some oil.’
    ‘Fine. Come over tomorrow and collect your money.’
    ‘I’m looking forward to it.’
    ‘Oh, and leave those handcarts here, mate.’
    ‘They’re no good to you – they’ve got Cohort insignia branded all over them.’
    ‘I know.’ Magnus turned to his counsellor. ‘Brother, we’ve got work to do. Get a couple of the lads for our good friend here and see him out, and then slowly get the rest moving up to the Lamp-makers’ street in twos and threes. I’ll meet you there in a couple of hours.’
    T HE TWO DOORMEN outside Terentius’ establishment were equally as large as those guarding the Albanians’ place. Magnus, however, had nothing to fear from them as he and his party approached the house awhile later.
    ‘Evening lads, your master’s expecting me,’ he said striding up the worn steps to the door of the elegant marble-fronted house. Torches attached to each of the two columns of the portico illuminated the well-crafted drawing of an erect phallus, above the door, succinctly advertising the business transacted within.
    The doormen immediately stepped aside, one giving a coded knock on the door as he did so. The viewing slot slid back and a pair of eyes perused Magnus for a few moments before the door opened.
    ‘One of you show my boys around the back,’ Magnus ordered, pointing down the steps where Marius and his mates stood with the handcart. Behind them the inevitable night-time parade of carts and wagons rumbled past in both directions. The shouts of the drivers and the clatter of hooves and iron-rimmed wheels filled the cold air, and the moonlit darkness was given substance by wisps of smoke and the breath of both man and beast.
    Once satisfied that his brothers were being taken care of, Magnus walked through the open door into a small vestibule lined with cloaks. He recognised one as that of a Praetorian. He stepped out into an atrium furnished with couches, some empty and some holding youths in various states of undress. Oil-lamps and the orange flicker of flaming sconces, gave the room a feeling of intimacy and homeliness. The sweet chords of a lyre blended with the gentle patter of a couple of fountains at either end of the impluvium and any conversation between the boys was conducted in a soft murmur.
    A slave in his late twenties, evidently too old to be of interest to most of the clientele but strikingly good-looking nonetheless, proffered Magnus a tray holding cups of wines. He took one at random as Terentius appeared at the far end of the room.
    ‘You honour me with your presence,’ the whore-boy master said formally, walking elegantly through the room, one foot placed exactly before the other, dressed in a woman’s stola . His long auburn hair fell loose to below his shoulders, half-concealing two drop-pearl earrings. Kohl lined his sea-grey eyes, rouge delicately enhanced his cheeks and his lips were painted a soft pinkish-red.
    Really not bad at all, Magnus found himself thinking as he downed his wine, if you like that sort of thing. ‘Thank you Terentius,’ he replied, placing his empty cup back on the tray and