The Emperor's Silver: Agent of Rome 5 by Nick Brown Read Free Book Online Page A

And remember you’ve taken an oath to Aurelian. We should all consider ourselves lucky; we’ve not had such a capable character in the purple for quite a while.’
    ‘Do you think he’s seen the black stone yet?’ asked Indavara.
    ‘Probably.’
    ‘Perhaps he’ll see the god Elagabal like we did.’
    Cassius didn’t reply. He’d tried to forget the vision he’d had that day in the canyon and wished he’d never told Indavara about it.
    ‘You saw him too,’ said the bodyguard. ‘I dream of it sometimes. I dream of him fighting with my Fortuna.’
    ‘It was our minds playing tricks, that’s all.’
    ‘Of course,’ said Indavara, rolling his eyes. ‘You know everything. About everything.’
    ‘As I said at the time: no – just more than you.’
    ‘Very funny.’
    ‘Move over.’
    They were heading up a slight slope and Cassius had just spotted a cavalryman coming over the rise. The rider carried a scarlet and gold standard and was leading a squad of ten. They seemed to be well equipped for a long journey: the saddles were loaded with fodder, water skins and equipment which thumped and jangled as they trotted past. Each man also had a yellow oval shield with the same pattern of black swirls surrounding the bronze boss.
    These were not the first soldiers they had seen; there had been two more units of cavalry and a century heading south. Cassius didn’t like ignoring them; he enjoyed the camaraderie of greeting fellow soldiers on the road – seeing his crest, they generally assumed he was a centurion. But for the moment it seemed wise to draw as little attention as possible so he had forgone anything that identified him as a military man. He would have to wear his uniform in Tripolis while undertaking the investigation but (again at the suggestion of Abascantius) would continue to operate under an assumed name.
    As the last of the cavalrymen passed them, they reached the top of the slope. Ahead, the road cut through thick scrub and olive groves, following the gentle curve of the coast before reaching Tripolis, most of which seemed to be crammed on to a promontory jutting out into the sea. It was a medium-sized city, not as large as some of those they had passed through like Sidon and Berytus. Cassius had no idea why the Emperor had decided to commission a new imperial mint there.
    ‘Four to go,’ said Indavara, spying another milestone. ‘Hope there’s some good eating round here. I’m starving.’

    After obtaining some directions from a pair of legionaries patrolling the road, they headed straight for the nearest army way station. It was currently occupied by a party of surveyors, so while Simo went to find alternative accommodation, Cassius and Indavara were assigned a young lad to escort them to the mint. It was less than a mile away, on the eastern edge of the town in an area of factories and workshops. Unlike the other buildings, the mint was surrounded by a twelve-foot brick wall topped by spikes and guarded by a squad of legionaries. Confident he could find his way back, Cassius dismissed the lad and they waited outside the entrance for Quentin.
    ‘Looks just like the one in Antioch,’ said Indavara, examining the walls.
    ‘Of course – you were with Abascantius when he thought Governor Gordio was mixed up in the theft of the Persian flag. Gods, what a mess he made of that. Fortunately, I was around to pick up the pieces.’
    ‘By getting yourself captured?’
    ‘All part of the plan,’ said Cassius with a grin.
    He let out a long breath and wished he’d brought his hat with him. He was wearing a thin, sleeveless tunic and his lightest boots but was still sweating. ‘Hope Simo’s found somewhere close to the coast, bit of sea air would be nice.’
    One of the eight legionaries on duty opened the small iron gate next to the main entrance and a slight man of about forty appeared. Cassius’s skin was on the fair side, but this fellow’s was even paler and he grimaced as he was struck