Khalima asked a question in Nabatean. The smaller man replied with a single word.
‘We wait,’ said the Saracen.
Cassius looked at Indavara. The bodyguard inspected the hooded duo, then checked outside to make sure no one had come around behind them. He kept his hand on his sword.
While they waited, Khalima sipped wine from a flask and started at every noise from outside. At one point they heard voices close by but soon realised it was just the children with the kitten. After a time they moved away.
A little later four more men arrived at the rear door in quick succession; one pair followed by another. Three of them conferred, then gestured for Khalima and his companions to approach.
Cassius followed the Saracen but stayed closer to Indavara. When they stopped, he realised that the large, well-armed men hanging back were bodyguards. One of the others was the elderly Uruwat; the other two ethnarchs Cassius had seen leading their tribesmen earlier in the day. They inspected him. The bodyguards inspected Indavara.
Then the tallest of the ethnarchs spoke to Cassius in Greek. ‘Are you brave or stupid?’
‘Probably a bit of both, but I’d err towards the latter.’
Only the tall Saracen smiled. ‘I could hardly believe my ears when Uruwat told us. Romans — here. I must admit I’m rather impressed. Are you a spy?’
‘Of sorts, I suppose.’
‘Except you’re not just here to spy, are you? If you were here to spy you’d be alone. You’re here to reclaim the stone for the Emperor. That’s why you have twenty men with you.’
At this point, Cassius couldn’t find a decent reason to lie. ‘An objective rather easier said than done.’
‘Certainly. But we’re sure that won’t stop you trying.’
Cassius turned to look at Khalima, who did not react.
‘We want you to go ahead with it,’ said Uruwat.
‘You will try?’ asked the tall man.
‘I don’t even-’
The third ethnarch spoke up. ‘You must make the attempt at the third hour of night.’
‘What? Why?’
‘Because that is the time at which we intend to strike,’ said the tall man. ‘The ensuing confusion will aid both groups.’
‘Strike? Groups? Sorry, I know Uruwat but-’
The tall man gestured to his right. ‘He is Mushannaf. I am Enzarri. At the third hour of night we are to attend a meeting with Ilaha and the other ethnarchs. After today, he will be expecting us to do his bidding and ride out with him tomorrow. Until tonight we will give him every possible signal that that is exactly what we intend to do.’
‘And your true intention?’
Enzarri glanced at each of his compatriots before answering. ‘We will kill him. We will kill him, and you will take the stone, and the Tanukh will be free of this madman.’
‘What makes you think Kalderon and the other ethnarchs will stand for it? Or the men? You were there today.’
At first, none of the ethnarchs spoke. Cassius wondered; did they believe in the power of the stone?
‘Cut the head off a snake, the body dies swiftly,’ said Uruwat.
‘And if you fail?’
‘We will not,’ said Mushannaf.
Uruwat held up a hand. ‘We cannot guarantee that.’ He turned to Cassius. ‘Even if Ilaha remains alive, with the stone gone, all will see him for what he truly is.’
‘And if I refuse?’
‘You could, of course,’ said Mushannaf. ‘But now that you know of our … treacherous intentions we couldn’t possibly let you leave this place alive.’ He nodded at Indavara. ‘Khalima tells me you’ve a good man there but I assure you he won’t fare well against our three.’
The bodyguards each took a step forward.
Enzarri looked around the ruined building in which they stood. ‘Dirty. Smelly. No man wants a sordid death.’
‘You will have some help,’ said Uruwat. ‘Khalima and his men will do all they can.’
Enzarri offered his forearm. ‘I believe this is how your people seal an agreement.’
Cassius could see no workable alternative.
Enzarri had a strong grip. ‘The third hour.’
‘The third hour.’
No one spoke until they reached the edge of the encampment.
‘By the great gods,’ said Cassius. ‘I did not expect that.’
‘Neither did I,’ replied Khalima. ‘By the way, I trust that this in no way affects our earlier agreement.’
Had it not been for the events of the last hour, Cassius might have laughed. ‘No.’
The Saracen scratched at his beard. ‘Now I’m even more glad I added that clause in the event of my death.’
‘Will your men help?’ asked Cassius. ‘Will they dare act against Ilaha after what they’ve seen today?’
‘They can no more refuse our ethnarch than I can. They are bound by the same blood-oath that ties them to me. And yours?’
‘They will do as they are ordered.’
Cassius looked back across the road at the compound. Hundreds of guards were at work loading carts with weapons and supplies.
Khalima glanced up at the sky and whispered something in Nabatean.
‘What’s the hour?’ asked Indavara.
‘About the ninth,’ said Cassius.
‘Six hours?’ Indavara stopped in the middle of the track. ‘It’s just not possible.’
‘But a talking rock is?’ Cassius walked past him. ‘Hurry up. We’re wasting time.’
Back at the camp, Khalima gathered his men inside one of the tents while Cassius briefly addressed the auxiliaries. ‘You will receive precise orders within the hour. In the meantime, check and double-check your weapons. And no more wine.’
He despatched Simo and another man to the town to purchase several essential items, then summoned Indavara, Mercator and the two guard officers to the smaller tent.
Ulixes intercepted him. He had a pack on his back and looked ready to leave. ‘What’s going on? Where have you been with the Saracen?’
Cassius ushered him to one side. ‘Not your concern.’
‘When are we leaving?’
‘Tonight. But our plans have changed.’
‘How?’
‘As I said, not your concern.’
‘You’re not going after the stone? You’ll get us all killed.’
‘A third time — not your concern. If I want your advice, I’ll ask for it. Go and sit by the fire. Do not speak to the others. Do not move.’
Ulixes muttered oaths as he walked away. Cassius asked Mercator to assign two men to watch him, then the five of them assembled in the tent.
He spoke to Andal and Yorvah first. ‘I daresay you may already have worked this out but we were sent here to recover the black stone. I had abandoned all thoughts of trying it but we now have no choice. Certain elements within the other tribes want rid of Ilaha. There is to be a meeting tonight — at the third hour. They will try to kill him. They are doing their part. We must do ours.’
Andal gazed out of the tent down at the inner wall. Yorvah looked at Mercator, who turned to Cassius.
‘How?’ demanded the optio.
‘That’s what we’re here to discuss. We at least have Khalima and his men to help us.’
‘Take the stone from its place, sir?’ said Yorvah.
‘Its place is in Emesa,’ said Cassius, not feeling it necessary to disclose the Emperor’s ultimate intentions for it. ‘This Ilaha had it stolen from a temple. We’re stealing it back.’
‘Transportation?’ asked Indavara wearily.
Cassius pointed at the compound. ‘One of those big lumber carts will do. We’ll have to liberate one.’
‘But the gates?’ said Mercator. ‘The tower?’
‘The way I see it, we will need two groups. One to get the rock, one to secure the outer gate and the tower.’
‘I’ll take the gate and tower,’ offered Indavara. ‘As long as it keeps me away from that stone.’
‘What’s your plan?’ asked Cassius.
‘Leave it to me. All I need is a few strong daggers.’
‘How do we get inside the inner gate?’ asked Yorvah.
This elicited a series of suggestions from Mercator and Andal.