‘Enjoy that, did you?’
The big man turned round. He was armed with a dagger.
‘Excuse my bodyguard, sir,’ said Cassius, darting between them. ‘He used to be a gladiator — rather takes exception to violence as spectacle.’
The officer looked them both over, and Cassius noted that he seemed slightly unsteady on his feet. Even so, he was an impressive character; not just imposing, but even-featured and handsome. He stared hard at Indavara and marched back towards him.
Cassius got out of the way.
The officer stopped a yard from Indavara. He was as tall as Cassius though far broader, and looked down his nose at the bodyguard.
Indavara matched the stare, hands by his belt, ready to move.
Cassius recalled what he’d told him on Rhodes after the incident at the temple, about him becoming a bit of a liability. More like a major liability.
‘I asked you if you enjoyed that?’ said Indavara.
The officer bent his head towards him until their faces were inches apart. ‘Do I look as if I enjoyed it?’
With that, he turned round and strode away.
Indavara watched him until Cassius spoke.
‘What in Hades do you think you’re doing? You go against me like that again and I’ll make damned sure Abascantius hears about it. And if he finds out you put this investigation at risk, I wouldn’t expect any more silver ingots, or even a single bloody coin for that matter.’
Indavara looked at him but said nothing.
‘Or of course I could tell Annia,’ Cassius continued. ‘I doubt she’d be particularly impressed either.’
Simo arrived. ‘Sir, if you could do without me for a few moments, I could go and help that poor man.’
‘By all the gods,’ spat Cassius, trying to keep his voice down, ‘you two are as bad as each other. I suggest you both remind yourselves why we are here.’
Cassius looked at the people. He needed information, quickly. Approaching the optios or the soldiers was a rather unappealing prospect, particularly with Indavara alongside him. He could try to find the governor’s office but that would take time and attract a lot of attention.
A portly man passed by. ‘Welcome to Darnis,’ he said sourly. ‘Sorry you had the misfortune to come ashore here.’
‘Our ship needs repairs,’ said Cassius, seeing an opportunity. ‘Apparently there was another vessel here this morning.’
The man shrugged.
Cassius glanced at the platform. ‘That sort of thing a common occurrence?’
The man looked around to check there were no soldiers close by.
‘Increasingly.’
Cassius gestured towards the big centurion, who had reached the edge of the square and the road that ran east. ‘Strange. He didn’t seem to approve.’
‘Eborius? Didn’t do anything about it though, did he? It’s a shame. He was a good man.’
‘I take it the optios follow the orders of the other officer — the one on the horse?’
The man looked down at the ground.
‘Good luck with the repairs,’ he said before hurrying away.
Cassius turned to the east again. Eborius had just disappeared down a side street.
‘Come on.’
‘Where are we going?’ asked Indavara.
‘I need to talk to that officer. Can I rely on you to keep your mouth shut?’
Now Indavara glanced at the platform.
Cassius took a step closer to him. ‘Back on the ship I thought we’d agreed to each do our own jobs. How about you leave the decision-making to me?’
‘I don’t want to see things like that,’ Indavara said quietly.
‘Nor Simo. Nor I. But the affairs of this town are not our concern. Dio is. And we don’t have time to waste.’
XX
Eborius passed a tavern, apparently the only occupied building on the street. Lounging around on benches outside were about twenty legionaries, though only a few of them were drinking. They implored the officer to join them but he waved a dismissive hand and continued purposefully on his way.
‘Slow down,’ Cassius murmured to the others.
Though they inevitably drew the attention of the soldiers, nothing was said as the trio walked by.
This was an area of two- or three-room villas divided by low walls, most of them with a stone-built cistern at the front or rear. Though every dwelling seemed abandoned, the signs of habitation remained: potted plants, either dead or wildly overgrown; small vegetable plots in a similar condition; and, mounted above the doorways, carvings of deities entrusted to guard the home.
Eborius kept his head down as he walked and — despite the considerable amount of drink Cassius guessed he’d imbibed — kept up quite a pace. So by the time he turned right into an alley, they were well past the tavern and away from any prying eyes.
‘Eborius!’
The officer stopped and waited as Cassius hurried over to him, Simo and Indavara a few paces behind.
‘How do you know my name?’ he asked irritably. ‘What do you want?’
Cassius now noted that the impressive physique and strong face masked a rather dishevelled individual. He smelt of sweat and wine, his tunic was stained, and the metal of his belt buckle was greasy and dull.
‘To talk to you.’
Cassius gestured to Simo, who took the spearhead from the satchel and passed it to him. Cassius unwrapped the top half and showed it to Eborius. ‘Imperial Security. I need your help.’
‘I’m not in charge here.’
‘That doesn’t matter. I need information.’
‘About what?’
‘Is there somewhere we can talk?’
Eborius rubbed his eyes, then sighed. ‘This way.’
Cassius returned the spearhead to Simo and they followed the officer along the alley and across the next street. To the left, it ran down as far as the old wall; beyond lay the marsh and a broad expanse of beach. Halfway along the next alley they came to a low, arched doorway and Cassius followed Eborius into what had clearly once been a small temple. Lying in one corner was the top half of a statue carved from some inferior stone. It was identifiable only by the owl cupped in one scarred hand — the goddess Minerva. In the opposite corner was the base of an altar, upon which Eborius sat. As Simo and Indavara followed him inside, Cassius offered his forearm. ‘Officer Cassius Quintius Corbulo.’
The older man looked up at him, then took his arm. ‘Manius Eborius.’
‘Centurion?’
Eborius gave a weary nod.
Cassius took his canteen from his belt. ‘Water?’
Eborius drank most of the contents then gave it back. Everything about him was big. Big head, big face, big shoulders, big arms and legs, but every part well formed and in proportion.
Cassius leant back against an ivy-covered wall. ‘I’m after a man who calls himself Dio. Short, left-handed. Ring any bells?’
‘No.’
‘I believe he arrived this morning aboard that ship the Isis.’
‘I heard she came in. Unless it’s a supply ship, no one takes much notice these days.’
‘I need to find him quickly,’ said Cassius. ‘If he did get off, he may have left the town. What about the governor’s office? Does anyone there keep track of new arrivals?’
Eborius snorted. ‘Did anyone come and meet you?’
‘I take it that order has rather broken down here.’
‘You could say that. Though I suppose there is order. Of a kind.’
‘That other officer’s kind? Who is he?’
‘Centurion Valgus Carnifex.’
‘I may need his help. Can you take me to him?’
‘That would be difficult. He and I are not on the best of terms.’
‘I see. It seems I shall just have to start asking around then.’
Eborius frowned. ‘I would advise against that.’
‘I don’t seem to have a great deal of choice. Somebody might have seen the man, might know him. Every hour counts. He may already be gone.’
‘Gone? Gone where? Travel more than ten miles in any direction and you’re liable to find yourself face to face with a band of Maseene.’