worse in the months together. Many things had changed between them in that time and Gaditicus sometimes wondered if they could work again as a crew even if Accipiter was produced whole and afloat for them. They had kept some semblance of discipline, with Gaditicus and Prax settling disputes and stopping fights, but the awareness of station had been slowly eroded as they judged each other by new rules and found different strengths and weaknesses.
Pelitas and Prax had become good friends, each seeing in the other something of the same phlegmatic outlook on life, despite the difference in ages. Prax had lost his swollen gut in the time in the cell, replacing it with hard muscle after weeks of pushing himself with the others in the daily exercises. Julius suspected that he would be pleased with the new lease of life when he was shaved and clean. He smiled at that thought, scratching a sore in his armpit.
Gaditicus had been one of those who suffered in the choppy waters of the dock, but he was gaining colour as the ship cut through the waves instead of rocking in them. Julius had found a respect and liking for him that had been missing from his automatic obedience to the rank. The man had held the group together and seemed to appreciate what Julius and Cabera had done for them.
Suetonius had not flourished in the captivity. He had seen the bonds that had formed between Pelitas, Prax, Julius and Gaditicus and bitterly resented Julius being included. For a while, he had been friendly with the other four officers and two camps had emerged. Julius had used those groups to compete against each other in the daily training and eventually one of the officers had cuffed Suetonius as he complained to him in whispers.
Shortly after that, Cabera had been able to bring the first decent food they had seen since the beginning and they had all cheered. Typical of the old man to have given the fruit to Julius to hand out. Suetonius couldn’t wait for freedom and order to be restored, wanting to see the moment when Julius realised he was just a junior officer again.
Two weeks after leaving port, they were taken out of the cell in darkness and left on a strange coast, without weapons or supplies. The captain had bowed to them as they were taken to the small boat that would be rowed in to the beach beyond, where they could hear the crash of waves.
‘Goodbye, Romans. I will think of you often as I spend your coin,’ he had called, laughing. They stayed silent, though Julius looked up at him steadily, as if noting every line of his face. He was furious that Cabera had not been allowed to leave with them, though he had known they might hold him. It was just one more reason to find the captain and rip his throat out.
On the beach, their bonds were cut and the sailors backed away carefully, daggers ready.
‘Don’t do anything stupid, now,’ one of them warned. ‘You can work your way home in time.’ Then they were in the boat and rowing hard for the trireme that was black against the moonlit sea.
Pelitas reached down and picked up a handful of the soft sand, rubbing it between his fingers.
‘I don’t know about you lads, but I’m going for a swim,’ he said, stripping off his infested clothes in a sudden rush. A minute later, only Suetonius stood on the shore, then he was dragged in by the shouting, laughing officers, clothes and all.
Brutus used his dagger to skin the hares they’d bought from a farmer, scooping out the guts into a slimy heap. Renius had found some wild onions and with the crusty bread and a half-full wineskin, it would be a suitable feast for their last night in the open. Rome was less than a day’s travel away and with the sale of the horses, they were in profit.
Renius dropped a few heavy pieces of dead wood by the fire and lay down as close as he could, enjoying the warmth.
‘Pass me the wineskin, lad,’ he said, his voice mellow.
Brutus pulled the stopper out and gave it to him, watching as Renius guided the spout to his mouth and gulped.
‘I’d go easy if I were you,’ Brutus said. ‘You have no head for wine and I don’t want you picking a fight with me or weeping or something.’
Renius ignored him, finally gasping as he lowered the skin.
‘It’s good to be home again,’ he said.
Brutus filled their small cooking pot to the brim and lay down on the other side of the fire.
‘It is. I hadn’t realised how much I’d missed it before the lookout sighted the coast. It brought everything back to me.’
Shaking his head in memory, he stirred the stew with his dagger. Renius raised his head and rested it on his hand.
‘You’ve come a long way from the boy I trained. I don’t think I ever told you how proud I was when you made centurion for the Bronze Fist.’
‘You told everyone else. It got back to me in the end,’ Brutus replied, smiling.
‘And now you’ll be Julius’ man?’ Renius said, eyeing the bubbling stew.
‘Why not? We walk the same path, remember? Cabera said that.’
‘He said the same to me,’ Renius muttered, testing the stew with a finger. Though it was clearly boiling, he didn’t seem to feel the heat.
‘I thought that was why you came back with me. You could have stayed on with the Fist if you’d wanted.’
Renius shrugged. ‘I wanted to be at the heart of things again.’
Brutus grinned at the big man. ‘I know. Now Sulla’s dead, this is our time.’
‘I have no idea what you are talking about,’ Fercus said. He strained against the ropes that held him to the chair, but there was no give in them.
‘I think you know exactly what I mean,’ Antonidus said, leaning in very close so that their faces almost touched. ‘I have a gift for knowing a lie when I am told one.’ He sniffed twice suddenly and Fercus remembered how they called him Sulla’s dog.
‘You reek of lies,’ Antonidus said, sneering. ‘I know you were involved, so simply tell me and I will not have to bring in the torturers. There is no escape from here, broker. No one saw you arrested and no one will know we have spoken. Just tell me who ordered the assassination and where the killer is and you will walk out unharmed.’
‘Take me to a court of law. I will find representation to prove my innocence!’ Fercus said, his voice shaking.
‘Oh, you would like that, wouldn’t you? Days wasted in idle talk while the Senate tries to prove it has one law for all. There is no law down here, in this room. Down here, we still remember Sulla.’
‘I know nothing!’ Fercus shouted, making Antonidus move back a few inches, to his relief.
The general shook his head in regret.
‘We know the killer went by the name of Dalcius. We know he had been bought for kitchen work three weeks before. The record of the sale has vanished, of course, but there were witnesses. Did you think no one would notice Sulla’s own agent
