As dawn broke, Polymecles roused us and offered us breakfast. We ate bread soaked in watered wine and then fruit and figs. We set off through the streets and walked to the command headquarters. It was a cool morning but a clear blue sky soared above us, promising a hot day. Neither of us spoke as we walked. I had a thick head from the wine but Junius seemed none the worse.
I began to think about the previous day's events. I had killed a man and life seemed to go on irrespective. It was as if ending the life of the palace servant was a meaningless act. Perhaps his life was in itself meaningless. For it to end in that fashion, in that place, seemed doubly meaningless, in the scheme of things to me. Had he a family? Children? A home? Had I caused some great change by taking his life? I did not even know his name or his age or where he lived. I knew that I had robbed him of the most precious gift the Gods can give us - life.
I did realise however that had I not killed him, I would have been the one lying on that tavern floor and Junius might have been there too. Bleeding, dying hunks of flesh and nothing more. Nevertheless, I had survived. I was the victor and my life went on. Perhaps it was a prescribed pattern in the web woven by the fates, that his path and mine should cross and his life should end. I could still see his face. His lifeless eyes conjured up in me a sadness. It was not a sadness for my victim, but a sadness that taking lives was what I was here for and I was sure his would not be the last. Would jewellery have been better? I felt I had no answers and tried to distract myself as I always did with uncomfortable thoughts, as we walked. I thought about whether our corsair experience would set the scene for recognition or promotion.
Within an hour, we reported to the headquarters at the temple. We found Asinnius in the Centurion's office, eating a similar breakfast to the one we had left behind.
'Sir!' I said, standing to attention next to Junius.
Asinnius looked up slowly and smiled.
'Well?'
'We have some information to report about the corsairs, sir,' I said.
'Corsairs? What about them?'
'We followed some of them after the fight we told you about. They went to a quay in the town harbour and we heard them plotting. We think they're preparing to move some of the City's treasures away and thought you would need to know about it.'
'Yes, that's very interesting. I must discuss this with our Legate at once. You two go back to your billet and I'll send word to you. I think we may need to do something about this but let's see what the Legate thinks.'
'Permission to speak sir?' Junius said.
'Yes, Junius?'
'What happened to the man we brought in yesterday?'
'He died under torture. We learned very little from him. We did discover a little of what you did, but we had no idea where the quay was. You two have done well to find out where they are hiding.'
'Thank you sir,' Junius said with a smile of genuine pleasure.
'You are both excused drill today and I will let you know what we are going to do about this plot. The Legate may want to visit the Queen herself and find out more.'
We returned to our billet to await further orders. We had the feeling that we had done well and had taken the right action.
'Junius, it was a pity the corsair died under torture. I wonder what they did to him. He looked fit enough to me when we handed him over. I'll bet they were disappointed.'
'Yes, it's strange. I heard the legion's experts were better than that.'
We waited. Time seemed to pass slowly and by the time of the midday meal, we felt restless and bored. Our wait was terminated by the arrival of Asinnius. He was alone and looked as if he had hurried.
Junius and I stood to attention outside the tenement that we had made our temporary home.
'All right you two, you can stand at ease. I have now had a chance to discuss your findings with the Legate himself. The General has asked me to reconnoitre the wharf where you saw the corsairs and to report to him. I will return this evening. This kind of thing is best done at night. Meanwhile, I want you to both stay here and talk to no one about this. Top secret!'
'Yes sir!' we both said in unison.
As Asinnius rounded the corner, I looked at Junius.
'It was good of him to come in person; you would have thought that he would have sent one of the orderlies. Nice fellow really.'
'I suppose he felt he couldn't send someone else for this sort of thing, it must be very secret to need his personal attention.'
'Maybe you're right,' I said shaking my head, 'let's get some sleep, or we'll be sleeping tonight, when we should be exploring!'
'At least something is happening. I thought we'd both die of boredom over the next few weeks. Guarding Sinope isn't my idea of soldiering.'
Neither of us slept that afternoon. We were too restless thinking of the night ahead. When Asinnius returned, we were already waiting outside the building. He did not say much and we took him first to the tavern where we had first seen the corsairs.
'Where did they go from here?' Asinnius said.
'This way,' I said, indicating the street ahead.
The streets were beginning to clear now, as it became darker. Sinope suffered from the same problems as Rome, with wandering gangs of thugs who preyed upon anyone who happened to be passing. Even the presence of the Roman army had not deterred most of them for the army did not see its role as that of a peacekeeping or civil force.
We made our way to the wharf. As we reached the alleyway down which we had walked the day before, I began to feel there was something wrong. Perhaps I was still streetwise from my life in the Subura, or perhaps some sixth sense made me look over my shoulder. In the deepening dark of the alley, I could make out faint figures behind, flattening themselves against the wall.
I pulled my companions to a halt.
'We're being followed,' I said in a low voice.
'Where?' Asinnius said.
'Up there,' I said, indicating behind us.
'You two stay here and I'll go and see.'
'Is that wise, sir?' Junius said. He regretted it almost as soon as he said it. The scowl on Asinnius' face told him to be quiet.
As the dark of the alley rapidly swallowed the Centurion's figure, we heard sudden sounds as of a scuffle and then a short low cry, and then silence. The oppressive darkness, silent and menacing enveloped us.
I felt the hairs on the back of my neck prickle. I swallowed nervously.
We stood back to back and drew our swords, with rapidly beating hearts.
It is not the foe that you can see, that frightens, it is the one you cannot. Meridius had taught me to spar with the one that I thought might be there and if I was wrong , the worst was a wasted stroke but if lucky, the end of the fight. Despite the steel-like tension in my body, I was ready.