The Eagles Prophecy

There was a dull thud and Trebius gave an explosive gasp. Vitellius immediately turned and saw a look of intense surprise etched into the bodyguard's face. Both men glanced down at the bloody tip of a sword protruding a finger's length from his chest. Then Trebius convulsed as he was thrust from behind, and the blade disappeared, leaving a gaping tear in the front of his tunic. An instant later the material was drenched in dark blood. There was another convulsion, and Trebius slumped to his knees. Vitellius looked up and saw Centurion Minucius emerging from the shadow behind the door, bloodstained sword in hand. Trebius' head lolled back and to the side and he looked puzzled as his eyes fixed on Minucius. Then they glazed over and he toppled onto the floor.

Vitellius hesitated a moment too long before his hand shot to the sword hanging at his side, and Minucius stepped forward, and pointed his sword at the tribune's throat.

'Don't! Keep you fingers off that weapon.'

Ajax stood up and hurried over and Vitellius saw that he too carried a sword. There was no way he could fight his way out of the situation, and he lowered his hand to his side. He glared at Minucius.

'What is the meaning of this treachery?'

Minucius smiled.'Come now. Someone with a mind like yours must be able to figure this out.'

'What are you talking about? What-'

'Quiet, Tribune.' Minucius kept his eyes fixed on Vitellius as he addressed his remarks to Ajax.'Go and get some men. And send for your father.'

The pirate nodded to Minucius before he hurried from the chamber and then they heard his feet thudding quickly down the stairs.

Vitellius looked at the centurion with narrowed, calculating eyes. 'What did Ajax promise you? Money? A way out of here? You couldn't have fallen for that?'

'I didn't,' Minucius chuckled. 'In any case, I've already had more than enough money from his father…'

'His father?' Vitellius frowned, then the truth hit him like a slingshot to the head. His eyes widened as he raised a finger at the centurion. 'The traitor. The one that has been plaguing the fleet's every step… you?'

'Me.'

'But why?'

'You said it yourself. I'm coming up for my discharge. I've been dreading it for the last few years. My savings were going to be just enough to eke out my retirement in comfort. But who wants comfort when you could have luxury? So I cut a deal with Telemachus, and have been selling him information for the last year. I've got enough stashed away to live very well. Now you've provided me with a chance for a little extra. I imagine Telemachus is going to be grateful to the man who returned his son to him. And handed him a high-ranking hostage into the bargain.'

'You bastard…'

Minucius laughed and shook his head. 'Tribune, don't act so indignant. Why are you here in the first place? It doesn't exactly have much to do with integrity and loyal service to the Empire. Those scrolls over there, whatever they are, you were not going to use them for the benefit of the Emperor, were you?'

'Not the present Emperor, no.' Vitellius' lips flickered into a smile. 'So what's your price, Minucius?'

'Price?'

'To get me out of here.'

'We aren't going to get out of here. It's too late. It'll be light soon and there won't be any chance of making it back to the fleet. And if we're stuck here, then the pirates are going to find us soon enough. So I decided that it was time I left your employment.'

They heard Ajax's voice shouting orders down in the courtyard and Vitellius licked his lips nervously and took a step closer to the centurion. 'Look we can make a deal.'

Minucius stepped back and raised his sword. 'Keep your distance!'

'Listen to me! I can make you rich, far richer than you can imagine.'

The heavy sound of feet pounding up the staircase made both men glance towards the door, and Minucius shook his head.'Sorry, Tribune – no negotiations. You've just run out of time.'

The door burst open, and Ajax and several pirates swept into the room, swords drawn, ready to strike. Ajax thrust Vitellius back, steering him into the corner where he fell on to the bed. Then he barked an order and two of the pirates came over and stood guard.

Ajax turned to Minucius. 'I've sent a man for my father. He'll be here soon. In the meantime, drop your sword.'

'What?'

'Drop your sword and stand over there by the table, hands on your head where we can see them.'

'But I'm on your side. I told you.'

'We'll see. Now drop the sword.'

Minucius shook his head and Ajax stabbed a finger at him. 'Drop it! Or my men will drop you.'

Minucius' lips tightened into a bitter expression. Then he threw the sword down at Ajax's feet, brushed past one of the pirates and strode over to the desk where he turned and thrust his hands on his head.

'There! Satisfied? I don't think Telemachus is going to be, when he see's how you've treated me.'

'Leave my father to me,' Ajax said in a soft, menacing voice. 'And if you're lying then I'll see to it that you die painfully.'

There was a chuckle from the far corner of the room as Vitellius sat himself up and pressed his back into the corner of the chamber.'Seems like you're in the shit as much as me, Centurion.'

'I don't think so, Tribune. You'll see. Soon as Telemachus gets here.'

'Quiet!' Ajax shouted.'Both of you.'

They waited in silence, under the watchful gaze of the pirates, and outside the grey gleam of the coming dawn filtered through the open shutter. In the distance they could hear the regular crack and crash of the Roman onagers, while the sound of the wagon being loaded echoed up from the courtyard walls. By the time they heard the sound of someone climbing the stairs, the sky outside was washed with the rosy glow of the first rays of the sun. Footsteps approached along the corridor and then Telemachus strode through the open doorway, eyes glancing round the chamber and instantly fixing on Vitellius, and then Minucius. A look of surprise flashed across his face.

'Centurion? What are you doing here?'

'It couldn't be helped. Your boy was taken prisoner and the tribune there wanted to use him to get into the citadel. I was given the choice of helping him out or being killed. So I had to go along with them. Once we got here I set your son loose at the first chance and turned the tables on them.' He nodded towards the bodies of Trebius and Silus.

Telemachus gave the centurion a sceptical look and then glanced at his son with a raised eyebrow. Ajax nodded.

'I see… Well, you've not picked the best of times to end our little arrangement.'

'End the arrangement?' Minucius said anxiously. 'What do you mean?'

'You'd find it difficult to return to your side now without arousing any suspicions. And, as you will have noted, your fleet is about to storm this citadel. How do you think they will react if they find you here, amongst the enemy? You're no use to me as a spy now, Centurion. But, I will do you no harm. You can fight alongside my men, and perhaps win back some of the honour you have defiled by betraying your people.'

'There's no need for that!' Minucius started forward, but one of the pirates stepped menacingly towards him and the centurion raised a hand to show he meant no harm to the pirate chief.'Telemachus, there's a boat hidden at the base of the cliff. It's big enough to hold you, your son and two or three other men, or a few valuables.' He looked meaningfully at the chests lying about the table, their treasures gleaming inside them.'You can't see the boat from the sea, or from the top of the cliff. We can hide there, wait until dark and slip out of the bay, with some of your treasure. You can start again, somewhere else.'

Minucius sounded desperate and Telemachus looked at him with pity and disgust. 'It hasn't come to that yet. Meanwhile I'll fight your marines the moment the first one sticks his nose over whatever's left of our walls. This boat of yours will be my last resort. We'll go to it when the time comes, and take some of the loot with us.' Telemachus turned to the tribune. 'Is that what you've come for? My fortune?'