Centurion

Macro smiled to himself as he reflected that Narcissus probably pined for the brutal simplicity of the previous regime.

Just then he caught sight of a familiar face on the edge of the crowd and he paused a moment and stepped out of line. Cato turned with a quizzical expression and joined his friend. 'What's the matter?'

'You go on. I'll catch you up.'

'Why? What is it?'

'Someone I have to speak to. You go on,' Macro said firmly.

Cato shrugged, then rejoined the column. Glancing back he saw Macro walk slowly towards the small crowd of ragged people lining the street and stop in front of a girl.

Then the procession passed through the arch and into the large courtyard in front of the royal palace. A guard of honour, formed from the surviving Greek mercenaries, lined the steps leading up to the palace entrance, where Thermon waited in front of the two columns that supported the portico. General Longinus rode across to the base of the stairs and reined his horse in before slipping gracefully down from the saddle. He gestured to his officers and Balthus to follow him and climbed the steps towards the entrance. The commander of the royal bodyguard snapped an order and the mercenaries turned smartly inward, stiffened to attention and presented their spears. Thermon bowed deeply as Longinus approached him.

'My lord Cassius Longinus, it is a great pleasure to welcome you back to the city.The news of your victory has been the cause of great joy and celebration in Palmyra.'

'So I noticed,' Longinus replied acidly as he nodded towards the avenue leading back through the city. 'It seems that your people must still be sleeping it off.'

Thermon paused a moment as he understood the tone of the Roman's remark and then he smiled at Balthus. 'My prince, the king is delighted by your success and looks forward to embracing his conquering son.'

'I'm sure,' Balthus replied.

'If we might get a move on,' Longinus interrupted. 'I must report to the king and then I must return to my army and see to the men's needs.'

'Of course, my lord. If you would be kind enough to follow me.' Thermon bowed again and backed away through the entrance before turning to lead the party down a long wide hall whose walls were richly decorated with bright paintings celebrating the exploits of past kings of Palmyra. At the end of the hall were two large brass-plated doors which were swung open by palace guards to reveal the king's audience chamber. Vabathus sat on his throne, raised above the heads of those around him by a round dais approached by a small flight of steps. A throng of Palmyran nobles and the richest men of the city stood before him in their best robes. They parted before Longinus and his party and retreated on each side. There were more guards inside the chamber and these now took up position to create an avenue of spears and shields leading towards the dais and King Vabathus.

Behind the general, Cato's eyes darted round the chamber. He saw Sempronius standing close to the king, then looked over the crowd until he saw Julia, standing slightly apart from the rest beside one of the gilded pillars. He gave a brief nod towards her and smiled quickly. She half raised her hand in acknowledgement, her face illuminated by a mixture of relief and joy at the sight of him.

Thermon led Longinus up to the foot of the steps and then stood respectfully to one side as he a

'Your Majesty, I present Cassius Longinus, governor of the Roman province of Syria, his officers and Prince Balthus.'

The king nodded at his guests and there was a short pause before he drew himself up on his throne and spoke.

'General Longinus, we welcome you to our palace. There are no words adequate to express my thanks to you and your fine soldiers.You have delivered us from the hands of Parthia and those traitors amongst my people who would have sold their city into slavery to the Parthian kingdom.' There was a slight tremor in his voice as he continued. 'I understand that Artaxes died on the battlefield, by the hand of Prince Balthus.That is, perhaps, fitting. But while I grieve for the loss of yet another son, even one who betrayed me, I accept that I am for ever in Rome's debt.'

Cato noticed Balthus stir at these words. The prince frowned and his lips compressed into a thin line as his father continued.

'Such is my gratitude that I have today signed a treaty with the ambassador of Emperor Claudius. Henceforth, Palmyra and its domain will be accorded the status of a client kingdom of the Roman Empire.'The king paused and looked straight at his surviving son. For a moment there was pity in his eyes and then sad resignation. 'I understand, full well, that this treaty will not be to the liking of some of my people. But the choice that faces us is between being an ally of Rome or a conquest of Parthia.'

'No!' Prince Balthus shook his head, then pointed at his father. 'You know what client status means, Father. Once you are gone, Palmyra will become a Roman province. We will lose our independence. We will lose our king and fall under the heel of Rome.'

'Yes,' Vabathus said loudly. 'But that is the price that I must pay, and that you must accept.'

'I shall not accept it,' Balthus replied hotly.'It is the king's duty to preserve his kingdom. Anything less would be a betrayal of the people of Palmyra.'

'You speak to me of betrayal,' Vabathus said icily. 'You dare to speak to me of betrayal? You who betrayed your own flesh and blood and ordered the death of your brother Amethus?'

Balthus shook his head.'I did no such thing!You have no proof.'

'No?' Vabathus turned to the side and barked out an order. 'Bring him out here, where all can see.'

There was a soft grunt and moan of pain and some sounds of shuffling footsteps from behind the dais, and then two of the king's bodyguards emerged carrying a dirty bundle of rags and scabbed and bruised flesh between them. They dragged their burden round to the front of the throne and threw it down.

'What is this?' General Longinus stepped back with a look of disgust. 'This… this man?'

The king ignored the Roman and fixed his attention on his son. 'Balthus, surely you recognise the most loyal of your slaves?'

Prince Balthus stared down at the man huddled on the ground, battered and bloodied all over, and yet still clinging on to life as the bones of his ribcage rose and fell in a fluttering rhythm. Slowly a look of horror filtered on to Balthus' face as he grasped the truth. 'Carpex,' he muttered. 'Carpex? What have you done? What have you said?'

The slave suddenly seemed to become acutely aware of his surroundings and recoiled from the voice as if he had been struck a hard blow.

'Master.' The slave's voice was little more than a hoarse whisper. 'O master, I beg for your pardon. I-'

'Silence, you slave dog!'Vabathus roared out. 'How dare you speak in the presence of your king?' He glared at Carpex as the slave shrank back with a look of terror. Vabathus nodded and gave a small sneer of satisfaction as he turned back to his son and continued. 'Balthus, this worthless scum provided us with all the answers we needed, once enough torture had been applied.This slave confirmed what I already suspected, that it was you who gave the order to kill Amethus. And that it was Carpex who carried it out.'

'Lies!' Baltus blustered. 'Lies, I tell you.' He took a step forward and kicked Carpex. 'This slave is deceiving you, Father. I had nothing to do with it. I swear by almighty Bel.'

'Quiet!' Vabathus glared at his son. 'Would you debase yourself even further by lying under oath to the city's God? Have you no honour at all?' He rose up and stabbed his finger towards the prince. 'You are no son of mine. I renounce you. A common killer and traitor is what you are, and there can only be one punishment for such crimes. Guards, seize him!'