Cato 06 - The Eagles Prophecy by Simon Scarrow

has been told to find and destroy the pirates’ lair. Your job is to make sure that you recover the scrolls, and my agent, once the pirates are defeated. You are also to make sure that any of the pirates who have read, or been in contact with the scrolls, are not taken alive. One last thing.’ Narcissus leaned towards them again.’It is possible that the pirates may have approached other parties with a view to selling the scrolls. If that’s the case, my enemies will stop at nothing to get hold of them. You must trust no one. Understand?’
    The two centurions nodded.
    ‘When do we leave?’ Macro asked.
    ‘You already have. The reinforcements left Rome at dawn. You’ll have to catch up with them once I’ve finished with you.’
    Cato’s mind reeled. ‘What about all the paperwork? Our orders?’
    Narcissus waved away the questions. ‘My clerk has it all in hand. He’ll give you the required documents as soon as you leave my office. Now, if you don’t want to get any unnecessary blisters, I suggest you get moving, gentlemen.’
    ‘Just one thing, sir,’ said Macro.
    ‘Yes?’
    ‘Money. We’ll need some to cover our expenses as far as Ravenna, sir.’
    ‘I see. Very well. You can draw some petty cash from my clerk.’
    ‘Thank you, sir.’
    ‘That’s all right.’ Narcissus smiled. ‘You can settle up, if you survive. Now, on your way.’
    Narcissus leaned back and crossed his arms, clearly indicating that the meeting was over. Cato and Macro turned towards the doors. Before they could reach them the doors were swung open by a Praetorian on each side. Narcissus’ clerk was waiting at his table, a wax tablet in each hand. As the centurions marched into the corridor, he held out the tablets. Cato took his and was busy tucking it into his knapsack when he glanced across the corridor and froze. Macro noticed his reaction and glanced round. Seated in the niche opposite was a heavily built man, running to fat. He wore the toga of a senator, and smiled slowly as he recognised the two centurions.
    ‘Why, if I’m not mistaken,’ he chuckled, ‘it’s my old comrades in arms, Centurion Macro and his little pet optio.’ He paused as his eyes fell on the transverse crest of the helmet hanging from Cato’s yoke.’Centurion Cato? I don’t believe it.’
    Cato dipped his head in formal acknowledgement of the other man’s rank, and he replied in an unusually cool voice, ‘Tribune Vitellius, I wondered if we would meet again.’

CHAPTER SEVEN
    ‘What the hell was that bastard Vitellius doing there?’ Macro grumbled as he shifted his pack and adjusted his stride.’I hoped I’d never lay eyes on him ever again, after that business back in Britain. Just goes to show. When you’ve really fallen in the shit, you can always count on someone to pile on another load.’
    Cato grunted his assent at his friend’s quirky fatalism. Life was like that. He’d already seen enough of it to know. Macro was right to be worried. The fact that the man had been waiting to see Narcissus immediately after them implied some kind of connection with the mission they had been forced to undertake. It might be a coincidence, Cato reflected. After all, Narcissus must be overseeing many operations. Even so, Cato could not shake off the feeling that their presence and that of the treacherous former tribune of the Second Legion were somehow linked. They had foiled a plot by Vitellius to assassinate Emperor Claudius, but after the event the wily tribune had left them with no evidence to bring against him, and so compelled their silence. Cato was certain that Vitellius was merely biding his time before he arranged for fatal accidents to befall Macro and himself.
    The revival of this danger added to his existing fears, and Cato could not shake Vitellius from his mind as he and Macro trudged along the Flaminian Way. Even though it was a cold day, and a chilly breeze cut through the air, there were only patches of cloud in the crisp blue