Read Online The Eagle In The Sand by Simon Scarrow - Free Book Online
Authors: Simon Scarrow
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the stars . . . the view. It’s magnificent.’
Macro fixed his gaze on the darkened features of his friend and shook his head pityingly. ‘You’ve been in the army for what, nearly four years?’
‘Yes . . . So?’
‘So when are you going to stop talking like some poncy poet?’
‘I don’t know,’ Cato said quietly. ‘When I’ve seen enough of this world to grow tired of it, I suppose.’
‘I can hardly wait,’ Macro said quietly as Symeon trudged back to them with the thick army cloaks bundled under his arm.
In the morning, they continued up the path, still in single file. Most of the men had been too cold to sleep through the night and were stiff and tired. Nevertheless, they kept a wary eye on the cliffs above them for any sign of trouble. Soon the path broadened out into a track and the slope became more gentle. Cato breathed a sigh of relief as he urged his mount alongside Symeon and Macro.
‘Looks like we’ve given them the slip.’
‘Bunch of women,’ Macro growled. ‘That’s what they are.’
Symeon did not reply. Instead he was scanning the low ridge ahead of them that marked the beginning of the great plateau. Suddenly he reined his horse in.
‘You spoke too soon, Centurion,’ he said softly. ‘Look up there.’
Cato’s eyes flickered along the ridge and stopped as he saw a small group of men rising up from the rocks, so that they were starkly silhouetted against the sky. More men appeared, scores of them, and then a line of horsemen, directly across the breadth of the track where it crossed the ridge. As the optio bellowed orders for his men to dump their kit, put on their helmets and prepare their weapons, Macro’s hand instinctively grasped his sword handle.
‘Now we’re for it,’ he said quietly
Symeon glanced round at the centurion with a grim smile. ‘Not bad work for a bunch of women.’
As he spoke, one of the horsemen edged his beast forward, down the track towards the Romans.
CHAPTER SIX
‘It’s Bannus,’ Symeon said quietly.
As Cato threw his straw hat aside and jammed his helmet on to his head he looked at their guide in surprise. ‘You know him?’
‘We’ve met before.’
‘As friends, I hope.’
‘We were friends, many years ago.’ He glanced quickly at Cato. ‘But not now.’
‘You might have mentioned this before,’ Cato muttered.
‘I didn’t think it was important, Centurion. Besides, you didn’t ask.’
‘If we get out of this, I think there might be a few questions I’ll want answers to.’
Bannus reined his horse in when he was a short distance away and smiled as he recognised the guide. He addressed him in Greek.
‘When my men told me about the archer in the fort, I should have guessed. These Roman soldiers are not welcome here, but peace be with you, Symeon of Bethsaida.’
‘And with you, Bannus of Canaan. How may we be of service to you?’
‘I want those two Roman officers surrendered to me. You and the others can return to Jerusalem, after we have disarmed you.’
Symeon shook his head.’You know that is impossible. You would dishonour me, and my family.’
Bannus stared at him a moment before he continued. ‘For the sake of the old days, I will ask you again to hand over those two men, and your weapons. I would not have your blood on my hands.’
‘Then stand aside and let us pass.’
‘No. Those two have slain three of my men in Jerusalem.They must be executed to serve as an example to the people of Judaea.’
‘And what of me? I slew three of your men at the fort.’
‘My fight is with Rome, Symeon. As yours should be.’ He stretched out his hand. ‘Join us.’
‘No.’
Bannus let his hand drop, and turned his attention to the men of the cavalry squadron. ‘Surrender these two officers to me and you will live. Now lay down your arms!’
Macro nudged Cato.’Who does he think he’s fooling? He’d kill the auxiliaries the moment he’d taken their weapons.’ Macro took a breath, drew his sword
Macro fixed his gaze on the darkened features of his friend and shook his head pityingly. ‘You’ve been in the army for what, nearly four years?’
‘Yes . . . So?’
‘So when are you going to stop talking like some poncy poet?’
‘I don’t know,’ Cato said quietly. ‘When I’ve seen enough of this world to grow tired of it, I suppose.’
‘I can hardly wait,’ Macro said quietly as Symeon trudged back to them with the thick army cloaks bundled under his arm.
In the morning, they continued up the path, still in single file. Most of the men had been too cold to sleep through the night and were stiff and tired. Nevertheless, they kept a wary eye on the cliffs above them for any sign of trouble. Soon the path broadened out into a track and the slope became more gentle. Cato breathed a sigh of relief as he urged his mount alongside Symeon and Macro.
‘Looks like we’ve given them the slip.’
‘Bunch of women,’ Macro growled. ‘That’s what they are.’
Symeon did not reply. Instead he was scanning the low ridge ahead of them that marked the beginning of the great plateau. Suddenly he reined his horse in.
‘You spoke too soon, Centurion,’ he said softly. ‘Look up there.’
Cato’s eyes flickered along the ridge and stopped as he saw a small group of men rising up from the rocks, so that they were starkly silhouetted against the sky. More men appeared, scores of them, and then a line of horsemen, directly across the breadth of the track where it crossed the ridge. As the optio bellowed orders for his men to dump their kit, put on their helmets and prepare their weapons, Macro’s hand instinctively grasped his sword handle.
‘Now we’re for it,’ he said quietly
Symeon glanced round at the centurion with a grim smile. ‘Not bad work for a bunch of women.’
As he spoke, one of the horsemen edged his beast forward, down the track towards the Romans.
CHAPTER SIX
‘It’s Bannus,’ Symeon said quietly.
As Cato threw his straw hat aside and jammed his helmet on to his head he looked at their guide in surprise. ‘You know him?’
‘We’ve met before.’
‘As friends, I hope.’
‘We were friends, many years ago.’ He glanced quickly at Cato. ‘But not now.’
‘You might have mentioned this before,’ Cato muttered.
‘I didn’t think it was important, Centurion. Besides, you didn’t ask.’
‘If we get out of this, I think there might be a few questions I’ll want answers to.’
Bannus reined his horse in when he was a short distance away and smiled as he recognised the guide. He addressed him in Greek.
‘When my men told me about the archer in the fort, I should have guessed. These Roman soldiers are not welcome here, but peace be with you, Symeon of Bethsaida.’
‘And with you, Bannus of Canaan. How may we be of service to you?’
‘I want those two Roman officers surrendered to me. You and the others can return to Jerusalem, after we have disarmed you.’
Symeon shook his head.’You know that is impossible. You would dishonour me, and my family.’
Bannus stared at him a moment before he continued. ‘For the sake of the old days, I will ask you again to hand over those two men, and your weapons. I would not have your blood on my hands.’
‘Then stand aside and let us pass.’
‘No. Those two have slain three of my men in Jerusalem.They must be executed to serve as an example to the people of Judaea.’
‘And what of me? I slew three of your men at the fort.’
‘My fight is with Rome, Symeon. As yours should be.’ He stretched out his hand. ‘Join us.’
‘No.’
Bannus let his hand drop, and turned his attention to the men of the cavalry squadron. ‘Surrender these two officers to me and you will live. Now lay down your arms!’
Macro nudged Cato.’Who does he think he’s fooling? He’d kill the auxiliaries the moment he’d taken their weapons.’ Macro took a breath, drew his sword
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