Read Online The Imperial Banner by Nick Brown - Free Book Online

was a bundle of papyrus papers held together by twine. The first sheet gave what he presumed to be Abascantius’s home address in Antioch. The second consisted of some notes on Gregorius: his full name, a physical description and a code word he would recognise. The third sheet was the letter of authorisation from Chief Pulcher in Rome, complete with his personal seal. The fourth named the bodyguard and gave instructions for his payment; Cassius was to give him a quarter when he met him, Abascantius would give him the rest later. The fifth sheet was a manifest of the cart’s contents: a list of the trinkets and jewellery, totals for the number of gold and silver ingots. Cassius made a few quick calculations and a mental note. On the sixth sheet was a sketch of the Persian banner, on the seventh some renderings of specific pieces from the hoard.
    The eighth sheet was folded over twice and made of thicker, more durable papyrus. It was a map of Syria – in fact one of the best maps Cassius had ever seen – with all major settlements and roads marked. In one corner was a date: the map was just a few months old; and it bore the emblem of the military cartographer’s office. Like most army maps, natural features were represented by icons next to main roads, never as impediments to Roman routes. Using his thumb for scale, Cassius calculated that Palmyra was about forty-five miles away.
    There was also a smaller sheet: a receipt with space for Cassius to mark his name. It stated that the heavy bag at the bottom of the satchel contained one hundred silver denarii. Cassius took it out and weighed it in his hand. The money would certainly prove useful but he was worried about carrying it around the wastes of southern Syria with only Simo for company.
    The big Gaul didn’t lack courage, but – like Cassius – he simply wasn’t the warrior type. There wasn’t an animal or human alive he wouldn’t help if he saw them in distress. Cassius had even noticed his depressed mood on the days he’d had to kill a chicken for dinner.
    He replaced the money and the papers in the satchel and put it to one side. Smiling at the ducklings as they paddled around the boat after their mother, he rested his head back against the wall and closed his eyes. After a while he heard voices from the courtyard: Shostra and the innkeeper, then Simo, then Abascantius. He listened. He listened until he had to admit to himself that he wasn’t just listening: he was hiding, and this thought propelled him to his feet. He had hidden long enough.

    Abascantius was taking breakfast with the innkeeper. They were sitting on a low bench, picking at plates of fruit, idly observing the stable-lad cleaning a saddle. A line running across the courtyard split shade and sun.
    Cassius had sent Simo up to pack. He handed the signed receipt to Abascantius, who tucked it into a small purse at his belt.
    ‘Sir, I’ve a couple more questions.’
    Abascantius touched the innkeeper’s arm and nodded towards the stables. The Syrian obediently wandered away.
    ‘Well?’
    ‘Where was the flag was being kept before Gregorius took charge of it?’
    ‘It had been hidden in a crypt under an abandoned temple. Apparently some centurion found it.’
    ‘And this cart . . .’ Cassius chose his words carefully, even though the innkeeper was out of earshot. ‘Its . . . contents . . . would be unusually heavy. You’re sure he planned to use only the one vehicle?’
    ‘Yes, just the one. But you’re right – it would have to be on the large side. You might be able to use that.’
    ‘And if I pressed you for an opinion, sir? Who do you believe might be responsible?’
    Abascantius had been about to eat a date but he now put it down and leaned back against the inn wall.
    ‘I have some thoughts, but I shall not share them with you now. I do not wish to prejudice your work. A good investigator must approach these things with an open mind. Anything else?’
    ‘Not at the moment,