Loreticus: A Spy Thriller and Historical Intrigue Based On Events From Ancient Rome (Lost Emperor Trilogy Book 1) by J.B. Lucas

Author:J.B. Lucas [Lucas, J.B.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: T&T (24 Aug. 2017)
Published: 2017-08-23T22:00:00+00:00

Chapter 15

“So, the actor isn’t Marcan?” asked Darcy later that afternoon. The sun was an hour away from setting and families were retreating in to their homes to cook and rest. “No,” said Demetrian, cutting something in front of him on the counter in his kitchen.

“Yes, he is Marcan,” retorted Loreticus, eying the veteran. “But he’s changed quite a lot after a summer on the road. He’s skinnier and scruffier.”

“Why do you do women’s work?” Darcy enquired. “You’re questioning my manliness?” said Demetrian, turning to Darcy with the knife in his hand. “No, no, not at all.”

“When did you find out about the actor?” croaked Selban. He sat in the darkness of the corner of Demetrian’s table. A cloud of sweet pipe smoke hovered in a halo over his head. It spread, drifting in to the late sunbeams on the far side of the room.

“Who? Me?” responded Darcy. “Less than an hour before you did. I was having breakfast with one of my lovely informants. Why?”

“What he’s asking you, Darcy, is whether you told Antron or Ferran about Marcan’s location,” said Loreticus from his seat. He spoke gently, angling to diffuse the long-brewing spat between his agents. Loreticus punched the tobacco into his pipe bowl, and watched in irritation as Darcy and Selban swapped looks of dislike.

“Of course not. Isn’t it more likely that you have a spy in your offices?” asked Darcy of Loreticus.

“Graceful gods, no,” replied the tall man. “Pello doesn’t have the wit and no-one else was there. It was just us lot.” He paused. “Sorry, Pello, I didn’t mean to be rude.”

Pello smiled.

Demetrian lifted a plate of pale meats over to the smoking skillet by the window and laid slabs on to the burning metal. Quickly a smell of frying gammon went to battle with the pipe smoke.

“I don’t know how you two can smoke those pipes in this heat,” said Demetrian. “It’s cloying. But to answer the question you’re all dancing around, Saguinas obviously got paid twice.”

“And that’s not the only question,” stated Loreticus. “Saguinas said that it was only Antron who offered the bounty?”

“Yes.”

“Then I wonder whether that was because neither of the other two were in the room or because they didn’t know about it. I’ll have to twist handles and push doors to find out. This party was not built to last.”

Darcy stood up and moved next to Demetrian. He looked in the pan and pointed.

“That one, please.” Demetrian eyeballed him. The shorter man looked back. “I like the edges crispy, please,” said Darcy.

“Pello, I need your help with something . . . personal. Would you mind straying slightly from your usual tasks?”

“Of course not, Loreticus. Is it about Alba or Dess?”

“Neither, of course,” snapped Loreticus and peered at Pello from under his eyebrows, not in reproach but in concern at how much he, the spymaster, was letting slip. He must be tired because he thought he had always been scrupulous with his words.

He didn’t continue the conversation, but instead led Pello at pace towards the broad avenue where the grander residences stood.

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.