The Sign of The Blood by Laurence O'Bryan

Author:Laurence O'Bryan [O'Bryan, Laurence]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Ardua
Published: 2018-11-22T05:00:00+00:00

XXXIII

Portus, outside Rome, 306 A.D.

Helena looked down at the dock. A troop of legionaries had lined up where the gangplank was being lowered. She’d seen a signal passed by flag between the galley and the shore, and knew the troop was for her.

The previous three days sailing since they’d left Hosius on his knees had passed without incident. She’d spent most of the time confined to the captain’s cabin. It had a golden piss pot and a window, where she could stare out at the sea, but iron bars, intended to keep boarders out, prevented her from jumping overboard to swim ashore or drown herself.

Beside the gangplank being lowered onto the dock stood three of the galley crew, ready to take hold of her. Their job was to ensure she didn’t jump down into the water between the galley and the stone of the port wall. But there was no chance she was going to do that. Helena would do whatever was needed to help her son. She even looked forward to meeting whoever had arranged her capture.

It had to be someone important. There were few people who could pay for a galley to intercept someone on their way to Rome. Whoever was behind it clearly wanted to ensure Helena did not leave the ship at any of the ports they would stop at after reaching Sicilia. Setting agents to abduct her on arrival in Ostia would not guarantee that they would catch her. And there were too many small ports south of Rome to make having agents at every port impractical.

Helena walked forward to the gangplank. “No one will hold me,” she said loudly.

The captain shouted an order in Greek. Two of the men waiting grabbed her arms. The third man went behind them as they carried her, a foot off the ground, down the gangplank to the dock. She didn’t struggle. There was no point.

At the bottom of the gangplank, three legionaries with black breastplates waited. An officer with a red cloak and a black helmet stood to the side.

She pointed at him as soon as she was released. “Why have I been kidnapped? My husband will have you gelded if you don’t answer.”

The officer bowed. “You were taken into protective custody, my lady. I have orders to ensure your safe arrival in Rome, and that you do not harm yourself on the way.”

He snapped his fingers. Two of his men stepped forward. One had thin iron manacles in his hands. They grabbed her hands and forced them into the manacles. The manacle had a piece of iron between each hand, which meant she couldn’t put her hands together.

“Why are you doing this? I have done nothing wrong.” She glared at the officer.

“We were told you are subject to violent fits when adverse news is given to you.”

She stopped moving and stared at him. His eyes were dull, unblinking, as if he’d already seen too much in his life.

“What adverse news awaits me?”

“Your son passed through this port ten days ago.

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