Agent of Rome: The Last Battle by Nick Brown
Author:Nick Brown [Brown, Nick]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2019-09-29T16:00:00+00:00
Crouching low, sword already drawn, Cassius advanced towards the corner of the formation. His gaze alternated between both faces but he caught no sight of either his men or the sentries. He was only twenty feet from the lantern to the north â his left â when he heard a grunt from somewhere to his right. It was followed by a quiet exchange of voices he could not identify.
Movement to his left. Indavara emerged from the darkness, dagger in hand. Behind him were Cordus and Fimbria, each cavalryman holding the shoulder of a sentry. Enca was directly behind the captive, hand and blade on the back of his neck. The sentry had already been disarmed, bound and gagged. Despite his bulky frame, he looked terrified.
Cassius met them close to the lantern, which sat in a natural niche within the rock. âWell done. See anyone else?â
âJust him,â said Indavara. âHe was taking a piss. Didnât give us any trouble.â
âWait here.â
Cassius ran back through the glow of the lamp. Here he passed a patch of worn, marked ground: clearly the spot where the lift was lowered. He hurried around the uneven corner of the formation. Hearing a grunt and an impact, he advanced warily, sword up. Unable to see much in the darkness ahead, he was about to fetch help when someone spoke.
âCorbulo?â
Iovius emerged from the deepest shadows beside the rock face, other figures behind him.
âIâm here.â
âBastard wouldnât come quietly. Hit Ambustus pretty hard.â
âIâm all right,â said the soldier, who was dragging the second sentry along with an arm around his neck. This man was still struggling and cursing, despite the gag in his mouth. A cuff to the back of his head from Quadratus quietened him down.
âWhat about the others?â asked Iovius.
âTheyâve got the other sentry. Did you check the stable?â
âYes. No more men. Four horses inside and a carriage behind it.â
âIs that right?â Cassius recalled that Dolabellaâs abductors had used a carriage. He couldnât think of many reasons for one to be present at the isolated fortress.
Gods. He really could be here.
âStart questioning him about how we get up top â signals, numbers on the lift and so on.â
âYou donât want to do it?â asked Iovius.
âIâll be back once Iâve started the others. Weâll keep the sentries divided â see if what they tell us matches. Harder to deceive us.â
âGood thinking.â
âKeep a blade at his throat,â added Cassius as he departed. âBut donât kill him unless you have to.â
He wasnât sure that a shout would even reach the defenders high above but it wasnât a theory he wished to test. Passing the lamp once more, he noted an iron hand-bell situated in another niche; evidently this was how the sentries communicated with the fortress.
Indavaraâs group had already begun their interrogation. Surrounded by his four captors, the sentry answered in fearful stammers, and confirmed that the bell was used to summon the lift. Cassius also swiftly learned that the shift change was not due for two hours and that ringing the bell at other times was not done without reasonable need.
Download
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.
What's Done in Darkness by Kayla Perrin(25490)
Shot Through the Heart: DI Grace Fisher 2 by Isabelle Grey(18208)
Shot Through the Heart by Mercy Celeste(18151)
The Fifty Shades Trilogy & Grey by E L James(17767)
The 3rd Cycle of the Betrayed Series Collection: Extremely Controversial Historical Thrillers (Betrayed Series Boxed set) by McCray Carolyn(13179)
The Subtle Art of Not Giving a F*ck by Mark Manson(12896)
Scorched Earth by Nick Kyme(11821)
Stepbrother Stories 2 - 21 Taboo Story Collection (Brother Sister Stepbrother Stepsister Taboo Pseudo Incest Family Virgin Creampie Pregnant Forced Pregnancy Breeding) by Roxi Harding(11014)
Drei Generationen auf dem Jakobsweg by Stein Pia(10208)
Suna by Ziefle Pia(10176)
Scythe by Neal Shusterman(9249)
International Relations from the Global South; Worlds of Difference; First Edition by Arlene B. Tickner & Karen Smith(8599)
Successful Proposal Strategies for Small Businesses: Using Knowledge Management ot Win Govenment, Private Sector, and International Contracts 3rd Edition by Robert Frey(8404)
This is Going to Hurt by Adam Kay(7680)
Dirty Filthy Fix: A Fixed Trilogy Novella by Laurelin Paige(6444)
He Loves Me...KNOT by RC Boldt(5795)
How to Make Love to a Negro Without Getting Tired by Dany LaFerrière(5366)
Interdimensional Brothel by F4U(5298)
Thankful For Her by Alexa Riley(5148)