Veni, vidi, vici. by Nath Fredrik

Author:Nath, Fredrik [Nath, Fredrik]
Language: eng
Format: mobi
Tags: FIC014000 Historical Fiction
Publisher: Fredrik Nath Books. Middlesbrough
Published: 2016-01-03T08:00:00+00:00

Book III

THE LITTLE KING

Chapter I

“The eyes are not responsible when the mind does the seeing.” – Publilius Syrus.

‘Is that the coast of the Bosporus?’ Sallustius said.

We stood on the deck in rain that threatened to wash us all into the sea. I wrapped my cloak around me although it was a warm enough morning. The goose-grease rubbed into it to keep out the water gave out a rancid unpleasant odour and I kept wrinkling my nose trying in vain to stifle it. The flat grey coastline looked uninviting and cruel to my eyes, with its barren mud-flats in the sloping torrent enveloping us. I wondered what I should do once we landed.

‘I’ve never been here but the Captain tells me it is,’ I said.

‘What do we do when we disembark?’

‘I have it in mind to try to enter the King’s court but I can think of no suitable way to inveigle myself. Maybe if we claim we are deserters and that Caesar wants us dead that would be enough. I need to be in a position to find out where Quintus is imprisoned.’

‘Perhaps he needs a physician?’

‘Maybe, but he would he take us both on because you can cure his warts?’

‘These small Kings value such services.’

‘Warts?’

‘No. Most of the physicians in Armenia and Pontus are witches and religious zealots. They know little of Greek medicine.’

‘Won’t work. You would have to make him ill first. To poison him we would have to get close first.’

‘Perhaps your idea of offering him military service would work.’

We discussed the matter and in the end decided that a military status would suit our purpose the best. The only one of the freedmen who objected was Pacorus. I was learning to value his suggestions but despite his knowledge of Armenian and Pontic language, I wanted him to stay with the freedmen. We planned to leave them guarding Themistocles and remain in readiness in case we had to leave in a hurry. Everyone understood Themistocles would prove useful when we returned to Pergamum. We would after all have need of his ships. I had not decided what to do with him afterwards. Had I been Caesar, I might have let him go, but I am no lover of traitors whether they are slaves or Roman citizens and I had it in mind to crucify him when we returned to Rome. If we returned to Rome.

It was still drizzling as I stood and watched the ship depart. Sotiris was true to his word but he had no desire to linger in Pharnaces’ kingdom any longer than was required by the work I paid him for. He agreed to return in two months but whether we would be there or not I could not predict. He swore he would wait no more than three days anchored off shore and we would signal with a fire if we were there. It seemed a reasonable arrangement but if our timing was wrong we faced being stuck there or dead.

The ship pulled

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