‘We don’t know. With the gods’ help’ – here Elira put on her most seductive face – ‘and mine, I hope so.’
Rage bubbled up inside Hanno, and he tried not to think of what Elira and Aurelia had been forced to do to survive since their capture. ‘If you are, that is when we will strike. When will you know?’ He heard how stupid that question was as it left his lips. ‘You don’t know that either.’
‘No, sir.’
‘No matter.’ Kleitos had already mentioned a gang of street urchins who might be used to cause a diversion on the street. They could surely be paid to keep watch on the palace gates too. ‘When you find out about the funeral, try to come to the baker’s to let me, or one of the soldiers, know. If that proves impossible, you’re to tell Aurelia that we’ll be ready, regardless.’
Elira looked scared. ‘How will you free us?’
‘Leave that to us. Be ready from the moment you leave the palace gate. It will be done as fast and as bloodlessly as possible,’ he declared, glad that Elira couldn’t hear his thumping heart. ‘Give Aurelia my deepest sympathies. Tell her—’ He stopped. What could he say that would make any difference to her grief? ‘Tell her that I’m sorry.’
‘I will, sir. You’ll be able to tell her yourself soon.’ She gave him a tremulous smile. ‘I’d best go now. I can’t stay away too long, or the guard might become suspicious.’
‘Stay strong.’ It was harder than Hanno expected to watch Elira walk away, back to captivity. He consoled himself with the knowledge that within the next few days, she and Aurelia would have both escaped. Though quite how they would hide away from the search that Hippocrates’ soldiers would embark upon afterwards, he had no idea.
‘You’re ready for this?’ Kleitos’ voice was muffled by the cloth that covered the lower half of his face. He was standing with Hanno and a group of children in an alleyway that lay near one of the city’s main gates. It was a calculated gamble, the first of many, that Aurelia and Elira would come this way with Publius’ body. Most of the tombs, and the largest area of graves, lay to either side of the road that led away from the city here.
‘Course we are,’ insisted the gang’s leader, a crop-haired, broad-faced boy who went by the nickname of ‘Bear’. His followers, nine children ranging from his age, which was about eleven or twelve, down to what Hanno reckoned was only around six or seven, muttered or shook their heads in fierce agreement. At first glance, they didn’t look like much – apart from Bear, who was as stocky as many grown men. They were thin, clad in little more than rags, and with bones showing everywhere, but their appearance deceived. Kleitos had shown them in action to Hanno, descending like a pack of wolves on a hapless vendor of cheese who was dismantling his stall. It had taken them less than twenty heartbeats to floor the man, knock him half unconscious, and steal his purse and every last piece of his merchandise.
‘Tell me what you have to do again,’ ordered Kleitos.
Bear gave him a truculent stare that would have earned one of Kleitos’ men a beating. ‘When they’re close enough, we grab hold of the wagonload of hay that’s parked in the yard opposite and push it out into the street.’
‘They need to be within thirty paces of the alley,’ warned Hanno.
‘I know, I know. We hone in on the soldiers who’ll be guarding two women. Distract them, knock ’em down. It doesn’t matter too much as long as we don’t kill them.’
These children’s lives must be brutal, thought Hanno. At least half of them had knives, and not one looked shocked by the idea of murder.
‘What matters is that the women get away,’ Kleitos said. ‘You just have to delay the soldiers as long as you can, and not get caught. If that happens, you’re on your own.’
‘You don’t need to tell us,’ replied Bear, curling his lip. ‘It’s one of our rules. There’s fuck all we can do if the soldiers take one of us, so we forget about whoever it was. Don’t we, lads?’
‘Aye.’ ‘That’s right.’ ‘Better dead than captured.’
‘Good,’ said Kleitos, casting a look at Hanno. It was their fervent hope too that none of the urchins was taken. Both had worn masks and nondescript chitons every time that they’d met Bear and his gang, but there was still a risk that some of the boys could be overpowered. Under torture, they might remember a detail that would send armed men to Hanno’s or Kleitos’ doors.
‘What’s so special about these women?’ demanded Bear.
‘You’re being paid enough not to care.’ Kleitos held up a bulging leather purse. Because his native accent wouldn’t sound out of place, it was he who’d done the recruiting, and most of the talking. The chink, chink sound from his bag drew every urchin’s stare like a cat to an injured mouse. ‘As we agreed, there’s a gold piece for each of you if this is successful.’
Bear puffed up his chest. ‘I want half now.’ His followers moved a little closer to him, and Hanno saw some even lay hands to their daggers. Little bastards. He tensed, ready to fight.
‘Don’t piss about with me, boy. I gave you three gold pieces already as a goodwill gesture. That’s more than you see in a fucking year of thieving. You’ll get the money when we’re done, as I said. If you don’t like that, to Hades with the lot of you.’
Bear’s eyes flickered to his companions.
‘Lay hands on your weapons,’ said Kleitos menacingly, ‘and we’ll gut half of you before you’ve taken a breath, and the rest two heartbeats after that.’
Bear glowered at Kleitos, and then Hanno. Both men returned the stare with equal intensity. After a moment, Bear laughed. ‘I’m joking with you. Our deal is good. You pay me outside the temple to Demeter in Achradina, at the beginning of the third watch tonight.’
‘You’re wiser than you look,’ grated Kleitos. ‘Now, if you want to earn your gold, you’d best get some eyes on the streets around here, so that we get plenty of warning when they’re coming. We’ll stay here. Keep us informed.’
With a sullen look, Bear chivvied his gang out of the alley.
‘The little shit would sell his own soul if it made him a profit,’ said Hanno.
‘So would any of the adult lowlifes in the city,’ Kleitos said, and Hanno knew he was right.
‘Will Hippocrates not punish the guards?’ he asked, voicing the worry that they had argued over twice before. Those accompanying Aurelia and Elira were likely to be innocent of any wrongdoing against the two women.
‘They’ll be flogged afterwards, that’s for sure, but I don’t think it will come to more than that. Trained soldiers are priceless commodities at the moment. Besides, the coinage you gave me will more than compensate them. I will see that they receive it secretly, from an anonymous donor.’
They settled down to wait, as far from each end of the alleyway as possible. Hanno watched one direction, and Kleitos the other. They’d chosen the site with great care. The narrow passage was full of human waste, and therefore frequented only by those with chamber pots to empty, but that didn’t mean they were safe from discovery. Two men wearing masks were bound to attract attention, yet they couldn’t take them off for fear of the urchins seeing their faces. Added to this concern was Hanno’s worry that Aurelia would be accompanied by too many soldiers, or that she would go to a different gate, or not come at all. It was a nerve-racking time. Conversation had to be kept to a minimum, so he could do nothing but brood.
Hanno’s humour wasn’t helped by the rank stench of shit and piss, and the squelchy feeling of both between his toes every time he moved. He focused his mind on the room that Kleitos had rented above a tavern in the far west of the city. News of the women’s escape would take time to reach the area. With luck, the inn’s owner, a man known to Kleitos, and whose hand had been well greased, would pay no heed. Kleitos’ ploy was to say that Aurelia and Elira were flute girls, secreted away for illicit meetings with him and his friend (Hanno). After a little while, Hanno thrust that idea from his mind too. That part of their plan was also full of risk. Everything had to go ac
cording to plan, or it would end in disaster. Gods, but fighting a battle was easier than this, he thought sourly.
‘They’re coming!’ One of Bear’s smallest followers, a waif with protuberant eyes and a mass of curly black hair, stood before him.
‘You’re sure?’ asked Hanno.
A confident shrug. ‘I saw two women, one carrying a small body wrapped in linen. A couple of soldiers were with them. That’s who you want, isn’t it?’
Heart racing with excitement, and sorrow for Aurelia, Hanno shot a look at Kleitos. ‘It’s them. It has to be.’
‘Only two soldiers! That’s good. How far away are they?’ demanded Kleitos, stepping to Hanno’s side.
‘A few blocks. They won’t be long.’
‘Bear and the rest are in place?’ asked Hanno.
‘Aye. We want our gold.’
‘And you’ll have it, if you do your job.’
‘Never fear.’ He grinned, revealing filthy, misshapen teeth. ‘I’m to let Bear know when they’re about thirty paces from the entrance to the yard.’ He placed a thumb and forefinger between his lips and blew a low wolf whistle. ‘I’ll do that, but much louder. The instant that the wagon’s rolled out, me and the lads will fall on the two soldiers.’
‘Good. I’ll see Bear tonight, in Achradina, as we arranged. He’ll receive the money then.’
‘I’ll tell him,’ said the urchin over his shoulder as he trotted off.
Kleitos nudged Hanno. ‘Nervous?’
‘Shit, yes! Aren’t you?’
‘My guts are churning like I just ate a dodgy plate of mussels.’ Kleitos leered at him. ‘By Zeus’ beard, though, I feel alive!’
‘Me too,’ said Hanno with a tight smile. It felt good to be doing something for love, instead of for vengeance, or loyalty, or any of the other myriad reasons that men fought. If things went well, he and Aurelia would be reunited. He took a deep breath to calm himself down. Clear heads survived in combat, where overexcited ones did not.
‘I’ll grab the slave girl – Elira, is it? You take Aurelia, and her son.’
‘And if Bear and his lot fail to bring down the soldiers?’
Kleitos stooped, ferreted around in the muck and came up with first one, and then a second, lump of brick. ‘We use these. For gods’ sakes, try not to kill them.’ Kleitos set off towards the mouth of the alley. He stopped about ten paces in – enough distance to remain unseen to the casual glance of a passer-by, but close enough to be able to run out the moment they had to.
Since the war had begun, Hanno had waited in ambush on countless occasions. It was normal for time to become stretched, for his vision to reduce to a small tunnel in front of him, for his mouth to be dry, his palms sweaty and his guts in turmoil. Yet he’d never felt so nervous. It was due to Aurelia’s involvement, of course, but knowing that didn’t stop his heart from racing ever faster. He began to worry. If he was too nervous, he might screw it all up. That thought was enough. Biting deep into the inside of his cheek, he let the resulting, exquisite pain drive all else before it. His focus soon returned.
A different urchin sauntered into the alley’s mouth. He stopped, and casually scratched at a dirty ankle. ‘They’re fifty paces away,’ he hissed, and disappeared.
Hanno’s nervousness must yet have been palpable, because Kleitos reached out to grip his arm. ‘It will be all right.’
Hanno swallowed. ‘Aye.’
‘We’ve no idea how fast they’re walking. I’ll count down from thirty, so we’re ready.’
Hanno nodded.
‘Thirty. Twenty-nine. Twenty-eight.’
Kleitos’ count went on. Hanno’s gaze was locked on the tall, narrow portion of street that he could see. An old man tottered by, leaning on a stick. In the house opposite, a woman leaned out to beat a small carpet off the iron railings of her balcony. ‘Fresh, hot sausages! Just cooked! Who wants some?’ called a stallholder.
‘Nineteen. Eighteen. Seventeen. Sixteen.’
In the sky above, a seagull screeched contemptuously, and was answered by several others. The waif wandered past without looking into the alleyway. A man pushed a little cart full of ironware past, muttering under his breath about its weight. Two girls stopped to admire something in a shop that abutted on to the alleyway, chattering about who fancied which guard on duty at the gate.
‘Six. Five. Four. Three. Two. One,’ said Kleitos.
Neither spoke. They stared at the street, took a couple of steps towards it. The background noises dimmed in Hanno’s ears; he could feel a pulse there, as well as in the base of his throat.
Fweeeeee-feeeeeerrrr. The wolf whistle was far louder than Hanno would have thought possible from someone as small as the waif.
It had begun.
Baal Hammon, watch over us. Baal Saphon, grant us your protection, and your strength, Hanno prayed as they moved to the end of the alley.
Rumble, rumble, rumble. The noise of iron-bound wheels off cobbles came from off to their left. Bear was playing his part so far, but Hanno’s eyes weren’t searching for the wagon. They were desperately scanning the street to his right. He could sense Kleitos behind him, doing the same, but the damn priest and his party were blocking their view. Ten steps away, three urchins stood together, making a bad pretence of inspecting the wares displayed in the entrance to a carpenter’s workshop. Two more loitered on the other side, playing dice in the dirt. The others were probably with Bear.
‘Look out!’ shouted a man’s voice. The rumbling sound grew louder; shouts of alarm went up, and Hanno heard the wagon thump into the wall of a house on his side of the street. Bear laughed. ‘We did it!’
Hanno was far from happy. If Aurelia’s guards have seen, they might turn and run.
To his immense relief, a soldier pushed his way past the priest. He was followed by a stone-faced Aurelia, carrying a small, cloth-wrapped bundle. Elira was next, and then an officer whom Hanno recognised, but couldn’t place.
There was a savage curse from behind him. ‘Agathocles! If he spots me, I’m fucked.’
Shit! thought Hanno. The officer was Kleitos’ acquaintance, the one they’d met with the group of female slaves. Yet another risk factor had been added to their enterprise.
Right on cue, Bear and the rest of his urchins appeared from behind them. They swept towards the first soldier, who let out a scornful laugh. ‘Don’t make me kick your arses!’ He hadn’t seen the rest of the children, who were swarming in from both sides.
‘Remember what I told you!’ Bear shouted at his companions. Darting in before the surprised guard could react, he grabbed the man around the back of one knee and jerked it forward, upending him on to his backside. Four urchins leaped on top of the guard, pummelling and kicking.
Hanno and Kleitos sprinted out on to the street. Elira had begun screaming, but Aurelia scarcely seemed to notice the mayhem. Agathocles elbowed his way past them, his hand already pulling at his kopis. ‘What in Hades’ name is going on?’ he roared. ‘You little bastards!’
It went against all of Hanno’s training not to look at the enemies he faced, but he kept his gaze fixed on Aurelia, who still seemed unaware of what was going on. It wasn’t until he reached her side that she even saw him. With a sad smile, she lifted the bundle in her arms. ‘This is Publius. You’d have liked him.’
‘Aurelia. Come!’ He took her arm.
‘I have to hand him to someone at the gate. I’m not to be allowed to leave the city. To see him cremated.’
Hanno hadn’t considered that her grief might have rendered her dazed. ‘We can make the arrangements later,’ he said gently, pulling her away. ‘But we must go. Now.’
She didn’t move, and Hanno began to panic. The first soldier was behind him. From the grunts of pain and the shouts of glee from the urchins, he was receiving a good kicking, but Agathocles, who had also been floored, had somehow struggled to his feet again. He’d seen what was going on. It was the heroic efforts of Bear, who had slit his baldric with a knife and hur
led his sword down the street, that had prevented him from wading into the fray with a weapon. Armed or no, he was heading in Hanno’s direction. Bear and three other urchins were darting in and out around him, but Agathocles swatted them away like annoying wasps. In desperation, Hanno grabbed Publius’ body from Aurelia. She gasped in shock, and he hissed, ‘Follow me!’ before turning and running for the alley. He kept his eyes locked on Kleitos and Elira, who were a dozen paces in front of him.
Hanno had all but reached the safety of the passage when he realised that she wasn’t behind him. Spinning, he was stunned to see Aurelia seize a dagger from one of the urchins and plunge it into Agathocles’ groin, below the protection of his pteryges. Agathocles roared in pain, and she stabbed him twice more. ‘You whoreson!’ she screamed.
‘What the fuck is she doing?’ cried Kleitos.
‘I don’t know,’ Hanno replied as Aurelia left Agathocles to collapse to his knees, blood running in thick streams from his wounds. With great calm, she walked to the first soldier, who was still lying on the ground. Her blade rose and fell, rose and fell, and the man’s shouts came to a gurgling end. There was a clang of metal off stone as she let the knife drop. At last her gaze travelled towards Hanno, who had stepped outside the alley again.
‘This way!’ he urged.
Aurelia’s face was serene as she walked, not ran, towards him. Around her, confusion reigned. The urchins had vanished from sight, but shopkeepers stood in their doorways, craning their necks to see what was going on. One man had gone to Agathocles’ aid, but the other passers-by stood in shock, mesmerised by the sudden, random violence. ‘Hurry!’ urged Hanno, pulling up the cloth hiding his face.
When she reached him, Kleitos gave her a sharp look and then headed into the alley, Elira by his side. ‘Get a move on!’
‘Ignore what’s underfoot,’ said Hanno to Aurelia. ‘It isn’t far to the other side.’
‘I knew you would come,’ she breathed.
‘How could I not, knowing you were captive here in the city? I’m sorry that it took so long.’ His eyes fell to his burden, Publius. ‘If only I could have done it sooner.’