Shadow of Death (Book 2 of Hanthalah)

Chapter 7

The waves crashed against the shore and lapped at my feet, as Martha and I took an afternoon stroll on a beach west of the harbor, our arms intertwined. It had been a day since we scoured the lighthouse of any remaining pirates. We even used Andronicus' ship to leech out the meagre remnants of the crew aboard the pirate ship buried within a nook in the island.

The following morning, we were summoned to the villa of the tribunos, the general in command of the standing auxiliary tagma, and chief among our superior officers. The man never soiled his status by visiting our camp in person; unlike, Dalmatius and the other senior officers, he was Greek rather than Egyptian. Though technically both were equal as Roman citizens, the Greeks did not see it that way.

So, he honored us with an invitation to his home.

His villa was a sprawling complex, a village in its own right. There were several courtyards linking up different buildings, as well as workers, chamberlains and guards bustling about performing one task or the other.

How could one wake to such lush greenery and extraordinary luxury every day? I asked myself.

The villa was situated on a hill to the east of the city and offered a magnificent view of the layout below; a view to rival that of the lighthouse.

I wondered if I could provide such commodities for Martha one day.

I had taken Hyrkon's curved Persian blade, my personal piece of plunder. No one would know it had ever belonged to someone else, and I decided to tell neither tetrarch nor tribunos.

The tribunos was a strikingly young and rather comely man, though his temples were greying. I was presented to him, coupled with the Nubian, Arcadius, Kusaila and Andronicus. Tetrarch Dalmatius was also present.

The tribunos was reclining on a lengthy piece of furniture, resting on an elbow. Two scantily clad slave girls were huddled in the shadow behind him, their eyes fixed on their feet, each of them bearing a tray of delights.

"You have done the Empire a service," The tribunos announced, tossing a grape into his mouth.

"We serve the glory of Christ and Emperor," I immediately chimed in.

The tribunos ignored my input. "You will be rewarded as promised."

An ear to ear grin formed on my face as the tribunos snapped his fingers and three burly dark-skinned slaves trudged into the room, each of them carrying lacquered wooden chests, heavy laden and jingling with coin. They laid them out at our feet.

"Divide them among yourselves as you wish," the tribunos ordered. "The sum is a thousand solidi in total. It will be delivered to the auxiliary camp, waiting for you upon arrival."

A thousand gold, I thought, bemused. The tetrarch would surely earn the greatest sum, but if what remained were divided equally upon the rest of us, I had instantly become wealthy beyond what I had ever imagined. My dream was to come true. Martha would be jumping with delight.

Only she wasn't.

"Such foolish dreams yet linger in your head?" she scolded me on the beach that afternoon. "Put to rest such childish whims."

"Foolish? Childish? Is that what you would call my ambitions that are soon to foment?" I demanded.

"How did you imagine my reaction when you decided not to inform me of an endeavor that may have seen you slain?"

"I stand before you yet drawing breath. My coffers full to bursting with solidus. That is what matters, the only thing that matters. I would see both of us relieved of work born of necessity in favor of life we choose."