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Seeing how close Scaurus’s galley was, he pushed the stern of the other craft out into the river. The ebbing tide did the rest, pulling both vessels out into the channel, until the far end of the second barge swung into the thick bank of reeds on the other side of the river. For one terrible moment, Simo thought the tide might pull it through but then both craft came to a rest, blocking the entire width of the river.

Now the big Gaul ran back along the jetty and jumped down on to the muddy path that led up to the road. He crouched down and peered through the reeds at the
Radians
, still cutting along the river at speed. Three sailors were running towards the bow.

‘Back the oars!’ yelled the captain. ‘Now!’

He held out his arm to the right. The helmsman hauled on the tiller.

Scaurus was still gripping Cassius by the arm. In his other hand was the knife.

Cassius watched the oars spin around, then drop into the water just as the galley struck the middle of the first barge. The entire ship shuddered as the prow smashed into the rotten timbers.

Unlike the sailors, Scaurus hadn’t taken the precaution of holding on to something solid and he and Cassius were thrown forward. Though his wrists were tied in front of him, Cassius at least managed to twist in the air so that he landed on his side. Scaurus fell too but swiftly scrambled back to his feet.

‘What in Hades?’ he yelled.

The captain ignored him. ‘Centre the rudder,’ he told the helmsman before striding forward.

Cassius lay where he was, his face an inch from the deck. He could smell the oil in the pitch-coated timbers. Next to the main hatch was a little square box affixed to the deck. Inside were two sponges, some lengths of cloth, and a rope-spike.

‘Very good. So now what?’

Simo turned to find Indavara standing behind him, breathing hard. The bodyguard took his bow and quiver from his shoulder and laid them carefully on the ground. He had also attached the sword and dagger to his belt. At the top of the path was an unsaddled horse. Simo stared at it.

‘Cost me every coin I had,’ Indavara explained. ‘Time to earn some more.’

The Gaul couldn’t help smiling. ‘Master Cassius is alive. He’s right there.’

‘I know. What’s the plan?’

Simo gestured towards the barges. ‘I hadn’t thought much further than this.’

Indavara came up next to him, and peered through the reeds at the galley. ‘I had a feeling you’d say that. Go and get Corbulo’s mail-shirt.’

Simo started back up the path, then stopped. ‘What are you going to do?’

‘There are a lot of men on that thing. Let’s see if we can even the odds.’

Cassius looked up at the helmsman. The sailor was staring forward and didn’t even notice when Cassius rolled over on to his front and crawled across the deck towards the box.

Indavara took three arrows from the quiver and examined the ship. He could see no sign of Corbulo at the stern now. In fact there seemed to be only one man there.

The prow of the galley had embedded itself in the barge. Small chunks of timber continued to fall off both vessels and float away. The other sailors were gathered there, leaning over the side rail, examining the damage. A chubby older man was walking along the deck towards them. He was holding a knife.

‘That’s him,’ said Simo as he returned with the mail-shirt. ‘That’s Scaurus.’

‘Quickly. Before they realise this was no accident.’

Indavara raised his hands and squatted down. Simo lifted the mail-shirt and lowered it on over his head. Indavara stuck his head through the collar, then shoved his arms into the sleeves. The shirt got stuck over his chest.

‘It’s very tight,’ Simo said as he heaved it down.

‘It’ll do.’

Indavara turned back to the river. ‘What about bodyguards? Any fighting men?’

‘I don’t know. There were some with him earlier.’

Indavara picked up the bow and an arrow. He moved out on to the path to give himself a clear shot and got down on one knee. He checked the flight of the arrow then slotted it against the string. Drawing it only halfway back, he aimed for a point close to the
Radians
’ prow, a foot below the deck.

He fired; and hit exactly where he wanted to. One of the sailors was so surprised he stumbled backwards and fell over. The others looked up at the jetty, then the bank. Some of them saw him. Indavara wasn’t worried about that.

He already had the second bolt ready. He waited for the men to scurry back along the deck, then fired the second one into the mast. The sailor at the head of the group stopped. The others – Scaurus included – piled up beside him.

Indavara took the third arrow, aimed low, and fired straight into them, catching a man on the thigh. As he fell, some of the sailors ran back across the deck, jumped into the water and swam for the opposite bank. Others leapt off the bow into the barge and scrambled away. Left alone, the injured man decided he too would abandon ship, and rolled himself off the deck. Scaurus scuttled back towards the stern, head down as he ran.

Indavara turned to Simo and nodded down at the quiver. ‘Bring that.’

He walked down the path and on to the jetty.

Cassius’s fingers closed on the handle of the rope-spike. He was about to pull it towards him, when a booted foot landed on his wrist. He turned and stared up at the dark face and light eyes of the mercenary Alikar. He was holding his club by his side. Cassius could see notches on the handle. There were at least forty. Alikar screwed his boot into Cassius’s arm. Cassius let go.

The Palestinian reached down with his spare hand, grabbed Cassius by the hair and dragged him up, then towards the stern. Cassius’s boots slipped on the deck as he tried to stay on his feet. The mercenary deposited him in a corner by the deckhouse.

‘Stay.’

Indavara walked along the narrow siding of the barge until he came to the prow of the ship. The swiftest of the sailors had already made it to the reeds and were dragging themselves up the bank. He turned to Simo and handed him the bow.

‘You stay here. Any of them come back towards the ship – shoot them.’

Simo looked anxiously down at the weapon in his hand.

‘Will you do it?’ Indavara demanded. ‘I need you to watch my back.’

Simo nodded.

‘Then ready an arrow.’

Indavara reached up to the prow and hauled himself on to the galley.

Cassius watched the other three mercenaries hurry out of the hatch. When Scaurus reached them, he struck one across the shoulder.

‘Go! All of you! It’s just one man.’

Alikar said something to the others in their own tongue. They raised the clubs and started towards the bow.

Scaurus ran to the side rail and bellowed at the fleeing sailors. ‘Come back, you cowards! Come back!’ He spat into the water. ‘Whore-sons, every one!’

He turned round as Cassius got to his feet and looked to the bow.

‘Yes – your one-eared friend. But I fear he’s bitten off a little more than he can chew this time.’

Scaurus still had the narrow blade in his hand. Crouching, his face flushed, he advanced towards Cassius.

‘Now, where were we?’

When he saw the size and weaponry of the four men striding towards him, Indavara gave serious thought to running back to the barge and grabbing the bow from Simo. But they were ten yards away and closing fast; they’d be on him before he could string an arrow.