The Crossroads Brotherhood(14)

‘What’s this for?’

‘Terentius my friend, it’s part of something that will make you very happy.’

Out in the street Marius and a group of brothers led the now very well protected travellers off.


NIGHT HAD FALLEN and the tavern was packed. Magnus sat in a corner watching Aquilina and her fellow whores plying their trade. Tigran and his cousin looked to be enjoying their wait for the night’s mission.

Servius slipped onto the bench next to Magnus. ‘The lads have left for the Cohort’s depot.’

‘They should be back in an hour then. Any news from Terentius?’

‘Nothing yet, but Aelianus sent a message saying that he can do the fire tonight.’

Magnus nodded. ‘Well that’s something. I suppose if Terentius fucks up then we could postpone it until tomorrow night, although the Senator won’t be happy about it.’

‘What are you going to do about her?’ Servius asked as Aquilina led another customer outside. The ever watchful Jovita made a mark in her ledger.

‘Use her to deliver a message and then … well we’ll see.’

‘I assume this message is for Sempronius.’

‘Exactly Brother. When my mate Aelianus comes with the gear tonight I’m going to make a big fuss about him and offer him a girl and the use of my room. He’s going to let a piece of pillow-talk drop.’

Servius smiled coldly. ‘And she’ll run straight to Sempronius with this titbit.’

Magnus grinned and watched a young slave come through the door. The boy would have been pretty, had it not been for an ugly, badly-stitched wound running from left corner of his mouth to his ear. He walked over to Jovita and after a brief conversation was directed over to Magnus’ corner.

‘Magnus?’ the youth asked, speaking with some difficulty. He held out a wax tablet.

Magnus inclined his head.

‘My master, Terentius, sent this.’

Magnus took the tablet and gave it to Servius to read.

The counsellor glanced at it briefly. ‘Our tribune is sleeping peacefully.’

A look of relief spread over Magnus’ face. ‘Excellent. Tell your master we’ll be along in three hours.’

The slave bowed and slipped out of the room.

‘Make sure all the lads are here within the hour, Brother,’ Magnus said getting to his feet.

‘They will be.’

‘And the first delivery?’

‘Already here.’


‘PILE THEM UP over there in the corner, next to the ladders,’ Magnus ordered as Aelianus and four brothers pushed a couple of laden handcarts off the street and through the double doors of the storeroom at the very rear of the tavern.

Within moments the doors were shut and a pile of twenty Urban Cohort uniforms, minus the armour and shields, lay in a heap on the floor.

‘Right lads, sort it all out into twenty sets,’ Magnus said, putting his arm around Aelianus’ shoulders. ‘You, my friend, are coming with me to fuck the best-looking girl we have working here, and all for free.’

‘What’s the catch, mate?’

‘No catch, I just want you to tell her what the Cohort are planning to do in three nights’ time.’

‘I don’t know what we’re planning in three nights’ time.’

‘Of course you don’t, quite rightly you take no interest in the doings of your unit, but I shall enlighten you as we walk.’


‘AQUILINA, COME AND meet my very good friend and one-time comrade, Aelianus,’ Magnus shouted as he led the quartermaster through the door into the fug of the tavern.

Aquilina disengaged herself from a disgruntled old man and walked through the crowded room. A plumper colleague took her place.

‘Aelianus has just done me a huge favour,’ Magnus informed her as she came up to them, smiling sweetly, ‘and I want you to be very, very nice to him. I’m paying so anything he wants, if you take my meaning?’

‘Oh I do Magnus,’ Aquilina ran her hand up the inside of Aelianus’ thigh. ‘Anything he likes, for as long as he likes.’ Aelinaus’ mouth fell open as he gawped at her with undisguised lust. ‘But there’s no need to pay me Magnus – any friend of yours is a friend of mine.’

‘If you insist.’

‘It’ll be a pleasure.’

‘In that case you can use my room.’

‘Thank you Magnus,’ Aquilina purred leading Aelianus off and flashing Magnus a sweet smile over her shoulder.

As they disappeared through the door, his eyes hardened. It was almost a shame that she was going to have to lose that pretty smile.


ALMOST AN HOUR later, Magnus was sitting in the back room when he heard footsteps on the bare wooden stairs coming down from the first floor. He put down the knife that he had been sharpening and looked at Servius. ‘Seems like Aelianus has had his fill of Aquilina.’