Read Cato 03 - When the Eagle Hunts for Free Online

floor and threw himself at the Briton. Prasutagus barely shifted. A moment later a heavy hand slapped the side of Cato's head and his world flashed white before he dropped like a stone, out cold.
    By the door, Macro roused himself. 'That was way out of order, sunshine!' He thrust his way through the crowd towards the fireplace. Behind him, Boudica struggled out from under the bench.
    'Macro! Stop! He'll kill you.'
    'Let the bastard try.'
    'Stop! I beg you!' She flew after him, making a grab for his shoulders.
    'Let go of me, woman!'
    'Macro, please!'
    Prasutagus became aware of the commotion behind him and paused in his rough handling of Nessa to spare a glance over his shoulder. At once, he thrust Nessa to one side and swivelled his great frame round, bellowing out a torrent of words in a mixture of relief and rage. Macro stopped a little short of the giant, looking around for anything he could use as a weapon to even up the odds. He seized a crutch lying on the ground beside an unconscious tribesman and held it like a cross-staff. But before he could make a move on Prasutagus, a crashing blow to the back of his head laid him out — Boudica had felled him with a pottery jug. Stunned and dizzy, Macro struggled to his hands and knees.
    'Stay down!' hissed Boudica. 'Stay down and keep quiet if you know what's good for you.'
    She advanced on her cousin, eyes blazing and mouth clenched in outrage. Prasutagus continued shouting and waving his great arms about. Boudica drew up in front of him and slapped him across the face, again and again, until his tongue stilled and his arms hung limp.
    'Na, Boudica!' he protested. 'Na!'
    She slapped him once more, and pointed a finger in his face, daring him to say another word. His eyes burned and he clenched his teeth, but he uttered not a sound. The other drinkers watched in fascinated silence for the next development in the confrontation between the hulking great warrior and the tall haughty woman who defied him so openly. At length Boudica lowered her finger. Prasutagus nodded, and spoke quietly to her, with the barest nod towards the doorway. Boudica called to Nessa and then led the way out into the street. Pausing a moment, Prasutagus glowered round at the customers, daring anyone to laugh at him. Then, kicking the prostrate optio to one side, he stormed out of the alehouse, hurrying after his charges before they could run off again.
    Every drinker in the establishment watched the open doorway for any sign of the warrior's return. As conversation quietly resumed, the old Gaul nodded to his hired muscle and the man wandered over to the door and closed it. Then he casually worked his way over to Macro.
    'You all right, mate?'
    'Been better.' Macro rubbed his head and winced. 'Shit! That hurts.'
    'Not surprised. That's quite a woman.'
    'Oh yes!'
    'Saved your bacon though. You and the lad there.'
    'Cato!' Macro hurried over to his optio, who was propped on an elbow and shaking his head. 'You still with us?'
    'I'm not sure, sir. Feels like a house fell on me.'
    'Not far off!' chuckled the hired muscle. 'That Prasutagus can get pretty heavy-handed.'
    Cato looked up. 'Oh really?'
    The Gaul dragged Cato to his feet and brushed the straw from his tunic. 'Now if you two gentlemen wouldn't mind, I'd like you both to leave the premises right away.'
    'Why?' asked Macro.
    'Because I fucking say so,' replied the hired muscle, with a smile. Then he relented a little. 'You just don't mess with a high-ranking Iceni warrior. Especially a drunk one. I'd hate to think what will happen to my master's business if Prasutagus comes back with a few friends and finds you two still here.'
    'Do you think he will?' asked Cato, eyeing the door nervously.
    'Just as soon as he works out some kind of connection between his lady friends and you two. So best be off, eh?'
    'Fair enough. Come on, Cato. Let's find somewhere else to drink.'
    Tugging their cloaks tightly about their shoulders, Macro and Cato ducked under the