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See.
Kindred spirits
, Tarquitius mused. Evagrius raised an eyebrow at the extended silence, but Tarquitius allowed another moment to pass before he replied. He, not the bishop, would dictate this conversation.
    ‘Our allies report that the reconnaissance force has been located and is currently being tracked. The Goths have a scattering of war bands patrolling the old frontier, but our allies are easily strong enough to protect the reconnaissance from such small numbers.’
    Evagrius frowned. ‘And what of the main Gothic armies? It is imperative that the expedition does not witness their conflict with our allies. We need to present Bosporus as an open door, a harvest ripe for the reaping.’
    Tarquitius clenched his teeth at the scrutiny. This was supposed to be an equal partnership. He drew a deep breath in through his nostrils, adjusting his back upright, thrusting out his rubbery chins, and then set his eyes upon the innocent gaze of the bishop.
    ‘Our allies have been instructed to divert the reconnaissance expedition from the path of the Gothic armies at all costs,’ he replied, angering himself with the tightness in his voice, ‘as we agreed, Your Eminence. And the Gothic armies themselves will be tackled in due course.’
    ‘Keep a cool head, Senator. The path to the imperial throne will be clear if we pull this off. The emperor is hungry for foreign success and will be all too keen to rush his thin forces to claim Bosporus. But the people…the people are ripe for revolution. Then the floodgates will be open…’ The bishop’s eyes sparkled rapaciously. ‘So much rests on this that perhaps we should not hang our hopes on our allies alone,’ he held out a bulging hemp purse and a scroll of parchment. ‘Take this, you will need it to smooth your next visit to the senate house.’
    ‘Your Eminence?’ Tarquitius asked as he took the two articles gingerly.
    ‘The scroll will explain all, Senator,’ he nodded, before his eyes fell cold again. ‘But keep in mind that this venture is costing the treasury of the Holy See of Constantinople vast sums. If anything goes wrong, then this reconnaissance party, our pawns, will have to be crushed like ants. And I will be forced to look for a scapegoat.’ A gentle smile bearing absolutely no warmth crept across the bishop’s face. He continued. ‘Greedy senators make the best scapegoats.’
    A fury boiled inside Tarquitius’ chest, and his eyes darted to the dark shadow that moved by the doorway. He quickly raised his hand, and Fronto slid his sword back into its scabbard with a grunt.
    Evagrius raised an eyebrow. ‘So you brought your thug along to protect you? This doesn’t bode well for preserving a trusting relationship, does it, Senator Tarquitius?’
    Again, the tone bit sharply at Tarquitius’ pride. Right now, He could order this conniving old man’s throat to be slit from ear to ear, if he wished. However, he knew the path to greatness meant toleration of characters like this until they had served their purpose. Then, when he gave the order, it would be all the sweeter.
    ‘All is going to plan, Your Eminence. That is all you should be concerned with. It would be wise to remember that your goals are in my hands as much as mine are in yours.’ He glared at the bishop’s tranquil features. ‘Fronto!’ He barked. The Herculean figure emerged from the shadows again, grimacing at the bishop as Tarquitius marched along the balcony to the doorway. The bishop returned a gentle smile, before Fronto turned and followed his master.
    All alone on the balcony under the night sky, Bishop Evagrius placed his hands together to pray. The trio of archers positioned on adjacent balconies read the signal and lowered their bows. Senator Tarquitius was to live on, for now…

Chapter 6
    Gallus sat cross-legged by the campfire, the next to useless parchment map of the Bosporus peninsula dangling from his fingertips as he gazed at the dancing flames. Several paths forked