Kanuro5: Really happy I got this chapter out. I struggled with writer's block in the middle of this chapter, and this had to go through a lot of rewrites. I even had to change the entire POV character of the chapter. With that and other things in my life going on, it took a lot longer to get this chapter out than I would have wanted. Please know that updates are infrequent, but I continue to work on the story. Enjoy!
XVIII
An Assassin in Athens
Two Days Later
Down the cisterns of Athens, the Arcani were nearly finished in destroying their evidence. Their orders were to dispose of their presence, then flee Athens in order to move to the west to continue their plans.
It would have been quicker to burn their papers, maps, and equipment. Alas, fire and smoke rise, and the last thing they need were citizens noticing plumes of smoke rising from below. So, to get rid of all items, they had to cast it into the water of the cisterns. They tore papers and maps to shreds, then tossed it in the river. Heavier objects like armor or training dummies were weighted down with rocks, then thrown into the water. And the man overseeing all of this was left in command by Taurus.
Aries was named for the Ram, after his stubbornness in his training. He always desired to do things his way, damn what others thought. Well, that wasn't necessarily true, damn what others who perceived to be on his pedestal, thought. He always served with fidelity to those who were above him. For ten years had he faithfully served the leaders of the Arcani. The clever Vipera, who always told him to think three steps ahead, and never two. The valiant and glorious Fornax, who taught him what glories could be reached if one faithfully served the Gods. And the brightest star of all, Fornax's son, Taurus, who even though was Aries' junior in terms of experience, was chosen by his father to lead with Vipera.
Taurus was strong, fearless, bold, pious, and beautiful. Of course, he was beautiful, he was the son of Fornax. Aries was charmed by the young Taurus when he first met him, but he was captivated with this man's revolutionary ideas of the future of the Arcani. Though Vipera was brilliant, he was old-fashioned in the way of the past. Vipera couldn't see that times were changing so quickly, and the Arcani had to change as well. Taurus could see such. His ideologies made sense. "Man could never be the Gods, but those who strive to emulate them must share their ruthlessness." "If the Gods can be merciful, then they shall forgive those who truly fight in their name, honorably or otherwise." "Thy enemy shall always progress forward, so strike at their legs to halt them." What wisdom, he would follow this man to the depths of the world.
Aries loved this man, he also loved Vipera. Yet if a vote had to be made between which man should solely lead the Arcani, it admittedly would tear his soul to choose, but he would side with the more youthful and innovative Taurus. Yet there were senior brothers in the Order who would openly criticize Taurus, shaming him with his lack of experience as compared to Vipera. Those like Umbra and Biga. Especially Umbra. Both Umbra and Aries were in the Order for ten years, yet Umbra believed himself so noble as not to stretch his values to incorporate new practical thoughts. Ha! What a fool! Aries was delighted that Taurus sent those two to Apollonia and away from Athens. Those two would probably muck up this operation in this great city. Aries was so delighted that Taurus entrusted him with covering their tracks in Athens, he was determined not to fail.
Aries approached a brother who was discarding damaged armor, "How much longer until it is all disposed of?"
"If we are truly thorough, another hour, Aries."
The veteran assassin nodded, "Good, ensure that everything is disposed of."
"I understand."
Aries watched the fourteen brothers that remained in Athens working tirelessly. Then a thought emerged in his head. He walked over to the second senior assassin left in Athens.
"Velum, come with me. Shed your armor and swords, bring only a dagger."
Velum sighed, "Do you believe it wise to venture out once more?"
"It is, we must gather more information about the Twenty-Eighth Legion and the men of the Scipio. And Velum, do not dare question me again."
Through the tunnels below, the two assassins had arisen above in the guise of Athenians. They had grown out their beards to a medium length to replicate those of the Greeks. Instead of wearing brown cloaks or their black armor, they wore simple green tunics, to show they were loyal subjects of their Brutii masters.
They walked through the streets of Athens, taking in their surroundings of the Greek civilians. A number of them had the default look of content, but others took to their daily tasks with faces of forlorn and exhaustion. Aries knew why. Excessive occupation breaks the souls of most men.
It hadn't even been a minute until the two assassins spotted a legionary patrol of ten men marching down the road. The faces of these crimson soldiers of the Julii were of stone: indifferent and rough. As they marched, the Athenian populace moved out of the way, they gave eyes of suspicion, but still continued their conversations.
The two men continued walking, this time a patrol of five Town Watchmen came jogging by. The civilians smiled warmly and called out to the Brutii militiamen by name and asked of random news about their situations. The Watch in green answered with smiles and friendly comments, and they moved away.
A few minutes later, a bunch of armed men wearing blue came into the market. The Athenians separated; all voices fell silent. Several of the older Athenians tried to look away from these Scipii men in blue, acting as if they had other things to their attention. But the younger men and women of the crowd gave glares of death to these armed men in blue.
It wasn't hard for Aries and Velum to spot which of these three factions the Athenians detested the most.
Truthfully, Aries was right along with the Athenians on this regard. The sole remaining leader of Athens was not Brutus Equestris, but the insufferably hedonistic Scipio Lupus, who acted as if Athens was his own little kingdom, and he the king. But what really made Aries' blood boil was Lupus' declaration a few days ago. This sacrilegious Scipio hired newsreaders to announce that tomorrow would be a day of celebration of Neptune, for being the most glorious of the pantheon, even eclipsing Jupiter Optimus Maximus, the greatest and mightiest god.
Lupus declared that the ocean was vaster than the sky, and since Neptune was his patron god, he should be magnified with a feast and festivities. Aries audibly growled at the thought. Jupiter was the King of the Gods, how was he lower than his brother? Neptune was very mighty indeed, that much Aries could accept, but he ranked lower than Jupiter Optimus Maximus, not higher! And the Athenians weren't excited about this declaration either. Though their gods were different, they noted the similarity between Neptune and Poseidon. Their city was founded after a squabble between Athena and Poseidon, in which Poseidon sought to destroy Athens in a fit of jealousy. If such were the case, why would they worship another deity that resembled Poseidon?
How dare he celebrate in a faux-Neptunalia like celebration. Aries was fighting the urge to track down Scipio and kill him himself for his blatant disrespect.
Five minutes had passed in the streets; Aries and Velum noticed a crowd was forming by the marketplace. It was the marines of Gaius Scipio Lupus, hassling a set of Athenian youths. There were four of these youths, the youngest looked to be sixteen with the eldest around nineteen.
"We are no thieves!" said the eldest of the four.
The leader of the marines sneered at them in Greek, "Are you not Eleon, son of Aeimnestos the blacksmith of the lower quarter? At the age of thirteen, you stole arms from the city for juvenile entertainment."
The eldest youth nodded, "I am, but what does such—"
The leader of the marines pivoted to the other boys, "And you three are the sons of Kimon the grocer of the lower quarter. Three brothers who stole a mule from the stablemaster four years ago."
The eldest youth interjected, "They did such years ago! As have I! You cannot arrest us for crimes we committed years—"
The Scipii marine grabbed the eldest by the throat and viciously threw him against a wall. The impact sent the youth to the ground, then the marine leader started kicking him in the torso. The youth's friends shouted for the marine to stop. One even charged the leader, yet another marine came before him and drove the youth to the ground with a single punch, drawing blood.
"We are under orders of Gaius Scipio Lupus, we hold right for lawful detention of all criminals, even ones committed in the act of juvenility. Did you not hear that you little Greek shit?!"
The crowd gasped and recoiled at the sight of this. Several matrons couldn't look at this brutality, others were yelling in Greek for the Scipii to cease this savagery. But the Scipii kept on abusing the youths, the leader spat on the one before him and cursed him as an "Athenian dog". All this time, Aries and Velum watched on in silence.
"Cease! Cease this you, Scipios!" came the call in Latin.
The crowd opened, ten men of the Town Watch parted the onlookers, heading straight for the Scipii. The ranking man of the Watchmen approached the marines, he seemed to have all of the physical traits of a Roman. He spoke to the Scipii in Latin, "For what purpose do you harass these youths?!"
The lead marine rolled his eyes, "We are detaining these youths, Brutii."
"You Scipii believe you hold authority over the citizens because your leader, temporarily, runs the city?!"
"That is exactly where we receive our authority. Through orders of Gaius Scipio Lupus, as bestowed by your Governor, we hold power to interrogate and arrest those who bear suspicion or complicity of the "Bloody Ides Murders"."
"And you would label these youths as assassins?"
"Not necessarily. But they are thieves who were convicted but acquitted based on their ages. And who can provide knowledge to assassins but thieves who know this city?"
"These four did so when they were under sixteen. They have not done so since!"
"Once your hands have been tainted by crime, you shall forever be a criminal."
"This coming from brigands and cutthroats as yourselves?!"
"How dare you fucking speak to us in this manner!" the Scipii leader snarled.
Aries wondered how many of the Greeks could understand exactly what the two factions were arguing about in their Latin tongues. Especially since the last comment caused the Scipii to draw their swords, which caused the Brutii Watchmen to draw their weapons in response.
Several of the Athenians in the crowd shrieked and gasped, fleeing to avoid the forthcoming violence. Aries and Velum could hear the jingling and heavy steps of weighted soldiers rounding the corner. They looked to the left, witnessing a Julii patrol of sixteen men marching in a parallel formation, a centurion was leading them, and this man looked to be a veteran of a hundred battles.
The lead Watchmen stood and saluted the centurion, "Primus Pilus Aelianus, greetings."
Aelianus nodded to the watchman, but then stared down at the Scipio, "What is the meaning of this?"
The Scipii marine spoke up, "You know the decree under Scipio Lupus, any man in suspicion of complicity with the Ides are to be detained and interrogated, even the youths."
The veteran centurion stared at the four youths, then back at the marine, "Are they under suspicion in the plot of the Ides?"
"Well, they are known thieves when they were young—"
"Are they under suspicion in the plot of the Ides?!" he repeated louder.
"If one is a thief, then they must be privy to the knowledge of what the other rats of the city are."
This centurion of the Julii had a glare sharper than steel, "Release the youths! I have to deal with an entire legion of soldiers who cannot execute their jobs properly because of dissident natives spurred on by you marines! If they do not have the masks, then leave them be!"
The marines' eyes rested on the armored legionaries, then they nodded and left the marketplace. The militiamen thanked the legionaries, then they too dispersed, followed by the Julii. The Athenian crowds descended on the youths to check their wellbeing. Aries was the only one smiling at what he had witnessed.
"Do you feel that volatility?" Velum asked Aries in Greek.
"Indeed, I do. This city is a pyre, filled to the brim with wood and oil, waiting for one spark to set it alight."
The rules established by their leader suggested that whenever a pair of assassins decide to roam through a city in disguise, they must speak the native language, even to each other. Who knows who could be listening?
Aries continued, "The soldiers of the Three Families openly bicker and fight in the streets, such disunity, no wonder the Families have fallen to corruption. We can use this, Velum."
"We can? But how?"
Aries extended his pointed finger out; it was directed toward an Athenian in the crowd. He had an athletic built and a thick brown beard with fraying edges near his lips that were graying. This man checked upon the battered youths, hugged all four of them, and told them to go home. He marched down the street, and a crowd of Athenians were following.
"That is the man, right there," Aries declared.
"Who is he?"
"Taurus's contact…"
Velum was cross-eyed, "That man?"
"Yes, he's in the Town Watch, and his duties extend to the Palace. He was responsible for the previous governor's death."
From a distance, Aries and Velum followed the crowd who were on the heels of Taurus's contact. The man came to a building and entered; many people of the crowd followed him in through the entrance. Dozens of men and women answered the question of a burly man who stood guard at the entrance before they were allowed entry. Aries and Velum waited ten minutes until most of the crowd was inside and the suspicious air around the building had dissipated.
"Why are we venturing here?" Velum asked.
"We need to speak to this man. Follow me."
Velum followed, but looked at the guard, then back to Aries, "Do you hold a password to enter?"
"Be silent, and just follow me."
They approached the building. The guard extended his hand out to stop them. He was a brawny man who had the arms of a blacksmith. The bearded guard glare down at Aries, "State your business for entry?"
"My business is my own."
He shook his head, "Then you are not allowed entry."
"I understand, well then, gratitude for your candid nature, my friend."
At that, Aries twisted his posture and jabbed sharply into the man's windpipe. The large man retched hoarsely, both hands reached his throat. Aries cocked back his hand for a mighty wind-up, delivering an uppercut into the man's diaphragm. The guard doubled over, collapsing to the ground, gasping for air. After ten seconds, he passed out.
Velum shook his head, "Was such necessary?"
"Do not question me. I am your senior. We need to enter and speak to this man. And remember, keep it Greek."
The two stuck to the walls as they entered the building, they could overhear someone speaking fervently within the dining area. Inside was a group of men, women, and youths who were listening to a man raving in a subdued voice, filled with anger. The duo came late, the Arcani contact was in the middle of delivering a passionate speech, the onlookers from the crowd were on their feet.
"We have lived under the yoke of the Brutii," the contact's voice reverberated. "Every now and then they would have a cruel streak, but they could be fair. So, what do we have now in this city of ours? Corruption! Extortion! Violence! These tools of savagery are used by the Romans, especially by those of the Scipii!"
The group of people assented with moderate murmurs.
He continued, "Such an act is perpetrated none other than Gaius Scipio Lupus! The Wolf on the Waves!"
The group booed and offered up curses.
"This beast wears the guise of a man and sends his thugs to terrorize our community! You shall how his monsters attacked young boys of punishments they once committed long ago, they even drew blood! They shake down honest businessmen and demean members of the Watch as if we stood inferior! They harass our wives and daughters with their lecherous tongues, some of these Scipii sailors even offer coin as if our women were prostitutes, so eager to sacrifice their virtue to spread their legs!"
The crowd cheered harder, particularly the women. Amphion looked off to the side and waved for someone to come up on stage. Three boys who looked to be on the verge of manhood at the ages of fourteen to sixteen, came up, their eyes bending low.
"These boys have frequented the Palace and were offered to the Roman to satisfy his lusts. Alas, the Roman has placed his hands on these boys, yet he did not corrupt them with his manhood. The boys speak of how this Roman waits for 'these fruit to be ripe'! But shall we wait until he does?!"
"NO!" the crowd shouted back.
"We can no longer stand by and fall to oppression by invaders who claim a phantom enemy exists in our presence! Brutus Equestris is absent! And this Scipio styles himself as a king! We were once the greatest city in the world, and this man mocks our legacy by throwing a celebration for himself, to aggrandize his corruption and make a mockery of the gods! We are a democracy, the greatest in the world, how low have we fallen when the monarchy of Rome in the guise of Sulla rules over us! We have strength and courage in our hearts, we need to show these Romans we are not afraid!"
The Greek crowd was cheering. A smile formed on the face of Aries. Were these people truly planning an uprising? Were they…?
Aries had heard enough. He dug in his pocket and kept an item in his closed palm.
He stepped forward, his voice parting the ovations of the crowd, "Truly your rhetoric is as strong as your bravery, Amphion."
The rapturous crowd died down. The contact stared at the man in front of him, "Who are you, I do not recognize you? How did you enter?"
"Do not fall to fear, Amphion. We need to speak to you."
The Greek orator began to back away, "Who are you? Are you with the Romans?!"
At that question, the crowded group started scooting back in a mild panic. Aries narrowed his eyes, "I said to not fall to fear. We merely wish to break words." He held out his closed fist in the air, "Catch!" and tossed the item to Amphion.
The Greek caught the item. His eyes grew as he examined it. He looked back up to both Aries and Velum. His arm was trembling.
"Everyone, do not fall to panic, everything is all right," he told the group. "I shall return." Amphion approached the glaring Aries. "Walk with me," the Greek commanded.
Amphion led them out into an alleyway by the back of the building where curious eyes could not wander. He turned to face the two, his eyes were transfixed on the unrelenting stare from Aries, "So, the Romans were correct. You are still in this city," he slurred bitterly.
"We plan to leave tomorrow."
"Is Taurus with you?"
Velum blinked, "What? Who are you?"
Aries ignored Velum, and Amphion's question, "I believe we can both come to a mutual agreement, Amphion."
Amphion showed his teeth, "I asked if your leader is still here?"
"Do not worry about him, you are dealing with me," Aries' voice was firm.
The guardsman peered into Aries' eyes, "What is your name?"
"Our names are no concern of yours."
The guardsman chuckled, "You are as Taurus. Secretive. And your accent is particularly good. I wouldn't have known you were a Roman. How did you find me?"
Aries shrugged, "Coincidence. We were present when Scipio's men sought to harm the youth. And we noticed you sending them away, and a crowd following you. Taurus gave me a description of the profile of your face."
The Greek growled through his closed lips. Then he laughed, "And now, I know the profiles of your faces. How shall it be for you when the entire city knows the face of those who failed to accomplish their mission?"
Aries' hand was quicker than a flash. His dagger was pressed tightly against Amphion's throat, if he but moved, the blade would shave more than the beard off his neck. "Taurus possesses the knowledge of the residence for your wife and daughters, Athenian. I must but pull this blade to the right in a swift motion… and as you are gurgling your last, the final image you shall witness is me and my partner walking to your abode."
"I-I-I apologize! Mercy!"
Aries relented and withdrew the blade.
Velum interjected, "I have been more than patient. Who is this man? How does he know about Taurus?!"
I had told you before, "This Greek, Amphion, was our informant within the Town Watch. He enabled our brother, Sol, to enter the Palace and slay the governor. He was Taurus' direct contact."
Velum blinked in a recoil, "Such was your work?"
Amphion massaged his throat, "Yes… it was. I gave you the right to do so and look how you squandered such."
Velum grunted scoffingly, "Bitterness. Is that the tone I hear? After the governor was slain?"
"You damn night-thieves… of course! I hold every right to be bitter. Our deal was that you would slave the governor and his son and you would vanish. But the son remains. And worse, more Romans have entered our city and they oppress us more than they ever had! And what stings most, is that part of their efforts are justified. Your group still remains in Athens. It gives them near credence to behave as they do."
Velum crossed his arms, "You hold no love for the Brutii?"
"Of course not. What have they done for us except drag our city into a quagmire of death and dishonor?"
"And yet, you are in their employ?"
"A profession is a profession. For coin to fill my purse. That is all, I hold no loyalty to them. And there are others in the Watch that hold the same attitude."
"Which leads me to ask, if you are a member of the Town Watch, then what are you doing out of uniform and absent weapons?"
Amphion spat off to the side, "I was suspended without pay two days ago. I made too many "anti-Roman" comments. Scipio has been cracking down on that within the Town Watch with the approval of Lady Brutus."
Aries folded his arms, "Before your suspension, what have you heard about Equestris and Germanicus' expedition?"
"Reports came back that Brutus Equestris and Julius Germanicus are victorious in their expedition, raiders who razed some villages in the countryside lie defeated. You wouldn't happen to know more about that, would you?"
Aries shrugged, "You are a guardsman; you know how people turn to crime and lawlessness every day."
"Right…"
"Any word of their return?" Velum asked.
"The news came two days ago. I suspect within two days or three that they shall return."
"Hmm, and what of Scipio?" Aries asked.
"My last shift at the Palace allowed me entry before my suspension. Scipio Lupus is there living like a king. He fornicates crudely with his dark whore, he eats and drinks to excess, and he exhibits rudeness to the Lady Brutus. He brings boys of youth to his Palace as well, just like the three you have seen. Rumors among the watch say that since Julius Germanicus' absence, Scipio Lupus has the Tribune for the Twenty-Eighth in his pocket. Thus, the Blue Wolf controls the entire Legion."
"Truly?"
"With his marines and the Legion in his pocket, he greatly outnumbers the Town Watch with men of higher quality than us. But the Legion does not engage in brutality due to their Primus Pilus Aelianus, seemingly the only decent Roman with scruples. And as you saw, his marines are as gangs, who extort, rob, and terrorize the citizens of Athens. The legionaries may come in and verbally harass us, but they refrain from spoiling our storefronts. These marines are brutes, and they use your Order as an excuse to terrorize us."
"People truly are despicable," Aries slurred contemptuously.
Amphion was sneering, "You are the despicable ones. For what purpose do you remain here since you failed?"
"To remedy a grave injustice in the form of Scipio Lupus."
"What do you suggest?"
"What if he is to no longer be a problem?"
Velum's face contorted, he stared at Aries. The Greek guard pressed his lips tightly as he asked, "How would that come to be?"
"You currently gaze at such measures."
That comment made Velum blink profusely, as if he misheard the foreign language. Amphion sneered, "What? You shall seek to try once more?"
Aries brazenly chuckled, "It is our duty to purge all corruptions of those who seek to dominate Rome. The Scipii are egregious in their own corruption due to their wealth. Their opulence has sullied their souls and have blinded them from the plight that they inflict upon Rome."
Amphion scoffed, "Spare me your sermon. I care not for Rome, but only Athens."
"You do not need to worry about our motives, but you should align with our purpose."
Amphion rubbed his chin in contemplation, "I do ponder this quandary… if the Scipii and Julii are present in search of your group, then we could just give you to them, and they shall leave…"
Out of his peripheral vision, Aries could see Velum slowly reaching for his dagger.
Aries grunted annoyingly, "Such rationale is sound. But such a move treats the symptom without curing the disease. You get rid of us, you shall have the Roman yoke ease upon you, momentarily. But it shall still remain. Do you not desire to be free of it? You cannot do such by yourself, allow us to destroy the yoke forever."
Amphion reclined against the wall, he spoke, but he was lost in his own thought, "Scipio seeks to aggrandize himself by seizing coin from us Athenians. He is a debauched satyr who only thinks of his baser pleasures. Should this man continue to rule over us with a fist of iron? Should Lady Brutus corrupt her husband with Scipio's ways upon his return?"
"Such is a frightening thought; we all know how decadent Romans can be."
Velum spoke up to Aries in Latin, "Are you planning to attack the Scipii? That wasn't part of our plan, we are to flee Athens, not to reside longer."
Velum growled with derision, "Our existence was built on adaptation. No plan is flawless, and we must seize all opportunities that arise. Seeing the dissident Greeks who are willing to rise up and fight, that can help our Order long-term."
"Is there a problem?" Amphion asked.
"None," Aries replied.
Amphion untombed a malicious grin, "Good. So, Scipio Lupus shall meet his end?"
Aries craned his neck upward, "Not just him, but those of the House of Brutii."
The Greek recoiled softly. Even Velum turned to Aries with a crooked look.
"Even Lady Brutus and her son?" the Greek guardsman asked.
"The slate must be scrubbed. Who is to say that she has not been corrupted by Scipio Lupus? And if we are to kill him, then we must purge her household. Once we have slain them, we can ambush Brutus Equestris and Julius Germanicus as they return tomorrow."
"That is what you assassins desire?"
"Yes. To finish the mission. Scipio Lupus, Brutus Equestris, and Julius Germanicus must die. We need your assistance in dispatching Lupus and his officers, once the Roman yoke is lifted, you have your city once more. We need your assistance to enter the Palace."
"Hmm, wait here, I know the ones who can aid you." Amphion went past the alley he led them in, and in a few moments, he brought out the three Greek boys who he used as a demonstration earlier. All three boys looked up at Aries and Velum with large and confused eyes.
Velum looked to Amphion, "For what purpose did you bring them here?!"
"Most likely, Scipio shall have them again tomorrow, these three shall be at the palace, I cannot be in the Palace since I am suspended. Now you three boys listen carefully, tomorrow you are tasked with opening the door to these men, remember their faces."
The brown-haired boy turned to ask, "Who are these men and for what purpose are we to do so?"
Amphion smirked, "They are liberators, here to aid us in removing the Roman yolk."
Aries smirked back, "Excellent. We still need your aid, Amphion. Before, we used one man to move against the Brutii. Now we come with fifteen. And if you assist us, then we may have more."
Amphion rubbed his jaw, "What do you mean?"
"Do you hold to heart any man of virtue who would side with us against Scipio Lupus?"
"Hmm, I can think of thirty men of the Watch who can side with us immediately. If I had more time, I could find more. But even with men of the Watch aiding us, that leaves two problems. The Legion of the Julii and the Marines of the Scipii. What are we to do with them?"
"Their presence does pose a dilemma. But I have a solution for that. With the members of your Watch, and my brothers, we accomplish this task and overthrow the Romans. Here is my plan…"
The two assassins were walking back to the cistern. They were moving down an alley that was empty of Athenian eyes. The two spent fifteen minutes going over the plan with Amphion and the boys present, yet Velum wore a scowl the entire way back.
"This plan is too sudden, Aries!"
"If you utter one more word of complaint…"
"The Ides took a year to plan. This idea of yours is too sudden, with too many pieces. What if Amphion does not keep his word? What if our men miss their marks? What if the plan fails because of the boys? We have a golden opportunity to flee tonight. We should take it!"
"Remind me, who did Taurus leave in command?"
"Do you believe Taurus would be proud of your risky improvisation if it meant sacrificing the lives of your brothers?"
"You have not paid attention to Taurus at all if that is what you believe. This man has always had spontaneous thoughts and actions which led us to our revival. His meeting with the king proves that! How can you not—"
"Shh!" Velum said sharply, looking behind himself.
"How dare you shu—"
"Silence, Aries! We… We are being followed."
Aries quieted down but kept his stride. He twisted his head subtlety and looked behind them. Many meters away, a head dipped behind a corner.
"Indeed. How many, Velum?"
"One man."
Aries spotted a corner to his left, "I got this. Keep walking."
Aries suddenly dashed a few feet to his left and hid within a corner of a building. Velum kept walking. Aries drew his dagger and waited. He could hear footsteps, slow and cautious, it was not a normal walking gait, they were indeed being followed. He waited for the footsteps to get closer. When they were right upon his spot, Aries leapt out from around the corner and slashed his dagger diagonally.
The blade tore through the cheek of the teenager who followed them. He fell to the ground, clutching his face as he tried his best to stifle his screams. The boys' legs were kicking the ground with rapid fury. Aries pounced on top of the boy and angled his dagger to the youth's throat.
"I recall you!" Aries sneered, getting a better look at the boy. "You were one of the boys that was to aid us on our mission!"
The brown-haired Athenian teen winced, "Mercy! I beg you, mercy!"
Velum came running back. Aries picked the boy up and slammed him against the wall, "Velum, this was one of the boys that Amphion had with him." He forced more pressure on the youth's throat, "For what purpose do you follow us?"
Tears welled in his eyes. He was sniffling through the agony; considerable blood was pouring down his cheek and through his cupped fingers. "Apologies! I was ordered to by Amphion, he did not trust you base on your previous performance. He sent me to gather more information on you!"
Aries turned to Velum and spoke in Latin, "Never trust a Greek."
"Seems like it. Shall we still commence with the plan?"
"Of course, a distrustful Greek shall not deter us."
"Will he turn us over?"
"No, not that man. And if he does, he shall be investigated, and we can plant the coins as evidence of his further betrayal against the Republic."
Velum sighed, "All right… so, what shall we do with the boy?"
"Hmm… he almost tracked us down to the cistern. I say we cut his throat."
"And deny our opportunity for entry, for your plan? I thought you smarter."
"Belittle me again, and I shall gouge out your eye, Velum. Hmph… but you are correct, we still need this boy to permit us entry."
Aries released the teen, "You are quite fortunate that you are vital to our plans, boy. Run back to Amphion, and tell him that we do not appreciate spies, and have him treat your face."
The teenager shivered tearfully, "I-I-I understand… I apologize…"
"Go!"
This time, they watched the youth run until he was thoroughly gone, ensuring that no one could follow them back to their hideout.
And once the two of them did reach the hideout, Aries told the plan to the rest of the Arcani present. His fellow brothers were rather vocal:
"Was it not our plan to flee the city? Now you desire us to remain to kill the Scipio?"
"I agree with Ignis, such a decision carries too much risk."
"We should escape today, not wait for the morrow!"
There they were again, all clamoring with such noise, it reminded Aries like the droning of cows. Here he was, standing above the other thirteen brothers of his Order with Velum off to the side of him.
"Aries, this is not our mission. We are to leave the city!" Ignis shouted.
"And we shall, once this is complete."
"Is this not an unnecessary risk?" another man asked.
"Are you men or sheep? Our goal is Rome! Do you seek to reach Rome with the enemy nipping at your heels? Heracleo's mercenaries are on their way, and the closest force to them are these three Romans. Taurus' stratagem relies on the Three Families being too preoccupied to stop us. The closest force that could pose a threat to him, to us, is right here in this city. We must render this city in chaos, we must bog down the Julii legionaries, and we must burn the ships of the Scipii sails."
"Yet there are fifteen of us here. That is it."
"That shall be enough. We shall receive assistance with the Town Watch."
"What assurances do we have that they are on our side?"
"For these were the same ones who assisted us into the Palace once before, when Sol killed the Governor during the Ides. They are devoted sons of Athens who possess views of radicalism. After Lupus sent his marines to torment the citizens, they have grown furious with the idea of being subservient to Rome. They now fervently seek the death of Lupus and the Brutii. They shall aid us."
Judging by their eyes, he would need to convince them more.
"Our plan is indeed risky, but it can be done. We split our forces into two. I shall lead one force against Scipio Lupus. Tomorrow, the man seeks to celebrate Neptune and himself, Amphion states that after Lupus makes his sacrifices in the afternoon, he shall travel to the port of Piraeus and celebrate on his flagship, his quinquereme. He seeks to have members of Athens join him in his festivities on the ships, we make our way to the ship, and we slay him. As he dies, the other members shall through jars of pitch that the Town Watch will provide, and we torch the ships."
The assassin, Ignis, spoke up, "How many men of the Town Watch are with us?"
"Amphion claims he could get thirty men to support our endeavor. Half of them will be posted around the port to ensure that they can cover our escape. After we sow as much chaos as possible, Equestris shall return, and with his family slain and Scipio Lupus dead, he shall be mad with grief and purpose in trying to discover us again through Athens. He shall be locked within his own city trying to find us, but by then, we shall have escaped in the night and rejoin the rest of our brothers to the west."
The other men shifted their eyes from one another, Aries believed he could hear murmurs of agreement.
"Velum, you are the second senior brother here, I task you with six others to steal into the night and slay the Lady Brutus and her son."
Ignis sputtered, "S-Seven? That is a lot for a mother and child."
"Such may seem so. But this is precaution. In case anything should go awry, more brothers shall slay the family and ensure escape. In addition, though we bribed thirty men of the Watch, there may still be men and slaves loyal to them." Aries turned to Velum once more, "As senior, I task you to personally take the lives of the Brutii."
Velum did not speak; his glare was the only answer he gave.
Ignis chimed in, "Those explain the forces of the Brutii and Scipii, but what of the Julii? They have an entire legion in the city, to what should we do with them?"
"Arson," Aries replied simply. "The other half of the Town Watch who align with us shall make its way to the barracks of the legionaries. The Watch shall take pitches and light the barracks on fire, and we burn public Roman buildings on the opposite side of Athens. Such things get the legionaries' attention, leaving us to deal with Scipio and the Lady Brutus."
"These Athenians would see their city aflame?"
"Such is their hatred for Rome. Once Scipio and the Brutii household are dead, and the Legion distracted with the burning of their barracks, Scipii ships, and chaos at the Palace, we make our way through the city to the gates. Amphion assured me that his men can be posted by the northern gate for our freedom."
The men of the Arcani were nodding and laughing, the plan better explained to them. They began applauding and cheering. Aries smiled.
"We move tomorrow. The celebration shall take place midday, we shall leave this cistern forever in the morning. We shall make our patrols around the city to familiarize ourselves with the path and the pitch. For now, sharpen your blades, familiarize yourself with plan, and give blessing to Jupiter Optimus Maximus."
The thirteen remnants of the Athenian Arcani broke off to accomplish their individual tasks. The triumphant Aries went to polish his armor, but Velum suddenly seized his arm, stopping him.
"Aries, must I slay this mother and her child? It is against our code to slay the innocent."
"Grab hold of your cock and be a man!" he growled. "When that boy comes of age, he shall no longer be an innocent! The Brutii once followed the will of the Gods, now they are heretical sycophants of Sulla! You heard Taurus, all of those in the Three Families shall perish before the wrath of the Gods!"
"If that was so, then for what purpose did we not slay the women and children during the Ides?"
"For what purpose do you seek to argue with me? The other brothers and initiates do not hold your lack of faith, and you hold seniority over them!"
"They were recruited by you and Taurus to fill our ranks; I doubt they genuinely believe the way we do. Too zealous in spirit and too thirsty for blood to think fucking straight! I do not believe Vipera, Umbra, Biga, nor Gelae would resort to this path."
"They are not present! You still hold on to the ignorant path that we must be bound to are customs. Exceptions always exists if it is for the will of the Gods. They shall understand. And these new men who have joined our cause, they show more zeal than you. Perhaps you shall take orders from Ignis, he has, after all, two years of experience, whilst you have six?"
Velum released Aries arm, but did not relent his glare, "This avarice and hubris does not become you. You preach of the Gods, but you pay no heed to the morals that they taught us. I shall lead my men into the Brutii palace tomorrow, I pray that you survive your brush with Scipio for us to reunite."
He left. Aries snorted from his nose and spat on his trail. What a fool.
The following day came with renewed vigor for the assassins. All the men had shaved their beards, to be as cleanshaven as possible. To be a true decent follower of the Gods. Their armor was fastened, they had their dual swords attached to their bodies, their masks were hanging on thread by their waists, they all had beige cloaks that covered their bodies and obscured their armor.
Aries stood tall in front of his remnant, "Ignis, you shall lead your team down to port, blend in, study the surroundings. I shall join you within an hour, I must see the Athenian at the tavern. Aries, you take your team and prepare your way to the Palace, wait until one of the boys grants you entry. And everyone, once our duties are done, we sprint straight to the northern gate, we either leave as a group or as individuals, but once it is done, each man must worry about escape. And remember this above all, our Gods are watching, make sure they are not ashamed."
"By the will of Jupiter Optimus Maximus," Aries chanted.
"We so swear," they all finished.
Every man left the cistern into the open air of Athens, today was the day.
Aries made his way through the city and entered the tavern that Amphion informed him. It was sparsely filled with about eight patrons inside. Four Greek youths were drinking together merrily in a corner, an old man had already finished many cups of wine and was resting his head on the table, two men were in an opposite corner drinking respectfully with one another, and the eighth man was wearing a cloak and looked as if to have been consumed with wine, singing a song rather loudly.
In the middle of the tavern sat Amphion, wearing the armor of the Town Watch, with jugs of wine and cups already on the table. Aries sat to join him.
Aries leaned in for a whisper, "It surprises me that you have your armor, Amphion, I was under the impression you were suspended."
"I was. I have a comrade who smuggled this out to me, he will assist me and your men into the port," Amphion whispered back.
"Excellent. I trust all is in order?"
"For the most part, I contacted those who are with us. And they managed to be on duty in the palace during the celebration today. And Prefect Figulus has no notion of what's going on, he didn't switch anybody who isn't involved."
"And Scipio?"
"He still intends to celebrate Neptune's triumph as schedule. His quinquereme is in the port, along with the majority of his fleet. I paid several men to place jars of pitch near the ships. But do you believe that your men can light the ships on fire in time?"
"We are quick and silent. By the time I sink my blade into Scipio, his ships shall be alight. What more can you provide?"
"The Lady Brutus and her son shall not join the festivities. I believe they shall stay at the Palace. But make sure you do not set fire to the ships until an hour after the festivities. If you burn the ships, then the Palace shall be locked down."
Aries scoffed playfully, "We know our duty." Umbra and Biga take Apollonia, and I shall take Athens… oh Taurus, what pride you shall have once you hear of my deeds.
Amphion smirked, "We shall move in one hour. We end the Roman menace tonight. I hold a good feel—"
"Uh, Amphion?"
Both men turned to the left. Aries blinked. It was the teenager who was with Amphion yesterday, the same teen who followed Velum and him, who he attacked by accident, leaving a nasty wound. The youth had his head bowed and was covering the right side of his face with his hand, the same spot Aries struck him.
"You? What are you doing here, boy?!" Amphion said softly in a curt whisper. "You are tasked with placing with the vials of pitch? Why are you here?"
The boy whispered back, "I-I-I was with the others as you requested. We were at the Port of Piraeus when the Scipii marines stopped us. They quartered off section of the port for Scipio Lupus."
"Shit."
"B-But, we figured with a pass from a member of the Watch, they may allow us entry, the other boys sent me to request one from you. Once we are finished, then we can head back to the Palace before we are summoned by Scipio. M-May I receive your pass?"
Amphion exhaled, "Yes, yes. Here." He handed him an emblem of the Town Watch. The boy took it and backed away. "Hey, boy… for what purpose do you cover your face?"
The teen gave an uncomfortable look to Aries. The assassin chuckled and forcefully yanked the teen's hand away from his face. The youth had a diagonal scar from cheek to chin. Aries chuckled hard but stopped as he began to notice something.
Wait… He was bleeding a lot yesterday… and yet the wound looks clean, as does the stitches… perhaps Amphion took him to a medicus? Yet the cleaning and stitches are high quality, the scar looks much smaller than it was yesterday… how could Amphion afford that for a boy…
Amphion recoiled, "What happened to your face, boy?"
That comment made Aries, himself, recoil. The assassin looked to the Greekling, "You didn't tell him, after I instructed you?"
Amphion shifted his eyes to Aries, "Tell me what?"
The teen was trembling. Aries spoke now to Amphion, "If you did not know, then how did he get such immaculate stitching…? Did you not send him to a healer after you sent that boy to spy on us?"
A frown emerged on Amphion's face, "I did not send anyone to spy on you."
"What? Then how... Boy!"
A loud drunken outburst erupted to the right of Aries and Amphion, "Men! What a time to celebrate!"
This was the man who wore the brown cloak and drank by himself, singing raucous songs. This man was wearing a cloak that was soiled with piss, with a hood on top of his head. He was cleanshaven and had a strong build that one can recognize beneath the cloak. Though the hood was above his head, Aries could see strands of black hair fall to the sides of his head.
He slurred loudly, "I l-lost a bet to a Roman, and he forced me to shave my beard! But I trained and I bested him today, and I forced him to shave his balls! Ha! You two!" he roared with a belch. "C-Come face me in contest of strength of arms! Come! And I shall show… sh-show you how I bested a fucking Roman!"
The two men stared at the drunk with irritation.
The drunkard continued, "I b-b-bet—" he stumbled to the left and continued to stammer, "b-b-b-bet I can best either of you in contest with my arms! Ha! Yes, my arms are my pride! Clasp hands with me and I shall beat you with my strength!"
"We are not interested, leave now!" Amphion ordered.
"I only offer contest," the wine in his cup sloshed out and landed on their table. "Ten denarii! How is that? Come challenge me!"
"Leave, now!" Aries told him. "Face some other drunkard."
He had to regain his train of thought. What was he thinking about prior? That's right, the boy. Aries turned to the left; but the boy was gone. Aries scanned the entire tavern; it was as if the boy had vanished completely.
Aries spoke to himself, "Where did he—"
"Hey! Do not ignore me, you scum-pig!" the drunk laughed at his own perceived joke. He forcibly patted Aries on the back, hard.
By the love of Bacchus! He was tempted to gut this drunkard here and now.
Aries looked to Amphion, "You are a guard, are you not? Deal with this man."
Amphion stood up, visibly agitated.
The drunkard furrowed his brow, pointing at Aries, "Strange, you order… ord-order a man of the Town Watch, yet you wear beige cloaks, of a man of low worth. How can you order a Town Watchmen?" the drunkard slurred loudly.
Aries blinked sharply at the comment.
He turned to Amphion and uttered, "Get him out of here before I force him out!"
The drunkard chortled smugly, "Try it, you bastard! You are too craven to challenge me in contest, and you are too craven to even fight me! And yet you still order a Watchman as if you are a superior!"
Amphion forcibly grabbed the drunkard's arm and wrenched it towards the door, "You drunken boar, leave this fucking establishment or I—"
The drunkard spun out of the guard's grip without using his strength, it was all technique and fluidity, without even spilling his drink in the cup. "Do not touch me, filth!" the drunkard slurred and stumbled.
Something was off with this drunk. Aries couldn't put his finger on it though. How could he do that if—
The drunkard's face lit up, he pointed directly at Aries, "Are you this man's superior? Strange that you do not wear the uniform of the Watch? Particularly the footwear, since when did the Watch wear black boots?"
Aries looked down, the black boots of the Arcani were jutting out from beneath the table, and they were clearly different than the beige sandaled footwear of the Town Watch. The hairs on Aries' body were standing up.
Amphion was still baring his teeth, "You ask many questions, for a drunkard. Last chance, you cacking cunt. Leave."
Aries slowly moved his hand to the side. His hand parted the cloak, Aries was trained on the man's eyes, who seemed to have been following Aries' hand. That sealed it for the assassin, this was no ordinary man. Was he a soldier of the Julii? Or a marine under the Scipii? Regardless, this man who interrupted them would not live to see the dawn.
The drunkard looked down at his cup of wine before clearing his throat, his mouth trembled weakly, "Perhaps, you are right… I-I overstepped, and for that I offer apologies."
The two men didn't respond, their glares did not relent.
The drunk looked in his cup, "Allow me to finish this, and I shall leave." He took four mighty gulps and finished his drink, he sighed contentedly before placing the cup on the table. In front of Aries.
He cleared his throat, then smiled brazenly at Aries, then Amphion. The sot turned his back on Amphion and spoke without turning around, "Alas, I recalled I cannot leave, for I shall not miss this fun."
With remarkable quickness, the drunkard elbowed Amphion in the face; the point of his elbow was driven into Amphion's unsuspecting eyeball. Amphion reeled backwards, shrieking in pain. Amphion drew a knife and lunged at the mysterious man, the patrons at the tavern screamed and shouted in surprise at this sudden onset of violence. Using his soiled cloak, the mysterious man tossed the opened cloak at the attacker. Amphion shielded his face as the cloak leapt on his upper body, blinding him. The mysterious man delivered a heavy punch to where the attacker's face was. His fist made contact through the cloak, Amphion collapsed to the floor with a nasally yelp.
Aries grunted in fury, he vaulted over the table with the agility of an Olympian, his dagger was drawn from his waist. The mysterious man drew his own dagger. Aries lunged for the man's chest, but the man parried it with a single arm. Aries gasped; this was a military parry with controlled movements. The mysterious man swung his dagger with precision and speed, yet Aries dipped backwards and moved away from the blade.
He switched the dagger into a reverse grip and charged at the man once more. He was swiping and hammering with aggression, yet this man was matching him move-for-move, and dodge-for-dodge. Aries aimed to drive the dagger into the man's chest, but the man caught Aries' wrist, both men struggled with the other in a feat of strength. Aries looked down at the man's feet. He remembered his training, when clasped in strength, go for the legs to off-balance your enemy. He kicked at the man's leg, but the man raised his own leg up and blocked it, as if on instinct.
Aries gasped; to move your body like that, you had to be specialized or a veteran in many fights and battles and…
Aries growled to himself. He knew.
Both men broke off their clasps and pushed each other away. They were both lightly panting to catch their breath, they were ten feet away from one another. Both locked in each other's gaze, both clutching their own daggers tightly.
The 'drunkard' unleashed a smirk of sinister nature, "So, you are one of the Arcani," he spoke in Latin. He spoke it without an Athenian accent, it was perfectly Roman.
Aries sneered venomously. He sheathed his dagger and pulled out his two swords. So furious was he at the identity of this man that he too spoke in Latin, "You are Scipio Lupus…"
The Roman smiled more, "Aye, that be me. I finally found you." His face then twisted wrathfully, "And you shall pay for scarring Auctus' face."
How did he find out? Found out in the next chapter.
So happy I'm done with this chap, I think it turned out well despite the extensive rewrites I did.
Again, I originally planned for the chapter to have a different POV character, but I settled on Aries, the snobby Arcani from the intro chap to the Arcani Order. I know, we get another POV chapter from the Arcani right after the previous pivotal chapters with Umbra, but I found out that it could work for the all around narrative as I begin to wrap up the plot with Athens.
Thank you for reading.
-Kanuro5