Ursus – from the Sixteenth under Prefect Sanctus. Apparently, this Ursus made a valiant attempt to stop the raiders but virtually his entire force was wiped out. Sanctus refuses to have any Service officers attached to his legion so his recovery efforts have been … well, let us say unimaginative. He also has limited numbers of troops available because of the Palmyrans.’
‘But you have made some progress, sir?’
Abascantius had the leather folder with him again. He took out a small sheet of paper. ‘I’ve lost count of the people I’ve paid for information over the years. I get letters every week offering some essential piece of intelligence, always demanding money in return, of course. Most of it is useless. I hadn’t heard from this fellow for ages – to be honest I thought he was dead – but this arrived nine days ago.’
He handed the letter to Cassius. ‘Ulixes was a legionary for a few years and a spy for many more. A rogue and an inveterate gambler but he appears to have stumbled on something.’
Cassius read the letter through. When he finished, he found Indavara staring at him expectantly.
‘One of Ulixes’s old informers was heading north from the western coast of the province several weeks ago and tried to enter a town, but was refused entry because it had been taken over by a chieftain and some kind of cult.’
‘Which town?’ asked Indavara.
‘Doesn’t say,’ replied Cassius. ‘It’ll become clear why in a minute. This man continued north and stopped at a cistern to water his horse. A large party of heavily armed horsemen riding south towards the town stopped there too, led by a big, fair-haired northerner. The informer stayed out of their way but noticed they appeared to be guarding a large cart, even though it seemed to contain nothing but reeds. Eventually he arrived back in Damascus and related the tale to Ulixes. Ulixes thought no more of it, but a few days later he met some scouts from the Sixteenth outside the city and one officer recognised him from his army days. Knowing he had worked as a spy, the officer told him what they were searching for and asked if he knew anything. Ulixes told him nothing, then contacted Master Abascantius.’
Cassius returned the letter.
‘Why not tell them?’ asked Indavara.
Cassius gave him a knowing look.
‘Because the sly bastard wants money,’ said Abascantius, ‘and he knows I pay well. I received a second message from him while in Epiphania. In return for a certain amount of coin, he will disclose the name of this town.’
Abascantius got to his feet. ‘Let’s have a look at the map.’
Cassius turned it so that all three of them could see.
The agent pointed at the southern region of the province below Petra. ‘Depending on the informer’s route north, it might have been any of these towns in or close to the Hejaz mountains. I would assume quite far to the south.’
‘Because it has been taken over by this chieftain?’ said Cassius.
‘Yes – well beyond our reach. I met with Calvinus this morning. He briefed me about the attack on Ruwaffa and the wider situation but knew nothing about any particular chief or cult.’
‘Might we be able to narrow the possible location based on the temples and sects in each town?’
‘Unlikely. Most, if not all, have connections to one of the sun gods. I imagine all would covet the black stone.’
‘Why take it, though?’ asked Cassius. ‘Why risk a conflict with Rome?’
‘Perhaps they think they
are
beyond our reach down there; that we’ve little chance of finding the stone. And they would probably have been right if not for Ulixes. The gods have favoured us with this stroke of luck. We must use it.’
‘
If
he’s telling the truth,’ countered Cassius. ‘What if he heard the troops were looking for the stone, then invented this tale about the informer. I’m sure he stands to earn a considerable sum.’
‘He is expecting one hundred aurei. We shall give him
‘But you have made some progress, sir?’
Abascantius had the leather folder with him again. He took out a small sheet of paper. ‘I’ve lost count of the people I’ve paid for information over the years. I get letters every week offering some essential piece of intelligence, always demanding money in return, of course. Most of it is useless. I hadn’t heard from this fellow for ages – to be honest I thought he was dead – but this arrived nine days ago.’
He handed the letter to Cassius. ‘Ulixes was a legionary for a few years and a spy for many more. A rogue and an inveterate gambler but he appears to have stumbled on something.’
Cassius read the letter through. When he finished, he found Indavara staring at him expectantly.
‘One of Ulixes’s old informers was heading north from the western coast of the province several weeks ago and tried to enter a town, but was refused entry because it had been taken over by a chieftain and some kind of cult.’
‘Which town?’ asked Indavara.
‘Doesn’t say,’ replied Cassius. ‘It’ll become clear why in a minute. This man continued north and stopped at a cistern to water his horse. A large party of heavily armed horsemen riding south towards the town stopped there too, led by a big, fair-haired northerner. The informer stayed out of their way but noticed they appeared to be guarding a large cart, even though it seemed to contain nothing but reeds. Eventually he arrived back in Damascus and related the tale to Ulixes. Ulixes thought no more of it, but a few days later he met some scouts from the Sixteenth outside the city and one officer recognised him from his army days. Knowing he had worked as a spy, the officer told him what they were searching for and asked if he knew anything. Ulixes told him nothing, then contacted Master Abascantius.’
Cassius returned the letter.
‘Why not tell them?’ asked Indavara.
Cassius gave him a knowing look.
‘Because the sly bastard wants money,’ said Abascantius, ‘and he knows I pay well. I received a second message from him while in Epiphania. In return for a certain amount of coin, he will disclose the name of this town.’
Abascantius got to his feet. ‘Let’s have a look at the map.’
Cassius turned it so that all three of them could see.
The agent pointed at the southern region of the province below Petra. ‘Depending on the informer’s route north, it might have been any of these towns in or close to the Hejaz mountains. I would assume quite far to the south.’
‘Because it has been taken over by this chieftain?’ said Cassius.
‘Yes – well beyond our reach. I met with Calvinus this morning. He briefed me about the attack on Ruwaffa and the wider situation but knew nothing about any particular chief or cult.’
‘Might we be able to narrow the possible location based on the temples and sects in each town?’
‘Unlikely. Most, if not all, have connections to one of the sun gods. I imagine all would covet the black stone.’
‘Why take it, though?’ asked Cassius. ‘Why risk a conflict with Rome?’
‘Perhaps they think they
are
beyond our reach down there; that we’ve little chance of finding the stone. And they would probably have been right if not for Ulixes. The gods have favoured us with this stroke of luck. We must use it.’
‘
If
he’s telling the truth,’ countered Cassius. ‘What if he heard the troops were looking for the stone, then invented this tale about the informer. I’m sure he stands to earn a considerable sum.’
‘He is expecting one hundred aurei. We shall give him
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