“You’ll kill me anyway,” he said.

“Not if you tell me what I want to know,” Julius replied.

The man sagged in relief. “Then I am the captain. You won’t kill me?”

“If you can tell me where Celsus is, you have my word,” Julius said, leaning toward the man.

“In winter, he goes to Samos, in Asia. It’s on the far side of the Greek sea.”

“I don’t know the name,” Julius said, doubtfully.

“It’s a big island off the coast—near Miletus. The Roman ships don’t patrol near it, but I’ve been there before. I’m telling you the truth!”

Julius believed the man and nodded. “Excellent. Then that is where we will go. How far away is it?”

“A month straight, two at the most.”

Julius frowned at the answer. They would need to stop for provisions and that meant more risk. He looked up at the two soldiers. “Throw the others to the sharks.”

The pirate captain scowled at the order. “Not me, though. You said I wouldn’t be killed.”

Julius stood up slowly. “I have lost good friends to your people, as well as a year of my life.”

“You gave your word! You need me to guide you there. You couldn’t find it without me,” the man said quickly, his voice breaking in fear.

Julius ignored him, speaking to the soldiers holding his arms. “Lock him somewhere safe for the moment.”

When they had gone, Julius sat alone in the cabin and listened as the remaining pirates were dragged out and over the side. He looked down at his hands as the noise finally came to an end and again he could hear the creaks and groans of a ship under sail. He expected to feel shame or remorse for what he had ordered, but surprisingly it did not come. Then he closed the door so he could weep for Pelitas.

Chapter 18

                  CHAPTER 18