The decurion suddenly felt dizzy and nauseous, and he had to put a hand on the ground to steady himself. The earth felt warm and sticky and wet beneath his fingers. He looked down and saw that he was sitting in a puddle of blood. His blood, he dimly realised. Then he was aware of the wound in his groin again. A major artery had been severed and dark blood pulsed out in jets on to the grass between his splayed legs. At once he clamped a hand over the injury but the warm flow pressed urgently against the palm and squirted through the gaps between his fingers. He felt cold now, and with a sad smile he knew that there was no longer any danger of being bawled out by the prefect of the cohort. Not in this life, at least. The decurion looked up, and focused on the tiny figures of the Greek and his bodyguards fleeing for their lives.

The seriousness of their plight no longer affected him. They were mere shadows, dimly flickering across the edge of his dwindling senses. He slumped back on the grass and stared into the clear blue sky. All the sounds of the recent skirmish had faded; all that remained was the drowsy hubbub of insects. The decurion closed his eyes and let the warmth of the summer afternoon wash over him as his consciousness gradually ebbed away.

05 The Eagles Prey

CHAPTER TWO

‘Wake up!’ The Praetorian shook the Greek’s shoulder. ‘Narcissus! Come on, man!’

‘You’re wasting your time,’ his companion said, on the other side of the Greek. ‘He’s out for the count.’

They both looked back up the track towards the skirmish on the brow of the hill.

‘Bastard has to come round. We’re all dead if he doesn’t. I doubt our lads up there are going to last long.’

‘They’re not.’ His companion squinted. ‘It’s over. Let’s go.’

The Greek groaned and raised his head with a pained expression. ‘What’s . . . happening?’

‘We’re in trouble, sir. We have to move quickly.’

Narcissus shook his head to clear the dull fug clouding his mind. ‘Where are the others?’

‘Dead. Sir, we have to go.’

Narcissus nodded, took hold of his reins and urged his mount along the track. His horse suddenly lurched forward as the Praetorian behind him goaded the animal with a swift prod from his sword.

‘Easy there!’ Narcissus snapped.

‘Sorry, sir. But there’s no time to lose.’

‘Now look here!’ Narcissus turned round angrily to remind the Praetorian who he was speaking to. Then his eyes flickered back up the track just as their pursuers finished off the last of the escort and renewed the chase.

‘Point taken,’ he muttered. ‘Let’s be off.’