Athene's Prophecy (Gaius Claudius Scaevola Trilogy) by Ian Miller Page B
Authors: Ian Miller
Tags: General Fiction
Ads: Link
he finally took his leave, to see his family before taking another boat that would take him to Rhodes.
It was only then that he realized that indeed he would never see old Libo again.
Chapter 5
It was late in the afternoon in Rhodes when Gaius visited the local military commander, an older Tribune. That he was still a Tribune at that age, Gaius realized, meant that Rhodes was regarded as a place for someone with little ability and no ambition to graze.
"And you want?" The expression of annoyance at having his peace disturbed was plain to see.
"I need help to find someone called Timothy," Gaius started to explain.
"I'm not into 'Lost and Found'."
"I was told to make sure I came to you for help," Gaius explained.
"Oh, you were, were you? And who . . ?"
"I have a letter here from the Princeps , explaining it all."
The Tribune reached for the letter with an expression that was a mix of annoyance and fear. Rhodes was somewhere to be left alone, except that Tiberius was somewhat familiar with Rhodes. He read the letter, then shrugged and told Gaius to find somewhere to stay the night and then report the following morning, when a soldier would be assigned. Gaius thanked him politely, and left. The Tribune stared at the document on his table, unable to concentrate. What fate would befall him? From what he knew of Rome, life for anyone in a position was best advised to avoid coming to the attention of Tiberius. Now Rome had come to Rhodes, and he was in danger of being seen. This was a situation that could very easily end his rather pleasant existence.
When Gaius appeared the following morning, an older soldier was given the job of looking after him. The soldier apparently knew where Timothy lived, so when Gaius secured the property he had brought with him by lodging it safely with the military camp, they set off. It was a pleasant walk around the coastline, Gaius thought, as he looked towards the sea and the small fishing boats busily going about their day's work. He could see why someone would find pleasure living there.
Timothy, it appeared, lived alone in a large stone cottage on the side of a hill overlooking an attractive little bay. Gaius approached the cottage as a man emerged. He was of average build, he walked with a slight stoop, his hair was greying and quite dishevelled, his clothes looked old and tattered, but Gaius was drawn towards the pair of the most penetrating eyes he had ever seen.
"Excuse me, sir, but you are Timothy?"
"I am," came the slightly bored reply.
Timothy was about to continue walking, so Gaius was forced to explain, "I was sent to you by Tiberius."
"You were, were you."
"Tiberius gave me orders."
"I gather he's rather good at that," Timothy shrugged, and continued to walk.
"I am ordered to learn from you," Gaius said, feeling irritated that he had to almost run after this Greek. "So I ask, will you teach me?"
"No."
"I see," Gaius remarked evenly.
"And what do you see?" Timothy stopped and turned towards Gaius, and this time gave him a more penetrating stare.
"The Princeps indicated that you might be difficult," Gaius replied.
"And what are you going to do about it?" Timothy said in a slightly amused tone.
"Obey the Princeps . What else?" Gaius said flatly.
"That will be interesting to watch," Timothy remarked with a droll smile, then he turned on his heel and walked on.
"You want me to deal with that Greek scum!" the soldier asked.
"No!" Gaius stared helplessly at the retreating figure. This had all the makings of a disaster before he even began. "Unless you want to feel Tiberius' wrath, you'll treat the Greek with respect. No, what I want is for you to get me a tent. I'll erect it around here somewhere."
* * *
"And just what exactly do you think you're doing?" Timothy demanded, as Gaius was busily hammering in tent stays. "You're spoiling my view."
"Settling in," Gaius replied. He had to show confidence, even if he did not have it. "You said you would find my attempts at
It was only then that he realized that indeed he would never see old Libo again.
Chapter 5
It was late in the afternoon in Rhodes when Gaius visited the local military commander, an older Tribune. That he was still a Tribune at that age, Gaius realized, meant that Rhodes was regarded as a place for someone with little ability and no ambition to graze.
"And you want?" The expression of annoyance at having his peace disturbed was plain to see.
"I need help to find someone called Timothy," Gaius started to explain.
"I'm not into 'Lost and Found'."
"I was told to make sure I came to you for help," Gaius explained.
"Oh, you were, were you? And who . . ?"
"I have a letter here from the Princeps , explaining it all."
The Tribune reached for the letter with an expression that was a mix of annoyance and fear. Rhodes was somewhere to be left alone, except that Tiberius was somewhat familiar with Rhodes. He read the letter, then shrugged and told Gaius to find somewhere to stay the night and then report the following morning, when a soldier would be assigned. Gaius thanked him politely, and left. The Tribune stared at the document on his table, unable to concentrate. What fate would befall him? From what he knew of Rome, life for anyone in a position was best advised to avoid coming to the attention of Tiberius. Now Rome had come to Rhodes, and he was in danger of being seen. This was a situation that could very easily end his rather pleasant existence.
When Gaius appeared the following morning, an older soldier was given the job of looking after him. The soldier apparently knew where Timothy lived, so when Gaius secured the property he had brought with him by lodging it safely with the military camp, they set off. It was a pleasant walk around the coastline, Gaius thought, as he looked towards the sea and the small fishing boats busily going about their day's work. He could see why someone would find pleasure living there.
Timothy, it appeared, lived alone in a large stone cottage on the side of a hill overlooking an attractive little bay. Gaius approached the cottage as a man emerged. He was of average build, he walked with a slight stoop, his hair was greying and quite dishevelled, his clothes looked old and tattered, but Gaius was drawn towards the pair of the most penetrating eyes he had ever seen.
"Excuse me, sir, but you are Timothy?"
"I am," came the slightly bored reply.
Timothy was about to continue walking, so Gaius was forced to explain, "I was sent to you by Tiberius."
"You were, were you."
"Tiberius gave me orders."
"I gather he's rather good at that," Timothy shrugged, and continued to walk.
"I am ordered to learn from you," Gaius said, feeling irritated that he had to almost run after this Greek. "So I ask, will you teach me?"
"No."
"I see," Gaius remarked evenly.
"And what do you see?" Timothy stopped and turned towards Gaius, and this time gave him a more penetrating stare.
"The Princeps indicated that you might be difficult," Gaius replied.
"And what are you going to do about it?" Timothy said in a slightly amused tone.
"Obey the Princeps . What else?" Gaius said flatly.
"That will be interesting to watch," Timothy remarked with a droll smile, then he turned on his heel and walked on.
"You want me to deal with that Greek scum!" the soldier asked.
"No!" Gaius stared helplessly at the retreating figure. This had all the makings of a disaster before he even began. "Unless you want to feel Tiberius' wrath, you'll treat the Greek with respect. No, what I want is for you to get me a tent. I'll erect it around here somewhere."
* * *
"And just what exactly do you think you're doing?" Timothy demanded, as Gaius was busily hammering in tent stays. "You're spoiling my view."
"Settling in," Gaius replied. He had to show confidence, even if he did not have it. "You said you would find my attempts at
Similar Books
