He was awake before dawn in spite of the previous night's loveplay, and padded naked to the door to call for someone to bring fresh water for his bath. Sitting on the couch he began to rouse the two girls.

'Mirella!' he said, shaking the brunette gently by the shoulder. Of the two, she was most definitely his favourite. She was tall, lissom, and lovely, with enormous greeny-blue eyes and small but perfectly-shaped and firm breasts. In the early days she had belonged to Marcellus, but he had given her into Publius Maximus's care when he had had to go on a long journey south to Horta on the western sub-continent and Publius Maximus had gone north to return to Barbessel.

For a time she had resented being handed over to the big man, but she was only a young slave, and had no say in what became of her. As the months progressed, she had come to realise that he was just as kind and considerate a master as had been Marcellus, and she had come to love and respect him in Marcellus' absence. When at last they had met again in Warikeewa camp, Marcellus, seeing the bond between them, had gladly given her ownership into his care and trust.

Hannei was a different matter. She had met up with Marcellus during one of his excursions to scout the Hor-Lak forces that were massing at the border. Later, when he had escaped from certain death in the Hor-Laki desert, he had met up with her again and the fact had come out that she was Vitellius's illegitimate daughter by a slave woman in the extreme south. Abandoned by him at a very early age, Hannei had always decided that when she was old enough she would seek him out and confront him. Over the years it had become clear to her that he was a power-crazy megalomaniac and she had had no hesitation in throwing her support behind Marcellus and the plains bronzeskins of Pekeesh. When Publius Maximus had finally tracked down Marcellus in Warikeewa camp after following him halfway across Heraklion, Marcellus had asked him to look after Hannei for him, knowing that the big fat general would take her under his wing as he had Mirella.

Now both girls were happy to be part of Publius Maximus's retinue, and in return for their services to him he treated them well and kept them in comparative comfort.

An hour later he was leaving his apartments and on his way to the keep cells to interrogate the prisoner. He was met at the keep entrance by Jorvennus, captain of the guard.

'General Maximus, there are some people to see you. They arrived early this morning, insisting that you were known to them through Marcellus. I have put them in an interview room.'

'Their names, Jorvennus, did they give you their names?'

'No, General. They refused to give any names.'

'I will see them later. Do you know where they have come from?'

'It is my understanding that they arrived by boat from the western lands. They sailed up river to the docks and entered the city at first light.'

'From the western lands. They are not bronzeskins, then, Warikeewa or Hunyapa?'

'No, General, they are all white. There is a man, young, and two women, one is clearly a slave, the other I am not sure about.'

'They have been checked through quarantine, presumably?'

'Of course!'

'All right, Jorvennus, I was just checking. It would not do for more of the Virensis virus to be admitted to the city now that we have it under control.'

'No, General.'

'Jorvennus, tell me more about Marcellus's escape from the city. In the first place, I would know why it was necessary for him to escape from his own city.'

'It is quite simple, Sir. He assassinated Senator Octavius Kestren. He was seen doing it. He sheltered for a few hours in a Khamen temple, then tricked the guards into letting him through the north gate, taking a hostage with him.'

'Jorvennus, you know as well as I do that Marcellus is no assassin! He would never flout the law, not even in his own city and in a just cause. Someone else must have killed the senator and framed Marcellus.'

'General, he was seen to strike the blow.....'

'By you, Jorvennus?'

'No, Sir.....'

'Then you know better to judge a man before he has been given the chance to testify on his own behalf and give his own side of the story. Especially Marcellus. You realise what he has achieved in the past months?'

'I only know what I have been told, General.....'

'Bring me the witness who saw Marcellus kill Senator Kestren, Jorvennus! I wish to interview them before midday!'

Publius Maximus' mood had changed from one of reasonable sobriety to one of extreme anger. How people who knew Marcellus of Barbessel could turn so swiftly against him on the strength of hearsay and gossip was something he could not come to terms with.

'Yes, General.'

He swept past Jorvennus and into the keep, pausing to peer through the tiny grating into the interview room where the new arrivals were waiting to see him. He knew none of them by sight, he was certain, and on the strength of that, decided that the interview with Talbrik was more important.

Talbrik's cell was unlocked by a gaoler and Publius Maximus noticed with satisfaction that he had been reasonably well treated. Trays of food and ample drinks had been left him and he had consumed all but a few crumbs.

'I would have your story, assassin,' the General said.

'I would know by whom I am being interrogated first,' Talbrik said.

'Of course. I am General Publius Maximus of Barbessel. You are?'

'I am Talbrik. I was engaged by Gennis of Ancyros to seek out and kill or bring back to Prakussara the man who abducted, amongst others, two of the holy virgins from the holy city, the daughters of Gennis, Saria and Lucinda. If possible, I was also to find and bring back his daughters.'

'As simple as that!' breathed Publius Maximus.

'As simple as that. I have let nothing stand in the way of my task, as you will no doubt get to hear, General.'

'Well, my friend, have you ever stopped to consider whether or not the man you seek is guilty?'

'No. I will be well rewarded when I kill him, and if I succeed in bringing back the two women to Prakussara.....'

'There I fear you may run into some difficulty. One of the women is dead.'

'Marcellus?'

'No, she was executed by the Warikeewa because they thought she was a bad omen for them.'

'Primitive!'

'Yes. As primitive as you.'

Publius Maximus went to the door of the cell.

'If I give you your freedom, will you come to me later in the day so that I may tell you about Marcellus of Barbessel? It will change your mind, I assure you.'

'If you give me my freedom, I will continue to search for him, and ultimately I will kill him.'

'But talk to me first.'

'Maybe. Is Marcellus here in Horta, now?'

'He is not.'

'Do you know where he is?'

'I do not.'

'Then I will probably not talk to you at all.'

'Unwise.'

'It is you who are unwise in considering giving me my freedom in the first place. Still, it does not matter, I would escape anyway, sooner or later.'

'Few people escape from Horta, my friend.'

'I would find a way. I am an assassin!'

'Somehow, I doubt that. I will give orders for your release later today.'

Talbrik nodded, his eyes narrowing. He could not think why the general should make such a decision, but as the minutes passed, it dawned on him that he had already stated his intention to continue searching for Marcellus. It was obvious. Publius Maximus was allowing him to go free so that he could follow him. He expected him to lead him to Marcellus of Barbessel.