Honour Read Online Free PDF

before they betray them. It frays even the stoutest nerves.’
    ‘I sense you thrive on it.’
    ‘It is a sport in which I take pleasure, that is true.’
    ‘So you do not fear death either?’
    ‘Disgrace, Flavius, that is what all here fear, even the soldiers, and then there is beggary if you are blinded. Great fortunes are to be madebut there are dungeons below where you can be forgotten, cells where the rats can eat at your toes for decades.’
    Petrus stopped and hauled on Flavius to do likewise. ‘Just make out we are deep in conversation.’
    ‘Why?’
    ‘I need to be sure we are not being watched.’
    ‘Talk? What about?’
    ‘Tell me of that fight you had when serving under Narses?’ Seeing the younger man’s eyes open with surprise, Petrus added. ‘It cannot shock you that I know of it.’
    ‘Did you have me spied upon?’
    ‘Flavius, I esteem you and trust you but please take no offence if I say you are scarce worth that. I did, however, need to know that you were alive, or if not—’
    ‘Which would require you to correspond with someone.’
    ‘Regarding the situation on the border, I did with several and your well-being was supplemental. Now tell me how you pulled off your little charade for it interests me?’
    As he did so, Flavius was far from sure Petrus was really listening. Placed as they were in a long and well-frequented corridor it seemed he spent more time flicking glances to those who came and went by the pillar near which they stood, some to be ignored when close, others to be acknowledged with a nod.
    ‘Narses is a good soldier but too cautious. He could have seen it as I did but chose not to—’
    The interruption was physical and, for a man of such slight frame, surprisingly strong. Petrus dragged Flavius deeper into the gap between two pillars then along behind them to a small doorway on which he rapped a tattoo. It was opened quickly and the youngster was bundledinto a chamber that lacked a window and was lit only by guttering candles. It took a moment to sense the other person present and time for the eyes of Flavius to adjust and take in his physical features, even longer to make out the face.
    ‘Amantius,’ Petrus said softly.
    The voice that replied was restrained and hoarse. ‘It is past the appointed time.’
    ‘Better a wait than we and our purpose should be discovered.’
    The man was either bald or he shaved his head. Maybe it was the indifferent light but his eyes seemed sunk into a head that appeared as well-defined as a skull, with prominent cheekbones and a substantial lantern jaw.
    ‘Let me introduce my companion, Flavius Belisarius, whom you will observe is a member of the Excubitors.’
    ‘Not a very elevated one.’
    ‘If a man of higher rank were here, Amantius, given what we are about to discuss, he might see it as his duty to stick a sword in our vitals. For what we propose to do you need the aid of the junior officers of the
Excubitorum
, for it is they who are close to the common soldiers and they who will be able to marshal them to our aid as well as convey to them the promise of great reward.’
    ‘And to protect me and my candidate?’
    ‘That too.’
    The man stepped a pace forward, which increased the light that shone on him. He was not of any great height and had a narrowness to his body that matched that of Petrus. His eyes were on Flavius and unblinking, the youngster thought trying to see into his soul, and when he spoke it was to confirm that was his purpose.
    ‘I will need to place much faith in you and your like.’ When Flaviusdid not respond, only holding steady the mutual gaze, the bald man nodded. ‘You stay silent, no protestations of constancy or reliability. That is good.’
    ‘For to do so would sound false,’ Petrus added, which got a hearty nod. ‘It is however necessary, Amantius, that my young friend knows who you are and what offices you hold.’
    ‘They are many. All he needs to know is that the advantages of my