Volume Iii Part 57 (2/2)
answered Cethegus.
A movement of extreme surprise escaped all present; for even those who were initiated into the secret were amazed that Cethegus knew the position of affairs.
Na.r.s.es alone remained unmoved. He merely said in a low voice to Basiliskos:
”He knows all, and it is well that he does so.” Then he turned to Cethegus and said: ”It is not my fault, Cethegus, that I did not tell you sooner of your dismissal; the Emperor had strictly forbidden me to do so. I approve of your resolve, for it agrees with my best intentions.--The barbarians shall not have the pleasure of slaying another myriad of my people tonight. We will march forward at once with all our troops, including both our wings, to within a spear's throw from the pa.s.s. We will not leave the Goths room to sally far out. The first step they take beyond the mouth of the ravine shall be amongst our spears. I have also nothing to object, Cethegus, if volunteers offer to fight that King of terrors. With his death, I hope, the resistance of the Goths will cease. Only one thing makes me anxious. I have long ago ordered up the Ionian fleet--for I expected that all would be over a few days earlier--and yet it has not arrived. The s.h.i.+ps are to take the captured barbarians on board at once, and carry them to Byzantium.--Has the swift-sailer which I sent to gather news beyond the Straits, of Regium not yet returned. Captain Konon?”
”No, general. Neither has a second swift s.h.i.+p, which I sent after the first.”
”Can the late storm have damaged the fleet?”
”Impossible, general! It was not violent enough. And the fleets according to the last reports, lay safe at anchor in the harbour of Brundusium.”
”Well, we cannot wait for the s.h.i.+ps! Forward, my leaders! We will march at once to the pa.s.s. Farewell, Cethegus! Do not let your dismissal disquiet you. I fear that you will be menaced with many a troublesome process when the war is ended. You have many enemies, rightly and wrongly. There are bad omens against you. But I know that from the very beginning you have believed in only one omen--'The only omen'----”
”'Is to die for the fatherland!' Grant me one more favour, Na.r.s.es.
Allow me--for my Isaurians and tribunes are in Rome--to gather round me all the Italians and Romans whom you have divided among your troops, and lead them against the barbarians.”
For one moment Na.r.s.es hesitated. Then he said:
”Well, go; gather them together and lead them--to death,” he added in a low voice to Basiliskos. ”There are at most fifteen hundred men. I do not grudge him the pleasure of falling at the head of his countrymen.
Nor them the pleasure of falling behind him!--Farewell, Cethegus.”
Silently greeting Na.r.s.es with his uplifted spear, Cethegus left the tent.
”H'm!” said Na.r.s.es to Alboin, ”you may well look after him, Longobardian. There goes a remarkable piece of universal history. Do you know who that is marching away?”
”A great enemy to his enemies,” said Alboin gravely.
”Yes, wolf, look at him again; there goes to his death--the last Roman!”
When all the leaders, except Basiliskos and Alboin, had left Na.r.s.es, there hurried into the tent from behind a curtain, Anicius, Scaevola, and Albinus, still in the disguise of Longobardians, and with faces full of alarm.
”What!” cried Scaevola, ”will you save that man from his judges?”
”And his body from the executioner; and his fortune from his accusers?”
added Albinus.
Anicius was silent; he only clenched his hand upon the hilt of his sword.
”General,” said Alboin, ”let these two brawlers put off the dress of my people. I am disgusted with them.”
”You are not wrong there, wolf!” said Na.r.s.es; and turning to the others he said, ”you need no further disguise. You are useless to me as accusers. Cethegus is judged; and the sentence will be carried out--by King Teja. But you, you ravens, shall not hack at the hero after he is dead.”
”And the order of the Emperor?” asked Scaevola stubbornly.
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