Amongst the Enemy
Marcus Brutus was sitting outside his tent, talking to his lieutenant. “We need to defeat the city of Athens quickly, for if we don’t then the morale of our troops will decline rapidly. Did the men you sent out to scout the perimeter of the city return yet? They should have been here hours ago.”“I’m afraid they have not, sir. Should we send out a search party?” The lieutenant asked worriedly.
“Perhaps,” Marcus Brutus replied. “But perhaps we should send out the search party after the messenger arrives.” Then, spotting Linet, he added, “Speaking of which, here he comes now.”
Linet dismounted from the stallion and walked over to Marcus Brutus. “You are the General, I presume. My name is Linet, and I am a friend of the Emperor.”
“Linet,” Marcus Brutus pondered over her name for a minute or two. “That is not a man’s name, and I’m sure Greek emperors don’t usually send a woman to do a man’s work. There must be something very special about you to be trusted with this responsibility. I wonder what that is.”
“Well, sir, I have spent my whole life studying at the parthenon and reading whatever I could get my hands on. I am acquainted with the practices of algebra, geometry, philosophy, chemistry, and botany, and know every ancient legend there is.”
“Well then, you must be a very talented young lady. How, may I ask, did you happen to meet the King?”
“First I met his son, Theseus, in a sword masters’ competition. There was a girl’s league and a boy’s league. I won for my league and he won for his. Then it came time for the final competition, and he did not want to fight me because I was a woman. He offered me a chance to back down, but I refused. Then the fight started, and it was over before it even began. I defeated him before he even had a chance. After that, Theseus and I became even closer friends, and I met the King soon after.”
“So you are saying that not only are you smart, you are also handy with a sword?” Marcus Brutus asked curiously.
“That is correct, sir,” Linet answered.
“Well I must say, I am impressed, and that does not happen too often,” Marcus Brutus stated. “Now, we must get to business. What is the King’s answer?”
“The king does wish to meet you, but he wants it to be on his terms. His Majesty does not wish to walk into a trap, and he does not doubt that if he steps out of the city for a minute you will lead him into one. I am here to discuss the terms he requires.”
“Hm... this is unusual. Most kings are not this smart. Remind me not to underestimate this one, lieutenant. Very well, I will listen to his terms. But do not think that just because I will listen to them I will agree to them. You still have to convince me.”
“I am sure I can do that, sir. Now, as for terms. One: he will not disarm for any reason, and he does not expect you to either. Two: I will stay with him the entire time to make sure he is safe. Three: You will come alone and meet him in a specified location that I will bring you to. You can bring your lieutenant if you wish. Those are the terms he requires.”
The general thought long and hard for a minute or two. Then he finally replied. “I agree to the first and second terms, as they are reasonable. However, the third does not seem even rational. Do you believe me to be stupid enough to walk into an obvious trap with my right-hand-man?” Marcus Brutus was getting angry now.
“No, I do not think you to be a stupid man at all, general. In fact, it is quite the opposite. I was just merely suggesting that perhaps we find a mutual place where you and the King can meet. That way, neither of you will have the advantage.”
“I admit, that does sound appealing, but how do I know that the King won’t just have an ambush lying in wait for me? I will not go into unfamiliar territory without at least bringing a few men with me. I will go to any location that is agreed upon, but I will not go alone. That is my final decision.”
Linet nodded her acceptance, before replying, “I will go tell the King your modifications, General.” With that, she left the tent and rode back to her father. The gate guard let her inside the citadel without any trouble and soon she was walking up the steps of the palace once again. Linet hurried jubilantly towards her father’s chambers.
When she arrived in her father’s chambers, he was sitting in his chair, staring off into space. He looked up as she walked in, expecting to see one of his minor lords complaining about something. “Whatever it is, it can wait. My daughter's safety is unknown to me, and I do not even want to think about the fact that my son is leaving tomorrow. I-” He stopped abruptly, realizing at last that he was speaking to his daughter. Immediately he rushed up to her and enveloped her in a warm embrace. “Oh, how I have missed you, my sweet, sweet daughter. But what has happened? Why have you returned?” He looked up at long last from his daughter's embrace, his gaze full of worry.
“Do not worry, father, nothing has happened. I am safe, and my cover remains intact. There is, however, one minor complication: Marcus Brutus wishes to bring some of his guard with him to the meeting. I advise you to do the same.”
“Yet I sense that you also want something else as well. Speak, child, and ask. I will grant whatever wish you desire if it is in my power to do so, as long as it does not put the citizens in jeopardy.” He gazed at her with happiness in his eyes, clearly overjoyed to have her home for even a short while.
“You see much, Father. I have a suggestion for the meet that I think would be to our advantage.” They discussed the meeting for a time, then prepared for both Linet's and Theseus's quests.
* * * * * * * * * * * *
When morning finally arrived, Theseus wasn't nervous at all for his upcoming quest. In fact, he was feeling positively intrepid. Linet, on the other hand, was feeling slightly nervous about going back undercover. She had just realized how difficult convincing Marcus Brutus would be while still maintaining her cover.
As the two siblings headed toward the docks, they wished each other good luck in their quests. Then, after a heart-wrenching goodbye, they parted and went their separate ways.
* * * * * * * * * * * *
With Theseus’s ship having set sail, Linet changed back into her messenger disguise. She then mounted her stallion, Midnight, and rode back to Marcus Brutus. She was just about to go inside after tying up her horse when she heard yelling coming from inside the tent. Not wanting to interrupt, Linet crept around the back of the tent and peered in through a tiny hole. What she saw surprised her. There was a large stack of books in the corner and an oak desk and chair in the center. Marcus Brutus also had a modest, small bed in the back of the tent.
But as Linet gazed around Marcus Brutus’s tent, it dawned on her that he was very similar to her in many respects. For he appeared to love to read, and the gods only knew how much she loved it. She was lost in the swirling, twisting depths of her mind when the sound of Marcus Brutus’s voice brought her back to reality.
“What do you mean, the ‘search party didn’t find any clues about the scouts’? That was the entire purpose of your going! You were supposed to make sure that they found them. What am I supposed to do if my men don’t do their jobs? Well, I’ll just have to go out and look for them myself. If the Greek,” he spat out the word Greek like it made him sick, “comes back, hold her here until I get back. I don’t want her causing any trouble.” Marcus Brutus looked deep into his lieutenant's eyes, making sure he understood his orders.
“Yes, General,” the Lieutenant replied sullenly before bowing and exiting the tent.
Meanwhile, Marcus Brutus was mumbling to himself under his breath. “Oh, why am I here in the first place? I don’t need to waste my time with these Greeks. What I need is to protect my emperor...” With that, he followed his Lieutenant out of the tent and mounted his horse. Marcus Brutus waited for his men to ready themselves, and then rode off in the direction of Athens.
What just happened? Linet asked herself. Marcus Brutus doesn’t seem like the kind of man I thought him to be. In any case, I’d better follow him so I can see where he is going. There might be a way that I can either help him or capture him. She shook herself, mounted Midnight, and rode off after Marcus Brutus.
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