Death This Day

by Nick Brown

Genres: Suspense

Synopsis

265 AD. In the blazing desert wastes of Roman Syria death is never far away. Following a vicious battle between his squad of legionaries and a band of brigands, Oppius Rufus Serenus finds himself at the mercy of enemy warriors hell-bent on revenge, with only his dagger and his wits to defend himself... From Agent of Rome author Nick Brown, a thrilling short story featuring a character from The Siege.

Release date: April 26, 2012

Publisher: Hodder & Stoughton

Print pages: 18

Sample

Bright, searing, suffocating heat.

A cluster of boulders thrown together by a god’s great hand. Around them only grey sand and the odd scrap of colourless root or stalk. A welcome breath of wind momentarily cleared the pungent stench of sweat. Half awake, Legionary Serenus lay in the shade with his head on his pack. Beside him were his sword, helmet and mail-shirt.

He knew what was coming. He was the only uninjured man in the squad and they were dangerously low on water. He had almost dozed off again when the call finally came.

‘Hump, someone’s got to do a run to the river.’

He wished they’d stop calling him that. One of the new boys had given him the nickname – for his supposed camel-like ability to walk all day without appearing the slightest bit tired. The new boy was dead. The nickname lived on.

Optio Eustacius stepped off a rock and landed in the sand next to him. Wafting dust away from his face, Serenus sat up then wearily got to his feet. Eustacius wasn’t one to complain but his face was waxy and pale. The thin gash that ran from his collar bone across the top of his right shoulder had been well bandaged but blood was now seeping through.

‘Think you’ll make it back by sunset?’

Serenus shrugged and led the older man around the edge of the bo. . .