"The Loss of Innocence Affair" corvus coronoides Chapter 2 Part 3

A new friend

Napoleon walked slowly back to his room, he was worried for Sergi, few of the young men who underwent the conditioning and training had survived. He had been separated from his ally, Napoleon had to now work out a way to bring down this organisation himself; He could not simply trust the hope that Sergi would be able to affect any assistance. There seemed to be a rather brutal element that had been taking great pleasure in the defilement these young men, with the risk that THRUSH might have bugged his rooms he had not been able to let Sergi know what was going on.

Napoleon was confused; he had never felt this way about another man as he did for this young Russian. He had some experience when he had first infiltrated THRUSH of course he had simply put that aside, sometimes things just had to be done. All the same, this was different; Solo could not quite admit it to himself despite the fact. He finally got back to his room and threw himself on the bed in a slowly growing rage. `What the hell am I to do' he harangued himself. Solo lay there for a while with his face shoved into his pillows wishing that he could escape his thoughts of the young Russian. He had to rescue Sergi now, but how was he going to get to him before anything happened as well as bring a stop to THRUSH.

There was a quiet knock at Napoleon's door. Solo turned over and stared at the door. When the quiet knocking came again, he walked over and quietly opened the door. He was shocked to see one of the younger Zealots standing on the other side. Solo was even more surprised to see him put his finger to his mouth, shush for silence and beckon him to follow. Napoleon was curious now and followed the young Zealot through a maze of corridors and passageways. Coming to a door the Zealot ushered him into the room beyond. It was meager compared to his room, a dresser, an ample sized pallet, a small table and chair sat in one corner covered manuscripts, piled around with tomes, huge leather bound volumes scattered about the floor. As the door closed, the Zealot visibly relaxed. "We are safe from listening ears in here Solo, come, sit down I have some things to discuss with you." He gestured casually to the chair as he positioned himself on the table. Napoleon sat and looked at suspiciously at his companion. "Oh have no fear Mr. Solo, I'm not about to put you at any risk." he reassured Napoleon "Firstly let me introduce myself, my name is Samuel, I am somewhat aware of your interest in the new acolyte, Sergi, there is more than meets the eye between you two."

Napoleon was stunned, `Could this Zealot read minds?' he wondered. The look on Napoleon's face must have given him away a little despite his attempt to remain non-reactive.

"Solo, you were the one who bought him in; I was in the sauna when you first made contact with him." Samuel went on to explain. "It was rather obvious to me that he is a rather attractive young man. A couple of hours ago I was forced to eradicate a threat to him from a truly evil man who sought only to defile him," He continued. "I regret having to kill the man, but I could not in good conscious allow such scum to live."

"I wasn't aware that Zealots where permitted to kill" Napoleon commented.

"They aren't Solo, I however am from an ancient order, The Sicarii and we are the dagger men." Samuel went on to explain. "We carry the Sicæ from which we derive our name." Samuel slowly removed the short black rod he had concealed in his robe and showed Napoleon.

"Ancient you say, how long has your order been around exactly?" Napoleon asked.

"Nearly a Millennium and a half now Napoleon, centuries ago the Sicarii were urban fighters, a band of violent nationalists who were prepared to undertake assassination and murder in a campaign to set Palestine free from the rule of the ancient Roman Empire. Bands of zealots and dagger-men formed in protest against this misrule. Our members, pledged to kill any disloyal Jew or Roman. No one is beyond our reach. The Sicarii assassinated the high priest Jonathan at the instigation of Procurator of Judea, Felix. But I digress, lecturing you on our origins is not the purpose of this meeting, I am sorry." Samuel hesitated.

"Well, you obviously bought me here for more privacy than this information would need. What of Sergi?" Napoleon prompted.

"Yes Solo, I need to tell you, I have studied the manuscripts and prophesy from our past, there is something about Sergi that I need to investigate." Samuel pick up again. "Besides The Sicarii, whilst being accustomed to violence, are not happy with our new masters. Their passion to violate their new acolytes and the ecstasy they seem to find inflicting such hurt and humiliation remind us too much of the passion the Romans once had towards the chosen."

"You can't do anything about this?" Solo enquired.

"The Sicarii on the whole are powerless to break the vows we have sworn, though I may have found a way," Samuel informed him. "But this is where I need your assistance; we must rescue Sergi you see."

"Well, that's easy, the two of us can always slaughter everyone in the castle" Napoleon quipped.

"I have considered that option." Samuel mused. "I would prefer it to what I have in mind."

Napoleon sat there quietly wondering what he was getting himself into with this young man. "It was a joke Samuel" he clarified. "Oh, I'm sorry I am not very used to your humor" Samuel apologized.

"Well, what exactly did you have in mind then?" Napoleon enquired with some new found trepidation.

"Well," Samuel took a deep breath. "With your help I hope to deceive the Patrician and rescue Sergi. Then if what I believe is true about him is correct we can over through these vile people. The Sicarii will be able to escape the tyranny we are forced to serve."

"That sounds simple, where do we start?" Napoleon could not help be a little flippant faced with insurmountable odds.

"Your confidence encourages me Solo, I have arranged for you to be the one responsible for Sergi's indoctrination, you must be convincing however. Do you think you can do what is needed?" Samuel inquired of a slightly taken aback Napoleon.

"Well, I guess I have no choice if we are to pull this off do I?" he retorted.

"No, not much I guess." Was all Samuel could say in reply.