Lucius Valerius Flaccus and his able assistant Lucius Cornelius Sulla Atilianus quickly disembarked from the small merchant ship Corax and found themselves in the ancient city of Syracusa.

"Take a few days rest, and then proceed with your mission," the Frumentarii Princeps had said. And indeed, in another time, another place, Flaccus would have taken these orders with great joy. To carouse in the various homes on the Aventine, slum in the Subura, in general enjoy himself.

But that joy was gone for him now.

After receiving their orders, Flaccus and Sulla had immediately packed fresh, if somewhat shabby, clothing, opting to appear as somewhat down on their luck merchants (rather than down on their luck Patricians, which they both were). They had immediately made for Ostia, and booked passage on the first ship to Sicilia. Now, they had arrived...

"Let us look for some place to stay. There is an inn located in the old quarter of the city that houses primarily merchants," Flaccus said. Sulla nodded and they continued on their way.

After a short walk, they found themselves at the Arcaistos Inn, where they quickly rented two rooms for one week. Once they had settled their belongings, they went to the tavern across the way - also owned by the notorious Greek merchant Arcaistos.

"What is our plan?" Sulla asked over a cup of wine.

"We'll find out where Titus Atticus lives, then arrange for a meeting between he and Lucius Piso. Once Piso arrives, we will as well," Flaccus said, finishing the statement with a hearty bite of roast pig. Sulla nodded. Then frowned.

"Is that not dangerous?" Sulla asked. "What if Piso recognizes that the message isn't in fact from Titus Atticus? Should we not just take them both, one at a time?" Flaccus shook his head, then smiled - a grim sight these days.

"No. He'll know its from Atticus," Flaccus said. Before Sulla could ask how, Flaccus answered: "I shall give the message to him myself."

TBC

LVF