As Adara and the children reached the top of the gang plank, the footsteps were coming nearer and faster.
Lucius reached beneath the linen of his new cloak for this gladius and just as the sound almost reached him, he spun quickly, his gladius drawn.
The Egyptian merchant cried out, his eyes wide with fear as the entire crew on the deck of Europe, and Lucius’ family, turned to see the deadly tip of Lucius’ gladius pointed at the merchant’s throat.
“Why are you following us?” Lucius growled.
“Baba!” Phoebus said, dropping the clean clothes on the deck and rushing to his father with his own sword drawn.
“I…I…I…” the terrified merchant could barely speak, but with a shaking hand he raised a straw hat to the side. “Please… You forgot this.”
Lucius looked at the hat he had purchased, hang
