Caesar Dies

Sorbanus brought the skewbald stallion. Not far away a group of women danced around a dozen drunken men, who sang uproariously. Seen against the background of purple and dark-green gloom, with crimson torchlight flaring on the quiet water and the moon descending behind trees beyond them, they were mystically beautiful -- seemed not to belong to earth, anymore than the pan-pipe music did. "Ride into their midst!" Norbanus urged, pointing. "Tickle the stallion thus." The Cappadocian lashed out savagely. "Here is a bottle of goat's blood. I will bring weapons, and I will join you as soon as possible after I have made sure that the temple priests, and all Daphne, are positive about your death. Now mount and ride!"