by Jane Finnis
“I don’t know,” she said again. “Perhaps there wasn’t. I just assumed…you mean Vividus was the one doing the shouting, but letting me think it was Magnus? He was threatening to teach Magnus a lesson, not the other way round?”
“Does it sound right? You’re the one that heard it.”
She nodded. “I think so. Except how could Vividus have got into the baths? He keeps telling everyone he never went near them, and he’s got witnesses. Your investigator was with him after bugle-call, and Rinacus earlier on. He wasn’t by himself at all.”
“Rinacus could have been lying. That would be his side of the deal that he spoke of—to protect Vividus by giving him an alibi.”
There was a knock at the bedroom door, and it opened softly behind us. Quintus said, “Aurelia, aren’t you ready yet? Why, what is it?”
“We think it was Vividus,” I said, “who killed Magnus.”
We explained it, and he listened quietly, but then shook his head. “Just one thing doesn’t fit. If Vividus had stabbed Magnus, especially in the rather clumsy way it was done, he’d have had blood all over him. He couldn’t help it. Yet he hadn’t. I know, because I met him in the courtyard as we’d arranged, just after the morning bugle-call. He was by the main gate, talking to Rinacus, and there wasn’t a spot of blood on him. He wouldn’t have had time to get back to his room and change his tunic.”
“He’d wash his hands and arms in the pool,” I said. “The water was tinged red, wasn’t it? As for his tunic…What was he wearing when you met him?”
“A heavy leather sagum. Old and well-used, but perfectly clean…ah, wait, I see where you’re driving. If he put that on over his tunic, it would cover everything, bloodstains and all. Yes. It all fits. I hope to be seeing Vividus later. I’ll ask him about it.”
Niobe looked surprised. “You know where he is?”
“I think I do, and I hope to arrest him sometime today. Meanwhile, I suggest we keep this conversation between the three of us. We don’t want Vividus or anyone suspecting that you’ve helped us, Niobe. And you have helped us, more than we can ever repay. So thank you.”
“Yes, you have. Thank you for everything.” On impulse I gave her a hug. “You’re a real friend.”
“So are you. Now off you go and enjoy Beltane.”
Chapter XXVIII
Bodvocus’ Beltane feast was magnificent, I’m told. I missed most of it, but that was hardly my fault.
I arrived about the middle of the morning, though you can’t easily judge how the hours pass outdoors when the sun isn’t out. The fog grew ever thicker and clammier as we neared the coast, blanketing the entire area of land around Bodvocus’ house, and hiding the house itself until we were practically at his gates. But if you live in Britannia, you soon learn that the weather will do as it likes without reference to gods or men. Bemoaning the fact is a waste of breath.
As Quintus pulled up our borrowed carriage in front of the main gate, we could make out only dim shapes in the mist as people clustered together in groups. But though we couldn’t see much, we could hear plenty of animated chatter and some singing, and the air carried smoke from several cooking-fires, mixed with the scent of roasting meet.
Quintus helped me down, then climbed back into the raeda again. “This seems like a good party. Enjoy yourself, and take care. I’ll see you later.”
“Take care yourself. Your party won’t be as enjoyable as this one.”
“Oh, I don’t know. I’m quite looking forward to it.” He grinned and drove away.
We’d already agreed that he wouldn’t linger, because he was anxious to reach Albia’s farm as soon as he could. All the same as he vanished into the mist, I felt very much alone.
The feast was held on the large flat area of short grass between Bodvocus’ house and the sea. I turned away from the house and headed into the mist, looking among the people I passed for a familiar face. Before I’d gone many paces a tall figure caught my eye, the bulky shape of Taurus, head and shoulders above almost everyone else. I steered towards him like a ship heading for a harbour light, and was relieved to see Albia, the twins and Nasua with him.
“Relia, how nice!” My sister greeted me, and the twins danced excitedly up and down.
“Good to see you all. You got our message, I hope?”
“Yes, we got it, thank you. Lucius arrived too. All’s well. Is Quintus with you?”
“He couldn’t stay, unfortunately.”
“We’re in the same boat then. Candidus couldn’t come either. Still, never mind, we’re going to enjoy ourselves. Come on, let’s go and say good-day to Bodvocus. I’m told there’s an enormous table right in the middle where he’s receiving visitors, but I don’t know if we’ll ever find it in all this fog.” She chattered on, smiling brightly, but I caught her underlying feeling of uneasiness. I know my sister, and I can tell when she’s putting on an act, even when it’s a very good one.
“Decimus, Marcella,” I said to the twins, “Mummy and I have got to talk about some boring grown-up things. Why don’t you go with Nasua and Taurus and find something to eat?”
“Yes, do that, little ones,” Albia said. “And stay close to Nasua and Taurus. You two men, don’t let the children out of your sight even for the blink of an eye, will you?”
They all strolled off into the crowd, and I gave Albia’s hand a squeeze. “Try not to worry. I know you’re thinking of the raiders.”
“I wanted to stay with Candidus, and if it hadn’t been for the twins, I would have done, whatever he said. But he insisted we’re safer here. Divico has brought Illiana and the baby too.”
“The men will feel happier without any women or babies about,” I agreed. “They’ll want to concentrate their whole attention on catching the Gauls. Not to mention…” I looked around cautiously. With such a thick fog, it was hard to be sure we weren’t overheard. I lowered my voice. “Lucius told you exactly who’s expected at your house today, I presume?”
“He did. Quite extraordinary, isn’t it? And he told me you had a horrible time last night. Are you all right now?”
“Yes, I’m fine. In fact, if this mist ever lifts, you’ll see I’m looking fine too. Niobe, Magnus’ mistress, has lent me a lovely over-tunic to wear.” I undid my cloak part-way so she could admire it, and kept her chatting about inconsequential topics as we threaded our way through the guests towards where we thought Bodvocus’ central table was.
It stood on a raised platform, which on a clear day should have made it easy to see for everyone, but it was surrounded by a thick crowd of guests, so we couldn’t get close enough for a proper view of the old Chief. As we drew nearer a horn blew, and a loud-voiced herald called out, “Pray silence, everyone, if you please. The Lord Bodvocus wishes to welcome all his guests today.”
We could hear his short speech, but it was frustrating not being able to see him properly. His bade us all welcome, invited us to enjoy his hospitality on this special day, and said that the tide would be right for the Mother-gift ceremony very soon. His words were greeted by an enthusiastic cheer from the crowd, who had clearly been enjoying his hospitality for some time already.
“But what about the peace-making declaration with Aquilo?” Albia whispered anxiously in my ear. “Pray the gods they both go through with it. Otherwise whatever happens at our farm today, it may start a war.”
I took her hand. “Aquilo is determined. He’ll make it happen.”
As if my remark was a cue, the herald blew his horn again and called out, “Chief Bodvocus extends a special welcome to his neighbour Ostorius Aquilo, and they propose to drink a peace-cup together.”
We elbowed our way further into the crowd, till we could see Bodvocus in a ceremonial white robe, and next to him Aquilo, resplendent in his best toga. Each held a large silver goblet.
Bodvocus made a masterly speech, worthy of the subtlest politician. I wish I could remember the exact words, the clever way he suggested that it was high time for everyone i
n the area to live in peace and harmony and put aside petty quarrels, without once allocating or accepting any blame. He didn’t even mention the Ostorii by name, but he didn’t have to, everyone knew where he was driving. I was closely watching the reactions of the people around us, and was pleased to see that his suggestion was well received. When he ended with a rousing call for everyone to unite against the sea-raiders, the crowd roared their approval.
Aquilo replied with a simpler but obviously heartfelt plea for good neighbourly friendship, and pledged himself and his family to co-operate in catching the Gauls and restoring the peace and prosperity for which Bodvocus’ lands had always been so justly famous. That won him an approving cheer too.
The two men raised their goblets and Bodvocus declaimed, “Let us all drink to peace.”
“To peace,” Aquilo replied.
They drank, while the crowd echoed “Peace,” and people who had anything to drink in hand, which was nearly everyone, joined in the toast.
For the third time the horn blew, and the herald announced that Bodvocus would lead the Mother-gift ceremony on the beach, and invited those not involved in the time-honoured ritual to look on from the cliff top.
We weren’t onlookers in any literal sense, because the ceremony took place a hundred paces down the beach, and we couldn’t see anything of it through the fog. Fortunately Elli came up to join Albia and me. She was full of praise for the peace-making, and then she told us in a whisper that she would have a chance to meet Aquilo privately later, and that Illiana had brought the baby along for the feast too. “We’ll all three be together,” she murmured. “Then my day will be complete.”
Meanwhile, she told us what would be taking place down below. Bodvocus would invoke the sea-gods, aided by two priests, while Balca packed the figures of the mother and child together with the other sacrificial objects into the little wooden boat. Then Balca would speak the special prayer for fertility and fruitfulness, and four specially chosen young warriors would launch the boat into the waves, wading out chest-deep to push it far enough for the tide to carry away. Everyone would wait and watch anxiously till the ebbing tide took the boat in its grip and floated it further out still. When it was lost to view there would be general rejoicing, because they had fulfilled their duty to the gods, who in return would give the people good fortune in the year to come.
Elli described all this so beautifully that we felt we’d been involved in the ceremony. As for watching the boat out of sight, Elli laughed and said those on the beach wouldn’t be too downcast that it vanished so rapidly in the mist, because they could return all the quicker to the feast. We soon saw them all troop up the cliff path and head for a warm fire and some festive food and drink.
Elli seemed in no hurry to go back to the feast once the Mother-gift was safely given. I’d have joined the crowds around the cooking-fires, but I didn’t want to leave her on her own, and she seemed disposed to dawdle, glancing around now and then as if expecting someone.
I realised that she probably was. “Are we waiting for somebody, Elli? Aquilo, by any chance?”
Her face lit up. “He sent me a note to say he’d meet me here. By those trees over there, where it’s a bit more private.” We began to stroll over to a dark mass a hundred paces or so away, which resolved itself into a small spinney as we drew near. “I hope he comes soon. I miss him so much, even more since the baby. I can’t be properly happy unless we’re together. And now that peace has been publicly made…”
“You’re taking a risk, though, having a private meeting with Aquilo when you’re still officially betrothed to Coriu.”
She mistook the cause of my disapproval. “You go and enjoy the feast, Aurelia. Don’t worry about me, I’m happy to wait for him here.”
“You’re not waiting alone, it’s not safe. I’ll stay with you till Aquilo comes.”
She smiled. “Thank you. You’re so sensible, and I seem to have lost my wits just now.”
“Everyone does when they’re in love. Aquilo made a good little speech, I thought.”
“He did, and so did Father. And with Magnus in the Otherworld…I know this sounds horrible, but I’m glad he’s dead if it means there’s a real chance of peace now.”
As we entered the cover of the trees, two men with knives sprang out at us and seized us. It was so sudden, so completely overwhelming, that we hadn’t time to cry out, and I couldn’t even get at the dagger I was carrying under my cloak. I must admit it was professionally done, and all without a sound. I silently cursed myself for a careless fool in not having foreseen the possibility that we could so easily fall prey to the Gauls.
Because these were Voltacos’ men. I’d seen them before. One had lank black hair, and the other had black curls and hardly any beard. Lucius and I had chased them away from Cattos’ sheep. Had they come to get me because I’d seen them there? Or was it Elli they were after? Perhaps they just wanted a couple of hostages, and we happened to be available.
Elli broke the silence, and she did it in style. “Let us go at once,” she ordered, in the crisp imperious tone of a chief’s daughter. “Chief Bodvocus will have your hides for a prank like this, but if you let us go straight away…”
“This is no prank,” the man with the lank black hair growled. “Just keep quiet and do what you’re told, or it’ll be the worse for you. Which of you is Elli?”
“I am.” I said it instantly and without thinking. Beside me, the real Elli echoed, “I am,” but I’d said it first.
“Two of ‘em!” the younger raider laughed. “Shall we take ‘em both?”
“Be quiet, Albia,” I said sharply to Elli. “Don’t try any silly heroics with these scum. They’re Voltacos’ Long-hairs, aren’t you?”
The younger one nodded.
“Well I’m Elli, daughter of Chief Bodvocus. This is Albia, a friend of mine. So what do you want with me?”
Elli exclaimed, “But Aurelia…”
“Aurelia will be very annoyed if her sister gets mixed up in things that don’t concern her. So be quiet please, Albia. I’ll deal with this. Well?” I stared at the black-haired raider, and he stared back. “I haven’t got all day, I’m expected at the feast. What do you want?”
“Oh you’ve got all day, my lady, make no mistake. Because our captain’s planning a little affair of his own, and he requests the pleasure of your company.” He glanced at his companion. “Tie yours up, we’ve no quarrel with her. We’ll leave her here, somebody’ll find her eventually, but not till she’s missed the feast.”
“What a shame. Now keep still, or your friend Elli will pay for it.” The curly-headed youth tied Elli’s hands, then her feet, and finally bound a cloth across her mouth. She stood without struggling, and I was glad of it.
“Now,” the lank-haired man ordered me, “pull the hood of your cloak right up over your head. That’s right. I’ll do the same with mine. You and I are going to walk out across the open ground, arms around each other like a couple of lovers. We’ll take the path down to the beach, where I’ve left my boat. My friend here will stay close to this—what’s her name, Albia?—and he’ll watch us all the way, and if you don’t behave yourself, he’ll stick his knife in her. Won’t you?”
“It’ll be a pleasure.”
“Let’s go. See you at the boat,” he threw over his shoulder, and began to walk me out of the trees, his arm round my waist. “Now come on, let’s make this nice and friendly-like. Put your arm round my shoulders. That’s it. Don’t be coy, or my friend will give your friend a bit more than a lovers’ kiss…” He kept on murmuring to me, but his words were threats, not sweet romantic nothings.
My mind was racing, but I knew I had to do as he said. At least I’d saved Elli from capture. But what would happen to me when they found out, as they’d be bound to, that they’d got the wrong captive? I must try and delay that discovery as long as I could, to give my friends and Elli’s time to realise we were missing. So I walked as slowly as
I dared with him across the grass and down the zig-zag path to the beach below. We were now, I knew, pretty much invisible from above. All any onlooker would see was a couple of cloaked figures, impossible to identify in the fog.
As we approached a small hide boat, the other Long-hair came quickly down to us, and the two men helped me aboard it at the water’s edge. I stumbled and splashed and delayed as long as I could, but eventually we were afloat, and heading out onto the foggy sea. The water was calm, and the white mist flowed round us as we turned north and headed leisurely in the direction where the Headland must be. By then I knew that nobody from the feast could see us, or if their eyes were sharp enough, they might just discern three cloaked figures disappearing from view.
The two raiders—I never did learn their names, so I mentally called them Black-hair and Curly—rowed with quiet efficiency along the coast towards the Headland. It wasn’t far, but it remained hidden in the fog until we were almost underneath it. I thought they’d pull into the beach on the south side, but instead they simply stopped rowing and let the boat drift, giving an occasional thrust with an oar to keep the bows facing the swell. Soon another small boat was rowed out to us, manned by two oarsmen, both enveloped in heavy hooded cloaks. Our boatmen started rowing to meet it, and before long I could see who was approaching us. I recognised Voltacos, the raiders’ leader, the third of the men who’d been chased from the sheep pasture by Lucius and me. His companion looked vaguely familiar, what I could see of him beneath his hood, but I hadn’t time to think about that because before the two boats had fully closed in, Voltacos let fly a string of oaths at Black-hair. He’d seen me, and realised his men had brought him the wrong prisoner.
The argument and abuse that followed were satisfying in a way. It’s always pleasant to watch your enemies falling out. If Voltacos had been in our boat, I believe he’d have struck Black-hair, and Black-hair himself must have thought so, because he kept his boat just far enough away from his leader’s to make it impossible. But he wasn’t intimidated by all the swearing.
