Murder In-Absentia

by Assaph Mehr

  He looked up, and his eyes were blazing white. He stood so for a moment, almost oblivious to the melee around him, then suddenly clapped his hands forcefully in front. An upswell of water burst between our two ships, tilting them, rocking them, pushing them away from each other.

  I saw a pirate step in a pool of blood as the ship lurched, skid and trip over a dead body and fall screaming into the sea. Rufus swayed as well, but steadied himself on the railing at the last minute. A moment later and the battle resumed. Three of our crew were lying on the deck, and four of the enemy. How many others fell overboard I did not know.

  From the corner of my eye I saw Didius Rufus straighten up, and begin to gather the elemental energies about him again. I wasn’t the only who saw it and understood, and two of the pirates were trying hard to disengage themselves and go after Rufus.

  I slammed the lower edge of my shield on the foot of the pirate in front of me, and as he drew back I stabbed low into his guts, and again at his head as he collapsed, slicing open his face from his jaw to his hair and turning his scream into an incoherent burbling. I turned before another could jump in the gap, and started towards Aulus Didius. The two pirates managed to disengage themselves, and one of ours lay dead at their feet as they drew upon Rufus. I was still too far away, and so, without thinking, reversed my hold on my dagger and threw it at the back on the closest one. It sank in between his shoulder blades, and he fell to his knees with his hands trying to frantically reach behind him even as his life was ebbing away.

  Now weaponless, I put my shoulder to my shield and ran screaming into the other pirate just as he was swinging his sword to strike Rufus. I hit him with the shield and all my weight behind it, and the force of the impact sent him reeling away. Before he could regain his balance I lifted my shield and jammed its boss into his midsection and followed with a knee to his chin as he bent double. This caused him to jerk back up, and with another jab of my shield at his chest I managed to push him overboard.

  “The wind, man, get the wind!” I shouted at Aulus Didius, who resumed his incantation. I retrieved my dagger from the back of the corpse at Rufus’ feet and turned around to face the remaining battle. I could see Margaritus off to one side, dispatching another pirate though he had a nasty gash on his thigh. Our crew was still holding, their discipline prevailing over that of the pirates. Behind me I could feel the enchantment that Rufus was weaving, and above me the sail began to bulge with wind. The tides of battle turned, a few pirates lost heart and jumped into the waters to swim back to their ship. The others saw and followed, and those that did not do so quickly enough were overcome and killed without mercy.

  * * *

  “You have been in the legions,” stated Margaritus without a shred of doubt in his voice.

  “Briefly,” I replied. “What made you think so?”

  “The way you fought, using the shield. That was as classical infantry training as I ever did see.” We were busy administering to the wounded and the dead. I was bandaging Margaritus’ leg as we were speaking.

  “True. Perhaps my centurion would finally admit that I was not completely useless — though I doubt it.” I smiled wanly. “And your crew as well, Titus Margaritus, I should think. These are not slaves cowering in fear, but trained marines that can hold their own in our finest navy ship.”

  Margaritus smiled proudly, then grimaced with pain. “That they are. The Corpio family invested a lot in this operation, and I recruit and keep my crew well trained.”

  “Whatever your training,” said Aulus Didius, “I was glad that you were there today. I had not yet thanked you for saving my life, and will do so properly as soon as we are ashore.”

  I pointed up at the bulging sail, “You saved this ship and everyone aboard it. We owe you our lives just as much.”

  Twelve out of a crew of thirty four were lost, including two of the divers. Of the dead, three must have gone overboard for we never recovered their bodies. We disposed of the corpses of the pirates unceremoniously by heaving them over the rails for the gulls to feast on. The bodies of own crew, which I now understood to have been all free men and not slaves, we kept to be cremated with the proper rites once we made land at Kebros.

  I sustained a cut on my right arm, one that I hardly noticed during the battle and now stung like hades. Aulus Didius bandaged and treated it himself, after which we went amongst the crew treating wounds as best we could. My pouch contained only enough herbal and medicinal supplies for personal use and the ship was not stocked for dealing with a full battle. Still, Aulus Didius and I stretched them as much as possible, and treated the worst of the crew injuries as best as we could. I did use minor enchantments to aid the healing, stop the blood flow and reduce infections, not something I would normally do with a member of the Collegium Incantatorum standing next to me. While not exactly illegal it would be frowned upon — but I felt none of this mattered in the circumstances. Aulus Didius himself, although trained primarily in the magia elementorum, had by necessity picked up applications of the magia vita as well. Both because this was required to his enchantment of the divers, and also because as a lone incantator on the ship he had to pick up bits and pieces of everything that was useful.

  As we worked I taught him some of the tricks I had learnt over the years to aid in the healing of wounds — nothing more than home-brew poultices and old wives enchantments, charms to aid the natural healing rather than those of a fully trained magister carneum to regrow lost limbs.

  In his grateful state of mind, once realising that I had the basic knowledge of incantations, Aulus Didius taught me his charm for the divers. I suspected it to be a trade secret, one that he probably only learnt from his employer’s incantatores and under oath to use it only for his master’s business. I swore him I would not teach it to anyone else. I doubted very much I could perform it correctly, as it did require skill and practice I did not possess.

  And thus, with a third of crew dead and most of the rest wounded but not beaten, we made our way in haste towards Kebros.

  Chapter XIII

  Aulus Didius has kept our square sail full of wind for two days without rest, and we could all see the toll this exertion took on him. As we neared Kebros from the east the wind changed in our favour and Aulus slacked his hold on the winds, letting the remaining crew navigate with natural winds and oars while he collapsed and slept. While I could not assist Rufus in his task, I did my best tending to the wounded and injured amongst the crew, and thankfully we had no more mischief on our voyage.

  We arrived in Kebros in the evening of the sixth day before the Kalends of Maius. We saw Mons Krodus first, with the sandy shore on the northern side and the eastern of the two rocky bays on the South. We sailed past the jutting bulk of the mountain with its sheer cliffs dropping to the sea and entered the larger bay, and the town of Kebros came into view.

  Originally a tiny fishing village, it was now a sprawling little settlement along the shore and on the hills beyond it. With the conquest of the archipelago by Egretia three hundred years ago, the Kebric Isles have become the base for large commercial fishing and fish sauce manufacture. From wharves and docks for the ships, to clay quarries and factories to make the amphorae and vessels for the garum.

  The original inhabitants of the archipelago were by now absorbed into the new life of business, although — without Egretian citizenship — there was a distinct class difference.

  And once the rich started to investigate the isles for commercial reasons, their natural beauty attracted them further. First a few villas for those whose business centred on the island, then little summer retreats, followed by country estates. From small villas to large mansions, some of our elite had even laid claim to whole islands for themselves. And with the rich came their staff, and the suppliers and special merchants, until by now the town was a busy centre of commerce with picturesque houses on the hills beyond.

  * * *

  By the time we docked and Margaritus had dealt with the port-master, the sta
rs were out. Margaritus promised to take me in the morning himself to Publius Quinctius Corpio, Marcus Corpio’s younger brother, and swear on my help against the pirates. While I had the letter of introduction, a little extra help around a foreign town is always welcome. We spent the night on the ship once more, gazing at the twinkling lights of the city reflected in the dark waters of the bay.

  In the morning Margaritus hired a mule-drawn cart to take us to Publius Corpio’s mansion, five miles out of town. We rode along the shore road going west, passing several estates. We reached a side road marked with a pylon bearing the Quinctii Corpiones family crest of fish and amphora, turned and climbed up the hill on a tree-lined gravel path.

  The door slave recognised Margaritus and showed us inside without delay. He led us to a second story loggia where the master of the house had set up his desk. As we stepped onto the open space I saw the whole hill-side estate and the bay beyond spread out before me. The view was absolutely stunning. From the well-manicured ground, the immaculately placed shrubs, trees, flowers, paths and ponds to the shimmering waters of the bay beyond, dotted with the white sails of craft plying the sea lanes.

  It took me a moment to notice the man sitting at a beautifully carved wooden desk at the other end of the loggia. As we strode forward I recognised the family resemblance. The same long nose and high cheekbones, the same blue-green eyes and sun-bleached hair. He was younger and trimmer than his brother though, probably keeping more active with the family business on Kebros. I remembered his face from Caeso’s funeral, walking with the family behind the grieving Corpio, but I doubted he would recognise me.

  Publius stood up. “Titus Margaritus! I trust your latest expedition went well?”

  “We had a very good catch, though it came at a price.” Margaritus produced a closely tied pouch from his tunic, undid the strings and poured forth the handful of pearls on the table. The little gems gleamed in the morning light from the open balcony, with the black pearl sitting majestically in their midst. Publius Corpio’s eyes gleamed in unison.

  “And the price?” He lifted his gaze off the small fortune lying casually on his desk.

  “Pirates. We were attacked at night. Twelve dead, including Arubio and Bretix, my best divers.”

  “Pirates? Where was this? When was this?”

  “Two nights ago, a bit further out from the Pillatic Isles. We repelled them of course, though it cost us dearly and they escaped with their ship. This is the point I should give my thanks to Felix here, as he fought with us bravely and proved valuable in preserving our lives and property.”

  Publius shifted his gaze to me, openly scrutinising me. “Do I know you? Your face seems familiar.”

  “We have never met,” I replied. “I bear a letter from your brother; this is how I got to be on Margaritus’ ship.” I took out the letter of introduction that Corpio had furnished me and handed it over to Publius’ outstretched hand.

  Publius examined the wax seal and then broke it, unfolded the letter and read carefully. “I see,” he said at length. “Well, Margaritus. That is most unfortunate, although these diving grounds you discovered would certainly make up for the loss of lives.” He gazed darted to the pearls at his desk. “Make sure you leave exact description of the pirate’s ship and location with my clerk. I will have them sent to the Collegium Militum, and see if I can get some navy patrols in the area. Do not expect a swift response though, so recruit and train your crew anew.”

  After the captain left, Publius Corpio turned back to me. “I should thank you too. Margaritus is not one to give praise lightly. I am surprised he allowed you on his boat at all.”

  “Yes, I noticed his jealous guarding of your property,” I said with a faint smile. “Your brother’s seal on that letter was the only thing that saved me from a dip in the port of Heraclion.”

  “I read Marcus’ letter. That boy was as useless as harness on a rabbit if you ask me. Oh, I know it is bad luck to speak ill of the dead, and him being family, but since he was a child he was spoiled by my brother and his wife. So you are here to investigate his death then?”

  “With your permission. I would like to talk with the people in your employ who knew him, and learn about his activities and travels last autumn.”

  “I’m sure you will soon see my point regarding him,” Publius said with certainty. “For the entire month he was here he showed little interest or thanks. A more out of place member of our family I have never seen. He had no interest in business or in shipping, activities our family has been fostering for generations. My brother is not the first rhone from amongst the Corpio branch of the Quincti, nor will he be the last.”

  “I understand Marcus Quinctius sent Caeso here for you to distract him, to see if you can find a business undertaking he would like?”

  “That’s correct. I took him around our shipyards and garum factories, but his head was always elsewhere. Pining after a street mime, would you believe it! We had hoped to betroth him to my wife’s niece, a lovely girl from a family as old as ours. However even with that he showed no interest and rebuked the family’s mandate. After a while I gave up, and he was just left alone to wander around the isles.”

  “Yet I am told that upon his return he seemed enthusiastic about a new endeavour?”

  “That I do not recall. Aemilia, the niece I mentioned, is here again with her mother.” Was that a shudder I saw? “You could speak with her about Caeso as well. I will also instruct my steward to assist you — he organised the travel arrangement for the young men, and would be able to tell you where they went.”

  We chatted for a while longer, though I learnt nothing more. Publius offered me to stay at his villa and the use of his private sailboat and stables should I need to travel around the Kebric Isles in my investigations. I did get the impression though, that he was not expecting me to remain there for long.

  As I was getting ready to leave he said, “I am going soon to visit my garum factories, deal with the emergency of the day. Would you like to join me? I do not know what insight this will offer you about Caeso’s demise, however he did spend some time there and you might see something I did not. My opinion on my nephew aside, this whole affair has devastated my brother.”

  * * *

  We left Publius Corpio’s mansion on a light dray driven by Corpio himself. We were heading to the hills on the other side of the town, where his factories were located. On the way he asked me to recount the whole encounter with the pirates, quizzing me for as many details as I could remember. Piracy had always been a problem in the Mare Saepiae, and being in the shipping business it was acutely relevant to him. If he ever wanted to pursue a public career like his brother, then dealing with the piracy issue would make a good platform.

  We reached the factories via another road marked with the Quinctii Corpiones crest as well. The most immediate sensation when nearing them was the smell. The pungent, inescapable odour of fermenting fish. It hit us well before we heard the clamour of the workers or saw the row of low, long buildings. Publius directed me to a stone bench in the shade of some trees, and promised to return shortly. As I sat there looking at the busy workers, I could sympathise with Caeso. Fish sauce may rule the Egretian cuisine, but the methods of its manufacture were not for the faint of heart.

  Publius returned accompanied by another man. The man was in his sixties, wispy grey hairs floating at the base of his skull, withered skin, though still fit and sharp eyed.

  “This is Gaius Corfidius,” Publius introduced the man. “He’s my foreman in charge of this factory, and spent time with Caeso last year, teaching him about the technicalities of the business. I have instructed him to assist you.” They sat next to me on the benches.

  “Tell me, Gaius Corfidius, what was your impression of Caeso Quinctius?”

  “A youth. His heart was taken with the things that occupy young men’s hearts, of which fish sauce is not one.”

  “How much time did he spend here?”

  “Not much. Not enough
, or too long, depending on who you ask.”

  We continued in this way for a while. Gaius Corfidius, despite his oblique, non-committal way of speaking did eventually describe to me enough of Caeso’s visit for me to get the picture. The boy was resigned to be there against his will, had made half-hearted attempts to understand the business in the first few days he was assigned to the place, and then mostly avoided coming to the factory, preferring to take trips elsewhere.

  Publius let Gaius Corfidius do most of the talking, and only interjected occasionally. Servants brought us wine, water and a light lunch — olives, bread, and some of the best garum I have ever tasted in my life. I complimented Corpio profusely about it, and in return was offered a tour of the facilities.

  Fish sauce comes in three grades, as Corfidius explained to me. The highest quality is called garum and is made from cuttlefish alone; real garum is relatively rare, the one sold often containing some fish in it. The next grade is liquamen, which is made just from fish, usually small and oily ones like mackerels, sardines, anchovies or mullets. When the cuttlefish and fish come in, they are taken to the first of the three buildings, sorted and cleaned. The lowest grade — the one I had been buying when I could afford nothing else — is made from the mixed leftover entrails of the fish and squid and is called muria.

  “Sorting the fish, even of the same type, into batches of differing quality is an important part of the process,” Corfidius expounded. “A good nose is required to understand the qualities of the catch, its freshness, and its willingness to accept flavours.” Sometimes they created special batches, with carefully selected mixtures of both fish and squid, and spice mixes more exotic than the usual recipes.

  Next, the fish were layered in vast clay pots, and each layer covered with salt, herbs and spices. “The salt we import directly from the salt marshes at the delta of the Ridus. The grade of salt, the level to which it has been refined, matches the level of the fish. The mixture of herbs and spices is, of course, a family secret. None but the master knows.”