by Jane Finnis
“I’m quite sure, yes.”
“May I take you into my confidence?” Portius looked down, as if embarrassed, then glanced up again. ”The fact is, he owes—I mean owed—me quite a bit of money, and I badly need some cash at present. And it’s all in the box.”
Oh really? And I’m the Queen of Brigantia. I’d been right to refuse him any information. Either he truly didn’t know what was in Terentius’ box, or maybe he knew only too well but was assuming I did not. “I wish I could help,” I said. “I wasn’t there when Terentius first arrived, so I didn’t even notice him carrying anything. And his room’s been thoroughly cleared out since he died.”
“This is a disaster. Gods, what am I going to do? I must have that box, I must!” He put his head in his hands and repeated, “What am I going to do?” in a kind of moan.
Again there was no curiosity about Terentius’ death. I could only think of one reason for that: he knew about it already. If he was the murderer, or if he’d told the servant to kill Terentius for the box and failed to get it, he didn’t need to ask me for the details.
Suddenly I felt scared. Terentius had died for that box, and this Portius was responsible. Would he kill for it again? I must get him out of the mansio as quickly as I could. I stood up. “I’m afraid I can’t tell you any more. I’m really sorry about your friend’s death. As I said, his body is being sent to the garrison at Eburacum, because he said he was on his way there. Was he serving with the Ninth Legion?”
“No, with one of the Batavian units at Isurium. He’d been away though, seconded to Londinium, a special job for the Governor. He was on his way back to base.” He sighed heavily. “Well, thank you for your time. If you haven’t got the box, I won’t hold you up any longer.” He moved towards the door. Secundus opened it for him, and he marched away without a backward look.
I relaxed when the door closed. “I’m glad he’s gone. And I’m glad you were here, Secundus. What made you think something was amiss?”
“Hawk sent me. He’s just outside under the oak tree, and he wants to see you.” He fell into step beside me as I walked out onto the forecourt. “Moon-cloud was just an excuse, the first thing that came into me head.”
Hawk was standing in the shadow of the giant oak. He smiled when he saw us. “I’m relieved you’re in one piece, Aurelia.”
“I’m all right, though that man who just left gave me a fright.”
He nodded. “I’ve been following his tracks, and there’s no doubt he killed the slave-boy in the woods. Whether he also killed the soldier, or ordered the boy to do it, I can’t say. I was worried for you when I realised he was paying you a visit. His trail was hard to follow, winding round and about, but he’s been waiting in the woods all day.”
“Perhaps he saw me go out and thought he’d have a look round.”
“He certainly did that. Tied his horse up to the rails like any customer, and then went wandering among the outbuildings, as if he was looking for someone…or something. Nobody paid him much attention, most people were out at work, so I walked up to him and asked, very politely, if I could help him. He said no, and headed for the barroom. I slipped down to the stables and warned Secundus. You drove back onto the forecourt just then, and there wasn’t time to stop you before you went inside.”
“Thanks, Hawk, I really appreciate all this.”
“What did he want?”
“He claimed to be a friend of the man who was murdered here this morning. But he wasn’t exactly grief-stricken when I told him he was dead in an accident. All he was really interested in was the small box Terentius had with him, which he said actually belonged to him. He said it contained cash, which it doesn’t, and he demanded that I hand it over.”
“And did you?” Hawk asked.
“No, I denied knowing anything about it.”
“Was he convinced?”
“I think so. I hope so.”
“So do I, but take extra care for a while. He rode off heading westwards. My son’s following him now. Between us we should be able to keep an eye on him, and see whether he might be thinking of doubling back and coming here less publicly.”
“Thanks, Hawk. We’ll certainly be on the alert from now on.”
“I’m glad to help, you know that. By the way, my daughter brought your meat round earlier, and a couple of your men fetched away the servant’s body.”
Secundus nodded. “We’ve put him with his master. Lucius’ll want to see them when he gets back.”
“Gods, yes, the love-birds will be home soon, and I haven’t even had time for a bath. I’d better hurry.”
In fact I had ample time to bathe and change, check Baca’s sewing, look into the kitchen, and pour myself a beaker of wine in the barroom, before they arrived home.
Vitellia came in first, flushed and happy. Lucius appeared a little later. I supposed he’d taken his chance to talk to the staff about my being forbidden to travel, but I could hardly ask him, so I chatted to Vitellia, pleased to find her more animated than she had been earlier. She was enthusiastic about the picnic they’d had at the summit of the Long Hill. I had to agree with her that once you’ve managed the stiff climb to the east of us, you can see for miles, and on a beautiful June day you feel on top of the world. I remembered going there with Quintus, and suddenly I no longer felt annoyed with my brother, but envied him. I wished Quintus were here with us now.
Lucius, too, was relaxed and cheerful, and made no mention of this morning’s quarrel. Before he went for his bath, I took him outside into the garden to recount the day’s happenings, at least those I felt he needed to hear about. I told how Hawk had found the slave’s body and identified the murderer. When I went on to relate Portius’ visit, he was shocked.
“Relia, you were in serious danger. You handled it well, as always. But I’m sorry. If I’d known anything like that would happen, I wouldn’t have gone out today.”
“The stuff from Terentius’ box is obviously even more important than we thought, if this Portius is searching for it so intently.”
“The quicker I get it to Eburacum the better. Terentius’ body too. I’ve spoken to Secundus about it, it’s all arranged for tomorrow.”
“You won’t take the servant’s body, presumably?”
“No point. The authorities will only be concerned about a soldier’s death, not a slave’s. I’d better have a quick look at him, I suppose.”
“I’ll wait for you here.”
He was soon back. “That’s the boy, and it’s murder for sure. And you know something? Nobody’s searched him, including the murderer. Look!” He opened his hand and showed me three gold pieces. “They were in his belt-pouch.”
“Stolen from Terentius, do you think?”
He shook his head. “His wages from this man Portius, more likely. Portius promised him money to find the box, and maybe to kill Terentius, or maybe Terentius woke up during the search and the lad acted in self-defence. And this morning the boy was all set to escape, but first he went to the woods to report back and collect his payment. That way Portius was certain of seeing the lad again.”
“So Portius put him at his ease, handed over the money…and then killed him. I told you the man scared me, even here in the bar.”
My brother heaved a sigh. “In lots of ways it would be simpler if the poor lad had killed himself after murdering his master. This Portius complicates matters.”
“How do you mean?”
“One soldier, Terentius, conspiring with natives could be explained as a single unfortunate incident, caused by a grudge perhaps, or greed. Two soldiers conspiring together with natives could be the start of a mutiny. You’re sure Portius was a soldier, not just wearing military gear as a disguise?”
“Quite sure. He had that military look about him, it’s unmistakeable.”
“Pity you didn’t find out more about him.”
“Sorry, I’m sure. Next time I have a murderer in the bar, I’ll get him to tell me his life story.”
He laughed. “Yes, and you would too! Most women run from danger like mice from a cat. You turn into a lion and take whatever comes.” He paused, then briefly touched my hand. “I know you’re disappointed about not going to Jovina’s. I’m sorry. I haven’t changed my mind. But I don’t want us to part in anger. Wish me good fortune on my journey.”
“I do, Lucius. May the gods be with you.”
I meant it. I no longer even felt angry with him. But I hadn’t changed my mind either.
Chapter VII
We were all outside to wave Lucius off when he left at dawn. I gave him a hug and wished him a speedy end to his assignment. Margarita, practical as ever, gave him a skin of good wine and a hearty snack for the journey. Vitellia gave him a passionate embrace and a long goodbye kiss, and to her credit, managed not to burst into tears until he was out of sight.
As I walked back towards the front door, I remembered I needed to find Taurus to pass on a message about a wagon repair from one of last evening’s customers. The door to his workshop was closed, unusually at this time of day. I turned the handle and almost tripped over something—someone—lying just inside.
It was Taurus, flat on the floor and as still as death.
“Taurus! Oh, Taurus!” He didn’t move, he simply lay there on the hard earth, with blood all over his face. “Taurus, it’s me. What’s happened? Can you hear me?”
Still no reaction. I felt near panic. Taurus was one of our most loyal slaves, the only one now left in our household who’d come with us from Italia twenty years ago. He was almost one of the family. If he was dead…
I yelled “Help! Help here!” and then knelt down beside him and felt his chest to see if his heart was beating. Yes, thank the gods, it was, and his flesh was warm. He was unconscious, but not dead.
I ran out onto the forecourt and almost collided with Margarita running towards me.
“Aurelia, are you all right? I heard you cry out…Oh gods, poor Taurus. What’s happened?”
“I don’t know, he’s unconscious. We need Timaeus here quickly, please.”
“I’ll get him now.” She set off at a run towards her own house, not far away from the main buildings. Her husband was a good doctor, he’d know what to do.
While we waited everyone rallied round to help. Taurus was a favourite with all of us, one of the kindest and gentlest of the slaves, despite his huge size and strength. One of the maids brought water and cloths, while another fetched two strong farm-boys with a plank to serve as a stretcher. But I decided to leave him where he was till Timaeus came, because I’ve heard him say often enough that too much damage is done to his patients by well-intentioned people moving them too soon.
I mopped the blood off Taurus’ face and saw that it came from a nose-bleed, which must have started when he fell. What had knocked him out was a blow to the side of the head, which now had a huge lump on it, but the skin was barely broken.
I noticed his assistant had appeared and was standing in a corner, pale-faced and almost in tears. He was a nice lad, a junior version of Taurus—large, gentle, not over-bright. I couldn’t believe he had anything to do with an attack on his master, but I had to be sure.
“Come here, Tappo, and tell us what you know about this. Have you any idea who attacked Taurus? When did you last see him?”
“I don’t know nothing, Mistress. I ain’t seen him since bedtime last night.”
“What about this morning? Didn’t you have breakfast with him and the other slaves?”
“No. I thought he’d got up earlier than us, he said he would, in case Master Lucius needed owt done before he left.” He rubbed his hand across his eyes. “By the gods, if I catch the man what’s done this, I’ll tear him in pieces.”
“Not if I catch him first,” I said.
“Don’t worry yourselves. I’m all right.” The words startled me because they came from Taurus himself. With a great surge of relief I saw that his eyes were open now, and he was stretching his right hand up towards the lump on his head.
“Taurus, thank the gods! You had us all worried. How are you feeling?”
“A bit sore. Somebody hit me, someone prowling around in here last night.”
“Can you remember what happened?” I asked him.
“I came back here just after moonrise, because I remembered I’d left my box behind. That little beech-wood box you gave me yesterday. I wanted to take it with me to my quarters. I didn’t bother with a torch, there was enough moonlight to see. I got to the door and heard a noise inside, like somebody moving in the shadows. I came in but it was too dark to see. I heard someone behind me, and before I could turn, everything went black.”
Timaeus bustled in and was relieved when he realised the situation. “Ah, he’s awake, that’s very good. No, don’t try to move yet, let me examine you first.”
He crouched down and gently felt Taurus’ head, and peered at his nose. “This doesn’t look too bad. Can you manage to sit up? Here, I’ll help you.”
Taurus sat upright. “I feel giddy. And my head hurts.”
“You had a nasty knock, there’s a bad bruise there. But there’s hardly any blood.” He smiled and patted the big man gently on the shoulder. “You’ll live, my friend.”
Taurus touched his face. “There’s blood here.”
“Just a nose-bleed. It’s not broken. Now then, you’ll be sore for a bit, but I can give you something to make it less painful. Just one more thing to check…what’s your name?”
We all stared, including Taurus, but he answered promptly. “You know my name. Taurus.”
“And what’s my name?”
“You’re Doctor Timaeus. Married to Margarita.”
The doctor smiled and stood up. “Good. That’s all right then. Sometimes a hard bang on the head makes men lose their wits. But not in your case, Taurus, I’m glad to say.”
Taurus smiled back. “Everybody always says I haven’t got many wits to start with, but they‘re all still here, I think.” He started to get up, and Tappo came forward to help him. “Thanks, boy.” He straightened to his full height. “I’m all right now, apart from a headache.”
Timaeus nodded. “Then I prescribe some warm wine, and I’ll add a little of my special powder for the pain. Rest this morning, and don’t do any heavy work this afternoon. Some light jobs if you feel like it.”
“You can rest for the whole day,” I put in. “Tappo can look after things for you, can’t you?”
“Yes, Mistress. I’ll take care of everything.”
“Then let’s go over to the kitchen now, and we’ll find you some wine. Timaeus will bring your medicine. Then you can go to bed and rest if you want.”
“Some wine would be good. And some breakfast, I haven’t had any.”
“Neither have I, come to think of it.”
“But first I must check if anything’s missing from here. Whoever hit me must have come to steal something.”
“I’ve had a look round,” Tappo said, “and everything’s in its place, like it should be. But your new box is gone.”
“My box? Oh, Saturn’s balls! Who would want to steal that? Nobody from here, that’s for sure. We don’t steal from each other here.”
“I think I know,” I said. “Wine first, and explanations later.”
When we’d got Taurus comfortably ensconced in the kitchen, and both he and I were making up for having missed breakfast earlier, I told him about Portius’ visit yesterday. He hadn’t seen the man during the afternoon, but the barmaids had told him and all the other servants about him, and how he’d been desperate to find the box and its contents.
I said, “He wasn’t at all pleased when I said I didn’t know anything about it. He must have come back later to have another look for it, and spotted the box in your workshop. But it’s odd he should steal it when it was empty.”
“But it wasn’t empty. I put some beads in it. Some special green glass beads I was going to make into a necklace for my girl’s birthday. I hadn’t lock
ed it though.”
“So when Portius found the box shut, and with something in it that rattled, he must have thought it was what he was looking for.” I laughed. “He’ll be disappointed when he opens it up.”
Taurus yawned. “Whatever the doctor has put in my beaker is making me sleepy. I think maybe I’ll have a nap, just till noon.”
I sat for a while in the kitchen, oblivious to the morning bustle around me. We’d underestimated the resourcefulness of Portius, as well as the importance of the box. But what was the importance? And when he found the box contained only beads, would he come back to the Oak Tree yet again? I felt suddenly alone and alarmed. I wished Lucius were here now, or Quintus. I needed someone I could talk the situation over with. But there was no one.
So the best thing was to keep busy, and there was plenty to do. I consulted my list of jobs, but I knew that the most important task of all wasn’t on it. I must speak to Margarita and find out what Lucius had said to her about my travel plans. I believed I could count on her not to hinder, even if she couldn’t actually help. But all the same I couldn’t take it for granted.
When I asked her to look into my study for a quick chat, she came straight away. We sat down and I took a deep breath.
“Margarita, can I trust you to keep something confidential…from the staff, and from your husband too?”
“You can trust me with your life, Aurelia. I owe you mine.” For a little while we were both quiet, remembering a river-boat in Eburacum, where a terrified mother and child depended on me to protect them from being kidnapped, probably killed.
I shook the memories off. “This holiday of mine, visiting my cousin at Isurium. Lucius isn’t keen on my going.”
She nodded unhappily. “He said so to me. He thinks it isn’t safe for you, and he doesn’t want any of us giving you any help to get there. It’s only because he cares about you.”
“That’s as may be. But I can’t let him stop me.”
Her worried frown vanished. “You’re going anyway?”
