by Jane Finnis
I didn’t like the way he said that, nor the wave of laughter it brought from the men. An accident…involving us?
As everyone began to move noisily about their business, it was surprisingly easy to form a mental picture of what was happening outside. Some of the footsteps moved away, while others made for the far end of our barn. We heard bolts being shot back, followed by the creak of a heavy door opening, and then curses and grunts as men began to shift the leather that must be stacked up just beyond the partition wall.
What I couldn’t picture was what would happen next. Venutius meant to kill us, that was obvious, but how? From what he’d said, he wouldn’t simply send half-a-dozen warriors into the barn to cut our throats. “Leave them to me…They won’t be going anywhere…Accidents will happen.” I was paralysed with fear, unable to move a muscle, yet my mind raced like a bolting horse.
Quintus, still holding my hand, beckoned everyone into a close circle, and there was a small comfort in feeling the others so near. Whatever we were about to face, we’d be together, we could support each other. However death came to us, we could meet it with, at least, Roman dignity and courage.
“We’ve not much time.” Quintus spoke quietly, but there was no need to whisper now. The noises coming from beyond the partition covered his voice. “We’ve one important advantage, the element of surprise. We can fight our way out when they come to get us. It’s the last thing they’ll be expecting. We’ve a few weapons. Aurelia, your knife. May I use it please?”
“Of course.” I handed it to him.
“And we’ve all got cloaks.” He glanced towards where ours had been thrown into a jumbled heap near the door. Titch went to fetch them, and started handing them round to us.
“Look, we’ve nearly all got those Vulcan’s Shield ones from Congrio,” Vitellia said. “I hope he’s right about them bringing us luck.”
“But a cloak isn’t a weapon,” Chloe objected.
“It can be,” Lucius said. “You can throw it over the enemy’s head to blind him. Or sweep it along near the ground to trip him up.” He advanced on Chloe, flailing his cloak almost on the floor and catching her ankles. She tried to move out of the way and stumbled.
“These can be good too.” Titch took off his leather belt and whirled it around his head. “Catch a man in the face with the buckle, he’ll know about it.”
This is desperation indeed, I thought. How can we face armed barbarian warriors with nothing but one small knife and the clothes on our backs? But of course I took off my belt and whipped it experimentally through the air. The other girls did the same.
“My mama told me,” Vitellia said unexpectedly, “that if I ever needed to defend myself against a man, I could knee him in the balls.”
Lucius’ shocked expression at the notion of his beloved doing any such thing was almost comic. “Now don’t you worry your head, Kitten…”
“Oh I’m not exactly worried,” she answered gravely.” The trouble is, I’d have to get very close to him to do that, wouldn’t I?”
She hadn’t meant to be funny, but it came out like dialogue in a comedy, and everyone laughed. The atmosphere, which had been taut as a catapult-spring, relaxed to a wary alertness. I suddenly felt a rush of excitement, almost exultation. I’ve known it before when I’ve been facing danger. It’s a kind of battle fever, and real soldiers must experience it often; otherwise no man would ever go into battle twice.
I looked at Quintus and Lucius, whose moods I always know so well. They were feeling the same, I was certain of it. Perhaps after all we might take the Brigantians unawares. It was our only hope, but it was at least a hope.
“Get into position,” Quintus said. “Men standing against the wall there so we’ll be next to the door when it opens. Girls sitting in the middle of the floor, not too close together. With luck they’ll come straight in and head for you, not realising that we can outflank them. Sit quietly when they come, then jump at them once they’re clear of the door, and we’ll attack them from behind.”
We did as he ordered. I sat between Chloe and Vitellia, who were both looking pale and frightened. I tried to think of something we could talk about that would keep our minds from brooding on the impending fight.
Chloe provided the obvious topic. “What’s been happening in Isurium while we’ve been stuck here? Did Selena and Statius and all our servants move into the fort?”
I recounted some of that day’s happenings. Most important, I was able to reassure Chloe that Mallius hadn’t killed her mother.
“I suppose that’s something,” she said, with an attempt at casualness which didn’t come off. I could tell she was relieved.
“He said to tell you to forget about the past. All he wants is for you to come back to him safe and sound.”
She ignored the message and asked, “Have you found out who did kill her?”
“Yes, we have. It was Nikias.”
“Nikias?” Vitellia exclaimed. “That nice Greek doctor?”
“Not so nice,” Chloe said. “A slimy little man, I always thought. What’s going to happen to him?”
“He’s dead. It’s a long story, I’ll tell you about it when we’re safely away from here. But I swore I’d avenge Jovina, and I have.”
“Good.” There was a pause, and the sounds from outside came through to us, loud and menacing.
Vitellia asked, “Is Baca all right? They left her behind. I was so afraid for her. But you must have found her, or you wouldn’t be here.”
“She’s safe, though she’s had a bad fright. It was brave of her to go with you. What in the gods’ name did you think you were doing, running away like that when you knew you were meant to be moving to the fort?”
Chloe hung her head. “A letter came from Gambax, suggesting I should meet him by the river. I thought, I’ll go there for just a short time before I go to the fort.”
“But I never wrote any letter,” Gambax objected.
“I know you didn’t, love. I ought to have realised it wasn’t from you, but I was desperate to get out of the house anyway. I’d had a note from Eurytus saying he was coming to call on me, and I was frightened what would happen. If Mama had been there she’d have sent him packing, but there was nobody else I could trust to stand up to him. We couldn’t find Philo—he’d left the fort—and Statius is too old. When the note came apparently from Gambax, it was like a gift from the gods.”
“And I couldn’t let her go out alone,” Vitellia put in. “The servants were all busy getting ready to move to the fort, except Baca, and she insisted on coming with us. Thank the gods she did.”
There was another pause, and we all became aware that the noises from outside the barn were growing fainter. There was no more activity from behind our partition wall, and the footsteps and hoof-beats were receding. Then Venutius’ voice rose above the mixture of sounds. “I’ll finish off here and follow you.”
“This is it,” Quintus hissed.
But nothing happened, except that the other noises died out to silence, leaving only the whisper of wind, and occasionally bird-calls from the trees round the clearing.
“They’ve gone,” Chloe whispered. “Gone and left us here.”
“I doubt that,” Quintus said. “Not all of them, anyway. Venutius is preparing some kind of nasty surprise, I’ll bet you anything you like. So be ready, everyone. We’re about to find out the worst.”
Still nothing happened. We remained on the alert. I remember clutching my cloak in one hand and my belt in the other so hard that my fingers began to stiffen. Still there wasn’t a sound from outside.
After what seemed like half an hour but probably wasn’t, Lucius said, “You’d have lost your bet, Quintus. They have gone. Even Venutius. They’re going to leave us here, as they think, tied up and unable to move.”
“They’ll come back later to fetch us, I’m sure,” Quintus said. “Having got their hands on seven hostages, it doesn’t make sense for them to abandon us for good.”
“But we won’t be waiting when they come,” Titch muttered. “All we have to do is get ourselves out of here.” He glanced up at the windows. “Yon windows are the best way, for anyone who’s on the small side, and not afraid of spiders.” He grinned. “How about it, girls? Either of you care to get through there, if we can lift you up to it? Then you can run round to the door and unfasten the bolts.”
“Ugh! No, I couldn’t possibly!” both girls exclaimed together, and everyone else laughed.
“I’ll go,” I said. “That is, if I can squeeze through either of them. They’re not very large, are they?”
“I’ll give it a try first,” Titch said. “I’ll need to climb on someone’s shoulders, mind. Gambax, you’re the tallest.”
He was, but not by much, and the men started discussing how best to raise Titch—or even me—up high enough to get through the opening.
Suddenly Chloe screamed. “Smoke! I can smell smoke. It’s coming from the other side of the wooden wall.”
We ran to the back of the barn and stood by the partition, sniffing the air like hunting-dogs after a boar. At first I could only catch the smells of timber, hay, and sweat. But then I smelt the unmistakable tang of burning hay, and something else I couldn’t identify…but it was smoke all right. I could see thin wisps of it seeping through some of the wider cracks in the partition wall. And was it my imagination?…no, it wasn’t. There was a very faint reddish glow visible through one or two chinks, whereas before there had been darkness.
We all stood as if rooted to the ground, taking in the appalling situation. We were imprisoned in one half of a barn, while the other half was on fire. If we couldn’t escape immediately, we’d be going up in smoke too.
It was Quintus who roused himself first.
“So that’s what Venutius meant by ‘accidents will happen.’ The cold-blooded bastard means us to die here, tied up and defenceless, in what will appear to be an accidental barn fire. Only this one is no accident…and we’re not tied up.”
“And maybe not defenceless either,” I said. “We’ve got several of these fancy cloaks that Congrio says will protect against fire.”
“You surely don’t believe in that sort of rubbish?” Lucius asked.
“We saw him try to burn one up in Eburacum, and it didn’t catch alight,” Vitellia said.
“Unless that was a trick of some sort,” I answered.
“Well, then,” Titch said, “this is our ideal chance to try them out.”
Lucius laughed scornfully. “Well, I don’t suppose they’ll do any harm. I’m hoping we shan’t have to find out whether they do any actual good.”
“Everyone over by that window, please,” Quintus said. “Gambax, get ready to take Titch’s weight. Lucius, help me lift him onto Gambax’s shoulders…”
“Wait now, Quintus.” Lucius picked up the sheepskin cloak I’d been wearing. “Gambax, put this on. You’ll be cut to ribbons otherwise, Titch’s boots have hobnails in them.”
Titch put on his Vulcan’s Shield cloaks. “I tell you something, if that Congrio was lying and I get roasted, I swear I’ll come out of the Underworld and haunt him until I get me money back.”
“We’d all better wear cloaks,” Quintus said. The girls put theirs on, and Lucius picked up his old sagum. Quintus and I took the remaining Vulcan’s Shield cloaks.
Gambax stood braced against the wall below one of the windows, and Quintus and Lucius hoisted Titch easily up onto his broad shoulders. But we could all see straight away that Titch wasn’t going to get through the opening.
“Me shoulders are too tight a squeeze,” he called down. “I think mebbe I could force meself through with a push from you fellers below, but I’d go flying out head first, and it’s too long a drop for that really. Still, I’ll give it a try if it’s the only way.”
“Good for you, Titch,” Quintus said, “but let’s think a bit first. There’s nothing to be gained by you breaking your neck in the fall. Before you come down, can you clear those spiders out of the way? We’ll have better light, and we might be able to persuade one of the girls to try. They’re lighter and thinner than you.”
“The smoke’s getting thicker,” Lucius said softly. “I can smell hay burning, and…what’s that other foul stink mixed with it?”
“I’ve smelt it once, on a battlefield.” Titch jumped down, brushing spider-webs from his arms and hands. “It’s burning leather. They’ve left some leather stored in there, but it doesn’t burn easy. It needs the fire to be hot.”
“Very comforting, Titch,” I said. “Right, you’ve cleared the window of spiders. Help me up, I’m sure I can get through there.”
“No.” Chloe stepped up to stand beside Gambax. “I’m the smallest, and I got us all into this fix. I’ll go.”
“No, love, you mustn’t think of it,” Gambax protested. “Nor you, Mistress Aurelia. This isn’t woman’s work.”
“Then what do you suggest, Gambax?” Chloe snapped. “That we all stay shut in here till the fire breaks through and we’re roasted alive? Do stop arguing, there isn’t time. Somebody give me a hand up here, please.”
“Quintus Antonius,” Gambax pleaded, “don’t let her do this.”
“I think she’s making a very sensible suggestion,” Quintus answered. “And a very brave one, too. Are you ready, Chloe?”
“I’m ready.”
“Then I’ll help you up.”
She hardly needed his help, she leapt up so lightly that she almost seemed to fly. And we all saw that she could easily slide her slim body through. She leaned her head and shoulders out, then withdrew into the barn.
“Titch is right, I need to drop feet first. I can turn round, I think…help me, Gambax, will you?” He did as she asked, and everyone else shouted encouragement.
But by now we were only half-watching her. Most of our attention was concentrated on the partition wall, which was making loud cracking sounds. The small wooden door in the centre which linked the two halves of the barn was the weak point. Smoke was literally pouring round its edges, and it was becoming harder to breathe the air. How long before the planks of the door caught alight and collapsed?
“I’ve done it!” called Chloe. She sat in the window-opening facing outwards, her legs dangling over its edge. “Wish me good fortune, everyone. Here I go!”
She let out an exultant yell, and disappeared.
We held our breaths. We heard a crash, a cry, and a couple of ripe curses that shocked Gambax. Finally came a shout that was a mixture of triumph and despair. “I’m down but I’ve twisted my ankle. It’s all right, I’ll get to the door. I’ll be as quick as I can.”
We ran to the door, hardly able to see our way through the stifling smoke. I glanced back and saw that the light showing round the edges of the door in the partition had changed from red to orange-yellow, and that it wasn’t a steady glow now, but a stream of sparks pouring through. Even as I watched a couple of the sparks flew out into the room and landed on a pile of hay. It began to smoulder.
I ran to it and I flung my cloak over the wisp of smoke that was curling upwards. When I lifted it again, the smoke was gone, and Vulcan’s Shield was undamaged…but more sparks were coming in. I saw two more patches of hay begin to smoke, and then one spark landed on me.
Lucius ran up. “Give me your cloak, Sis, and get back. Leave it to us.”
For once I didn’t argue. I watched from a safe distance as he and Titch used two Vulcan’s Shields to put out more potential fires in the hay. This didn’t look like a situation that could last long. I wished Chloe would hurry.
“I’m here,” she yelled from outside the door. “I’m doing the bolts. Get ready.” We heard her shoot a big bolt back. Then there was a pause. “Gods, this second one’s stuck. I can’t move it.”
“Yes, you can,” Quintus shouted. “You’ve done brilliantly so far, now finish the job. It’s getting too hot for comfort in here, so for the gods’ sake put some muscle into it.”
“I am, but it’
s almost too high to reach, and…”
“Listen, Chloe, you can do it,” Gambax shouted. “I know you can. Haven’t I always said you’re strong for a girl? Now show me. Just one quick hard pull, that’s all it needs. A barbarian pushed that bolt in. Are you saying you’re feebler than a barbarian? Now I’m going to count to three. One…two…three!”
There was a grating sound and a triumphant yell, and the second bolt shot back.
“Well done!” Quintus shouted. “Get clear of the building, Chloe. When we push the door open, the fire will spread through to this side for sure. So run for your lives. Come over here, Lucius and Titch. Ready? I’m opening NOW!”
He pushed hard and the door flew wide open, so fast he almost overbalanced. I stopped him falling, and we rushed out into the wonderful fresh air. The others were ahead of us, but they slowed down to turn and look back.
“Run, you fools. Run!” Quintus yelled. Gambax snatched Chloe up into his arms, and we all pelted across the clearing as if the Parthian cavalry were after us.
From the barn came a crash and a loud roar. We’d been only just in time. None of us dared stop to look till we were in the shelter of the trees. When we turned, we saw the entire building blazing like a pyre, with long flames blowing out from it on a rising wind, and sparks flying everywhere. The trees near it in the clearing would be on fire soon. The whole wood might burn.
“By the gods, that was too close for my liking,” Quintus said. “Is everyone all right? Chloe, how’s your ankle?”
“I’ve sprained it, but nothing’s broken. I’m sorry I was so slow.”
“You were magnificent, Chloe. You were all quite magnificent! I wish I were a general—then I could hand out battle honours to everyone.”
“I don’t like the way that fire’s burning,” I said. “It’ll catch the trees any time now. We need to move out of here. Do you suppose our horses are still where we left them?”
“And the raeda,” Gambax said. “We’ll need a carriage. Chloe can’t walk, let alone ride.”
Quintus nodded. “Gambax and Titch, could you go and fetch it please, and bring all our horses here. On the double. We must get back to the fort as soon as we can. I want to be inside those walls before nightfall.”
