Danger in the Wind

by Jane Finnis

  “Listen!” Titch exclaimed. “I heard a bugle. In the trees, I’m sure I did.”

  We strained our ears but could hear nothing, which was hardly surprising amid the roaring and crackling noises coming from the fire. Even as we watched, the roof of the barn fell in with a rumble like thunder, and flames leaped up into the sky and across into the trees nearby.

  “There it is again,” Titch shouted excitedly, “a cavalry bugle, sounding the charge. I used to be a bugler—I’d recognise it anywhere. Can’t you hear it?”

  “I can,” Gambax called. “It must be a patrol from Isurium, come to find us!”

  “Take cover!” Quintus shouted. “We’ll see who they are before we show ourselves.”

  But before we were properly hidden among the scattered trees, there was a third strident bugle-call, and out into the clearing burst a dozen soldiers, cantering along with drawn swords. And the man leading them was Philippus.

  “It’s all right, everyone,” he called out. “You’re safe now.”

  Chloe cheered wildly and rushed out of the trees as fast as her injured ankle would allow. “Philo! Oh, Philo, thank the gods!”

  Chapter XXX

  The rest of us emerged more cautiously, but we soon shared Chloe’s joy. This truly was a rescue party, a contingent of men from the fort. I recognised some of them, and they were all grinning broadly. What Philippus was doing leading them, I couldn’t guess, but for now I was happy that they were here and we were safe.

  Philippus embraced Chloe and Vitellia, and Gambax slapped him on the back. Of course none of them knew of his double identity, and we four realised this wasn’t the time or place to reveal it.

  Having basked in their gratitude and congratulations, he came to the rest of us, shaking our hands and asking whether we were all right. We assured him we were and thanked him for coming to find us. If our responses were a little reserved, he didn’t seem to notice. He probably wasn’t aware either how cautious we were being in answering his various questions. It was like walking on egg-shells, blending truths, half-truths and lies as we talked with a man who combined the roles of rescuer and murderer.

  “We’re certainly glad to see you,” Quintus said. “We need to hurry back to the fort before it gets dark. Our horses are hidden in the woods near here.”

  He nodded. “We heard them. The smell of smoke was upsetting them, but they haven’t bolted yet. Some of my men are bringing them, then we can be off.”

  “How did you find us?” Lucius asked. “The Brigantians seemed to think this place was a secret.”

  “We’ve been aware of occasional native activity here,” he answered smoothly. “Storing stolen property, even some illegal iron-working. We were supposed to be looking into it properly, but of course with all this Eurytus business…Anyhow, when I got back to the fort this evening and heard the girls were being held hostage, I thought of this barn at once. I persuaded the commander to let me have some men, and we came as fast as we could. I must thank you for saving them from the fire. You took a considerable risk, bringing such a small force here.”

  “We had no choice,” Quintus answered. “The ultimatum from Venutius said the girls would be executed at dawn if Trebonius killed any of the Brigantian hostages.”

  Philippus asked a little too casually, “I’m impressed you knew about this place, though. How did you find out?”

  “Just a lucky tip-off.” Quintus replied lightly, “which meant we made our way here quite quickly. But there weren’t enough of us to get the girls away on our own. Trebonius absolutely refused to let us have any of his men until reinforcements arrived.”

  Philippus nodded. “They’ve come at last, thank the gods. Ten cavalry from Eburacum, and a century of infantry promised for tomorrow. Lucky for all of us. Trebonius can be as stubborn as a mule. Believe me, I know.” He grinned. “Mind you, so can…” he broke off and gave a loud and unconvincing cough. “Merda, this smoke’s appalling.” He coughed again, and added lamely, “Sorry. Let’s get out of here before we all end up with sore throats.”

  Quintus laughed. “From what we heard of Venutius, I’d say he could match Trebonius in stubbornness, and toughness too.”

  “Was Venutius here in person?”

  “Yes, though of course we didn’t get much chance of a chat. But we could overhear him well enough, talking to his men. You should have heard what he threatened to do to the man he thinks betrayed his base here to us. Someone called Portius. I shouldn’t like to be in his sandals if Venutius catches him.”

  Philippus turned away hastily and began shouting orders to his men. Quintus and I exchanged a smile.

  We were soon on our way home. It was slow going through the woods. I remember Philippus suggested that those of us on horseback could ride ahead with a small escort, if we wanted to reach the fort more quickly, while the carriage would trundle slowly back at its own speed with the rest of his troop. We refused the offer, saying that after all we’d been through we preferred to stay together. Perhaps we were being over-suspicious…but I shared Quintus’ views about that.

  “As you like, of course,” Philippus said. “Anyone would think you don’t trust me to keep them safe!” He laughed, but it rang hollow. “I’ll send a couple of men ahead of us, at least, to tell my father and the commander and everyone that we’re coming.”

  When we reached the main road we increased our pace a little and trotted along while the escort spread out around us. Philippus stayed at the rear, chatting to the girls in the raeda, playing the part of the brave hero risking his life to save his sister. We were content to let him take the glory…for now.

  The road was empty and peaceful, and as Quintus and I rode along side by side it felt almost as if we were taking a pleasant evening ride to watch the moon and stars come out. Almost, but not entirely.

  Quintus edged his horse close to mine and said softly, “From what we overheard tonight, we’ve enough evidence for an arrest now. I’ll see Trebonius as soon as we get back. Our friend at the rear must realise we know something, but he can’t be aware exactly how much.”

  “At least he came to save his sister,” I murmured. “Whatever else he’s done…”

  “…I know, but he’s a murderer and an enemy of Rome. Don’t let your heart rule your head.” He turned in his saddle as a horseman rode up alongside us, but it was only one of the escort, who were taking it in turns to trot up and down along our line of march.

  “Nearly there, sir,” the soldier said cheerfully. “You’ll be glad to get back, I bet.”

  “You’re not joking,” Quintus called. “A hot bath and several beakers of hot wine, that’s what I’m looking forward to.”

  The man rode on, and Quintus moved even closer in. “When we get there, we must make sure our friend doesn’t have a chance to leave again. We’ll tell the guards to close the gates, say we think someone is following us…anything to make sure he doesn’t escape.”

  “Make sure who doesn’t escape?” Philippus had ridden up alongside us on the cleared strip of earth next to the road, so we hadn’t heard his horse approaching. He was watching us curiously. “Are you about to arrest someone, Quintus Antonius? Have you discovered who killed my mother?”

  “I was talking about the man who tried to kill your father in the hospital,” Quintus improvised. “You’ve heard about that, presumably?”

  He nodded. “A nasty business. But at least I’m relieved my father didn’t really kill Mother.” He paused, and he wasn’t play-acting now. He looked so utterly miserable that I felt sorry for him. Whoever and whatever he was, Jovina’s death was a tragedy for him.

  Then he straightened in his saddle and said briskly, “I haven’t been into the village today yet. Do you know if our house is still standing?”

  “It was this morning,” Quintus answered, “but now, I couldn’t say, I’m afraid. The rebels burnt quite a lot of Roman property this afternoon. Tell me, where did you get to today? We looked for you, we could have done with your help. B
ut nobody knew where you’d gone.”

  “I was looking for my sister, of course. Scouting around trying to find traces of which way she’d gone. She spent part of last night threatening to run away, you know, and I thought she might try to leave home for good.”

  “Where did you look?”

  “The party field first, but there was no sign there.”

  Oh really? And I’m the Queen of Brigantia. If he’d been to the party field, he’d surely have seen either Venutius’ men waiting in ambush, or their capture of the girls…or if he went later, he’d have found Baca.

  Quintus asked, “Did you go anywhere near Brennus’ house?”

  “No.” His voice was sharp. “Why?”

  “It’s where Eurytus’ body was found, I wondered if you’d seen it. Or even Eurytus himself, before he was murdered. Or, of course, you could have caught a glimpse of whoever killed him.”

  “No.”

  “That’s a pity. Someone must have seen the man who played Achilles to Eurytus’ Hector.”

  Philippus gave a little start of surprise, but he covered it well with another hollow cough. “Merda, that smoke’s really got into my chest,” he growled. I felt myself go tense. That growl sounded almost like Portius, or a lion in a nightmare…

  Quintus went on unhurriedly. “So where else did you check? The main road, I suppose, if you thought the girls might be leaving the area?”

  “Exactly so. I went some distance towards Eburacum, then doubled back and headed a mile or two towards Cataractonium, but no joy there either. I didn’t get back to the fort till quite late, after you’d gone. I went to see Father, and he told me about the ultimatum from Venutius and everything. And when I heard what they planned to do to Chloe…as you said before, there was no choice.”

  He turned his horse and rode back to the carriage. I whispered to Quintus, “Did you ever hear such a parcel of lies?”

  “He must take us for fools,” Quintus whispered. Aloud he said, “Look, here’s the fort at last.”

  We received a welcome that wouldn’t have disgraced a victorious general. It was almost dark when we arrived at the main gate, but the whole area just inside it was ablaze with torches, mostly in the hands of a crowd of people waiting to greet us. They cheered as we rode through, and milled round us, asking questions and making jokes and enfolding us in an atmosphere of warmth and congratulations. I turned to look for the gate centurion and was relieved to see his men were already shutting the big main gate behind us. I saw Quintus pause for a brief word with him and heard him say, “The commander will confirm it.”

  Mallius hurried forward and lifted Chloe bodily out of the raeda, and she clung to him and wept on his shoulder. Philippus went to greet his father, and Selena bustled up, crying and laughing at once. Lucius took Vitellia in his arms, and I saw tears there too. I’ll confess I felt my own eyes prickling, as the tension relaxed and I allowed myself to realise our ordeal was over. But I’d too much to do to waste time crying now. There’d be time enough for emotion later.

  I looked round to see who else was there: Statius, but he was keeping in the background, and Congrio, and Ennius, and several other officers I recognized from the party. Then the tall figure of Trebonius made his way towards us and people drew back to let him pass. Quintus and I, Lucius and Titch, Gambax and the girls and Philippus, all gathered round him.

  “I’m so pleased you’re home safe and sound,” he said. “I’m sure you know how worried we’ve all been about you. Well done, Antonius, and all of you. And Philippus too, you’ve done a grand job tonight.”

  Philippus saluted. “Thank you, sir. I’ll make my formal report later, shall I?”

  “Yes, do that. Meanwhile, are any of you hurt?”

  “I’ve got a sprained ankle,” Chloe answered, smiling now. “I had to jump out of a window, and unbolt a door so we could all escape, and…”

  “Gods alive, child, whatever next!” Trebonius smiled down at her. “And the rest of you…nobody injured?”

  “A few cuts and bruises, nothing more,” Quintus said. “Commander, I’ve got an urgent report to make about today’s events. We know who killed Eurytus. May we go to your office straight away? I’d like Aurelia to come with me.”

  Selena spoke up. “If you’ll pardon me, sir, the quicker I can get these two girls washed and fed and into their beds, the better it’ll be for them. They’ve had a very trying day, sir, I’m sure you’ll understand.”

  “Of course.” Trebonius seemed to see the two girls properly for the first time, and take in their dishevelled clothes and dirty faces. “Off you go. You’re quartered with Mallius, aren’t you?”

  “That’s right,” Mallius said. “Selena will take good care of both of them. You’re welcome to stay with me too, Aurelia, if you like. There’s plenty of room.”

  “Thank you, Marcus, I will.”

  The girls climbed back into the carriage, and I saw Lucius lean down and give Vitellia a kiss. “I’ll come with you,” he said, “and see you settled in.”

  “So will I,” Philippus offered. They both followed on foot as the raeda rolled away.

  “May I ask one more thing, Commander?” Quintus said. “It’s imperative nobody leaves the fort until you’ve heard what we have to tell you. Nobody at all. Could you give the order to your guards?”

  “All right, if you think it’s so important.” He beckoned the centurion in charge at the gate, and repeated the order to him. “Alert the lookouts on the ramparts,” he added. “If anyone tries to leave here tonight, arrest him.”

  He led Quintus and me into his office and didn’t waste time on preliminaries. “The messengers who got in ahead of you told me what a narrow escape you had. You reached those two girls just in time. I’d like the details later, of course, but for now, let’s hear who killed Eurytus. The gods know I don’t want to have to start executing hostages, but I can’t go back on my word, especially after tonight. So if you can name the assassin, nobody will be more pleased than I.”

  “You may not be so pleased when you hear his name,” Quintus said. “It wasn’t a Brigantian. It was one of your own men.”

  “Go on.”

  “It’s Philippus.”

  “Jupiter’s balls, it can’t be. You have proof?”

  “We have. And I’m afraid this murder is only one of his crimes. We can also show that he was implicated in kidnapping the girls today, that he murdered Terentius at Oak Bridges, and that he’s been selling army stores to the Brigantians.”

  He sighed. “The secret trading I’ve suspected for a while now. I think we all knew Philippus was up to a few tricks…but I kept putting off dealing with him. I couldn’t afford to lose a very competent fighting man for just a bit of juvenile mischief.”

  “This isn’t juvenile mischief. Kidnapping, and two murders, one of a soldier and one of an Imperial freedman…”

  “Yes, yes, I know. I’ll need evidence, of course, good hard evidence.”

  “We have it.”

  He got up and went to the door. “Send me a secretary,” he ordered an aide in the outer office. “I want all this recorded.”

  An elderly grey-haired man came in with note-tablets and stylus. He sat down at a small table in the corner.

  “Write this all down,” Trebonius instructed. “Don’t leave anything out unless I tell you.”

  Slowly and carefully Quintus and I told him everything we knew about Philippus. The murder of Terentius…the intercepted message to the rebels, which Philippus had managed to pass on by word of mouth…his disguise as Portius, both at Oak Bridges and when dealing with Venutius…the evidence of the knife that killed Eurytus…and finally our conclusion about how Philippus had helped kidnap the girls. Trebonius listened carefully and the secretary wrote fast.

  “Much of that makes sense,” the commander said slowly. “Until we come to what you’re accusing him of today, which in my view are the most serious crimes: the killing of Eurytus and the kidnapping. Your only evidence is hearsay
, surely. You had a report about a knife being used, but it disappeared. Another report about a forged letter, but you don’t know it was Philippus who forged it. Admittedly he went off without leave, but it isn’t the first time he’s done that. I’m not sure why you don’t believe he was searching for his sister and Vitellia all day today, as he said. After all he did eventually find them.”

  “Because he left here early this morning,” I answered. “Before he could have learned that the girls were missing. I know that for certain. One of the servants looking after them discovered they’d gone, after we’d arrived here ourselves. She told me later she sent urgently to the fort asking Philippus to go and help, but he’d left. She was told he’d gone out, leaving a message that you’d sent him to Cataractonium.”

  Trebonius nodded. “Of course. You told me that this morning, Aurelia. You thought I’d sent him on some errand, but I hadn’t. I was too busy to do anything about it…gods, why didn’t I pay more attention?”

  A thunderous hammering on his door interrupted him, and Titch burst in, shouting, “Commander! Can you come quick, sir, it’s very urgent. Please, sir, as quick as you can…”

  “How dare you come charging in here?” Trebonius began.

  Quintus stopped him. “This is my assistant. What’s happened?”

  “Philippus is dead. He tried to escape, attacked a sentry on the rampart, and there was a fight. He fell over the wall and it killed him.”

  Chapter XXXI

  But he wasn’t dead. Not quite.

  Pythis was bending over the still form when we arrived below the wall. Several soldiers stood around holding torches, and by their light the young doctor felt him over carefully, held a mirror to his mouth, and then straightened up. “He’s alive, just barely. I think his back is broken, but there’s breath there, and a pulse in his neck.” He turned to the soldiers. “Can two of you lads bring a stretcher. We may be able to save him.”