by K. M. Ashman
‘Rubria, we are fugitives from Nero’s justice,’ said Dragus in disbelief, ‘you cannot draw attention to yourself, even this far from Rome. When word of your flight reaches the governor of these islands, as it probably will, he cannot suspect that you are within his jurisdiction.’
‘Am I not a Priestess of Vesta?’ asked Rubria, ‘even out here that will carry weight with any of noble birth.’
‘Priestess,’ said Dragus, ‘out here they are a different breed. There is no place for the weak of will, only men of steel. Britannia is seen as a stepping-stone for those who have greater goals in mind and if there is status to be gained from returning a runaway Priestess to the emperor, then the governor will not think twice. You will be seen as a ticket to the senate and be in chains before the sun sets.’
‘Then we must make sure he does not find out.’
‘How?’ asked Dragus, ‘Londinium is a hotbed of gossip and intrigue. How long do you think the presence of a Vestal Virgin in its midst would be kept secret?’
‘Then we must go elsewhere.’
‘Where?’ asked Dragus in frustration, ‘Camulodunum was razed to the ground by Boudicca and all other Roman settlements will have their own networks of informers. No, we must slip into the backstreets of Londinium and fade into its populace with the minimum of fuss. No one must know of your identity or the precious burden you protect.’
‘I am not going to Londinium,’ said Rubria. ‘I understand your concerns but I will not deny the goddess her glory. You must find your own way, Dragus, you have sacrificed enough, as have you, Rose. The two of you must seek a quiet life away from Nero’s reach and grow old in peace. I will take a different path.’
‘Where will you go?’ asked Rose.
‘I intend to find somewhere away from Nero’s gaze,’ said Rubria, ‘somewhere I can bring Vesta’s glory to the uninitiated. It need not be loud with proclamations or fanfares but with patience and gentleness, for her story is all the message I need.’
‘But priestess,’ interrupted Dragus, ‘this is a barbaric place. Your head could end up on the belt of a chieftain and the Palladium nothing more than fuel for a fire. You cannot take this risk.’
‘Did you not say but a few minutes ago that this was a spiritual place and the people not barbaric?’ smiled Rubria.
‘I did but…’
‘Then I will embrace that spirituality and bring the flame of the goddess to their dark existence. Don’t you see, Dragus, I have been set upon this path for a reason. These people are misguided and lack the grace of Vesta. All that has happened to me has been for a greater purpose, to celebrate her name amongst the ignorant and bring light where there is darkness. I know it will be dangerous and it will take time but with Vesta’s will, I will be successful.’
Dragus took a deep breath and stared at her for a long time.
‘Your mind is made up?’ he said eventually.
‘It is,’ she said. ‘When we land I will take a different road and settle where it feels safe.’
‘Then I will come with you,’ said Dragus.
‘No, you have already done too much,’ said Rubria.
‘I will not take no for an answer,’ said Dragus, ‘I have come this far and will see out my part in this. I know the land, speak some of the language and know the habits and training of the military. There is a place I know west of Londinium where the locals are peaceful and particularly spiritual. Perhaps we will find a home there.’
Rubria, smiled.
‘Thank you, Dragus,’ she said, before turning to her servant. ‘What about you, Rose?’ she said kindly, ‘you have no mistress here and are free to travel wherever you will. Where does your future lie?’
‘Wherever your footsteps fall, therein lays my destination,’ answered Rose simply.
‘Even if there is danger?’ asked Rubria.
‘Unto death itself,’ said Rose and fell to her knees before the priestess, taking her hand in hers. ‘My heart has always been with the goddess, mistress,’ she said, ‘though circumstances limited what devotion I could bring. My life is now yours and through you, Vesta’s.’
‘Then make this the last time you kneel before me, Rose,’ said Rubria, ‘if this place is as dangerous as centurion Dragus would have us believe, then perhaps we should keep our traditions away from prying eyes, at least in the short term.’
Rubria turned to Dragus.
‘Where will I find the captain?’ she asked, ‘I have a debt to pay.’ A few minutes later, she stood alongside Stellus in the bow of the ship.
‘Well, captain,’ she said, ‘you have been true to your word and brought us to our destination.’
The captain looked up at her in puzzlement.
‘What is it you have done so evil that it sends you to the ends of the earth to escape Nero’s wrath?’ he asked quietly.
‘I would not burden you with the knowledge, captain,’ she answered, ‘for I believe it would put you in danger, but know this. I assure you I am innocent and as soon as Nero’s shadow leaves Rome, I will return to face my accusers. Until then, I will suffer whatever the gods lay in my path.’
‘So be it,’ said the captain, ‘I will arrange a boat to take you to the shore long before we reach port. The less anyone knows about your passage the better.’
‘And your crew?’
‘They will keep silent. They are well rewarded under my command.’
‘With coin?’
The captain laughed out loud.
‘Oh, priestess,’ he said, ‘you are truly innocent in the ways of men. Yes, in coin but also in other pleasures, the details of which I would not inflict on your pretty ears.’
‘Oh, I see,’ she said, blushing, ‘anyway, I too have a debt to pay.’ She reached within her cloak and withdrew the necklace of Vesta, offering it to the Captain. ‘Take it,’ she said, ‘it is mine to give.’
He took the necklace from her and gazed into its stunning lustre.’
‘It is truly beautiful,’ he said in awe.
‘One of only twelve,’ said Rubria, ‘use your contacts to sell it back to the temple of Vesta. They will pay a king’s ransom to have it back where it belongs.’ She left him staring at the gem and re-joined her fellow travellers to pack their things.
An hour later, the three fugitives sat in a small boat below the imposing bow of the merchant ship, bobbing gently in the swell. The captain looked down at the fugitives.
‘Head for the mouth of the river,’ he shouted down, ‘I am told the tribes are quite friendly along its banks. North lies Londinium, south is the unknown.’
‘Thank you, Captain,’ shouted Rubria, ‘safe journey home.’
‘One more thing, priestess,’ he shouted and threw something down into the boat. Dragus’ reflexes were quick and he caught the necklace before it landed, holding it up as the reflection of the sun bounced off its surface. Rubria looked back up at the captain.
‘Why?’ she shouted.
‘It may be yours to give, priestess,’ he answered, ‘but it is not mine to take.’
Dragus handed the necklace to Rubria and took his place at the oars. Rubria looked up one last time.
‘I will be forever in your debt, captain,’ she shouted, ‘the blessing of Vesta be on you and your crew.’ She stared at the man for a long time as Dragus rowed the boat away from the ship and toward the shore. Finally, she turned her gaze to the looming shoreline.
‘Take a good look at your new home, priestess,’ said Dragus between breaths, ‘we could be here for a long time.’
----
Chapter 25
England 2010
Brandon carried his overnight bag down to the hotel reception and paid for the rooms. He took a seat and read the complimentary paper as he waited for India. Fifteen minutes later, he called her on her mobile but when there was no answer, he approached the desk once again.
‘Excuse me,’ he said, ‘could you ring room thirty one please and remind Miss Sommers I am waiting?’
‘Oh, I think Miss Sommers left earlier,’ said the receptionist, ‘a few moments before you came down.’
‘Left?’ quizzed Brandon, ‘did she leave a message for me?’
‘No sir but it seemed she was in a hurry, at least, the gentleman she left with was.’
‘She left with a man?’ asked Brandon.
‘Yes sir, he was waiting for her when she came down. He gave her a note and I do recall she seemed distressed and left with him immediately.’
‘I don’t suppose you know who this man was?’
‘No, sorry’.
‘Do you know where they went?’
She shook her head.
‘Do you know which way they went?’
‘I believe they left in a taxi,’ said the receptionist, looking toward the rank outside the door.
‘How could you see them from here?’
‘I had to leave the desk to pick up the note Miss Sommers threw on the floor,’ she said.
‘Where is the note now?’
‘I put it in the bin.’
Brandon strode toward the bin and reached inside.
‘Blue,’ said the girl as she watched him unwrap the various bits of crumpled paper.
He picked up the only blue paper, tugging at the edges so he could read the words.
‘India, something urgent has come up, you can trust this man, he is one of us. Go with him and we will meet up later.’
Brandon xx
‘What taxi company do you use?’ he shouted, running back to the desk.
‘Sorry?’
‘The taxi rank outside, who has the license?’
‘It’s open access, sir, anyone can pick up.’
‘Do you have CCTV?’
‘Yes Sir, we do but can only show it to the police.’
Brandon leaned forward.
‘Listen’ he said, with urgency in his voice, ‘I believe my friend is in danger and has been abducted. I would call the police but have no time. All I need to know is what taxi they got into.’
‘I don’t know,’ she said nervously, ‘my boss…’
‘Needn’t know,’ said Brandon, ‘I don’t want to see the footage just tell me the cab company?’ He put a twenty-pound note on the counter.
The girl looked around before taking the note and adjusted the CCTV under the counter.
‘United Cabs,’ she said eventually.
‘Can you see the man she left with?’ he asked urgently.
‘Yes but as I said…’
Brandon vaulted the desk and pushed the girl out the way.
‘What do you think you’re doing?’ she hissed.
‘Sorry, love, someone’s life is at risk and I don’t have the time to piss about any longer.’ He stared at the paused picture of a young man looking back up at the camera. He had expected to see someone similar to the dead Greek he had killed back at his house but didn’t recognise his face. He jumped back over the counter.
‘I should call security.’ said the receptionist indignantly.
‘You should,’ said Brandon, ‘but you won’t.’
‘Why not?’
‘I can think of a hundred reasons,’ said Brandon, dropping a pile of notes on the counter.
She looked back up at him in surprise.
‘Are we cool?’ he asked.
‘Yeah, we’re cool,’ confirmed the girl sweeping up the money and watched as Brandon ran from the hotel.
----
Brandon avoided the first two cabs and ran to the third in line.
‘United cabs?’ he asked through the window.
‘Yup,’ said the driver.
‘Great,’ said Brandon and tried to get in the back.
‘Those two are in front of me,’ said the driver, ‘you have to use them first.’
‘I only use United,’ Brandon lied, ‘I won’t use anyone else.’
‘I don’t know,’ said the driver, ‘they won’t be very happy. Business is a bit slow today.’
‘Double the meter,’ said Brandon.
‘What?’
‘I’ll pay you double the meter, in cash.’
‘Where are you going?'
‘I don’t know yet,’ said Brandon, ‘I’ll find out in the next few minutes.’
‘What’s this about?’ asked the driver.
‘Triple the meter.’ interrupted Brandon, upping the ante.
‘Get in,’ said the driver, unlocking the central locking system.
‘Thanks,’ said Brandon and dropped into the back seat, slamming the door behind him. The driver pulled out and passed the two cars before him in the queue, answering the shouts from the other drivers with an extended middle finger as he passed.
‘What’s your name, driver?’ asked Brandon as soon as they cleared the hotel.
‘They call me Murray,’ answered the driver, ‘where we going then, Guv?’
‘Murray,’ said Brandon, ‘about ten minutes ago, a friend of mine got into one of your company’s cabs outside that hotel. I need to know where they went and I want you to take me there.’
‘I don’t know if I can do that,’ said Murray, ‘customer confidentiality and all that.’
‘Murray,’ said Brandon, ‘for all I know they could have gone across bloody London. I don’t know how far that is but at triple time it could be very lucrative.’
The driver paused, considering the opportunity.
‘What’s her name?’ he asked eventually.
‘Sommers,’ answered Brandon, ‘India Sommers.’
Murray picked up his radio microphone.
‘Control this is two-three,’ he said, ‘come in.’
‘Go ahead two-three,’ came the reply.
‘Control, one of our cars picked up a lady at Premier Inn, Watford about ten minutes ago. Do you know where they went?’
‘I can find out, why, what’s the problem?’
‘She dropped her purse and I was wondering if they were local so I can return it.’
‘Hang on,’ came the disembodied voice and the radio went silent for a few seconds before bursting back into life.
‘It was car three-seven,’ said the voice, ‘though they are probably too far away now. Just bring it into the office later and we will return it.’
‘No problem,’ said Murray, ‘where did they go anyway?’
‘Victoria Station. Do you want me to give three-seven a call and let them know?’
‘Nah, don’t bother,’ said Murray, seeing Brandon’s shaking head in the mirror, ‘she was a bit of a moody cow anyway.’
‘Okay,’ said the voice, ‘control out.’
‘Victoria station?’ asked Murray to the mirror.
‘No, I don’t think so,’ answered Brandon, ‘they will be long gone by the time we get there.’ He thought for a few minutes before speaking again. ‘Murray, do you know a place called Tockenham?’
‘Tockenham, Swindon?’ asked Murray.
‘That’s the one, there’s a church there called St Giles, take me there.’
‘You do realise that’s the best part of eighty miles away?’ said Murray.
‘Yes,’ said Brandon, ‘though you had better stop at a cash point on the way. I’ve got a feeling this is going to be a very expensive taxi ride.’
‘Five hundred quid’s worth of taxi ride,’ said Murray with a grin, ‘up front, in cash, if you please.’
‘Like I said,’ answered Brandon, ‘you had better find a cash point.’
----
Ten minutes later, Murray felt the comfortable bundle of fresh twenty-pound notes in his shirt pocket before pulling out into the traffic. In the rear seat, his new customer, who obviously had more money than sense, was busy speaking into a phone.
‘Mike,’ said Brandon, ‘I need you to do me a favour. Can you get the CCTV footage in Victoria station checked out for the last hour?’
‘Why?’ asked his colleague.
‘My contact was abducted about half an hour ago. Apparently she was taken to Victoria station
and I need to know where they have taken her.’
‘Brandon, the case is closed, just tell the police.’
‘Mike, it’s a bit of a coincidence, don’t you think? I start following some leads and my main contact is abducted.’
‘Brandon, you’re not listening to me, the case is closed, savvy? Get your things and get back to Stirling.’
Brandon thought furiously.
‘Listen, Mike, have you booked me back in yet?’
‘No, why?’
‘Then pretend you couldn’t get hold of me. As far as anyone else is concerned, my phone was off. My next report is not due until next week, so there is nothing unusual in me being offline for a while,’
‘I don’t know,’ came the reply.
‘Mike, I need this from you. You are my oldest friend and I have no one else to turn to. This girl is, well, she means a lot to me and I will not abandon her. All I need is to find out where they have taken her.’
There was silence on the other end of the phone for a few seconds before Mike spoke again.
‘Brandon, I am not putting my career on the line for this but I’ll tell you what I’ll do. I will refer your request to the boss and ask his permission to extend your posting. I know he’s going to an officer’s mess bash tonight and has a couple of days leave after that, so he won’t get the request until Monday. I am sure he’ll pull the plug but until he does, I will keep you online. That gives you just over three days.’
‘What about support?’
‘We’ve already got a team on standby anyway, so I won’t stand them down until you come in. Make sure your beacon is armed.’
‘Will do,’ said Brandon.
‘I hope she is worth it, matey,’ said Mike, ‘now, I need descriptions, locations and timings.’
Brandon gave his colleague what info he had, knowing that his colleague could draw on no end of intelligence and contacts to scour the CCTV network.
‘Got it,’ said Mike, ‘anything else I need to know?’
‘No that’s it.’
‘Right, give me a couple of hours and I will get back to you. If you find yourself in the smelly stuff, hit your beacon and we’ll come running.’
‘Cheers, Mike,’ said Brandon, ‘I owe you one.’
‘That’s right,’ said Mike, ‘you do,’ and rang off.
