by V. M. Sang
Ailbert smiled at Octavia.
She did not smile back either, but said, “My husband has told me to tell you that you are welcome here. He said you wanted to leave, but the doctor advised it would not be a good idea if your leg is to heal properly.”
She turned to leave, then turned back. “I hope you're not in too much pain. If you are, just ring the bell I'll send to you, and a slave will come and bring you something for it.” With that, she swept from the room, taking her sons with her.
At the door, Quintus turned and gave a beaming smile.
“Well, at least one of the household thinks I'm welcome,” he muttered. “This is not going to be pleasant if the rest of them think differently.”
It seemed only Octavia and Laurentius felt Ailbert was an intruder. The slaves were attentive, but not talkative, even when he tried to engage them in conversation. He understood that. He had been a slave himself, after all, and knew what was expected of them.
Sylvia and Quintus, though, came to visit whenever they could. He liked the young boy. He had a little brother of his own, somewhere, who would be a similar age to this young man. Ailbert welcomed his company and questions.
Sylvia he welcomed as someone nearer his own age to whom he could talk. She was an intelligent girl who understood much about the politics of the Empire. She questioned him about life in a Celtic town.
“I'm surprised you can read and write,” she told him one day. “I always thought the bar … er … Britons were uncivilised. That's what we've always been taught.”
“I grew up in Londinium. That's where I learned to speak Latin.”
“I've never been to Londinium,” she said, a wistful look in her eyes. “Is it as grand as they say?”
Before he could answer, a voice called, “Sylvia. Sylvia, where are you?”
“I must go,' she jumped to her feet. “Mater is calling. She doesn't really like me spending too long with you.”
No, thought Ailbert, she doesn't like anyone spending too much time with me.
The doctor arrived a couple of days later and removed the stiffened bandages. He called to Octavia to soak the ones he had brought with him in the starch he had given her.
Octavia smiled warmly at the doctor. “Of course. How is his leg mending, Doctor?”
She means how long will I be here.
“Oh, it seems to be quite straight,” the doctor replied. “I'm pleased with the way it's going so far. As long as he does as he's told, I have every confidence he'll make an excellent recovery.”
Octavia simpered. “Oh, don't worry. We'll all make sure he's a good boy and then he can make the best recovery ever.”
She means 'quickest recovery', I think.
Sylvia came to see Ailbert whenever she could, as did Quintus. Laurentius he never saw again while he was in the house.
If she thought the pair were visiting Ailbert, Octavia always found them something to do elsewhere. Ailbert found this very uncomfortable. The only times Octavia acted in any way more than civil was when either Flavius or the doctor were around.
Eventually the doctor said Ailbert could go and sit in the peristylium, if he wished. Even though it was winter, and snow lay thickly on the ground, Ailbert could not help but smile at the thought he could leave his rooms. The doctor gave him a crutch to use and he hobbled from the bedroom and into the peristylium.
Once in the peristylium, Ailbert shivered, but he relished being outside where he could look at the garden. He hobbled to a seat and sat down to watch the comings and goings of the house.
Slaves ran from one place to another, ignoring him for the most part. Sylvia came out of one of the rooms and smiled when she saw him. “Aren't you cold out here?” she asked.
“A bit, but after being cooped up inside for days, I'm enjoying the fresh air.”
She sat next to him. “As I said before, I've been taught that you people have no culture. You seem not to be like what I've been taught.”
“It all depends on what you call culture,” Ailbert said. “We have our own, but remember: I grew up in Londinium, so I’m not really like Britons who've always lived in villages.”
“Are you saying you have no culture then?”
“Not at all.” Ailbert frowned. “We have our own. We have gods and goddesses who protect us and whom we worship, but we don't use temples built of stone. We have people who make the jewellery you Romans like to wear.”
Fascinated, she regarded him as he went on to tell her all about life in a Briton village. Eventually, she began to shiver.
“You should go inside,” Ailbert told her.
“You come in too. Quintus is there. I'm sure he will want to talk to you as well.”
Ailbert looked around. There was no sign of Octavia and he asked Sylvia about her. “I get the impression she doesn't like me being here.”
“Perhaps not, but Pater says you must stay. He's a kind man, is Pater. Mater thinks you're a smelly barbarian.”
They laughed at that and went through the passage leading to the atrium where they sat next to the pool in the centre, As in all Roman houses, a hole in the roof allowed rainwater or, at this time of year, snow to fall into the pool. In spite of the hole in the roof, it felt warmer here than in the peristylium due to the hypocaust beneath the floor.
Quintus jumped to his feet when Ailbert and Sylvia entered. The twelve-year-old appeared as anxious to talk to Ailbert as his sister had. He questioned him on all sorts of things, but was especially interested in hunting.
The afternoon passed quickly and soon it was time for the family's evening meal. Flavius returned and invited Ailbert to dine with them. Ailbert declined. though, saying his leg was hurting and he would rather take his meal in his bedroom. Flavius looked a little disappointed at this, but agreed, saying he hoped Ailbert would be able to join the family in a few days.
In spite of the unwelcoming attitude of Octavia and Laurentius, Ailbert found the time passing relatively quickly. He thought Octavia and her elder son to be typical of Romans—full of superiority to others, but he liked Flavius, Sylvia and Quintus. These three, he thought, were not like Romans at all.
He, Sylvia and Quintus spent a lot of time together and Ailbert knew he would miss them when the time came for him to leave.
That day finally arrived. Ailbert now walked with a stick in place of crutches, and he walked from the domus into the street, followed by Sylvia and Quintus. Sylvia held out her hand for him to shake, which he duly did. Then he thanked Octavia, who had come out to see him off.
To make sure I've really gone, thought Ailbert.
Huw drew up with the wagon. He had made enough money that he could buy a horse and so it was this creature that pulled it. Ailbert went and patted it on its nose, then climbed into the back where he could stretch out his leg. Huw clucked to the horse and it moved off towards the gates of Eberacum.
19
Ailbert settled back into his work with Huw. At first, Huw would not allow him to go to Eberacum with him, but Ailbert became ever more frustrated. He spent a lot of time with the horses as they and the other animals were settled into their winter pens in the village.
Tân was pleased to see him and trotted over as soon as he appeared.
“I swear that horse missed you,” Rhodri said one day.
Ailbert turned to his friend and grinned. “Of course he did. He's a very intelligent animal. How's Awena, by the way?”
Beltane approached once more, and Awena's baby was due any day.
“She's large and gets tired easily. No sign of the baby coming though.”
Just as he finished speaking, Glenda, Huw and Dera's daughter, came running up. “Rhodri,” she called anxiously, “The baby's coming!” She stopped to catch her breath. “Mother's with her, but she thought you should know.”
Rhodri stood as if turned to stone. He paled and then grabbed Glenda.
The girl winced as his grip tightened on her arm. “Ow, Rhodri, that hurts.”
“Sorry, but
how is she? How long will it be? Is she in much pain?”
Ailbert was not much calmer than Rhodri. After all, he had been brother, father and mother to her since she was four years old. He felt a responsibility to her that most brothers did not. He took Rhodri by the arm and led him away from the animals. Tân whinnied in disappointment as he had not had his treat from Ailbert, and then trotted off to join the other horses, kicking in frustration at a mare who got in his way.
Ailbert led Rhodri to Huw and Dera's home. Rhodri paced backwards and forwards. It was noon and Dera had been preparing the meal when she went to help Awena.
The meal was ready and Glenda served them all a portion, but neither Rhodri nor Ailbert could eat anything. Huw, however, polished off his plate and half of Ailbert's. Then, they all sat waiting for the news.
Hours passed. Rhodri stood and paced, then sat down again. Ailbert stood and paced, then sat down again. They both stood and paced, until Huw snorted with impatience.
“Sit down, you two! Pacing around won't make it happen any quicker. Babies come when they want and not before.”
“But is she alright?” Rhodri sat once again and closed his eyes. “What if she should die? Women do, you know? What would I do then? It's taking so long.” He hopped to his feet and started pacing again, then stopped and looked at Huw. “Should it take so long? It seems like it's been far too long.”
Huw smiled. This was Rhodri's first baby. He would learn about the time it takes for a child to be born. “Rhodri, birthing a baby is not like birthing a lamb, calf or foal. It always takes a long time. I don't know why, but women seem to have more difficulty than animals. We'll hear soon, don't you fear.”
Darkness fell and still no news came. No one could sleep except Huw's two boys. Then, in the early hours of the morning, a weary-looking Dera entered the house. She gazed at the three men and Glenda. “You should be in bed,” she told her daughter and turned to Rhodri. “You've got a lovely little boy.”
Rhodri was out of the house before Dera could say any more. She slumped onto a bench.
“Was it difficult?” Ailbert asked.
“No more than any. She's young and strong. The baby is healthy too. Now, I must go to bed, if you don't mind.” She moved away from the fire and lay on one of the benches around the side of the house, and pulled up a large section of fur. Within minutes, she was asleep.
Beltane came and went, and Ailbert helped drive the livestock to their summer grazing. Awena and Rhodri completed their year and a day, and made their handfasting permanent. They both delighted in their son, and Rhodri could talk of little else. This meant he would not even consider going on the raids with the others, and so the reduction to eight members became permanent.
Ailbert had decided to make another attack when Huw said he was going to Londinium and would like Ailbert to accompany him this time.
Huw knew about the raids the Phantom Army had made. Since his hatred of the Romans was only slightly less than that of Ailbert, he had said nothing, not even to Dera.
When he told Ailbert he wanted him to accompany him to Londinium, Ailbert objected. “I'm planning another raid, Huw. How about leaving it until your next visit?”
“That won't be for months. I want you to come on this one. You can do all your raiding when we get back.”
Ailbert shrugged and went to tell the rest of the Phantom Army the raid would be postponed.
“Can't we go without you?” Rees begged. “We know the plan. You've told us all the details.”
'There'll be only seven of you. Not enough. Don't go doing anything silly in my absence.”
Gareth said, “Don't worry. I'll see no one becomes stupid, and I'll ask Rhodri to help too.”
Ailbert laughed. “Rhodri's too engrossed with young Bran to do much helping; still, you can ask.”
Huw and Rhodri set off for Londinium the next day. Ailbert had not been back to the south since their escape and he felt a bit apprehensive. Dera suggested he dye his hair again because, although it had been a couple of years since he left, his ash blonde hair was extremely unusual and people might not have forgotten it.
Since the Romans had arrived in Britannia, the roads had become a lot safer. The patrols the Phantom Army attacked actually had an effect on getting rid of the bandits that used to roam the countryside, preying on travellers. Nevertheless, Huw felt pleased to join another group of merchants heading to the city.
The journey took ten days. It was uneventful and in the mid-afternoon of the tenth day, Huw turned the horse into Treafon. They had hardly crossed the threshold when Gwen spotted them. She dropped the cloth she was carrying and ran to embrace them.
“Ailbert,” she said, hugging him. “You're a real man now. How is Awena?” Before Ailbert could answer, she turned to Huw. “How are Dera and the children?”
She called a boy over and told him to take the horse and wagon, and see it was fed and watered. She needed to talk to her brother and Ailbert. They stooped through the doorway into the house. As soon as they were inside, Gwen once again demanded answers to her questions.
“Awena has a baby now,” Ailbert told her. “She's handfasted to a young man called Rhodri. It's a good match and they're very happy together.”
Huw told of his family and how they had lost a baby. Gwen sympathised. She knew what it was like to lose a child. “But what of you, Ailbert? Have you no one you want to handfast?"
Ailbert shook his head. “I'm too busy for that. Perhaps sometime in the future.”
Gwen prepared a meal, and they continued talking into the night until Huw said they must go to bed as they needed to be in Londinium as early as possible the next morning.
Just after dawn the next day, they wended their way towards the city. It took a day for the journey and they had to stay the night at an inn before entering the city the next morning.
After the night at the inn, Huw led the oxen to the market and set out his wares under a sunny sky. The people in the city loved the silver and amber jewellery made by the silversmith in Pen Coed, as well as some he had them make from jet; the pair sold out of them very quickly.
Just before the last pieces went, Ailbert spotted a familiar figure: Maeve. He nudged Huw, who looked over at his sister, now a slave. She looked well, if unhappy. The man who had been her husband walked in front of her. The women who had once been her friends smirked as she passed.
Huw banged one fist into another. “If only I could get her out of here. I'd take her to Eberacum with us. Do you think it would be possible, Ailbert?”
Ailbert thought, then said, “Leave it with me, Huw. I'll think of something.”
A woman and her daughter passed Maeve, and laughed when they saw her. Ailbert recognised them as Annwyl, his previous owner and her daughter, Claudia, who had owned Awena. He pressed his lips together to prevent himself from saying something to her as they came over to look at the wares.
“Mater,” Claudia said, pointing, “do you think I could have this? It's very pretty, even if it is the work of barbarians.”
Annwyl smiled. “Yes, Claudia, of course you can.” She picked up the jet brooch set in a complex intertwining motif. “It's amazing how the barbarians make things so pretty when they have such little culture of their own.”
Ailbert frowned. This woman was a Briton herself, even if she was now also a Roman citizen. Had she forgotten her past? He bit his tongue. He must not allow himself to say anything to this woman. It would make her look at him more closely, and in spite of his dyed hair, he could not risk that.
Annwyl, still looking at the brooch, asked the price. She turned to Claudia and handed it to her. Looking in her purse, she handed the money over with a brief glance at Ailbert. She frowned and paused briefly. Ailbert's heart nearly stopped as he thought she had recognised him, but then she turned away and continued talking to Claudia.
As the pair left, Ailbert heard Annwyl say, “That young man—he reminds me of someone, but I can't think who. We don't know any barbarian merc
hants, so it must have been my imagination.”
“Of course we don't, Mater. I can't think why you think you know him.”
“No, of course not, dear. Now, what else did we want?”
The pair disappeared into the crowds, leaving Ailbert a bit shaken, but relieved his disguise had held.
Once he had sold all the goods he had brought along, Huw went to purchase things to take back. He had made a good profit on the amber and jet jewellery, and he decided to try to see if he could get more amber, along with other luxury goods. Ailbert went with him to learn more about the art of bargaining, but all the while he thought of ways to rescue Maeve.
20
Ailbert stayed awake most of the night, thinking. They stayed in an inn in Londinium, because the journey back to the village every evening would take far too long. By the beginning of the next day, he had an idea. He told Huw about it, and he agreed it could work, but how could they communicate the plan to Maeve?
Since Maeve could read, Ailbert decided that he would write a note and pass it to her secretly when he thought he would not be seen. It would rely on Maeve coming to the market again though, and the pair resolved to remain in Londinium until they saw her.
As luck would have it, Maeve was in the market the next day. It appeared she was a trusted slave and thus allowed to go into the town alone. She looked as if she were shopping for vegetables today and so Ailbert went to stand by her, pretending to look at the items in front of them.
He held the note firmly in his left hand and when Maeve put her right hand down by her side, he pressed the note into it, whispering, “Say nothing, Maeve. We're here to get you out.”
He had not looked away from the stall as he had said this, but Maeve looked quickly at him and her eyes widened in recognition. She screwed the note up so it would not be seen, and walked away with her purchases.
