by V. M. Sang
Ailbert eyed the young man. “Rees, please let me do my job. I need to sort the goods we bought before anything else. Huw will have me strung up if I don't get there to help him with the accounts.”
A sigh escaped Rees. “All right, then. But can we have a meeting soon?”
“I'll see about arranging one,” Ailbert promised and continued to where the wagons were standing.
“Didn't know you were so friendly with Rees,” Huw said as Ailbert approached.
“I'm not,” Ailbert replied flatly.
“He seemed anxious to greet you though.”
Ailbert shrugged. “He wants me to do something I've not got time for yet.”
“Like organise a new raid, I don't doubt,” Huw replied with a shake of his head.
Ailbert said nothing, but began to check through the goods.
Later that day, when they had stacked the goods, Ailbert went to see Rhodri and Awena. They were outside, playing with their son in the bright sunshine. The little boy gurgled with laughter as Rhodri tickled him.
“Ailbert,” Rhodri called. “Rees told me you were back. I understand you've brought more than goods this time.”
Ailbert grinned at his friend. “Huw's two sisters and nephews, no less,” he said. “Maeve we rescued from slavery and Gwen wanted to come with us. There's nothing left for her down there if all her family are up here, so she asked if she could come too.”
“It'll be a bit crowded in Huw and Dera's house now, until we can build houses for them, so why don't you come and stay with us?” Awena asked. “That 'd be all right, wouldn't it, Rhodri?”
Rhodri put the baby down and hugged his wife. “Of course it would. I'd love to have Ailbert stay.” He turned to his friend and his expression turned serious. “Rees is anxious to start raiding again.”
“I know. He approached me first thing this morning. I said I'd call a meeting soon.”
Ailbert did not call the meeting that day, nor the next. Maeve's words went round and round in his head. He kept seeing Flavius helping him when he broke his leg. Not only helping him, but keeping him at his house and paying for the doctor. No doubt, this act saved him from being a cripple for the rest of his life.
He thought about the fun he had with Sylvia and Quintus, and the talks he and she had. She seemed like a normal girl. Then he remembered the hostility of Octavia and Laurentius, and his anger grew again.
“All Romans aren't bad.” He heard Maeve's voice in his head and frowned. He had directed such hatred towards the Romans all his life, yet he was now feeling ambivalent.
The Roman soldiers had caused the death of his father and his removal from his family and friends, and he had thought of them as being the worst of the lot. Yet here was a Roman soldier being kind and caring for a total stranger, and one he considered a barbarian, too.
Fortunately, for him, Huw had decided to go to Eberacum before he had been able to arrange a meeting. He knew it was just putting off things, but he felt glad all the same.
“I think I'll take a gift for Sylvia and Octavia as thanks for what they did for me last winter,” he told Huw. “Also for Flavius. It was because of him that I got treatment to heal a broken leg; I might have become a cripple otherwise. Quintus and Laurentius too. What do you have that I can buy from you?”
Huw protested that Ailbert did not need to buy the goods, but Ailbert insisted. He did not want to eat into Huw's profits and so they agreed on cost price. He bought wine for Flavius, perfume for Octavia, jewellery for Sylvia, and a couple of small hunting bows for Quintus and Laurentius.
The two set off for Eberacum without a planned meeting of the Phantom Raiders, much to the disgust of Rees. The others understood the need for work to come first, but Rees went away scowling.
“I hope there's not going to be trouble from him,” Ailbert said anxiously to Gareth just before he left.
“I'll keep an eye on him,” promised the young man.
With that, Ailbert and Huw left for the city.
21
When Ailbert and Huw reached Eberacum, Huw told Ailbert he ought to give his thank-you gifts immediately.
Ailbert expressed confusion as to which entrance he should use. He was, after all, a trader so felt he ought to use the trader's entrance.
“Don't be silly, boy,” Huw told him. “You are not selling or delivering things. You were taken in as a guest and you are returning as a guest, with presents as thanks. You should use the vestibulum, as befits your status as a guest.”
Ailbert shrugged, but set off to Flavius' domus. As he walked, he grew more and more nervous. What if Octavia still felt the same way she had when he stayed there and refused his gift? What if Sylvia had been influenced by her mother and also refused his gift? He wanted to see Sylvia. They had got on very well when he had stayed there.
Shortly, he found himself standing in front of the domus. He knocked on the door and a slave he did not remember seeing before quickly answered.
“I've come to see the Dominus and Domina,” he told him. “I have gifts for them.”
The slave stood back to allow Ailbert room to enter, then said, “I'll go and see if the Domina will see you.” He disappeared, leaving Ailbert standing in the vestibulum.
Octavia soon appeared. She gave a stiff smile and told Ailbert to follow her into the atrium. She indicated a seat for him to take and then sat on another.
“I came to thank you for your kindness last winter when I broke my leg,” Ailbert said, smiling. “I've brought gifts to show my appreciation. Something for each of you—you, Flavius, and your children.”
“That's very kind of you,” said Octavia, but offered no smile. “My husband insisted you stay so the doctor could set your leg properly. I trust it's better now.” She looked at his leg as she said this, but as it was encased in breeches, she could see nothing.
“Yes, thank you. My leg has set straight and I have no trouble with it. All thanks to your husband and the doctor. I could not allow such kindness to pass without showing my thanks.” He reached into the bag he carried and pulled out the container of perfume he had bought for Octavia. It was in a beautiful blue glass bottle, the bottle alone was worth a lot of money.
He handed it to Octavia, who pulled out the stopper and sniffed. “Why, it's a lovely scent.” Her eyes widened as she looked at Ailbert. “And the bottle is beautiful. Such fine glass … I've not seen any like this in Eberacum.”
“It came from Londinium and was made in Rome as I understand it.”
Just then, a door opened and Sylvia came out. She saw Ailbert and came over to greet him.
Ailbert's stomach turned as he watched her approach. What should he say?
Octavia saved him by turning to her daughter and telling her of the presents Ailbert had brought.
Sylvia smiled at the young man. “Presents? Why have you brought us presents?”
Octavia replied before Ailbert could regain his composure. “Ailbert has come to thank us for our help last winter. You remember him, don't you? The young man with the broken leg who stayed here?”
Sylvia’s eyes twinkled. “Of course, Mater. He was here for several weeks.”
Ailbert reached into the bag and brought out a small box, and handed it to Sylvia, who opened it with an exclamation of delight.
“It's beautiful, Ailbert.” She lifted a silver and amber bracelet from the box.
“Let me put it on for you,” Ailbert said, and she passed the bracelet to him and held out her arm. “It looks beautiful on you. I'm glad I chose that one. It's delicate, just like you.”
Octavia cleared her throat and broke the spell that had begun to encircle the young people. They became aware of the world once more, and Sylvia sat down next to her mother and studied the bracelet on her arm.
“I'll go and get the boys,” Octavia said, rising. “You can give them their presents as well. I'm afraid my husband is not here at present to receive his. You can give it to one of the slaves. I take it the wine is for him?”
She returned with the them far too quickly for Ailbert's liking. He had been unable to say much more to Sylvia than a polite enquiry as to her health.
Ailbert handed over the hunting bows. Even Laurentius was delighted. Both boys rushed away to try them out.
“You need to practice hard,” Ailbert called after them.
“Will you come and help us?” Quintus asked, stopping and turning round.
“I'm afraid I have to go and help Huw in the market,” he replied, “so I can't come now. Perhaps another time?” Ailbert looked at Octavia for confirmation that this would be all right.
The Domina nodded her agreement and Ailbert rose to go. He took his leave of the two women, and his hand lingered a little longer on Sylvia’s as they shook hands.
She gave him a lovely smile and said, “I hope I see you when you return to help Quintus and Laurentius with their bow practice. I enjoyed our talks last winter.”
Ailbert returned her smile. “So did I.” With that, he left to make his way back to Huw in the marketplace.
“You were long enough,” Huw commented.
“I had a brief chat with them all, except for Flavius. He wasn't there.”
“How did Octavia react?”
“She was a bit cool at first, but she liked the perfume and it seemed to thaw her. Sylvia was her usual, delightful self. She really is a very pretty girl.”
Huw stopped setting out his wares to glance sharply at Ailbert. He hoped the young man was not falling for this Roman girl. With her mother being so certain of the inferiority of 'barbarians', he was sure nothing good could come of it.
His thoughts on that matter stopped when people started to shop. There were many customers this morning and trade was brisk. The olive oil and wine, in particular, were in great demand and so it was not until much later that he had a chance to talk to Ailbert.
“This girl,” he said casually. “I'm afraid you might be in for a disappointment if you allow your admiration to continue.”
Ailbert looked at him in surprise. “She's a Roman. She's a pretty girl and I like to look at pretty girls, but she's a Roman. You know I hate the Romans. She's not even a Romanised Briton, but from Rome itself.”
Huw looked at him disbelievingly, but let the matter drop. Ailbert's answer did not stop his anxiety though. He recognised the look in the young man's eyes when he mentioned Sylvia. He had been there himself when he first met Dera. Still, it was none of his business.
They had a successful day but, even so, Huw had not sold all his goods. He decided they would stay until the next day.
“If it's anything near as good as today,” he told Ailbert, “we'll make an excellent profit. Enough to fill your wagon as well as mine when we next go to Londinium. We're on the way up, young man.”
The next morning, soon after they had set out the stall, Sylvia walked by. She had a slave boy with her to carry her purchases. Ailbert glanced round but could see no sign of Octavia. Sylvia turned to look at the wares on the stall, then looked up and saw Ailbert. Her eyes opened wide as she feigned surprise upon seeing him there. He noticed she still wore the bracelet he gave her.
She fingered it as she eyed the wares on display. “I didn't know you were still here,” she said softly, looking away and not meeting his eyes.
Ailbert felt familiar butterfly wings fluttering in his stomach as she spoke.
“We hadn't sold everything so we decided to stay another day,” he told her, drinking in how the sunlight played with the auburn highlights in her luxurious hair.
“Mother loves the perfume you gave her,” she said, picking up a string of amber beads. “And Quintus and Laurentius are most anxious that you come to show them how to use their bows properly.” She laughed and met his eyes for the first time. “They've been frightening the slaves because of the way their arrows fly in random directions.”
On hearing her laughter, Ailbert's heart did a flip. It sounded like the tinkling of a brook over stones. “I'll try to get away later and come and give them a lesson,” he promised. 'If that will be alright with your mother, that is.”
“I'm sure Mater will be delighted if you can teach them to shoot straight.”
“Excuse me, are you serving?”
The voice brought the two young people back to the present. Ailbert had felt as if the world had shrunk to include just the two of them.
“I'll perhaps see you later then, when I come to train your brothers,” he said with hope in his heart.
“I hope so,” Sylvia responded and disappeared into the crowd.
“Now, what can I do for you, sir?” Ailbert asked.
Late in the afternoon, Huw had sold all his goods. He decided it was too late to go back to Pen Coed that evening and so he and Ailbert booked into the inn for another night. Ailbert told Huw he had agreed to give Sylvia's brothers their first lesson in using the bow.
Arriving at the domus, Ailbert knocked on the door. The same slave as the previous day opened it and bade him to enter.
As he entered the atrium, Quintus saw him and ran over. “Have you come to teach us how to use the bows?”
Ailbert smiled at the young lad. “Yes, I have. Do you have time now?”
“Oh, yes. I'll go and find Laurentius. Wait here. I won't be long.”
Ailbert stood by the impluvium, gazing into the water when he noticed another figure reflected in the pool. He looked up and saw Sylvia standing next to him.
“So you’ve come to give the boys a lesson,” she said, sitting on the edge of the impluvium and trailing her fingers in the water.
Ailbert regarded her intently. She focused her gaze on the water and refused to look at him. Had he done something to upset her?
She took her fingers out of the water and turned her eyes up to meet his. “I would like to talk with you after the lesson. I've missed the conversations we had when you stayed here.”
“I would like that very much,” Ailbert affirmed.
Further conversation ended when Quintus and Laurentius came rushing across the atrium, clutching their bows.
“We're ready, Ailbert,” Laurentius called, his original hostility forgotten. “Where's the best place for us to practice?”
Ailbert tore himself away from Sylvia and went over to the boys. She rose and followed.
“We ought to go somewhere where there's no danger of a stray arrow hitting someone,” Ailbert told them.
They ended up in the peristylium. Sylvia trailed them and warned the slaves to stay clear of the area where they were about to practise.
All the time the boys practised their archery, Ailbert was aware of Sylvia watching. The boys made some progress but after an hour, Ailbert told them they had done enough for one day. They packed their bows away and disappeared, chatting about how they would become the best hunters in Britannia.
Ailbert turned to Sylvia and sat beside her. “They did very well for a first time.”
“You're a very good teacher. You showed extreme patience. I'd never have been able to keep cool like you did when they kept making mistakes.”
“Losing my temper with them would have made them make more mistakes … out of anxiety.”
Ailbert and Sylvia talked for a long time. If anyone asked Ailbert later what they had talked about, he would not have been able to tell them, but he enjoyed Sylvia's company so much, it wouldn't have mattered what the conversation was about, just that it continued.
Eventually though, Ailbert noticed it had started to get dark and he left to return to the inn and Huw.
Huw and Ailbert left Eberacum for Pen Coed the following morning. Ailbert looked to see if Sylvia came to the market again, but he was disappointed. He could see no sign of the girl. He had one last look around the forum, then took his place next to Huw.
They arrived back home a
nd unhitched the oxen, and fed and watered them. When they had finished, Ailbert checked that Eira had been looked after properly; he had asked Gareth to see to her while he was away.
Gareth spotted him and came ove.
“How's Eira?” Ailbert asked.
“She's just fine,” replied his friend cheerily. “Come and see for yourself.”
Eira trotted over when they approached, followed closely by the chestnut stallion, Tân; seeing Ailbert, he hoped for a titbit.
Ailbert reached into his pocket and pulled out a shrunken pair of apples. They were the only ones left from last year's store. He held one out to each of the horses and they ate them with gusto. He patted both and turned to Gareth. “So, what's been happening here in the last few days?”
“Not much. Work, hunting, the usual sort of things. Rhodri's taken up with Awena and the baby, Rees is still agitating for more raids on the Romans, all that sort of thing.”
“Rees again,” Ailbert murmured, his eyes narrowing. “He's so keen to kill Romans, I could almost believe he's been through the same sort of thing I went through.”
“No, he's just a hot-head.”
Ailbert decided he would call another meeting of the Phantom Raiders for the following evening and see about planning the next raid.
As the sun went down the following day, the eight remaining raiders met in the usual clearing in the forest.
“About time you got round to talking about another raid, Ailbert,” Rees said irritably. “Some of us have been thinking you'd got cold feet about it.”
“As you should realise, Rees,” Ailbert replied, “there's work to do as well as raiding. And if we raid too regularly, the Romans will anticipate our attacks. As it is, they don't know if we're going to pull one or if we've given up. That confusion works to our advantage.”
Rees snorted, but remained silent while Ailbert told them of the next attack. He had planned this one before he and Huw went to Londinium, and he discovered, while in Eberacum, that the place he thought would be an excellent ambush was on the route of the next day's patrol.
