Danger in the Wind (11 page)

“That’s an excellent idea. I’m going to have to be busy for the next day or two, and you’re bound to feel lonely without Lucius. The only thing is, Baca’s not really very experienced as a lady’s maid. Can you teach her what her duties will be?”

“Oh, yes. I know what Sosia does for me at home.”

“Fine. And if you’ve any sewing to do, Baca’s a good neat hand with a needle.”

“Thank you.” Vitellia smiled at me. “I know you’re busy. I’ll try not to be too much of a nuisance.”

“You’re not a nuisance at all. And I’ve got a treat lined up for you—for both of us. You know my sister Albia has a town house in Eburacum?”

“Yes, Lucius and I stayed in it on our way up from Londinium. Albia wasn’t there herself though.”

“She’s there now, and she’s invited us to go and join her for a couple of days. I think it would be fun. What do you say?”

Her face lit up. “That would be really nice.”

“Good. We’ll leave tomorrow first thing.”

“And we may see Lucius there too. Wouldn’t that be wonderful?”

Oh, wonderful! But I could hardly tell her my brother was about the last person I’d wish to meet in Eburacum. “I shouldn’t count on it. My guess is he’ll be sent up north to check on the soldier that was killed here yesterday.”

“Won’t he call in to see Albia on his way?”

“It’s unlikely. He makes it a rule not to visit her if he’s on an assignment, in case it might be dangerous for her if he’s seen at her house. Anyhow, you and I and Albia can have a good time without him. We can all go shopping together. Baca, we’ll need to take a maid with us. You can come if you like.”

“Ooh, yes please, Mistress. I’ve never been to Eburacum.”

As I left them, I caught the words, “Told you it’d be all right!” and some girlish giggling. I felt relieved. I’d expected to have trouble finding something for Vitellia to do, but now she had a companion she liked. When we got to Eburacum there’d be time enough to tell her I wasn’t travelling straight back to the mansio, and give her the choice of coming with me to Jovina’s or staying at my sister’s. With a bit of luck she’d stay with Albia.

Next I decided I must go and have a look at Moon-cloud, who had finally produced a lovely ink-black foal in the night. As I leaned over the fence, Hawk stepped up beside me.

He nodded towards the horses. “That’s a pleasant sight, isn’t it? The foal looks a fine little fellow.”

“Good morning, Hawk. Yes, he does. Did you have a quiet night?”

“Reasonably. I even managed to get some sleep after our friend with the bandages settled down in the woods. And I’ve brought you good news. He’s gone this morning.”

“Thank the gods for that.”

“But I found tracks leading back here, fresh ones made in the night or early this morning, not left from yesterday afternoon. I think he was prowling around here before he left.”

“He was, fairly early in the night.” I told him about Taurus, and he was horrified.

“Gods, I’m sorry. I only went home for a couple of hours to catch up on some sleep, after he’d made himself a fire in the woods and apparently gone to sleep too. I was sure he’d stay put till morning.” He frowned. “He’s cleverer than I gave him credit for.”

“He couldn’t know you were following him, surely?”

“No, but he wasn’t taking any chances. Military training, I suppose. Tell Taurus I’m sorry, won’t you?”

“I will, but it can’t be helped, Hawk, you can’t stay up all night every night looking after us all; I know that. And the fellow has gone now, you say?”

“Yes, and before he went he had a wash in the river, and I noticed something unusual about him, something that might help you recognise him if you ever see him again.”

“I don’t think I want to see him again. But go on, tell me.”

“He took off the bandages from round his head, had a good wash, then put them on again. There was no sign at all of a head wound. But he’d a sizeable chunk missing from his right ear, an old cut that’s healed up but still visible.”

“So the bandages weren’t just to hide his face, but to make sure nobody saw his distinguishing mark. Interesting. And when he’d washed, he rode off straight away?”

“More or less. He hung about in the trees just off the road till Lucius left, and then he went back to fetch his horse, presumably to follow. Only it had mysteriously vanished.” He smiled briefly. “My son took it and hid it out of the way. We thought it might be safer for Lucius. Bandage-man wasn’t at all pleased when he realised he had no transport.”

“Oh, brilliant! What happened then?”

“He tried looking around for tracks, but that got him nowhere, so he set off to walk westward, the same direction as Lucius. My son followed him at a safe distance until well past the Oak Bridges turning, and then saw him stop a farm cart going further west and get a lift. We’ll be keeping an eye open in case he comes back, but I think he’s gone for good.”

“I agree, but I’ll make sure everyone stays on the alert. And thanks, Hawk, you and your son have done just the right thing. Let’s hope we’ve really seen the last of Portius now.”

“You’re on your way tomorrow, all being well?”

“That’s right, first thing.”

“Good. Take care then. And enjoy your trip.” With a brief wave, he turned on his heel and melted into the trees.

Chapter VIII

Eburacum was looking its best in the afternoon sunshine. The trees were in full leaf, the wider roads were busy and cheerful, and the little unpaved alleyways were mostly free of mud. The rivers flowed peacefully and hadn’t yet started to smell.

It isn’t large like Londinium, though it always seems big to me compared with Oak Bridges. Nor is it one of those beautifully planned places with regular streets and decorative temples. It’s a soldiers’ town, dominated by the solid bulk of the legionary fortress. The higgledy-piggledy streets around it are home to the men’s families and the civilians who provide for them. There’s a regular market, so the forum is a reasonable size, and more and more shops are springing up. From bootmakers to brothel-keepers, from coppersmiths to cloth-sellers, they’re all there trying to turn a more or less honest denarius.

Albia’s house was among a group of pleasant civilian town-houses, quite central, not far from the larger of the two rivers. It was well built and roomy, with a lovely little courtyard-garden at its centre. As Brutus led our two carriages through the streets, Vitellia was gazing out like an excited child, and I was in no position to mock, because so was I.

Albia was at the door to greet us as we pulled up. We jumped down, not waiting for the carriage steps to be unfolded for a more dignified descent, and she gathered me and Vitellia into her arms and hugged us.

“Welcome to you both! Relia, how lovely to see you looking so well. And Vitellia, I’ve been longing to meet the girl who’s finally going to persuade our brother to settle down.”

My sister is one of those people who makes everyone feel at home straight away, and settling in didn’t take us long. She gave Brutus directions about stabling for the horses and accommodation for the drivers and guards. He himself was staying overnight with an old army comrade at the fort. Then she led Vitellia and me out to the courtyard. Her steward Crotus brought us a jug of cool white wine, while his wife showed Baca where to unpack our things and we sat and relaxed. Really, I thought as I sank onto a cushioned couch, I don’t understand why travelling makes one so tired, when all that’s involved in sitting in a carriage and letting horses and men do the work. But it felt wonderful to be at rest now.

Vitellia, having stayed at the house already, was immediately at ease, calling the servants by name and needing no help to find her way around. As we chatted she grew livelier than she’d been since she came to the Oak Tree. That was my sister’s doing. Albia always brings out the best in people.

Of course she asked whether Albia had heard from our brother, but she hadn’t. “Lucius doesn’t stay here when he’s on an investigation, and often if he’s very busy he doesn’t even send me a note.” Seeing the child’s disappointment, she hastened to change the subject. “I hope you’ve got your shopping lists ready. Tomorrow’s a market day.”

Vitellia brightened at once. “Oh, that’s lucky. Is it a big market?”

“Quite big, yes, though I don’t suppose it’s as grand as in Londinium. The country people bring in their produce from round about, but there’s plenty to see from further afield as well. Traders come up from the south, and boats bring goods all the way up the river from the German Ocean.”

“I love markets,” Vitellia said. “And my papa gave me some money for my holiday. I haven’t been able to spend any of it yet.”

“I’m sure we can put that right,” Albia smiled. “You’ll find lots of things to buy. And you could get a present for your papa, perhaps?”

“Oh, yes, and Mama too. And something for Lucius. And then there’s my little brother…” She chattered on for a while, and I was pleased to see her so animated. But I wanted to talk to Albia privately, and my sister must have realised it.

“You don’t have to wait till the morning to see a little of the town,” she said to Vitellia. “Aurelia and I have some family business to discuss that you’ll find extremely boring. Would you like to take a short walk by the river before dinner?”

“How lovely! Can I really? And can I take Baca? She’s never been here before.”

“Good idea. And you’ll also take a man along, of course. Respectable women don’t go out unescorted in a garrison town. Crotus’ son will go with you.”

We gave the three of them stern instructions about not venturing into the poorer areas and on no account going into wine shops. They all agreed solemnly, and set off in high spirits.

Albia and I sat down again in the courtyard. “Now, Relia, I could tell you’ve got all sorts of news, and I’m dying to know what’s been happening to you.”

“It’s amazing. I’ve been busier these last three days than in the whole of the last three months. I don’t know where to start.”

“With Arpinum, of course. You mentioned it in your letter, and I remember well enough that it meant trouble. So what’s been going wrong?”

I told her about Terentius’ death and his alarming locked box, the runaway slave’s murder, Portius and his lies. Finally I showed her Jovina’s letter and told her about Lucius’ refusal to let me accept the party invitation. As I’d hoped, she agreed with me that I must ignore Lucius’ wishes if I was convinced Jovina really needed help.

“But you must promise to take care, Relia. Whatever mess Jovina’s landed herself in, don’t you get too involved. And come straight back here if things get nasty, or if it turns out to be a wild goose chase.”

“Thanks, Albia. I knew I could count on you.”

“Of course you can. If there’s anything you need, just tell me. There’s only one problem that I can see. Lucius is presumably in Isurium already. He’s going to be extremely angry when you arrive there. What if he sends you straight back to Oak Bridges?”

“I know. That’s the one major weakness in my plan. I’m relying on the fact that he won’t want a big public row, so whatever he does say to me will be in private. I’ll try to change his mind so he’ll let me stay, but even if I can’t, I’ll make sure he can’t send me home there and then, because there won’t be time for me to travel back here.”

She nodded. “You’ll aim to arrive late in the afternoon, too late to set off on the return journey? He won’t want you travelling the roads at night.”

“Exactly. So I’ll be able to stay at least one night at Jovina’s, which will give me time to find out what’s bothering her. I’ll go round telling everyone I’ve come specially for her party, and Lucius won’t want to send me home early because it’ll make him look bad in front of Jovina and Marcus and all the other officers.”

“You hope.” She smiled. “And I hope too.”

“I’ll manage somehow. I’m determined to go, and if I can’t make him see sense and I have to leave before the party, at least I’ll have done my best for Jovina.”

“Is Vitellia going with you, or does she want to come back to the farm with me? She’s welcome, if she’d rather do that. She seems a nice girl, a bit young, but no harm in her, and if she’s going to be one of the family I’d like to get to know her better.”

“Thanks, she’d probably much prefer to be with you, but I haven’t actually broached the subject yet.”

“Nor told her you’ve quarrelled with Lucius, presumably?”

“I didn’t want to upset her. You won’t say anything, will you?”

“What do you think? And maybe the thought of seeing Lucius very soon will make her want to tag along with you to Isurium.”

“I hadn’t thought of that. I’ll ask her tonight.”

Dinner was an excellent meal, roast kid in a damson sauce with cabbage, and some baked custard to follow. Vitellia was full of what she’d seen on her walk, and we all chatted happily about tomorrow’s shopping. Afterwards when we were finishing the last of the good Gaulish red wine I’d brought from the Oak Tree, I raised the subject of Jovina’s party and my trip to Isurium.

Vitellia took it in her stride. “Baca said you were planning to go to a party, and I saw the size of your travelling chest.” She smiled. “Would your cousin mind if I came with you? I’ve brought a tunic that I can wear to a party.”