Danger in the Wind (35 page)

“If he didn’t call out, what made you go into his room?”

“It was when the daylight came. My master had told me I could go to bed at sunrise. So I wanted to get permission to leave, but I knew he’d ask me whether I’d checked that the patients were all right before I went to bed; he always does. So I went into Fabianus’ room and he was sound asleep at last, and then into the deputy commander’s. There was blood everywhere, and his wrist was all slit open. I fetched the master and he was furious. He said I should have realised Lord Mallius was trying to cut his wrist. But I didn’t hear a thing.”

“You said people came to see Mallius. Who were they? Did any outsiders come in?”

“I don’t think so. There was the commander of course, he came just before the moon rose, but he’s not an outsider. And the deputy commander’s son, Philippus, I think they call him, but he’s not an outsider either.”

“Maybe ‘outsider’ is the wrong word. I mean anyone who wouldn’t normally have been in the hospital at night-time. Trebonius, Philippus…anyone else?”

“Oh, I see. I don’t think so. There was a guard in the waiting area. He might know for sure.”

I said gently, “Then
you
don’t know for sure? Is it possible, just possible, you fell asleep for a little while?”

“Well…I did get very sleepy. But it wouldn’t have been for long, only a few heartbeats.” He looked frightened. “You won’t say anything to my master?”

“I won’t breathe a word. You’ve been such a help to me, the last thing I want is to get you into trouble.”

“Have I? I’m glad. Now I’d best be getting back, or he’ll be grumbling.”

“And not a word about this conversation to anyone, all right?” I tossed him a copper coin.

From his joyful reaction, it could have been a gold piece. “Thank you, Mistress. That’s the first money I’ve ever owned.”

“Take care of it then. Off you go.”

I sat for a while pondering what he’d said. Two people had visited Mallius in the hospital during the night. Could either of them have tried to kill him? I thought I could rule out Philippus, not so much because of his filial loyalty, which was dubious where Mallius was concerned, but because he of all people would be bound to know his father was left-handed. If he’d planned to fake Mallius’ suicide he’d have done it properly. Besides, I really didn’t believe he had killed his mother, and I felt very strongly that Jovina’s death and Mallius’ near-death were linked.

But Trebonius…that was a different box of beetles altogether. He was definitely under suspicion of killing Jovina. He’d been seen in the woods alone at the party, he’d been missing from the party field for a substantial time when he claimed to be taking Fulvina home. And he had a motive, or rather a choice of two: either he wanted to be Jovina’s lover and she refused him, or, more likely in my opinion, she desperately wanted an affair with him but he didn’t.

And if I was wrong in concluding the murder and the attempted murder were committed by the same person, Trebonius had yet another reason for wanting Mallius dead: to avenge Jovina, after he’d heard Mallius confess to killing her. Making it appear as a suicide was a clever way to leave himself completely clear of suspicion. Add to all that the fact that Trebonius and Mallius had been rivals over many years. Perhaps Trebonius had been biding his time till he could dispose of a troublesome enemy, and had seized the chance with both hands.

It looked an overwhelming case. And yet it failed to convince me completely. Right from the start of this investigation there’d been two runners in the field, the doctor and the commander. The doctor was still in the running, it seemed to me. Pythis had told me he’d been to the party field, and Jovina herself had talked about the possibility of renewing their love affair. And then there were the pieces of broken glass in the grass where her body had been found. Had she taken his beautiful present so they could drink together at their secret tryst…and had he smashed it in a fit of temper?

We’d already found two powerful motives that could have induced him to kill Jovina: discovering about his unborn baby, or becoming enraged because she wouldn’t run away with him. And the same logic applied with him as with Trebonius: if he hadn’t killed Jovina and believed that Mallius had, there was an additional motive. And there was one more thing to bear in mind. Of all the people in the hospital last night, he was the one with most opportunity to arrange Mallius’ “suicide,” especially since he’d insisted on remaining on night duty even though it wasn’t his turn.

If it hadn’t been for little Onion’s finding Mallius in time, one of those two would have got away with murder.

Chapter XXIV

I strolled over to the main gate with the excuse of checking whether Lucius or Quintus, or anyone at all, had sent me a message. They hadn’t, but to be honest my main reason was the need to be outdoors. All this talk of the hospital at night, with somebody creeping about bent on murder, left me feeling anxious not to be cooped up in the office and in need of an outdoor breeze and some ordinary, friendly sunshine. I was unlucky there, because the sky had clouded over and a blustery wind blew, but it did at least provide fresh air.

Centurion Ennius was still in command at the gate. I asked him how things were going.

“All according to plan, Aurelia,” he said with an over-hearty smile. “Don’t worry, we have everything under control.” That’s the standard answer that officers always produce to reassure civilians, which it usually doesn’t.

“Jolly good,” I answered. His meaningless reassurance deserved an equally meaningless response.

But then came something more interesting. “The hostages are all safely under guard now. They tried to get that native leader Brennus, but he’s vanished. Picked up one of his sons though. The commander reckons the natives will soon come to their senses.”

It’s Trebonius who needs to come to his senses, I thought, and set off to visit Mallius.

The deputy commander’s house was considered large by the standards of the fort, but seemed small by comparison with civilian accommodation. Outside it stood a huge soldier with muscles on his muscles and an unwelcoming expression. He eyed me suspiciously and grunted, “The commander’s resting. He ain’t seeing nobody.”

I debated correcting his bad grammar, but decided against. “He’ll see me, because he sent a message asking me to come. I’m his wife’s cousin, Aurelia Marcella.”

He turned and hammered on the door, which was opened by another man, even larger and surlier.

“Here, Ajax,” the outdoor guard said. “This woman says the deputy commander wants to see her. I doubt it myself, she ain’t his type. But go and ask him, will you?”

“All right.” He shut the door, leaving us outside, but was back very soon, and addressed me with what, for him, must pass for politeness. “He’s expecting a Mistress Aurelia Marcella. You got any identification? Can’t be too careful, the way things are.”

“Identification? Don’t be ridiculous. Show me in at once. If Mallius doesn’t recognise me you can show me out again.”

“Well, I suppose so. Come along o’ me then.”

He led me into the main room, where Mallius himself reclined on a reading-couch. I was pleasantly surprised by his appearance. His wrist was still bandaged, but he wore a clean tunic and was freshly shaved. And he wasn’t drunk. The room was neat and clean too. I wasn’t surprised, though, to see that the table beside him held a wine-jug and beakers.

“Aurelia, come in and sit down.” He glanced at the guard. “Thanks, Ajax, I’ll call you if I need you. While Mistress Aurelia’s here I don’t want to be disturbed by anyone. Understand?”

“Sir.” He saluted and left.

“What’s all the security for?” I asked him. “You’re completely free again now, aren’t you? That’s what Trebonius told me.”

“Oh yes, quite free. And I know I owe that to you. You stood by me and wouldn’t take my silly rant of last night seriously. So thank you.”

I felt embarrassed, and could only come up with the inadequate reply, “You’re welcome.”

“I’ll explain everything properly. First let me pour you some wine.” He filled a mug slightly awkwardly with his right hand, and I took it from him and sat down on a stool near his couch. He raised his beaker to me. “To your health, Aurelia.”

“And to yours, Marcus. I must say you’re looking better than you did this morning. How are you feeling now?”

“Not too bad. My wrist is sore, and I’ve a thumping headache, which I know I could cure with plenty of wine, but I want to keep my wits about me, so I’m not going to drink much.”

“Good. I mean good that you’re not drinking much. I’m surprised to see you here, actually. I thought you’d take the chance to rest in the hospital, at least for today.”

He began to shake his head, and winced with the pain. “I wanted to be out of the place. It scared me, I’ll tell you that for nothing. Gods, I’m glad you’re here, Aurelia. Someone I can talk to. Someone I can trust.” He stopped and looked at me keenly. “I can trust you, can’t I? I want your help, and I’d like your friendship, too.”

I honestly didn’t know how to answer. After the way he’d treated Jovina during the past few months, could he really expect me to be his friend ever again? And if he did, was I prepared to be?

“I’ll help get justice for Jovina,” I said. “You didn’t kill her, and I’ll find out who did. You can trust me for that.”

“Thank you. No, I didn’t kill her, although I didn’t treat her well these last few months. I’m as anxious as you are to avenge her.” He took a small sip of wine. “I think I know who did murder her, and because of that somebody tried to kill me last night in the hospital. It was meant to look like suicide, but I assure you it wasn’t.”

“I know. A left-handed man would never have cut his left wrist.”

He let out a huge sigh of relief. “You realised that? I was hoping and praying that you would. It’s the strongest proof I have that I didn’t try to kill myself.”

“Were you awake at all last night? For instance, when somebody came into your room and opened your vein?”

“Yes, I was. Half-awake anyway. It’s all nixed up in my head. At first I was too drunk to be aware of anything. I know I had some vivid dreams, very strange but mostly not unpleasant. Jovina was in one of them, she was down by the river, and I was with her…” He stopped.

I must steer him away from this sad subject. “Did you dream about anyone in the hospital?”

“Once or twice, and I thought I was truly awake, only I couldn’t move or speak, and I got confused. Then in the last of the dreams, I felt a pain in my wrist. I thought it was part of the dream to begin with. It didn’t hurt much.”

“And you think that was when someone was opening your vein?”

“I’m certain of it. I came partly awake. I didn’t know where I was, I only knew I felt sick and thirsty, and someone was holding my wrist and cutting it.”

“Gods, I’m not surprised you’re glad to be away from there. What did you do?”

“Nothing at all. Although I know now that I was half-awake, at the time I thought I was dreaming and I felt too weak to struggle. Someone had put a pillow over my mouth—not my nose, just my mouth, so I could still breathe but not call out. And I couldn’t see much, it was very dark. There was only a faint glimmer of light from the window, and the man was in silhouette.”

“You can’t even remember whether he was tall or short, thin or fat?”

“No. And although I could hear what he said to me, it was in a soft whisper, so I wouldn’t know his voice again.”

“What did he say? Can you remember?”

“I’ll never forget it. ‘We both know who murdered your wife. You should have kept your eyes shut and your mouth shut. You will pay the price, and I will risk the wrath of the Erinyes.’”

I shivered in spite of the room’s warmth and the bright daylight outside. The Erinyes, the Daughters of Night…their name alone seemed to bring dread into the house. My mind was filled with the ugly shapes of the three terrifying winged goddesses whose job is to punish wrongdoers by making them ill, even driving them mad. And their torments last for ever…

“Diana preserve us from them,” I prayed, and the dreadful images faded. “What happened then?”

“The pain was sharp and short, soon over, and I felt blood starting to flow. But I was too tired and confused to think properly, and I didn’t realise I was in danger from it. It still seemed to be a dream, and I thought, if I just lie here and keep still, soon I’ll wake up and find this never happened. Of course I realise now what he was trying to do. He could just as well have cut my throat to kill me. It would have been quicker, but it would look like a murder, whereas this way people would think I’d committed suicide.”

“Yes, I understand that much. Whoever murdered Jovina wanted to pin the blame on you, making it look as if you had killed yourself in a fit of remorse. But what did he mean about you keeping your eyes and mouth shut?”

“He must have thought I saw him killing Jovina down by the river.”

“And did you?”

“No, of course not. If I’d seen that, I’d have stopped it.”

“You weren’t all that close to the river, Marcus. We had people watching, and nobody saw you by the bank. You were also pretty drunk.”

“But not blind, and not so completely incapable that I couldn’t have done something to save my wife.”