Shadows in the Night (42 page)

Quintus said, “There were about two hundred of them. What could we have done?”

“Something. You could have done
something!
We all could—we shouldn’t have just stood there and watched.”

“It’s horrible!” My words were so inadequate. There were no words.

Quintus was talking gently, still standing beside Hawk. “No, there was no way any of us could have saved him. It would have ended with us getting killed, and the lad would have died just the same. We didn’t realise it was your boy. Only when I saw your face just now, then I knew.”

“When did they catch him?” I asked.

“Some time this afternoon, I suppose.” He rubbed a hand across his eyes. “I should have taken better care of him, not made him go out in the woods on his own.”

“He wanted to look for Titch,” I said. “You couldn’t have stopped him, you know you couldn’t. This is all so awful for you, Hawk. Don’t make it even worse by thinking it was your fault. None of it was.”

“It’s all so pointless!” He almost shouted the words, and raised his head, staring at us, challenging, blaming, I don’t know what. He was hurting and he was angry, and there was nothing I could think of to make the pain or the anger any less.

“May the gods witness,” he growled, “I swear by Epona’s holy name, I’ll kill their Shadow of Death, if it’s the last thing I do! And as many of his men as I can find! I swear it.”

“Tomorrow we’ll do it,” Quintus told him. “And if we take Vitalis alive, he’s yours to do as you like with.”

“Good.”

“We’re having a war council now, to work out the details. Come and help us plan.”

“No,” he muttered. “I’ll be with you tomorrow, but I can’t sit still now and just talk. I need to be out doing something.”

“Can you help us find their hideout?” I suggested. “Junius told us it’s called ‘the house in the rock.’ But we don’t know where it is.”

“I know somewhere that would fit the description,” he said slowly. “It would make an ideal place, big enough to conceal a whole war-band, and yet quite innocent-looking from outside. I’ll take a look at it tonight.”

“Is it near here?” Quintus demanded.

“About six miles, I think.”

“But it’s still dangerous,” I said. “And in the dark….Why not wait till daylight, then we’ll all be there with you.”

“I’ll be safe enough. I know every yard of these woods, and if you’re going to strike tomorrow, we need to know the exact lie of the land. I’ll meet you in the morning, at the holly-bush where that small track runs from the road to the Druids’ clearing.” He stood up, strong now and grim-faced. “And if there are any Shadow-men still loose in the woods, I can start to take a blood-price for my son.”

As he turned to stalk out, Titch burst into the room, his face full of horror.

“Hawk! They’re saying Teilo is dead, the Druids killed him. Is it true?”

Hawk nodded. “They caught him in the woods. He was out looking for you.” He gazed at the stricken boy, hard-faced. He was a fair-minded man, I knew, and he was struggling not to blame Titch outright for Teilo’s death.

Titch was fighting back tears. “Oh, I’m so sorry! I’d give anything for it not to have happened. If I’d known, I’d never have gone away, I’d have stayed here and let them catch me instead. We were blood brothers.”

Hawk’s eyes sharpened. “You took the oath?”

Titch held his left hand out under the lamplight. Across the palm was a livid red knife-scar, not fully healed yet.

“I didn’t know,” Hawk said.

“It was the day of the storm.”

Hawk glanced down at his own left hand; perhaps there was a scar there, from his own boyhood, but only the eyes of memory could see it now. He looked up again at Titch.

“So that was why he was so set on finding you. He was honour bound.”

“I’d have done the same for him, Hawk. I would!”

“I know, boy.” Suddenly the tracker sank down on a couch, and putting his head in his hands, began to sob. Titch sat down close to him, and Hawk blindly reached out and put an arm around his shoulders. Quintus and I left them alone.

We rejoined the others, and to fight off the sadness that threatened us, we made ourselves very brisk and businesslike, getting on with our plans for catching Vitalis. It would all be fairly straightforward if Hawk could indeed pinpoint the Shadow-men’s headquarters for us. We had enough men to capture Vitalis, given that we’d have the element of surprise on our side. But if the tracker didn’t find the exact place, we’d have to spread ourselves out in groups, making enquiries about Vitalis and those of his followers we knew by name. That would take much longer, and require more men, in which case we would send Secundus to Eburacum with a letter from Quintus, asking the garrison again for help.

By about two hours after midnight we were all dropping with tiredness. We changed the sentries outside, and Quintus and Secundus threw dice for who was going to take first watch. Quintus lost, which meant I went to bed alone. I was too excited to sleep much, and glad enough to be up and about well before it was light.

Chapter XXVIII

By dawn the wind was blowing from the west, bringing low cloud and rain. Not the weather I’d normally choose for a woodland expedition; but the wet ground would show tracks to perfection, so I was in a buoyant mood as I helped Albia serve everyone with bread and cheese and watered wine, except Quintus, who was sleeping late after his watch.

Two couriers from Eburacum rode through early, bringing a tale of two more murders just outside Oak Bridges, but not the usual sort. The victims weren’t Roman travellers, they were two armed natives in war-gear, and they’d each been stabbed through the neck and left in the middle of the road. Hawk’s work, for sure; we all cheered the news.

I was on my way to wake Quintus so we could give everyone a final briefing, when Carina appeared.

“Mistress, good news. The army have finally got off their backsides. There’s a centurion with six soldiers outside just arrived.”

“At last!” I felt a surge of relief. “Help from Eburacum! I knew Lucius would send men to us soon. I’ll come straight away.”

I almost ran outside, and there in the drizzle was a smart centurion in good scale armour, and behind him stood six well-turned-out legionaries armed to the teeth. They looked so solidly reassuring, I could have hugged them. The officer saluted me. “Centurion Mallius Paulus, at your service. And you’re Mistress Aurelia Marcella?”

“I am. And by the gods, you’re a welcome sight! Have you come from Eburacum?”

“That’s right. These are bad times. The commander reckons you can do with some protection around here.”

“Excellent! Won’t you and your men come inside out of the rain?”

He shook his head. “No such luck, I’m afraid. We’ve been sent here for two reasons, and both of them mean we’re going to get soaked in the good old Brigantian weather. First, as I say, to protect you.” He swung round to face his men. “Right lads—let’s make the place secure. At the double!” The soldiers ran to take up positions all round our fence.

“You needn’t worry any more,” Mallius smiled. “I’m posting my men on guard around your compound, and closing all gates into the property.” Even as he said it, one of the legionaries shut the big front gate with a bang.

There was something not right here. “We’ll be extremely glad of extra guards at night,” I said. “But during the day we’re safe enough, and we’ve got to keep the mansio open for travellers.”

“I’m afraid that’s impossible,” Mallius answered. “Because our other job here is to make sure you all stay safe inside the stockade today. There’s a big military operation starting any time now, in the woods, rounding up the natives who’ve been causing all the trouble. We know who they are. We’ll capture them for you. But it’ll be dangerous for any civilians to be caught in the fighting—so we’re keeping you here for now.”

“You’re putting us under curfew, in effect.” My uneasiness grew. “Is that really necessary?”

“Hardly that! Just a bit of inconvenience for your own protection. It won’t be for long. All right?”

Not all right at all! But by now both the gates were shut, and his men were posted round the fence. And too late, I’d seen what was happening. They’d taken us prisoner! In the blink of an eye we’d gone from being free agents, going about our business, in touch with the outside world, to being penned inside our stockade, isolated from our customers, our friends, and any possibility of outside help. And all achieved without a drawn weapon or a drop of spilt blood—without even a threat!

I could have kicked myself. How could I have let myself be trapped so easily? And how could I warn everyone what was happening? They’d realise what the situation was eventually, but we needed to do something fast, very fast, before more Shadow-men could turn up. Seven of them could not kill us all—but they could hold us here till reinforcements arrived. And then….

“Now,” Mallius said cheerfully, “I’ll accept your kind offer to get out of the rain. These lads can take care of things for a while. There have to be some privileges of rank, don’t you think?”

Oh no you don’t, sunshine—not yet. We need time to make some plans. Which means I’ve got to get a message to the others, and keep you outside for a bit, while they decide what to do. I looked round and spotted Titch across the forecourt, standing with the other horse-boys, staring round-eyed at the soldiers.

“I just need to send a message to my stable-master,” I said, smiling at Mallius. “Victor! Come here, will you?”

Titch trotted over, looking at me keenly; I’ve never used his real name. To make it even clearer this was no ordinary message, I spoke to him slowly and clearly, as if to a child. “Listen carefully, Victor, I’ve got an errand for you. The black stallion is sick again.”

The boy was quick; I was relying on it, and I was right. “Again, Mistress? Like the other day? What shall I do?” His look of puzzlement was convincing, to anyone who didn’t know how sharp he was.

“I want you to find Albia for me,” I said. “We’re going to need some of her horse-medicine, the stuff that was recommended by the man from Arpinum. Got that?”

“The man from Arpinum,” he repeated carefully. “Yes, I’ll tell her.”

“Good. And then go and tell Secundus and the lads we won’t be able to let the animals outside today. Explain to him that we’ve got a detachment of soldiers looking after us, and they don’t want anybody to go outside the stockade.” I turned to Mallius. “That’s right, isn’t it?”

“That’s right, yes.”

“Off you go then, Victor.” He ran off, whistling.

I turned back to Mallius. “I’d better do my rounds before I go inside. I always make a tour of the place to start the day off. The men will get worried if I don’t stick to my routine, especially with one of the best horses sick. But you get out of the rain, by all means. My sister will find you something to keep the damp out.”

Predictably, he said he’d come with me. Even though I’d apparently been taken in by his play-acting, he didn’t want me wandering around talking to my men. Good—that should give Albia and Quintus a little time.

I gave Mallius the full guided tour of the outside of the mansio, slave quarters, gardens, and of course stables. I told him at great length all about our horses and my plans for breeding them. He was polite and interested to start with, but I saw him getting impatient as I spun the walk out. So eventually, with a mixture of relief and reluctance, I led him into the warm, dry bar-room.

Albia was there, with a jug of warm wine ready, and a big smile for the so-called centurion. “Welcome to the Oak Tree,” she said. “Sit down and get dry. I’ve a good drop of warm wine here for you. Shall I send some out to your men?”

“Thank you, yes. They’d appreciate that.”

I ushered him to a table, and hung up our wet cloaks.

“Everything going all right?” I asked Albia. “Titch gave you the message about the stallion?”

“Yes, he did. I’ve seen to all that. I’m afraid our cousin’s no better though.”

I put on a serious face. “No better? That’s bad news.” I sat down, and poured wine for all of us. Mallius took a large swig, and Albia barely wet her lips, so I only took a minute sip myself. Presumably she’d put something in it to make him sleepy.

“Still in bed,” my sister continued dolefully, “and the rash is worse if anything. I made him drink some of my herb tonic, but he says he wants to talk to you, because you cheer him up. You know, Relia, I think he quite fancies you!” She gave an arch smile and a very obvious wink.

I heaved a great sigh and stood up. “Will you excuse me just for a while, Mallius? I’d better go and see what he wants. Albia will keep you company till I’m back, won’t you, Albia?”

“A pleasure.” She sat down far too close to Mallius, who smiled wolfishly and put an arm round her shoulders, while using the other hand to lift his mug. He was visibly relaxing, and from the look on his face, he thought it was his birthday. Sometimes it amazes me how easy men are.

I saw Albia quietly refill his beaker, as I strolled off, only hurrying when I was out of sight of the bar-room.

Quintus was sitting on his couch pulling on army boots. They were the final touches to his outfit; he was dressed in Junius’ full parade uniform—polished armour, fancy sword and silver-trimmed belt.