When I got back to the roundhouse, it was to find my wife tight-lipped. ‘Well, so here you are at last!’ she grumbled, waving to Tenuis to take my cloak from me and pull a stool up closer to the fire. ‘Your soup is halfway spoiled. Sit down and you can tell me what exactly has been happening all day! I’ve been worried half to death about you, ever since I saw that knife!’ She thrust a bowl of steaming soup into my hands.
I ate it greedily, wiping the bowl out with a hunk of bread.
‘Well?’ she demanded, hands upon her hips, as I washed down my simple supper with cool water from the stream. ‘Are you going to tell me?’
‘In just a moment!’ I replied. ‘I promised Junio I’d go and call on him. I’m sorry Gwellia, but we’re all involved in this – so if you’re ready we will go there now, and I can tell the story properly – and only once.’ I scrambled to my feet and kissed her on the brow, but she was still sulking and she turned away to dip a brand into the fire and summon Minimus to light us on our way.
Junio was watching for us at his door, and Cilla had warmed some mead to welcome us. So, as the children slept, I sat in the flickering firelight, sipped the warming brew and told my little family the story of the day – or at least about the threatening letters, the suspicious deaths in Glevum and what I now proposed.
Cilla’s first reaction was one of simple shock. ‘Threatening Marcus, who is famed for being just!’ she exclaimed. ‘Who would have dreamed it!’ She shook her head. ‘And my dear ex-mistress and those poor babies, too. Think of them poisoned! It would grieve the gods. No wonder she’s agreed to pack for Corinium at once. Of course we must help them!’ She looked into my eyes. Her own were sparkling and I could see that the adventure quite appealed to her. ‘Just tell me what to do.’
My wife, however, was not at all impressed. She put her mead cup down. ‘But openly sending a carriage to the Corinium house? You must be quite mad. They’ll be spied on all the way.’
‘Marcus will provide a mounted guard, though, I suppose?’ Junio put in thoughtfully and I realized that I could rely on his support. ‘And Julia can be briefed on what to do when she arrives. She only has to call in here as she departs.’
‘And you don’t think that in itself would be remarkable? Especially to this armed escort you’re so sure about!’ Gwellia retorted.
‘Not really, Mother!’ Junio said, peaceably. ‘Everyone knows how fond you are of those two little ones, and if they are leaving here for an extended stay, it would be mere courtesy to call in and say goodbye.’
‘And it would take our children out of danger too – threats against Marcus’s household could endanger us as well.’ I knew that this would sway her more than anything.
Gwellia looked at me. ‘You really think so, husband?’ It was clear this had just occurred to her.
I nodded. ‘We all may be in danger – as long as we stay here. That’s why I am anxious that we leave, as well, and go a different way. I have a good enough excuse – Marcus has asked me to investigate where the lady Eliana stands in relation to her previous estate. I intend to take Julia and her offspring there – it is uninhabited, and will make a hiding-place – though no one is to know that, outside of this house – while Cilla and our children go to Corinium. I shall not be missed, in any case – I am often absent from the workshop when there’s a pavement to be laid. But l’ll make sure that everyone in Glevum hears that Julia’s left the town.’
Gwellia stared. ‘And how will you do that?’
‘Mention it to the tanner’s wife, who lives next door to our workshop!’ Junio cried, sipping the last of the delicious mead. ‘One word to her and half the town will know.’
I nodded. ‘And it will be common knowledge that I’ve hired a travelling carriage, too. Marcus offered to lend me his, of course, but arranging one in public ensures that it is known. If I hire a cart as well, that will occasion no remark.’
‘And you’re not afraid the letter-writer will watch and trace where we have gone? Or follow Cilla and the children to Corinium?’
I was more anxious about that than I cared to say, but I had weighed the odds. ‘He’s more likely to stay here and strike at Marcus,’ I replied. ‘That is his real intention, it appears. He seems to operate in Glevum, if the death of Varius is any guide – and in any case he cannot follow both of us at once. Of course it’s possible that he will send some servant after Julia’s coach, but once Corinium is reached she and her children will have disappeared. He’ll enquire for them in vain.’
‘And the staff there won’t betray us?’ Gwellia frowned at me. ‘You think they can be trusted?’
‘Better than the villa, in a lot of ways – most of them have been with Julia for years and they would die for her.’ Cilla could hardly be argued with, since she had actually worked there, when she was a slave. ‘I’m certain they can be relied upon to do exactly what’s required – especially if they get instructions under Marcus’s seal.’ She had risen and was refilling mead cups as she spoke.
Gwellia nodded, grudgingly. ‘But it seems to me the journey is a risky enterprise. The roads are likely to be dangerous once the legion’s gone – husband, you said as much yourself. So there may be brigands, quite apart from wolves and bears. Even with a mounted guard I think it’s hazardous. I’m worried for our grandchildren, and Cilla too, of course.’
‘Marcus said the same,’ I answered. ‘But I persuaded him. I pointed out that if we move at once, the legion will be marching down that very road, towards Londinium – which guarantees the safety of other travellers, though it may involve delays.’
Marching troops have precedence on any thoroughfare; all carts, pedestrians and carriages are legally required to move onto the margins and wait for them to pass. However, the presence of soldiers anywhere nearby would certainly deter attack since the penalty for ambush on the public road is crucifixion – and is rigorously applied.
‘And the road south is the one you propose that we shall take?’
I did not answer that. I just said, ‘What alternative is there? Stay at the villa and wait until this letter-writer strikes – as it seems he has already done with Varius?’
‘Poor Varius!’ Cilla murmured, sitting down again. ‘I served him once or twice, when he was a guest at Marcus’s. He seemed a charming man, though interested in power, like all councillors. Imagine him dying slowly in such agony! Let’s hope his killer’s brought to justice before the funeral, so at least his ghost can rest in peace.’ She spat on her finger and rubbed it on her ear. (The mention of unquiet spirits is supposed to bring ill-luck.)
Gwellia had not finished arguing. She shook her head. ‘But Varius was murdered in the town, where his apartment is above a shop and crowds of people are passing all the time. It’s not so easy at the villa when there are high walls all around, and both the gates are guarded, day and night by enormous slaves with clubs. Strangers would be noticed instantly.’
‘That’s why rich men have gatekeepers,’ I said. ‘But even that is no defence. That letter that Marcus got today was thrown across the wall, and no one saw the person who delivered it. Not even the enormous gatekeepers with clubs!’
‘Then there can’t have been a proper look-out at the time …’ she began, but Junio chimed in.
‘One can hardly blame the duty gate-guard, Mother, if he didn’t notice anything amiss. There are always people going up and down the lane. Even visiting the villa, come to that – bringing deliveries of wine and oil.’
‘To say nothing of the special traders, selling silks or slaves, or the itinerants who come and sharpen knives or put new handles on broken iron pots,’ his wife agreed. ‘There were always people like that coming to the house.’
‘Or – the gods preserve us – citizens invited for a feast,’ I said. My wife was still frowning, so I spelt it out. ‘Any of those callers could be a killer in disguise. Yet obviously the gatekeeper would let them in. There might even be accomplices already in the house. Marcus is very nervous about his new slaves. He fears that one of them might be in enemy employ. But a murderer does not even have to get inside the walls. It wouldn’t be difficult to tamper, for instance, with imported wine before it is ever delivered to the house. As Varius has found.’
Junio raised his cup to Gwellia. ‘So, Mother, what are we to do?’ he asked. ‘Wait until someone smuggles poison in, or scales the villa walls and stabs them in their beds, then throws in fiery pitch torches and sets fire to the house? And ours as well, perhaps?’
Gwellia made a gesture of despair. ‘Of course not. I suppose it must be done.’ She took my mead cup from me and held her hands in mine. ‘Husband, I think your scheme is reckless, but I have no better one. Cilla and Junio agree with you, it seems, and so must I. I’ve no appetite for leaving our dear house, myself. But strange times require strange actions. I will do my part.’
‘But under protest, still?’ I looked steadily at her.
She looked into my eyes. ‘I am your wife, Libertus, you can rely on me. If we are forced to this, then I’ll do all I can to help. So, since that’s now agreed on, Cilla, let me see the boys. It may be some time before I get another chance.’ She got up from her stool and together the two women went over to the bed, where the toddler was sleeping, tucked up at the foot, and the infant was babbling gently in the wicker crib that Cilla had woven for her firstborn, years ago. Gwellia picked the baby up and crooned to him.
I knew that this was her way of hiding that she was close to tears so I left the women to their female pursuits and talked to Junio beside the embers of the fire.
‘When do you propose that this expedition should begin?’ he said, kneeling to stir the red coals around the baking pot, under which Cilla had already set tomorrow’s bread to bake. ‘Not tomorrow morning, surely?’
I shook my head, waving away the aromatic smoke which coiled around our heads and wafting it towards the smoke-hole in the roof. ‘Not as soon as that – I will need to find a cart for us and Marcus’s family will require a travelling-coach. The armed guard is not a problem – Marcus hasn’t yet sold on the guard he had when he was travelling. So there are just the carts to find, and Marcus’s name and seal should make that possible. I aim that Julia’s party should set off by noon, and we soon afterwards.’
Junio brushed his hands and squatted on his stool again. ‘And Julia can be ready to depart by then?’
I grinned. ‘The villa slaves are working on packing overnight – they were already filling boxes when I left. Though she won’t need much luggage, the house is fully stocked – and she won’t have it with her anyway, but it is just for show.’
‘So the whole villa’s alert to what is happening?’ he said.
‘They think she’s leaving for Corinium,’ I answered. ‘It is one of the things that I’m relying on. If this unknown enemy does have a spy in place, he’ll report to his master that the family have fled. And the spy will not be with them. There is already staff at the Corinium house and with reasonable horses it should be possible to get there before dark. It’s agreed that Julia will only take her nurse.’
‘Nourissa? The wet-nurse? I remember her. That is a splendid choice. I believe she’d die for Julia, if the need arose.’ Junio’s face was thoughtful in the dim glow of the fire. ‘Then it seems the plan is workable. Mother is right, the roads are dangerous, but tomorrow will be safer than any other day – the presence of the legions will see to that. Let’s hope that you can find a carrying-coach in time.’
‘I’m taking a letter from Marcus into town, at first light, myself. There should be no problem – he still has influence, at least until the current Emperor pronounces otherwise. And he’s given me a handsome sum to pay the hiring-firm. I’ll negotiate, of course.’ I meant it. I’d had to dissuade my patron from writing, under seal, that he was prepared to offer any fee they asked. ‘But he’s desperate to get Julia safely out of town. This business with Varius has really frightened him.’
Gwellia had come over and had been listening. ‘So you will go to Glevum in the morning, just as you always do?’ she demanded, standing over us with the swaddled baby in her arms.
I looked up at her. ‘Of course. It must seem that things are just as usual. Ideally, I’d open up the workshop for an hour or two – to give the gossips something they can talk about – but I am not convinced there will be time for that. I’ll just call in and tell the tanner’s wife what I intend.’
‘I’ll do that for you, Father,’ Junio said. ‘Don’t shake your head like that. I won’t be coming with you on your journey south. You will need someone here to keep an eye on things. And to send you word if there are further deaths.’ He looked into my eyes and shook his head at me – warning me not to voice my thoughts and alarm the womenfolk.
I nodded. I did not have to tell him that the next death might be his – he was as aware of it as I was. ‘What will you do instead?’
‘Keep the workshop open. Use my ears and eyes.’
‘Then try to find out if Varius had known enemies,’ I murmured seizing the moment. Gwellia and Cilla had turned away and were laying the now sleeping infant on the bed. ‘There’s a land-steward of his great-aunt’s that I’d like to hear about – how he bought his freedom when his master died. There seems to be a mystery as to how he got the funds.’
‘And you can’t ask him that, if you are going to the estate?’
‘I understand that he has left the property by now. He had no love for it. The man was negligent. And all the other slaves were sold. But – here’s the thing – there was some question of a court case against him at one time.’
‘So he might be the letter-writer, do you think?’ Junio looked puzzled. ‘I can’t imagine it. If an action had been brought against a man like that, it wouldn’t be Marcus who considered it. A steward would only warrant some low official at a public hearing in the open air. In a draughty courtyard somewhere, more than like.’
‘I know,’ I said. ‘That’s what I thought myself. And where would such a person learn to write? But I must be alert to every possibili—’ I broke off as the women came back to join us at the fire.
‘Possibilities?’ Gwellia sounded sharp. ‘You think it’s possible that something will go wrong? I wish you weren’t going back to Glevum through those woods, again. I knew there was something sinister when you chose to arm yourself.’
Cilla took the lighted taper and set it down nearby. ‘But you’ll be back tomorrow, Father, in time to keep an eye on this departure, I presume?’
I nodded. ‘I can’t avoid this visit to the hiring stables but I’ll take the mule and I should be back by noon. I’ll send the carriage straight to Julia and make them bring the other cart and driver to our roundhouse here. I’d like us to set off ourselves as soon as possible after the Corinium party have gone.’
‘Then I’ll have to go and set some oatcakes on to bake, or we’ll go hungry on the way. We’d better say goodnight.’ Gwellia’s abruptness disguised her fears, I knew. I called Minimus from the slaves’ sleeping hut outside, while Junio took a new pitch-torch from a hook beside the door and held it in the embers till it spurted fire.
I put my cloak on, held the torch aloft and, accompanied by my wife and serving-boy, walked the short distance to our roundhouse. Tenuis and Kurso had kept the fire aglow, so Gwellia set the baking in the ashes and then we went to bed. However, for once, she did not turn to me – and my own mind was so troubled that I hardly slept that night.