When the dust of the departing hooves had settled, I turned to Junio. ‘I suppose that I should think it fortunate that Hortius Valens does not recognize that Rastus is only nominally my slave, and that really it’s my patron he should compensate.’
‘But surely Marcus gifted him to you?’
‘And so he did. Along with the apartment and all that it contains. But if Hortius found out that I did not really qualify for election to the council, and that it would all revert to my patron afterwards, what would he tell the Governor about the pair of us? Or the Emperor, indeed?’
‘You think that Hortius might report it back to Rome? Would it matter if he did? An Emperor once declared his horse a senator.’
‘Severus has a different cast of mind. You must have heard what he recently decreed, regarding those improperly holding public offices! I should be lucky to escape with just humiliation and a swingeing fine. And as for Marcus … I dare not think of it.’
‘Then he’s unlikely to tell Hortius that Rastus was effectively on loan,’ Junio said. ‘Even if he finds out that he’s been killed. He’s involved as much as you.’
‘I suppose so,’ I agreed. ‘But you had some other news for me, I think? Something about a contract, I believe you said. I would be glad of cheerful tidings, after these last few days. Will you come in and have a cup of hot spiced mead?’
He clapped my shoulder. ‘Just for a moment, then – I am already late and Cilla will have the dinner on the fire.’
I managed a wan smile. ‘And very good you’ll find it! She brought some in to us. Which reminds me, Kurso, you run in and get the drinks prepared – and then you and the other slaves can reheat your food and eat. Your mistress, too, if she’s awake again by now.’ The little slave at once sped off obediently. ‘I am afraid I was a little severe with them before,’ I murmured to my son. ‘I’d had a trying day – though this news is so much worse, I blush at having shouted at my slaves. If I had roared at Rastus, the last time that we met, I should regret it all my life.’
Junio gave me a sympathetic grin. ‘Well, turn your anger on that courier instead! He was very nearly insolent – and so self-important you would think that he was a duumvir himself.’
I paused inside the gateway. ‘He takes his manner from his master, I suspect,’ I said grimly. ‘Speaking of whom – you said you’d heard a different version of that unhappy accident which killed my slave?’
He flashed me an uncomfortable glance. ‘Probably all lies – you know what gossip’s like. Anyway, it makes no difference, now. Poor young Rastus is just as surely dead.’
He was about to move away into the house, but I took him by the shoulder and forced him to look me squarely in the eyes. ‘It makes a difference – to me,’ I said. ‘I feel responsible. He was only at my patron’s flat at all, because of me. He was on an errand which I had organized – trying to warn Marcus of another visitor, but in a coded way so that Hortius would not know, and with strict instructions not to give the message to anybody but His Excellence. He died because he was obeying me.’ I was ashamed to find my voice was quavering.
Junio affected not to notice. ‘I wondered, when I learned that it was him, what he was doing at your patron’s flat. But how could you have sent him? You were not even in the town!’
‘I sent a message to my own apartment by one of Marcus’s young slaves,’ I explained, glad for a moment to deal in simple facts. ‘Which reminds me – Great Minerva. I wonder where he is? If he’s waiting at my flat for Rastus to return he must be almost frantic with worry by this time. And he won’t have heard the rumours – unless either he or Servus went out into the street …’ I broke off, because my next thought was even worse. ‘Let’s just hope, by all the ancient gods, that he did not get so worried that he went to Marcus’s apartment to enquire!’
‘Would that be so dreadful?’
‘It would undo everything. The whole idea of sending Rastus there was to disguise the fact that the villa was in any way involved.’
‘Father, don’t distress yourself so much. The boy is much more likely to stay where he was told. In any case there is nothing you can do, from here.’ He began to lead the way along the path back to the house, but before we reached the dye-house he paused again to say, ‘But who is this other visitor of Marcus’s, and why is it so important that Hortius does not know?’
I told him – though I made him swear to be discreet. I knew he would be. I would trust him with my life.
‘This is between ourselves, then – in the meantime, anyway. Though I cannot see how your patron can keep the two apart for very long.’
‘He’s playing on the superstitions of the capital – citing the bad auspices connected with a birth to keep the fastidious Senator from the villa, temporarily. My suggestion, I’m afraid. And it will not help for long. The time of purification will be over very soon. In eight more days there will be the bulla feast.’
‘And Hortius will be insulted if he’s not invited to attend!’ Junio made a sympathetic face. ‘Marcus is really torn between two horses, here. If he offends the Senator, then he offends the Governor … But if he betrays this woman who has thrust herself on him – and if her claims about her links to the Empress are true – then the offence is to Julia Domna!’
‘And nobody has more influence with the Emperor than his wife.’
Junio whistled. ‘Poor Marcus! What is he to do? For once I am thankful that I don’t wear his sandals, however rich he is.’ He frowned at me. ‘But if Rastus has not reached him, after all, Marcus will not know yet that Druscilla’s here – or the extent of the danger he is in. But how come Rastus did not find him at the flat?’
I shook my head despondently. ‘He’d gone to organize this sacrifice for Julia’s safe deliverance, according to that pompous courier. Wanted to get it all arranged today, I expect, because the temple will be busy tomorrow with the Ides. So he was out when Rastus got there – with terrible results. Which reminds me – about him, what is it that you heard?’
Junio sighed. ‘I suppose that you will hear from someone, in the end. The tanner’s wife, if from no other source, So perhaps, I should tell you …’ But he hesitated still.
‘Tell me what?’ I demanded. ‘What did the slave guild say?’
‘Only that they could not tell whose slave he was …’
‘Because Hortius did not know?’
‘Because they could not recognize the face.’
I gazed at him, aghast. ‘It was so badly damaged by the fall?’ I let out a sharp breath. ‘Jove – it must have been a massive blow to make him crash into the marble edge as hard as that. Unless you mean it was hardly an accident at all?’ I could see that Junio was embarrassed and upset. ‘More like a systematic beating? That’s what you deduce?’
Junio looked more uncomfortable still. ‘Something of the kind. But, as I say, it’s rumour – and what difference does it make? They’ll already be preparing to take him to the pyre. Except that technically, perhaps, if this is true you might have a case against Hortius in the courts for wilful damage to your property.’
‘If I dared to bring one – which of course I never could. Who would find for me against a man like that?’ I muttered savagely. ‘It makes me understand how that Druscilla woman feels. And besides, there were no witnesses except Marcus’s town slaves, who would just be tortured to ensure they “spoke the truth”.’ I shook my head. ‘More unnecessary suffering. It is unthinkable.’
Junio assented with a sigh. ‘I’m sure that you are wise. Even if you won, all you could expect is an order for compensation – which he is already offering – so there’s nothing to be gained. Beyond making a very dangerous enemy, that is.’
‘So what am I to do?’ I asked him, bitterly. ‘Just let it pass, I suppose? Or nail up a curse tablet, as Tertillius said he would?’
Junio made a wry face. ‘You heard about that, did you?’
‘Though I don’t suppose he’ll really do it – in case Hortius found out. From what I hear he sounds a man who’d seek revenge.’
Junio made that rueful face again. ‘But he knows already. Poor old Tertillius was made to look a fool – in front of everyone, and of his sister in particular. He muttered the threat aloud before he stopped himself and Hortius overheard. Tertillius stormed out of the games before more harm was done, but I fear there yet may be trouble over it. Hortius was almost spluttering with rage and – as you say – I doubt he would forget an injury. So don’t be tempted to cross the man yourself. Better to “act the Roman” and accept what can’t be changed. Though I’m sadder about Rastus that I could ever say.’ He touched my arm again. ‘Now, are we going inside to have this drink of mead? Otherwise it will be too late for me to stay.’
We went inside and drank, but there was little joy in it – though I was glad of Junio’s company. It was a concession on his part, anyway, since he prefers a glass of wine. Minimus and Tenuis had warmed the mead and poured it out for us, but then retreated to the shadows, where they sat, subdued – obviously Kurso had told them the news about their fellow slave.
Gwellia meanwhile was still – mercifully – asleep, and Junio was reduced to telling me about his contract in an undertone. I congratulated him – sincerely, it was lucrative and prestigious – but I knew my tone was flat. It would take more than successful busines to lift my mood tonight. All I could see in the flickering fire was Rastus’s young face, his eager smile and those protruding ears.
Junio sensed what I was feeling. ‘So,’ he said, getting slowly to his feet and putting that filial hand upon my shoulder once again. ‘I will come for you tomorrow – shortly after noon? So we avoid the Ides procession? If you’re quite sure that’s what you would prefer?’
I shook my head. ‘I wasn’t thinking clearly. I’ll have to go early, at our usual time – supposing that your mother is well enough to leave. Marcus won’t have had my message, will he, as you say? So he still won’t know Druscilla has arrived. I’ll have to go and warn him – in person this time, to be sure it reaches him. Also, of course, I should let Lentigines come home – supposing that he hasn’t gone to Marcus’s by now, and told them everything …’ I broke off in despair. The same ideas were chasing round and round my head – like chariots at the circus – and always ending with the thought that Rastus died in vain.
‘Which might implicate you in the whole affair.’ Junio squeezed my shoulder. ‘But courage, Father. You have done nothing wrong. You were obliging Marcus – nothing more – when a kinsman of Julia’s happened to arrive. That is all you need to say. How could you guess that Hortius would care? And I’ll be there to say the same thing, should the need arise. Now, don’t get up,’ he added as I tried to do so. ‘You stay and have another beaker of that mead. And when you’ve finished, try to get some sleep. You’ve had a nasty shock. Have a little of Cilla’s poppy juice and I’ll see you in the morning, shortly after dawn. And don’t worry about Mother, my wife will tend to her and see that she does not do more than she can manage with that foot.’
I find it hard to credit that I slept at all, my mind was so busy with a thousand thoughts and fears, but I suppose I must have done, because when I opened my unwilling eyes it was to find Tenuis standing by my side, holding out my working tunic.
‘You will need this, master, if you wish to go to town. And I’ve wrapped your curial toga in a bag, so you can wear it to your patron’s flat. We sponged the hems last night, and it is nearly dry.’
I propped myself up on my shoulder. The fire was full alight, and my wife was sitting by it, wrapped up in a shawl, and there was a smell of baking in the air.
She saw me looking. ‘Ah, husband, I was loth to wake you but the sun is almost up, and Junio will be waiting. Cilla brought this new-baked bread, so you can eat before you leave. So never fear, I have not been on my feet – though when she comes back later, she is going to help me try to do a little. With your consent, of course.’
She was alluding to my outburst of the night before, and I felt duly guilty. ‘Then I suppose I must give it,’ I muttered gracelessly as I got up and allowed myself to be helped into my clothes. ‘Just be sure you do not overtax yourself.’ I glanced through the open doorway. ‘Now Junio is here – but where is Minimus?’
‘Gone to saddle up Arlina.’
‘Then I must go, and I’ll be staying overnight. I have business to attend to.’
I was tempted not to tell her about Rastus, but I did – merely that he’d an accident and died, not implicating Hortius at all – and even that upset her, as I knew it would. But better that she heard about the incident from me than have the slaves hear gossip at the spring.
I affected briskness. ‘I’ll leave Minimus with you. Tenuis can attend me, for today. But if Junio’s waiting I will have to set off now. I’ll take my breakfast with me.’ I broke off a piece of loaf. ‘Tenuis, you can carry my toga-bag and lead the mule. Pick up your own cloak and help me on with mine.’ I was already striding to the entrance as I spoke.
Junio was waiting. ‘Ready, Father?’ He looked strangely ashen-faced, I thought.
I climbed onto the mule and we were on our way, though Junio still seemed singularly grim. I taxed him with it as we turned off the lane and started up the muddy ancient track.
He sighed. ‘I’m going to have to tell you, I suppose. You are bound to find out once you get to town. The Valerii brothers will have heard the tale by now, so the whole curia will know.’
I turned as cold as if I’d been immersed in snow. ‘What tale?’ I slid down from my mount. ‘I will not take another step until I know.’
Junio motioned Tenuis to take Arlina and go ahead of us, then waited till the boy was out of sight. ‘There is no easy way of saying this. I should have told you yesterday – but there was no point in giving you any more distress. It would only have kept you awake all night, and there was nothing anyone could do.’
‘This is about Rastus, I assume? The blows were worse than I imagined? He had broken bones?’
‘I don’t believe that he was killed by a blow of any kind.’
‘But you told me—?’ I broke off, as I realized that he’d not really told me anything at all. I had made a suggestion and he’d said ‘something of the kind’. ‘You are trying to spare me. It was something worse?’
‘Much worse.’ Junio looked at me with intense compassion in his eyes. ‘The tanner’s wife told me that his tongue had been cut out.’