by Carol Ashby
Chapter 30: Officer of the Law
The Secundus villa, Day 22
Marcus watched Aulus cross the library for what seemed the five hundredth time. He rolled the scroll he’d been reading and placed it back in the cubicle.
“Aulus, sit. We can play tabula or Mercenaries, or you can join me reading. But you’re driving me to distraction with that pacing.”
Aulus flopped into the desk chair. “Brutus said he’d send us a message today, but where is it?”
“No, he said he’d start asking around and he might learn something yesterday or today. But that also means he might not.”
Marcus lowered himself into the second chair by the desk and pulled the wooden gameboard between them. He picked up the inlaid wooden box that held the game pieces and tipped back the lid. He’d just placed the first set of blue and blond bone rondels on the board when the slaps of scurrying sandals came from the atrium.
The slave that Gallio had sent to the Castra Praetoria entered and bowed to Aulus.
Aulus’s spine straightened. “Well?”
“Good news, Master Aulus. The mistress wasn’t there.”
Aulus relaxed in the chair. “Good. Go find Gallio and tell him as well.”
The slave hurried away, and Marcus’s mouth relaxed into a smile. “Looks like Brutus was right that she’s likely to stay alive until we find her.”
Aulus rubbed the back of his neck. “But I can’t relax until she’s back home.”
Marcus moved his first piece. “She will be.”
Muted voices drifted in from the atrium, then the door slave appeared. “Tribune Flavius Titianus of the XI Urban Cohort and his guard are waiting for you in the first room left of the vestibulum, master.”
Aulus’s hand froze above the board. “Bring the tribune to me and fetch Gallio as well.”
Marcus scooped the pieces off the board and dropped them back in the box. Aulus’s eyebrows rose.
“Titianus is a friend of Lucius. We don’t want him to think we’re playing games instead of worrying.”
The click of hobnail sandals on stone announced the tribune’s arrival before he entered.
Tribune Titianus strode into the library, metal body armor gleaming and a brass helmet with a red horsehair crest under his arm.
His eyebrow rose as his gaze settled on Marcus. “Drusus. I didn’t expect you here.”
Marcus offered a friendly smile. “Aulus Secundus is my best friend. When he has trouble, I’m going to be with him.”
Titianus’s smile proclaimed his approval. “Lucky man. I haven’t seen Lucius for several weeks. I trust all is well with him.”
Marcus kept the smiling mask in place. “He just asked for a transfer to Judaea to be an aide to the governor in Caesarea.”
The corner of Titianus’s mouth turned up. “I’d wondered if serving near Rome would offer enough challenge to satisfy Lucius. I’d rather be with a frontier legion myself, but my father’s health makes it necessary for me to stay near Rome. I’d prefer battle with barbarians to being a policeman, but duty to my family is more important than satisfying my own desire to serve in a more exciting place.”
Titianus’s head turned toward Aulus. “I don’t believe we’ve met before, Secundus, and I wish it were under more pleasant circumstances. But finding the men who dared to kidnap a senator’s daughter and recovering her is the most important assignment I’ve had, and you can rest assured that nothing will stop me from bringing the kidnappers to justice.”
Aulus’s eyes widened and flicked to Marcus. “I…I’m glad to hear it.”
Titianus’s brow furrowed, and Marcus shifted in the chair to draw Titianus’s eyes back upon himself. “Nothing could be more reassuring than that promise.”
Gallio stepped into the room, and Marcus swept his hand toward him. “This is Gallio, steward of the Julius Secundus household.”
Titianus squared his shoulders, any hint of familiarity gone. “Tribune Titianus of the XI Urban Cohort. I’ve been assigned to find your missing mistress.”
Gallio’s face remained grim. “Anything we can do to help, just tell us.”
One quick tip of his head was Titianus’s response. “I need you to tell me everything you know and anything you suspect that might help in the search for Julia Secunda. Were there any signs that something was going on before this abduction happened?”
The steward drew a deep breath. “Nothing at all. Mistress Julia had been very worried about Metilia Neposa after her brother died. When a slave appeared claiming to have been sent to get her because Metilia had just returned home after two weeks’ absence, no one was surprised. He was supposed to escort the litter to meet Metilia somewhere. Instead, he led the bearers into Subura and was killed.”
Titianus nodded. “I inspected the body from the Subura house. A couple of bruises, but very little sign of struggle. Broken neck.”
Gallio’s frown deepened. “I contacted Metilius Nepos after we found the escort dead and the mistress missing, only to discover his daughter had not yet returned and no one had been sent for Julia.
“I’d bought a new litter slave about three weeks ago, and he went into the house with her and the man who met the litter in Subura. Her other bearers became worried when the new one didn’t come back out promptly. They went in to see if Julia needed their help. When they discovered she’d vanished and the escort was dead, they came home to tell us. They can provide you more detail and a description of the kidnappers they saw. That slave is now a runaway as well.”
Another slight nod by the tribune. “I’ll speak with them after I hear about the ransom demand.”
Gallio glanced at Aulus before speaking. “We went to the house as soon as the bearers got here. By the time the ransom tablet was delivered, we’d already seen where she was kidnapped and discovered the dead escort. The instructions were simple. Master Aulus was to walk down the Clivus Suburanus alone and unarmed with 12,000 denarii. Someone would meet him and take it.”
He rubbed his mouth. “I thought it odd that the tablet promised the release of Julia and the escort immediately upon payment of the ransom. The escort was already dead. But I hoped the note had simply been written before the murder and no one bothered to change it.”
He picked up the tablet from the desk. “Here’s the tablet, if you want it.”
Titianus took it, inspected it inside and out, and handed it back. “Keep it here. If I need it, I’ll get it later.”
His gaze locked on Aulus. “Tell me all you can about the delivery of the ransom and the man who took it from you.”
Aulus’s eyes flicked toward Marcus, who moved to stand beside him. “I was with Aulus for the first part.”
Aulus took a deep breath. “We rode to Marcus’s house, and Marcus went with me as far as the baths. Then I walked alone and unarmed into Subura, as instructed. A man approached me from behind and told me not to turn around, so I didn’t. He took the two bags with the ransom money and said a message would come telling us how to get Julia back. If anyone tried to follow him, they would kill her and dump her body in the Tiber. So, I didn’t try to see what he looked like in case that would make them kill her, too.”
His teeth clenched. “But that message never came.”
Titianus had been standing with a wax tablet open and stylus ready, but he didn’t write down anything. “Is that all you can tell me?”
Aulus’s jaw twitched. “Yes.”
A frown pulled Titianus’s mouth down, and he snapped the tablet closed. His gaze moved from Aulus, to Gallio, to Marcus. “If there’s nothing else the three of you can tell me, I’m ready to speak with the litter slaves.”
Gallio’s hand swept toward the door.
With eyes that seemed to see too much, Titianus stared at Aulus until Aulus looked away. Then he turned his eyes on Marcus. “Please give my regards to your father and send Lucius my greetings in your next letter to him.”
Marcus summoned
a smile. “I will.”
The tribune’s eyes snapped back on Aulus. “I’ll keep you informed of my progress.” He spun to face Gallio, who stood behind him. “Now those slaves.”
Gallio looked over his shoulder as he led the tribune through the door. “Follow me.”
Aulus listened to their fading footsteps, then stepped to the door to make sure they were out of earshot. He turned to Marcus. “What do you think?”
Marcus rubbed his jaw. “I think we’d better find a certain retired soldier before Titianus does and make certain the tribune of the XI Urban Cohort never gets a chance to ask him questions.”
Aulus’s eyes widened. “You mean―”
“Yes. Anyone who would take Julia to sell her deserves to suffer Roman justice, and I want to be the Roman delivering it to him.”
Aulus’s mouth squeezed into a narrow line. “I want my part in that, too.”
Marcus slapped his friend’s arm. He would do his best to bring Roman justice to Callidus…before Roman justice could come after him.
Chapter 31: Worth Thanking
Gaius’s Farm, Day 22
Calantha sat at the table, watching Leander’s chest slowly rise and fall. After so many desperate hours fearing he would die, nothing was more satisfying than seeing that tiny trace of a smile that always seemed to linger at the corners of his mouth.
The sunshine streaming through the door was blocked when Marcella entered the cottage and stood behind her. “It’s good to see him sleeping peacefully.”
“But he’s still so weak.”
Marcella rested her hands by Calantha’s neck and squeezed. “That might last for a week or two, but with plenty of rest and my cooking, Dacius will be back to full strength before you know it.”
Calantha tipped her face up to see Marcella’s eyes. “Dacius isn’t his name anymore.”
Her friend’s eyebrows rose. “It’s not?”
“No. He’s Leander now. I renamed him because he fought so bravely to save me. And Julia won’t be my name while I’m here. He was worried someone might hear my name and then tell someone about us. He said I should use something else in case there were listening ears, and I chose Calantha. He said it means beautiful flower.”
“Gaius and I will call you whatever you choose.” Marcella walked over to his bedside and smiled down at him. “I’m certain he appreciates the new name you gave him. He certainly earned it. And I like the one you chose for yourself.” Her smile turned on Calantha. “It fits you.”
She reached to run her fingers through his hair but stopped before touching him. “Once a week, we have a small group of friends gather here.”
Calantha’s quick breath drew Marcella’s gaze.
“You don’t have to worry. None would reveal you’re here if we ask them not to, but we’ll use your new names with our friends as well.”
“He’ll think that’s wise. He’s so protective of me.”
A smile tugged at the corner of Marcella’s mouth. “We all need someone to protect us. God blessed you with him.”
She walked into the small storeroom directly across the hall from where Calantha slept and returned with some dried figs, cheese, and bread. “Gaius should come for his lunch soon.” She flashed a smile at Calantha. “It gives me such pleasure to take good care of my man.”
With her elbow on the table, Calantha rested her chin on her hand. “The loom in the corner…what are you making?”
“A new winter tunic for Gaius.”
“Leander’s wearing a tunic that belonged to Servilia’s husband. His own got soaked with blood, so she said to leave it and she’d send it out after mending and washing it.” Her gaze shifted to Leander, then back to Marcella. “But it’s the red tunic our litter slaves wear. I don’t want him in that. May I do some weaving while we’re here? He’s going to need a tunic and cloak, and I’d like to make them for him. I’d also like to make something you could sell to pay some of what it will cost for us being here.”
Her words drew Marcella’s smile. “We don’t need to be paid anything. Helping the two of you gives us both pleasure, and it also pleases God. But it would bore me to tears to have nothing to do for a month, and you have to stay almost that long. Did you want to make the tunic or cloak first? I’ll ask Gaius to set up the right loom for whichever you choose.”
“Maybe I should make his cloak first since he doesn’t have one. But first I need to get enough wool and spin the yarn.”
Her brow furrowed. “I know how to spin, but I’ve never had to spin all my own yarn. I simply got what I needed from the spinners at the estate. If I wanted some special yarn, I bought it. How long will it take to spin enough for a cloak?”
Marcella placed the food on the counter and began arranging it on a tray. “I’ve already spun enough for a new tunic for me and for an elderly neighbor whose hands are crippled. That should be enough for his cloak. After you finish weaving you can replace what you use. We have plenty of fleece from this spring’s shearing.”
Calantha turned her eyes back to Leander. “Don’t tell him who I’m making it for. I want it to be a surprise when I give it to him. I want to thank him for all he did, but he’ll keep telling me a mistress shouldn’t be weaving for her slave.” Her smile turned into a grin. “But after I have it finished, I’ll simply tell him he has to wear it and enjoy it because that’s what I want him to do.”
“Gaius is like that, too. Always telling me I shouldn’t go to a lot of work to do something special for him. He doesn’t realize how much pleasure it gives me.”
A shadow was cast over Calantha when Gaius blocked the sunbeams. “How much pleasure what gives you?”
Marcella walked to his side and wrapped her arm around him. “Having you as my husband. God truly blessed me with you.”
His lips brushed her cheek. “Not as much as He blessed me with you.”
She patted his arm before fetching the tray of cheese and dried figs and placing it on the table. She pointed at an empty chair. “Sit, dear.”
As Gaius seated himself, Marcella brought over three cups and the small pitcher of watered wine.
As soon as Marcella settled in her chair, Gaius lowered his head. “We give thanks, Lord, for this day and this food and for the joy of eating it together. In Jesus name, we pray.”
The “amen” that Marcella spoke was echoed by Calantha. She glanced at Leander. His god, the god of Marcella and Gaius, was definitely a god worth thanking.
The aroma of pork and onions and carrots and something savory he couldn’t identify teased Leander’s nostrils as he opened his eyes.
Gaius stood at his bedside, smiling down at him. “Awake just in time for one of Marcella’s specialties. How are you feeling?”
Leander felt his smile grow to match that of Gaius. “It’s been a while since I could say this, but hungry for a big helping of anything that could smell that good.”
With his left arm, he pushed himself to a sitting position. That took more than he expected, and he gauged the distance from the bed to the chair. Eating at a table again would be good, but…
Gaius rested a hand on his uninjured shoulder. “You’re not quite ready to join us, but maybe tomorrow.”
Although he fought it, Leander’s back still slipped from straight to slouched. “I guess you’re right.”
Gaius stacked his pillow with the mistress’s pillow from the foot of the bed. Then he slipped his arm around Leander’s shoulders and eased him back against them.
When Gaius stepped away, Mistress Calantha stood behind him, carrying a steaming bowl of stew and a wooden plate holding some bread.
“You don’t have to feed me, mistress. I can do it now.”
Her gaze moved from the bowl to the plate to his eyes. Her lips tightened but only because they were holding back a smile.
“Just how do you intend to balance a bowl of stew and handle a spoon while reclining on a bed with only one good arm? You don’t want
to spill and make a mess for Marcella.”
He opened his mouth to speak, then closed it. He’d never even reclined to dine with two good arms.
Her lips relaxed, and the smile leaked out. “I knew you’d see I should help if you thought about it for a moment.”
She sat beside him and, with arched eyebrows, offered him the first spoonful.
A taste that put the aroma to shame filled his mouth as he chewed, then swallowed. “Thank you for helping me, mistress.”
“Mistress isn’t helping you. Calantha is.” Her voice and eyes took all the sting from the rebuke. “My fearless lion should be able to remember that.”
He nodded as he chewed.
As she presented spoonful after spoonful, pausing for him to take bites of bread, he watched her face. Beautiful flower…she’d chosen the perfect name for herself.
It wasn’t his place to decide which name to call her…or himself. Dacius, Leander, fearless lion―he would be whatever the mistress wanted until it was time to take her home.
Chapter 32: Ready to Bring Her Home
The Secundus villa, Day 23
Aulus tried, but he couldn’t stop his eyes from drifting to the couch where Julia reclined when they ate together. The hot, rosemary-laced bread the chef had prepared for breakfast tasted like sawdust, and the drop of wine the slave had spilled while filling his silver goblet looked too much like the dark stain where the litter had been abandoned. No matter what Marcus said, it must have been blood. But whose?
Marcus swung his legs off the couch across from Aulus. “What shall we do today?”
Aulus forced out a heavy sigh. “I only want to do one thing…find Julia.”
Rapid footsteps drew nearer, and both men stared at the doorway.
One of the house slaves stepped into the dining room and bowed. “A message from Antonius Brutus, master. He said to come right away and bring good horses.”
Aulus scrambled to his feet. “Go tell someone to saddle the gray mare and Marcus’s stallion.” The young boy started to bow. “Now!”