Dark Omens

by Rosemary Rowe

  Bernadus waved her impatiently away. ‘Fetch your cloak. The citizen has other things to do. You are content to show her where to go, and call on Lucius?’

  I had almost forgotten that I’d undertaken that, but I nodded. ‘I’ll do so very soon – though first I have a little business of my own.’

  I had decided that I’d go back to the shop and talk to Minimus. He would be wondering where I was again. Besides, I had an errand that I wanted him to run. I had promised to report our grisly find to the town authorities, and my slave would be the perfect courier. I myself would go to Lucius – and very gladly too. It occurred to me that, like an idiot, I’d forgotten to ask him for those record scrolls. This would give me the opportunity to request them now – and when I saw Marcus, I’d have something to report even if I hadn’t solved the mystery.

  So when the escort at last came lumbering along with a reluctant Arlina, I was glad enough to leave. I took the slave girl with me, pointed out the undertaker’s premises and – urging my ungainly mount along the slushy streets – made my way back to Minimus and the shop.

  TWENTY-THREE

  Minimus was delighted and surprised to see me come, and extremely flattered to be used as a courier. He found me my old writing tablet from the shelf and I scratched a short account of what I’d seen out in the woods, pointing out that there had been another corpse found near here recently left in a similar truncated state, then tied the tablet shut and sealed the knot with my seal stick and a blob of molten wax. I wanted this to be a formal document.

  Minimus had bustled around with still more food and drink for me – including the remainder of the mead – and I must confess that I was glad of this more homely fare, but before I’d finished he had seized the writing block and was already heading for the door.

  ‘First to the garrison and then to the town watch. That’s right, Master?’

  I told him that it was and that I’d see him back here at the workshop afterwards. ‘I’m going to return my boots and mittens to Lucius and ask him for some records to show Marcus later on. After that, I think I’ve accomplished what I can. We’ll take Arlina back to Cantalarius and have a day at home.’

  ‘So you know who was responsible for Genialis’s death? You can tell me, Master – I promise I won’t breathe a word to anybody else.’

  I shook my head. ‘I haven’t solved the mystery – perhaps there isn’t one. Adonisius believes there is a crazed bandit out there doing this, and I’m beginning to agree with him. But at least the body has been found and Genialis is now clearly dead, so Marcus can leave a proxy to deal with the estate and go to Rome. I imagine that now Pertinax has been confirmed as Emperor, he’ll want to talk to him as soon as possible.’

  Minimus nodded. ‘Then I’ll await you here. I should be back within the hour.’

  ‘And I won’t be much longer,’ I replied, pouring out the last drops of the delicious warming mead as he gave a little bow and hurried on his way.

  I did not especially hurry over my repast. I told myself there was no special rush and I took the opportunity to think about the day. I was still convinced that there was some detail I’d missed, which should have led me closer to the truth. Despite my cheerful words to Minimus, I did not like to leave a mystery unsolved.

  And what had all this to do with the body of the priest? I shook my head. I was going around in circles and I was wasting time. My patron would be on his way to Glevum now, and if I wished to intercept him and give him my report, I had better go to Lucius and get what I required.

  I debated whether I should ride Arlina over to the dock, but decided against it and left her where she was, tied up in the alleyway beside the shop, where she was contently munching at the tanner’s rubbish heap. I put my cloak and sandals on, picked up the boots and mitts and set off as quickly as I could for Lucius’s premises.

  I called at the warehouse, but he was not there. The ancient steward gestured to the dock. ‘He and Alfredus Allius are over there, overseeing the loading of that timber pile and some other goods that he is shipping off to Gaul. The captain’s anxious to get out on the tide. There hasn’t been much trade for days, with all the ice, so the first ship to get to Gaul will command the highest prices. There’s a crew, of course, but my master always goes to see that his cargo is stacked in properly, and this time he’s taken Allius with him. And now they’ve got that slave of Silvia’s to help.’

  I thanked the steward and went out on to the dock. There was still a little ice along the shore, but the slaves who had been employed to keep the quayside clear were no longer needed and the ship was now drawn up beside the quay. A little further down the river bank Lucius was standing with his back to me, talking to the captain and to Alfredus Allius. They were all watching Adonisius, who was struggling up the gangplank with a heavy sack.

  The slave turned and saw me, dropped his burden on the deck and called, ‘Here is Libertus, Master!’

  Lucius whirled around, for a moment seeming quite alarmed. Then – as if he’d realized who it was – he came towards me with his hands outstretched. His face was wreathed in smiles. ‘Ah, citizen. I hear the news is good. The search is over and they’ve found the corpse at last.’ He glanced at the boots and gloves that I was carrying. ‘Though there was no need to make a special trip to bring these back.’

  I handed back my borrowed luxuries and – deciding that there was no need for formal courtesies – said with a smile, ‘I was very glad of them. Thank you for your kindness. But returning them was not the only thing that brought me here. Bernadus was hoping you might have some hyssop or other funeral herbs to cleanse the corpse.’

  He stroked his handsome auburn beard and frowned. ‘I’m not sure if we do. We do keep herbs sometimes – though generally only the more exotic ones. But Vesperion will know. If I do have anything I’ll send him off with them.’ He must have seen my anxious face, because he asked, ‘And is there something else that I can help you with?’

  ‘You promised me some records,’ I murmured doubtfully.

  He gave his hearty laugh. ‘That should not be difficult. I have had them out already to show my visitor!’ He nodded at Alfredus Allius, who was coming up to join us as he spoke. ‘He has shown an impressive interest in the business.’

  Alfredus greeted me with courtesy and then said, in that undistinguished voice of his, ‘Well, I’m still hoping to become a part of it. Perhaps it will now be easier than we thought, since Genialis is not merely missing, but obviously dead. I regret to say it, but that is welcome news. It will make investment easier for me. Though at the moment I am not wholly certain where I stand.’

  I nodded. ‘Since it was legally impossible for Genialis to repay his debt on time?’ I said, trying to sound as if this was the sort of fact I always had at my command. ‘Though I believe that you may still have a claim on the estate.’

  He gave a frosty smile. ‘You are well-informed, I see. The only trouble is that it may take a little time.’

  ‘Though there is not now a necessity for speed,’ Lucius put in. ‘And I’m sure Silvia will agree to have you paid, in any case, even if the gold is never found. She would not wish you to sustain a loss because of Genialis and his gambling – and as Libertus pointed out to me, there is the house in Dorn to calculate as part of his estate.’

  Alfredus nodded. ‘I am afraid the man will not be greatly missed. Though we shall all be attending the funeral, I suppose – no one wants to offend the nether world. Though if somebody has really carved the corpse in half, no doubt the spirit will be vengeful anyway!’ He turned to me. ‘I suppose that story’s true? It is what Adonisius told us when he came back from the search, but it seems so unlikely I can hardly credit it. I know how rumours grow. I believe you saw the body. Can you verify his tale?’

  I was about to answer, when I realized what had been niggling in my brain – the piece of the mosaic which had not seemed to fit. I heard myself saying, very carefully, ‘Oh, I can confirm that Genialis had been cut in half
. And he was not the only one. The same thing happened to an old priest yesterday – as Adonisius pointed out to me.’

  ‘Great Jupiter!’ Alfredus looked at Lucius in surprise. ‘Did you know of that?’

  Lucius nodded soberly. ‘Libertus told me of the incident himself.’ He turned to me. ‘Do you think that is significant?’

  ‘Very significant indeed,’ I said. ‘And I’m sure that Adonisius thinks so too. He said so earlier. His master thought the two deaths were no coincidence, he said – but obviously his legal owner’s dead and Silvia is his mistress if she is anything. I’m sure he meant that it was you who offered the remark.’

  Lucius blinked, surprised. ‘Well, so I may have done. It would have occurred to anyone, I think.’

  ‘But not to someone who had not seen the second corpse – and could not know what had been done to it. And when would you have had that opportunity? Alfredus Allius has been with you since dawn, but he’s just told me that you didn’t hear about the condition of Genialis’s body until Adonisius got back from the search. Yet the Syrian mentioned your remark to me shortly after the body had been found. He’d not been back here by then. So when did he manage to have this conversation he reports?’

  Lucius looked flustered but he said, dismissively, ‘He must have simply meant that I would see the parallel – not that I had actually done so, I suppose. I’m sure there’s nothing sinister in his account. I’ve never had the slightest cause to doubt his honesty.’

  ‘But how did Adonisius know about the priest? He wasn’t in the forum when I described events to you, and he was with me after that until very late last night – and your other slave –’ I nearly called him ‘Pustulus’ aloud – ‘informs me that you had gone to bed before the Syrian got home.’

  ‘I told him first thing this morning, I suppose.’ Lucius was beginning to get a little roused. ‘I don’t remember. Ask him yourself.’ He raised his voice and called to Adonisius, who had picked up his load again and was walking slowly up the deck with it: ‘Adonisius, do what you’re doing with that sack and come back here at once – the citizen has questions he wants to ask of you.’

  Adonisius looked wildly at me and, before anyone else could make a move, he had stepped nimbly over ropes and casks and oars until he’d reached the far side of the ship, where it was lying furthest from the shore.

  I realized suddenly what he was going to do, and shouted, ‘Stop! I want to see what’s in that sack!’ but it was far too late. He had already hoisted it above his head and dropped it overboard. It sank at once, as though it were weighted down with stones – as I was beginning to believe it was.

  Lucius made a despairing gesture with his hands. ‘I’m sorry, citizen. It appears to be too late for you to look at that. But I do not understand. There can be no problem about disposing of that sack – it had begun to stink. I personally told him to get rid of it – I’d actually intended to do so earlier. Alfredus Allius can testify to that.’

  Alfred Allius looked from Lucius to me and back again. ‘Of course I can, and gladly. It was only venison. Lucius and I discussed it earlier. It entails a small loss of course, but the contents were no longer useable, even by the pie-makers and hot-soup stalls. He tells me he’d have thrown it in the river days ago, but up to now the water was still frozen by the banks and it could not be taken where it was deep enough.’

  ‘Then what was the matter with the midden heap?’ I said. ‘Except that dogs might show an inconvenient interest in what the sack contains? Because I think you know as well as I do, Lucius, what we shall find in it.’

  Alfredus Allius was looking mystified. ‘Gentlemen, what is all this about? I wish that you would take me into your confidence. If there’s some mystery about what’s being traded here, I should be told of it. I am considering an investment in the business, as you know.’

  I nodded gravely. ‘I don’t believe that this concerns the trade in goods, but if I discover otherwise, you’ll be the first to know. In the meantime, I want to interview that slave. Can I leave you to ensure that he is held until I come? I wish to have a talk to Lucius first, and I fear that Adonisius might try to run away. However, I am sure you have enough authority to make sure he’s detained.’

  Alfredus beamed. ‘Of course!’ The appeal to his purple stripe had rather flattered him. ‘I’ll see what I can do.’ He gave his little undistinguished smile and hurried off towards the captain of the boat.

  I turned to Lucius. ‘Do you think that we should have this conversation somewhere else? In the office area of your warehouse, perhaps? I should hate to make a public accusation which I afterwards regret.’

  Lucius glared at me. ‘If you insist. You have your patron’s authority for requesting this, I suppose? I may not be a Roman citizen, but I do have certain rights! I’ve no idea what this is all about.’ He led the way, still grumbling, towards his premises.

  I paused a moment before I followed him. I could see Alfredus further down the dock, gesturing towards the Syrian slave, who was still aboard the ship staring at the water where the sack had gone. The captain must have given an order which I could not hear, because an instant later Adonisius was seized roughly from the rear. Two burly crew members forced his hands behind his back then dragged him bodily across and lashed him to the mast. I nodded, satisfied. He would be safe until I wanted him.

  Then I went into the warehouse where Lucius and his aged steward were awaiting me.

  TWENTY-FOUR

  Inside it was already dim, of course, despite the candlelight, but the trader signalled to his slave that he should shut the door. He walked along the central aisle, and I thought that he was going to lead me to the house, when suddenly he turned round as if confronting me.

  ‘Now!’ he said acerbically. ‘I am a busy man.’ He gestured to the empty spaces where the now-loaded cargo had been stored. ‘What is this all about? I thought you came here wanting hyssop, but it seems that I was wrong. First there is an inquisition about who said what and when – though I can’t see that it matters very much. And then this sudden interest in rotting venison. What is the point of that? I could understand if Alfredus had wanted to inspect that sack – he has a possible financial interest in my affairs – but I can’t see what on earth it has to do with you. I can assure you that the contents were quite inedible. Not that I can prove it, either way. It is all at the bottom of the river now.’

  I looked him coolly in the eye, trying to sound confident of what I said. ‘I’m sure a grappling hook could be employed to fetch it up again. My patron has enough authority for that. And don’t I remember there were two sacks anyway?’ I gestured to the empty storage place where they had lain. ‘Your steward will have a record of the number, I suppose?’

  For the first time Lucius looked a little less than confident, but Vesperion took a chalk slate from a slot beside the wall and made a great business of consulting it. ‘Two sacks of venison, that’s quite right, citizen. The other must have been disposed of earlier today when I was busy somewhere else.’ He rubbed out the item with his sleeve to show that it had gone. ‘But that it is all in order; I know that it was planned. My master’s right – they had begun to smell and were becoming an embarrassment.’

  ‘I am quite sure they were. But then I don’t believe that it was venison at all.’ I turned back to his master. ‘Perhaps you did learn how to preserve things packed in snow from the northern traders, as you claim, but no one keeps a valuable meat until it rots – especially at a time when food is very scarce and there would be a considerable profit to be made. I don’t know why I didn’t question it before.’

  Lucius gave a would-be casual shrug. ‘So what are you insinuating, citizen?’

  I was about to answer, but he saw my face and all at once he seemed to change his mind. He motioned to the slave. ‘Vesperion, you should not be listening to this talk. You can go and collect together all the record scrolls – the ones that I was showing to Alfredus Allius. I promised this citizen that he could borrow th
em. And check if there is any hyssop left in stock.’ Then he added, as the slave looked hesitatingly at the slate, ‘Take that with you – what are you waiting for? Close the folding door behind you and stay there until I call!’

  Vesperion sighed and did as he was told.

  When he was safely out of earshot Lucius turned to me. His tone was sombre now. ‘Well, citizen, I gather that – for reasons of your own – you’ve come to have suspicions of Adonisius. What, exactly, do you suppose that he has done?’

  I shook my head. ‘It isn’t Adonisius I’m suspicious of – it’s you. And don’t dissimulate. I’m serious when I talk of bringing up that sack – and you know as well as I do what we shall find in it. A decomposing body, isn’t that the truth? Or half a body, anyway. The lower half of Genialis, if I am any judge. And by your face, I see that I am right.’

  He was about to make some protest but I held up my hand. ‘When we do retrieve it, and I’m proved to be correct, you will do yourself more favours if you’ve confessed the truth. You know what Marcus’s inquisitors can do. So, why not save yourself the torment and just tell me everything? Including how you killed him, as I suppose you did – though I must admit that it surprises me. I had not seen you as a murderer.’

  He sat down abruptly on a pile of crates. All his bluff bravado had deserted him. ‘I didn’t murder him – not in the way you understand the word. It would be more accurate to say I made him kill himself.’ He looked up at me with strangely empty eyes. ‘Citizen, I swear he brought it on himself. I was convinced he’d murdered Ulpius, and it’s proved I was correct. If he had been innocent, he would not have died.’

  A small piece of mosaic tumbled into place. ‘The wine!’ I said, remembering the events of yesterday. ‘The jug your servant Pistis brought in yesterday. You declared that it was “rubbish” and made him throw it out. But it wasn’t rubbish, was it? It was poisonous – and Genialis had given it to Ulpius, you said. You made him drink from it himself at some stage, I suppose?’