The Ides of June

by Rosemary Rowe

  ‘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 goodn
ight.’ 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.

  TEN

  There was indeed no problem hiring a travelling coach next day although, despite my airy assertions of confidence the night before, I had secretly feared that it would be hard to find anything suitable at such short notice. But I got up at dawn and rushed at once to town – through the silent forest and unfrequented ways – to reach my favourite hiring stables as early as I dared. I was rewarded for my efforts: at the mention of a letter from Marcus Septimus, a large covered carriage was instantly brought out.

  ‘There you are, citizen, as fine a raeda as you’ll hire anywhere – big enough to take a family and their luggage too, provided they’re not carrying too much. Cover and curtains all provided, and we even have shutters they can put up against the dust – if they don’t mind it being rather dark inside. Ideal for His Excellency’s purposes! You’re very fortunate that it’s available, it’s greatly in demand.’ The stable owner – a swarthy wall-eyed fellow in a sweat-stained tunic and a pair of clumsy rawhide boots tied round his legs with thongs, had come out to deal with me himself. ‘Call it two days’ hiring to get there and back, and I’ll include a fine raedarius to drive it, too – the customer to provide him food and drink and find him accommodation overnight.’ He named a price, which would have frightened me, if I did not have a purseful of Marcus’s gold coins suspended from my belt. ‘What do you say, citizen, do we have a deal?’

  It was an ancient dusty vehicle but it would obviously serve, and we were in a hurry. All the same I haggled (failure to do so would have been remarkable) and after a little the price had almost halved. But I did not seal the contract – yet. ‘And suppose I want to hire a sturdy plaustrum too – do you know where I could obtain one?’

  He squinted at me, with his good eye. ‘Cart, and an ox to pull it – and a driver too? For the servants and the extra baggage, I suppose? Let me see. I think I know where I could get hold of one for you – sturdy, with a wicker frame on top, complete with covered seats and everything. That would be useful on a long trip, if it rains.’ He cocked his head at me. ‘For two days again?’

  I shook my head. ‘This might take slightly longer. Say a half a moon – including the time it takes to bring it back again. And I don’t think we need a driver for the cart. Oxen are fairly docile – I’m sure, between us, we could manage it ourselves.’

  He named a smaller sum.

  ‘That’s too much for an ox-cart,’ I declared. I shook my head. ‘If it’s so expensive, I might have to change my mind.’ I glanced at him sideways. ‘Or perhaps I’ll look elsewhere. There are other hiring-stables by the western gate.’

  The stable-owner looked at me and stroked his grizzled chin. I could see him calculating how much he dared to ask, without losing the whole contract – exactly as I’d hoped. ‘Since this is for His Excellence, I’ll tell you what I’ll do. You agree to take both vehicles and I’ll charge you just the two days for the cart – provided you bring it back before the Kalends of next month. But, I’ll want full payment in advance and there’ll be a fine of fifty asses if it’s a moment late.’

  I nodded. I could see the risks but it was my patron’s gold, not mine and I needed urgent transport. ‘On condition that I get them both delivered before noon this very day, the raeda to the villa of His Excellence and the ox-cart to my roundhouse, which is close nearby. Your driver will find it – anyone will tell you where my patron lives.’

  ‘Done, citizen.’ He gave a piercing whistle through his teeth, and a younger man – apart from the squint, the double of himself – came hurrying from the interior and out into the yard. The stable-owner nodded. ‘Brother, you’re a witness to the price agreed!’ He spat upon his hand and we exchanged the formula, which in itself forms a binding contract under law. ‘Scratch a record on that piece of broken slate inside the door.’

  The brother hurried off to do so, grinning, and I knew that, even now, I’d paid too much.

  The owner saw me frowning. ‘Have to make a living, citizen. And the record helps us both. Shows how long the raeda is spoken for.’ He nodded at the coach. ‘We’ll have that swept and ready for you almost straightaway – just as soon as we have yoked the horses on – but I’ll have to send out elsewhere for the cart. Give me a half an hour, citizen, say until the sun is over that oak tree over there, and you can take them both away with you,’ he said.

  I shook my head. ‘I’ve got a servant and a mule with me, and business in the town. Send the carriage out to Marcus as soon as possible and make sure that the ox-cart gets to my house by noon. That was the agreement.’ I counted out the coins.

  The fellow tested each by biting them, then slipped them in the leather pouch he wore around his waist. ‘So you won’t be riding out there in the raeda then? Or the ox-cart, perhaps? Your servant could have ridden the mule back home for you. I should have thought you’d welcome the comfort and protection from the rain.’ He spoke as though it were my welfare he was thinking of, and not the fact that he’d have to provide a driver for the second cart, who would then require payment for walking idly back to town.

  ‘Unfortunately not,’ I said, though, to tell the truth, I would have welcomed the protection of a cart – not necessarily only from the rain. The poisoning of Varius had really frightened me. I’d not enjoyed my journey into Glevum earlier. It was even more jumpy than the day before, except that this time my companion was my much-loved Minimus, who actually delighted in riding on the mule. (I did not like to put him at such risk, but he was likely to be a lot more use than Tenuis if forced to my defence. Not only was he bigger – though not yet fully grown – but I knew from past experience that, in a fight, he was both brave and cunning as well as being as swift and slippery as a fish. I hoped by all the ancient gods, it would not come to that.)

  The stable-owner cut across my thoughts. ‘Then, if you’ll forgive us, citizen, we must get to work. I’ll have to clean this raeda and my brother – ah, there he is …’ He raised his voice to shout. ‘Brother, go and tell Jummilius that we want his cart again – and persuade him to get it over here as soon as possible.’ The other man scowled but scuttled off at once and the speaker turned to me. ‘I’ll find a man to drive it out to you if Jummilius cannot spare the time himself. Never fear, we’ll get it there by noon.’

  ‘Hiring transport, citizen?’ From somewhere behind me came a voice I recognized.

  ‘Porteus?’ I whirled round in surprise, amazed to see the portly councillor hurrying towards me across the stable-yard, incongruous in his magisterial purple stripe. ‘What are you doing here?’ It was discourteous of me, but I spoke before I thought. This was not a place that people of his rank would usually frequent – they would send a messenger, as Marcus had sent me.

  My directness flustered Porteus so much that he did not rebuke me for impertinence. ‘I happened to be passing by,’ he muttered hastily.

  I gave him a wry look. ‘Really, councillor?’ I did not credit for an instant that he’d been simply ‘passing by’. The stables were a long way from his place of residence, and not on his likely route to anywhere. I guessed that he’d heard about the fate of Varius and was here intending to hire transport so he could flee the town – despite his protestations yesterday. Well, if he wanted a raeda now, I thought, he’d have to look elsewhere.

  Porteus’s face flushed pink beneath the acne spots ‘Well, not in person, naturally …’ He nodded at the gateway to the yard, where I saw the young attendants that I’d seen yesterday. ‘It was one o
f my servants who was in the street nearby. He thought he’d seen you here and he brought word to me so I hurried down to see if it was true.’

  ‘I see.’ That made a lot more sense. Once Porteus had heard that I was here of course he’d come himself – hoping to learn that Marcus was about to flee, so he could do so too. Well. I’d have to disappoint him on that score. Perhaps he’d even planned to hire a travelling-carriage, too, as soon as his suspicions were confirmed.

  The owner of the stables clearly thought the same. ‘Can I help you, Worthiness?’ he simpered, sidling up to us. He had been goggling at my companion’s impressive purple stripe and all but rubbing his work-hardened hands in glee at the prospect of another handsome deal. ‘You want a carriage, sir? I don’t have another raeda, but I can find a cart or gig.’

  But the hoped-for client gestured him imperiously away. ‘Not now, fellow.’ The owner shambled off and Porteus turned to me. ‘So you are hiring the raeda, I perceive. I assume it’s for your patron, rather than yourself?’ He sounded mightily relieved at this apparent evidence of Marcus leaving town.

  I was wishing heartily that the councillor would go away, I was on an urgent errand and he was delaying me, but I could not risk insulting a person of his rank. I said, with courtesy, ‘Not exactly, Worthiness. His Excellence still intends to stay. I am sent to hire the carriage for his wife – he thinks she would be safer somewhere else.’ I watched the pudgy face fall mournfully and I felt an unexpected burst of sympathy. I did not like the man, but nobody deserves to get threats against his life. ‘But councillor, if you have plans to leave the town yourself, don’t let me deter you.’

  ‘Plans, citizen? What makes you think that I have plans?’ He had adopted his prickly, pompous tone again and my empathy vanished as quickly as it came.