by Glover, Nhys
How did you tell your father that the light of his life was dead? It was the cruellest of actions. It would devastate the man who had already lost so much. And yet, what other choice was there? “Your daughter has chosen to disown herself and marry an ex-slave, who used to be your wife’s lover?” The humiliation was just as likely to kill him as the grief. The idea that his father would accept Anniana’s choice was impossible to even consider.
But wasn’t he considering it? Vali’s words kept playing over and over in his head. His life was empty. There was no one who cared that much for him. No one cared if he succeeded or failed in his career. His father probably felt pride in him: as his first born; as his son. He’d want him to carry on the paterfamilias and make it honoured, even glorious. But he didn’t really care, not as he cared for Anniana.
And so, beside father, who was there? No girl loved him, no close friends would miss him if he died. The only one he really mattered to was Anniana, and he’d chosen to turn his back on her.
Why? Because she shamed the family? But his family was already shamed. His mother had taken slaves to her bed, and his father had known about it. His brother was a monster, and his other sister was a power hungry, superficial sycophant without the brains to truly succeed. Who knew who she’d slept with to improve her husband’s position?
And what about him? Well, he shamed his family by his mediocrity.
He drained the last of his hot ale, and wiped the sweat from his forehead. It was steamy and close in the small inn, and growing more so as the steady flow of patrons kept coming.
His attention was suddenly drawn to an aging ruffian who was asking about a tall Svear in the area. His voice was just loud enough to reach him in his secluded corner, and he noticed several other men turn with interest to the ruffian.
‘Few people been asking that question since that liberti arrived. Why do you want him? And how much is it worth?’ The ratty little man who’d given Gaius details yesterday, sidled over to the grizzled newcomer. Gaius narrowed his eyes, studying the inquirer with increased interest. He rubbed his unshaved face with a hand missing several fingers.
Was this one of the men sent by his mother to bring back Anniana?
‘What I want is none of your concern. What I pay for good information may be, if you have any. Or are you wasting my time?’
At that moment the door opened yet again, and, along with a breath of cold, fresh air, a familiar figure entered the overcrowded room. Gaius stiffened, sliding a little further into his shadowed corner.
‘I know where that blonde bastard is right now. Vali’s his name, ain’t it?’ Rat-face said blithely.
Gaius saw Publius do a doubletake, hearing the name. He moved toward Rat-face with determined steps.
‘Did you say Vali? You know the man?’ Publius demanded arrogantly.
The other two men eyed the short tribune with caution.
‘What if I did? You want information on the bastard; you pay the same as this gent.’
Publius eyed one man and then the other. ‘I’ll pay for information. Is this Vali alone?’
‘Not alone. He’s got an estate full of my slaves! Claims he was sent to replace me. Lies, all lies!’
‘You’re my father’s estate manager?’
The Rat-face’s eyes bulged, as if he’d just been given an unexpected treat. ‘You’re the son of G. Annius Bibulus?’
‘I am. And I’m searching for my sister who ran away with the slave. I have to return her to my mother immediately. So, if you have information, spit it out.’
‘Mother? Your mother has sent you to find Annia Minor as well?’ The grizzled man was slow to speak, considering the ramifications of what he was being told.
‘As well? Can I assume you’re one of mother’s men? What have you found out?’
‘I just arrived, no more than an hour gone. Been following their trail since Campania.’ This was Menolus then, the man his sister told him about. Did he know his partner was here as well?
‘Then we need to join forces. Vali won’t be easy to take down.’
‘My partner’s in the area. He arrived just ahead of me.’
‘Good. So, little man, if you want your position back, I suggest you share what knowledge you have,’ Publius said haughtily.
Publius was considering reinstating this lazy thief, once Vali was removed? His brother’s vindictiveness outweighed his good sense every time. But how did he know about Vali and Anniana? Surely their mother hadn’t enlisted his aid? Then cold fingers started crawling up his spine. His father’s missive. Somehow, Publius had found out about it, and read it.
‘If I help you, I get my estate back? I can have that in writing?’ The man’s eyes had narrowed speculatively.
‘Unnecessary. Once Vali is disposed of, your original contract resumes. My father is unlikely to send anyone else to replace you. He has too much else to contend with at the moment.’
‘All right then, gentleman. I’ll take you both out to the estate in the morning. But don’t expect me to fight. I’ll leave that to you. And there’s been two other men here in the last few days asking about Vali. One was another soldier, and the other was with a dark woman.’
‘That’ll be Braxus. So he is on the job. Do you know where I can find him?’
Rat-face shook his head. ‘Saw him back in town yesterday, on his own. But don’t know where he went.’
Menolus rubbed his face. ‘He’ll be lying low, close to the estate. I’ll ...’
A particularly loud group of drunks drowned out the rest of the conversation. But Gaius watched as the three men moved in closer to each other, looking as if they were making more serious plans.
What was he to do? His sister was in danger. He couldn’t just turn his back and walk away, even though that was what he told her he would do. She didn’t deserve to be sold to the emperor to further his mother’s agenda. She didn’t deserve to be manhandled by Publius and this cutthroat.
But whose side was this Braxus on? Wasn’t he already known to Anniana? Wasn’t he the one who had told her of his mother’s schemes?
Keeping to the shadows, his head lowered as if he was drunk, he edged toward the door. If either man looked up, he’d be seen. Then there’d be no chance of getting to Anniana and warning her.
But, as the minutes passed and he got closer to the door, none of the men did look up. They were too intent on their plans to worry about their surroundings.
Once outside, his mind sped up. They would make their move tomorrow morning. That meant he had to get to the estate this evening. The sun had already set, and the shadows were deepening. Would he be able to hire a horse this late in the day? Could he find his way back there in the dark?
He hurried to the edge of town, found a sleepy stable lad who he bullied into getting him a horse, and before full dark set in, he was on the road east. The sky was overcast, and there was no moon to be seen. Darkness was absolute. It was cold, and the promise of rain was in the air. Even so, he pushed the horse on as fast as was safe to travel on the gravel road. With each step closer to his sister, the more determined he became. If sides were drawn, then no matter what his sister had done, he would be on her side. Neither his mother nor Publius could be allowed to win.
When he knocked on the heavy door to the dwelling, sometime later, he was wet, freezing and miserable, but no less determined. The slave who came to the door looked at him blankly, obviously not recognising him from the day before.
‘I need to see your master,’ Gaius said loudly. The talking and laughing in the Great Room came to a sudden stop, and all faces turned in his direction. There must have been twenty of them in there, including the children, and each face recorded a different emotion. It was easy to pick Vali out from the crowd as he stood up, and strode toward him.
‘Gaius, it is good to see you back. Come in, Lara will be pleased.’
Gaius stepped inside and watched as the slave closed the door behind him. ‘This is not a social visit. You have prob
lems, severe problems. Can I speak to you alone?’
‘If this concerns me…’ Anniana had come to stand at her husband’s side. For the first time, Gaius realised how well they looked together.
‘It does, but I don’t want to frighten you. It might…’
‘Frighten me? Please, Gaius, after all I’ve been through in the last few months, you talk of frightening me?’
Another young man, possibly a few years older than Vali and himself, stepped away from the fire to join them. He had an ugly scar down one side of his face, and had the look of a fighter. ‘Mind if I hear this?’
Gaius wasn’t sure where this man stood. Was he friend or foe? ‘Braxus?’
The man’s eyes widened, and he nodded his head slowly. ‘How do you know me?’
‘I don’t. Just putting two and two together. You were directed here by that little rat of an estate manager?’
He nodded, without saying another word.
‘Then I’ll leave it to Vali to decide who hears what I have to say.’
Vali looked at the scarred man, taking his measure. Then he nodded. ‘Come, we’ll speak in private.’
There was a smaller fire burning low at the other end of the room. Ninia, who had joined them, made herself busy by placing more tinder on the banked coals. The increased heat and light, as the fire leapt back to life, was welcome.
Gaius wasted no time in getting to the point. ‘My brother and another man have just arrived in town. They’ve been asking after you, Vali. The estate manager is now plotting with them to kill you, take Anniana and put the little rat back in control here.’
‘How…’ Anniana started to say.
‘I overheard them. They plan to move on you in the morning. I’m not sure whether they’ll come in force, or simply to check the lay of the land. But I had to get here immediately to warn you.’
‘The man with your brother? Is he another soldier?’ Vali asked.
‘No, I’m assuming he’s Braxus’ partner. He said as much.’
‘Menolus is here? I thought he must be dead. Now he’s working with Publius?’ Braxus said with a growl.
‘They didn’t know each other before meeting this evening. It seemed to be a coincidence that they were both asking after Vali at the same time. There have been a few of us doing that, over the last week, it seems. I’m not sure if my brother picked up on the fact that I’m here too. I lost the conversation when the room got loud. I don’t know how many men they plan to gather. I have no idea how they plan to attack. All I can tell you is they’re heading out here in the morning.’ Gaius felt helpless. Surely he should know more than this bit of information. Could he have moved in closer and gathered more details? Useless as always.
Vali looked at Braxus. ‘Where do you stand?’
Braxus met his gaze levelly. ‘With Ninia, who stands with you.’
‘Is there a chance you can turn your partner to our side?’
Braxus frowned, pushing a stick into the flames with his boot. ‘I can try. If nothing else, I can get more details of their plan.’
‘Hmmm. All right then. Where did you leave them, Gaius?’
‘At the inn. I imagine they’ll be there for the night. The floor gets pretty crowded come closing time.’
‘He’ll need to piss. I’ll keep watch until Menolus comes outside,’ Braxus said. ‘Then I’ll get back here with their plan, at least. Forewarned…’
‘Is forearmed,’ Vali finished for him. ‘But the slaves can’t fight, and the women must be protected at all cost.’
‘Some of the men may choose to fight, if they know what happens if you’re killed,’ Anniana said calmly. Gaius couldn’t believe his sister could stand there planning a battle like a soldier.
‘You might be right. But they have no skills. It will depend on what we’re up against,’ Vali replied, considering his wife’s input, as if she had every right to give it.
‘Did you ride here?’ Vali asked Gaius.
‘Yes. My horse is out front.’
‘Braxus will ride it back to town. Will you involve yourself in this?’
‘Fight against my brother?’
‘Yes.’
Gaius looked at his sister, her face a picture of doubt and insecurity. He smiled at her. ‘Of course. Nobody hands my little sister over to a toad, even if he is a god.’
The look of joy that crossed her beautiful face was worth everything he had done so far, and what he was agreeing to do in the future. There was love there too, for him. It filled up his emptiness and made him feel invincible.
‘Your brother will die. Are you prepared for that?’ Braxus said.
Gaius narrowed his eyes and tried to get a read on the stranger. What did he have to do with this? Was he really to be trusted? ‘Why do you want my brother dead?’
Braxus looked at Ninia, as if asking for permission. She looked like a cornered doe for a moment, and then nodded resolutely, looking across at Anniana. His sister nodded too.
Braxus squared his shoulders and threw the next words at him like spears. ‘Because that monster doesn’t deserve to live. He sodomised Ninia when she was thirteen years old, and made your sister watch, to torture her.’
Gaius took several long minutes to come to grips with this revelation. This was what Anniana had hinted at the day before. This was why she’d spoken of killing Publius so confidently.
But they were talking about fratricide. To kill his brother, if not in actuality but by collusion, was an act that could turn the gods against him. But hadn’t Romulus, the founder of their great city, killed his brother, Remus? The gods didn’t destroy him for his act, which was far less deserving.
It was all moot. Whether he gained the enmity of the gods or not, his course was clear.
‘I will not stop you, and if he raises his hand to Anniana I will kill him myself.’
‘Get in line,’ Vali said with a grin.
It was so cold, ice was forming on the puddles in the street. Even with the extra cloaks Vali had given him, Braxus was freezing. Stomping his feet to get some life back into them, he blew on his hands again. He’d been standing in the shadows across from the inn for two hours and, although there was a steady trickle of men coming outside to answer the call of nature, none so far had been Menolus. Or Publius.
He had to admit, if he’d seen Publius on his own, he might have been tempted to end it tonight. But he’d have difficulty disposing of the body, and a tribune’s body wouldn’t go uninvestigated. They’d soon find out who he’d been talking to, and about what. The trail would lead directly back to Vali. And Ninia. So he would have to be patient. Tomorrow would be soon enough.
At that moment, the inn’s door opened yet again, and a familiar figure exited, heading out the back to find a wall. Braxus slid out of the shadows and approached his partner, making no attempt to disguise himself. Menolus was likely to kill first; ask questions later, if he didn’t make his identity known immediately.
‘Thought I’d see you soon enough. Good to know you’re not dead.’
‘Nearly was. A woman saved me.’
‘Hmm,’ Menolus grunted as he began to water the wall, steam rising with the acrid stench. ‘She the one you’ve been travelling with? I wondered why you’d let a woman tag along. Not your style.’
‘Things change. You’re planning to move on the Norseman tomorrow morning.’ He made it a statement not a question. Menolus wouldn’t be surprised by what he knew. He’d expect it, just as he’d expected him to arrive tonight. They’d always had an uncanny ability to anticipate each other’s actions.
‘That’s the plan. The estate manager has a few friends who are happy to make a few extra sesterces. How many are we looking at dealing with at the estate?’
‘Including me, three warriors and a handful of enthusiastic slaves.’
‘Including you?’ This obviously astonished his partner, and Braxus smiled wolfishly.
‘Ah, you’re our Trojan horse then.’
‘No, I’m not. I o
we my life to Ninia, and so I pay the debt. You should know that about me by now.’
‘This girl has something to do with our assignment?’ Menolus walked toward him, his voice a note higher than his usual gruff baritone because of his surprise.
‘As good as the sister to our target. And the tribune you’re plotting with hurt my girl bad. He dies, one way or the other.’
‘Damn, you never do things by half, do you? Must be how you stay alive. So you’re asking me to turn traitor?’
‘I’m asking you to change sides. It won’t cost you anything. After it’s done, we go back to Rome, tell our patron her daughter died in that gale, and we collect the rest of our money.’
Menolus considered what he was being told. ‘How do you know I won’t agree and then doublecross you?’
‘You’re many things, but if you give your word to a friend, you keep it.’
‘We friends now?’
‘Always. What do you say?’
‘I say I’d rather keep my partner than risk my neck for that bitch. Things went wrong right from the start on this mission… should have realised it would go bottom up, sooner or later.’
‘Sometimes, when something goes wrong, it actually means it’s going more right than you ever believed possible. Good to have you on our side, so what’s the plan?’
Lara snuggled into Vali’s side. It was cold, but it wasn’t the temperature that made her seek even more contact with her man. She was frightened. Worried about what was to come. They had been expecting it every step of the way, and even more so since Braxus turned up. But now that it was here, it felt unreal.
‘Can we trust Braxus?’ she asked softly, knowing Vali wasn’t asleep.
‘Think so. His affection and commitment to Ninia seems genuine. But I’ll be watching my back.’
‘I can’t believe Gaius is joining us. I thought he’d cut me out of his life for good.’
‘He was always a stickler for honour. I think he’s realised that there is no honour in what Publius and your mother are trying to do. I wouldn’t hold out any hopes he’ll change his stand concerning me though. But he won’t let anyone hurt you. Not even his brother.’