Danger in the Wind

by Jane Finnis

  “I might not be able to physically prevent your travelling,” he said slowly, “but I have power over this mansio and everything in it. I’m the legal owner, and all I have to do is order the staff not to help you, or let you take any of my property away from the Oak Tree. You can’t remove even one horse or saddle, one slave, without my leave, let alone the proper escort you’d need for a journey north.”

  I stared at him in horror. Much as I hated to admit it, I realised he was right. In law, he is the owner of the Oak Tree, because of course as an official mansio, it can’t be owned by a woman. We called ourselves joint proprietors, but the legal fact was that he owned it, while I ran it. This arrangement suited us both, and had never caused us a cross word. Until now.

  But I couldn’t bring myself to acknowledge that the law was on his side, so I said nothing.

  “I hate this,” he said, in a more normal voice. “I don’t want to quarrel with you, Aurelia. I want to keep you safe. Is that so unreasonable?”

  I was too annoyed to make peace. “It’s completely unreasonable. If I have to stay here with Vitellia, I’ll…well I won’t stay here, and that’s all there is to it.”

  “Enough!” he snapped, and I heard in his gruff tone an echo of our father’s voice, when he’d made an unpopular decision and expected the family to obey him.

  My mind was racing as I tried to think of a way out of this impasse. There must be something I could do, if I could only find it. There must be.

  He said, “I shall talk to the senior staff, Margarita and Secundus.”

  “To tell them I’ll be a prisoner in my own mansio?”

  “Oh, don’t worry, I shan’t make it sound as if I’m having to forbid you like a naughty child, even if I am. I shall say you’re in danger if you go north, and I’ll hold them personally responsible if anything happens to you. I’ll make it clear that you are not to leave the Oak Tree unescorted till I come back, and you’re not to travel further afield than Oak Bridges.”

  “And Eburacum, surely,” I protested. “I need to go there now and then for business reasons, you know that, if you’re away for any length of time.”

  “All right, you can go to Eburacum if it’s really necessary, but you must take Secundus as guard. That way you won’t stay there an hour longer than you have to, because you’ll know he’ll be needed here.”

  And Albia’s farm? My sister’s name flashed into my mind and I almost spoke it aloud, but I swallowed it back just in time. My sister and her family live a day’s travel to the east, and she’d help me, I knew she would. Lucius has no authority over her now that she’s married to Candidus. If he hadn’t thought of that, I wasn’t going to remind him.

  For now, I’d have to let him think he’d won, and wait till he’d gone and I could get help. But he knows me, and if I gave in too easily, he’d smell a rat. “You’re being a bastard, brother,” I grumbled, “and a stupid, pompous bastard at that.”

  “But I’m right, and you know it. Stop arguing, and give me your word that you’ll do as I ask in this.”

  I gave him only a silence.

  “I’m waiting, Aurelia.”

  “You’ll have a long wait.”

  He shrugged. “Very well, you won’t promise. That makes no difference. I’ll give my orders and the staff will do as I tell them. Which means you will too. You live a pretty free life here, but you must accept my judgment about what’s best. You’ll stay away from Isurium until the danger there is over. Like it or lump it.”

  “I shan’t do either, brother,” I answered, but too softly for him to hear as he stalked out.

  Chapter V

  I daresay it will shock many people that I even considered disobeying Lucius. As head of the family he’s duty-bound to take decisions for all of us, if he thinks he’s protecting us from harm. But I was so sure I was right to go to Jovina and so angry with him for wanting to prevent me that my decision was made in a heartbeat, and once made, I never thought of changing it.

  I believe the gods must have approved of my disobedience, because everything was surprisingly easy. I’ve always been a good organiser, so the practical details were straightforward enough: I just had to make sure I could get away from the Oak Tree and as far as Eburacum without assistance from anyone here. I knew how I could arrange that. Then once I was in Eburacum, Albia wouldn’t refuse her help, and I could get to Isurium.

  Lucius himself made it simpler for me than I could have dared to hope. What he should have done was talk to the staff straight away, because once he ordered them not to help me travel any distance from the Oak Tree, everyone would have to obey him: the slaves without question, the free staff from duty. But he was so determined to spend the rest of the day with his beloved that he and Vitellia set off for their country drive as soon as he’d finished laying down the law to me, and I knew they wouldn’t be back till dinner time. I had all day to plan.

  First I wrote to Jovina, accepting her invitation and assuring her I was looking forward to her party, without of course mentioning her request for help. I wanted it to reach Isurium as soon as possible, which meant one of our lads would have to take it as far as Eburacum, from where the army post would carry it north. But luckily a cavalry courier I recognised stopped by to change horses and have a meal on his way west, and in no time he’d agreed to add my note to the bag of official messages he was carrying, in exchange for a free skin of wine for his journey. Cheap at the price.

  The second letter took longer. It was to my sister Albia, and I was asking two favours. I needed her to help me on my journey to Isurium, even perhaps lend me transport to drive there, and also to look after Vitellia at her farm while I was away. I was sure she’d agree. She knew Jovina as well as I did, and would want to help if she was in trouble. All the same she’d think my requests odd, and I didn’t want to go into the problem of Lucius’ attitude in my note, so I added a couple of sentences which would tell her there was more here than met the eye: “I know I’m asking a lot, Albia. There’s a problem with a guest from Arpinum which is making all this a bit complicated.” “Arpinum” was a kind of code word all the staff knew, going back to the old days when Albia was my housekeeper at the Oak Tree. It was a way of telling each other discreetly that we’d got trouble. She would remember.

  I didn’t expect the gods to find me a convenient army courier for this note too, but they did even better. As I headed for the stables to arrange for one of our own boys to ride to my sister’s, I heard hoof-beats coming down from the main road. Onto the forecourt rode a young man I recognised, one of Albia’s servants. He waved and called my name.

  My heart missed several beats. A messenger from Albia? Was something wrong? Perhaps she was ill, or Candidus, or the children?

  But he was grinning as he pulled up and jumped down beside me. “Don’t look so worried, Mistress, there’s nothing wrong. I’ve brought a message from Mistress Albia. She’s gone to stay in our Eburacum house for a few days, and she invites you to visit her there.”

  “Albia’s in Eburacum? That’s wonderful. But surely…I mean why didn’t she call in here as she was passing? I can’t believe she wouldn’t stop at the Oak Tree on her way.”

  “She didn’t come by this road. She went by way of Petuaria to visit Mistress Tullia there. She wanted to see her new baby. Very taken with it, she was, and…”

  “Yes, I see.” Albia adores new babies. I can never understand it myself. “So she went direct to Eburacum from there?”

  “That’s right. She had some business to do for the farm. We got there last night. She sent me straight here to ask if you’ll come and join her.”

  He pulled a note-tablet from his saddlebag and handed it to me. “This letter explains it all. I’m to wait for your answer and take it straight back today.” He grinned again. “And I’m to say she won’t accept any answer except yes.”

  “Then it’s yes, I’d love to come. Get yourself something to eat, and a fresh horse. I’ll have a note for you to take back by the ti
me you’ve done that.”

  I hurried to my study, hardly able to believe my good fortune. An invitation to Eburacum! Exactly what I needed and wanted.

  Albia to dear Aurelia, greetings.

  I hope you’re really on the mend at last. Your letter in May sounded more cheerful, and I’ve got just the prescription to get you completely well again. Come and stay with me in Eburacum. I’m here for a few days after visiting Tullia and her gorgeous baby. And I’m here alone, Candidus can’t leave the farm with all the summer work, and I didn’t take the twins with me to Tullia’s, I thought she had enough to do without having them rampaging around her house. I’ve got a few business errands to do for the farm, but it’s very lonely. Do say you’ll come over and keep me company. Then I’ll travel back with you to the Oak Tree, so I can see Lucius on my way home and meet this latest girl of his.

  Remember, I’m not taking no for an answer.

  The note I wrote to her now was as easy as the previous one had been difficult.

  Aurelia to dear Albia, greetings.

  What a wonderful surprise. Yes please, I’d love to come. I’ve been thinking about a little holiday, with Eburacum as the first stop, so thank you. I’ll set off the day after tomorrow. I’m quite recovered, and looking forward to a change of scene, and especially to seeing you. And I’ve lots of news, including some from Arpinum.

  Lucius has to go away on an assignment, unexpected but necessary. So Vitellia is staying here at the Oak Tree. I hope it’s all right if I bring her with me.

  I’m counting the hours.

  I was watching the lad ride away with my note when one of the horse-boys came running to me from the direction of the stable-yard. “Could you come to the small paddock, please, Mistress?”

  “What is it? Moon-cloud?”

  “Not yet, but she won’t be long. No, Hawk’s got a message for you. He’s waiting there.”

  I always enjoy chatting to Hawk, partly because he’s a good friend and partly because he’s the best native tracker I’ve ever seen. He knows our woods as nobody else does, down to the last tree and tuft of grass, and if anything unusual had happened last night or early this morning, he would very likely be able to tell me about it.

  He was leaning on the fence talking softly to Moon-cloud and stroking her neck. Yes, she was very near her time. Mares usually give birth in the night, but this one looked as if she wouldn’t wait till dark.

  He turned and smiled as he heard me approach. He’s a dark, slim man who can move like a cat through the trees. As usual, he had his large hound beside him.

  “Good morning, Aurelia. How are you?”

  “I’m well, thank you, Hawk. I haven’t seen you for a few days. Have you been on your travels?”

  “Yes, I’ve been hunting north of here. I took two of my sons. It’s time they spread their wings a little.”

  “A successful trip?”

  He nodded. “We caught a wild boar, and his sow and litter. A couple of deer, and the usual small birds, and several good big hares. I wondered if you’d like any meat.”

  “Very much, please. Deer or hares would be welcome. And what birds did you catch?” We discussed game and prices briefly, and shook hands on a deal. As usual, I spoke Latin, while he answered in native British. We always conversed like this, even though each of us understood the other’s language perfectly well. After knowing him for almost twenty years I’ve forgotten why we started doing it, but it suits both of us.

  And whatever language Hawk chose to speak, he was worth listening to. So when we’d finished our bargaining and he showed no sign of wanting to leave, it meant he had something else to tell me, but something he wanted to discuss in private.

  “I need to get back inside,” I said, “I’ve a mountain of paperwork waiting, but I’m glad of any excuse to put it off for a bit longer. Have you time to seal our bargain with a drink?”

  “Thanks, yes, I’ll take a beer.”

  He said nothing else till we were comfortably settled in my study, he with a mug of beer and I with some watered wine. I said, “We had a death here last night, and we think the killer is in the woods. Did you see anything unusual?”

  ”As it happens, I did. I was on my way to tell you when my daughter came to find me. I was up most of last night, our cow had a difficult calving and needed some help. Just after dawn Bran heard something that made him bark.” He glanced down at the big brindled hound, more like a wolf than a dog, which lay quietly beside his stool. “I always take notice when he barks, so I went into the woods to investigate. I found a riderless horse wandering about looking lost. Dark grey with one white sock, rather skinny, but quite lively, and didn’t mind being caught. I looked around for a while, and found the boy who presumably had been its rider. A thin spotty lad with lanky brown hair.”

  “Had been its rider? I don’t like the sound of that.”

  “I’m afraid you’re right. He’s dead.”

  “How?”

  “He was stabbed in the neck.”

  “Poor boy.” I felt sorry for him of course, but mainly I was alarmed. We’d assumed he was the criminal in this affair, murdering his master and then escaping. Now it seemed there was another murderer…who was still free.

  I told Hawk briefly about Terentius. I mentioned the locked box but not its contents. This situation was growing more complicated by the hour, and I felt instinctively that the fewer people who knew about that particular secret, the better. “We assumed the servant had killed his master, either after robbing him, or perhaps because of some grudge. I suppose it couldn’t be that the boy felt remorse for what he’d done, and took his own life?”

  “No, he was attacked from behind. And I saw his murderer’s tracks.”

  “Did you now? Tell me.”

  “Here’s what I think happened. The boy rode his horse through the trees, parallel with the road, coming from the mansio here and heading east up the Long Hill. He stopped and dismounted about a quarter of a mile from here, and paced about, as if he was waiting for something, or someone. A man’s tracks came from further into the wood and met the boy’s. They must have stood talking for a short while, and then the boy’s tracks headed towards where he’d left his horse. The man followed him, came up behind him, and stabbed him. There wasn’t even a struggle. The horse took fright and ran off, and the man didn’t try to catch it, just went back into the trees on foot.”

  “Hawk, you’re a wonder. You can tell all that from the footprints?”

  “Oh yes. The attacker was wearing army boots with hobnails, some of the nails quite worn. I haven’t seen those boots before, but I’ll know them again.”

  “Again? You think he may still be about in the woods?”

  “I don’t know, but it’s possible. That’s why I didn’t want to tell you all this outside in the open. The trees have ears.” He drank some beer.

  “What happened next?”

  “I haven’t had the chance to do any more. I assume he had a horse of his own waiting in the trees somewhere, or he’d have used the one belonging to the boy. He’s probably miles away by now. Do you want me to look round and see what I can find out?”

  “Yes, please, Hawk. Lucius will be sending a report to Eburacum, and he needs to add as much information as possible. Gods…Lucius is out somewhere driving with Vitellia. Suppose they run into the murderer?”

  Hawk shook his head. “They won’t. I saw him heading up the Long Hill. He didn’t see me, he was too absorbed in his girl. Beautiful little thing, isn’t she?”

  “Yes. But suppose the killer…”

  “They’ll be safe enough sticking to the road. And anyway, I don’t think this was a random attack on a passing stranger, do you? The two of them knew one another, else why would the boy have been hanging around in the woods? He had his horse, he could simply have ridden off. Why didn’t he?”

  “I see what you mean. The slave was actually waiting for the man who attacked him, and talked to him, and was taken off his guard by the attack
. I wonder what he had to say? To report that he’d killed his master?”

  Hawk gave his rare smile. “Now that’s something I can’t tell you, I’m afraid. Not yet, anyway.” He finished his beer and stood up. “I’ll see what more I can find out, and come and tell you before the end of today.”

  “Thanks, I’ll really appreciate it. So will Lucius. He’s taking the whole incident quite seriously.”

  “Not seriously enough to postpone his romantic outing, though?” Hawk asked, as we walked together through the bar-room and out onto the forecourt.

  “Gods, no, that would need a barbarian invasion, or Caesar dropping in here for a beaker of Gaulish red.”

  He nodded. “I don’t remember ever seeing your brother in love before.”

  I couldn’t think of a suitable reply, and Hawk, perhaps sensing my lack of enthusiasm, changed the subject. “I’ll send my daughter over with your meat later. She’ll bring the horse back too. What about the boy’s body?”

  “Lucius will want to see it. When your daughter comes, tell her to ask Secundus for a couple of men and a cart to go and collect it. And Hawk…”

  He paused in midstride. “Yes?”

  “Take care, won’t you? Hunting wild boars is one thing. Hunting murderers…that’s different.”

  He nodded. “I will.”

  I told Secundus about my conversation with Hawk, and then stayed by the paddocks a little while, making a fuss of the horses. Hawk’s news had upset me, and I needed something to help me calm down. I always enjoy looking the horses over, and their contented grazing made me feel calm too, in spite of the possibility that a murderer might be about in the woods.

  I tore myself away at last and went into the kitchen to find Margarita, because I realised that with all the drama earlier, I hadn’t yet told her my good news. As I opened the door I heard raised voices, and paused to glance round. One of the girls had dropped a pot of hot sauce, which had smashed into a thousand pieces and created a pungent pool over half the floor. Cook was throwing a tantrum, yelling curses and insisting that the girl clear up the mess. She was crying, calling him a bully and a heartless brute. He could be both, but he was in the right here.