Buried Too Deep (12 page)

“That’ll be hard enough,” he said sadly. “And be careful what you say in front of the twins. Those little tykes understand most of what they hear these days.”

Albia and Candidus were in the large, sunny living-room that formed the centre of the farmhouse. Candidus was on the floor playing a rough-and-tumble game of bears with Decimus, who seemed to be recovering his spirits, shrieking and laughing. Albia sat on the reading-couch with Marcella sound asleep beside her.

I needed to get my sister away from the children. That, at least, was easy. We’d worked together for many years at the Oak Tree, and we had our own special way of alerting one another to trouble without giving anything away to our customers. I said, “Albia, if you like I’ll start getting a meal ready for later. I’ve a new recipe from Arpinum I’d like to try out.”

She hadn’t forgotten. “Arpinum? All right. Let’s go through into the kitchen.” She got up quietly so as not to disturb the sleeping child.

Candidus looked up briefly, nodded, and resumed his game. We walked into the kitchen, which was bright and well laid out, though small by the standards of the one at the mansio. She shut the door firmly behind us, and we sat down on stools at the big scrubbed table. “What’s happened? More trouble?”

I told her as gently as I could.

“Poor Lia.” She wiped her eyes. “She’d have been safer staying here with us, as it turned out.”

“That’s what she should have done. So it serves her right, really.”

“No, Relia!” Albia snapped. “I don’t blame her for running. It was terrifying when those men came. I’d have run myself, except that I couldn’t leave the children. And so would you.”

“I suppose so. But…”

“She didn’t deserve to be abused and killed. Nobody does. If we start even thinking like that, those foul men will have defeated us.”

Once again, as so often, I felt amazed and touched by the way my sister always looks for the best in people, even in a crisis. I said soberly, “You’re right, she didn’t deserve it. I’m sorry.”

“I’m sorry too, I shouldn’t snap like that. It’s just…” We hugged, and then she sighed. “I’ll miss her. She was good with the children, and they adored her. I’ll tell them she’s had to go home to her family for a while. Then in a few days I can break it to them that she’s not coming back. We’ll just have to manage without a nurse for the time being. I’ll need a replacement before the next baby comes though.”

“I’ll lend you a girl from the mansio for as long as you like, till you’ve had a chance to buy a proper nursemaid. It won’t be the same, but she’ll be better than nothing.”

She leaned forward and put her head in her hands. I could see she was fighting back tears. “This has always been such a wonderful place to live, safe and peaceful. Now, what with these raiders and…Juno protect us, I don’t know if I’ll ever feel safe again.”

With a shock I sensed she was worrying about something else, something even more serious than the physical danger she’d faced. “What is it, Albia? There’s something you haven’t told me about all this.”

“I keep going over and over it in my head, seeing them all riding around, hearing everything, the din of the sheep, the men shouting and bawling. Especially hearing them. That’s the worst. That’s why I’m so frightened…”

“What did they say? Vile insults, I suppose, and threats?”

“Oh, those were nothing. But they called my name. They knew my
name,
Relia, and they knew about Candidus. And that really scares me.”

“You mean this was some kind of personal attack?”

“It must be. I thought when I saw them first that they were just a gang of criminals looking for easy plunder. I’d heard rumours about them, now here they were. Then when I heard them call me and realised they knew who we were…They came here looking for Candidus and me.”

“But why?”

“I don’t know.”

Candidus came through to the kitchen just then, looking tired but more cheerful. “I’ve told Nasua to stay with the twins for now. Lucius’ men are here, they’ll camp in the big barn and take turns to stand sentry round the farm.…Why, whatever is it, love? Is it about Lia? Lucius has just given me the news. It’s dreadful.”

“That’s only part of it.” When she told him how the Gauls had addressed her by name, he looked shaken, and I could see what an effort it cost him to stay calm. He sat down next to her and put his arms round her, and they clung together, not saying much. I sat there feeling helpless, and sharing Albia’s anxiety. I’d assumed that the raiders had picked on this farm more or less by chance because they’d found it practically deserted, and intended just to steal a lamb or two and then go on to harass some other poor victim. But if they’d come here deliberately seeking Candidus and Albia, that put a whole new complexion on the matter. It lent strength to the theory that the Gauls were working for someone else, but who? Candidus and Albia were on good terms with everyone, neighbours, servants, settlers and natives. It was difficult to think of any reason why someone would want to hurt them. No, not difficult—impossible. Yet it had happened.

I didn’t say any of this aloud. My sister was worried enough, I didn’t want to make matters worse. But I resolved to talk to Lucius about it as soon as I could.

Eventually Albia gently shook herself free and sat up straight. “Candidus, what are we going to do?”

“First, I think we must put up some sort of permanent defences here—a stockade round the farmhouse and the main out-buildings, with a heavy gate that we can close when we need to. We must make it easier to protect ourselves. I know you hate the idea, Albia, but after today I don’t think we have any choice.”

She nodded. “I do hate it, but I hate even more being open to raids any time of the day or night. All right. Have we enough men for the work?”

“That’s going to be a problem, with our busiest time of year coming up. But we’ll do it somehow. I’ll see if I can hire extra hands locally for the next month or two. If not, I’ll have to go down to the slave market in Eburacum and buy some bodyguards. We need a new nursemaid for the children too.“

“I’ll manage,” Albia answered. “Lots of women do.”

“But that’s not what I want for my girl,” Candidus said firmly. “Our two are enough of a handful, and you’ve got the third one to think about as well.” He smiled at her. “Only three months to go now. You’re bound to get tired more as your time comes nearer.”

“I’ve already told Albia I’ll lend her one of our maids for the time being,” I offered. “But I’ve just had a much better idea, something that would solve both problems at once.”

“Let’s hear it,” Candidus said. “We need all the good ideas there are.”

“Albia, why don’t you and the children come and stay with us at the Oak Tree for a few days, till things get sorted out?”

“Oh no, Relia, I couldn’t. Thanks for thinking of it, but it’s impossible. Candidus needs me here.”

“That’s a brilliant suggestion.” Candidus smiled at me gratefully. “Thank you, Aurelia. I’ll feel much happier if they’re safe with you.”

“But Candidus, I can’t just drop everything and go away. Who’ll look after you? And there’s my garden, I must try and put right the mess if we’re to have any crops this year. And Relia will be busy at the mansio from now on. You know how everyone gets the urge to travel in the spring. We’ll be a nuisance.”

“You could never be that. We’d love to have you.”

“You know your sister,” Candidus added. “If she hadn’t meant it, she wouldn’t have made the offer. Am I right, Aurelia?”

“Absolutely right. Albia, do say you’ll come, just for a short while. You know we’ve got plenty of room, and however busy we are, our maids will be fighting one another for the privilege of looking after the twins.”

Candidus took her hand and said gently, “Love, you know it makes me unhappy to be parted from you and the children, even for a few days. But just now I’ll be unhappier if you’re here, and I’m worrying all the time about what may be happening to you when I’m not with you. And I can’t stay with you every hour, with the farm work to do. So please accept Aurelia’s invitation and go to the Oak Tree. You know you’ll enjoy it there, and we can keep in touch by letter, every day if you like.”

“Every day? You’ll really write to me every day?”

“I promise.” He kissed her. “So you agree?”

“I agree.”

“Then that’s settled,” I said. “When we’ve had our food, I’ll help you get a few things together, and we’ll set off first thing in the morning.”

Chapter XII

Getting two young children ready for a journey and a visit always seems to take forever. I remarked to Lucius that Albia would find it only slightly less of a challenge to plan the invasion of a new province.

He laughed. “It’s easy for us to say, we haven’t had to do it. And they are without their nursemaid, remember.”

“I wanted to be away soon after dawn. It’ll be noon at this rate before we leave.”

“I know. And I’ve got to get back to the coast now. But I’m leaving Ollius and Severus here, and they’ll escort you all to the mansio.”

“Thanks. That’ll be appreciated.”

“This is no time for riding around unarmed, especially with children to slow the journey down. And you can do something for me in return, if you will.”

“Of course, anything.”

“I want you to make use of the rumour mill at the mansio. Put the word around that there’s a large reward on offer for any information leading to the recovery of the gold from the shipwreck. It’s a very long shot, but you never know. And at least it’ll help convince the Governor that I’ve done all I can to find it.”

“I will. And if I hear anything interesting, I’ll send word to you at the Headland. How long do you suppose you’ll have to be there?”

“I wish I knew. When I was sent up here, it was just to gather information, and I thought ten or twenty days would be enough, or a month at the very most. Now, with Belinus murdered and the attack here, I won’t just be on reconnaissance, I’ll be actively trying to catch them. It could take all summer.” He smiled. “Though there are worse places to spend summer, I suppose.”

“I hope you won’t need that long. Especially now we suspect the Gauls aren’t just working for themselves, but taking orders from someone.”

“My guess is they’re doing both. Quite a lot of the crimes they’re accused of are just what you’d expect from a band of pirates turned thieves. Stealing the odd sheep or goat, small-time burglary, robbing unwary citizens as they travel around, especially on the native roads. It’s only the raids here and at Esico’s farm that are very much more serious, because they include murder.”

“Good hunting, and take care, won’t you?”

He touched my shoulder lightly. “And you. Look after yourself, and everyone.”

“I promise.” I waved him off, and after what seemed like an interminable delay, Albia and the twins were ready to leave too.

They travelled in Candidus’ raeda, which was a new one, pulled by a couple of steady mules. The house-boy Nasua drove it, a sensible choice, because he was a reasonable driver and good with the children. I rode Merula, and the two troopers brought up the rear. Candidus came with us too, as far as Belinus’ farm—we still found ourselves calling it that—to see what help he could offer Esico.

On the way we stopped at the sheep pasture to see Cattos. The sheep and lambs were grazing quietly, and Cattos and Balca sat beside a smoky fire with a steaming iron pot cooking over it. They ran to the road and greeted us all, with a specially warm welcome for Candidus and Albia and the twins.

“You’ve had no more visits from the Long-hairs, I hope?” I asked them.

Cattos shook his head. “It’s been peaceful. Or it
would
have been, only Balca made me tidy up my hut, and then practice sling-shots all afternoon.”

“Good for you, Balca,” I smiled. “Give him plenty to do, that’s the way to keep lads in order.”

“Yes, that’s what my father says.” She grinned suddenly. “And Tom-cat’s coming on with his sling. He’s good at snaring birds as well, so we haven’t starved. There’s a stew on the fire now. Would you like to share it?”

I thanked her, but declined. “We’ve only just had breakfast. And we can’t stay long. We’ve quite a journey ahead of us, back to the Oak Tree. We just wanted to make sure everything is safe here. By the way, how is your father now? Is his arm mending all right?”

“I haven’t seen much of him since he got home, but he says he’s fine, and your doctor did a good job.”

“We’re calling in on Esico and Divico and Illiana next,” my sister said. “Have either of you any messages for them?”

“Just tell them not to worry about us,” the girl answered, and Cattos nodded. “Now come on, Tom-cat, breakfast should be ready.”

Esico’s farm was a dispiriting sight. A ramshackle cart stood in front of the house with two scrawny mules hitched to it. Esico and Divico were loading a pathetic collection of clothes and household effects onto it, while Illiana sat nearby, rocking the baby in her lap.

The two men walked over from the cart. Esico’s limp was more pronounced than ever, but he held out his hand to each of us. “Good day to you. You only just found us here. We’re leaving the farm.”

“So whatever you want, can you make it quick,” Divico added with his usual scowl.

“Leaving the farm?” Candidus repeated. “Have you had more trouble here?”

“They’ve poisoned our well.” Esico said sadly. “Our only water. They’ve thrown something down it, something dead, a sheep probably. It stinks, and it’s tainted the water. It’s too deep to reach and get it out. We can manage without most things, but not water.”

“That’s terrible,” I said. “And it’s the Long-hairs who’ve done this?”

“It must be, though we haven’t seen them. Anyhow we’ve talked it over, and we’re going to the coast to ask the Chief for help. We’ll take what we can with us, and go and see him today. He’ll look after us and find us somewhere safe to stay till all this trouble’s over.”

“We hope,” Divico muttered.

“I’m sure he will. He takes care of his own, does Bodvocus. And anyway what else can we do? It’s too dangerous here now.”

“But is there really no other way?” Candidus asked. “I came to see if I can be of help to you, lend you a couple of men perhaps. If they could get the well cleaned out…”

“It’s good of you, Candidus,” the old man answered. “But we’ve had enough. We’re finished, we’re leaving, and that’s all there is to it.”

“Then you must come and stay with us,” Albia said. “We’ve plenty of room, and you’ll be safe at our farm, but still near enough to your own to come over and check on things here every day.”

“Stay with you? Oh no, we couldn’t.” But we all knew that Esico wanted to accept the invitation, and only his pride prevented him.

“Of course you could,” Candidus said. “It’s the perfect solution. You need somewhere safe to live, we need extra help on our farm. So come to us, just until these Gauls are caught.”

Divico shook his head firmly. “We thank you, but we’ll manage with Bodvocus’ help. We don’t want to be beholden to anyone.”

“But you wouldn’t be, Divico,” Candidus answered. “I’ll expect you to help me with my farm work, as well as whatever you need to do here. You’ll be doing two men’s jobs, but I have the feeling you’re used to that already.”

“I don’t mind hard work,” Divico conceded. “But…why should you do a thing like this for us? We’re not your kin. You’re Romans.”

“Because we’ve got to stand together against these raiders. They’ll be caught sooner or later, but till they are, there’s safety in numbers, isn’t there? I’m suggesting this for our benefit as much as for yours. It’ll be as if you paid me rent, but instead you’ll be paying me in the work you do.”

“Well, if you put it like that…” the young man’s grim expression softened.

Esico cut in. “You’re agreeable, then, son?”

He nodded. “I’d rather be living near here, as long as the family’s safe. So thank you, Candidus.”

“And Illiana, you can help me with the children,” Albia added. “I haven’t got a nursemaid just now. Will you do that?”

“I’ll do what I can,” she said softly. “I’m with Divico. We’d be much better living near the farm, if you’re really sure you have room for us.”

“I’ll help too,” her father added. “I won’t be able to do much heavy work, but I can mind children, yours and ours. And I can help a bit in the garden, with the jobs that don’t need too much bending. And I can act as a lookout, if you’re needing an extra pair of eyes to watch for trouble.”

“But Albia,” I cut in, “you’re supposed to be coming down to the Oak Tree with us.”

She smiled. “I shan’t need to now, shall I? If we have more people at our farm, we can manage the work and keep ourselves safe. You know I’ve never been keen on the idea of leaving Candidus.”

“But…”

“No, my mind’s made up. It was a lovely invitation, Relia, and we all appreciate it, and we will come, but not yet. We’ll wait till the times are peaceful again.”

“So are you agreed?” Candidus asked. He looked round at them all in turn, and in turn they nodded.

“Thank you,” Esico said. “We’ll try not to be more of a burden than we can help.”

“And it’ll only be for a short time.” Divico turned away to stare at the cart, but not before I saw he was trying to hold back tears.

“That’s right, son,” Esico said gently. “Our troubles can’t last for ever. Thank you kindly, Candidus and Albia. We’ll get the cart packed, and drive up later today.”

“At least living with you, we’ll be able to keep an eye on Cattos,” Illiana spoke up. “He’s a good lad, but very young.”

“We don’t want to lose him. Or the sheep,” Divico said.

“He’s in good spirits this morning, at least. He said to tell you not to worry about him and Balca.” I told them about our visit. “Balca’s a tough young lass, isn’t she? And her father too, I believe. He’s nursing a broken arm just now, and he visited our doctor at the mansio the other day.”

Esico nodded. “She’s a rare one. Coriu’s brought her up as if she was a boy, and there’s been nobody to show her how a woman should behave, on account of her mother dying when she was small.”

Illiana smiled, and suddenly looked pretty, despite her pallor and rather gaunt features. “The gods know what’ll happen when Coriu marries Elli. That’s Bodvocus’ daughter, you know, and she’s not much older than Balca. Her father promised her to Coriu when she was young.”

“When’s the wedding?” Albia asked. “I did hear it’s going to be this summer.”

“It’s supposed to be. But with all the troubles we’re having now, they may put it off perhaps. And I’ve heard tell Elli isn’t all that keen on marrying him.”

“Enough gossip, Illiana,” Divico cut in, but quite gently, for him. “Let’s get this packing finished. And we’ll see you later,” he said to Candidus.

Esico looked at Candidus earnestly. “You and Albia are good friends to us. We appreciate it, don’t ever doubt it.”

We said our good-byes and went our separate ways. Candidus took his family back to their farm, and I and my two-man escort headed for home.

I had plenty of time to think on the journey home, but for all the good it did, I might as well have let my mind go blank and just enjoyed the ride. All I could achieve was to collect together the few certain facts in this confused situation.

Voltacos and his sea-raiders had attacked both Belinus’ farm and Albia’s. They had done damage and shown they weren’t afraid to kill. They’d wanted Belinus dead because he was Lucius’ informer, and that must explain the other incidents of harassment that Belinus’ family had mentioned.

That was where facts ended and questions began. Why had the Gauls raided Albia and Candidus? If all they wanted was to extort a few denarii or steal a few lambs to eat, there were plenty of other farmers nearer the coast they could pick on. But then if Esico and Divico were right, the Gauls were simply carrying out orders issued them by someone else who was paying them to carry out carefully thought-out plans. Who was playing at general, using these criminals like foot soldiers to fight the battles in the field? It wasn’t a large choice: either Ostorius Magnus or Chief Bodvocus.

I’m not one of those Romans who believe that everything we do is right, while the troubles of the world are invariably caused by barbarians within or outside our frontiers. All the same, if there’s a conflict between Roman settlers and native tribes, my upbringing and instinct make me side with Romans like the Ostorii, however unprepossessing some of them might be. But I didn’t know enough about the Ostorii really. Were they ruthless enough to kill for land? And I certainly hadn’t sufficient information to make a sensible judgment about Bodvocus. Was he playing a very subtle kind of game, using his local power and influence to harass settlers in secret while professing loyalty to Rome?

I we rode the final mile down the Long Hill, I was sorry not to be bringing my sister and the children home, but at least travelling without the wagon had meant a fast journey. We reached the Oak Tree shortly after noon.