Danger in the Wind (13 page)

With a dramatic flourish he threw the mat into the brazier. The girl took a short stick and stirred the embers, heaping hot coals onto the mat. The tip of the stick began to char, and she held it aloft so the salesman could point it out to us. The mat simply sat there, undamaged.

The crowd murmured in wonder, and the salesman signalled to the girl. She removed the mat with a pair of metal tongs and held it out to him He took it with his bare hands, not even wincing as he held it high once more. Apart from a few smears of ash from the fire, it looked as good as new.

Next he picked up a fawn hooded cloak and spread it out in both hands so we could all see that it was complete and unmarked. It looked much like any other thick cloth. Vitellia was intrigued by it, and the salesman noticed and smiled directly at her.

“Don’t take my word for it, my lady, feel the quality for yourself. This wonderful cloth brings you good luck, and it protects whoever wears it from all harm, especially that most terrifying disaster, fire.”

Before I could stop her, Vitellia stepped forward and felt the fabric. “It’s not as soft as wool,” she said doubtfully.

“Quite right, young lady. But would ordinary wool protect you from all the evils of the world? Could you do
this
to an ordinary woollen cloak?” He laid it out over his display of mats and nodded to his assistant, who collected a shovel full of hot coals from the brazier and dumped them onto the centre of the cloak. They had no effect at all, though they were clearly hot and smoky.

Again the crowd was impressed. Congrio picked up the cloak by its edges and carefully tipped the coals back into the brazier. He held the material up to show it was unharmed, and then calmly draped it round his shoulders. “And now, my lords, my ladies, who’s going to buy a cloak like this? Or a set of mats, or a cloth to grace your table…”

Several people looked interested but Vitellia was the first to speak. She announced, shyly but with determination, “That looks a good cloak.”

“Don’t waste your money,” I murmured in her ear. “It must be a trick.”

The salesman was all smiles. “No, my lady, I promise you there’s no trick. Your young friend is making a very wise choice.” He smiled at Vitellia. “Tell you what I’ll do, for such a beautiful customer. If you’d like to buy a cloak, I’ll throw in a set of four mats free. How does that sound?”

“And if I buy two cloaks,” Vitellia asked, “one for myself and one for my fiancé, can I have eight mats free?”

Everyone laughed, including the trader. “Well, well. I see you’re as clever as you’re beautiful, young lady. Of course you can.”

I couldn’t remember Vitellia making any sort of independent decision since I’d known her, so I was pleased she’d stood up for herself, even while I was irritated that she’d fallen for the salesman’s pitch. And at least the table mats would make an excellent birthday gift for Jovina.

While the purchases were being chosen and packed. I looked round for Baca and saw her further down the street, gazing at a table of bead necklaces. I walked a few paces towards her. “Baca, come over here, will you? You’ll have to carry some of this lot till Brutus comes back.”

“Coming, Mistress.” She turned slowly, and I saw then that there were two men with her, soldiers by their appearance and drunk by their behaviour. As she started to walk away, the taller of the two put a restraining hand on her shoulder and said loudly, “Don’t go yet, lass. Come along with us. We know how to show a girl a good time.”

Baca shook her head. “Leave off, will you? I’ve got my work to do. That’s my mistress calling me. You’ll be getting me into trouble.” She was smiling as she tried to push his hand away. She’d done plenty of bar work at the Oak Tree and knew how to deal with drunks.

But these two were persistent. “There won’t be no trouble, beautiful,” the shorter man said, leaning down and giving her a kiss. “We’re bodyguards to the Lord Eurytus, and all the girls love Eurytus’ lads.” He put his arm around her waist, so she was now pinned firmly between them. She flashed a glance at me, and though she still smiled, I saw she was scared.

Brutus must surely be back soon, but maybe not soon enough. I didn’t want the two men marching Baca off into some tavern up an alleyway. They were drunk enough to do it, and strong enough. I’d have to deal with this myself, not something I wanted to do in public in the middle of the street. I glanced quickly around. The faces of the market people and their customers, even at the stall we’d just been buying from, were blank and unresponsive. They weren’t going to intervene to help.

I smiled and walked purposefully towards the soldiers.

“I said come over here, Baca. Gentlemen, let the girl go, please. She’s with me, and she’s not free for fun and games just now.”

The taller drunk took a small step back but kept his hand on her shoulder. “Is she yours then, darling?”

“She is. And she’s got work to do. So why don’t you go and find yourselves some lasses with time on their hands?”

“Oh, we shan’t keep her long. What we’ve got in mind won’t take long at all.” He reached his free hand out towards me. “You can join us if you want, you know. Then me and my friend will have a girl each. Rich or poor, mistress or maid, we love you all. And after a few drinks, who can tell the difference?” Both men laughed.

I held my ground and kept my smile in place. I couldn’t allow them to take Baca out of our sight, because if they did it would be dangerous to follow. I’d have to play for time. “Ah, well, if it’s a drink you want, why not have one here?” I pointed at the wine-shop we’d just left. “Why don’t I buy you a jug of beer, to make up for the disappointment of having to let my girl get on with her work. All right?”

“We can buy our own beer. We’re Lord Eurytus’ boys.” The taller man lunged towards me very fast, taking me by surprise. He let go of Baca and put his arm round my waist. Bending so close I could smell the beer on his breath he began whispering in my ear. I expected it would be some bawdy suggestion or other, but was much more shocked by what I actually heard.

“Got a message for you, Aurelia darling. Stay away from Isurium. Keep your nose out of other folks’ business. Got it, Aurelia?” He added in a raucous drunken voice, “Come on now, darling, give us a kiss.”

“Are these idiots bothering you, Aurelia?” A cool voice behind me called out, and my heart gave a leap. I knew that voice.

“Quintus! Yes, they are.”

I turned my head in time to see Quintus and Titch leap forward together and spring at the two men, who went sprawling, releasing Baca and me as they fell. We ran back to where Albia and Vitellia stood watching in horror.

Quintus addressed the men on the ground. “I don’t know who you are, you scum, but you’re not in Eurytus’ service. If you were, I could have you crucified for this. So get back to whatever hole you crawled out of, and be thankful I and my friend haven’t time to give you a good thrashing. Stand up.”

They stood up, dusting themselves down. One of them whined, “It was only a bit of fun, sir…”

“Shut up. Apologise to these ladies.”

They were cowed now, and rapidly sobering up. “Sorry, ladies. We didn’t mean no harm,” the taller one said, and his comrade echoed “Sorry, ladies.”

“Now get out of my sight.” As they slunk away, he turned to us.

“Well, now, Aurelia, and….Baca, isn’t it? Are you all right?”

“Yes,” I answered, trying to keep my voice steady. “Thank you, Quintus. I was never more pleased to see anyone in my life.”

“Nor me,” Baca said. “Thank you.”

“It’s wonderful to see you both,” Albia said. “What a lucky coincidence you were here.”

He smiled. “No coincidence. Titch told me he’d seen you in the market area and you hadn’t a male escort. I thought I’d come and make sure you were all right. The streets are crawling with these drunks. I’m glad we got here in time. But why haven’t you got a man with you?”

Brutus arrived just then, panting and dishevelled, and apologising profusely for having left us for so long. He and Quintus were old friends, but all the same Quintus gave him a stern look as he said, “Where did you get to? These ladies shouldn’t be left on their own. The streets aren’t safe.”

“Don’t I know it! I got held up by a street fight on the way back from Albia’s. Couple of Eurytus’ bodyguards were trying to rob an old couple, a shopkeeper and his wife. I stayed to help some of the army lads calm them down.”

Quintus told him briefly what had just happened.

Brutus nodded. “Thank the gods you were here. I’m very grateful for your help, both of you. Now, the quicker I get these ladies back to Albia’s, the better.”

“We’ll come with you,” Quintus said, and we began to walk home. “The point is,” he went on, “the two drunks here claimed to be Eurytus’ men, but they weren’t. And the ones who started your riot weren’t either. They couldn’t have been.”

“How’s that? They were wearing the badges his people all have, the head of a bull.”

“But Eurytus left for Isurium this morning, with his whole guard. I’m not saying that they wouldn’t be capable of getting drunk and molesting honest citizens. But today, it was someone impersonating them.”

Brutus scratched his head. “But why? Eurytus is unpopular, most people hate him even when they haven’t actually met him. So why would anyone pretend they’re connected with him when they’re not?”

“To make him still more unpopular; that’s my guess.”

We walked the rest of the way in a thoughtful silence. The others were presumably mulling over what Quintus had said. I was trying to work out who could have sent the men, whoever they were, to find me—me personally—and deliver yet another threatening message. They’d intended to frighten me, and though I managed to walk with a confident stride and my head held high, they’d succeeded.

Chapter X

Quintus accepted Albia’s invitation to stay for a bite to eat, but Titch excused himself, saying he had a previous engagement.

“I hope she’s pretty,” Albia smiled. “Vitellia, would you show Quintus into the courtyard while I just check how things are in the kitchen? I’ll send Crotus through with the wine.”

She touched my arm to stop me as I made to follow them outside. “Are you all right, Relia? You’ve gone quite pale.”

“I’m fine. They scared me a bit, that’s all.”

“Gods, I’m sorry. I wish I could have done something to help. By the time I saw what was happening…”

“There’s nothing you could have done. It’s all over now, and I’m not going to let a couple of drunks spoil a happy day. A beaker of wine and I’ll have forgotten all about them.”

“Good for you.”

I drank three beakers of cool white wine, which went well with the pleasant meal of fresh bread, smoked sausage, hard-boiled eggs and lettuce. It did indeed make me feel better, and I managed to join in the chatter about the morning and respond to Quintus’ teasing on the subject of women and shopping.

When we’d finished our meal, Albia stood up and said briskly, “Aurelia, you’ll probably want to tell Quintus what’s been happening at the Oak Tree. I know some of it’s confidential, so Vitellia and I will take ourselves off, and you can be private.”

He smiled. “Thank you, Albia, you’re right as always. But I hate the idea of driving you out of your own courtyard.”

“Don’t worry. I’ve a hundred things to do indoors, and Vitellia has letters to write.”

After they’d gone, he sat down on the couch beside me and took my hand.

“Before I saw you today,” he said softly, “I was all set to give you a stern lecture on Roman family values. Now…well, I don’t know. But I must admit I was taken aback to find you on your way to Isurium.”

“Were you?”

“Lucius told me he’s forbidden you to go there, because it’s dangerous.”

His serious tone surprised me, given how easy we’d been together so far. It also irritated me. “Quite true. But whatever Lucius says, I’m a free citizen, I can go where I please.”

“You shouldn’t be going anywhere against the clear wishes of the head of your family. That isn’t the Roman way of doing things. Is it?”

This was not only annoying, but alarming too. He knew my secret now and disapproved of my action. So presumably he would tell Lucius what I was doing.

“I’ve been invited by my cousin to her birthday party, and she’s asked for my help. I don’t know what her trouble is, but she thinks she’s in danger. Lucius says that Isurium itself could be dangerous. I don’t know whether he’s right, but if he is, Jovina needs me there more than ever.”

“He’ll be pretty angry when he finds out you’ve disobeyed him.”

“Perhaps,
when
he finds out. But that won’t be for a day or two. According to Titch, he’s been sent off on an emergency assignment to Morbium. That’s right, isn’t it?”

Quintus nodded. “I met him here a couple of days ago. He was all set to go to Isurium, he’d cooked up a wonderful cover story about missing army records, and then he was ordered to head further north still. He was told to call in at Isurium and warn them about Terentius’ message, but then to push on to Morbium, where apparently they’ve got some trouble already. It was quite a sudden change of plan, and he wasn’t best pleased with it.”

That thought gave me a perverse pleasure, and I smiled. “Serves him right. Being ordered to do something he doesn’t want to do will give him a taste of his own medicine. I hope it chokes him.”