Danger in the Wind (32 page)

Chapter XXII

I made my way to Trebonius’ office in the headquarters building, feeling an odd mixture of relief, sadness, and anxiety. I was extremely glad Mallius hadn’t killed my cousin, yet sad that he had tried to, in his own fashion. Above all, I was worried because, from what Pythis had said, we were right back at the starting-gate. Nikias had been to the party. He might or might not have seen Jovina there. His bad temper could indeed have been caused by not finding her, but a quarrel with her followed by a murder was even more likely to put him in the worst of moods. And there was still Trebonius…

Fulvina came out of the main door, and I wished her good morning. She gave me a cold and distant reply, but she didn’t look at me or slow her pace. She preferred to ignore me, did she? But I wanted the chance of a word with her, so I decided to ignore being ignored, and fell into step beside her. “I’m glad you’re recovered, Fulvina. I was sorry when Trebonius said you’d had to leave the party early because you were feeling unwell.”

She stopped then, and turned to face me. “I wasn’t unwell in the medical sense. I was just sickened by the whole thing.”

“The party, you mean?”

“What else? I’d had enough, if you want the truth. It was like some dreadful comedy, and I told my husband I was going home, I’d done my duty for the day. He said he wanted to see how things stood here and in the village, but he couldn’t announce that he was leaving before all the guests had gone. He came with me to the gates of the fort, and then I believe he went into the village before returning to the party. By then Eurytus had left, presumably, so the atmosphere would be more civilised.” She laughed scornfully. “Really, I don’t care how important that man is. He’s an oaf and should never have been invited to our party. The way he treated the women…not the servants I mean but the guests! A couple of the officers’ young wives had trouble escaping him, until dear little Chloe caught his eye. She’s still only a child, and he was all over her, literally.”

“I saw. I’m afraid she found it rather flattering.”

“She would. Like mother, like daughter. I suppose it’s a family trait.”

I recognised this as a challenge and decided not to take it up. However formidable this woman was, I needed her on my side.

“Fulvina, I know you and Jovina had your differences. But whatever she did, she’s paid for it now. What I want to do is investigate what happened, find out who killed her, and get justice done for her. I’ve no quarrel with you, and I’d like to feel I can call on you for help if I need to.”

She looked at me steadily, then nodded. “I’m sorry, that was uncalled-for. And whatever I thought of your cousin, I never wished her dead. You say you’re investigating her death, but I heard her husband killed her?”

“He said last night that he had, but it was the wine talking. Today he’s sobered up and come to his senses, and knows that he wasn’t responsible. I’m on my way to tell your husband now. We’re still looking for the murderer.”

“I see. I hope you catch him soon. I don’t like the idea of a killer at large. And yes, you may call on me for help, if you feel there’s anything I can do.”

She went on her way, leaving me wondering how long Trebonius had been away from the party altogether, and whether his absence coincided with the time, just before the rainstorm, when my cousin was killed. Fulvina had given him an alibi of sorts, but not a very useful one, unless we could tie up the times more precisely.

I had to wait a while before the commander was free, which was hardly surprising in view of the alert. But at least when I eventually saw him he made no trouble about releasing Mallius, once I’d explained that his confession was the result of a misunderstanding and too much wine.

“That’s excellent. I’ll authorise his release straight away.” He called in a secretary and dictated a brief note to Nikias, ordering him to treat Mallius as an injured officer and no longer as a prisoner.

“I must say it’s a relief,” he said to me. “You were right to persevere with him. I’d hate to think he could have been convicted of a murder because we hadn’t fully understood what he meant. And that’s one more man back on the strength.”

“I doubt he’ll be fit for much today. The doctor’s keeping him in bed.”

“I don’t mean Mallius. He’ll need time to recover. I mean the guard I left watching him. We’re holding down the natives by force of numbers, and I need every single man who’s fit to fight. Even so, if any Brigantes come from outside Isurium I can’t guarantee to hold the village for long. I’ve sent out for reinforcements, so let’s hope there isn’t some sort of general native rising that affects other forts as well.”

“Ah, so that’s why Philippus went off so early,” I said. “I hope he’ll be back soon. I’m sure it will comfort Mallius to see him.”

“Philippus? He hasn’t gone anywhere that I know of. He’s in the fort somewhere.”

“The gate-guard says he left at dawn for Cataractonium.”

Trebonius swore and then apologised, but I smiled and assured him that, having a centurion for a father, I wasn’t easily shocked. “I’m puzzled though,” I added. “I wonder where Philippus has gone?”

The commander frowned. “Really, that boy! Sometimes I think it must be his fault that his father’s taken to drink. When am I ever going to teach him army discipline?”

“A bit of a rascal, is he?”

“That’s putting it mildly. A bit of a troublemaker, more likely, with his gambling and fighting…I ought to have thrown him out of this unit months ago. But he’s one of our best fighters, and especially good at scouting, keeping under cover and observing from a distance. Perhaps that’s what he’s doing now, reconnoitring the situation in the village. If not, I don’t know where he is or when he’ll be back. Your guess is as good as mine.” He stood up, indicating our meeting was over. “Well, thank you for bringing me one piece of good news. I haven’t a homicidal deputy commander to deal with, on top of everything else.”

On my way back to our little office I saw Congrio, walking slowly and dejectedly towards the stables. “You don’t look very happy, Congrio.”

“I’ve just heard the news about Eurytus being killed. And bad news it is for me, I must say.”

“Really? I hadn’t pictured you as an admirer of Lord Eurytus. Or did you see him as a potential customer?”

He laughed. “You’re right on both counts. But nobody’s allowed out of the fort today without express leave from the commander, and he’s so busy he won’t even see me. Just sent a message that I’m to stay within the walls or I’ll be arrested.”

“That must be annoying for you. I don’t blame you for wanting to leave us, with everything that’s going on.”

“I’ve sold all my cloaks now, and most of the cloths and mats. It’s been a good trip for me, and I need to get more stock. I’ve a warehouse at Eburacum, with more supplies coming up the river all the time. Only now I’m stuck here for at least a day, maybe longer. I’d be safe enough on the road. I’ve got good bodyguards and I’ve no quarrel with the native Britons—they respect traders. But the commander says it’s too dangerous.” He grumbled on for a while, but I’d a question I wanted to ask, so I waited patiently till there was a pause.

“You’ve sold all those cloaks! Well done. That means practically every soldier in the fort must have bought one.”

“Just about.” He smiled proudly. “I suppose I shouldn’t feel too badly about the unrest among the natives. The arson in the village has made everyone a bit jumpy about fires.”

“The doctor was very pleased with his.”

“He bought one for his assistant Pythis…his nephew, I think he said. I got the impression they were pleased to meet a fellow Greek. Trebonius and his wife each bought one, and three of the tribunes, and Philippus of course, and even a couple of the locals. Their leader Brennus, the one who was at the party yesterday, got a couple more for his sons.” He grinned. “Pity I’m not allowed to sell my knives here, but the commander’s absolutely forbidden it. Still, you can’t win every race, can you?”

“Knives? I didn’t realise you sold anything that wasn’t made out of Vulcan’s Shield.”

“I always carry a few small items, and I got a couple of dozen very fine knives while I was in Eburacum, from a friend of mine who trades in the market. I had to promise him not to sell them there. He didn’t want the competition, but I reckoned they’d go well in the fort here. They would have done too, but Trebonius says he doesn’t want any offensive weapons sold to the troops just now, there’s enough brawling without making it any easier for them. Can you believe it?”

I had to laugh. “No, I can’t, Congrio. He’s got a fort full of soldiers, trained to kill and equipped with the best Roman weapons…and he’s worried about a few knives?”

He laughed too. “So he says. Pity, because they’re nicely made, decent sharp blades and good wood handles with silver inlay.”

“Silver inlay? That’s unusual.” I remembered Quintus had said that Eurytus was killed by a knife with a silver handle. It couldn’t be one of Congrio’s…or could it?

He shrugged. “But I don’t want bad feeling with the army, so I’m doing what I’m told, and I haven’t sold a single one. I did give one away to young Philippus, as a thank-you for helping me sell the cloaks. It was when he bought one that all the others started to take an interest. He doesn’t live here, so I can’t see the harm.”

I can, I thought, given Philippus’ liking for brawling. Still, it was done now.

Congrio must have sensed my disapproval, and mistaken it for envy. “Perhaps you’d like one yourself, Aurelia? You did me a good turn the other night introducing me to Philippus. So I’ll be delighted if you’ll take one with my compliments.”

“Thank you, that’s really kind of you. I’d like one very much. Could you drop it into our little office? I’ll be in and out of there all day.”

“Of course, as soon as I can.” He broke off and turned towards the main gate. “There, look, more people coming inside for shelter.”

Several carriages were rumbling in, accompanied by a couple of dozen servants on foot, and four mounted men. I recognised the riders as Lucius, Titch, and the soldiers they’d taken as escort. The carriages must contain Mallius’ household. I watched as they pulled up some distance inside the gate and disgorged old Statius and his two servants, and a dozen or so of Mallius and Jovina’s slaves, mostly women and children. Selena was among them, but neither Chloe nor Vitellia were, and I couldn’t see Baca either.

I ran across to Lucius. “Is everything all right? Why aren’t the girls with you?”

“Nothing’s all right.” He pulled a note from his belt-pouch and thrust it at me. “It’s addressed to you, but I’ve read it. Titch, could you report what’s happened to the commander, please. Get more men to help search. Then we’ll go straight back and look for them.”

“Look for them? What do you mean?”

“Read it,” Lucius snapped, and I opened the note-tablet. To my surprise I found it was from Baca, in childlike writing and badly spelt, but that couldn’t disguise the appalling message.

Mistress Aurelia from Baca.

I’m sorry. Miss V and Miss C are going to the river. They won’t say why, to meet boys, I think. I can’t stop them so am going too. I don’t like it.

I didn’t like it either. Quite apart from the danger they were putting themselves in, it was completely the wrong way to behave, going off to secret meetings so soon after Jovina’s death.

“The stupid, stupid children…Lucius, what can I say? I’m so sorry. I never thought of them doing anything like this.”

“No.” He jumped from his horse and came to stand close to me, speaking quietly. “Chloe’s presumably at the bottom of this?”

“Yes. She’s been sneaking off regularly to meet a soldier she thinks she’s in love with, a lad called Gambax. But he won’t be going to any secret rendezvous today. He’s helping our investigations and he’s with Quintus now at Brennus’ house.”

“The note mentions ‘boys’, more than one. Who else would they be going to meet, do you know?”

“Philippus, I expect. He’s been…” I almost said “flirting” but stopped just in time. “He’s been looking after Vitellia while I’ve been with Jovina. Which is good of him,” I added with a sudden inspiration, “considering she never stops talking to him about you.”

“Philippus? But Titch told me he’s the killer who came to the mansio.”

“He is, but that’s a different matter, quite separate from this. Vitellia’s in no danger from him because she doesn’t know anything about our investigations. Her innocence will protect her. And anyway he won’t get to the assignation either. He’s ridden off to Cataractonium this morning.”

“This gets worse and worse. It’s bad enough the two silly girls having gone out on their own, but now when they get to the river they’ll find nobody waiting for them, nobody to look after them. And the whole area seething with hostile natives!”

“They’ll come back when they realise nobody is going to turn up.” I was trying to reassure myself as well as my brother. “Back to the house, or probably straight here. They’ll realise being out in the open isn’t a good idea, what with Eurytus’ death…”

“They won’t know about Eurytus’ death,” Lucius retorted.

That took the wind from my sail. They were a pair of thoughtless little girls, off on what they believed was an amusing secret outing and probably feeling very daring, but with no real idea of the danger all around them.