Buried Too Deep (29 page)

Chapter XXVII

I soon stopped laughing.

Quintus was swearing like a centurion when we got downstairs. He was still outside the door, standing over Rinacus, who lay dead, a knife gripped in his hand and the broken pot near his head. Quintus’ own knife was red to the hilt. “I didn’t mean to kill the bastard,” he growled. “He drew his knife on me, and I hadn’t time to think, I just hit back. I wish I could have taken him alive. There are a lot of questions I’d like to have asked him.”

“We can answer most of them, I think, thanks to Niobe.” I smiled at her. “Thank you for helping. But first hadn’t we better dispose of the body?”

Vividus gave orders for Rinacus’ corpse to be removed and the blood cleaned up. Then he sent for the deputy guard captain, and informed him he was now in charge of the Fort’s security. “Rinacus was involved in murdering Lord Magnus,” Quintus told the man. “When we found out and confronted him, he attacked me.”

The new guard captain didn’t seem either surprised or particularly upset. “Rinacus got up to all sorts, sir. And he always had a foul temper. I hope you weren’t hurt?”

“No, thank you. I need to discuss this with Vividus straight away. Is he back yet?” Of course this was merely for show. None of us expected Vividus to come back till much later.

“No, sir,” the guard answered stolidly. “I’ll make sure he’s fully informed about it when he returns.”

Once inside the office, Niobe and I told Quintus what we’d overheard, and he nodded in satisfaction. “Thank you, Niobe. You’ve been an enormous help. If you hadn’t let Aurelia hear that conversation…”

“It was lucky she was there, but I’d have reported it anyway.”

“You would? Why?”

“Because when you let Ferox go this morning, I realised how Rinacus had lied to make Ferox look guilty. I asked myself why, and of course the reason must be that he killed Magnus himself. I was scared, realising that, but I was angry too. I wanted justice for Magnus. So I went looking for Rinacus, but the lads in the guard were very cagey and secretive when I started asking for him.” She smiled slyly. “One or two of them owe me a favour, and eventually I found out he was still in the house, waiting his chance to make a run for it. I was up in my room by then, and I was wondering how to warn you, when I saw Rinacus large as life almost under my window. Another piece of luck, that his brother was in one of the rooms near the main entrance, so when he went to say goodbye…”

“His brother?” I exclaimed. “He has a brother living here?”

“Yes, he’s one of the guards. No, don’t bother even trying to catch him,” she said as Quintus sprang up. “He’ll be long gone by now, and good riddance. He was an unpleasant oaf, and drunk as a senator most of the time. And,” she added, giving me a sudden smile, “he had a couple of nasty bruises on his face this morning. Now I wonder how he came by those?”

“So you heard someone came calling on me last night?”

“I heard. And you,” she smiled at Quintus, “came galloping to her rescue, didn’t you?”

“Gods,” I grinned at her, feeling a flood of surprise and relief. “I’ll never know how you manage to be so well-informed about everything that happens here.”

“I was going to tell Ferox to give him a good flogging,” she said. “Now he’s run off and saved everyone the trouble.”

Quintus said, “Well, at least before he went, Rinacus as good as admitted the murder. Presumably his reason was that Magnus wouldn’t let him leave here and set up on his own?”

She nodded. “He resented that, certainly. He never stopped moaning about it. I suppose he thought once Vividus was master he’d be free to go as soon as he liked. Those two were always as thick as thieves.”

“He must have had some sort of understanding with Vividus,” I agreed. “We overheard him saying that Vividus would protect him, and see him right later on. What was it now: ‘I’ll get the blame for Magnus, but they won’t know about Vividus.’ The two of them were involved together somehow.”

“As you suggested earlier,” Quintus said. “Vividus put Rinacus up to the murder, and offered him protection afterwards.”

“Well, we know he had his own reasons for wanting Magnus out of the way.”

“What reasons?” Niobe asked.

“He was desperate for the marriage with Clarilla to go ahead, and he thought Magnus was spoiling his chances. He was right there, of course, but I don’t know…”

“Marriage?” Niobe looked shocked. “Vividus was planning to
marry?
”

“Didn’t you know?”

A stupid question, given her reaction. So we told her how Magnus and Vividus had visited Silvanius and made an offer for Clarilla. She was angrier than a fighting tigress, not only because of the proposal, but because she hadn’t been told about it.

“
Merda,
” she growled, “so that was his big idea. Kill his uncle, get a new wife…and where would that leave me? Would he have deigned to inform me about the new mistress of the Fort before the wedding day, I wonder, or would she have arrived in her wedding veil, and I’d have been expected to serve wine at the party? Gods, I’ve always known he was a devious bastard. Now it seems he’s a coward too.”

We reassured her that neither of the Silvanii would want the marriage now there’d been a murder in the Ostorius family, but her fury hardly lessened. I thought, I wouldn’t be in Vividus’ sandals when he comes back to the Fort. If he comes back.

“We really ought to be on our way,” Quintus said, getting up. “I must just see Ferox to tell him about Rinacus, and then I must take Aurelia to her sister’s.”

“There isn’t time to get to Albia’s first, Quintus. I think we’d better go direct to Bodvocus’ feast. I’m sure Ferox will lend us a raeda. I’d have liked to change my clothes, but it can’t be helped.” I glanced down at my tunic. It was a serviceable russet-coloured wool, clean enough, but not what I’d have chosen for a party, even an outdoor one. “In this fog it probably won’t be seen, I’ll be wearing my thick cloak all day.”

Niobe, as so often, knew what I was thinking. “I can lend you an over-tunic for warmth. You’re right, it’ll be bleak and cold at Bodvocus’.”

“Could you? Thanks, that would be wonderful.”

“I’ll go and talk to Ferox,” Quintus said. “But don’t spend too many hours going through Niobe’s entire collection of clothes. Even if we don’t go by way of Albia’s farm, we’re going to arrive late.”

“Spoilsport! Don’t worry, I won’t be long.”

“Thank you, Niobe. This is really good of you,” I said as she led the way upstairs and into the room next to her bedroom, which proved to have several racks of beautiful clothes in it.

She laughed. “You may not thank me when I tell you I feel I owe it you. I was the one put the sleeping-stuff in your wine last night.”

“
You!
”

“Vividus asked me to, and I didn’t see any harm. He said he and several of his boys were having a meeting to make plans for some escapade they’ve got lined up, a raid on a farm—one of Bodvocus’ peasants I assume. He thought you or your Antonius might be tempted to spy.” She shrugged. “If I’d known he’d be sending that drunken lout to check up on you…well, I didn’t. I hope a party tunic will pay my debt. Now, let’s see. With your fair hair, you can wear almost any colour, you lucky thing.”

I hadn’t time to revel in all her beautiful clothes. I picked a lovely peach-coloured linen over-tunic with white trimming, and two silver brooches to fasten it. When I gazed at my reflection in her bronze mirror, I knew I looked good.

Niobe nodded. “You’ll do, Aurelia. And don’t worry about returning it. If you like it, keep it as a memento of your stay at the Fort.”

“Niobe! Are you there, Niobe?” a strident male voice called from below.

“I ought to go,” I said. “You’re wanted down there, and so am I. Why, whatever’s the matter?”

She was standing rooted to the floor, pale and frightened.

I went to the window and looked out. “It’s only Ferox, down by the door.”

“It sounded like Magnus,” she breathed. “Just for a heartbeat I forgot…you know. They sounded so alike, those three. I used to tease them about it. All of them looked alike and spoke alike. And he used the same words.”

“The same words.”

“Those were the words Magnus shouted at me when I came into the bath-house yesterday. ‘Niobe! Are you there, girl?’”

“But Ferox didn’t say that.” I felt a stirring of excitement, and tried not to show it. “He didn’t call you ‘girl’, he said ‘Niobe’.” Did the brothers all call you by different names?”

She sat down heavily on a stool. “Jupiter’s balls, Aurelia, I never thought of that. The only one who ever called me ‘girl’ was Vividus. Magnus and Ferox used my name. So the voice that shouted out to me yesterday…it must have been Vividus. He must have gone in to see Magnus, and didn’t want to be disturbed…because he was about to kill him.”

“Or because he had already stabbed him,” I said, “and thought that he’d killed him.”

“But Magnus was still alive then, and I don’t mean in the sad state he was in when I got there. I heard his voice.”

“Tell me again exactly what you heard.”

“I heard Magnus shouting at someone. ‘By the gods, I’ve had enough of this, do you hear? It’s time I taught you a lesson.’ The I knocked, and he shouted, ‘Niobe! Are you there, girl?’ And I called, ‘Yes, it’s me, my lord.’ ‘Well go away and come back later. Gods, can’t a man have a private conversation in peace even in his bath?’ So I went away, back to my room.”

“And you heard more shouting as you left?”

She paused, remembering. “More or less the same as before. I think the exact words were, ‘I’ll teach you a lesson once and for all.’”

“And what did the other man answer?”

“I don’t know. I hurried away to the outer door. Magnus in one of his rages was like a wild animal. You’d best keep out of his way.”

“
Was
there any answer? Think carefully.”

“I don’t know,” she said again. “Perhaps there wasn’t. I just assumed…you mean Vividus was the one doing the shouting, but letting me think it was Magnus? He was threatening to teach Magnus a lesson, not the other way round?”

“Does it sound right? You’re the one that heard it.”

She nodded. “I think so. Except how could Vividus have got into the baths? He keeps telling everyone he never went near them, and he’s got witnesses. Your investigator was with him after bugle-call, and Rinacus earlier on. He wasn’t by himself at all.”

“Rinacus could have been lying. That would be his side of the deal that he spoke of—to protect Vividus by giving him an alibi.”

There was a knock at the bedroom door, and it opened softly behind us. Quintus said, “Aurelia, aren’t you ready yet? Why, what is it?”

“We think it was Vividus,” I said, “who killed Magnus.”

We explained it, and he listened quietly, but then shook his head. “Just one thing doesn’t fit. If Vividus had stabbed Magnus, especially in the rather clumsy way it was done, he’d have had blood all over him. He couldn’t help it. Yet he hadn’t. I know, because I met him in the courtyard as we’d arranged, just after the morning bugle-call. He was by the main gate, talking to Rinacus, and there wasn’t a spot of blood on him. He wouldn’t have had time to get back to his room and change his tunic.”

“He’d wash his hands and arms in the pool,” I said. “The water was tinged red, wasn’t it? As for his tunic…What was he wearing when you met him?”

“A heavy leather sagum. Old and well-used, but perfectly clean…ah, wait, I see where you’re driving. If he put that on over his tunic, it would cover everything, bloodstains and all. Yes. It all fits. I hope to be seeing Vividus later. I’ll ask him about it.”

Niobe looked surprised. “You know where he is?”

“I think I do, and I hope to arrest him sometime today. Meanwhile, I suggest we keep this conversation between the three of us. We don’t want Vividus or anyone suspecting that you’ve helped us, Niobe. And you
have
helped us, more than we can ever repay. So thank you.”

“Yes, you have. Thank you for everything.” On impulse I gave her a hug. “You’re a real friend.”

“So are you. Now off you go and enjoy Beltane.”

Chapter XXVIII

Bodvocus’ Beltane feast was magnificent, I’m told. I missed most of it, but that was hardly my fault.

I arrived about the middle of the morning, though you can’t easily judge how the hours pass outdoors when the sun isn’t out. The fog grew ever thicker and clammier as we neared the coast, blanketing the entire area of land around Bodvocus’ house, and hiding the house itself until we were practically at his gates. But if you live in Britannia, you soon learn that the weather will do as it likes without reference to gods or men. Bemoaning the fact is a waste of breath.

As Quintus pulled up our borrowed carriage in front of the main gate, we could make out only dim shapes in the mist as people clustered together in groups. But though we couldn’t see much, we could hear plenty of animated chatter and some singing, and the air carried smoke from several cooking-fires, mixed with the scent of roasting meet.

Quintus helped me down, then climbed back into the raeda again. “This seems like a good party. Enjoy yourself, and take care. I’ll see you later.”

“Take care yourself. Your party won’t be as enjoyable as this one.”

“Oh, I don’t know. I’m quite looking forward to it.” He grinned and drove away.

We’d already agreed that he wouldn’t linger, because he was anxious to reach Albia’s farm as soon as he could. All the same as he vanished into the mist, I felt very much alone.

The feast was held on the large flat area of short grass between Bodvocus’ house and the sea. I turned away from the house and headed into the mist, looking among the people I passed for a familiar face. Before I’d gone many paces a tall figure caught my eye, the bulky shape of Taurus, head and shoulders above almost everyone else. I steered towards him like a ship heading for a harbour light, and was relieved to see Albia, the twins and Nasua with him.

“Relia, how nice!” My sister greeted me, and the twins danced excitedly up and down.

“Good to see you all. You got our message, I hope?”

“Yes, we got it, thank you. Lucius arrived too. All’s well. Is Quintus with you?”

“He couldn’t stay, unfortunately.”

“We’re in the same boat then. Candidus couldn’t come either. Still, never mind, we’re going to enjoy ourselves. Come on, let’s go and say good-day to Bodvocus. I’m told there’s an enormous table right in the middle where he’s receiving visitors, but I don’t know if we’ll ever find it in all this fog.” She chattered on, smiling brightly, but I caught her underlying feeling of uneasiness. I know my sister, and I can tell when she’s putting on an act, even when it’s a very good one.

“Decimus, Marcella,” I said to the twins, “Mummy and I have got to talk about some boring grown-up things. Why don’t you go with Nasua and Taurus and find something to eat?”

“Yes, do that, little ones,” Albia said. “And stay close to Nasua and Taurus. You two men, don’t let the children out of your sight even for the blink of an eye, will you?”

They all strolled off into the crowd, and I gave Albia’s hand a squeeze. “Try not to worry. I know you’re thinking of the raiders.”

“I wanted to stay with Candidus, and if it hadn’t been for the twins, I would have done, whatever he said. But he insisted we’re safer here. Divico has brought Illiana and the baby too.”

“The men will feel happier without any women or babies about,” I agreed. “They’ll want to concentrate their whole attention on catching the Gauls. Not to mention…” I looked around cautiously. With such a thick fog, it was hard to be sure we weren’t overheard. I lowered my voice. “Lucius told you exactly who’s expected at your house today, I presume?”

“He did. Quite extraordinary, isn’t it? And he told me you had a horrible time last night. Are you all right now?”

“Yes, I’m fine. In fact, if this mist ever lifts, you’ll see I’m looking fine too. Niobe, Magnus’ mistress, has lent me a lovely over-tunic to wear.” I undid my cloak part-way so she could admire it, and kept her chatting about inconsequential topics as we threaded our way through the guests towards where we thought Bodvocus’ central table was.

It stood on a raised platform, which on a clear day should have made it easy to see for everyone, but it was surrounded by a thick crowd of guests, so we couldn’t get close enough for a proper view of the old Chief. As we drew nearer a horn blew, and a loud-voiced herald called out, “Pray silence, everyone, if you please. The Lord Bodvocus wishes to welcome all his guests today.”

We could hear his short speech, but it was frustrating not being able to see him properly. His bade us all welcome, invited us to enjoy his hospitality on this special day, and said that the tide would be right for the Mother-gift ceremony very soon. His words were greeted by an enthusiastic cheer from the crowd, who had clearly been enjoying his hospitality for some time already.

“But what about the peace-making declaration with Aquilo?” Albia whispered anxiously in my ear. “Pray the gods they both go through with it. Otherwise whatever happens at our farm today, it may start a war.”

I took her hand. “Aquilo is determined. He’ll make it happen.”

As if my remark was a cue, the herald blew his horn again and called out, “Chief Bodvocus extends a special welcome to his neighbour Ostorius Aquilo, and they propose to drink a peace-cup together.”

We elbowed our way further into the crowd, till we could see Bodvocus in a ceremonial white robe, and next to him Aquilo, resplendent in his best toga. Each held a large silver goblet.

Bodvocus made a masterly speech, worthy of the subtlest politician. I wish I could remember the exact words, the clever way he suggested that it was high time for everyone in the area to live in peace and harmony and put aside petty quarrels, without once allocating or accepting any blame. He didn’t even mention the Ostorii by name, but he didn’t have to, everyone knew where he was driving. I was closely watching the reactions of the people around us, and was pleased to see that his suggestion was well received. When he ended with a rousing call for everyone to unite against the sea-raiders, the crowd roared their approval.

Aquilo replied with a simpler but obviously heartfelt plea for good neighbourly friendship, and pledged himself and his family to co-operate in catching the Gauls and restoring the peace and prosperity for which Bodvocus’ lands had always been so justly famous. That won him an approving cheer too.

The two men raised their goblets and Bodvocus declaimed, “Let us all drink to peace.”

“To peace,” Aquilo replied.

They drank, while the crowd echoed “Peace,” and people who had anything to drink in hand, which was nearly everyone, joined in the toast.

For the third time the horn blew, and the herald announced that Bodvocus would lead the Mother-gift ceremony on the beach, and invited those not involved in the time-honoured ritual to look on from the cliff top.

We weren’t onlookers in any literal sense, because the ceremony took place a hundred paces down the beach, and we couldn’t see anything of it through the fog. Fortunately Elli came up to join Albia and me. She was full of praise for the peace-making, and then she told us in a whisper that she would have a chance to meet Aquilo privately later, and that Illiana had brought the baby along for the feast too. “We’ll all three be together,” she murmured. “Then my day will be complete.”

Meanwhile, she told us what would be taking place down below. Bodvocus would invoke the sea-gods, aided by two priests, while Balca packed the figures of the mother and child together with the other sacrificial objects into the little wooden boat. Then Balca would speak the special prayer for fertility and fruitfulness, and four specially chosen young warriors would launch the boat into the waves, wading out chest-deep to push it far enough for the tide to carry away. Everyone would wait and watch anxiously till the ebbing tide took the boat in its grip and floated it further out still. When it was lost to view there would be general rejoicing, because they had fulfilled their duty to the gods, who in return would give the people good fortune in the year to come.

Elli described all this so beautifully that we felt we’d been involved in the ceremony. As for watching the boat out of sight, Elli laughed and said those on the beach wouldn’t be too downcast that it vanished so rapidly in the mist, because they could return all the quicker to the feast. We soon saw them all troop up the cliff path and head for a warm fire and some festive food and drink.

Elli seemed in no hurry to go back to the feast once the Mother-gift was safely given. I’d have joined the crowds around the cooking-fires, but I didn’t want to leave her on her own, and she seemed disposed to dawdle, glancing around now and then as if expecting someone.

I realised that she probably was. “Are we waiting for somebody, Elli? Aquilo, by any chance?”

Her face lit up. “He sent me a note to say he’d meet me here. By those trees over there, where it’s a bit more private.” We began to stroll over to a dark mass a hundred paces or so away, which resolved itself into a small spinney as we drew near. “I hope he comes soon. I miss him so much, even more since the baby. I can’t be properly happy unless we’re together. And now that peace has been publicly made…”

“You’re taking a risk, though, having a private meeting with Aquilo when you’re still officially betrothed to Coriu.”

She mistook the cause of my disapproval. “You go and enjoy the feast, Aurelia. Don’t worry about me, I’m happy to wait for him here.”

“You’re not waiting alone, it’s not safe. I’ll stay with you till Aquilo comes.”

She smiled. “Thank you. You’re so sensible, and I seem to have lost my wits just now.”

“Everyone does when they’re in love. Aquilo made a good little speech, I thought.”

“He did, and so did Father. And with Magnus in the Otherworld…I know this sounds horrible, but I’m glad he’s dead if it means there’s a real chance of peace now.”

As we entered the cover of the trees, two men with knives sprang out at us and seized us. It was so sudden, so completely overwhelming, that we hadn’t time to cry out, and I couldn’t even get at the dagger I was carrying under my cloak. I must admit it was professionally done, and all without a sound. I silently cursed myself for a careless fool in not having foreseen the possibility that we could so easily fall prey to the Gauls.

Because these were Voltacos’ men. I’d seen them before. One had lank black hair, and the other had black curls and hardly any beard. Lucius and I had chased them away from Cattos’ sheep. Had they come to get me because I’d seen them there? Or was it Elli they were after? Perhaps they just wanted a couple of hostages, and we happened to be available.

Elli broke the silence, and she did it in style. “Let us go at once,” she ordered, in the crisp imperious tone of a chief’s daughter. “Chief Bodvocus will have your hides for a prank like this, but if you let us go straight away…”

“This is no prank,” the man with the lank black hair growled. “Just keep quiet and do what you’re told, or it’ll be the worse for you. Which of you is Elli?”

“I am.” I said it instantly and without thinking. Beside me, the real Elli echoed, “I am,” but I’d said it first.

“Two of ‘em!” the younger raider laughed. “Shall we take ‘em both?”

“Be quiet, Albia,” I said sharply to Elli. “Don’t try any silly heroics with these scum. They’re Voltacos’ Long-hairs, aren’t you?”

The younger one nodded.

“Well I’m Elli, daughter of Chief Bodvocus. This is Albia, a friend of mine. So what do you want with me?”

Elli exclaimed, “But Aurelia…”

“Aurelia will be very annoyed if her sister gets mixed up in things that don’t concern her. So be quiet please, Albia. I’ll deal with this. Well?” I stared at the black-haired raider, and he stared back. “I haven’t got all day, I’m expected at the feast. What do you want?”

“Oh you’ve got all day, my lady, make no mistake. Because our captain’s planning a little affair of his own, and he requests the pleasure of your company.” He glanced at his companion. “Tie yours up, we’ve no quarrel with her. We’ll leave her here, somebody’ll find her eventually, but not till she’s missed the feast.”

“What a shame. Now keep still, or your friend Elli will pay for it.” The curly-headed youth tied Elli’s hands, then her feet, and finally bound a cloth across her mouth. She stood without struggling, and I was glad of it.

“Now,” the lank-haired man ordered me, “pull the hood of your cloak right up over your head. That’s right. I’ll do the same with mine. You and I are going to walk out across the open ground, arms around each other like a couple of lovers. We’ll take the path down to the beach, where I’ve left my boat. My friend here will stay close to this—what’s her name, Albia?—and he’ll watch us all the way, and if you don’t behave yourself, he’ll stick his knife in her. Won’t you?”

“It’ll be a pleasure.”

“Let’s go. See you at the boat,” he threw over his shoulder, and began to walk me out of the trees, his arm round my waist. “Now come on, let’s make this nice and friendly-like. Put your arm round my shoulders. That’s it. Don’t be coy, or my friend will give your friend a bit more than a lovers’ kiss…” He kept on murmuring to me, but his words were threats, not sweet romantic nothings.

My mind was racing, but I knew I had to do as he said. At least I’d saved Elli from capture. But what would happen to me when they found out, as they’d be bound to, that they’d got the wrong captive? I must try and delay that discovery as long as I could, to give my friends and Elli’s time to realise we were missing. So I walked as slowly as I dared with him across the grass and down the zig-zag path to the beach below. We were now, I knew, pretty much invisible from above. All any onlooker would see was a couple of cloaked figures, impossible to identify in the fog.

As we approached a small hide boat, the other Long-hair came quickly down to us, and the two men helped me aboard it at the water’s edge. I stumbled and splashed and delayed as long as I could, but eventually we were afloat, and heading out onto the foggy sea. The water was calm, and the white mist flowed round us as we turned north and headed leisurely in the direction where the Headland must be. By then I knew that nobody from the feast could see us, or if their eyes were sharp enough, they might just discern three cloaked figures disappearing from view.