A Bitter Chill (22 page)

He gulped half a beaker, which made him cough, but he managed to say, “I’m sorry, Mistress. I couldn’t stop it. There were too many of them to fight off.”

“Tell me what’s happened. Where are the others?”

“They’ve been kidnapped. While we were driving home. They’ve been taken hostage.” He bowed his head and began to sob.

“ Why? And who by?” But I thought I knew the answer to the last question. The Wolf-pack was paying us out for not giving them a den.
Merda!
Hostage?

“I recognised two. Two of the lads who helped with the fire.” His tears fell faster, and I realised my anxiety had come out as anger.

“Victor, this isn’t your fault,” I said gently. “I’m certain you did everything you could. But I need to know the whole thing from the beginning. You were driving home, you say?”

He wiped his eyes with his hand. “Aye, just quietly trotting along, nothing unusual. We’d got into the thickest part of the woods, and there was an old man in the road, trying to drive some sheep along, but he hadn’t a dog, and they were all over the place. I slowed down so’s not to scatter them even more, and then four men jumped out on us and took us prisoner. Master Priscus and I did our best, and even Margarita got in a kick or two, but they had swords. They got hold of Gaius and said they’d cut his head off if we didn’t behave. It was Master Priscus they wanted first off, but then when they got a good look at Margarita and Gaius, they said such a beautiful pair of slaves would be worth a gold piece or two. They weren’t so bothered about me. They said I wouldn’t fetch much ransom.”

“Ransom. So this is for money, then?”

He nodded. “They said Priscus would be worth plenty, because of being from an important family, and the other two might be worth summat to the family as well, or they could be shipped down the river, whatever that meant. I told them I’m a citizen, but they just laughed, and I thought for a bit they were going to kill me, till one of them said I could bring their message back to save them having to risk it. And all the while I kept trying and trying to think how to get us all out of it, only it was getting dark, and snowing so hard, and I couldn’t.”

“You hadn’t a chance against four. Here, finish your wine. That’s better.” I poured him some more, but he shook his head. “Now, tell me the rest. Do you know where Priscus and Margarita and Gaius are being held?”

“Nah. In a native hut for tonight, they said, and then they’d be moved on tomorrow, but they didn’t say where.”

“Were they hurt in the ambush?”

“Not much. Priscus got a bruise or two when we tried to fight them off at the start. But the leader told the others to treat them gently, and not to try anything on with Margarita or Gaius, else they wouldn’t be worth so much. I don’t think they’ll come to any real harm.”

“And what happens now? You said something about a message?”

“They gave me a note for Lord Plautius. They said it’s all in there.” He tried to open his belt-pouch, but his fingers were too stiff and cold, and the cut on his hand began to bleed again.

“All in good time. First I’m going to get you some blankets and warm clothes. Will you be all right here by yourself for a little while?”

“Aye, I’ll be fine. It’s just so good to be here. When they caught us, I thought—well, it didn’t happen. But I promised Gaius no harm would come to him. I’ve let him down. I’ve let everyone down!” He began to sob again quietly. He was still little more than a boy, despite his seventeen years and his confident manner. I wanted to give him a hug, but he wouldn’t have liked it.

“You certainly haven’t let anyone down, Victor. You’ve come through a snowstorm to bring us news, and you’ve delivered their note. Now stay close to the fire and get yourself warm. I’ll be as quick as I can.”

In the kitchen they were about to serve dinner to the depleted party of guests: venison stewed in red wine, roasted piglets, and some of our best marinated asparagus. But Albia herself wasn’t involved in serving the food, preferring to keep well out of the way as we’d agreed. So she set about organising blankets and dry clothing, and a beaker of some steaming hot herbal concoction. Meanwhile I sent one of the maids into the guest wing to find Quintus. “Ask him,” I told her, “to please come to the bar-room as soon as he can, before the beans are burnt.”

“The what?” The girl looked blank, but I hadn’t time to explain about Quintus’ favourite password.

“Just give the message as I’ve told you. Repeat it now, to be sure.”

“Please to come to the bar-room as soon as you can, before the beans are burnt. But they aren’t having beans for dinner tonight!”

“
Merda,
girl, just do it and don’t argue.”

Albia and I went back into the bar-room and got Titch into dry clothes. He wrapped a blanket round his feet, which he said were still numb, but otherwise he was looking better and regaining his usual cocky manner. When Albia gave him the herb drink, he took a sip and made a face.

“Miss Albia, if this is what you’re serving the guests for their dinner, they’ll all be off to join the hostages!”

“Less of your cheek, or I’ll fetch you a second mug of it. Drink it up, it’ll stop you getting a chill. Every drop now, or you won’t get any dinner.”

The bowl of venison stew that she brought him when he’d finished the medicine put a grin back on his face. “Ah, this is better. I must get meself caught in a snowstorm more often.”

“Venison stew, eh?” Quintus strode through the door, followed by a tall, tough-looking servant, with red hair and beard, and plenty of muscle.

Quintus smiled at me. “Aurelia, you used my password, so I assume it’s something urgent. Why, hello, Titch! Are you the cause of this cryptic message about beans?”

The lad jumped up, forgetting his food. “Master Quintus, it’s good to see you.”

“And you. I’m surprised to find you still here. Aren’t you supposed to be joining the cavalry?”

“Aye, in the spring. I want to get into an auxiliary unit, maybe north of here, or else on the Rhine. There’s always trouble in Germania. I want to see some real fighting.”

Quintus came over and shook Titch by the hand. “We’ve got trouble enough on our doorstep, I’d say. Now finish your meal while it’s hot, or I will. The smell of it’s making me hungry. And let me introduce Rufus.” He indicated his servant, who grinned widely and made a mock-bow to all of us. “Aurelia and Albia and Victor here are good friends, Rufio. If they need our help, they get it, without question.”

“Pleased to meet you ladies, and you, young trooper. The master’s told me a lot about all of you, and none of it too bad. If you ever need me, I’ll come galloping up like the Parthian cavalry, only I’m not so smelly.”

We all laughed, and I felt as if a great weight was lifted from my shoulders. This was the old Quintus, not the cold, boorish stranger I’d encountered earlier. He might not want to be my lover, but he’d help us, and he’d treat all of us as professionals when it came to an investigation.

Titch gave his account of the ambush, and finished by producing the kidnappers’ message. He undid his pouch easily now, and handed the note to Quintus. It was an ordinary wax note-tablet, tied with a cord, and the knot was sealed with a roughly circular piece of wax. Attached to the cord was a crude label, just a small torn piece of papyrus, with the words, “Lord Plautius. Urgent.”

Quintus examined the tablet carefully, but didn’t open it. “This apology for a seal has some sort of drawing on it. If you apply a bit of artistic licence, it could be a wolf’s head. Does that mean anything to you?”

“There’s a small criminal gang who call themselves the Wolf-pack.” I told him about Hawk’s warning, and the fire, and Otus’ visit.

Titch added, “I heard the gang mention the Wolf’s Head tavern in Eburacum a couple of times, just chatting among themselves. It sounded like somewhere they knew well.”

“Then it looks as if this is a straightforward affair,” Quintus said. “Distressing, of course, but simple. Crooks trying to raise some easy money by ransoming a wealthy man.” He picked up the note. “I’d better take this to Plautius straight away. Aurelia, would you come with me? If we’re going to plan tactics, we’ll need your help.”

We heard voices out in the hall, and Quintus swore softly. “They’re going to dinner, and they’ll wonder where I am. Rufio, take a look in the hall and tell us when the coast’s clear. Then go in there and give my apologies to Lady Sempronia. Tell her I’ll be just a little late for the meal, so they’re to start without me.”

Rufus made a face. “Can’t you give me something easy to do, like crossing the Pennine hills with a train of elephants?”

Once Sempronia, Horatius, Fabia, and Diogenes were all safely seated, with their slaves in attendance, Quintus and I hurried across to the guest wing. We found Plautius not only awake, but out of bed. He was in the sitting-room, and Timaeus was waiting on him as he ate a frugal meal of bread and boiled eggs.

Quintus did most of the talking, and Plautius listened carefully, taking everything in his stride and showing no particular agitation. His only question was to me.

“Aurelia Marcella, this young man Victor. Is he to be trusted?”

“I’d trust him with my life, and I’m not exaggerating. He has saved my life. He’s a smart lad, honest and loyal. You can believe what he says without hesitation.”

“Good.” He opened the note-tablet and read the brief contents aloud in a measured, calm tone, which made them all the more chilling.

If you want your son back alive, send one messenger alone with twenty gold pieces to the Druids’ clearing near Oak Bridges at the second hour tomorrow, to wait for further orders. No tricks, or they will all die.

Plautius sighed. “I was afraid of something like this. I can manage twenty gold pieces, but they’ll want a large ransom, I assume.”

I nodded. “Titch says they discussed ransoms, but didn’t name an exact sum.”

“I can’t take risks with my son’s life. I suppose I’ll have to pay whatever they demand.”

“Not necessarily,” Quintus answered. “We could try to negotiate, string matters out for a few days, while we find out who’s behind this. It’s possible we could catch them, but we need time. For a start, you could tell them you can’t get more gold till after the holiday, which is probably true, isn’t it?”

“Oh I can get it if I have to. The garrison commander at Eburacum is a friend of mine. The criminals wouldn’t know that, of course.” He was silent for a while, and then scratched his grey head and smiled. “There is one possibility, of course. Sempronia might not like it. Or perhaps in fact she would welcome it. Yes, it’s definitely worth thinking about.”

“What have you in mind?” Quintus asked.

“Let me give it a little more thought first. And talk it over with Sempronia too. Technically the decision is mine, but she has a right to be included in the discussion.”

I kept my face blank. Best not to speculate what Sempronia would do if she wasn’t included in a decision as important as this.

Quintus nodded. “I’ll tell her what’s happened and ask her to meet you here after dinner, shall I?”

“Yes, please.” He lay back on his couch. “Gods, if only I felt stronger. Ah well, we must do the best we can. If you don’t mind, I’d like a little time to rest now.”

So Quintus went in to dinner, and I returned to the bar-room.

C
HAPTER
XVI

Albia told me she’d sent Titch to his bed in the horse-boys’ loft above the stables. “There’s nothing wrong with him that a good night’s sleep won’t put right. He’s a tough little tyke, as well as a brave one. Oh, he asked if you could feed Poppaea and check on the pups, but I explained you’d probably be too busy, so I told Castor to do it.”

“Thanks. I don’t fancy going out in the snow again.”

We were sitting by the fire eating some of the venison stew, when we heard raised voices in the dining-room—or to be accurate, one raised voice, Sempronia’s. Without a word we left our meal and moved to stand close to the connecting door. We’d have looked pretty silly if anyone had come through, but they didn’t, and we could hear perfectly.

“It’s outrageous!” her ladyship barked. “Preposterous! These bandits, these
criminals,
simply can’t be allowed to hold a senator’s son,
our son,
to ransom!” There was more of the same, and for once I didn’t blame her for being angry.

“It’s no good ranting and raving.” That was Horatius’ voice, soothing and only slightly slurred. “These things happen. We’ll just have to pay up, and guard ourselves better in future.”

“They’re bound to ask for a preposterous amount of money,” she snapped, “if twenty gold pieces is their opening price. That’s about all the gold we have with us, and we have no chance of raising any more by tomorrow.”

“Not by tomorrow,” Quintus agreed, “but by the day after, if necessary, so Plautius says. And there may be another way.”

“You think so?” Sempronia sounded sceptical.

“I’ve suggested to Plautius that we might be able to catch the gang,” Quintus answered. “If we can buy ourselves a little time.”

“Catch them? That sounds promising,” Horatius said. “Of course, I keep forgetting you’re one of the Emperor’s investigators. This is right up your street, isn’t it? What’s the best way to play it then?”

“
Play!”
Sempronia almost shouted. “Horatius, we are not
playing
at anything. This isn’t a game.”

“Sorry, sorry. Just a manner of speaking. Well, Antonius?”

“I suggest we try to string out our negotiations with them as long as we can. Give them the twenty gold pieces now, and agree to their demands, which will presumably be for a large ransom. We must let them think we definitely mean to co-operate, but tell them we can’t get hold of the gold until after the holiday. That gives us four days, which with luck should be time enough to track the gang down. Oh, and Plautius says he has an idea for delaying tactics too, and he wants to talk to you about it, Sempronia.”

“Good.” Sempronia sighed. “It’s ironic, isn’t it? I’ve been wishing for some time I could find a way of getting rid of that girl Margarita. But I don’t want a serious breach with Aulus, and he’s besotted with her. He has to make a political marriage eventually, he knows that, and yet he keeps putting it off because of her. Now she’s removed by force, but because Aulus has been captured too, we shall have to pay for the privilege of having her restored to us. Unless….” There was a short silence, and then she said thoughtfully, “Slaves are property, after all, and expendable. I wonder if we should perhaps ransom Aulus, but tell the gang they can keep the two slaves.”