Buried Too Deep: An Aurelia Marcella Roman Mystery by Jane Finnis

Author:Jane Finnis [Finnis, Jane]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: FICTION / Mystery & Detective / General
ISBN: 159058399X
Publisher: Poisoned Pen Press
Published: 2011-12-02T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter XVII

Albia’s farm was as busy as a hive of bees. Brutus and his men were hard at work building a defensive stockade, an earth rampart with a wooden fence on its top and a ditch in front of it. It would be tall enough to give basic protection against intruders, and it would eventually surround the house and the part of the garden that contained the spring. It was a big project, but Brutus in his legionary days had helped build scores of similar defences, and the work was going well, with encouragement from Candidus and plentiful supplies of food and beer from Albia.

We got a warm welcome from Albia and Candidus, and the twins were delighted to see Taurus. He offered to help with the digging, but the children refused to allow this at first, and he went off happily to play with them.

“Where’s Illiana?” I asked. “And her father? Divico’s out in the fields, I presume?”

“He’s helping with the stockade,” Candidus said. “Esico and Illiana are inside. Poor Illiana’s little boy died yesterday, so she doesn’t want to see anyone but her father just now.”

“It’s terrible for her,” Albia said. “The poor little mite was all she had left of Belinus. But he was never really strong or healthy from the day he was born.”

She fetched wine, and we all sat down by the pond to discuss our plans.

“These men Clarus has sent us are a gift from the gods,” Albia said as she handed round beakers. “I must say I don’t like the idea of having a fence around our house, but Candidus says we have to have one for now, and if that’s so, I want it built as well as possible. And it’s very comforting to have so many strong lads about the farm just at present.”

“Clarus has given Quintus an assignment while he’s in this area,” I said, “and Clarilla has given me one.” We told them the details, and they were amused by our dual functions. They both offered any help they could give.

“Thanks, I think we’ll be more than glad of it,” I said. “To start with, could I borrow a raeda please, to visit Bodvocus? I don’t think he’s likely to be impressed if I ride up on horseback in my cavalry trousers.”

“Of course,” Albia said. “When will you go?”

“This afternoon.”

“You’ve already had a long journey, Relia. Can’t it wait till tomorrow?”

“I’d like to see Bodvocus’ daughter as soon as I can. Clarilla’s quite worried about her. And Quintus and I want to persuade Bodvocus and Ostorius Magnus that they should stop their silly feuding and think about making peace.”

Albia smiled. “I wish you could. Relia. We feel as if we’re caught between Scylla and Charybdis here, in the middle of somebody else’s quarrel.” She turned to Quintus. “Will you be going to see Bodvocus with Relia?”

“No, I’m off in the other direction. I plan to visit the Ostorii family, and if I leave it till fairly late to arrive, I should be able to get myself and Titch invited to stay with them overnight.

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