Murder in Hadrian's Villa by Gavin Chappell

Author:Gavin Chappell
Language: eng
Format: azw3, epub
ISBN: 9781530524907
Published: 2016-03-23T04:00:00+00:00

—14—

On his way to the chambers where Erichtho kept her simples and her potions, he encountered Centurion Junius Italicus again, coming round an intersection.

‘Has the prefect briefed you on the manoeuvres tonight?’ the centurion inquired.

Flaminius stared at him. ‘Manoeuvres? No! No he hasn’t. Odd, I’ve just seen him too.’ But Septicius Clarus had been in no mood for briefings. ‘That’s short notice. Where did you hear about this?’

Centurion Junius Italicus fell into step with him. ‘I was speaking to one of the prefect’s aides,’ the centurion said. ‘The entire Guard will be out on manoeuvres, with only a few exceptions.’

‘I don’t know why no one’s told me,’ Flaminius said, ‘unless everyone’s being kept in the dark. A test, maybe? Or is my cohort the exception?’ He indicated his wounds. ‘I’m going to have to get these seen to. Find out for me, centurion, if you can.’

‘Sir!’ Centurion Junius Italicus saluted and stamped off.

Reaching the door to Erichtho’s chambers, Flaminius rapped on it. After a moment, it opened and he was met by a wall of scent, followed by the wizened features of Erichtho herself. She peered quizzically at him through her tangled hair.

‘How may I help you, Tribune Flaminius?’ she asked. ‘Do you require another love philtre?’

‘Very funny,’ said Flaminius bitterly. He showed her his oozing wounds. ‘I got these last night. The camp surgeon bound them for me, but they’ve opened up again. The empress suggested I called in on you, Erichtho, since the imperial physician is away with the emperor.’

‘Of course,’ she said, her manner changing abruptly. ‘Come on in, tribune.’

She led him into a medium sized chamber, with mosaic floor and frescoed walls. On a roughhewn table in the middle lay a variety of herbs, while several green glass phials were staked in a rack. More were kept in racks along the frescoed walls. The scent of perfume in the air made Flaminius sneeze and his eyes run.

She directed him to sit down on a stool and examined the sword cut on his thigh. ‘How did you get this?’ she asked curiously, opening a jar of unguent.

‘In the course of my duties,’ Flaminius said.

She raised her brows in mock surprise. ‘Are the barbarians even now at our gates?’ She dabbed at the wound with a wet cloth, then began to slather on the unguent. ‘I don’t know how else a Praetorian would come by such injuries within the sacred precincts of Rome.’

Flaminius grinned a little. ‘Just robbers, I think,’ he told her. ‘Profane enough to bear arms within the city walls.’ He shifted slightly. The pommel of his concealed sword was digging into his armpit.

‘They chose the wrong man to rob, a Praetorian,’ Erichtho commented. ‘I assume their own wounds are more severe?’

‘Oh yes, you should have seen the one who got away,’ Flaminius said wryly. ‘Although… I had some help.’

‘Some help?’

‘Yes. I don’t know who he was. He ran off before I had a chance to thank him.’

‘Very heroic. Very mysterious.’

Erichtho continued her ministrations, turning to the wound on his arm.

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