The Vestal Conspiracy by K. M. Ashman

Author:K. M. Ashman [Conspiracy, The Vestal]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781788637558
Publisher: Canelo
Published: 2019-10-21T00:00:00+00:00

* * *

Dragus opened his eyes slowly, struggling to remember where he was. He felt someone wipe his brow and he turned his head to see who was holding the sponge. The haze cleared and he saw the piercing eyes of Rubria gazing down at him.

‘Hello,’ she smiled, ‘welcome back.’

Dragus tried to respond but was only successful in emitting a throaty rasp. He broke down into a coughing fit.

‘Hang on,’ said Rubria, ‘I’ll get you a drink.’

She disappeared from view and Dragus felt himself being lifted into a seated position by unseen hands. The priestess returned and offered a clay beaker of clean water to his lips. He tried to drink but Rubria controlled the flow.

‘Slowly,’ she said, allowing him a sip at a time.

‘Where am I?’ he asked eventually, his voice a lot clearer now he had slaked his thirst.

‘We are safe, Dragus,’ she said, ‘we are in the house of a friend. You have been ill with the fever but have fought it off. For a while we thought you would die.’

‘We?’ asked Dragus. ‘Who else is here?’

The face of an unknown woman appeared before him.

‘Hello,’ she said nervously, ‘my name is Rose.’

‘Rose helped me back in Nero’s palace,’ explained Rubria. ‘She saw us make our escape from the guards and followed us downstream. Just as well, really, for the boat snagged on a fallen tree and I did not know what to do.’

‘Where are we now?’ asked Dragus.

‘We are in the port of Ostia,’ said Rose. ‘I have a friend who lives here and we are in the cellar of her master.’

‘Does he know?’

‘No, sir,’ answered Rose, ‘he is away on business.’

‘What happened to me?’ asked Dragus.

‘Don’t you remember?’ asked Rubria. ‘After you came around you were well for a while but then the fever caught and we thought you would die.’

‘It was the wound,’ said Rose, ‘it became infected and needed cleaning out with hot water. Luckily we caught it in time and I think the worst is over.’

‘Are you a Medicus?’ asked Dragus.

‘No sir, but there was a slave in the palace who was training to be one and he used me to practise on.’

‘Lucky for me he did,’ murmured Dragus. ‘So, what happens now?’

‘We can’t stay here,’ said Rose. ‘My friend’s master returns tomorrow and she can’t risk him finding out.’

Dragus sat up and winced at the pain in his back.

‘Steady,’ said Rubria. ‘The wound is clean, but we don’t want to start the bleeding again.’

‘How long have I been here?’ asked Dragus.

‘Three days,’ said Rubria.

‘Three days?’ gasped Dragus. ‘I can’t believe we haven’t been found.’

‘All units are fighting the fires,’ said Rubria. ‘I don’t think they can spare the men.’

‘That won’t last long,’ Dragus winced. ‘They don’t look kindly on the desertion of one of their own. It won’t be long before they instigate a search in every town from Rome to Ostia. We have to get out of here.’

‘I agree,’ said Rubria, ‘and suitable arrangements have already been put in place.’

‘What arrangements?’

‘Rose has arranged passage out of here.

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