‘I am here to see you, my lady. I bring you a message.’
Aurelia felt a familiar flutter of fear in her belly. This could not be more bad news from Rhegium. Could it? ‘From whom?’
‘A friend.’ He cast a sideways glance at the Thracian.
Aurelia understood. ‘Return to the atrium,’ she ordered. The Thracian looked unhappy. ‘You’ve got his knife, haven’t you?’ she cried. ‘If I need you, I will call out. Go!’
With a final glare at Timoleon, he shuffled off.
‘Approach,’ Aurelia directed.
Timoleon drew near. ‘Thank you, my lady. My real name is Bomilcar.’ He paused. ‘It’s Carthaginian.’
Aurelia’s throat tightened. ‘Hanno sent you?’ she whispered.
‘I am here on … other business, but Hanno asked me to seek you out if I could.’
‘D-does he not think that I am still in Capua?’ she stammered.
A slight upturn of his lips. ‘With the city gone over to Hannibal? He knows that you and your family will always remain true to Rome.’
She felt her cheeks grow warm, and not just because Hanno had guessed where her loyalties lay. She thought of their embrace, the kisses that they had shared on the night of their chance encounter. ‘How did you find me then? How could you know where I had gone?’
‘I didn’t. My mission was to come to Rome, and while I was here, I made some enquiries. As you might imagine in a city of this size, they came to nothing. I gave up eventually. Two nights ago, however, I fell into conversation with a group of stonemasons who were drinking at my inn. One of them happened to mention that he’d been commissioned to erect a tomb to a lady named Atia, the wife of a man called Gaius Fabricius. He didn’t know much more, but I gambled that there wouldn’t be too many individuals by that name in Rome. It was easy enough to persuade him to tell me where your mother lived. A bronze coin placed in the hand of a slave there gave me your name and address, and here I am.’
‘You are a resourceful man.’ As Bomilcar smiled in recognition, Aurelia gave thanks for his persistence. ‘Is Hanno well?’
‘He is. Hale and hearty. He commands a phalanx of Libyan spearmen. Hannibal favours him too.’
Even the mention of Rome’s worst enemy and his soldiers, who had laid waste to half of the Republic, could not stop a creeping joy stealing over her. Hanno was alive and in good health! The gods had not abandoned her completely. ‘What message did he give you?’
‘He asked me to tell you that he thinks of you often. Often.’ Bomilcar let those words sink in before adding, ‘He said, “Tell her that with the gods’ help, we will see each other again one day.”’
Aurelia felt her knees grow weak. ‘I hope so. One day,’ she murmured.
Bomilcar smiled. ‘May my gods and yours see that it happens. Now, with your permission, I must go.’
Aurelia had to stop herself from crying out: ‘No!’ She longed to ask Bomilcar more, to get him to tell her everything about Hanno, yet she held her peace. Bomilcar was an enemy spy, in the heart of enemy territory. ‘You have risked much to come here. I offer you my heartfelt thanks, and the blessings of this household. Go in peace, and may your return journey be swift and safe.’
He gave her a grateful nod.
‘Can you take Hanno a message from me?’
His face grew sorrowful. ‘Alas, my lady, I cannot.’
‘Why?’
‘I am not at liberty to say.’
‘I swear, upon my mother’s grave, that I will not tell a soul,’ she beseeched.
A wary look, a sigh. ‘Hanno has gone to Syracuse.’
‘On Sicily?’ Her heart leaped. Rhegium was close to the island, where Quintus was. Now Hanno would be there too.
‘That is already too much information. I cannot tell you any more.’
‘Very well. Thank you,’ she said, bowing her head.
‘Farewell.’
When she looked up, Bomilcar was gone. An aching hole opened in Aurelia’s heart, and she longed to run after him. The encounter had been too brief, yet to delay Hanno’s friend would endanger his life. Receiving a message from Hanno out of the blue was enough good fortune, she told herself, and it gave her even more reason to go to Rhegium, to Lucius’ side. Aurelia felt only a little guilt. There was no chance of seeing Hanno or Quintus — how could there be? — but it would be comforting to be so close to them, even if it was for but a short while. No one else would know her underlying purpose; to all intents and purposes, her journey would look like that made by a devoted wife.
The main obstacle in her way was Tempsanus, but Aurelia had a feeling that she knew how to get around him.
‘You can say what you wish,’ said Aurelia, the next morning. ‘You are going to delay leaving until the feast in honour of my mother has been held in eight days’ time. Then I’ll be coming with you. So will my son, my body slave and my father’s old overseer, who has just been manumitted.’
‘The delay-’ he began.
‘Is acceptable.’ It was what she’d told herself repeatedly. Aurelia was not prepared to leave her mother’s funeral unfinished. ‘The day and hour of our arrival will not influence Lucius’ recovery. Only the gods can do that.’
Tempsanus sighed, looking apologetic. ‘I am sorry, my lady, but I will not allow it.’
Aurelia was ready. ‘Nothing in life is as important as those whom we care for,’ she said passionately. ‘I am not from Rome. What have I here? Other than my son and a few slaves, nothing! If you will not take me, I shall find my own way to my husband’s side.’
‘What do you mean?’
‘I will go to Ostia and find a ship that’s sailing south.’
‘No captain will take you!’
‘For the right money, anything can be bought,’ Aurelia retorted. ‘Someone will be willing to afford us passage.’
‘You can’t do that,’ said Tempsanus, with genuine alarm. ‘For all you know, they might plan to steal your money, or sell you as slaves! Worse, perhaps.’
‘The gods will protect us,’ Aurelia declared breezily.
‘No. You cannot do this, my lady. As much as anything, Lucius would never forgive me.’
‘It’s none of your concern, Tempsanus. You are to leave today, is that not so? Once you’ve left, I will follow on behind. You can’t stop me.’ She gave him her most determined stare.
There was a short pause before resignation began to set into Tempsanus’ eyes and Aurelia knew that she had won.
‘Very well,’ he said with a sigh. ‘May Fortuna watch over us.’
‘And let Lucius still be alive when we reach Rhegium.’ He would recover faster with her there to care for him, she thought, and while he did, she could dream of seeing her brother again.
And Hanno.
Chapter V
Having taken leave of his brothers — parting from Bostar had been especially hard — Hanno had travelled to the western coast of Bruttium. In a tiny fishing village, he had found a crusty old sailor called Alcimos, in whose small boat he now found himself. Hannibal had ordered Hanno to make his journey as secret as possible, and his general didn’t have many ships at his disposal anyway. It was therefore best to arrive in Syracuse unannounced. There would be spies everywhere in the city; it was even possible that they’d try to kill Hanno before he met with Hippocrates and Epicydes. Making his own entrance, without any warning, gave him the best chance of success.
As Alcimos steered the little craft out to sea, Hanno stared at the coastline of Italy, and thought of his men and, most especially, Mutt. Their farewell had been far more difficult than Hanno had anticipated. The two had never shared that many secrets — it was only recently that Hanno had mentioned Aurelia to Mutt — but their experiences in combat had forged a strong bond between the two men.
‘You’re going then,’ Mutt had said.
‘Yes.’ Hanno had shifted from foot to foot, feeling awkward and stupid. ‘It’s time.’
‘Aye, sir.’
‘Look after the men.’
Mutt’s brows had lowered. ‘You know I’ll do that.’