There was a dark thread no more than the length of a finger, which had been caught in his nails as if he’d been clutching at his attacker, pleading for mercy. A piece of thread this common could tell me very little, but simply added to the broader picture of what may have taken place.
There were no signs of a head wound, not even any bruising to the flesh. So he hadn’t been beaten or attacked, pointing again to a professional hit rather than a break-in or robbery gone wrong. His tunic was drenched in blood, but I didn’t yet want to strip the clothing to examine the rest of his torso, not until Clydia had formally identified him and confirmed my suspicions.
Leana returned with Clydia and two of the other actors; young attractive men, one with a slender frame, one with broad shoulders, both with cropped black hair – they looked similar enough to be brothers. One wore a grey tunic, a dark cloak and sandals, the other had dressed in tones of dark green. Clydia, in her long blue cape, was dressed for the rain.
Crouching down, I peeled back a blanket I had found to cover the body, revealing his face, trying to hide the worst of the injuries from them. Clydia immediately let out a wail. She turned into the shoulder of the slender actor and sobbed and heaved repeatedly while he stroked her hair with one hand and stared aghast at the scene.
The one with the broader shoulders stepped forward and crouched down next to me. ‘That’s him all right,’ he breathed and shook his head. ‘Poor, poor Drullus.’
Poor Drullus indeed. So here before us all was the most promising lead in the case of Lacanta’s murder, and he was dead in his own safe house.
‘I’m going to ask some routine questions and I’d be grateful if you can answer truthfully.’
The actor nodded.
‘When did you really last see Drullus?’ I asked.
‘I honestly didn’t see him after the performance at Optryx – and we left before the ceremonies started to reach a climax. We tend to come and go out of our house, so don’t really pay much attention to each other’s movements unless there’s a production looming. But I’m pretty sure it was right after that evening’s performances, when we went our own way.’
‘Do you have any idea who might have done this, perhaps an enemy of the group?’
‘There were people we all upset, and often. Actors aren’t exactly loved in Tryum. We’re treated like whores a lot of the time.’
‘But could anyone you know have come in here and slit his throat? I ask this, because I’m inclined to believe Drullus knew his killer and let him in.’ I explained the few signs of a disturbance and that the broken door was our doing.
‘I honestly don’t know. I don’t think so. I don’t even know what this place is – your lady –’ he indicated Leana ‘– told me he was hiding out. I’ve no idea why. He made no mention of it before. He just went out, but we didn’t think it important because he could be gone for a couple of days at a time.’
The other man, his arms still around Clydia, nodded to con-firm this point.
‘Well,’ I continued, ‘it seemed he intended to remain here for a while at least. Look at the food on the table.’
‘That’s Drullus’ diet all right. He liked to look after himself – said that his physique and complexion would improve.’
‘He didn’t even drink wine, not like we do,’ Clydia added.
‘You… you don’t think we’re in trouble do you, sir?’ the slender man asked. ‘Will whoever did this, will they come after us as well?’
I shook my head. ‘Drullus came here on his own, knowing that it was he alone who was being hunted. And he was right, too. So I do not think you are in immediate danger. I would, however, remain vigilant. If you have friends, go and stay with them. Don’t go out alone. Being cautious will do you no harm.’
I pulled the blanket back across Drullus’ face, and stood up once again, noting that the afternoon sun was sliding from the sky. It was time to let these actors get back home. They would not be much help now so, after giving them my address in case any information should surface, I told them a message would be sent when Drullus was available for burial.
Once they had gone, Leana stepped alongside, by Drullus’ corpse. ‘You look unwell.’
‘I’m fine. In a way, I grieve for him. Here was a handsome young man with potentially a decent life ahead of him, where he could enjoy his work. And it was cut short, for what reason? What did poor Drullus do exactly?’
‘It could be connected to Lacanta somehow?’
A dead royal and a dead actor, both now in the Underworld with help from a blade. Their lives crossed in some way, potentially, but I suspected that only King Licintius would know how. ‘Before I can really say, we need to see the king. I want to watch his reaction to the news of Drullus’ death.’
As we headed out of the room, I noticed something by the door frame and crouched down to pick it up.
‘Have you found something?’ Leana asked, leaning over me.
I twirled a leaf around in my fingers. It was still green, indicating it had not been a dried import, and it was generally an oval-shape with several acute points. ‘Henbane, I believe. I could be mistaken.’
‘Here.’
I stood and handed it to Leana, who confirmed my suspicions.
‘Now,’ I said, ‘what would an actor be doing with a leaf of henbane?’
‘Maybe he made a drug from it to get visions? It could be some creative thing. You know what these people can be like.’
‘Henbane is also a poison,’ I replied, standing up. ‘And you heard what the actors told us – he liked to look after himself.’
‘Well, he didn’t die because of this leaf – unless it is as sharp as a blade,’ Leana remarked, running her finger along the edge.
‘Indeed not,’ I replied. ‘But how did a fresh henbane leaf get here?’
Veldrum Hecater
We checked with the locals along the street enquiring where we might find a herbalist but there were none nearby and certainly no one could be found selling henbane on the nearby market stalls.
While we were in this part of the city, I felt it prudent to pay a quick return visit to Yadrix Velor and the Snake Kings, to see if they knew anything about Drullus’ death. So much for the protection money he had paid them.
Yadrix was in a much more welcoming spirit this time, as he was hopeful of a connection with the Sun Chamber, but he knew nothing of what had happened to Drullus. He claimed that his job had been merely to provide a safe house for the actor, and it was Drullus’ own fault if he let in his own murderer.
I also asked him if he dealt in henbane, in any form, but he shrugged. ‘There are stronger poisons available if you want to kill someone,’ he claimed, ‘and more effective herbs if you want to escape reality for a few hours.’
It was time to head back up-city before the evening fell, but via a route that would take us past the border of Vellyum and Plutum, which was near to the Seventh Temple of Malax. In that area was the house of the moneylender Veldrum Hecater.
My father’s supposed debt to him had been at the back of my mind all day. With that matter resolved, perhaps my mind would settle more, allowing me to focus on the murders. At the very least, he could stop sending people to attack us. If money was owed, the debts would be paid, but just how bad had the situation for my father been?