I nodded. ‘Precisely. And he had a horse and uniform. Anyone could use those to impersonate an imperial messenger. We would not expect to recognise the face. And he had a letter with an official seal — probably on a simple ribbon-tie, which could have been prised off and used again, with care.’
The optio was looking horrified. ‘To send a different message here, if they chose?’
‘Or to any other border garrison,’ I replied. ‘I doubt that, in the circumstances, anyone would examine the seal too carefully. And now they have Promptillius’s household uniform as well, which anyone who knows my patron well will recognise at once, and take to be proof that the wearer is His Excellence’s slave — another way of carrying false messages. You see why I think it worth our while trying to find out what happened in the forest last night?’
Marcus was looking suddenly alert. ‘Of course, from the administration’s point of view, there’s also the question of the thefts involved. At least five army horses, as I understand it, and some equipment too. The incoming governor will no doubt be extremely pleased if we can discover who perpetrated this and bring the men to justice.’ He made a thoughtful face. ‘It occurs to me that we should be travelling past the spot where all this happened on our way to Isca in the morning. You, optio, could ride out with us, perhaps — your men can provide us with a proper escort too. I understand there is a marching-camp nearby that you can call on for some extra men?’
The optio nodded. ‘There has been one stationed here ever since the raids on Roman travellers began again — a show of force to keep the dissidents at bay, though they’re not a lot of use against these ambushes because we don’t know where these rebel groups are based. I’m sure the commander will be pleased to help — it will give them something positive to do, apart from route-marches and stabbing at practice posts with wooden swords. I will send to the centurion in charge at once — if you will honour me by sending the request under your seal, Excellence. He is superior to me, of course.’
My patron looked flattered. ‘Certainly I will. We’ll make a thorough examination of the murder site and see if there is anything to learn.’
He spoke as if the whole idea had just occurred to him. I smiled, but knew better than to say anything except, ‘A splendid notion, Excellence. I’m sure the new governor when he arrives will be appropriately grateful for your help.’
Marcus preened. He nodded to the auxiliary cavalryman, who was still standing stiffly at attention near the door. ‘Very well, soldier, that will do for now. You may dismiss. Get some food and find yourselves a bed. We shall expect you to accompany us at dawn. I think you said that there were four of you?’
The soldier nodded. ‘Myself and three other unhorsed spearmen, Excellence. Though two of us no longer have our spears.’
‘Then I imagine that replacements can be found for you. But you will have to march. I don’t expect the mansio to have four horses free — at least not four that could easily be spared.’ He said this quickly, before the optio could intervene and offer to find animals from the marching-camp. They would almost certainly have spare mounts there, but it was clear that my patron preferred to have the Isca men travel ignominiously on foot, to remind them not to lose their horses again so carelessly.
The cavalryman looked properly dismayed at this, but he said humbly, ‘As you command, Excellence.’ And he withdrew.
Marcus was in high good humour now. He called for another jug of wine and turned to us. ‘These moments of transition are always dangerous. When there is no appointed governor in place, the rebels take the opportunity to strike. The same thing once occurred in Gaul, I understand. .’ and he treated us to a rambling lecture on the recent uprisings.
I have no head for Roman wine and even less for foreign politics, so I was glad when the evening came to a close at last, and I could stretch out on my comfortable palliasse again. As I drifted into sleep it occurred to me that, after all, I had not been reunited with my clothes. Perhaps the soldiers had them. Well, it was too late now. I would have to wait till morning to make enquiries.
I must have slept extremely well, because it was broad daylight when I woke and there was already the sound of movement in the court outside. With no Junio to wake me I was almost late — and (having already lost Promptillius) I had not been offered another of Marcus’s slaves. I splashed my face quickly in a little of the cold water from the jug on the stone bench in my room, bolted down the apple and the crust of bread provided as breakfast dainties by the mansio, and drained the welcome liquid in the jug. Then I straightened my borrowed tunic, put on my shoes and cloak and hurried out into the morning light.
Marcus was already in the court, looking as elegant as he always did. I hurried to his side, and dropped uncomfortably to one knee on the cobbled yard — Marcus expects the proper obeisances, even in circumstances like these.
‘Ah, there you are,’ he said, extending a ringed hand for me to kiss and waiting impatiently for me to rise. ‘I was about to send a guard for you. We are almost ready to depart.’ He gazed at me. ‘What’s happened to your toga? I thought that it was found?’
‘I thought so too, Excellence,’ I said. ‘I presume the soldiers brought it when they came, but it hasn’t been returned to me as yet. However, here’s the leader now. Perhaps he can tell us what they’ve done with it.’
The cavalryman, looking a little more refreshed, came over at my patron’s signal and bowed in brisk salute. ‘Spearman Regulus at your service, Excellence.’
‘We were wondering,’ Marcus said, with that little smile which made the seemingly polite enquiry something far more dangerous. ‘The parcel of clothes that you found. They belonged to my friend the citizen here, as I believe you know. Where are they? He would be glad to change into them to travel on.’
The soldier had that hunted look again. ‘I fear I don’t have them, Excellence.’ He looked desperately around, as if his companions might be summoned to share the blame with him. ‘You see, we used the toga to wrap the body in. It didn’t seem proper to leave it as it was, and we didn’t expect the parcel to be claimed. And as for the tunic — I’m sorry, citizen — we gave that away.’
‘Gave it away? Who to?’ I was too upset to be grammatical.
He was deploying that military trick again, of standing stiff and staring past you as he spoke, while his face got steadily more scarlet with embarrassment. ‘I’m afraid we gave it to a peasant, sir. A fellow with a herd of pigs, who helped us in our search. He’d got a little hut place in the clearing there, where he kept his herd, and he’d obviously been camped there overnight. He was very helpful — gave us water and bound up my foot, and even came out to search with us when we were trying to discover where those heel-tracks went. He had a grudge against the raiders, too: said they’d broken into his enclosure overnight, stolen one of his pigs and let the others out. He was rounding them up when we discovered him.’
‘You gave it to a swineherd?’ I exclaimed. ‘That was my second best tunic!’
Regulus looked properly abashed. ‘Well, he was extremely helpful, citizen. We offered him the tunic as reward. He was the one who located it, in fact — the parcel had been hidden underneath some leaves, and though he did not exactly ask for it outright, it was obvious from his manner that he wanted it. It was easy to see why. His own garment was a pathetic mess — a dreadful greenish tunic, torn and stained and, frankly, unpleasant to be near. I suppose it comes of dealing with the pigs.’
Marcus nodded judiciously. ‘No doubt it seemed a better bargain at the time. A tunic which nobody seemed to want, instead of offering him your hard-earned cash?’
‘Exactly, Excellence,’ the man said eagerly. ‘It would have fetched a few quadrantes in the marketplace, at best.’ He realised that this was an unfortunate remark and went on hastily, ‘We could go and demand to have it back — explain that the owner had been found and wanted it. Not force him to give it up, exactly — we have enough enemies around here as it is — but we could offer him a few denarii instead.’ He had cheered up and was quite animated by his own suggestion now. ‘It would be an easy matter to locate the man. We know where his portable enclosure was last night, and even if he has moved on by now, he should not be difficult to find. He’s got a great big jagged scar across his face.’