We did as we were bidden, and went to stand a little further off. ‘I suppose after yesterday’s events, everything was unlucky and the day required special sacrifice?’ I said to Trinunculus, in a more normal tone. ‘That’s why all three of them performed the rites today?’
He nodded. ‘Partly that, of course. None of them even returned home last night — Hirsus was positively quivering with fright, and much too scared to sleep here in the robing room alone, as the duty priest would normally have done. He wouldn’t go into the shrine by himself this morning, either, although Scribonius wanted him to do it — kept saying that if the rituals were not performed strictly according to the calendar it would mean even more bad luck, and take longer than ever to atone.’
That was interesting, I thought, glad to find my mind was functioning again. Did Scribonius have some reason for wanting Hirsus to go alone? I looked at Trinunculus questioningly. ‘And is that right?’
‘There may be a basis for it, somewhere in the rules — Scribonius knows the priestly regulations inside out — but I suspect that partly it was because he didn’t want to go in there himself. And of course Hirsus was almost hysterical with fear. I don’t know why he wants to be a sevir. He’s been frightened of his shadow ever since he came, and he’s terrified of Meritus — who’s twice his size, of course. But even that would not make him go into the shrine alone today. There was almost a rebellion until Meritus agreed that they all three should do it together.’
I nodded. ‘So that is what they did?’
‘I believe so. And the moment they went into the shrine, there it was — a bloodstain, back in the very place where it was yesterday. At least, that’s what I understand. I didn’t see it personally. The first I knew of it was Hirsus screaming.’
‘Where were you at the time?’ I had to ask the question.
‘In the main temple with the pontifex. We had our own rituals to perform, of course. This business has been a desecration of the entire temple, not just the Imperial sanctuary, and the whole complex needed the most abject rituals,’ Trinunculus answered me with dignity. ‘Of course it is worse at the Imperial shrine. Meritus spent hours yesterday performing cleansing rites, and I understand they kept up prayers all night. But it doesn’t seem to have done a lot of good. This morning, there the bloodstain was again.’
He spoke with such feeling that I was moved to ask, ‘What do you think, Trinunculus? This reappearing stain? Is it a sign, a warning or a curse?’ He was a priest after all, I thought, even if only a fairly junior one.
‘To tell you Jove’s truth, citizen, I don’t know. I’m glad I’m not a sevir in the Imperial cult, that’s all. When you join the priesthood you expect mysteries, of course — but nothing in my training covers this.’ He seemed to speak from the heart, but I noticed he had evaded the question.
I persisted. ‘But what is your opinion?’
He looked at me. ‘Well, citizen, if this is a vengeance curse, why should it suddenly strike now, when nothing has happened all these years? More likely this is some sort of warning sign — because one of the gods is angry. I believe the high priest thinks the same; he is beginning to talk about a formal investigation into the morals of the Imperial priests, since it is in their shrine that the manifestations have taken place.’
‘Their morals?’ I enquired, in surprise.
‘The way that they have kept their vows, I mean.’ He leaned forward, confidentially. ‘If anything is found against them, it could be serious. You heard what happened in the Imperial City, years ago, when one of the Vestal virgins was struck by lightning? Investigation showed then that some of the other Vestals had transgressed their vows. Several men had to be executed before the gods were finally appeased — and the women themselves were actually walled up, I think.’
It seemed likely, from what I knew of the matter. Vestal virgins are protected by their calling from anyone’s laying violent hands on them — so that, if any of them were condemned to death, it was always by being bricked up alive in a confined space, without food or water, until they presumably perished of their own accord. Eventually.
I was still contemplating the horror of that fate when a discreet cough behind me captured my attention. I turned. The seviri had finished their rituals of purification by now, and Meritus was standing there, already pushing back his hood. I was conscious once again of his enormous height.
He stepped forward to speak to me. ‘I apologise for that interruption and delay, citizen. It was necessary, as you understand.’
‘I am the one who should apologise,’ I said.
‘Or propitiate, perhaps?’ he said, and I realised that I had not escaped entirely unpunished, after all.
‘Perhaps a little offering? A pigeon, maybe, or a dove or two?’ Something inexpensive, was what I really meant. Priests are generally inclined to suggest gold and silver, if one leaves the choice of offering to them — as no doubt ‘Lucianus the wretched’ had discovered long ago.
Meritus gave me a condescending smile. ‘Perhaps a pair of pigeons would suffice but I think a white lamb might be more suitable. To be offered on the next auspicious day. In the meantime, I must make a sacrifice myself, and we must ask the pontifex to cleanse the inner shrine with fire. If this is the working of a curse — as seems more and more likely — we are in the hands of the great immortals, beyond the scope of my more humble prayers.’ He shook his head. ‘It is all too horrible. And at the Imperial shrine as well! I am coming to think the pontifex is right. It cannot be safe to have the legate here. However, that is not for me to judge.’
‘It’s up to Marcus Septimus,’ I said mechanically. I was thinking of nothing in particular beyond the cost of pure white lambs — always at a premium because of their value as a sacrifice.
Meritus, though, seemed to interpret my remark as a reminder that I had status here. He made hasty show of deference. ‘Will it be acceptable, do you think, to have the slaves wash down the temple floor? Or did you wish to look at it again? Scribonius thinks it should be cleansed at once, but the pontifex and Marcus Septimus were very clear that I should do nothing in the shrine until you agreed.’
That would endear me to Scribonius, I thought — civil authority taking precedence over religious ritual. Yet, if anyone could tell me about the sacred rituals, there was no doubt that Scribonius was my man. Somehow I would have to win him over.
I glanced towards the small, balding priest, who was indeed glaring at me in a most unfriendly manner. I nodded affably in his direction. ‘I’d be very glad to take another look,’ I said to Meritus. ‘But I have caused impurity enough. Perhaps if the assistant sevir would accompany me, he could advise me what I can and cannot touch, and so prevent me from doing anything else accidentally impious? I understand he is an expert on the rites?’
Scribonius kept the sober frown on his face, but I could see that I had flattered him. ‘Admitting a person other than a priest is bound to desecrate a holy place,’ he grumbled, but he took a taper and led the way back to the little temple in the grove.
He did, though, make me stop outside to ensure that I was thoroughly rubbed with ashes and sprinkled with water before he permitted me to set foot inside the shrine again.
Chapter Thirteen
This time, since the initial shock was over, I was able to pay more attention to my surroundings. I forced myself to look round carefully. At first sight, there appeared to be no alteration from the day before. Just the altar, the statue, the wall paintings, Augustus in his niche — and of course that bloodstain on the statue and on the shadowed floor. But surely. .? I took a step forward.
Scribonius moved to prevent me. ‘Citizen?’ He said it doubtfully.
I wished I was wearing more official robes. I doubt if he would have stood in the way of a man in a toga. ‘The inner door,’ I said. ‘It has been unfastened.’