Nine for the Devil

Chapter Twenty-six

After hours of darkness Hypatia realized that the kitchen was filled with gray, predawn light.

Had she dozed off, waiting for the Lord Chamberlain to return?

If so, she surely would have awakened if he had come in.

She went down the hall anyway, looked through the open door of his bedroom, into his study.

He had not returned.

Maybe he really had been dragged off, like so many others in the past few days, to be…

She tried to put that fear out of her mind.

What should she do? She was a servant. The only court official she could possibly approach for help was the Lord Chamberlain.

Anatolius! John’s friend. He knew Hypatia. He was a lawyer now but had worked in the palace for years. And his house was not far away.

She raced downstairs, took the key from the hook beside the entrance, and went outside, pulling the heavy door shut behind her.

The gray light in the sky wasn’t yet filtering down into the city. The square was a black lake, the far side marked by a single torch outside the excubitors’ barracks. She waded out into the darkness, wondering if she would be able to find her way.

By the time she emerged from the Chalke Gate the streets had brightened enough for her to make out and avoid the shadowy forms of carts on their way out of the city after making night-time deliveries. Gulls and feral dogs were out in force, scavenging before the thoroughfares became crowded.

She made a wrong turn down a malodorous alley, but no ruffians laid in wait.

Finally she recognized the entrance to the short, alley-like passage leading to Anatolius’ home. The burly gatekeeper narrowed his eyes as she approached.

“I’ve come from the Lord Chamberlain’s house,” she said. “I’m his servant Hypatia. Anatolius knows me.”

The gatekeeper made a noncommittal grunt, walked back and into the massive villa the high wall enclosed, emerged quickly, and swung the gate open.

She could see him smile to himself and shake his head as she went past. He couldn’t help but be aware of his employer’s proclivities.

Anatolius himself met her at the entrance. He was dressed as if he had already been up and working though he looked rumpled and tired.

He led her across the atrium but stopped short of his office. Shadows clustered in corners and gray fingers of light pried through shutters.

Anatolius wearily rubbed his unshaven face as he listened to Hypatia’s account of the unseen morning visitors. “You’re right to be worried,” he said. “I’ll go to the palace. Someone there will know what’s going on. Little stays secret there for long.”

Hypatia shivered involuntarily although the atrium was warm.

“Probably it’s nothing to be concerned about,” Anatolius added. His tone didn’t sound convincing.

His office door was partly open and Hypatia thought she glimpsed movement inside.

“I’m sure you don’t want to leave Peter alone too long,” Anatolius went on. “I’ll let you know what I find out but most likely John will be home before I hear anything.” Anatolius placed his hand lightly on her arm as if to usher her on her way.

Hypatia realized she had been staring toward the office. She was certain someone was in there.

““Will you be able to help the master?”

“Oh, I’m sure there will be no need. Nevertheless, I will look into the matter.”

“Thank you, sir.”

She had the feeling he wanted to get her out of the house.