Ruso and the Root of All Evils

56

Ruso watched Lucius, with the stable lad beside him, driving the cart up to the main road and turning the mules towards the darkening clouds of the eastern sky. With luck, Severus’ accomplice was still away in some distant port, cashing in Probus’ letters of credit, and had left no one at home to mind his affairs and fend off inquisitive women. If not, Tilla’s and Cass’s best hope was that Lucius would catch up with them before they got themselves into serious trouble. This time, Ruso was not allowed to interfere. The little brother was determined to tackle the monsters himself.

When the vehicle was finally out of sight beyond the vineyards, he shut the gate and walked back across the garden. In his hand was a list of detailed reminders that Lucius had left for the farm slaves to stop them ruining everything in his absence, despite the fact that most of them had been working this land all their lives. Ruso hoped they knew what they were doing. Instructions like ‘Day 2, jars 3 to 8, add brine’ were meaningless unless the men knew what quantities were involved, and there was now nobody left to ask. Apart from the staff, the only other adults here to consult were Arria and Marcia.

The gods alone knew what the investigators must be making of what they had found here today. A resentful farmer with marital problems, a medic with massive debts and some knowledge of poisons, a stepmother who had her staff clean up the site of a murder, and a cook who washed up the evidence. The only faintly good news from today was that, so far, they did not seem to have found out that Severus had been instrumental in the death of Cass’s brother. He supposed it was only a matter of time, though, before they worked it out and added her to their list of possible suspects. Once they had put all that lot together they would probably be able to convince themselves that the barbarian who had fled the scene with her had something to do with it as well.

He would make a final check on the injured horse before taking himself to the baths to prepare for the dreaded dinner.

‘Galla!’

At the sound of Ruso’s voice across the garden, the slave’s body jolted as if she had been speared.

‘I’d like a word. In the study.’

Behind the closed door of the study he demanded to know exactly who this Solemnis the carter was and how Tilla had met him. ‘You may as well tell me,’ he insisted. ‘Lying will only get you into worse trouble.’

‘I would not lie to you, my lord.’

‘So. Who is he?’

Galla took a deep breath and gabbled, ‘He is a follower of Christos, my lord.’

‘I know that. Where did Tilla meet him?’

‘At the meeting, my lord.’ The pitch of Galla’s replies was rising with her terror.

‘What meeting?’

‘Of the Christians, my lord.’

‘What’s Tilla been doing meeting with Christians? Where?’

Galla lifted a hand and pointed towards the window. ‘Next door.’

‘And this was the so-called family you took her to visit last night?’

‘Yes, my lord.’

‘I see.’

She stood motionless, staring at her feet.

‘How far has this superstitious nonsense spread? What about the rest of the staff?’

‘There is only me, my lord.’ He could barely catch her words. ‘I have not been very brave at sharing the good news.’

‘But you have been sharing it with Tilla.’

Galla lifted her chin. ‘She is alone in a foreign country, my lord. I — it is a comfort to her.’

‘Alone in a foreign country.’ Ruso felt his fists clench. ‘She was vulnerable! You had no right to prey on her like that. These Christos people are …’ He broke off. ‘The business about orgies and sacrificing babies isn’t true, is it?’

‘They are kind to each other, my lord. They share what they have and feed the poor. They nurse the sick and wait for Christos to return.’

‘And while they’re waiting, they break up marriages and run off with young women who don’t know any better.’

Galla’s eyes drifted shut and her lips moved as if she was muttering to herself.

‘You’d better not be praying to your god in here.’

The eyes opened again.

‘You know the sort of good news I want?’ demanded Ruso. ‘I want to hear that the people I’m responsible for are safely back home. And then I want to hear about a religion that doesn’t cost a fortune, doesn’t take up too much time and expects its followers to do what they’re bloody well told.’

Galla swallowed. ‘My lord, in one of the letters from the saints it says — ’

‘I don’t want to know,’ he said, ‘and if you want to remain part of this household, neither should you.’ He paused. ‘You haven’t got any religious stuff around the house, have you?’

When she did not reply he repeated the question. After another silence he lowered his head into his hands. ‘Get rid of it, whatever it is. No, on second thoughts — bring it to me and I’ll get rid of it. I never thought I’d have to say this, Galla, but I don’t trust you.’