The Governor's Man by Jacquie Rogers (best beach reads TXT) 📕

seated, my Sisters.’ The old woman had a surprisingly deep and rich voice. Julia led her to an ornate wooden chair at the highest level of the banked room. She herself sat on the tier below her, listening while the Elder Sister continued. ‘Sisters, we are gathered in judgement today. One is here who has broken our most sacred laws, and deeply offended the Goddess.’ The Sisters all raised their left arms to pointed accusation at the actress.

‘Veronica!’ Fulminata screeched, glaring at her supposed sponsor. ‘What is going on here?’

The old woman stood. ‘You will be silent, Fulminata. You are here under accusation by our Sister Julia. You are accused of murder. One of your victims was our beloved Sister Velvinna. Thus your judgement and punishment fall into our jurisdiction.’

Fulminata shouted, ‘You have no authority, no witnesses and no evidence! I have powerful friends in the Roman authority. I reject your jurisdiction utterly –‘

A muscular Wise Woman jumped up from the front bank and slapped Fulminata hard across the face. The actress wailed and subsided into silence, rubbing her flaming cheek.

The old woman went on. ‘We have prayed together to the Goddess Sulis, and heard the evidence from our Sister Julia. As a trained healer and senior member of our sacred order, her word is her bond. Her witness has been corroborated by others who saw your attempts at sedition. Fulminata, you have committed the most heinous crimes for which there is one punishment only. In avenging our beloved Sister Velvinna, we sentence you to banishment. There will be no rest, no succour, no friendship for you henceforth, wherever the circles of Wise Women hold sway across Britannia and elsewhere.’

The old woman threw her arms wide. ‘Sisters, do you concur?’

The Sisters erupted, standing to roar their approval. Julia allowed herself a quick bitter smile as she made her way down into the central circle. The raging Fulminata cast her a look of hate, but as two Sisters had her pinioned by the arms, there was little she could do.

‘You’re too late,’ she yelled. ‘None of you will survive what is to come.’

’Silence her,’ said the Elder, and the guards gagged Fulminata.

Julia spoke. ‘Sisters, I thank you for your trust. This woman has taken innocent lives, and was actively planning to raise rebellion in our town and beyond.

‘It is not our way to punish with death. Nevertheless, the death sentence would have been the right of Velvinna’s family under Roman law, had she any living relatives. As Velvinna’s lifelong friend and pupil, I ask the Sisters to avenge our friend. Brand this woman so that all who see her henceforth will know she is under order of banishment.’

Fulminata tried to struggle, but was held firm. A brazier with a slender branding iron tipped into the coals was brought into the circle. Julia held out a cup to Fulminata, loosening the gag.

‘The Sisterhood of Wise Women is not needlessly cruel. Here is pain relief for you. Drink it.’

The prisoner sneered, and tossed her bright red mane. ‘And let you accomplish with poison what your weaker sisters will not command?’ She lashed out to knock away the cup, sending the white liquid spilling.

‘No,’ snapped Julia. ‘I leave that kind of wickedness to you, Fulminata. May the Goddess Sulis Minerva curse you all your life.’

She gave way to the punishment detail, three sombre-looking Sisters whose masked faces stood out black against their white robes. Julia walked back to her seat, not looking back as the actress was forced onto her knees, nor flinching when Fulminata screamed. The smell of scorching flesh made Julia’s stomach churn, but still she did not look. Not till she was seated next to Britta, and the Elder Wise Woman had reached down to rest her feather-light old hand on Julia’s shoulder, did she force herself to look at the new-blazed crimson of the owl brand on Fulminata’s cheek. The prisoner was led away to be cast out beyond the sacred precinct.

Then Julia drew her hood up, and wept silently for Velvinna and Tertius and Catus. And for Quintus and herself.

Chapter Twenty-five

’Sir?’

Quintus turned round quickly, and Marcellus looked up with a frown. They were both peering at the floor where lines drawn and smudged out in the dirt marked their attempts to plan anything less than annihilation from the upcoming confrontation with the Second Augusta. Tiro and Decimus Senecio were seated nearby. The older optio looked tired.

A young guard stood in the tent opening, acne-scarred cheeks blazing with embarrassment. He swallowed at the sight of four senior officers eyeballing him.

‘Yes?’

‘Umm, sir, scouts are back.’

‘Well, show them in, man. What are you waiting for?’

‘Yes, sir. Sir, there’s a lady too, just arrived. Says she brings important messages for the Frumentarius. And you too, sir.’

‘Name?’

The guard looked puzzled. ‘Plautus, sir.’

‘Not you, moron. The lady.’

‘Oh. Lady, err… Julia.  Julia something.’

Marcellus looked at Quintus. ‘Well, Brother, as we both know a Lady Julia Something, I think we should admit her, don’t you?’

Quintus made no reply. His dark eyebrows drew together. He stalked over to the open tent flaps in two steps. Thrusting the guard out, he pulled Julia inside. He was horrified to see her, and furious at the risk she had taken. He gathered her into his arms, crushing her cheek against his hasta badge. They stood glued together for a brief moment, both breathing hard, while Marcellus tried to pretend he was somewhere else.  Senecio frowned, and Tiro frankly grinned. Then Quintus pushed Julia away.

‘What are you doing here, Julia? Are you completely mad?’

She stiffened, straightening the fold of jade-green palla he had knocked off her shoulder.

‘I’ll see to the scouts outside,’ Marcellus murmured, wagging a beckoning finger at Senecio and Tiro. The tent flaps fell back into place behind them with the finality