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

‘Oh no. You are not here. You’re in Aquae Sulis with Britta.’

She dimpled at him. ‘I couldn’t stay at home. I thought about it, but when Aunt Julia explained that she had to leave with an urgent message for Quintus, even though she most wanted to be with me, and then Britta said you were here helping Centurion Marcellus, I just had to come. Aunt Julia said how proud she was of me being brave and staying at home where she needed my help. But coming here to fight is even braver, isn’t it? Don’t worry, I’ve been sensible. I left a note for Britta, and specially asked her to look after Cerberus.’

‘How did you know where we were?’

‘Oh, I just listened at the door when Julia told Britta where she was going. What with poor Tertius dying, and Anicius and the Sisters coming and going, no-one was taking any notice of me.’

‘Well, you’ve put me in a right hole, my girl. We’re expecting serious bother round here soon enough. It’s not safe. You’ll have to go back to Aquae Sulis straight away.’

Tiro expected tears and resistance. He didn’t know how to deal with a teasing face and wheedling tone.

‘But, Tiro if it isn’t safe for me to be round here, surely it isn’t safe for me to go home through this dangerous countryside on my own, either.’

Curse the girl. She has me there.

He scratched his chin, thinking.

‘See here, miss, you want to come with us? Then you keep completely quiet, pull your hood well down, keep alongside of me. And do exactly what I tell you. Any trouble, I’ll tell your mother and your—‘

‘My what?’

Oh Gods, Tiro, now you’ve done it!

He held Milo’s reins steady in his hand and held the girl’s gaze. ‘I will make a deal with you, Aurelia. Here’s what I’ll do. I will ask your aunt to tell you what you need to know, when this is all over. On one condition.’

‘Yes, yes of course.’ She spoke so quickly she nearly swallowed the words. I wonder… I think she may already know. I wish Britta was here. She’d be able to handle this. What am I supposed to do?

‘You must promise me, by the most solemn oath you know, that you will do exactly what I say, when I say it, no ifs or buts.’

The girl reached for the bronze owl brooch pinned on the shoulder of her cloak, and rubbed it. ‘Yes, Tiro. I swear by the Goddess Sulis Minerva, she of the wise owl, that I will do exactly as you say. And then you will tell me what you meant by “your mother and your…”

‘Only when we’ve got this sorted.’

‘All right, then.’

Corinium was a fine town, Tiro had to concede. A proper city really, not far off the size of Londinium. A mighty wall bounded it, pierced by four cardinal gates. The north-east boundary was paralleled by the River Churn, bridged just outside the towered north gate. Not far beyond the south gatehouse was their destination, a large handsome amphitheatre.

Tiro took Agrippa Sorio into his confidence. The round-bellied decurion was taken aback at first. ‘The little minx. She needs a good sorting out.’ Then his expression softened. ‘I feel sorry for the poor thing all the same, just lost her father, Bo Gwelt all burnt down. I suppose I can see why she’s followed her aunt here. You’re right, Tiro, we can’t send her away now, wouldn’t be safe at all.’

He thought for a moment, then laughed and nodded.

‘Let me have care of her. You’ve got your own duties. I’ll engage to keep the girl safe. I have acquaintance here in Corinium, and I’ll find a suitable billet for her. Are you sure you shouldn’t tell her aunt, though?’

Tiro was at a complete loss. All these secrets, none of them his to tell. On the one hand, Sorio was perfectly right that Julia should know her recalcitrant daughter had disobeyed her and turned up here. As should Quintus. But Sorio had no notion of their true relationships to Aurelia. Tiro simply didn’t feel up to negotiating his way through that on the verge of a major battle. Knowing himself to be a bad liar, he took refuge in a partial truth.

’Lady Julia has business in Corinium, delicate negotiations with the town council from what I can tell. It would be best to keep Aurelia with you for now, and as you suggest find her somewhere safe to stay.’

Sorio soon had Aurelia riding with him, entertaining her with tall tales of his long-ago military service. By the time they entered the amphitheatre, Drusus, usually inclined to be shy round Aurelia, had joined in and was telling her jokes and sharing his slight knowledge of classical battles with her. Tiro sighed, sagging slightly as he dismounted and secured the tall gates behind them.

The men had set up their contubernium tents on the steeply-tiered sides of the amphitheatre as best they could. It was a vast auditorium, fortunately, and there was plenty of room for them all. Plus picketing for the horses and space in the centre for the command tent. One side had been left spare for the Summer Country men, and the troopers good-naturedly helped the tribesmen settle in. Tiro left Aurelia with Sorio and went to the Principia tent to report to Quintus.

’Durotriges all present and settled, sir. Being fed and watered right now.’

‘Good.’ Quintus lifted his head as the tent flaps opened, and Julia came in, lifting her hood away from her head.

‘Sorted?’

‘Yes. The Sisterhood of Aquae Sulis had sent word. I spoke to the Elder Wise Women of the Corinium Sisterhood. They have liaised with the Town Council to get the word out to all the city families this evening. That should ensure people obey the curfew, the shops are