of coming with me to Jovina’s or staying at my sister’s. With a bit of luck she’d stay with Albia.
Next I decided I must go and have a look at Moon-cloud, who had finally produced a lovely ink-black foal in the night. As I leaned over the fence, Hawk stepped up beside me.
He nodded towards the horses. “That’s a pleasant sight, isn’t it? The foal looks a fine little fellow.”
“Good morning, Hawk. Yes, he does. Did you have a quiet night?”
“Reasonably. I even managed to get some sleep after our friend with the bandages settled down in the woods. And I’ve brought you good news. He’s gone this morning.”
“Thank the gods for that.”
“But I found tracks leading back here, fresh ones made in the night or early this morning, not left from yesterday afternoon. I think he was prowling around here before he left.”
“He was, fairly early in the night.” I told him about Taurus, and he was horrified.
“Gods, I’m sorry. I only went home for a couple of hours to catch up on some sleep, after he’d made himself a fire in the woods and apparently gone to sleep too. I was sure he’d stay put till morning.” He frowned. “He’s cleverer than I gave him credit for.”
“He couldn’t know you were following him, surely?”
“No, but he wasn’t taking any chances. Military training, I suppose. Tell Taurus I’m sorry, won’t you?”
“I will, but it can’t be helped, Hawk, you can’t stay up all night every night looking after us all; I know that. And the fellow has gone now, you say?”
“Yes, and before he went he had a wash in the river, and I noticed something unusual about him, something that might help you recognise him if you ever see him again.”
“I don’t think I want to see him again. But go on, tell me.”
“He took off the bandages from round his head, had a good wash, then put them on again. There was no sign at all of a head wound. But he’d a sizeable chunk missing from his right ear, an old cut that’s healed up but still visible.”
“So the bandages weren’t just to hide his face, but to make sure nobody saw his distinguishing mark. Interesting. And when he’d washed, he rode off straight away?”
“More or less. He hung about in the trees just off the road till Lucius left, and then he went back to fetch his horse, presumably to follow. Only it had mysteriously vanished.” He smiled briefly. “My son took it and hid it out of the way. We thought it might be safer for Lucius. Bandage-man wasn’t at all pleased when he realised he had no transport.”
“Oh, brilliant! What happened then?”
“He tried looking around for tracks, but that got him nowhere, so he set off to walk westward, the same direction as Lucius. My son followed him at a safe distance until well past the Oak Bridges turning, and then saw him stop a farm cart going further west and get a lift. We’ll be keeping an eye open in case he comes back, but I think he’s gone for good.”
“I agree, but I’ll make sure everyone stays on the alert. And thanks, Hawk, you and your son have done just the right thing. Let’s hope we’ve really seen the last of Portius now.”
“You’re on your way tomorrow, all being well?”
“That’s right, first thing.”
“Good. Take care then. And enjoy your trip.” With a brief wave, he turned on his heel and melted into the trees.
Chapter VIII
Eburacum was looking its best in the afternoon sunshine. The trees were in full leaf, the wider roads were busy and cheerful, and the little unpaved alleyways were mostly free of mud. The rivers flowed peacefully and hadn’t yet started to smell.
It isn’t large like Londinium, though it always seems big to me compared with Oak Bridges. Nor is it one of those beautifully planned places with regular streets and decorative temples. It’s a soldiers’ town, dominated by the solid bulk of the legionary fortress. The higgledy-piggledy streets around it are home to the men’s families and the
Next I decided I must go and have a look at Moon-cloud, who had finally produced a lovely ink-black foal in the night. As I leaned over the fence, Hawk stepped up beside me.
He nodded towards the horses. “That’s a pleasant sight, isn’t it? The foal looks a fine little fellow.”
“Good morning, Hawk. Yes, he does. Did you have a quiet night?”
“Reasonably. I even managed to get some sleep after our friend with the bandages settled down in the woods. And I’ve brought you good news. He’s gone this morning.”
“Thank the gods for that.”
“But I found tracks leading back here, fresh ones made in the night or early this morning, not left from yesterday afternoon. I think he was prowling around here before he left.”
“He was, fairly early in the night.” I told him about Taurus, and he was horrified.
“Gods, I’m sorry. I only went home for a couple of hours to catch up on some sleep, after he’d made himself a fire in the woods and apparently gone to sleep too. I was sure he’d stay put till morning.” He frowned. “He’s cleverer than I gave him credit for.”
“He couldn’t know you were following him, surely?”
“No, but he wasn’t taking any chances. Military training, I suppose. Tell Taurus I’m sorry, won’t you?”
“I will, but it can’t be helped, Hawk, you can’t stay up all night every night looking after us all; I know that. And the fellow has gone now, you say?”
“Yes, and before he went he had a wash in the river, and I noticed something unusual about him, something that might help you recognise him if you ever see him again.”
“I don’t think I want to see him again. But go on, tell me.”
“He took off the bandages from round his head, had a good wash, then put them on again. There was no sign at all of a head wound. But he’d a sizeable chunk missing from his right ear, an old cut that’s healed up but still visible.”
“So the bandages weren’t just to hide his face, but to make sure nobody saw his distinguishing mark. Interesting. And when he’d washed, he rode off straight away?”
“More or less. He hung about in the trees just off the road till Lucius left, and then he went back to fetch his horse, presumably to follow. Only it had mysteriously vanished.” He smiled briefly. “My son took it and hid it out of the way. We thought it might be safer for Lucius. Bandage-man wasn’t at all pleased when he realised he had no transport.”
“Oh, brilliant! What happened then?”
“He tried looking around for tracks, but that got him nowhere, so he set off to walk westward, the same direction as Lucius. My son followed him at a safe distance until well past the Oak Bridges turning, and then saw him stop a farm cart going further west and get a lift. We’ll be keeping an eye open in case he comes back, but I think he’s gone for good.”
“I agree, but I’ll make sure everyone stays on the alert. And thanks, Hawk, you and your son have done just the right thing. Let’s hope we’ve really seen the last of Portius now.”
“You’re on your way tomorrow, all being well?”
“That’s right, first thing.”
“Good. Take care then. And enjoy your trip.” With a brief wave, he turned on his heel and melted into the trees.
Chapter VIII
Eburacum was looking its best in the afternoon sunshine. The trees were in full leaf, the wider roads were busy and cheerful, and the little unpaved alleyways were mostly free of mud. The rivers flowed peacefully and hadn’t yet started to smell.
It isn’t large like Londinium, though it always seems big to me compared with Oak Bridges. Nor is it one of those beautifully planned places with regular streets and decorative temples. It’s a soldiers’ town, dominated by the solid bulk of the legionary fortress. The higgledy-piggledy streets around it are home to the men’s families and the
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