The Curse-Maker by Kelli Stanley

half ago. He was about thirty-five years older than she is, which made him roughly the age of Homer. And he was the severe type, against all so-called luxuries like clothes and jewelry, and of course couldn’t give her what she wanted—and wants all the time. She’s about as lonely as Messalina. Don’t you dare feel sorry for her.”
    â€œYou think—”
    â€œI think she hired Bibax to conveniently remove an unwanted husband who stood in the way of some fun. Though why she chose Vitellius as a lover is beyond me. Maybe he’s bigger and better than he looks, if she can ever get him off a boy’s back end. Oh, don’t look so shocked, Arcturus. Women talk about all kinds of things—just like men.”
    â€œI’m almost afraid to ask, but … anything else?”
    She leaned forward. “There’s more about Sulpicia. I watched her after what Flavia told me. She didn’t bring a slave with her, which was odd. I thought perhaps she had to sell them or something, but she was wearing a beautiful necklace—gold and amethyst, absolutely stunning—so that didn’t make sense. Well, when we were dressing in the apodyterium, Sulpicia left for a few minutes, heading back to the frigidarium. I thought it might be because she saw someone she knew, but it wasn’t.”
    Gwyna squeezed my knee. “She threw it in.”
    â€œThrew what in? Where?”
    â€œArdur, aren’t you paying attention? The necklace. She walked to the frigidarium, to where those three big windows overlooking the spring are, and she threw it in.”
    â€œShe threw the necklace into the Sacred Spring?”
    Gwyna nodded triumphantly. “Yes. Don’t you see?”
    I scratched my ear. “I’m afraid I don’t. Lots of people throw all kinds of things in there.”
    â€œBut she didn’t want to. I could see it in her face. What’s more, she just dropped it, so it landed on the side of the reservoir, and not in the water.”
    â€œSo you think—”
    â€œI think Sulpicia is being blackmailed, and someone at the temple is involved.” She leaned back and smiled at me as if I’d thought of it.
    â€œIf she’s being blackmailed—”
    â€œOther people are, too. Even though Bibax is dead—”
    â€œHe had a partner. Or partners. Maybe that’s where Ultor comes in. Disgruntled associate not scoring enough of the take. Or maybe someone discovered the goddess’s magic was just a curse-writer with a lucrative side business.”
    I looked at her. “Gwyna—I thought I saw you throw something in the spring.”
    She reddened. “I’m not being blackmailed, if that’s what you’re worried about. When I saw what Sulpicia was doing, I—I went to join her.”
    â€œWhat did you throw?”
    She avoided my eyes. “It’s not important.”
    I let it get away. “Was there anything else? This information—your ideas. They’re invaluable.”
    Her face flushed, and she leaned forward and squeezed my knee again. “I’m glad. I want to be useful to you. Be part of what you do.”
    I met her eyes. She reddened, looked away.
    â€œThere was something else. What was it? Oh, yes—the mine—the haunted mine.”
    â€œYou talked about it?”
    â€œVibia likes ghost stories, and Aquae Sulis is full of them. Someone mentioned that the baths are haunted, too.”
    â€œBy whom?”
    â€œA boy—he died about three years ago. He’s supposed to haunt one of the baths on the eastern end. Flavia told the story and pointed out the boy’s grandmother. Old woman, no money. Still comes every day. Her grandson was accused of stealing some bathing clothes. He was the town simpleton, I guess, and couldn’t defend himself. She still swears he’s innocent.” Gwyna shivered. “It’s a sad story—and frightening,