Read Online One Virgin Too Many by Lindsey Davis - Free Book Online Page A
Authors: Lindsey Davis
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for a sick bowl, and two handles to grip. Wonderful antique art.
After he stopped retching, Aelianus made an effort to apologize.
"Don't worry; we've all done it."
"I'm not drunk."
His father hauled him to a couch. "And we have all produced that finely honed poetic line as well!"
Aelianus stayed lost in a heavy silence. While Decimus fielded the Athenianware and shunted it elsewhere for some poor slave to find tomorrow, his son sat, oddly hunched. Experience told me he had passed the risk of being ill again.
"What's up, Aulus?"
His voice was strained. "Something you know all about, Marcus Didius." Decimus moved abruptly. I lifted an eyebrow, signaling that we should let the lad take his time. "I found something." Aelianus now looked up and wanted to talk. "I stumbled over something horrible."
He closed his eyes. His face told me the worst. In the grim business of informing, I had seen more than enough people wearing this expression. "There has been an accident?" I was being optimistic.
Aelianus braced himself. "Not exactly. I fell over a corpse. But whoever it is, it's very clear he did not die by accident."
VIII
"ALL RIGHT; TAKE your time, son." The senator had found a jug of water and a beaker. Aelianus rinsed his teeth and spat into the beaker. Patiently I emptied it into the Athenianware he had already used, rinsed the beaker, then poured fresh water, which I made him drink.
"So," I said firmly. "Your father told me you went to partake in the main day of worship amid the corn wreaths and dinner napkins. Stuffing your face in the cause of new growth at the Arval Brothers' Sacred Grove--was that where this happened?"
Aelianus sat up straighter and nodded. I chivvied him, brisk as a legionary commander taking details from a scout: "The Grove is where?"
"Five miles outside the city on the Via Portuensis." He had served in the army and civil government. He could give a reliable report when he chose.
"Are we talking about some verdant circle of venerable trees?"
"No. It is more like a forum complex. It has a circus, several temples, and a Caesarium for the deified emperors."
"How modern! Silly me, I had expected some rustic haven."
"The Emperor Augustus brought the rites up to date. The cult had fallen into abeyance rather--"
"Of course! He interfered in everything. So just set the scene for me."
"There has been a day of worship, followed by games and races."
"Members of the public?"
"Yes."
"All men?"
"No."
"Is the revelry over?"
"People are hanging on. Most of the Brothers have returned to Rome for another feast at the house of the current Master." He paused. "Well, except for one of them." I noted that remark, but let him carry on. "I came home early. People who had been at the Games were still enjoying themselves in the Grove."
"What made you leave early?"
Aelianus sighed. "One of the Brothers had taken me aside and warned me that they felt I was not quite ready for the burdens of election to such a demanding cult. He obviously meant I was not important enough." Aelianus dropped his gaze; his father compressed his mouth. "I felt low. I tried to continue with a brave face, but I kept hearing the snide bastard saying what a good impression I had made, and how sincerely the Brothers hoped I would find some other way to apply my supposed talents. . . . I could not bear the way people looked at me. I know I should have braved it out. . . ."
He paused for a moment, leaning on his elbow with one palm covering his mouth. The splayed fingers had bitten nails. I put a hand on his shoulder. Where my thumb touched skin under the edge of his tunic it felt cold. He was in shock.
Aelianus continued in a quiet voice, "My horse was just outside the Grove, where they had set up a picket line. To get back there I had to walk past a pavilion for the Master, a big temporary tent. I heard a group of people coming out, so I dodged quickly around the back to avoid them. I stumbled over one of the guy ropes; then I
After he stopped retching, Aelianus made an effort to apologize.
"Don't worry; we've all done it."
"I'm not drunk."
His father hauled him to a couch. "And we have all produced that finely honed poetic line as well!"
Aelianus stayed lost in a heavy silence. While Decimus fielded the Athenianware and shunted it elsewhere for some poor slave to find tomorrow, his son sat, oddly hunched. Experience told me he had passed the risk of being ill again.
"What's up, Aulus?"
His voice was strained. "Something you know all about, Marcus Didius." Decimus moved abruptly. I lifted an eyebrow, signaling that we should let the lad take his time. "I found something." Aelianus now looked up and wanted to talk. "I stumbled over something horrible."
He closed his eyes. His face told me the worst. In the grim business of informing, I had seen more than enough people wearing this expression. "There has been an accident?" I was being optimistic.
Aelianus braced himself. "Not exactly. I fell over a corpse. But whoever it is, it's very clear he did not die by accident."
VIII
"ALL RIGHT; TAKE your time, son." The senator had found a jug of water and a beaker. Aelianus rinsed his teeth and spat into the beaker. Patiently I emptied it into the Athenianware he had already used, rinsed the beaker, then poured fresh water, which I made him drink.
"So," I said firmly. "Your father told me you went to partake in the main day of worship amid the corn wreaths and dinner napkins. Stuffing your face in the cause of new growth at the Arval Brothers' Sacred Grove--was that where this happened?"
Aelianus sat up straighter and nodded. I chivvied him, brisk as a legionary commander taking details from a scout: "The Grove is where?"
"Five miles outside the city on the Via Portuensis." He had served in the army and civil government. He could give a reliable report when he chose.
"Are we talking about some verdant circle of venerable trees?"
"No. It is more like a forum complex. It has a circus, several temples, and a Caesarium for the deified emperors."
"How modern! Silly me, I had expected some rustic haven."
"The Emperor Augustus brought the rites up to date. The cult had fallen into abeyance rather--"
"Of course! He interfered in everything. So just set the scene for me."
"There has been a day of worship, followed by games and races."
"Members of the public?"
"Yes."
"All men?"
"No."
"Is the revelry over?"
"People are hanging on. Most of the Brothers have returned to Rome for another feast at the house of the current Master." He paused. "Well, except for one of them." I noted that remark, but let him carry on. "I came home early. People who had been at the Games were still enjoying themselves in the Grove."
"What made you leave early?"
Aelianus sighed. "One of the Brothers had taken me aside and warned me that they felt I was not quite ready for the burdens of election to such a demanding cult. He obviously meant I was not important enough." Aelianus dropped his gaze; his father compressed his mouth. "I felt low. I tried to continue with a brave face, but I kept hearing the snide bastard saying what a good impression I had made, and how sincerely the Brothers hoped I would find some other way to apply my supposed talents. . . . I could not bear the way people looked at me. I know I should have braved it out. . . ."
He paused for a moment, leaning on his elbow with one palm covering his mouth. The splayed fingers had bitten nails. I put a hand on his shoulder. Where my thumb touched skin under the edge of his tunic it felt cold. He was in shock.
Aelianus continued in a quiet voice, "My horse was just outside the Grove, where they had set up a picket line. To get back there I had to walk past a pavilion for the Master, a big temporary tent. I heard a group of people coming out, so I dodged quickly around the back to avoid them. I stumbled over one of the guy ropes; then I
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