Kelli Stanley - The Curse-Maker

“His aunt died?”

Gywna nodded. “Her name was Rusonia Aventina. Came out for a cure, never got back home.”

“Did she mention Bibax?”

“Not then, but something she said later made me think of it. It was when we were getting rubbed down-when you’re with women like that, you have to do everything all at the same time. For your own protection-otherwise they’ll look through your things while you’re in the water. It’s best to follow someone’s lead. Vibia and Flavia practically wrestled over who was going to be the leader. One of them was always trying to tell us what to do.”

“So what happened?”

“Prunella was drunk. The others made bitchy remarks about Materna-wife of Secundus, the duovir you just met. Fat, ugly, red-faced woman. Her daughter is pretty, though. Still not married. Vibia mentioned something about Secundus scaring off a young man his daughter liked. Wants her to marry rich.”

She shook her head with feeling. “Always the same story.”

“What about Bibax?”

“I’m getting there, Ardur. We were watching this girl and her hulking mother-I don’t want to end up on a couch with her, let me put it that way-and Vibia was saying how poor little Secunda was pining for her lover. And then Prunella said something about ‘losing a chance to fix it.’ Flavia gave her a warning look, but Prunella was too far gone. Slurred something like ‘She coulda got ol’ Bibax to help. Good ol’ Bibax. He was real. Not like the res’.’ Then Flavia hit her in the stomach and they changed the subject.”

“She said Bibax was ‘real’?”

“There’s more. As soon as we were done with the rubdown, the other women left for a few minutes to talk to Sulpicia.” A distasteful look crossed her face. “She makes such a spectacle of herself. And her body’s not that good.”

She shot a glance at me. I was innocently studying my nails.

“Anyway, Sulpicia was walking around, and she looks every bit of forty and then some. They left me alone with Prunella because she was asleep, but I got out the wine cup and held it under her nose. That woke her up.”

“What did she say? Did you ask her about Bibax?”

She took another drink and stared at me. “Of course I did, Ardur. I may not be Bilicho, but I’m not stupid.”

I tried to wag my tail and give her my paw. It always works for dogs. “Sorry. Go on.”

“Well, I asked her what she meant about Bibax. What he could have ‘fixed’ for Secunda. She gave me this look, and a wink, and said to ask Sulpicia.”

“Sulpicia again?”

“Yes, Sulpicia. Then she said-well, she said some things about you.”

“Me? What could she say about me?”

Gwyna blushed a becoming shade of pink. “Nothing that you need to know. She seems to be under the impression-how, I don’t know-that you’re, well-that I’d never need to-shall we say-resort to anyone-or anything-else. Unlike Sulpicia, who did-and does.”

I grinned. I’d remember Prunella, and be extra nice to her next time we went to dinner. Gwyna was watching me, her lips pursed.

“She was drunk, Arcturus.”

I cleared my throat. “So what’s this about Sulpicia?”

“That’s what I wanted to know. So when Flavia came back I asked her how long Sulpicia has been with Vitellius.”

“Vitellius likes boys.”

“I know. Everyone knows. That’s why she roams around like a cat. She’ll stick her tail in the air for any good-looking man who gives her a sniff.”

“Maybe she’s lonely.” I withered under my wife’s look.

“Sulpicia?! Ha! Flavia said the old slut’s rich, ancient-as-the-hills husband fell down and died just a year and a 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.”

“You think-”

“I 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.”

“I’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.”

“Threw what in? Where?”

“Ardur, 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.”

“She 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.”

“But 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.”

“So you think-”

“I 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.

“If she’s being blackmailed-”

“Other people are, too. Even though Bibax is dead-”

“He 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.”

“What 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.

“There was something else. What was it? Oh, yes-the mine-the haunted mine.”

“You talked about it?”

“Vibia likes ghost stories, and Aquae Sulis is full of them. Someone mentioned that the baths are haunted, too.”

“By whom?”

“A 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, somehow.”

“Was he cursed by Bibax?”

“I was listening to Vibia talk about the mine. You think-”

“I think you need to speak to the grandmother.”

She rubbed her hand thoughtfully. “I’ll do it tomorrow.”

“And the mine?”

“The mine. The story is that a man died in a cave-in.”

“Slaves die in mines all the time without ghosts shutting them down.”