A Roman Ransom Read Online Free PDF Page A

beside the other in the pocket pouch he wore. Then he unfolded the piece of tattered bark.
    ‘What does it say, Excellence?’ I asked him quietly.
    He turned to me, and even in the firelight I could see that he was close to tears.
    ‘It says, “If you wish to see your wife and son again, ensure that Lallius Tiberius is set free.”’

Chapter Three
    At these astounding words there was a little hush, during which I found that I was – for the first time – wide awake, but before I could say anything at all, the doctor asked the question that was on all our lips.
    ‘Who is Lallius Tiberius?’ he said.
    ‘Obviously some criminal who is in custody and now awaiting trial.’ My patron was struggling to keep his voice under control. ‘In fact, now I come to think of it I seem to know the name – though not in connection with any case of mine.’ As representative of the outgoing governor, Marcus was the senior judicial figure in this whole area of Britannia. Only the most important cases – or those involving the most wealthy citizens – were tried by him, although of course he could be called upon to arbitrate if the need arose.
    The medicus was making himself busy as my patron spoke, officiously moving a little table which I kept in the hut and placing it at the bottom of my bed. ‘I too have heard the name – or something very like it, anyway. But for the moment I can’t think in what connection it arose.’ He turned to Gwellia. ‘A bowl and water, here.’
    Marcus ignored him and pursued his train of thought. ‘I remember! I’ve seen it on the lists for civil trial in one of the minor courts. But I did not preside at the introductory plea. One of my junior magistrates must have heard the accusation and ruled that there’s a case, and it will come before the appointed judge on whatever the temple tells us is the next propitious day. After the ides, I expect. It won’t come before me, even then – merely some elder citizen agreed on by plaintiff and defendant, with a legal officer to see fair play.’
    ‘But surely it must be something serious,’ the doctor said, taking the basin which Gwellia brought to him. ‘For his supporters to have taken such a desperate step.’
    Marcus was staring at the piece of bark, turning it over in his hands. He sounded mystified. ‘Yet I’m quite sure it’s not. I can’t remember what the charges are. Some question about money, I believe – setting on someone in the street and robbing him. Enough to bring him up before the courts. I doubt if I should have noticed his name at all, except that he attempted to escape during the preliminary hearing – the one to establish that there was a case to answer – and there was an application that he should be held in custody until the proper trial could be heard. At his accuser’s own expense, of course.’ He frowned. ‘I don’t know who is at the bottom of all this, and who could have sent the note. Clearly it wasn’t Lallius himself, since he is presumably still locked up in the cells. It must be his supporters, as the doctor says. But what do they think it has to do with me?’
    ‘You are the most senior magistrate in the province,’ I reminded him. ‘They presumably suppose that you can bring pressure on the court, and have the case dismissed.’
    ‘Well, this message seems to solve one mystery, at least.’ The medicus spoke cheerfully, as if there was no longer any reason for alarm. ‘It is clear now what has happened to your wife and son. Someone has abducted them to force your hand in this – and these people will have to keep them safe and well, otherwise they have nothing they can bargain with.’ As he spoke, he stooped, picked up a small, carved wooden chest from somewhere on the floor, and placed it on the table he’d prepared. I had seen such things before, and knew what it was likely to contain – a selection of dried herbs, each in its own built-in compartment in the box, with differently sized