Buried Too Deep Read Online Free PDF Page B

ready. But then you might have wondered how easy they are to catch, mightn’t you? And the answer is, very easy, as I’ll show you.”
    “They’re all used to halter work then?”
    “Aye, they are, and they’ve all had some training carrying blankets on their backs, but we haven’t saddled any of them yet. A year’s on the young side for that.”
    “Good. I’ve my own horse-trainer on the estate, and he’ll break them in. Well now, catch them please, and I’ll have a close look.”
    Secundus beckoned Castor, one of the older horse-boys, and together they fetched the young black horses out and tied them to the paddock railings. All four came easily and stood quietly, looking good. They continued to behave beautifully while Magnus first walked all round them, then examined them carefully, looked in their mouths, and finally checked their feet.
    “Not bad so far,” he said. “Now can I see them in action?”
    We went to an empty paddock, where Secundus put a long leading-rope on each in turn and made them circle round showing their paces. They worked well, and I was proud of them.
    There followed some interesting bargaining. Magnus began by assuming that the innkeeper and stable-master of a country mansio would be easy to bully or persuade, and would naturally give a powerful estate owner a very advantageous deal. He soon discovered his mistake. I’m never short of customers for my horses, and I don’t sell them cheaply. After protracted haggling he ended by buying all four, and for exactly the price Secundus and I had agreed beforehand.
    We shook hands on the deal and went into the bar-room, where I produced a jug of our best Gaulish red, and ordered a big plate of bread, olives, and cheese to go with it. We sat down to wait for Vividus.
    “You mentioned that Vividus is your eldest nephew,” I said, pouring out the wine. “Have you other nephews and nieces here in Britannia with you?”
    “I’ve three altogether, and yes, they’re all here with me. They’re my sister’s boys, I took them on when she died. Ferox is next oldest, there’s only a year between him and Vividus. He’s our estate manager. He’s a natural organiser and has a feel for farm work, and doesn’t take any nonsense from the slaves. He’s ex-army, finished up second-in-command of an auxiliary squadron, discharged just last summer.”
    “And your youngest?”
    “Ah, Aquilo. Not a soldier, I’m afraid, and I doubt if he’ll ever make much of a fist of being a farmer. He’s more of a—a scholar, I suppose. He plays the lyre, and studies music. And writes poetry.” It was clear from his tone that he didn’t think much of these occupations.
    “How interesting. I like both musicians and poets, and they’re pretty thin on the ground in Britannia. I hope I’ll meet him some day.”
    “Come and visit whenever you like. But Aquilo may not be here much longer. He’s talking about going off to study in Italia, or even Greece. Leave the running of the estate to those of us that are good at it. I’ll probably let him, but I don’t believe in giving children everything they want straight away.”
    I’d like to have asked more, but Vividus strode in just then. He was pale, but his face was much less swollen, and his smile was symmetrical.
    “Business all done, Uncle?” His lisp had gone. “Did you buy any?”
    “Four yearlings.”
    “ Four?” He laughed as he sat down. “Aurelia, he spent the whole journey here telling me that he definitely wasn’t going to buy more than two today. You must have a silver tongue.”
    “Just some good horses,” I smiled, and poured him a beaker. “How’s the toothache?”
    He took the wine, drank a good half of it, and sighed contentedly. “That’s better! My mouth’s still sore. Timaeus pulled the whole tooth out, roots and all. It hurt worse than a kick in the balls, but he said if he left it there the poison would spread all over my body. He’s given me some ointment to rub into my