Gambax had failed to shut the door. He could see movement in the corridor outside.
“Albanus, you’re lurking.”
The clerk grinned, stepped into the treatment room, and closed the door. “Could I possibly come in here for a moment, sir? It’s safer than out there.”
Ruso indicated a seat. “Tell me, Albanus,” he said, tipping back his chair so that the front legs left the ground, “have you ever heard of the torpedo fish?”
“It gives some sort of shock, sir.”
“Excellent,” said Ruso, wishing Gambax were there to hear himself proved wrong. “You haven’t by any chance got a remedy for a man whose triangles are falling apart, have you?”
“I think the only remedy for that is death, sir.”
“No doubt,” said Ruso, mildly surprised. Albanus was not in the habit of making jokes.
Seconds later it became apparent that no joke was intended. “It’s a bit of an obscure piece, sir. Plato. My father was a teacher. He made me translate it once. I can’t remember much about it, but I think when your triangles finally crumble they release your soul to fly to.. somewhere.”
“What triangles?”
“I never really understood it. But I think Plato thought everything was based on mathematics and people are made out of little triangles and the sharp edges help you digest your food.”
“Gods above,” said Ruso, scratching one ear. “No wonder people are rude about the Greeks.”
“I probably haven’t explained it terribly well, sir.”
“No, I’m sure that’s right. It explains something Doctor Thessalus said to me yesterday.”
There was a thump from the corridor, then a curse and the sound of something cumbersome being dragged along the floor. Ruso guessed the orderlies had finally realized they needed to change the mattresses before they put on the fresh bedding.
“I’ve finished sorting the records, sir,” said Albanus. “There’s lots of gaps but at least you can find what there is now.”
“Excellent,” said Ruso. “I’ll come and have a look.” He caught Albanus’s eye. “Maybe it’s better not to disturb Gambax at the moment. But I’d like you to start checking the rest of the infirmary paperwork. Find out how they’ve been placing the orders, paying the bills, and so on.”
Albanus was chewing his lower lip. “I don’t think Gambax will like me interfering in that very much, sir. He’s a bit agitated already.”
“That’s why you’ll have to do it discreetly when he’s not there. In the meantime, I want you to nip around to the gatehouses and see if you can find a guard who can remember where Doctor Thessalus was called to on the night of the murder, and what time he arrived back. I tried last night but I didn’t get very far. While you’re there, see if they’ve had any messages from Tilla. If they haven’t, I think you’d better go out and try to track her down.”
“Right-oh, sir. What do I say if they ask why I want to know about the doctor?”
“Say ‘medical reasons,’ ” said Ruso. “That usually works.” He tipped his chair forward again. “Now I suppose I’d better go and encourage the scrubbers.”
33
The thorn hedge finally came into sight on the far side of the river meadow. Tilla looked above her shoulder again to make sure that there was no one following her before she forced herself to slow down and recapture her breath. Beyond the thorn hedge, smoke was seeping lazily skyward from a dumpy cone of thatch. As she drew closer she could make out the tops of the beehives.
Nobody noticed her approach. Veldicca was on her knees, ripping early weeds out of one of the herb beds. There was a green shawl tied across her back, sheltering the shape of a sleeping baby. In the doorway of the house a small girl was grinding flour while two hens loitered, waiting to lunge at the spilled grains of wheat.
“Veldicca!” called Tilla as she pushed open the gate.
The young woman took one look, scrambled to her feet, and backed away in alarm.
“It is me,” Tilla assured her.
“Daughter of Lugh?”
“Alive. May I come in?”
Veldicca peered at her for a moment, then hurried forward, slapping the worst of the mud off her hands before embracing her. “They told us you were dead!”
“And you have a baby!”
They drew back for a moment, each appraising the other. Veldicca was thinner, and a dull red scar ran across her left cheekbone. But whatever troubles had assailed her in the last three years, they had not repressed her smile.
“Come and sit and talk.” Veldicca turned to the girl. “Leave the corn and fetch us some mead-and some of the dried apple?” She looked to Tilla for approval.
“That would be very good,” agreed Tilla, realizing she had not eaten since last night.
“A friend’s child,” explained Veldicca, indicating the girl before she dipped her hands into the washing bowl by the door. “She is here to help and learn about the herbs. Where have you been? We mourned for you-it is a joy to see you!”
“I have been in many places. But last night I went to visit your brother.”
The smile faded. “I have no-”
“Never mind about that. He has been arrested. The soldiers have taken him.”
Veldicca shook her hands dry and wiped them on her skirt. Then she said, “I am sorry, but I am not surprised. From what I hear, it is better not to be Rianorix’s sister at present.”
They seated themselves side by side on the shaped log under the eaves. Tilla said, “The gods have woken, Veldicca. But doing their will has brought your brother serious trouble.”
Veldicca adjusted the shawl so that the child lay in her lap for her visitor to admire. “A girl,” she said, stroking the child’s dark hair. “Four months. Much has happened while you have been gone.”
“You must be proud,” said Tilla, reaching to snatch away the abandoned bag of grain just as the first hen stabbed at it. “About your brother-”
“I should be proud,” agreed Veldicca. “But mostly I am just busy and tired. You know I am widowed?”
“I am sorry. Your brother said nothing.”
“That is no surprise. Even in death, Rianorix does not approve of my choice of husband.”
“They say your brother killed a soldier,” said Tilla. “But all he did was curse him. He does not know how the curse was fulfilled. It must be a sign.”
“Well, if the curse did harm, then he has brought this on himself. You know what a fool he is.”
“Veldicca-”
“It has never given me pleasure to be estranged. But he has always been stubborn.”
“And you are…?”
“As I said. Busy and tired. To speak openly, daughter of Lugh, we do not need my brother’s trouble at our hearth. He is not wise in the company he keeps, and if you want to stay away from trouble, do not go with him to the Gathering that he thinks I do not know about. Have you heard about this creature who is hunting down soldiers?”
Tilla took the cup the girl was offering, and took a deep swallow of the rich sweet mead. “My own brothers would have been just as yours is. Act first, think later. Or not at all.”
“I grieved for your family.”
“I thank you.”
A robin flitted down into the patch that Veldicca had been weeding and began to stab for worms.
“You never know how long the gods will allow you in this world,” said Tilla. “At least try to send a message to him.”
Veldicca bent and kissed the sleeping baby on the forehead. “I will think about it,” she said.
