“In order to raise the ransom thatCogidubnus demanded, Septimus was forced to put up the villa ownedby my great-grandfather in Arelate. It’s,” I had to pause for amoment to consider how to describe it, “more than our family home,Bronwen. It’s a…symbol of all that my great-grandfather achieved,because he was born very poor, in Hispania, in our lowest classthat we call the Head Count, but because of all that he achieved,he was elevated to our Equestrian Order. So,” I shook my head, “Icouldn’t live with the shame of being the cause of losingthat.”
I could see she understood this, but thenshe asked curiously, “What is an Equestrian?”
This was when I realized something; therewas so much for her to learn about Rome and its ways, but I justsmiled at her and said, “We’ll talk about that later, if that’s allright?”
She nodded, then I turned to Alex.
“Now we need to talk about how we getto Alexandria. And,” I finished glumly, “how we can affordit.”
“Actually,” he replied, “I have somegood news about that.” Rather than explain, he took a glancearound, which I found odd because everyone else had gone down ontothe main deck as he said, “But I think it’s better that we go downbelow to talk about it.”
As soon as we entered the cabin, Iunderstood Alex’s cause for being secretive, because he walked tothe chest containing my armor and clothing, in which was a smallerchest with a lock on it that is part of a Centurion’s assignedbaggage. Opening it with his key, he gestured to us to come closer,and when I did, I looked down to see two leather sacks, bulging tothe point where it was easy to see they were stuffed with coins.This was certainly a welcome sight, but then he opened both of themup, and I cannot say who gasped more loudly, me or Bronwen at thesight of dully gleaming gold coins.
“Pluto’s cock,” I gasped, looking at Alex inastonishment. Then, the fuller implication of this hit me, andwhile I knew it was a foolish thing, I felt a stab of irritation.“You took the risk of stealing this much from my ransom? What ifthey’d weighed it?”
“I knew they wouldn’t,” Alex repliedcalmly.
“How? You didn’t know that untilIvomagus told you onboard when he examined the gold!”
“You’re right,” he agreed, but then hegrinned. “But you’re assuming that was the first time he told me.”Rather than enlighten me, it only deepened the mystery, although itmade me feel better to see that Bronwen appeared to be as confused.I suppose Alex took pity on us; more likely, he took pity onBronwen, and I am certain that if it had just been the two of us,he would have loved to torment me for a bit longer. He explained,“It was during the feast. I asked him what the process was fordetermining that the weight was correct. That’s when he told methat they didn’t have anything that could weigh that much weight atPetuar, and the only scale large enough was in theircapital.”
“And he forgot?” I frowned, not somuch because I doubted Alex. “That doesn’t sound likeIvomagus.”
“Maybe something happened a short timelater that made him forget everything else,” Alex replieddryly.
“Oh, yes. That.” It was all I couldthink to say, feeling a bit sheepish. Then I thought about it foranother heartbeat, prompting me to hold up a hand. “Wait. How couldyou know that Ivomagus would forget? I mean, even after I…did whatI did?”
“I didn’t,” Alex answered with amatter-of-fact tone, then modified his answer slightly. “Not withany certainty. But, given how I felt about it, I thought it wasworth the risk, because the gods know it was difficult for me torecall anything that happened before you…did what youdid.”
I glared at him, but it was because ofthe manner in which he repeated my words, and while I cannot say itno longer rankled me, I also realized that it did not matter; wewere at sea, with two bags of aureithat solved at least one part of the problem.
Signaling that I was ready to move on, Iasked Alex, “Did you say anything to Squillus about taking us toAlexandria?”
“No. I didn’t see much point,” hereplied, but while I agreed with that decision, it did not addressthe larger question.
“What’s the best way to get toAlexandria?”
By the manner in which he did not hesitate,I knew Alex had already considered my question, because he answeredimmediately, “We take the same route I did to get to Arelate, butwe go to Narbo. And then,” he shrugged, and pointed down at thesacks, “we use as much of that as we need to convince a masterwho’s willing to make the voyage to Alexandria at this time ofyear.”
“I said,” I tried not to sound angryabout it, “we’re not going to Arelate first. Besides,” I argued,“Narbo is to the west of Arelate, so we’ll be going back in thisdirection.”
Alex did not reply at first, choosing tolook at Bronwen, who, since she was looking at me, was unaware ofhis scrutiny. It was when he looked back at me that I understood,but I was too mulish to acknowledge his silent question.
Sighing at my intransigence, Alex asked,“And what about Bronwen?”
This startled her, and she looked over athim in surprise. “What about me?”
Oh, I was angry at him, but I alsoknew that he was right, which meant that I made an effort to notlet my irritation show as I explained, “Bronwen, the journey we’remaking is going to be very hard. But,” I held up a hand toforestall her retort, seeing her eyes narrow, “that’s not myconcern because I know that you traveled with your father. It’sjust that,” I paused, trying to come up with the right words,“you’ve already experienced a great deal. And, we’re going to becrossing Our Sea after the sailing season. I,” I amended,indicating
