My suspicions notwithstanding, it was a very good play. The audience cheered and stamped their feet enthusiastically as the chorus made their exit. Though the family behind us still reckoned tomorrow’s trilogy would be better.
Zosime caught my eye and grinned. I could see she was eager for that treat. As I returned her smile, I vowed I’d make sure she saw it.
It seemed the gods were determined to hold me to account today. Nymenios tapped me on the shoulder as I queued for three cups of wine in the interval before the next play. ‘Where are you sitting?’
I pointed. ‘With Zosime and Menkaure. I’m sorry, we didn’t see you when we arrived. Where are you all?’
‘Up there.’ As he jerked his head, I saw Chairephanes waving, sat with the others. They had a good enough spot, but we had better.
Nymenios had other things on his mind. ‘Come on, I’ve just seen Dexios.’
I stared at him blankly. ‘What?’
Then I remembered Epikrates on my doorstep with his tale of woe and undelivered leather. That seemed like half a year ago.
Nymenios had already turned away, expecting me to follow him to wherever he’d seen the tanner. I wanted to argue, but today just the thought of trying to dissuade my brother made my headache three times worse. I sighed and trailed after him.
Dexios was deep in conversation with someone I didn’t recognise, both of them sipping wine. As Nymenios strode towards him, he greeted us both with an ingratiating smile.
‘Good day to you. Such a pleasure—’
‘Where’s our leather?’ Nymenios demanded.
‘Forgive me, I am so embarrassed.’ The tanner spread apologetic hands, though his dark eyes were as hard as agate. ‘My stock’s run low, a temporary situation, I assure you.’
Nymenios was having none of it. ‘I want the hides we’ve paid for or I want our silver back. Otherwise we’ll see you in court.’
He included me in that threat with a gesture. I did my best to look like a man who could write a thundering denunciation instead of someone quite likely to be sick on his shoes.
‘No, wait, you have to listen!’ Dexios abandoned his attempts at charm, fat jowls wobbling like a cock’s wattles.
‘We have to do nothing of the kind,’ snapped Nymenios.
I laid a hand on his forearm and glared at Dexios. ‘Make it quick. How have you fallen foul of the temples?’
‘I’ve done nothing!’ Dexios protested. ‘Ten days ago I paid up for my usual consignment from the Temple of Hephaistos. We shook hands on the deal but the skins never arrived. When I went to ask where they were, they said a cart from my yard had already collected them.’
‘Really? Did you send word to the Archons? I will check,’ Nymenios warned.
‘That very same day!’ Dexios’s grievance was loud enough to turn heads. ‘The temple slaves swear they acted in good faith and the chief priest backs them up. He says they can’t be held responsible if I’ve been robbed by such deception. The magistrates say there’s nothing they can do until I find out who collected the hides from the temple.’
The tanner clenched his fists and turned to me. ‘Will you help me, when I drag these bastards into court? Write me a speech that’ll scald the jury’s ears? I’ll pay whatever you ask.’
That convinced me he was telling the truth. Dexios always haggles Nymenios down to the last sixteenth of an obol. Now he was inviting me to help myself to his silver. ‘Have you any idea who did it?’
‘Not yet.’ He scowled at the avid onlookers as if he suspected them all. ‘Not the priest at least. He was appalled to realise how easily he’d been duped.’
Nymenios surprised me by giving Dexios a curt nod. ‘You can have until the end of the month. Supply the leather you promised us or return our silver.’ He scanned the avid onlookers’ faces and snapped his fingers as he saw someone he recognised. ‘Kephalos, will you stand witness for me?’
The man nodded, along with several others who looked familiar from local brotherhood meetings, or the Alopeke district council, or somewhere I’d probably remember if I’d drunk less wine the night before.
‘The yard will be back in business within days regardless.’ Now Dexios was smiling, visibly relieved. ‘With all these sacrifices for the Dionysia, we’ll have as many hides as we can handle.’
‘Let’s hope so.’ Nymenios turned to stride away before the tanner could say anything else.
I hurried after my brother. ‘At least that’s settled. If Dexios can get us the skins, all well and good. If he can’t, we’ll just do business with Pataikos.’
Nymenios shook his head, looking grim. ‘I saw him earlier. He says everyone’s bidding against him for those hides from the temple at Acharnai. He says every temple he deals with in the city has had someone pay coin, up front, for all this festival’s hides. If Dexios wasn’t so busy guzzling free wine, he’d know that for himself.’
I stared at him, astonished. ‘Who has that much silver?’
‘Nobody knows. The temples aren’t telling, presumably to keep the coin coming.’ My brother’s face hardened. ‘As soon as the festival’s over, we need to talk to everyone in the leather trades, and the other tanners. We need to find out what’s going on before we’re all beggared.’
‘Then why did you give Dexios until the end of the month?’ Now that really confused me, with or without my headache.
‘To give him every incentive to find out what the fuck’s going on.’ Nymenios let slip a hint of desperation. Then he turned on me. Ever since we were kids, if something’s bothering him, he finds a way to give someone else grief. ‘When are you coming to see Mother? She wants to talk about your play.’
She wasn’t at the theatre today. She’d lost her taste for tragedies after burying her husband and losing one
