Cassia ran her fingers along a tablet, tracing its square wooden cover.“I was sent to take care ofyou.”
I shrugged.“We must take care of each other.Neither of us knows how to cook.”
That won a tiny smile.“That is so.”Cassia stilled her fingers.“We must hurry and make certain you are not accused of this crime.Priscus’s fee will last only so long.”
“I should take another job, you mean.”
“Indeed.I will search for another generous man in need of protection.Perhaps heading to a finer destination than Ostia.”
“We can’t expect to always be paid highly,” I pointed out.“I’ve done plenty of guarding, and some don’t pay much at all.”
“True.”Cassia’s trepidation fled, and the businesslike gleam returned to her eye.She’d called Kephalos a snake, but Cassia resembled a hawk regarding prey when she turned her attention to our funds.“What we will do is make you a very special guard—men will pay handsomely to say they had Leonidas watch over their steps.Yes—let me think on this …”
I left her to it.I had already learned never to stand between Cassia and her interest in accounts.
The next morning,Cassia asked me to take her to see Marcianus.She wanted to speak to him about the poison that had been given to Floriana, she said—how strong it was, how long it took to work, what it was comparable to, and so forth.
I ceased understanding her after about the fifth word and agreed to walk with her to the Aventine.
When we reached Marcianus’s shop, he was not there.At theludus, Marcia told us.She wore a palla even more plain than the one I’d seen her in on my last visit, and had bundled her hair into a simple style.She looked young and uncomplicated.
“Can you tell me about the salad Floriana ate that night?”Cassia asked after we’d exchanged greetings and spoke of Marcianus.“Who prepared it for her?”
Marcia’s eyes widened into frightened ovals then she flung herself past me and tried to flee into the street.
Chapter 18
Icaught Marcia around the waist and pulled her back into the shop.She struggled, but I held her fast, her feet off the ground.
“What about Floriana’s meal makes you want to run?”I demanded.
Marcia pushed at the iron bar of my arm and glared at me.“Nothing.I don’t know anything about it.”
Cassia regarded her with cool interest.“When Marcianus questioned you the morning he treated Floriana, you said there had been only lentils and bread taken in the house.You knew of no salad.”
“That’s what I’m saying now.”Marcia lifted her chin, but her belligerence couldn’t quite hide her fear.
“Before, you were only puzzled,” Cassia went on relentlessly.“Now you are afraid.What happened to change your mind?”
“I don’t care whatshesays.”Marcia’s voice rose.“I didn’t know anything, and I won’t be taken to a magistrate for it.”
“What who says?”I asked.
Marcia pedaled her feet, kicking me, but it was like being kicked by a fly.
For a moment, I thought Marcia might answer me, but a male voice cut through the crowd who’d gathered outside the door to watch the show.“Leonidas, what are you doing?Put her down at once.”
Only Nonus Marcianus could chivvy a gladiator into obeying his every command.I gently set Marcia on her feet, and she wrenched herself from me and hurried to Marcianus.
“Do you mean Lucia?”Cassia asked her.
“No,” Marcia said loudly.“I don’t mean her at all.”
I knew she did, as did Cassia, and by his expression, Marcianus.
“Lucia came to speak to you, didn’t she?”Cassia asked.“Did she tell you what to say if you were questioned?”
Marcia closed her lips tightly and folded her arms.Marcianus put himself between her and me.
