Free Shadow of the King by Helen Hollick Page B

beam of pride was
    extravagant. Incredulous, Bedwyr encouraged him to tell more.
    “I sent horses and carts to bring all those poor people onto my estate. I saved
    them from starving.” Ecdicius flapped one hand dismissively. It was no large
    thing, a simple matter of helping one’s neighbour.
    Sidonius snorted. “Damn fool nigh on beggared himself! Used all his grain
    surplus and a good deal of gold to buy in more to feed classless peasant farmers
    and their whores and brats! Let them find their own way or go without, I say.
    There’s always someone else to take over an empty farm.”
    Ecdicius kept his smile but his retort was barbed, for all his outward pleas-
    antness. “Aye, there is many a Goth who would like to get his hands on
    good farm land.” He had been baited with this same line of contempt for his
    generosity many times. “Is it not a lord’s duty to care for those less well off
    in the time of need? By following my duty, I am assured of loyalty from my
    tenants and servants.” There was mischief in his eyes as he added, looking
    direct at Sidonius, “I do not constantly need to watch the shadows growing
    larger behind my back.”
    Sensing something more than family disagreement over the treatment of
    servants and tenant farmers, Arthur searched for plausible reasons. Why would
    a man need such a large, loyal following? He tried a blind stab at one. “Have
    you, then, an ambition to become Emperor like your father, Avitus?”
    Ecdicius laughed, head back, large hands slapping his thighs. He had a bold,
    full-of-humour bellow. “What? And have a dagger plunged into my back a few
    months later? No thank you my lord Riothamus! My father was foolish enough
    to want to wear the purple; he held that dubious pleasure for less than a year.”
    He sat at ease, spread his arms along the back of the couch. “I am content with
    what I have. A wealthy estate, a loving wife, and an articulate brother-by-law
    who is soon to become Bishop of Augustonemtum”
    This was news to Arthur.
    Sidonius shrugged modestly, though the flicker of annoyance and bitterness
    was not lost to the Pendragon’s keen, watching eye. “It is an honour that has
    been offered to me.” The modesty was false. “I have humbly decided to accept
    the position.”
    5 2 H e l e n H o l l i c k
    Polite, hiding his amusement—and satisfaction—Arthur offered congratula-
    tions, while rapidly digesting the information. So, Sidonius was thought to
    have been involved with that treasonous letter sent by Arvandus to Euric of the
    Goths! Because of it, he had fallen from his high place of favour in Rome. That
    Arthur knew already, though the reason had not been made clear. Nothing had
    been openly said or declared, there was probably no evidence to support the
    suspicions. But this sealed the lid to the coffin, did it not? To be forced into
    accepting the oblivion of a bishopric! Hah! Happen there was justice in this
    world after all.
    “I hear,” Arthur decided to stir a few muddied puddles, “that Arvandus was
    saved from execution by a sentence of exile instead. The man was your friend,
    Sidonius, was he not?”
    Quickly, too quickly, too hotly, Sidonius denied it. “He was a colleague,
    nothing more. The man was foolish in not understanding the intricacies of
    Roman law, that was all, was unfortunate enough to fall foul of others with
    more evil intent than ever he could dream of.”
    “So, plotting with Euric to destroy us British and then to overthrow all traces
    of Roman rule in Gaul is not evil intent?” Bedwyr responded, not bothering to
    hide the disgust in his voice.
    “The episode was all a misunderstanding, I assure you.” Sidonius had to say
    that, had to believe it, for he too had very nearly been lured into the plotting,
    had only escaped by reason of his own eloquence and wit. Arvandus had been
    his friend, they shared the same views, the same beliefs, knew the only hope
    to rekindle prosperity and peace in Gaul was to let