Free Buried Too Deep by Jane Finnis Page B

prefer to do it discreetly.”
    “So the chief’s present is in a wrecked boat miles from where it’s supposed to be. If that doesn’t attract attention, I’m the Queen of Brigantia. Neptune’s balls!” I had a sudden thought that was so shocking it made me jerk the mare’s reins, and she looked round reproachfully. “Belinus said Voltacos’ pirates were looking for gold. Could they have been trying to capture the Sea Horse on its way north? Trying to lure it ashore onto the rocks perhaps?”
    “Absolutely not. That ship and cargo are top secret. Nobody knew about it outside the Governor’s staff in Londinium, and not many inside.”
    “I know you, Lucius, and I know when you’re not sure of something. Such as now.”
    He grunted. “Well…the thought had occurred to me too, of course it had. But look on the bright side. Even if the Gauls did bring about the wreck of the Sea Horse, they haven’t gained anything by it. They haven’t got their hands on the cargo.”
    We’d reached the top of a fairly steep rise, and got our first view of the sea. Lucius pulled up his horse. “Time for a short halt, I think. It’s not far now, and we need to let the raeda catch up a bit. You did bring some wine, didn’t you?”
    “Wine, bread, cheese, sausage, and some of Cook’s honey cakes. No, you’re not having any food now, that’s all for Albia. But I’ve plenty of wine.” I detached a wine-skin and two beakers from my saddlebag and poured us each a drink. We sat gazing over the green fields that sloped down towards the German Ocean, which glinted in the warm sun. High above us among small white clouds a skylark was singing. I could have lingered all day, but Lucius was impatient to be moving.
    “I can’t dawdle,” he said, “if I’m to have any time at all with Albia and Candidus before I push on to the coast. I want long enough to find out how things are with them.”
    “And to share your mysterious bit of family news,” I reminded him. “Can’t you give me just a hint of what it’s about?”
    “Not a chance. Change the subject. Let me work my plans out. If I leave Albia’s with a couple of hours of daylight left, I’ll easily get to the Headland before dark. With luck the tide will be low enough to let us bring the cargo on land tonight.”
    “But the wagon won’t get to you much before nightfall,” I pointed out, “so even if you’ve salvaged the box, you won’t want to set off in the dark, surely?”
    “No, we’ll stay put till morning, whatever the tide’s doing. Ollius said the wreck’s under water most of the time, so I may have to wait till tomorrow anyway for a low enough tide.”
    “I don’t think I’ll ever get used to the huge tides here.” I shivered in spite of the warm sun on my face. “The whole idea of waves rushing in and out and changing the appearance of the shore scares me. Our sea in Italia was so much less trouble. You knew where you were.”
    “I agree there, not to mention a lot warmer. Don’t tell me you’re changing your mind about coming to look at the wreck for yourself? If the sea scares you so much…”
    “It’s not the sea I’m coming to look at. It’s this famous box of gold with its massive reward!”
    We set off again and soon found the pile of white rocks that marked the turning to Belinus’ farm. When the raeda had caught us up, Lucius and I led the way off the main road onto a rutted narrow track running between weed-infested pasture and fields of thin grass that was presumably being grown for hay.
    The sound of our horses brought out a man carrying a huge cudgel. He came to stand just where the track entered the farmyard, barring our way. He looked very like Belinus, tall and square, with fair hair and beard.
    He recognised Lucius and frowned.
    “Oh, so it’s you, Aurelius. If you’re looking for Belinus, he’s not here. He’s gone to see the doctor down in Oak Bridges. He wouldn’t have needed no doctor if he hadn’t been working