Free Danger in the Wind by Jane Finnis Page A

talk. Have a wonderful time, my dear.”
    I left soon after too, pleading that I’d a mountain of work to get through before I went away. That was true, but the mountain was considerably less daunting now.
    It was midafternoon by the time I reached home, and the bar-room was almost empty. Usually there’s a sleepy lull between the midday crowd and the evening drinkers, but this time I was aware of tension in the air. A stranger was talking to Margarita at the bar, and the remaining four or five customers were silently watching.
    “Well, for the gods’ sake, how long will she be?” The man had a gravelly, growling voice, as if he was recovering from a sore throat, but that didn’t conceal his anger or impatience. “This is an urgent matter. I’m late already, and it’s really very simple. All I want is to find him. Why can’t you give me a straight answer? Is he here or not?”
    “Ah, you’re in luck.” Margarita was relieved to see me. “Here’s the innkeeper now, she’ll be able to help you. Aurelia, this is Portius Niger, he’s been waiting for you. He says he needs to find Terentius urgently. I think it may have something to do with that guest from Arpinum.”
    I looked the man up and down as I walked slowly across the room. He was tall and muscular, with very dark hair, either black or brown. It was hard to see much of his face, because his head was swathed in bandages which obscured most of it completely, or left it in shadow. I got an impression of a jutting jaw with a two days’ growth of beard, a straight nose, and a confident, imperious manner.
    “I’m pleased to meet you, Portius,” I said. “Aurelia Marcella, at your service. How can I help?”
    “I need to find one of your guests, a soldier called Terentius.” The man stifled a cough with a hand in front of his mouth. “He’s staying here just now, and I need to see him. But your barmaid won’t go and get him for me, or tell me where he is.”
    “It’s a little complicated,” I said. “Let’s get you a drink, and I’ll explain. Come and sit down over here.” I led him to a corner table out of earshot of the other customers. He followed with a bad grace, but despite his bandaged head he moved easily and didn’t seem to be in any discomfort.
    I gave him my brightest smile. “Now, what will you have? If you don’t mind my saying so, from the look of those bandages, you could do with something to revive you.”
    “What? Oh yes, my wretched horse threw me. And I’ve a sore chest too.” He gave another loud cough. “I’ll take a beaker of red, thank you.” He sat down, and I signalled Margarita to bring it. “Meantime, can you send someone to fetch Terentius for me, please? It really is important. He has property of mine, a small box which he’s due to hand over to me. We were supposed to meet yesterday, and he’ll be as anxious to see me as I am to see him.”
    Something wasn’t right here. I caught Margarita’s eye as she brought the wine over, and knew that she sensed it too. Then Secundus came in, unusually for the middle of the afternoon, and he strode straight over to me.
    “Sorry to interrupt, Aurelia, but I’d like a word when you can. It’s about Moon-cloud. I think we’re going to have trouble.”
    “Really? I’ll be with you as soon as I can, Secundus. Get yourself a drink, I won’t be long.”
    He nodded, and I was glad to see him lounge against the bar with a beaker of beer. I’m not afraid of any customer as a rule, but this stranger was making me nervous, and Secundus’ presence was reassuring.
    Portius took a drink of his wine. “Well? Are you going to send for Terentius?”
    “No. I’m afraid he’s not here now.”
    The stranger frowned. “Not here? Where’s he gone then?”
    I hesitated, wondering how much to tell him. There was something threatening about him, a kind of tension, like a ballista about to hurl a stone. I decided to be cautious.
    “I’m afraid,” I began, “that there’s