I know that voice! thought Hanno in amazement and rage. That’s Agesandros, the bastard.
‘Good boys, good boys. Just let me unclip your leads, and you can run free.’
Shit! Hanno cursed his stupidity for pushing his luck this far. The hounds were so close that they’d catch his scent within a few moments. He began tiptoeing backwards. The further away he got before they were released, the better. If he had any favour remaining with the gods, the dogs might run off in a different direction. Then one of the hounds barked, and fear seized him. That notion was downright foolish. He seized the lowest branch of a cypress, knowing it would do little good. Without a doubt, the dogs would tree him. When Agesandros realised, he would force him down at the point of a spear. A howl; and then another one. All hope left him as he swung himself up on to the first limb. Tanit, do not desert me now, he prayed. Don’t let me die here, like this. It was an instinctive response, a rhetorical question. Divinities did not intervene like that, at least not in his experience.
‘Agesandros?’
Hanno froze. No. It can’t be.
‘What are you still doing outside, Aurelia? It’s late.’
Aurelia was here? Hanno nearly fell out of the tree with surprise.
‘I want to sit outside for a while,’ she said.
‘I was just about to set the dogs loose.’
‘That can wait, can’t it?’
‘I’d be happier if they were running about now-’
‘If I’m here, all they’ll do is hang around, looking for treats. Please, Agesandros. I won’t be long.’
A short pause. ‘Very well. I’ll return them to their pen. Find me in my room when you’re coming in.’
‘Thank you.’
Hanno was so astonished that he almost expected to see Tanit herself urging the Sicilian away. He watched with delight as Agesandros’ shape returned to the yard. It seemed beyond belief, beyond all possible coincidence that she should be here on the very night he had crept in. Yet, as he breathed, Aurelia stood not twenty paces away. He longed to call out, but what could he say? She would have no idea that it was he. Her most likely response would be to scream for Agesandros and the dogs. He peered at her again, and was relieved to see that she was walking closer. Where was she going? Hanno dropped lightly to the earth, placed his sword on the ground and waited. As she drew alongside, he darted out behind her. Grabbing her waist with one hand and her mouth with the other, he whispered into her ear, ‘Don’t make a sound. It’s me, Hanno!’
She writhed beneath his grasp, but he held on to her for dear life. ‘I swear it to you. It is I, Hanno. I have come to see you.’ She wriggled again, but Hanno detected less resistance than before. He was suddenly aware of the warmth of her back and buttocks against his flesh, and of the feel of her breasts heaving against his hand. Was that perfume she was wearing? A wave of desire rushed over him; it was followed by huge embarrassment. Without thinking, he released her and stood back, every nerve jangling.
She spun, mouth open in shock. ‘H-Hanno?’
He took a step towards her; then he stopped. ‘Yes.’ Words failed him.
‘What? Where? How did you get here?’ The words tumbled from her mouth.
‘I rode.’ It sounded so stupid, a giggle left his lips. ‘From my camp. It’s only ten miles away.’
‘Oh gods. Are you going to raid the farm?’ Her voice was full of terror.
‘No, no, of course not. Aurelia, I would never-’
‘I’m sorry,’ she interjected. ‘Some of the stories I’ve heard have been terrible.’
‘I know. I’m sorry too.’ He wanted to add that her people had done the same and worse to his in the previous war, but there was no point.
‘These things happen in war,’ she said sadly. ‘But I don’t want to talk about that. I can’t believe you’re here again, when I am too. I’ve been living in Capua recently. But seeing you, it’s so unexpected — but wonderful! I have prayed for you.’
‘And I for you.’ He still couldn’t believe his eyes.
They smiled at each other, suddenly shy because they had both changed so much in the time since they’d last seen each other. She’s become an adult, thought Hanno. She’s beautiful. Little did he know, but Aurelia was thinking similar things of him.
‘Is Quintus alive? Have you heard from him?’
‘He’s fine. We heard about how you captured him at the Trebia and set him and Father free.’ Her voice caught a little. ‘That was good of you.’
‘It was the least I could do, after what he’d done for me. And your father?’
‘He is also well, thank the gods. May the gods keep them both safe.’
‘Yes indeed.’ He asked for the same for his own family. ‘I wouldn’t have slain Flaccus,’ Hanno felt impelled to say, ‘but my brothers overrode my decision. Our orders were to kill all enemy troops who fell into our hands.’ He remembered the resentment he’d felt at the discovery that Flaccus was to marry Aurelia.
‘I don’t blame you. I was relieved,’ she whispered. ‘I scarcely knew him. We had only met once.’
‘You deserve a better man than Flaccus,’ he said gruffly. ‘A man like Suni, maybe. Was it long before he left the shepherd’s hut?’ She didn’t answer at once. Hanno cursed to himself. ‘If I offended you, I’m sorry,’ he said awkwardly. ‘It’s just that Suni is a gentle soul. He would make a good husband to you.’ Still she didn’t speak. He began to feel uneasy. ‘Aurelia?’
‘I–I don’t know how to say this. How to tell you.’
‘What?’
‘Suni is. .’
‘Not. . dead? No. No.’ He staggered back a step.
‘I’m so sorry, Hanno.’
‘But his leg was healing!’ he cried, raising his voice.
‘Shhhh. Someone will hear.’
Hanno took a deep breath. ‘He would have had a bad limp, but that’s all,’ he whispered. ‘What in Melqart’s name happened?’
In a trembling voice, she told him.
‘Agesandros,’ he muttered in disbelief. ‘That whoreson killed Suni?’
‘It’s my fault. I should never have brought him into the house.’
‘You’re not to blame. If you hadn’t taken him in, he would have died at the hut.’
‘Didn’t you hear what I said? If I hadn’t spoken his name, Agesandros might never have realised. Suni might still be alive.’ She began to weep.
Before he knew it, he had stepped forward to take her in his arms. ‘It was a slip of the tongue, nothing more. Anyone could make the same mistake. Besides, you know what Agesandros is like. He would have discovered Suni’s real identity sooner or later.’
‘I was so terrified the whole time.’ She pressed herself into his chest. ‘It was even worse when Suni was gone. Agesandros had no reason to harm me, but that’s not how it felt.’
‘I ought to go in there and kill him right now,’ Hanno said from between gritted teeth.
‘No, please don’t. He has armed all the male slaves. At least three are on watch in the yard. I couldn’t bear it if you were killed, when you’ve only just returned from the dead.’
Hanno doubted whether a few agricultural slaves could stop him, but Aurelia’s heartfelt request held him where he was. ‘The filthy dog will have to pay for what he did one day,’ he swore.
‘The gods will see to that.’
Or I will, thought Hanno grimly. There was no way that he could let the murder of his best friend go unanswered. Already his mind was racing at the thought of raiding the farm once Aurelia was gone. He discarded the notion at once. He knew and liked many of the slaves here. Unless a good number of them were to die, he would have to keep his soldiers away.
‘It is so good to see you.’
Hanno’s attention shot back to Aurelia. She was looking up at him, her face so close that he could see every detail. The strands of black hair on her cheek. Her eyes, fixed on his. Her half-open lips. The pulse at the base of her throat. It was mesmerising. He felt a great urge to kiss her.