Page 54 of Of Love and Treason
Titus winced as flecks hit his face. “The notarius in question is Valentine Favius Diastema.”
Faustus raked a towel over his head. “Favius,” he repeated. “Surely no relation to—”
“His grandson.”
“Oh, gods.” Faustus rubbed his temples as Titus filled him in on the interrogation and how Valentine had remarked about ex-legionnaires.
“Seems a thin thread.” Faustus shook his head.
Titus tilted his chin. “Sometimes that’s all there is to go on.”
“Tread carefully.” Faustus winced. “We cannot afford a man like his grandfather as an enemy. He wields a lot of power as of late. And to falsely accuse his grandson hangs our careers on a spider’s web. Don’t do anything without absolute certainty.”
“I’ll follow him myself.”
Faustus nodded. “Keep me informed.”
Titus saluted and left.
A city messenger boy waited outside, chest heaving from running. “Speculatore Didius Liberare? You’re needed at the carcer.” The boy gulped air and braced a hand against the building. “It’s urgent.”
XXIII
SOMEONE WAS SINGING.Iris first heard it after Pater opened the door. She did not recognize the tune—if itwasa tune—but the voice... there was something familiar about the voice.
“Stop.” She held out a hand toward Pater. The groan of the hinges ceased, and as he hooked the keys onto his belt, she heard the singing again. The ball of snakes in her stomach roiled. She took a step, the voice louder now.
Pater took her hand. “You don’t have to do this.”
“I want to know.” She shivered. “Ihaveto know.”
He sighed. “I am only allowing this because I couldn’t live with myself if I didn’t do everything in my power to help you.” He squeezed her hand. “I will never regret spending what I did on cures. I’d do it again. My deepest regret is that you’ll have to pay for my indiscretions.” He let out a long breath. “It kills me to watch your hopes dashed again and again.”
She swallowed. “Then let me do this alone, Pater.”
“I can’t.”
“How many are in there?”
“One.”
“Chained?”
“Yes.”
“Then what could happen?”
Pater touched the scar on her face, voice dropping with regret. “What could be the harm in a walk to the market, I thought.”
“It’ll be fine, Pater.”
He opened the door wider though neither stepped through it. A voice wove into the room, singing softer now.
“God is our refuge and strength,
A very present help in trouble.
Therefore we will not fear.”
