Man Eater

By rights she ought to go straight to Macer, tell him what had happened, leave the army to sort out Tulola. But Claudia needed to know for herself the reason for the killings. The leopard let out a short, guttural protest, more for show than for menace. Was Tulola revenging herself on men who’d rejected her? Salvian had, and he wound up dead. Corbulo had never strayed, and he only escaped because he was rescued in time. Fronto, of course, she couldn’t vouch for, but someone had let him inside a locked house-and didn’t Balbilla say he’d been bedding some rich bitch? Suppose, then, Orbilio had also rejected her? That it was Marcus, not Claudia, who was the victim in this latest twist?

So far, so good, but where did Claudia fit in to this jigsaw? Macer might take Tulola to trial, but she needed to hear from Tulola’s own lips why she hated Claudia Seferius so bitterly that she set her up for murder…

Claudia looked at the long, liquid leopard, its yellow eyes blazing with anger. Who can blame you, she thought, being cooped up all your life? Having baby bunnies hop around in your cage is no compensation, is it, poppet? What life is that for a magnificent beast like yourself? She thought of the freedom Drusilla enjoyed, and smiled. By the gods, she thought, these cats are powerful weapons of war-and really you had to admire Tulola’s nerve. Claudia’s eyes ran from the swishing tail, over the powerful ribcage, up over the massive shoulder blades right to its shiny pink nose.

Pink? The camel shears clattered on to the cobbles. Cuddles has a black nose. And a black tip to her tail. Cuddles has pretty black teardrops that run from her eye…and Cuddles only takes gazelle. Claudia stared at the leopard. Leopards spend most of their lives up a tree. Leopards are night hunters. Sweet Janus, leopards can also be trained…

She reached for the shears, but a hand clamped over her wrist. A red, painted, Etruscan hand.

‘I can see from your expression, my dear Claudia, that you have worked out my little secret.’

The voice was quiet, barely audible. But the dark grey eyes of the trainer penetrated Claudia’s very soul.

XXXIII

Claudia stared at Corbulo. His mouth was working, he seemed to be telling her what a charmed life she led, but it was not his words she was mesmerized by. Just like the night of the party, he wore his white linen kilt and his fancy, filigree torque. When the sun’s rays rose above the rooftops, it would gleam and shine and glitter and reflect, Macer would be left in its shade. Again, like the night of the equinox, Corbulo’s body was ritual-red, his hair looped, only this time it was bound in a dark blue fillet.

The word ‘ceremony’ screamed from every pore.

‘Why?’ she asked simply.

To struggle, to break free, to scream for help would be useless. He was strong, she could feel the calluses rough on her wrist, and all around, wild beasts roared out their hunger. It was not in Claudia Seferius to submit, to go gracefully, but the need to know held her spellbound.

‘What have I ever done to you?’

She needed, godsdammit, to know.

‘Too late for games, Claudia.’ He pulled on her wrist. ‘You’ve had enough chances.’

Claudia thought of the Fates, those three old crones who weave the cloth of life. One spins the thread, one determines its length and one-she shivered-snips it with her shears. Claudia looked at the sheep shears at her own feet. On no, you bloody don’t, she thought. I’ll tell you when to start chopping!

With her free hand, she grabbed the bars of the leopard’s cage. It snarled and snapped its jaws, but what the hell? At this rate, with Corbulo tugging and the leopard salivating over its prospective breakfast, she’d probably be pulled in two. They could share the damned prize.

The trainer’s expression hadn’t altered, but a dagger had appeared in his hand. Insects slithered down Claudia’s spine. Jupiter, Juno and Mars, this man is unhinged! Unless she released her grip, he was going to slice her fingers off!

‘Let her go!’

The voice was unmistakable, she just wondered what took him so long.

‘Think I haven’t been expecting you, Marcus?’ The Etruscan’s voice was a sneer.

Relieved and off her guard, Claudia didn’t realize what was happening until it was too late. With one expert movement, Corbulo spun her round and threw her headlong into an empty cage, presumably that of the late, lamented leopard in the valley. While she lay sprawled, he shot the bolt and danced round to face Orbilio. Once again, she’d forgotten how light he was on his feet.

The two men lunged at one another, each parrying the other’s knife thrust. For several minutes they dodged and darted, grunting with the exertion, then suddenly Orbilio delivered a swift uppercut and blood spurted from Corbulo’s chest. Reeling, his dagger knocking Orbilio’s knife out of his hand, the Etruscan cried out, staggered, gasped, then pitched forward on to his face.