Summoned by Marcus Aurelius Septimus, personal representative of the provincial governor of Britannia, to discuss the commission of a commemorative shrine in honour of the Emporor’s birthday, pavement-maker Libertus who has finally found his wife Gwellia after twenty years, has just plucked up the courage to ask his patron Marcus Aurelius Septimus, for permission to marry her, their marriage having been automatically dissolved when they were captured and sold as slaves, when a messenger from the senior Sevir Augustalis, high priest of the Imperial cult in Glevum, bursts in with the news, that following the sounds of dreadful moaning from the temple earlier that morning, a body has been found on the floor of the inner sanctum, which judging from documents found on it, seems to be the body of a visiting ambassador from Rome.
Accompanying Marcus, not that Libertus had any choice in the matter, to the inspect the body, they are stunned when The Sevir Meritus unlocks the door to the inner sanctum, and there is no sign of a body, just a pool of blood. This has all the appearance of a locked room mystery as the only other exit reveals it to be firmly bolted on the inside and the bolt stiff from disuse, and apart from a large statue of the Emperor, the little shrine is empty. Just as Trinunculus, the newest neobelieves the statue of the Emperor is hollow, an appalling unearthly wailing is heard, which seemed to echo from the very walls, and Libertus takes to his heels and flees with the rest of them back to the entrance gates.
Discussion between Marcus, and the Chief Priest of Jupiter, who I found a great character, decrees the inhuman sounds as an omen, and that someone should without delay, write to Fabius Marcellus Verus, an imperial legatus who is due to visit as a representative of the Emperor, to warn him, then he can decide whether or not to visit. At this decision, There was an audible stirring of relief.
Libertus having come up with the idea of a search, gets lumbered with it, but
no body is discovered. Although every trace of the blood is scrubbed away by
the priest Hirsus, it reappears the next day. In terror, Libertus accidentally
desecrates a sacred place, and is accused of incurring the wrath of the gods,
which only his death will appease. So poor old Libertus is in fear of his life,
the body is still missing, the High Priest of Jupiter, who has political ambitions
is looking for a scapegoat, and dark secrets abound, but there is a great deal
of humour, as with the previous books in the series, but in this book, some
quite touching scenes between Libertus and his newly found wife Gwellia , as
he re-discovers her cleverness and unexpected talents. Then another death occurs,
and Libertus has his work cut out to uncover the truth before the mob get him.
Very entertaining
. -----
Lizzie Hayes
Other books in the series are The Germanicus Mosaic, A Pattern of Blood,
Murder in the Forum and The Chariots of Calyx.