Tavi knew the safest routes through the camp, where legionares' families tended to gather for mutual protection and support. His destination was not far past the invisible boundary of the "decent" side of the camp.
Tavi walked up to Mistress Cymnea's Pavilion, a ring of large, garishly colored tents, pitched together to form a large circle around a central area like a courtyard, leaving only a narrow walkway between tents to allow entry. He could hear the sound of music, mostly pipes and drums, inside, as well as the sound of laughter and raucous voices. He slipped into the open ring of well-trampled grass around a central fire.
A man the size of a small bull rose from his seat as Tavi entered. He had weather-reddened skin and no hair, not even eyebrows or eyelashes, and his neck was as thick as Tavi's waist. He wore only tooled-leather breeches and boots, and his hairless upper body was heavy with muscle and old scars. A weighty chain around his neck marked him as a slave, but there was nothing like mildness or submission in his expression. He sniffed, made a face, and gave Tavi a steady glower.
"Bors," Tavi said politely. "Is Mistress Cymnea available?"
"Money," Bors rumbled.
Tavi already had his money pouch off his belt. He dumped several copper rams and a few silver bulls into his palm and showed them to the huge man.
Bors peered at the coins, then nodded politely at Tavi. "Wait." He lumbered off toward the smallest tent in the circle.
Tavi waited quietly. In the shade beside one of the tents sat Gerta, a vagabond Mistress Cymnea had taken in and something of a fixture outside her tents. The woman wore a dress that looked more like a shapeless sack than clothing, and smelled none too clean. Her hair was a dark, brittle bush that clung together in mats and stuck out at improbable angles, showing only a part of her face. She wore a binding across her eyes and nose, and beneath the grime on her skin, Tavi could see the angry red pockmarks of a recent survivor of the Blight or one of the other dangerous fevers that could strike down the folk of Alera. Tavi had never heard the simple woman speak, but she sat in place playing a small reed flute in a slow, sad, and haunting melody. A beggar's bowl sat on the ground before her, and as he always did, Tavi dropped a small coin into it. Gerta did not react to his presence.
Bors reappeared and grunted at Tavi, tilting his head toward the tent behind him. "You know the one."
"Thank you, Bors." Tavi put his money away and headed for the smallest of the tents-though even so, it was larger than even the captain's tent within the fortifications.
The interior of the tent was carpeted with rich rugs, the walls hung with fabrics and tapestries to make it look almost like a real, solid chamber. A young girl, perhaps twelve years old, sat in a chair near the door reading from a book. Her nose wrinkled, and without looking up from the book she called, "Mama! Subtribune Scipio is here for his bath!"
A moment later, the curtains behind the child parted, and a tall woman entered the front chamber. Mistress Cymnea was a dark-eyed brunette taller than most men, and looked like she could pick an armored legionare off the floor and throw him out of her tent, if there was a need. She was dressed in a long gown of wine red silk, worn with an intricately embroidered corset of black and gold. The gown left her broad shoulders and arms bare, and emphasized the curves of her figure.
She swept into a graceful curtsey, and smiled at Tavi. "Rufus, good evening. I would say that this is a pleasant surprise, but I could time my baking on your arrival if I had a mind."
Tavi bowed his head in reply and smiled back at her. "Mistress. Always nice to see you."
Cymnea's smile widened. "Such a charmer. And I can, ah, see that you are still in disfavor with Tribune Gracchus. What can the Pavilion provide for you this evening?"
"Just a bath."
She made a mock-severe expression at him. "So serious for a man so young. Zara, darling, run and prepare the good Scipio's bath."
"Yes, Mama," the girl said. She got up and scampered out, taking her book with her.
Tavi waited a moment, then said, "I hate to be too forward but..."
"Not at all," Cymnea said. She wrinkled her nose. "Given your fragrant circumstances, the less time spent in close quarters, the better."
Tavi bowed his head, half-apologetically. "Were you able to learn anything?"
"Of course," she said. "But there is a matter of price to consider."
Tavi winced, but said, "I can go somewhat higher than yesterday's amount, but for more than that..."
Cymnea waved a hand. "No. This isn't about money. The information has the potential to be dangerous."
Tavi frowned. "How so?"
"Powerful men might not appreciate potential enemies learning more about them. If I share the information, I might pay a price for having done so."
Tavi nodded. "I understand why you might be concerned. I can only assure you that I will keep the source of the information confidential."
"Yes? And what guarantee do I have of that?"
"You have my word."
Cymnea burst out into a merry peal of laughter. "Really? Oh, young man, that is just so... so very charming of you." She tilted her head at Tavi. "But you mean it, don't you."
"I do, Mistress," Tavi said, meeting her eyes.
She stared at him for a moment. Then she shook her head, and said, "No, Scipio. I haven't done as well as I have by taking foolish chances. I'm willing to trade for the information, but only in kind. Something that might protect me in return."
"Such as?" Tavi asked.
"Well. Such as who you are working for. That way, if you talked about me, I'd be in a position to talk about you."
"Sounds fair," Tavi said. "But I can't."
"Ah," she said quietly. "Well. There we are, then. I'll return your silver."
Tavi held out his hand. "Don't. Consider it a retainer. If you come across anything juicy that offers you less risk, perhaps you'd pass it along."
Cymnea tilted her head and nodded once. "Why would you trust me to do that?"
Tavi shrugged a shoulder. "Call it instinct. You run an honest business, in its way." He smiled. "Besides. It isn't my money."
Mistress Cymnea laughed again. "Well. I haven't done as well as I have by turning away silver, either. Zara should have your bath ready by now. I believe you know the way?"
"Yes, thank you."
She sighed. "Honestly. It isn't as though I mind your business, but Gracchus seems to be taking your chastisement a bit far."