She knew him well enough to know that he was about to run out of wine. True to form, he set the cup down on the nearby table and lifted the earthenware jug, tilting the mouth toward the goblet.

‘Parmella,’ he called out, frowning when he saw that the jug was nearly empty. ‘Parmella!’

‘What is it, Lord?’ Parmella came forward.

Nilus rapped the side of the jug with his fingertip. ‘Get me more wine,’ he said. ‘Enough to last the evening.’

She nodded. ‘Of course, Lord.’

Taking the jug, Parmella left the kitchen to trudge to the store room at the rear of the house. Meanwhile Nilus returned his gaze to the distant rows of grape vines and the slaves moving slowly from one to the next as they tended the stems.

Entering the store room, Parmella’s chest was heaving as she set the jug down on a bench. She reminded herself that she was now a rich woman, able to enjoy an early retirement. Nilus was an exile, a traitor and murderer. Tension formed in her neck and shoulders as with shaking hands she reached up to a shelf.

The small wooden box was hidden behind the jars of olives and cheese. Parmella kept her ears pricked, listening intently for the sound of footsteps as she took the box and set it down beside the empty wine jug. It was tied with a blue ribbon, the color of the sky, and fastened with a dainty bow.

She knew she had to move swiftly now, but fear was causing her fingers to fumble with the ribbon. Finally she removed the lid. For a long moment she stared at the box’s contents, transfixed by the sight of the black powder inside.

‘Parmella!’ Nilus called from the living room.

Blood roaring in her ears, Parmella picked up the box and tilted its contents into the wine jug. She tapped it against the jug’s mouth, making sure all of the powder entered the vessel. She then put the lid on the box and slid it back into its hiding place on the shelf.

‘Parmella!’

She took the jug to the barrel and filled it with wine. Red liquid splashed into the container, wetting her trembling hands as she struggled with something she’d done a thousand times. When the jug was full, she set it down on the bench and wiped her hands with a nearby rag.

She took the jug and returned to the reception. Nilus was still standing at the window. He scowled at her.

‘What took you so long?’

Fortunately he wasn’t the type to notice her drawn face.

‘I’m sorry, Lord.’

He looked pointedly at his empty goblet, and Parmella fought to keep her hands steady as she filled it. Immediately he lifted the goblet and tilted it back, drinking a long swallow.

‘Well?’ He glared at her. ‘You can go.’

‘Yes, Lord.’