White Raven's Lover

by Nhys Glover

  She wished she’d been more insulted by that suggestion than she was.

  But she knew that her attraction to him would end as soon as she became his slave. Right now, she could choose to do with her body what she wanted. If he bought her, he would be the one to decide what was done with it. And though she was coming to know him well enough to see he would never force himself on her, it would still feel as if she had no choice but to share his bed if he required it. And she couldn’t voluntarily go into such a powerless situation, even though, realistically, she understood that as a slave, and as a woman, she would always be powerless.

  But the idea of being Cal’s nurse was a different situation and seemed like a dream come true. If he bought her for that purpose, she would be happier than she’d ever been in her life. Just imagining her child in her arms filled her with a longing so intense it hurt.

  What if the only way she could be Cal’s nurse was to also be Gaius’ bedmate? Would she willingly agree to that, so she could be close to her child? Maybe he wouldn’t mean for it to go that way, but if his lust for her, and there was no doubt now that he did lust after her, became overpowering, it might come to that. Being his slave would put temptation in his path. Sooner or later, he’d succumb and then, inevitably, she would come to resent and even hate him.

  No, it was better for her to go her way when Cal was back in his father’s arms. Maybe she could return to Braedyn’s hut in the woods. Maybe she didn’t have to return to slavery.

  As she continued to stare at the webs in the eves, a sudden, sharp draft of air came up under the roof to shake the webs and scatter the tiny, terrified spiders back into hiding.

  3 miles south of Bannaventa, Catuvelauni Territory

  Lucullus studied his surroundings closely as he prepared to ride at the head of his twenty-strong troop into the clearing designated as the meeting place by the rebels. After days of endless waiting, it was finally time to play this game out.

  His spies in the area had alerted the commander at Bannaventa to about a hundred warriors camped in the area. With that information, Lucullus authorised two hundred men to be distributed in a circular formation around the site of the trap shortly before noon.

  It was a foolproof plan. His men would move up behind the enemy, who would be awaiting orders to spring their trap. The rebels’ focus would be on the clearing in front of them, not their backs. By the time Lucullus and his men rode into the clearing, as they were doing now, most of the rebels would have already have been taken down, quietly and with little fuss.

  Which left the rebels’ overconfident leader riding into the ambush, completely unaware that he was alone. Lucullus couldn’t wait to see the look on that bastard’s face when he called for the attack and received no response.

  From the far side of the clearing, a Celt rode forward. His mount was one of the small highland horses preferred by his ancestors over the taller, heavier roman mounts. In the midday sun, the man in his mid-twenties looked anything but commanding. Tallish, reed thin, a slightly receding chin disguised by a scraggly ginger beard and bulging eyes, he was hardly the stuff of bardic tales. And, after this day, the bards of his people would be quick to forget this man and his humiliating defeat.

  ‘Ah, Lucullus, I’m glad to see you’re on time.’ The man spoke in the roman tongue, but his accent was strong. It was easy to identify that he was not Catuvellauni simply by that accent.

  ‘I am. Where is the boy?’ ‘Nearby. But first our demands.’

  ‘There will be no demands. If you surrender now, your life will not be forfeited. Continue with this farce, and you will die slowly and with much pain. A man who steals a child deserves no less.’

  ‘So, you care so little for your man Bibulus that you’d risk his son’s safety with your bragging? Bibulus, come out. Let me see you. Let me see your face when you realise that your beloved superior is willing to sacrifice your son to his overblown pride.’

  Lucullus nodded and the man disguised as his civilian representative stepped down from the shadowed carrus. The look of confusion on the rebel leader’s face was priceless.

  ‘What’s this? That’s not Bibulus!’

  ‘No, my friend is in Brigantes territory, as we speak, collecting his son.’

  ‘Don’t be absurd. I am Catuvellauni. Why would I send the child into enemy territory?’

  ‘Do you forget that my father’s father was Catuvellauni? Do you think I can’t tell the accent of my own people, as opposed to that of my enemy?’ He’d switched to the Celtic tongue and exaggerated his family’s accent.

  The rebel’s mouth fell open in shock and confusion. Then he abruptly closed it and lifted his arm.

  ‘Have it your way!’ As he screamed the words, he dropped his arm.

  For a moment, the clearing was perfectly still. Lucullus felt the first hints of a smile tugging at the corners of his mouth.

  ‘Is there a problem?’ he asked the rebel in patronising innocence. The Celt looked about him in confused and desperate rage.

  ‘Attack!’ he screamed hoarsely, looking around, yet again, for the laggardly warriors who were slow to follow his command.

  When no one came forward, the rebel’s face paled. ‘What has happened to my men?’ he asked stupidly.

  Lucullus gave a brief flick of his wrist, and from the undergrowth around the clearing stepped roman legionaries in full battle armour, most of them dragging a dead or wounded rebel with them. Soon the clearing was overflowing with men.

  ‘You mean these men?’ Lucullus finally said, indicating the bloody heap of bodies that his men had piled up before him.

  ‘No… You’d never risk the safety of the child. How did you know? How could you have known?’ the lone rebel stammered in confusion.

  ‘The question isn’t, how did I know, but rather, how did you think you could get away with a pathetic plan like this one? Take him!’ He gave the order impatiently. ‘I’ve wasted enough time on this fool!’

  CHAPTER SEVENTEEN

  Olicana, Trigantes Territory

  It was dusk when the door to their little room suddenly opened and Gaius appeared, his almost handsome face flushed with excitement. Brennwen wasn’t sure if she was overjoyed to see him, or furious that he’d left her there all day alone.

  ‘Come, I think I’ve discovered something. You were slave to the blacksmith, weren’t you?’

  She sprang to her feet, deciding not to be furious. ‘Yes.’

  ‘Then you’ll go to see him. I think he knows something… All very secret… Half sentences, hidden meanings… But enough to make me suspect he knows something.’

  ‘He may treat me as my own people did.’

  He took her arm and urged her ahead of him, down the narrow, shadowed corridor. ‘You can try. That’s all I can ask of you.’

  Once outside, Brennwen realised that the sun had set and dusk had fallen. No wonder her stomach had been complaining in the last hour or so. It was past time to eat. But now excitement drove the hunger pangs away. They had a lead and she was needed to flush out more details. If Cal was coming here, then he wouldn’t be far away now.

  Just as she was about to head off in the direction of the blacksmith’s shop, she saw flames set against the shadowed moors, leaping into the sky. Jerking around to study the flames more intently, every alarm bell inside her went off. Those flames weren’t just an accidental fire on a farm nearby, they were her warning. They pointed her in the direction she needed to take.

  ‘Look!’ She pointed to the fire in the distance. ‘Fire, back down the river, maybe half-way between here and my village beneath the crag. It’s a sign. We have to go.’ Her voice sounded hysterical to her own ears, and it didn’t surprise her to see the doubt written on Gaius’ face.

  ‘I thought we decided the fire was a symbol only. Like the snakes.’

  ‘I know, I know. But look, its shooting into the sky like a sign from the gods. I know it means something. Please, let’s go. Let’s see what’s there.’

&n
bsp; For a moment more, his eyes remained on hers, undecided. Then, abruptly, he broke the connection and turned in the opposite direction, back toward the stable where they’d left their horses.

  Within minutes, they were mounted and on the darkening road, heading back the way they’d come the day before.

  Brennwen knew that fires like this one were dangerous. If the new growth in the forest was dry enough, and it would be after so many sunny days, then it would take little for the fire to spread. If that happened, the towns and villages all along the river would be threatened. So it didn’t surprise her to see others following along with them, coming to fight the fire, or at least check out its potential danger.

  By the time they reached the farm, about a half mile from the main road, it was full night. As they approached their glowing goal, they could see that the fire had claimed the barn beside the round house. As yet, it hadn’t spread and, because the other outbuildings and the forest itself was well back from the barn, there seemed little likelihood it would spread.

  Nevertheless, the locals who’d come along to lend a hand did so eagerly, forming a bucket brigade from well to barn to try to douse the still angry flames.

  ‘We’ll help,’ Gaius said as he jumped from his mount. ‘Maybe we’ll hear something while we’re working.’

  Brennwen would have offered her help anyway, but she could see the sense in it, from Gaius’ perspective. Every action was directed toward one goal and only one goal: Getting Cal back. This fire provided him with yet another possible way of doing that.

  As Brennwen went in search of a branch covered in new growth with which to beat out the sparks that landed on dry tinder, she came upon a girl not much older than herself. The girl was already covered with dirt and soot from the fire, so she’d been there for a while.

  Did she dwell here at the farm, and if so, would she know if there were rebels nearby?

  Determined to find out, she went to stand by the girl, who was leaning her hands on her knees in exhaustion as she watched the fire with mixed emotions.

  ‘Are you all right?’ Brennwen asked, coming to her side. ‘Has anyone been lost?’

  ‘I’m well enough, and no one has been hurt. Even the animals had been moved out in preparation for… Even the animals were not there.’

  Brennwen heard the unspoken message. They had planned to use the barn for something, and soon, if the animals had just been moved. Could that use have anything to do with the rebels and Cal?

  ‘Do you know how the fire started?’

  ‘No. Me and me dah didn’t even realise it was lit ‘til we smelled smoke. We couldn’t fight it alone, so we just moved what we could away from the barn. We expected the townsfolk to come, but knew it’d be too late to save the barn.’

  ‘The locals will help to put it out now. Your home is safe, at least. Maybe the Romans from the fort will come to lend a hand,’ she said, watching the girl’s filthy face closely. The girl was slight, and probably a few fingers’ width taller than herself. In the red glow from the fire, she looked to have light-coloured hair and a freckled nose.

  At the mention of Romans, the girl became frightened. ‘You don’t think they’d come all the way out here, do you?’

  ‘They might, if they think the fire could spread and threaten their fort. Don’t you like the Romans?’

  The girl’s glance slid away from Brennwen and she shrugged. ‘It’s not about like or dislike. You should know as well as I do that they’re the enemy, even if we’ve accepted defeat for now, they’ll always be the enemy.’

  Brennwen nodded her agreement. This was very promising. The darkness covered her unusual appearance. Her local dialect and accent made her a friend against a common foe.

  ‘I’ve heard tell there’s a rebellion coming. I want to join it if I can. The trouble is, it’s only whispered of in corners and nobody really knows where it’s centred. How can loyal Brigantians join if they don’t know where to go?’

  ‘Why would you want to fight the Romans?’

  Brennwen was not much of a liar, but the stakes were too high to worry about such things right now. She needed a good lie and she needed to sound convincing. She was close, so very close, that she could taste victory on her tongue.

  ‘I’m the slave of a Roman and he treats me badly. I want revenge against him and all his people,’ she spat out, fuelling her emotion with Gaius’ offer to make her his bedmate.

  ‘Badly? Slaves are always treated badly.’

  ‘I was a proud member of my clan when the Romans wiped us out and took me and the other women as slaves. They used us and called us names. The names were worse than the actual rapes and beatings.’

  The girl studied her more closely for a moment. ‘Do you live in town?’

  ‘No, my master is arranging for a gladiator ludus to set up there. I haven’t been back in these parts for a long time.’

  ‘Gladiators, huh? The Romans never get enough of fighting. So you’ll be in the area for a while?’

  ‘Yes, I think so. My master seems impressed with the place. Big enough to attract a fair audience.’

  ‘Look, I don’t know much. They never tell women much of anything. But we cleared out the barn for a reason. We’re expecting some of our men back from the South any day now. They’ve been working on a plan that may drive the Romans from our shores once and for all. If you want… No, you’d never get away from your master. I’ll tell the men, when they arrive, about you and if they can use you, they’ll be in contact. How does that sound?’

  Brennwen tried to hold back her excitement. She’d been right. The fire was a sign.

  ‘Sounds good. I suppose I better start putting out the sparks. No telling if one of them might catch.’

  ‘Thank you. I won’t be grateful to your roman master, he’s in it for his own reasons. But I thank you for your help.’

  Brennwen felt the first twinges of guilt. She was about to betray this girl who had offered her friendship and trust. The first person to do so in these parts. Although the Brigantes had never treated her well, they were still her people, and she was now turning traitor on them to save her roman son. The taste of it was bitter on her tongue.

  When the fire was out and the firefighters had drunk their fill of water and headed back to town, Brennwen made sure that she and Gauis were the last to go.

  They walked their horses through the dark night, letting their mounts find their own paths. When everyone was out of earshot, Brennwen turned to Gaius and hastily whispered what she’d discovered. The look of stunned surprise and joy was all the reward she needed to push away her guilt.

  ‘We’ll need to watch the road for their arrival. Might they come across the moor?’

  ‘There are goat tracks all over the moors but they’re slow and dangerous to follow on horseback. If they aren’t hiding, if they’re not expecting to be followed, then it’s more likely they’ll stick to the main roads. I think they’ll have to come in along this track from the road.’

  ‘My thoughts exactly. So I guess I’m sleeping out tonight.’ She couldn’t see his face in the shadows but his voice told her he was happy and satisfied.

  ‘I’m coming, too.’

  ‘No. I want it to look like we’re both still in town. Once I’ve gathered what I need from the room, I’ll come back on foot so both horses are still in the stable. Go down in the morning and get food for two, and take it back to our room. If you can eat both, well and good, if not, dispose of it. But you have to make it seem as if I’m in the room. Maybe I’ve come down with the same malady as the governor.’ He chuckled at his own joke, light-hearted for the first time since she’d met him. He sounded young.

  ‘I can bring you food during the day. I can use the excuse that I’m coming out to visit the girl I met tonight.’

  ‘All right. But I also want you keeping an eye on new arrivals in town. You won’t mistake Vali and Braxus when you see them. Vali is a blonde giant and Braxus has a nasty scar down one side of his face. I imagine
they’ll be playing their gladiator parts to the hilt. Make contact, take them to our room and fill them in on what we know.’

  She nodded silently, suddenly afraid. Without Gaius, she’d be alone and unprotected. If something like the soldiers happened again, who would save her this time?

  But she fought back the fear. Hadn’t she conquered it the day she had to leave Braedyn’s hut alone for the first time? Back then, (Was it only a little over a week ago?) she had nobody to rely on and no idea where to find her son or how to get to him. At least now she had a clear path in front of her, her goal was in sight, and she had men who would assist her. Even the roman legate could be called on, if necessary. No, she had far less reason to fear now than she had back then.

  With that encouraging thought, she braced for what was to come.

  But watching Gaius heading for the door of their small room was the hardest thing she’d ever done. He grinned at her, looking like a youth in the lamplight, eyes bright with excitement.

  ‘Sleep well, Brennwen, and if you have any dreams of Cal, tell him we’re close.’

  ‘I will. Be careful. Will you sleep?’

  ‘I’ll doze, rugged up in both our furs. Any horses passing will awaken me; I know that from past experience. See you tomorrow. Make sure you tell people that you’re taking food out to the girl. Tell them I’m laid low, languishing from smoke inhalation, or some such thing.’

  ‘I will. Oh, Gaius…’ She launched herself into his arms and clung there until his arms came around her and pressed her tightly to him.

  ‘There’s nothing to fear, my sweet raven. You have led us surely to our goal. Now leave it for me and mine to bring Cal home.’ He leaned down and pressed his lips to hers for one long, magical moment. Then he tore himself away and disappeared out the door.