Defy the Eagle

by Lynn Bartlett

  She loathed the place immediately; hated the auctioneer for treating human beings as if they were animals, hated her countrymen for their smug, self-satisfied comments when they viewed what was for sale and debated whether this one was better suited to the fields or the stable or if that one would serve better in the kitchen or the bedchamber. When the man who had caught her eye was pushed up the steps to the raised platform, Jilana was certain she had seen him. She did not remember his name, but she knew he was of Caddaric’s village. She had motioned to her bodyguard and ordered him to bid on the man. When she returned to her father’s villa six hours later, three slaves were carried in a wagon behind her. They had stayed for two weeks, recovering their health, and then Jilana had written out their papers of manumission, given them an additional set of clothing as well as a small purse, and offered them the choice of remaining as a servant or leaving. They had chosen to leave and were soon replaced by four others.

  Jilana’s face became well-known at the slave market and she was the object of a great deal of speculation, but she did not care. For the first time in a very long time she felt useful, needed. She kept none of the Britons as slaves; as soon as they were well enough to travel, they received their freedom. Some stayed a few days, others a few weeks; some Jilana knew from her time with Caddaric, others were strangers, all were in desperate need of assistance. They gave meaning to her life. To save the pathetic remnants of Caddaric’s people, she ignored her father’s words of caution and her betrothed’s angry remonstrances. What was she thinking of? How could she free the same people who had held her a slave, whose marks she still bore upon her wrists and ankles, and who had undoubtedly abused her vilely? Jilana let the words pass; she did not discuss her time with the Iceni with anyone. Reluctantly, her father continued to supply her with funds, much to Claudia’s loud objections. Her mother, Augusta, said nothing, only watched her daughter with sad eyes.

  “Lady Jilana?”

  At the hesitant summons, Jilana drew herself away from her musings and looked over her shoulder at the young woman who stood some distance away.

  “The governor-general is here, lady.”

  “Thank you.” Jilana turned and walked back to the villa. At the door, she paused to make certain her toga was properly draped and touched a hand to her hair. She had allowed Claudia’s slave to dress her hair for tonight, and now the red-gold mass was pulled sternly back from her face and secured with combs. The length of it had been oiled and tortured into tight curls in what Claudia said was the height of fashion. Jilana badly wanted nothing more than to wash the oil and perfume from the tresses, but tonight she had to look her best and so she took a deep breath and walked into the house.

  Marcus had just finished introducing Paulinus to his family when Jilana entered the triclinium. The banquet hall was three steps lower than the rest of the first floor and Jilana took the tiled steps gracefully, halting directly in front of Paulinus. The general wore his dress uniform and the sight of it repulsed Jilana.

  “You know my daughter, of course,” Marcus said, a trifle nervously.

  “Aye.” Paulinus’ eyes did a thorough inspection of Jilana as she curtsied before him. “You look much different than you did at our last meeting, Lady Jilana. More….civilized.”

  Jilana bared her teeth in a brief smile. “But then, General, I had no slaves to dance attendance upon me.” How she hated this man who so relentlessly pursued the defeated rebels. Paulinus was set upon, and would settle for no less than, the complete destruction of the Iceni and those who had been foolish enough to ally with them.

  Paulinus’ eyes narrowed dangerously. “From what has been related to me, that is not the case now.”

  Jilana arched an eyebrow at the bite in his words. “You above all, General, should know how difficult it is to find good slaves among the native population. They are so.. .intractable.”

  “Jilana,” Lucius broke in with a warning look. “I am sure the general does not care to discuss the slave situation with you.”

  “I am sure he wishes to discuss nothing else,” Jilana countered blandly. Reluctantly, she let the subject drop. This night, of all nights, she could not risk baiting Paulinus. Her situation was precarious enough. “Was your journey a pleasant one, General?”

  Paulinus eyed her suspiciously, but followed her lead. “Pleasant enough, thank you, lady. Oh, I had almost forgotten. Your friend Tarpeius is in Londinium.” He offered Jilana his arm and led her to one of the couches ranged in a circle in the center of the room.

  Marcus and Augusta exchanged a relieved look and followed the general, leaving Lucius to escort Claudia.

  “Hadrian,” Jilana inquired as she settled herself into a half-reclining position upon the pillows. Paulinus took one of the couches next to hers while Lucius took the other. Claudia took the couch on the other side of Lucius. Slaves hurriedly pushed low tables in front of the couches as soon as they had been seated.

  “He has retired from the legion,” Paulinus replied. “He is staying in the city, awaiting passage on a ship bound for Rome.”

  “We cannot allow that,” Augusta put in from the couch she shared with Marcus. “We owe him Jilana’s life, not once, but twice. Where is he staying, General? I will send a servant to fetch him at once.”

  Paulinus coughed discreetly. “I think, mistress, ‘twould be best if you sent a message to him tomorrow. This is his first night of freedom, if you will, and I doubt he will return to his inn until morning.”

  Augusta colored attractively. “Of course, General. As you say.”

  “General,” Claudia joined in. “I understand the Emperor has ordered more men to Britannia in order to finish the rebels. Is this true?”

  “Aye, it is.” Paulinus looked up at Claudia and smiled warmly. How his host and hostess had managed to produce two such different daughters was beyond him. “Two thousand legionaries, a thousand cavalry, and eight cohorts of auxiliaries have recently arrived from Germania. With them, I will see to it that the Iceni never raise so much as a finger against Rome again.”

  Jilana’s appetite fled, and she pushed listlessly at the poached fish on her plate.

  “I have also heard that Poenius Postumus committed suicide when he learned of your victory over the Iceni rabble.” Claudia leaned forward eagerly. “Is that true?”

  All of the warmth left Paulinus’ face. “Aye, and ‘tis fortunate for him that he fell on his sword before I could reach him. At least he spared his family the dishonor of a court-martial and summary execution.” That he had been denied his vengeance sat like a stone in the general’s soul, and he forced himself to smile again. “But surely a beautiful creature such as yourself can have no interest in military matters.”

  Claudia beamed and the conversation wandered onto safer topics. Course after course was served and disposed of and Jilana watched her tongue and behaved as correctly as she possibly could. The rich food, however, upset her stomach, and at last she simply waved away the servants when they brought the trays to her table and sipped at a goblet of wine. Musicians played from behind a curtain and Jilana paid more attention to the music than she did to the conversation until, having partaken of the confectionary and fruit served as dessert, Paulinus apologized for the lateness of the hour and rose.

  “You are welcome to stay the night, General,” Marcus offered politely.

  “Much as 1 am tempted, I fear I must refuse your generosity,” Paulinus declined. “There is business in Londinium that requires my attention tomorrow morning, but I thank you for the offer.” He gave his hand to Marcus and then to Lucius. “In his last report, Petilius Cerealis told me your time with the Ninth Legion had expired and that you were planning to return to Rome.”

  “That is correct, General,” Lucius replied.

  “You plan to work with your father, the senator, I take it?” When Lucius nodded, Paulinus clapped him on the shoulder. “When you inherit his seat, young man, remember the legion. The legion protects the Empire, but it cannot do so w
ithout funds.”

  “I will certainly remember, General.”

  “And Cerealis also informed me that you are to be wed before leaving Britannia.” Paulinus graced Jilana with a cold smile. “Your choice in wives is puzzling, but mayhap you can turn her into a proper Roman wife.”

  Lucius sent a dark glance at Jilana. “I shall certainly try, sir.”

  The general bade farewell to the women, who remained in the triclinium while the men saw Paulinus to his escort. When Marcus and Lucius returned, the younger man’s temper showed in his flushed face and he went directly to Jilana’s couch.

  “You do realize, do you not,” Lucius said, “that you have just been privately reprimanded by the governor-general, the Emperor’s representative here?” When she nodded, he added, “Now will you give up this mad scheme of yours involving the Iceni slaves?”

  Jilana carefully sat her cup on the low table. “Nay.”

  Lucius caught his breath at her answer. “Jilana, this is not Venta Icenorum; you are no longer living in a small town close to the frontier. Your actions here are noticed and remarked upon, that is why Paulinus came here tonight. You are buying and freeing his slaves as fast as he runs them down.”

  “That is not humanly possible,” Jilana said bitterly. The next moment she gasped as Lucius’ hands bit into her shoulders.

  “Listen to me,” Lucius ordered fiercely, his dark eyes fairly glowing with anger. “Paulinus hates the Iceni, and all those who allied themselves with Boadicea. He means to destroy them, Jilana. Do you understand? He will destroy them utterly, and if you stand between him and his heart’s desire he will destroy you as well! I want to protect you, but I cannot if you persist in freeing those accursed Britons!”

  “You may not want to protect me in any event,” Jilana said after a long silence.

  Lucius sighed. “Of course I want to protect you, Jilana, you are to be my wife.”

  Jilana cleared her throat nervously. “Perhaps not.”

  Lucius took her hands in his and sent a pleading look to her parents. “Marcus, Augusta, how can I convince her of my intentions?”

  Augusta looked from her daughter, to Lucius and back again. With a feeling of dread, she answered, “I do not think Jilana doubts your intentions, Lucius. Do you, Jilana?” Her hand grasped Marcus’ when Jilana shook her head.

  “What are you talking about?” Claudia asked impatiently. “Of course Jilana is going to marry Lucius.”

  Summoning up her courage, Jilana pulled her hands away from Lucius and announced, “I am with child.”

  The silence that fell in the triclinium was deafening. Claudia’s mouth fell open in astonishment; Augusta closed her eyes and leaned against her husband. Lucius tilted his head to one side and frowned at Jilana, certain he had not heard correctly. “What did you say?”

  “I am with child.” Jilana carefully folded her hands in her lap and waited for the storm to engulf her. She did not have long to wait.

  “With child,!” Lucius sprang to his feet, staring at her in disbelief. “Whose—Jupiter! Tis an Iceni bastard you carry in your womb!”

  Jilana bit back the denial that rose to her lips. No one— not even her parents—would recognize the validity of her marriage to Caddaric, and now she had to consider the welfare of her child.

  “Juno, the scandal,” Claudia breathed, her eyes glittering. “Jilana, how could you? What will my friends say?”

  “Be silent, Claudia,” Augusta snapped. Shakily, she rose and went to sit beside Jilana. “How long have you known?”

  “I have been certain for about a month,” Jilana replied softly. “Until then I thought—” she gestured helplessly “—I did not know what to think.”

  “Why did you not tell us that you had been raped,” Lucius demanded. When Jilana did not answer, his face grew grim. “It was rape, was it not?”

  “I hardly think it matters, Lucius,” Augusta answered tartly. “We must deal with the babe now.” She stroked Jilana’s hair. “What are you planning to do, daughter?”

  “She will get rid of it, of course,” Lucius announced before Jilana had a chance to reply. “There are physicians who will rid her of the brat and keep their mouths closed.”

  Jilana’s head snapped up and she glared at her betrothed. “Do not presume to tell me what I will do!”

  “You cannot intend to have the child,” Lucius cried, outraged.

  “Of course she does not,” Claudia screeched. “My sister may cosset those filthy beasts because she has a soft heart, but she would not give life to one of them!”

  Jilana looked at her mother and then her father. Lucius and Claudia she ignored for the present. “I want the babe,” she said simply.

  Augusta nodded. “Aye, I thought you might. Marcus, I am taking Jilana to her chamber.” The sounds of Lucius’ outrage followed them up the stairs to the second floor. Jilana’s maid was waiting when they reached her chamber. “Ede,” Augusta said, “Lady Jilana has had a trying evening. Help me undress her and put her to bed.”

  Ede took one look at Jilana’s pale face and her green eyes darkened in sympathy. Without a word she took one of Jilana’s bed gowns from her chest and helped Augusta strip off the younger woman’s toga. The shadows cast by the lamps helped to conceal the livid red scar which ran down the side of Ede’s neck and disappeared into the neckline of her wooL stola. When Jilana was abed, Ede retreated to a shadowed corner of the room and waited.

  Augusta had not missed the look the maid had bestowed upon her daughter. “Shall I send Ede away, Jilana?”

  “Nay.” Jilana turned her head on the pillow so that she could see her friend. “Ede knows.” In fact, it had been Ede who had told Jilana why her woman’s time had stopped.

  “That does not surprise me.” Augusta patted Jilana’s hand. “Much as I hate to say this, I must. Coming as it does on top of everything else, your bearing a child now will surely bring about a monumental scandal.” Word of

  Jilana’s ordeal had spread through the Roman city, though Augusta had doubted that “ordeal” was the correct term. The sorrow she sensed in her daughter had not been caused by the death of a hated enemy.

  “And a scandal would ruin you and Father, as well as Claudia’s hopes of making a good marriage,” Jilana added listlessly. “I know. But I cannot seek out a physician and rid myself of this new life, Mother. I cannot. If only you knew…” Her voice trailed off and she looked beseechingly at Augusta.

  “I understand,” Augusta told her daughter, her own eyes clouding with tears and remembrance. “Tis just that, by your actions, you have focused so much attention upon yourself.”

  “I could go away,” Jilana suggested. “Ships leave every day from Londinium for different parts of the Empire. Ede would come with me.”

  “I will not allow you to run away to have this babe,” Augusta decreed. “Since you mean to have this child, you will have it here, where I can keep an eye on you.” She kissed Jilana warmly on the forehead. “We will work it out, do not fear. Sleep now, and we will discuss the situation in the morning, when everyone’s temper has had a chance to cool.”

  When Augusta was gone, Ede came to the bed and settled into the chair at its side. “Your news was not well received, I take it?”

  The wry note in her voice brought a hint of a smile to Jilana’s mouth. “Claudia screamed and Lucius looked like he was going to strike me.”

  Ede made a face at the mention of Lucius. “He is eaten lip by the fact that you do not love him. All this fuss over the birth of a child! What difference does it make who the child’s father is?”

  Ede was so truly bewildered that, in spite of herself, Jilana laughed softly. “‘Tis hard for you to understand, I know, but my people frown upon children being born without the benefit of marriage. And then, my family has guessed that the father of my child was not Roman. That makes all the difference—as it would with you, Ede.”

  Ede shrugged. “It would not matter to me if the father of my child was not Roman.�
�� She gave Jilana a wink and the two of them chuckled briefly and then Ede sobered. “You are right, however. Not even my people would easily accept a child fathered by their hated enemy.”

  “Oh, Ede, what am I going to do?” Jilana asked fearfully. “My parents will allow me to have the child, but once it is born—” She swallowed the painful lump in her throat. “I am certain they will make me give it away, and I cannot bear to do that.”

  Ede chewed thoughtfully on her lower lip. “Have you spoken to Clywd?”

  Jilana shook her head. “He is still so frail that I am afraid to burden him.”

  “Burden him!” Ede hissed. “Jilana, you carry the flesh of his flesh. How could knowing that be a burden to him?”

  “You have seen him, Ede, you know how weak he is.”

  “He is weak because he refuses food; instead he feeds on his grief for Caddaric and Heall.” Ede shook her head. “I believe all Druids are mad.”

  Jilana looked away from her friend. She had expected the manner of Lhwyd’s death to turn Ede against her, but Ede had accepted it with more equanimity than Jilana could have managed under similar circumstances. “He was mad,” Ede had told Jilana. “Had you not defended yourself, he would have killed you.” Then Ede had wept for the brother of her youth and, when she had calmed, asked to remain with Jilana. Jilana had readily accepted, for Ede was a tie to Caddaric. They soon became closer than most sisters. And then they had found Clywd in the slave market.