by Tanya Bird
‘Will they give her something for the pain?’ Lavena asked her mother.
‘I don’t think so.’
‘What if the wounds fester?’
Morna sighed. ‘They don’t care.’
A rogue tear rolled down Brei’s nose. She did not have the energy to brush it away. Alane would have known what to do at that moment; she was the sensible and nurturing one. Her father joked all the time that Brei was the son he never got. Instead of boys, four daughters, two living—for now.
‘You can lie on my lap if you want,’ Lavena whispered in the dark.
Brei blinked. ‘I’m all right here. Get some rest. I won’t be carrying you tomorrow.’
‘I’ll carry you instead.’
Brei almost managed a smile.
The flicker of torchlight made everyone else turn and look. Brei just closed her eyes. A moment later, light was cast over them.
‘There she is.’
Brei slowly turned her head towards the familiar voice. It was Marcus, the one with the kind eyes. He held the torch out farther, illuminating her injuries. An older man stepped out from behind him and peered down at her.
‘I see.’ Stepping forwards, he crouched down for a closer look and placed a case at his feet.
Brei tried to move away from him.
‘He’s a medici,’ Marcus said, as if that was supposed to put her mind at ease. Seeing her confusion, he added, ‘A healer.’
That only increased her confusion. Why would they send a healer?
‘Keep still,’ the medic said. His tone suggested he had not volunteered for the role.
Brei did as she was told, because she needed to be well for the sake of the others. She lay still while he slapped a few ointments on her, smells she did not recognise. As quickly as he had arrived, he was on his feet again, the light deepening the crevices on his face.
‘Keep the area clean and dry.’ He turned away. ‘Or not.’
‘Something for the pain?’ Marcus asked.
The medic squared his shoulders. ‘Needed for our own, sir.’
Marcus stared at the man for a moment. ‘Very well.’ His gaze fell to Brei. ‘Food is on its way.’ He looked to the soldier who had been assigned the task of guarding them. ‘Make sure she is tied up at all times.’
‘Yes, sir.’
The guard dragged her up into a seated position and bound her wrists and ankles. The flickering light retreated, and the footsteps faded. The women sat huddled in the cold, staring into the dark. Brei expected the promise of food to be an empty one, but later, a man arrived with some barley bread, tossing it into the centre of their group like they were dogs. If the man delivering the food was hoping to witness a feeding frenzy, he left disappointed. The sleepy women stared at the bread as though it were a poisonous mushroom. Eventually, hunger got the better of them, and one of their healers picked it up, smelling it before tearing off a tiny piece and tasting it.
‘I think it’s safe.’
They divided the bread equally and ate in silence, aware of the guard watching their every move. The moment they finished eating, they fell asleep, despite the absence of blankets or a fire…
‘Brei.’
She was dreaming.
‘Wake up.’
Her lids were heavy and teeth chattering.
‘Brei.’
No man in that camp knew her by name. And if they did, they would not bother using it.
‘Brei.’ Louder that time.
Her eyes snapped open, taking a moment to focus. She found Nerva crouched in front of her and immediately looked around in a panic, assuming something was wrong.
‘It is all right,’ he said. ‘I have something for you.’
She carefully disentangled herself from Lavena and sat up, looking suspiciously at the cup in his hand. Steam rose from it. ‘What’s that?’
‘Willow tea. For the pain.’ He held it out to her.
She did not take it. ‘Why are you giving it to me?’
Standing, he said, ‘If you do not want it…’
‘I do,’ she said quickly. It was not the pain relief she wanted but the warmth.
He crouched down again and placed it between her bound hands. She had hoped he would leave so she could share it with the others, but seeing that he intended to watch her drink it, she brought the cup to her lips and smelled it before taking a tentative sip. The hot liquid made her shiver.
‘Do you really think I would poison you?’ Nerva asked. ‘There are far easier ways to be rid of you that do not require waiting for water to boil. If I want you dead, it will be done.’
She regarded him over the rim of her cup as he rested an elbow on his knee and looked down at Lavena.
‘Did she eat?’
Brei took another drink and closed her eyes as the liquid warmed her throat, chest, then belly. ‘Yes.’
‘Good.’
She opened her eyes. ‘I can’t figure you out. One moment you’re tearing through villages, the next bringing your enemy medicine.’ She watched as an emotion she could not quite identify passed over his face.
Standing, he held his hand out for the cup. She drew a breath and downed the remainder of the tea before handing it to him. ‘I don’t get to keep the cup?’
‘So you can beat one of my men to death with it?’
‘I don’t need a cup for that.’ She almost thanked him but caught herself. He was her enemy, and she his prisoner.
Nerva looked down at her for a moment as though about to say something. Then, shaking his head, he strode away without another word or glance in her direction.
Chapter 8
Seven days later they reached Balmakewan. Caracalla’s army was waiting there for them. They too had suffered losses, over twelve hundred men since passing through Antonine’s Wall. Now Nerva stood inside the young emperor’s tent, bringing him up to speed.
‘They may be smarter than we initially thought,’ Caracalla said.
Nerva struggled to keep his expression neutral. Of course they were. He waited for Caracalla to continue.
‘Half the time the people were nowhere to be seen and their livestock unguarded.’
‘A strategy to keep us on course, sir. If the food is available, we will not go looking for it.’
‘Exactly what I said.’ The emperor scratched at his wiry beard and studied Nerva for a moment. ‘I hear you arrived with prisoners, despite orders to the contrary.’
Nerva suspected Paulus Cordius had personally delivered that news to Caracalla. Any opportunity to make him look incompetent. The scary thing was, he was next in line for the role when Nerva finally stepped aside. ‘There were healers among them.’
‘And children.’ Caracalla added. ‘I know you have a soft spot for them, but they will not be small forever.’
‘No, sir.’
Caracalla waved a dismissive hand. ‘I do not judge too harshly. I too have spared lives along the way. The women make for interesting bed companions.’ He paused, a smile on his lips. ‘Perhaps you figured that out for yourself.’
‘I am here to fight and take care of the men, sir.’ As if Nerva needed another reason to dislike the man. He tried to change the subject. ‘How is your father, sir?’
Caracalla leaned back in his chair and let out a breath. ‘He remains in Eboracum and has taken to his bed. The cold plagues him, but he refuses to leave.’ It was said with a hint of disdain, as if the man’s failing body were his own fault. It was no secret Caracalla wished his father gone. Severus’s death would bring him one step closer to ruling alone.
‘I am sorry to hear that, sir.’
Caracalla appeared unmoved. ‘While sad, the sooner he is gone, the sooner we can leave this place.’
It was not the location Nerva despised so much as his reason for being there. Without the bloodshed, the sound of five thousand men marching behind him, and the constant threat of attack, he might have come to appreciate the raw beauty of Caledonia. ‘We have made excellent progress, sir, despit
e the losses.’
Caracalla nodded. ‘I agree. We should celebrate that progress.’ He cleared his throat. ‘Have the prisoners brought here tonight. You will join us, of course.’
Nerva was going to ask what for, but he realised he already knew the answer. ‘You will be most disappointed with their condition, sir.’
‘So have them cleaned up.’
A familiar feeling clawed his insides, the same feeling he used to get whenever his sisters had been mistreated growing up. Once again, he found himself in a position of power, yet unable to help in any meaningful way. ‘Very well, sir, but you must forgive my absence. I need sleep.’
Caracalla regarded him with amusement. ‘Have you not figured out yet that these mountains are without morals?’
Nerva blinked. ‘I certainly have, sir.’ Turning, he marched from the tent.
Brei finished her bread and water and tried to ignore the smell of meat cooking. The scent made her mouth water. She looked down at Lavena, who was sitting beside her, taking greedy lungfuls of air.
‘I can almost taste it,’ the girl said. ‘I’d kill for a piece of pork right now.’
Morna looked around. ‘Don’t let the guards hear you say such things.’
Brei smiled to herself. Everyone was in a good mood after having had their first proper wash in days. They had been given soap, towels, and clean clothes that were much too big, and far too Roman looking for their liking, but they did the job of keeping them dry and warm.
Brei’s smile faded the moment she heard the sound of gravel crunching under heavy boots. The women all turned in that direction, holding their breath. Night had arrived, and all she could see were the outlines of five men. Every hair on her body stood on end.
Soldiers emerged into the torchlit area where the prisoners had been confined for the evening, looking between them as though searching for someone. Brei looked for Nerva’s face among them, but he was not there.
‘On your feet,’ one of the soldiers shouted. There was not a familiar or friendly face among them.
Brei understood the instruction but did not move. The others looked to her for a translation. But if it was the end of the road, Brei was not just going to stand and walk calmly to her death. First, she would kill as many of the soldiers as she could.
‘You heard him. On your feet before I beat the lot of you,’ another said.
Brei drew a breath and looked around at the worried faces. ‘Stand up.’ She pulled Lavena up with her and placed herself between the girl and the men. When they were all upright, one of the men walked among them, peering into their faces before looking down at their breasts, hips, legs. Brei moved herself even farther in front of the girl.
‘More light,’ the soldier said, gesturing to the man holding the torch. He stepped forwards until the flame lit up their faces. ‘You,’ said the soldier, pointing. ‘You, and you two,’ he finished, pointing at Brei and Lavena.
‘General Nerva said no one with ailments and no children,’ another said, nodding towards Lavena.
‘Caracalla can decide that for himself,’ replied the soldier, then gestured for the four of them to start moving.
‘Mumma,’ Lavena said, backing away.
Brei took her hand and smiled reassuringly. ‘It’s all right. I’ll be with you.’ These were not men they could say no to.
The soldier narrowed his eyes on Brei. ‘And no funny business from you. I’ll cut your throat if you so much as open your mouth.’
She just stared blankly at him.
‘I know you understand me.’
Brei would behave—unless they gave her no choice. She looked back at the others and saw their fear. Morna began to cry as her daughter was led away. Brei realised at that moment that the men had not taken the strongest women, but the youngest, or rather the prettiest. She faced forwards, her grip tightening on Lavena’s hand. The only way they were getting to that child was over her dead body.
‘Move,’ shouted one of the soldiers.
Brei pulled the girl closer to her as they walked, gesturing for the others to keep up. She studied the men around her, noting the number, position, and accessibility of their weapons. Then her gaze wandered to the tents either side. There was nowhere to run to.
The women were marched through the centre of the camp, past the cavalry towards the much larger tents at the end. No one paid them much notice. Many of the soldiers were either sleeping or gathered in groups drinking their wine rations. Brei’s heart drummed a little faster as they approached the largest tent.
Just as they reached it, Nerva stepped out of a neighbouring tent. Dark circles enclosed his eyes, and he seemed distracted. When he looked up at them, he stopped walking, his gaze going from Brei to Lavena who was huddled at her side.
‘Halt,’ he barked at the men.
The soldiers stopped and turned to salute him. The women stopped behind them, all eyes on him.
‘Where are these prisoners going?’ Nerva asked.
‘To the emperor, sir.’
Nerva took a step towards them. ‘And the child?’
The men looked between one another before one said, ‘She looks plenty old enough to me, sir.’
Nerva reached the man in a few strides, grabbing him by the tunic and turning him to look at the young girl. ‘Does she really?’ He released the man with a shove. ‘Is that who we are now? When we are not killing children, we are raping them?’
The man did not have an answer.
When Nerva stepped back, Brei noted the tense set of his jaw. He was a fish out of water, and she could not help but feel sorry for him.
‘No children or women with ailments. Were the orders not clear?’
‘They were clear, sir,’ said the man who had objected the first time and been quickly overruled.
‘Take those two back,’ Nerva said, gesturing to Brei and the girl.
‘Both?’ the soldier asked, visibly confused.
Nerva’s hands curled into fists. ‘That one had skin torn from her back just a few days ago. Do you really want to present her to Caracalla?’
Brei looked over at the other women who would go in her place. ‘Send me,’ she blurted. ‘Send only me.’
Nerva sighed. ‘Noble of you, but you are in no condition—’
‘It’s just my back. The rest of me is fine.’ She could handle men like Caracalla, and had done many times.
‘The emperor chooses his own company,’ one of the soldiers snapped, giving her a shove in the other direction.
Brei’s gaze fell to his sword. In a few beats, she could have it pressed against his throat. Her fingers twitched.
‘I will take them myself,’ Nerva said, grabbing Brei by the arm and tugging her away from the group before she had a chance to act. Lavena scurried after them.
‘My men can handle it, sir.’
‘So far your men have proven incompetent’ came Nerva’s reply as he marched her away from the group.
Brei looked over her shoulder at the others, feeling as though she were betraying them. It was probably not the first time they had lain with a man against their will, but who knew what Roman men were capable of in bed. She only knew one woman who had been with a soldier, during the treaty, a transaction of sorts. ‘You should’ve let me go instead,’ she said, trying to turn to Nerva.
He kept a firm grip on her arm. ‘You have a strange way of saying thank you.’
‘I don’t need your protection.’
He breathed out a laugh. ‘Do not flatter yourself. It is not you I protect but Caracalla. If he dies at the hand of one of the prisoners I spared, how will that look?’
‘A lot like justice.’
‘For once, can you just close your mouth and walk.’ He glanced down at Lavena, his expression softening. ‘Try to keep up.’
She nodded.
‘I could’ve handled that pig of a chief,’ Brei added.
‘He is not a chief; he is an emperor of Rome. Do you know what would happen if you tried any of yo
ur usual tricks on him?’
‘Yes. There would be one less Roman in the world.’
His response came in the form of a shove, but she stopped walking, forcing him to do the same. Another sigh. ‘Now what?’
‘Let Lavena go. No one will even notice she’s missing. Just let her go right now.’
Nerva shook his head. ‘I cannot do that.’
‘Please. She’s just a child.’ Seeing that her words were having the desired effect on him, she continued. ‘There are other tribes nearby, people who will take her in.’
Nerva’s expression hardened. ‘And soon they will all be dead, Lavena with them if she managed to make it that far.’ He lowered his voice. ‘Your people broke the treaty. What did you think was going to happen?’
She stepped in front of Lavena. ‘The Romans never left. You people with your ridiculous army and big walls. You’re a stain on this land.’
‘Your people forced our hand. Do you not get it? Nobody is leaving until you are all gone.’
Her scowl deepened. ‘We’re not the only losers here. You arrived with what? Fifty thousand men? How many will you leave with?’
He gave her a shove to get her walking again. ‘Your whining is going to wake up the whole camp.’
She watched him as they walked. ‘If Lavena dies, her death will be on your hands.’
He did not argue the fact. ‘Tomorrow we march to Kair House, where you will be put on a boat and taken downriver to our waiting fleet.’ His voice was almost a whisper. ‘Then you will be loaded onto a ship.’
She was silent a moment. ‘Where is the ship going?’
‘Rome.’
She shook her head as she absorbed what he was telling her. ‘Rome? I can’t go to Rome.’
‘Believe it or not, it is the safest place for you right now.’
‘My family is here.’
‘Your family has nowhere to escape to. Our ships are all along the coast, and our troops have closed off the midland.’
Brei slowed, her legs no longer cooperating. ‘They will fight their way out.’
