hasn’t opened her eyes once.” Pontius glared at Adrenia and then Terentius. “You think the soldier you found dead did this to her?”
Terentius crossed his arms. “Doubtful. I didn’t know him well, but I have a sense about a man’s character. He knew the punishment if he did not deliver the women safely home. Even if he did hurt Pella, it doesn’t explain who killed him.”
“He brought me straight home, I said goodbye to Pella, and then the two of them went off together,” she said.
Pontius scraped one hand over his jaw and sighed. “I don’t blame you for what happened.”
Terentius went to a window and pulled away the covering to peer into the darkness. “Someone must have killed Crassus and taken your wife. Someone far stronger than Crassus.”
“Why?” Pontius’s voice held anger and despair.
Terentius wished he had an answer, his gut clenching in sympathy for the man’s suffering. If anyone dared hurt Adrenia like this…
Terentius knew then, if he hadn’t already, that his feelings for Adrenia grew deeper and tightened about him like a noose the longer he knew her. He didn’t like it. Didn’t understand it. Yet there seemed no cure for his predicament.
The sound of horses coming closer sent Terentius from the smaller room, through the main area and outside. Victor had arrived with the medicus . The thin, tall medicus didn’t come from the fort, but directly from town. Terentius explained quickly he’d pay the man’s fee, and the medicus nodded without questioning. Once inside and at Pella’s bedside, the medicus questioned the bandaging and poultice.
“I did it,” Adrenia said.
The medicus ’s disapproval turned to reluctant admiration. “You used the right amount. As I would have.” He frowned. “It is a fair enough job.”
Adrenia backed up against a wall, tears shimmering in her eyes. “I’m happy you’re here, medicus . Please save her. That’s all I ask.”
Adrenia’s distress twisted into a knot inside Terentius. “Adrenia, come into the other room with me and rest. You’re exhausted. Leave Pella to the care of her husband and the medicus . You’ve done all you can.”
Adrenia’s gaze darted about the room. “But…”
“Pella would not want you to become ill again,” Pontius said from his wife’s bedside. “Please take some broth and bread…all of you. For your health.”
Adrenia nodded, and Terentius clasped her arm to lead her into the next room. Another fire burned in the main area. Terentius urged Adrenia into a chair by a square table. He went to the hearth where a pot of soup simmered. Victor hadn’t come in from outside, so Terentius scooped the thick meat soup into a bowl and placed it front of her with a spoon.
Adrenia’s stomach growled as she glanced up at the big soldier. His gaze upon her was intent, calm, even worried. “Thank you. But what about you?”
“I won’t take from Pontius’s supply. I have dried meat in my supply pack on my horse. You are cold and tired and recently ill. Eat.”
He drew a chair from around the table and settled near her. His heat and proximity unsettled her. She liked his strength nearby, his obvious caring. He’d given her so much…had given so much to Pella and Pontius.
She placed her right hand on his muscled forearm. “You are generous. Thank you for finding the medicus for Pella.” She swallowed hard as grief swelled to almost unbearable proportions. “She means everything to Pontius. He couldn’t bear it if she didn’t survive. I couldn’t bear it.”
She wouldn’t imagine it, couldn’t stand the thought any longer. Tears she’d tried to ignore since she’d come upon her dear friend lying in the woods broke through her defenses. As they leaked from her eyes, she covered her face.
“Eh, there. No, no.” Terentius’s voice rumbled softly, filled with genuine concern. “Take ease now. She’s in good hands. You’ve already seen to that.”
Before she could protest, he reached
Terentius crossed his arms. “Doubtful. I didn’t know him well, but I have a sense about a man’s character. He knew the punishment if he did not deliver the women safely home. Even if he did hurt Pella, it doesn’t explain who killed him.”
“He brought me straight home, I said goodbye to Pella, and then the two of them went off together,” she said.
Pontius scraped one hand over his jaw and sighed. “I don’t blame you for what happened.”
Terentius went to a window and pulled away the covering to peer into the darkness. “Someone must have killed Crassus and taken your wife. Someone far stronger than Crassus.”
“Why?” Pontius’s voice held anger and despair.
Terentius wished he had an answer, his gut clenching in sympathy for the man’s suffering. If anyone dared hurt Adrenia like this…
Terentius knew then, if he hadn’t already, that his feelings for Adrenia grew deeper and tightened about him like a noose the longer he knew her. He didn’t like it. Didn’t understand it. Yet there seemed no cure for his predicament.
The sound of horses coming closer sent Terentius from the smaller room, through the main area and outside. Victor had arrived with the medicus . The thin, tall medicus didn’t come from the fort, but directly from town. Terentius explained quickly he’d pay the man’s fee, and the medicus nodded without questioning. Once inside and at Pella’s bedside, the medicus questioned the bandaging and poultice.
“I did it,” Adrenia said.
The medicus ’s disapproval turned to reluctant admiration. “You used the right amount. As I would have.” He frowned. “It is a fair enough job.”
Adrenia backed up against a wall, tears shimmering in her eyes. “I’m happy you’re here, medicus . Please save her. That’s all I ask.”
Adrenia’s distress twisted into a knot inside Terentius. “Adrenia, come into the other room with me and rest. You’re exhausted. Leave Pella to the care of her husband and the medicus . You’ve done all you can.”
Adrenia’s gaze darted about the room. “But…”
“Pella would not want you to become ill again,” Pontius said from his wife’s bedside. “Please take some broth and bread…all of you. For your health.”
Adrenia nodded, and Terentius clasped her arm to lead her into the next room. Another fire burned in the main area. Terentius urged Adrenia into a chair by a square table. He went to the hearth where a pot of soup simmered. Victor hadn’t come in from outside, so Terentius scooped the thick meat soup into a bowl and placed it front of her with a spoon.
Adrenia’s stomach growled as she glanced up at the big soldier. His gaze upon her was intent, calm, even worried. “Thank you. But what about you?”
“I won’t take from Pontius’s supply. I have dried meat in my supply pack on my horse. You are cold and tired and recently ill. Eat.”
He drew a chair from around the table and settled near her. His heat and proximity unsettled her. She liked his strength nearby, his obvious caring. He’d given her so much…had given so much to Pella and Pontius.
She placed her right hand on his muscled forearm. “You are generous. Thank you for finding the medicus for Pella.” She swallowed hard as grief swelled to almost unbearable proportions. “She means everything to Pontius. He couldn’t bear it if she didn’t survive. I couldn’t bear it.”
She wouldn’t imagine it, couldn’t stand the thought any longer. Tears she’d tried to ignore since she’d come upon her dear friend lying in the woods broke through her defenses. As they leaked from her eyes, she covered her face.
“Eh, there. No, no.” Terentius’s voice rumbled softly, filled with genuine concern. “Take ease now. She’s in good hands. You’ve already seen to that.”
Before she could protest, he reached
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