hand
instinctively going to his dagger. She was dressed as a Druid princess and when
he heard the murmur of male voices from the atrium, he guessed why she was
hiding.
It would not do for anyone of importance to see the
tribune’s wife as she truly was.
“Hoping to make the acquaintance of your wife.”
“Carys will be sorry to have missed your visit, Praetor .”
Maximus sounded sincere, but Gawain was certain the Roman knew exactly where
his wife was hiding and that she was not in the least sorry to have missed the
official’s visit. “Unfortunately, she is indisposed.”
Carys scowled and Gawain bit back a laugh. Feminine
indisposition was a favorite excuse when a Roman woman did not wish to face
a situation but it was never something a Celtic woman would resort to.
“My sympathies,” the other Roman said. Gawain leaned against
a marble column. Obviously Carys felt the need to stay and eavesdrop and what’s
more, she wanted him to, as well. “My late wife suffered greatly from the same
malady.”
Gawain grimaced, but Carys ignored him. He had no moral
problems listening into private conversations when there might be information
he could use to his advantage. But he had no interest whatsoever in this
tedious exchange.
The strangled response from Maximus, though, almost made it
worthwhile.
“So, Maximus,” the praetor said, his tone turning
brisk. “You’ve been stationed in this colonia for how long?”
“A little over a year.” The tribune sounded restrained and
Gawain stifled a yawn and wondered if Antonia ever suffered from feminine
indispositions.
“Long enough to have cultivated a good sense of the mood of
the local natives.”
Gawain folded his arms. Was the praetor concerned an
uprising was imminent? If so, he need not worry. While the peasants might
resent the Roman presence, their masters were content to bask in the
condescending benevolence of the empire.
“The benefits of being under the protection of the Eagle are
something they’re coming to appreciate.”
Gawain was sure Maximus believed that. It was hard not to
draw the same conclusion at times. He was also sure Carys was going to make him
pay dearly for saying such a thing within her hearing.
The praetor grunted in apparent approval. Gawain
forcibly relaxed his fist, which he had no recollection flexing.
“Do you believe they would knowingly harbor fugitive
Druids?”
Ice slid through Gawain’s veins and he caught Carys’ steady
gaze. This was why she had wanted him by her side. Because she had known the praetor ’s
visit directly impacted their survival.
“No.” Maximus’ voice was firm.
“No?” The praetor sounded taken aback, as if he
hadn’t expected such an uncompromising response. “Perhaps your view is clouded
by your personal circumstances.”
Gawain saw Carys stiffen and knew it wasn’t her own safety
that worried her. It was her husband’s.
“The emperor is assured of my loyalty.” There was no
inherent threat in Maximus’ mild tone but the threat was there, nevertheless.
Gawain pulled Carys back against his chest and leaned forward so he could catch
a glimpse of the praetor through the narrow gap.
He looked about forty, graying at the temples and was
dressed in the purple striped toga of the aristocracy.
“I would never question the loyalty of the house of Tiberius
Valerius,” the praetor said. “But you are aware many of the Druids
escaped justice two years ago when your esteemed wife thwarted their revered
High Priest. I am convinced many made their way into our prestigious city.”
Carys threaded her fingers through his. As far as he knew,
they were the only two Druids from Cymru in Camulodunon. But was it possible
Druids from other clans were here? Anticipation surged through his blood.
Of course it was possible.
“If that were the case,” Maximus said, “we would know. You
will soon discover, Praetor , that the Eagle has a tight grasp of this
corner of Britannia.”
“I have no
instinctively going to his dagger. She was dressed as a Druid princess and when
he heard the murmur of male voices from the atrium, he guessed why she was
hiding.
It would not do for anyone of importance to see the
tribune’s wife as she truly was.
“Hoping to make the acquaintance of your wife.”
“Carys will be sorry to have missed your visit, Praetor .”
Maximus sounded sincere, but Gawain was certain the Roman knew exactly where
his wife was hiding and that she was not in the least sorry to have missed the
official’s visit. “Unfortunately, she is indisposed.”
Carys scowled and Gawain bit back a laugh. Feminine
indisposition was a favorite excuse when a Roman woman did not wish to face
a situation but it was never something a Celtic woman would resort to.
“My sympathies,” the other Roman said. Gawain leaned against
a marble column. Obviously Carys felt the need to stay and eavesdrop and what’s
more, she wanted him to, as well. “My late wife suffered greatly from the same
malady.”
Gawain grimaced, but Carys ignored him. He had no moral
problems listening into private conversations when there might be information
he could use to his advantage. But he had no interest whatsoever in this
tedious exchange.
The strangled response from Maximus, though, almost made it
worthwhile.
“So, Maximus,” the praetor said, his tone turning
brisk. “You’ve been stationed in this colonia for how long?”
“A little over a year.” The tribune sounded restrained and
Gawain stifled a yawn and wondered if Antonia ever suffered from feminine
indispositions.
“Long enough to have cultivated a good sense of the mood of
the local natives.”
Gawain folded his arms. Was the praetor concerned an
uprising was imminent? If so, he need not worry. While the peasants might
resent the Roman presence, their masters were content to bask in the
condescending benevolence of the empire.
“The benefits of being under the protection of the Eagle are
something they’re coming to appreciate.”
Gawain was sure Maximus believed that. It was hard not to
draw the same conclusion at times. He was also sure Carys was going to make him
pay dearly for saying such a thing within her hearing.
The praetor grunted in apparent approval. Gawain
forcibly relaxed his fist, which he had no recollection flexing.
“Do you believe they would knowingly harbor fugitive
Druids?”
Ice slid through Gawain’s veins and he caught Carys’ steady
gaze. This was why she had wanted him by her side. Because she had known the praetor ’s
visit directly impacted their survival.
“No.” Maximus’ voice was firm.
“No?” The praetor sounded taken aback, as if he
hadn’t expected such an uncompromising response. “Perhaps your view is clouded
by your personal circumstances.”
Gawain saw Carys stiffen and knew it wasn’t her own safety
that worried her. It was her husband’s.
“The emperor is assured of my loyalty.” There was no
inherent threat in Maximus’ mild tone but the threat was there, nevertheless.
Gawain pulled Carys back against his chest and leaned forward so he could catch
a glimpse of the praetor through the narrow gap.
He looked about forty, graying at the temples and was
dressed in the purple striped toga of the aristocracy.
“I would never question the loyalty of the house of Tiberius
Valerius,” the praetor said. “But you are aware many of the Druids
escaped justice two years ago when your esteemed wife thwarted their revered
High Priest. I am convinced many made their way into our prestigious city.”
Carys threaded her fingers through his. As far as he knew,
they were the only two Druids from Cymru in Camulodunon. But was it possible
Druids from other clans were here? Anticipation surged through his blood.
Of course it was possible.
“If that were the case,” Maximus said, “we would know. You
will soon discover, Praetor , that the Eagle has a tight grasp of this
corner of Britannia.”
“I have no
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