Defy the Eagle (11 page)

"I do not care!" Ede pushed distractedly at the mass of pale hair. "I saw you this morn with the Roman—you treat her not as a slave but as a treasure. Your eyes soften when you look at her and I can sense the fire in your blood. Beware, Caddaric, lest you become possessed by her!"

Caddaric pursed his lips. "Does Artair please you, Ede, or do you but use each other?" Ede gasped at this sudden change of conversation and Caddaric smiled slightly. "Did you think I did not know? There are few secrets in our village and, in truth, it gladdened me to know you had chosen another. Artair will treat you well if you but allow him the opportunity."

Ede shook her head. "Nay. Artair is besotted by your Roman slave. Last night, when the fighting was ended, he spoke of nothing else." To prove her point Ede gestured to where Artair stood apart from the rest, his eyes never leaving Jilana. She stole a glance at Caddaric. "He knows well how to please a woman when darkness falls, yet 'tis you who brings happiness to me in the light of day."

"Do you think to make me jealous, Ede?" Caddaric's fingers tangled in Ede's hair, recalling briefly the pleasures they had shared. In spite of everything he wished to spare Ede more pain.

Ede raised her eyes to Caddaric, delighting in his touch. "Our nights were pleasant ones, Caddaric. Much ill will would be laid to rest if you gift Artair with the Roman."

Suspicion entered Caddaric's mind and with a cruel deliberation his fingers tightened in Ede's hair. Ignoring her cry of protest Caddaric drew her hard against him.

"Twas you who plotted that Artair should claim Jilana, was it not?" He gave Ede a rough shake. "Tell me, Ede, and quickly, or I shall strip you of what little pride you possess."

The woman is a plague," Clywd sighed. "As long as clings to Caddaric he will find no peace."

Jilana unwillingly looked at Caddaric and smiled as he embraced Ede. So the Briton had a jealous wife who obviously had no intention of sharing his dubious favors, Jilana thought with relief. The threat to her virginity faded and she turned her attention to the Druid and his companion.

"This is Heall." Clywd performed the introduction when Jilana's violet eyes lingered on the warrior. Heall inclined his head to Jilana beneath Clywd's undisguised interest.

Heall's stare was disconcerting but Jilana met it steadily. He studied her face with bright, brown eyes, intent upon its every line and then, as an afterthought, considered the gentle curves beneath her toga. Jilana stiffened in outrage. She had been leered at enough for one day. "You seem bent upon the same course as the noble Caddaric. When two minds are so alike there is generally a tie of blood. Am I to be shared by father and son, graybeard?"

"Though I love Caddaric as a son, he is not of my line, you mistake my intentions," Heall replied in a raspy voice. One of his large hands came up to stroke the silvery beard that flowed down his jaw to his chest. "I noted I only that you appear fatigued and your gown is soiled. Clywd and I managed to preserve your bedchamber against destruction, so if you wish, I shall take you there so that you may change and rest."

This unexpected kindness took Jilana aback and she stood in silence for several moments. "I—I thought—" she stammered and then shook her head. "The Brit— Caddaric will be angry if I leave without first begging his permission."

"Will he indeed?" Clywd's blue eyes snapped with amusement and he glanced at his son. "Do you now fear his wrath when only this morning you called upon all your gods to curse him?"

Jilana's chin rose. "I fear him not!"

"Good." Clywd smiled. "Then go with Heall and allow your soul a brief respite from its pain."

Jilana allowed Heall to take her arm and lead her through the villa to her chamber. "Is he a seer?" she demanded of Heall as they ascended the steps.

Heall spared her an almost gentle look. "Clywd is... Clywd. He listens carefully to the gods and they in turn grant him special powers. At times he has been known to look into the future and see what awaits us there, and on occasion he sees into a man's mind and heart."

Jilana shivered. If what Heall said was true, Clywd would be a dangerous man to be with when thoughts of her vengeance upon Caddaric were so strong in her mind. Heall opened the door to her bedchamber and to her dismay Jilana saw that torches and lamps had been lit here as well.

"We arrived too late to prevent Ede from going through your possessions," Heall apologized gruffly. "I fear she took some of your clothing and a few pieces of jewelry before Clywd and I—"

"It matters not," Jilana interrupted bleakly. "I am certain Caddaric will give Ede the rest in time. She is, after all, his wife."

Heall started to clarify matters for Jilana but the expression in her wide, violet eyes halted his explanation. The. proud defiance she had shown at the palace this morning and again in the villa was rapidly fading as the numbing shock of the day and night past set in. Jilana swayed on her feet and with a muffled exclamation of concern Heall wrapped a thick arm around her waist and guided Jilana to the bed. "You must do as Clywd said and rest."

Jilana shook her head. "When I close my eyes, what will I see? What dreams will torment my sleep? My family -—" her voice broke and Jilana doubled over as a terrible ache seized her heart. "Tis not to be borne, old one. Would that I had died with the others."

Uncertain what to do or say, Heall awkwardly patted Jilana's bowed head and surveyed the bedchamber. This room, like the rest of the villa, had been searched and all possible weapons confiscated. At least, thought Heall gratefully, they need not fear that Jilana would find the mans to end her life.

"Ah, see here," Jilana cried. Oblivious to Heall's efforts to comfort her, she slid to the floor and, kneeling, lifted a length of flame-colored material from its resting place. "'Tis my bridal veil," she whispered. The diaphanous cloth fluttered through the air and came to rest about Jilana's head and shoulders. She touched the material lovingly, remembering her mother's excitement when the ship carrying it had arrived from Rome. "Better now to use it as a shroud."

"Nay." Heall knelt and framed Jilana's face with his hands. "There is always a reason for living, though you may not think so now. It takes more strength to live, when you are torn from all you love, than it does to die."

"I have no such courage," Jilana murmured, drawn by the gentleness in Heall's dark eyes. "Your Iceni women have the strength, but I was gently raised. I am Roman, not Iceni."

"Yet you have the courage." Heall placed the flat of his hand on her left breast in a gesture curiously devoid of passion. "Here, in your heart, lies all the strength you will ever need—you have only to discover and use it."

"How can you speak with such certainty?"

"I know," Heall stated, a smile crossing his features for the first time. "When you would not bend to the Queen I saw the might of Rome as I have never seen it before. 'Tis a fool's mistake to believe you weak."

"And a greater fool comforts the enemy," came a mocking voice from the doorway. Caddaric stood behind them, his eyes narrowing when he noted where Heall's hand rested. With apparent unconcern, Heall bestowed a final smile upon Jilana, took his hand from her person, and rose to meet Caddaric's icy stare. "I will gladly share the woman, Heall. When I am done with her."

Heall drew himself up proudly. "She is little more than a child, Caddaric."

"Nay, a woman," Caddaric contradicted, his eyes fixed on Jilana's bent form. "Come here, Roman."

Jilana quailed at the harsh command, but she obeyed. Remembering Caddaric's anger when she failed to meet his gaze, Jilana forced herself to look into the hard sapphire eyes.

"Did you bed Heall?"

Jilana gasped and Heall's features stiffened. "You do both Jilana and myself a grave injustice, Caddaric."

Caddaric ignored his old friend. "I will have an answer, slave."

"Heall did but seek to ease my sorrow," Jilana said defensively.

Caddaric gave a noncommittal grunt and nodded curtly to Heall. "Leave us now, Heall."

"Aye, Caddaric, but first—" Whatever appeal Heall planned to make died a quick death beneath Caddaric's dangerous look and he silently left the room.

"Am I not to be shown kindness by anyone?" Jilana asked when Caddaric did not speak. "Why were you so cruel to Heall?" It did not occur to her to wonder why she spoke up for the older man.

"I will not have my warriors lusting after you when they should be occupied elsewhere," Caddaric ground out.

"He did not lust after me!" Jilana cried indignantly. The fleeting peace she had known in Heall's presence was gone now and her heart felt raw again. "Heall was kind, nothing more. Do not accuse him of your own rutting ways."

"And Artair? Was he also kind?" Caddaric caught Jilana's chin between his thumb and forefinger. "Raise not your voice to me, slave. You have caused naught but trouble since this morn and tonight you left my presence without asking permission—for that alone I should beat you!" Something snapped inside Jilana and with a hissed intake of air she raised her hand to strike, only to be brought up short by Caddaric's silken warning. "Do not tempt my wrath, Jilana, for only you will suffer should I lose control."

Jilana slowly lowered her hand and backed away, relieved that Caddaric did not follow. Instead he kicked aside the litter on the floor and, crossing the room, seated himself on one of the two remaining chairs. The hard, blue gaze leisurely traveled the room, then settled upon Jilana with such intensity that she felt compelled to speak. "Where is your wife? Ede, I believe you called her."

"I have no wife."

"But Ede—"

"I have no wife," Caddaric repeated calmly. His eyes caught and held on Jilana's veil. "And you will have little use for a bridal veil. Remove it."

Jilana pulled the veil from her hair and draped it carefully over her arm. "How did you know this is my bridal veil?"

The tremor in her voice apparently amused Caddaric for he smiled insolently. "The same way I know that if I search hard enough I will find a pair of saffron shoes and a tunic of finest linen. On your wedding day you would have been crowned with a garland of flowers. I have spent much of my life in the company of your countrymen. In fact, I even lived in Rome for a time. I know your ways, Jilana; you have no secrets from me." He glanced once more about the bedchamber and shook his head. "We left you little enough, but 'tis just as well. Now you will learn the Iceni ways."

'Never," Jilana retorted. "I am a Roman, not an uncivilized barbarian! Slave or not I shall never decry my :customs."

Caddaric raised a mocking eyebrow. "We shall see."

A knock sounded at the door and at Caddaric's answer a procession of Iceni entered, Clywd at their head.

Two men deposited a large wooden tub a short distance in front of Jilana while another built a fire in the brazier. Steaming water was poured into the tub by the other Iceni warriors and the two women in the group placed food and wine upon the low table just to Caddaric's left.

"Enjoy this night's revels," Caddaric instructed coldly when his people were finished. "On the morrow you will set the villa in order—tell that to those who are seeking their sport below. Tell them also that I have claimed this chamber and everything in it as mine. Now go." The speechless Iceni filed out of the chamber and Caddaric turned to Clywd. "My order included you, wise one."

Clywd smiled. "As soon as I have tended your wounds I shall depart."

"I will look to them myself, as I did in the legion." Caddaric sighed at Clywd's pained expression. "In a day, two at the most, we will begin training for the battles to come. At the moment, however, I crave only peace and a great deal of privacy. Give me your medicines, Clywd, and be on your way."

"Artair told me of your injuries," Clywd sniffed. "If infection sets in you may lose both leg and life."

"Have done, Clywd," Caddaric growled, his impatience showing. "If I have need of your powers I shall call for you. 'Til such time, have the goodness to grant my request."

After a fruitless debate with his son Clywd left, muttering under his breath, but his pouch of herbs and salves rested at Caddaric's feet.

Jilana glared at Caddaric. "Why bother to stop the looting? Venta Icenorum is in ruins. All those who could possibly care about their homes and possessions are dead."

"Your Roman treasures are of no concern to me," Caddaric heartlessly explained. "An army must have discipline. That is what enables your legions to win their battles—even when the situation appears hopeless they unquestioningly obey orders. My people must learn to do the same and their education begins now, before they reach a battlefield." The corners of his mouth twitched a travesty of a smile at Jilana's wide-eyed gaze. "Surely your betrothed—the brave tribune—discussed the for discipline with you."

"I am am a woman, not a soldier, and Lucius treated me such. I leave the business of war to men," Jilana said stiffly. "You have no right to laugh at the dead."

A strange look crossed Caddaric's face. "I would not have you find me lacking when compared to the noble Lucius." With a slashing motion of his arm he indicated tub. "The bath is for you, Roman."

Jilana spared the tub a disparaging glance. "I will cleanse myself as I always have—in a proper bath."