Siren Slave (8 page)

Hedwig rose and grabbed Freya’s face. “I don’t care what seems real to you. Stop whining and start doing something about it. You better keep yourself happy. I don’t know if you noticed, but your powers respond to your emotions, the same as Beasts’ powers do. Unless you want to start making people’s hearts explode out of their chests, you should start worrying about
you
. I’ll admit, I wouldn’t mind seeing annoying people explode. Shut up and drink.” The Sea Witch thrust a skin at Freya before returning to the chaise.

“I know you don’t care, but my human parents could get in a lot of trouble with Rome if I don’t marry Etainen.”

“Your human parents are upsetting you. Oh, and you can thank me that your human mother didn’t die of the bloody flux by now. She asked me all kinds of annoying questions, like if I’d ever been a lady’s maid before. Do I
look
like a maid
?
I finally just showed her some of the garments Morrigan had me make for you and she shut up.”

“I just don’t feel like going to drink, Hedwig. Sorry, but Ulf was killed
.”

“Ulf? The man you bought sex toys from?” Hedwig made a frustrated sound and shoved her long hair over her shoulder. “Fine. I might be able to help you. Do you have a plan?”

After Freya had divulged her scheme to act like a loyal wife while supplying Siegfried with Rome’s plans, Hedwig nodded. “Let me add to that. Be obnoxious about loving Rome. Leave no doubt whatsoever.”

So say what I say about Siegfried to my men and simply substitute Rome? This could work. I’ll just have to not be attracted at all to Etainen.

“Oh, and Freya, I reworked your wedding toga. The thing was hideous,” Hedwig said. “The pale yellow was all wrong for your hair.”

“Odilia insisted on that color,” Freya said, already knowing Hedwig was right.

Hedwig waved off Freya’s concerns. “I made you a new one in purple. Needed to do something to keep myself from boredom here.”

“Thank you. But I can’t wear purple.” She explained the protocol about wearing that shade, then waited for the Sea Witch’s angry reaction.

“You’re wearing purple because I said so,” Hedwig said again. “What’s Rome going to do about it? Send a legion of their most well-muscled males after me?” She licked her lips. “Besides, I already tossed out the other toga.”

Chapter Three

Disguised as Etainen, Siegfried finally could see what Romans looked like without swords in one hand and shields in the other. He noted the way the general slouched, his guard down, his demeanor tired. Siegfried would never drop his guard around any but his most trusted men, but he hid his disgust. For now, he was Etainen, Chieftain of the Cimbri, bridegroom of Freya of the Remi, and ally to this less-than-impressive Roman general.

His bedchamber, a few doors from Freya’s, was richly appointed with porcelain plates, silks, crystal goblets, mahogany floors and furniture, and sable bed furs. It disgusted him, how much the Remi were enjoying their alliance with Rome.

He was still thinking about Swan, the alleged prostitute. She’d smelled of the sea and perfume, and her candidness had made him want to laugh. At first, he’d been uncertain, but her behavior had been so unexpected and abnormal. Lopsided Lady? She’d been daring enough to taunt Pompey, too. He hadn’t expected her to be so sloppy as to get caught, not when she’d been sneaking into this palace and freeing his people, not when she’d been savvy enough to pass him the information he needed in order to be here.

If there was further information he needed, “Etainen” would have to get it from Pompey. He’d cut his ties to his own people, lest they be captured, tortured, and questioned, although there were some in the dungeons below, despite his efforts. Swan would be here tonight to free them, he guessed. He’d aid her as best he could, but he hadn’t figured out how to do that yet.

He still tasted her kiss. She had been…practiced. But why not? She was a whore.

General Pompey, still wearing his helm, had come to speak to Etainen. He sat slumped in a wooden chair finished with a gilded leaf pattern and thickly padded under a blue silk cushion. The table between them was white marble with gold veins.

The Roman’s helm was askew, revealing a receding hairline on the left side. His skin was gray, his lips dry. He looked as if he’d aged a decade since Siegfried had seen him in the marketplace.

“To what do I owe this visit?” Siegfried asked, although he should know very well.

“Your actions earlier,” Pompey said. “That prostitute was to be an example, yet every effort I made to do so, you thwarted.”

“I see. But you’re not seeing my situation. I am new to the Remi. The Remi and Rome undoubtedly view my people as barbaric, given our history and the continuing actions of Siegfried. I would have the loyalty of the Remi, so they will trust my decisions and follow me, as you would have me follow Rome. If I spare a prostitute, then what would I do for others? They’ll trust me more now when I make decisions in regard to their safety. I know that’s what Rome wants, as well as I. And what is less barbaric than mercy?”

Pompey nodded weakly.

“You do not look well,” Siegfried said.

Pompey’s hand fisted over his heart. “A heart ailment…I was just angered. Furious. What angered me is your betrothed.”

When Siegfried said naught, Pompey went on to relay his conversation with Freya.

“So, the woman disobeys her parents and is a little foolish,” Siegfried said, hiding his amusement and guilt. This Freya would be getting a wedding, then taken immediately to King Vercingetorix as a hostage. “I would not expect less from a pampered princess. I do not see why this is a matter for a Roman general. I, too, love Rome’s laws, but a silly princess is hardly where we should expend our efforts.”

“I had thought she was slow when she’d panicked earlier. But then, she became angered after Odilia discussed pirates, and the girl lost her temper, abandoned any pretense, and said she was ashamed of her parents for working with Rome. So, she’d been toying with me earlier, only pretending to be an imbecile. She went so far as to exonerate Siegfried the Fox, saying the tribes would not be in such a situation if everyone were a little more like that outlaw.”

Siegfried stiffened. “So, she speaks treason in front of Rome’s allies. The fool.” A supporter? The
Remi
princess supported
him?
He hadn’t heard a thing to indicate that, and he’d done his research. But not much was known about Freya, who was kept constantly in the palace.

“You see why this is a concern, Etainen. As a princess, she is an example to her people. Some of your people already support Siegfried. Enough of the tribes already support Vercingetorix.”

“Indeed,” Siegfried said. Many people did not support Chieftain Etainen. Even though his lands were across the Rhine, by throwing his lot in with Vercingetorix, he might be able to stop Rome at Gaul. Etainen’s continued alliance with Rome was not popular with the oppressed tribes. “Yet, it would be folly to act against the Remi princess. It would anger her people. Leave Freya to me. I can handle princesses as well as prostitutes.”

“You’d best. Siegfried will probably be in the vicinity, hoping to stop this wedding somehow.”

“Undoubtedly he’s already discovered our plans. He probably wants my blood as well as yours.”

“Yes, well, I would not be surprised if this barbarian wench would assist him if he asked. I’ve come to see the barbarians very much like the Remi horses. They are infamously wild until a saddle is placed on them. You must see your mare is reined in.”

“I will speak with her, then,” Siegfried said.
Rein her in, tame her.
The thought of dominating a woman would normally entice him, even a woman he hadn’t met yet. Ever since meeting Swan in the marketplace, Siegfried couldn’t stop wondering what Swan was doing with that interesting sex toy.

“See you do. If she helps Siegfried, you’ll both be implicated as traitors to Rome. Odilia has told me where you can find Freya, at least later in the evening. The soldiers’
barracks
. Gaming and swilling ale. This is proof that this mare is in need of a saddle.”

“I did not know you were given to jests, Pompey.” He snorted at the thought of a gently raised princess, growing up amidst all this finery, imbibing and placing bets.

“I’m not jesting. She reeked of drink earlier. She’ll probably be glad to miss dinner for want of sleeping it off. She might be more able to see reason if she is not drunk. Don’t go too late, or she’ll be drunk again.”

Swan had smelled of drink, too…and tasted of it. He’d talk with Freya but not try to win her affections, else another admirer would seek to tame him. Etainen could not be concerned with Freya any more than Siegfried could afford to be distracted by Swan. It should not be so difficult to guard himself from these women, not with Julia so fresh in his mind. Two years was fresh, was it not?

There was a tentative rap on the door. Pompey called for the visitor to enter. A small woman with a winged band resting on the brightest blonde head he’d ever seen stepped through the door. Her lashes were lowered, and she worried her lip while knotting her fingers in a vivid purple toga. Tyrian purple. The toga wrapped around her slender body and high breasts, but her arms were bare, banded with abalone and a bandage. Another woman was behind her, a large-breasted woman with long, black hair. The high-heeled shoes of Egyptian prostitutes clacked under a black toga that managed to cling to every curve.

“Um, Pompey?” The blonde made a nervous bow and almost tripped. She was limping. “I wanted to apologize for earlier. I’ve been so out of sorts that I can’t think straight with the wedding coming up. Odilia and I don’t get along. I just didn’t want to see her, so I said what I said to make her angry. I guess I did want to see her, so I could use her as a scapegoat for my irritation. I think it’s funny when she turns that really weird shade of gray and then purple, like someone’s strangling her. The color even has its own name. Grurple.”

This
was Freya?

“I was probably pretty convincing, too convincing,” Freya continued, tapping the corner of her lips. “I didn’t want you to be dragged into it. I have a way of needling people, you could say. But I don’t use actual needles, just words.” The strange explanations, the way the words tumbled from her mouth, the limp… It had not been Swan he’d met earlier. Or had it?

“You were very convincing, indeed,” Pompey said, leaning forward to study her.

“I was,” Freya said with a wide grin. “I was furious with her, but I directed that at you and my parents, like a spoiled child. If it seems silly, it’s because Odilia almost got me killed today. Almost getting killed has a way of ruining a nice morning.”

Siegfried studied Freya. Was she lying? If anyone almost got her killed today, it was herself. Did she think him stupid?

“Do tell.” Pompey took a swallow of his wine. Siegfried didn’t think he was making the connection between the prostitute and the princess. All the better that Pompey was ill.

“I know I shouldn’t sneak out to market like that. But it’s helpful to know what the people are thinking. People’s tongues wag when they think their rulers aren’t listening. Dressed as a peasant leaves me open to hearing a lot. The truth is that I’m just as concerned about threats as you are. That’s why I sneak out like that. In fact, today I was hearing something very interesting when Odilia recognized me and started bellowing after me. You’re aware of the Druids? I mentioned them before.”

“Druids?” Siegfried asked. No, there had been no mention of that at all, not to him. There were no Druids in Remi lands.

“Oh, yes, Druids. I have a target painted on my back, or is it on my heart? I’m not sure where they’re actually aiming, because they hit my arm a few days ago.” She gave a nervous laugh. “But if I’m dressed as a peasant, they’re not going to recognize me, so I am safer there than in my gardens or even in my room. I didn’t know you had arrived today, General Pompey. It’s a relief to know you are now here to protect me with all the power of Rome.”

No, she was definitely not Swan if she spoke the truth.

“But that’s what I was trying to find out today, and then came the call.” She mimicked a low voice, cupping her hands around her mouth. “‘Freeeeya.’ So, if any Druids were nearby, they were going to know exactly where I was, especially when Odilia grabbed at me. Odilia has this habit about talking a lot about her opinions of people. I’m sure you’ve heard her opinion of me already? That I’m infatuated with Siegfried the Fox?” Freya raised both her brows at the general. She seemed careful to avoid looking at Siegfried.

“Yes.” Pompey motioned for her to continue, his rings twinkling in the firelight.

“While I was enjoying the grurple shade of her face, I also knew if I could make her think that I supported Siegfried that would definitely get around. Maybe my enemies would talk a little more freely around me. Like you and Odilia said, anyone could be a rebel.” She looked around the chamber, as if one might be hiding in the furs. When her gaze fell on Siegfried, she blushed and looked back at Pompey. “Maybe then the assassins would stop trying to kill me, if they thought I supported their master. I don’t like knives, at least not when they’re aimed at me. They are handy for cutting things though. Like food, not me.”

“What did you find out?” Pompey asked, still not seeming to make the connection between Freya and Swan. The fact that Freya had even given the name “Swan” to the general in the marketplace told Siegfried how foolish she was.

“I don’t want you to arrest those people,” Freya said. “I need to rework my disguise now, because Odilia gave me away. I’m not done questioning Siegfried’s supporters yet. If the people I was questioning were aware of what I was doing, then no one would ever talk to me. They’re not going to tell you what they tell me. The helmet is pretty recognizable.”

“Just give me your information.”

Yes, give Pompey your information. You use the name Swan so they’ll think you’re
the
Swan.

“It’s spotty, at best. I’m trying to piece it together. From what I’ve gathered, Siegfried has this whole plan to have me and my betrothed poisoned at the wedding feast. Reliable sources informed me that he’s been asking questions about fast-acting poisons. He always does have another plan in case the first one doesn’t work. The knife-fetishists are obviously the first plan. Since that hasn’t worked yet, all he has to do is poison the drink, and I’ll be done for. There has been some talk of him stealing large amounts of wine for some sort of festival. My wedding coincides with a quarter moon, which probably means some sort of Druid celebration. Aren’t they always doing something with moon phases? I think he’s going to let the Druids sacrifice me and Etainen to whatever gods the Druids worship. I think it’s a fish one, because I heard something about large quantities of cod aboard the
River Queen.
”