Thankfully, we had just turned the corner sothat Bronwen was no longer in sight, and I answered, “Yes.”
Even better, for whatever reason, Alex didnot press the matter, and before too long, he spotted the walls ofthe camp.
“They didn’t tear it down. Any ideawhy?”
I told him that I had not been able todetermine a reason for it, and that I had wondered the same thing,offering my guess that Cogidubnus wanted to show it off for somepurpose only he knew.
“Or,” Alex offered, “maybe he intendsto use it for something.”
This was when I told him of what hadhappened in Petuar, of the attack by the Brigantes, and while I didnot speak much of my role, Alex was not fooled.
“That’s why the people were treatingyou the way they were when we showed up,” he said. I did not agree,or disagree, simply offering a shrug, but I should have knownbetter than to think he would be satisfied with this. “So thatmeans,” his tone sounded accusatory, “you must have done somethingstupid.”
“Why do you think that?” I protested,but my heart was not much in it.
“Because I know you,” he shot back.“No doubt you were rushing about, getting stuck in wherever you sawa chance.”
This, of course, was exactly what I haddone, but I still felt compelled to point out, “Only because theyasked me to!”
Which was not true, naturally, but I did notfeel the need until just this moment to let Alex know that.
“Well,” he sniffed, “either way, youclearly did something noteworthy.” Nothing was said for a span,then out of the corner of my eye, I saw Alex start to frown, and itis an expression that I know all too well, the sign that he isthinking through something, and I began counting silently; I madeit to eight when he turned and asked me, “Did you save Ivomagus’life or something like that? Is that why you said things havechanged?”
There is never any point trying to denyAlex’s conclusion, and I did not try then.
“Yes, that’s what happened, and yes,that’s why things have changed.”
“Wait.” Alex actually drew his horseup, I assumed because we were within sight of the hall, and when Ifollowed suit, both Gorteryn and Lugotorix looked concerned, butneither they nor the rest of my guards stopped immediately. When Ilooked at Alex, I saw with a sinking sensation that he had putthings together. “You not only help save this cachole of a town, but you saved the king’sbrother’s life…and he’s still making you pay theransom?”
“Yes.” I said this through grittedteeth because, while I had accepted it, it still enragedme.
“That cunnus…that mentula…that…son of a whore!” Alex said withsuch feeling that it not only made me feel better, it made melaugh.
“He’s all of those things,” I agreed.Then, kicking my horse, we resumed moving as I said, “But there’sjust one more night with that bastard, then we’ll never have to seethis fucking place again.”
That, at least, was my hope, but consideringwhat I had planned, I would not know until it happened.
Alex watched with some amusement at what wasmy bathing ritual, particularly when the slave, an Iceni male slaveof about fifty with no teeth, produced the homemade strigil andindifferently lathered my body with oil that was, frankly, close torancid.
“I suppose you’re cleaner,” was all he said. “Andas long as you think you are, that’s what matters.”
“Oh, go piss on your boots,” whichbrought a chuckle from both of us because it had been weeks since Ihad been able to use this epithet with anyone who understoodit.
While the slave worked on me, Alex hadbeen polishing the phalarae,arm ring, and the torq that I had never worn before and will neverwear again, at least in uniform. I enjoyed pulling on a freshtunic; while I appreciated Bronwen’s attention, it had been sometime since the tunic I had been wearing had been washed. She alsohad been telling the truth about her skill with a needle, and hersewing job had come apart less than a week later, although I had nointention of bringing that up with her. I wondered if she would bepresent; I assumed she would be, and I had mixed feelings aboutthat. Ivomagus had prevailed on Cogidubnus to do one thing that Iappreciated a great deal, and that was to convince his brother todelay the actual wedding between Berdic and Bronwen, although whenhe informed me about it, he had stressed that it had nothing to dowith my feelings and everything to do with tribal politics.Frankly, I did not care; that she was only betrothed and notmarried was what mattered to me. As the sun began to go down, andthe air once more was filled with the smells of cooking meat, mystomach seemed to be having trouble making up its mind whether itwanted to throw up or if it was starving. Once the slave was gone,we did not talk much as Alex helped me don my hamata, then carefully fixed thephalarae, which bear the likeness ofDivus Augustus, although I had heard the previous winter that newones were being struck with the likeness of Tiberius. I certainlydo not know the Imperator personally, nor have I ever laid eyes onhim, but while what I do know about him comes secondhand, thatsource is my father, who worked for Tiberius, and when I heardthis, I commented that it did not sound like something he woulddo.
Tiberius is many things; vain is not one ofthem, but I was assured by the person who told me, who I will notname, “It wasn’t his idea. That came from Sejanus.”
That day, it was nothing more than apassing thought, and I was more concerned with not smudgingthe phalarae as I attachedthem to my harness. Then I bent down so that Alex could fasten thetorq around my neck, and it felt quite awkward at first since I wasnot accustomed to having such a heavy weight pressing on my chest.Finally, he handed me the vitus, and I felt a smile split my face as Itook it, then, stepping back, took a couple of swipes with it
