“She is one of the most beautifulwomen I’ve ever seen,” Alex commented, and I could only nod myhead, unable as always to take my eyes off her. I saw him turntowards me, but I was completely unprepared to hear him say, “And,Gnaeus. She didn’t leave just because she didn’t want to beCogidubnus’ mistress or second wife.”
This surprised me, and I asked, “How do youknow that?”
“Because,” he grinned, “I askedher.”
Then, before I could respond one wayor another, he hopped to his feet, still with a cac-eating grin and, with obscene haste, hurrieddown the ladder to the main deck to help Bronwen at the oppositeend of the ship. It was actually amusing watching the four formerLegionaries Alex had hired falling over themselves to bow toBronwen as she walked towards me on Alex’s arm, and she favoredeach of them with a smile that, while it made me feel warm insideevery time I saw it, also ignited a stab of jealousy. I was notworried about any of the four…much, and I was not concerned withAlex at all, but that is because I know Algaia; he would be geldedto make sure he never strayed again. As far as the four, in whatlittle time I had spent with them, I was certain Alex had done wellin his choosing, and I was already beginning to think about askingat least Marcellus to accompany us to Alexandria.
Bronwen came up the ladder as I stood, butbefore she reached me, she asked, “We are going back the way wecame. Why?”
It was not the words as much as the way shesaid them, with a trembling lower lip and shining eyes that Irealized how she might interpret this, but I was also curious, soinstead of answering directly, I asked, “How did you know we turnedaround?”
“Because,” she pointed at the sun, “Iknow the sun rises in the east and sets in the west. But do notchange the subject. Why?”
Now I could see her entire body was shaking,so I hurried to her, and holding both of her arms, I assured her,“Not to go back to Petuar, or to Parisii lands, Bronwen. I swearit.”
She exhaled a huge breath, dropping her headand placing it against my chest, making me feel horrible forworrying her, and wonderful because she sought me to comfort her.However, the news for her was not all good, and I bracedmyself.
“Bronwen,” I began, “while we’re notgoing to Britannia, that doesn’t mean that we’re going back toUbiorum. I…”
She looked up at me sharply; as I was aboutto learn, the daughter of Praesutagas the Parisii merchant does notlike it when she is viewed as a simple girl, even if that was notmy intent.
“Since we are headed south,” she saidtartly, “I assumed we are not going to your home in Germania. So,”her green eyes seemed to darken in color when she looked at medirectly, “what are we doing?”
“Wait,” I protested.“We aren’t doing anything. Imean, necessarily.”
I felt her body stiffen and she pulledherself out of my arms, crossing her own as she glared up atme.
“Go on,” she said coldly. “Tell mewhat you are doing that does not include me?”
I looked over at Alex, but while I could notblame him as he gave me a shake of his head in a clear signal I wason my own, I still wanted to hit him.
More to stall than for any other reason, Iindicated the deck, saying, “Let’s sit down. This may take awhile.”
She obeyed readily enough, gathering thefolds of her gown, which was not the green one, but was brown incolor that, I would learn, was her traveling attire. When Alexturned to go, I told him to stay.
“I know you already know, but I thinkwe need to talk it through,” I explained.
Once he was settled, I told Bronweneverything, and I mean everything, starting with how I came intobeing, the natural son of Titus Porcinianus Pullus, and why I hadnot known this until recently.
Only once did she interrupt, to ask, “So thegiant Roman Mandubracius spoke of last night. He was your…”
“He was my great-grandfather,” Iexplained, “but because he adopted my grandfather, myreal grandfather, who was actuallyhis sister’s son.”
“So your grandfather was really hisnephew.” She frowned, and I could tell by her demeanor that she wastrying to untangle how Romans treat adoption, so I diverged a bitto explain how we view it, and how once a Roman is adopted, he isinstantly considered a member of his adoptive family, without anyqualification. Then she said something that, while it was thefirst, was far from the last comment that taught me how perceptiveshe is.
“It must be easier in a case likeyours, when you are the same size and strength as your father, andyour great-grandfather.”
Frankly, I had never thought about it inthis light, but she was right; just by virtue of that commonality,nobody who does not know about my grandfather being an adoptednephew would ever guess.
Seeing that she understood, I continued, butwhen I reached the point where I had to talk about the death of myfather, I could not do so; without being asked, Alex took up thestory, although he was affected as well, while I stared at the deckas he talked. I glanced up and saw Bronwen’s cheeks wet with tears,looking at me with such tenderness and sympathy that it actuallymade the pain more exquisite because it reminded me of my motherwhen I had informed her of his death. Then Alex got to the yearbefore and our trip to Arelate to bring my father’s ashes him, andit was his turn to become emotional, which was understandablebecause so much of the strife
