She was not fooled in the slightest, sayingflatly, “You think I will slow you down, that is your concern.”
Of course she was correct, but onlypartially so, which was why I assured her, “You’re right, butthat’s only partly it, Bronwen. I…I’d be worried about you everymoment, and I don’t want anything to happen to you. I couldn’t livewith myself if I not only lose my family’s villa, but I lostyou.”
Suddenly, Alex began looking everywhere butat us, and for a moment, I thought he was seriously consideringdiving through the cabin window and taking his chances in thewater.
This wrought a change in Bronwen, herexpression softening, and she suddenly became shy, but while shewas gentle, she was no less insistent, “I feel the same way,Gnaeus.” Taking a breath, she said, “The night of the feast, whenyou faced Berdic in the square, I have never been so frightened inmy life. And,” she admitted, “at first, I thought my concern wasonly that I be free from Berdic. But that was not the truth, notthe real truth.” Her green eyes suddenly began shining, making themlook even more like sparkling emeralds, but her voice was strongand there was no hesitation as she declared, “I will not slow youdown, and I will not leave your side, Gnaeus Pullus.” Before Icould say anything, her face transformed yet again, and I saw theworry there. “If that is what you wish.”
“More than anything.”
The words were out before I had a consciousthought to form them, and now when we speak of it, this is themoment that Bronwen and I say our love began. And Alex still wishesthat he had been anywhere but in this cabin.
Naturally, this pleased her, and we bothbegan laughing as she came into my arms, saying as she did so,“Besides, I have always wanted to see Alexandria. I have heard somuch about it.”
When we docked at Gesoriacum, we wereprepared to disembark immediately, leaving the Salacia and Squillus behind, the master gloatingover the small stack of gold coins in his hand. Marcellus and hismen were with us, but I had yet to decide whether to ask Marcellusto accompany us. More accurately, while I intended to approachMarcellus, I was still unsure about the other three. Hemina was mysecond choice, but Celer and Trio had not impressed me as much.They had been reliable to this point, although they had not hadmuch to do other than sit with the ransom, but whatever faced us inAlexandria was likely to be a different matter entirely. Alex ledus directly to the same stable from which he had hired his animalsto get to Arelate, so that within two parts of a watch afterdocking we were riding out of Gesoriacum. It was not much longerafter that when I learned that Alex had not given up on the idea ofgoing to Arelate, but this time, I heard him out.
“I put Septimus on the job of findingout as much about Aviola the Elder from his son as he could,” heargued. “And while it hasn’t been that long, we should at leastfind out if he’s turned up anything.”
It was, I acknowledged to myself, a validpoint, yet I still was not ready to change my mind.
“I just don’t think I can face them,Alex,” I put it as plainly as I could. “I’m the cause of all ofthis, and…”
“Oh, Juno’s cunnus,” he snapped, cutting me off. “Would youstop wallowing in your self-pity? It’s making me nauseous hearingyou feel sorry for yourself!” If he had slapped me across the face,I could not have been more shocked, but he was not done. “Gnaeus,none of this is truly your fault. That storm wasn’t your fault;being blown off course so badly wasn’t your fault. The damagewasn’t your fault, and if you hadn’t kept the men under control, wewould have ended up feeding the fish and monsters. And,” hefinished emphatically, “the fact that you think your family blamesyou for being taken hostage is an insult to them!”
It was a lot to take in, and I did not replyfor a long span of time, choosing to stare between the ears of thehorse I had selected. I have no idea how much distance we coveredbefore I finally said, “I don’t think you’ve ever talked to me likethat.”
Whether it was the words or the rueful tone,it caused Alex to burst out laughing, but he replied, “I never hadto before this.”
“We can’t stay long,” I said, my onlyacknowledgement that he had convinced me.
“We won’t,” he promised. Then hegrinned at me and said, “Besides, don’t tell me that you don’t likethe thought of showing what you brought back fromBritannia.”
“It might have crossed my mind,” I said, then ourlaughter prompted Bronwen, who had been riding behind us next toMarcellus, to ask us what we found so humorous.
Another thing that Alex had suggested thatwe do to speed up our journey was to use Saloninus’ order, since ithad worked for him both times.
“But won’t the same men be working atthe stations?” I asked, not convinced this would work, but asusual, he had thought about this, answering by holding up his coinpurse, which was now full of aurei, shaking it as he grinned atme.
“I think this might help themforget.”
And, as he usually is, Alex wascorrect. Starting with the first station, the only problem we hadwas that some of the attendants were a bit greedier than others,but that was quickly remedied by me behaving like a Pilus Prior whodid not like being questioned. Bronwen was good to her word; wenever had to stop because of her, and in fact, I often got thesense that she was more impatient than I was to make progress. Theweather was more of a challenge than the attendants; it beganraining on the third day, and while Bronwen had a traveling cloak,I made her wear my fur-lined sagum, which made for something of a humoroussight since it was difficult to see her, swallowed up by it
