As time passed, the greater the doubt andthe more pressing the need to at least give her an opportunity toexplain herself. The question then was, how could I do it? Gorterynhad proven that he had been warned about allowing me to get closeto Bronwen, but I had assumed that it was because of Ivomagus’ fearthat I would hurt her. What if that was not the reason? Thisthought came to me in the middle of the night before the thirdmarket day after my capture, bringing me bolt upright on the palletthat is the Parisii version of a bed. What if, I wondered, Ivomagusdid not want me to talk to her because I might learn the truth? Idid not go back to sleep that night, but when morning came, I triedto behave in what had become my normal fashion, consuming enoughfood that caused anyone who happened to be around me to shake theirheads and whisper to each other.
On this day, while one of the guards wasnew—his name Lugotorix—the other guard was Cunovindus, the firsttime there was a repetition in the men guarding me, so I suppose itwas natural that I greeted him a bit more warmly. Which, I waspleased to see, he seemed inclined to reciprocate, giving me asmile that was missing a tooth right where the bald patch in hismustache was located. Regardless of this moment of amity, he stilltook the reins, but I just rolled my eyes, having accepted thisindignity, which prompted a chuckle. The other man, Lugotorix, wasa dour youth whose facial hair was still sparse, and at first, Ithought he might view this duty as beneath him, but I would learnthat this was just his nature. Just a day or two into my captivity,I began trying to pick up words in the Parisii tongue, but itquickly became obvious that Ivomagus had given instructions thatthe guards were not to participate. Still, I always persisted, andwhat I learned was that, when I pointed to a seeminglyinconsequential thing, like a cow for example, all but two of theguards had seen anything suspicious in telling me. This was how Ipassed the time, pointing to a bird flying overhead, or at a tree,and this day, it was Cunovindus who provided the answers with agrin and occasional shake of his head, presumably at the similaritybetween teaching this huge Roman next to him and his children.
For whatever reason, this market day wasexceptionally crowded, which I decided then and there to use to myadvantage since I was determined to speak to Bronwen. I began bywandering along the row of merchants who could not afford a stalland had their wares spread out on blankets, pretending to beinterested in whatever they were offering. My purse had been taken,so I could not have bought anything if I wanted to, but I could seethat, after a few moments, both Cunovindus and Lugotorix had becomemore relaxed. It was when a woman, who I would learn later wasCunovindus’ sister, called his name and they began engaging in aconversation that I saw my chance, aided by the fact that at thismoment, Lugotorix was ogling a girl who had to be no more thanthirteen. I moved quickly, but not so much so that it would attractattention. Then I found myself standing in more or less theidentical spot the day I saw the necklace. She was involved with acustomer, a portly man who was arguing with her about a ring thathe was holding in his palm. I believe this was the moment Irealized something, and I took a careful look around to determinethat Praesutagas was nowhere in sight. Nor, I recalled, had he beenanywhere around the first two times either, although I assumed hemust have been traveling again.
This was why, when, after accepting smallstack of coins from the portly man that she carefully tucked into asmall sack suspended from the belt around her waist as she turnedaround to face me, I blurted out, “Where is your father?”
I doubt I would have had as much of aneffect if I had slapped her, and her face, which had been prettilyflushed as she dealt with the portly man, drained of all color. Sheactually staggered back, and without thinking, I reached out andtook her arm, not hard, but my eyes never left her face, and I sawthe truth there. “What did Cogidubnus do, Bronwen? Did he hurt yourfather? Or threaten him?”
“I…I…cannot talk to you, Centurion.”She finally found her voice, and her eyes began glittering, makingthe green in them look like a pair of sparkling emeralds. “KingCogidubnus was very clear.”
“All right,” I agreed, but more to puther at ease than from any real humor, I grinned at her as I said,“I’ll do the talking. All you need to do is nod or shake your head,all right?” She still was hesitant, but she gave me a barelyperceptible nod, and I asked her, “Was I right? That the king usedyour father to get you to do what he wanted you to do?” A nod. “Isyour father all right?” This elicited two responses; a shrug and anonrush of fresh tears, and I just barely stopped myself fromreaching out to brush them from her cheek. Forcing myself toconcentrate on the subject, I went on, “Is your father being heldsomewhere else?” She nodded, and I guessed, “He was taken alongwith the rest of the king’s party when he went back toDanum.”
“Yes,” she surprised me by answering,although
