Celtic Maid (Roman Love ~ Pict Desire Series Book 2) (26 page)

“I expect great things from you.” Theodosius sipped his wine and placed the goblet on the table beside him. “My son and I shall leave for Rome in a fortnight. Go now, and make haste to quell the rebellion in the north.”

“Yes, my lord.”

“I shall dispatch a missive to Titus with my decision directly.”

Chapter Nineteen

Titus sat at his table the
principia
and reviewed the daily missives from each
decanus
who supervised the milecastles along the wall. He cast one aside and picked up the next, trying to focus. Ever present in his mind was the tempting prospect of returning to his chamber. Elspeth would be waiting for him. He pictured her lying naked atop the bedclothes.

Young and lithe, she had quickly recovered from her wounds. During her convalescence, he hadn’t heard her utter a word of complaint, at least not about her wound. She was rather displeased at Titus’s orders for her confinement, but they had found pleasure in the intimacy it provided. And they’d discovered so many ways to maneuver around her injury. Titus had never experienced a relationship so arousing. Now that Elspeth had discovered passion, she threw herself into it like the tigress she was.

Titus clenched his fist and ground it into the table. He had work to do. Such daydreaming was deplorable for a senior officer.

He read the dreary report from Artorius. It detailed the change of guard and suspicious activities, which seemed contrived. Now that Josias had been killed, peace at last had settled and the legion would be able to complete the rebuilding effort.

Outside, heavy footsteps clamored up the
principia
steps. Titus looked up, hoping it was Bacchus. A fortnight had passed and he’d expected his
optio
to return with word from Theodosius three or four days ago. Perhaps Theodosius had retained him as a witness.

A legionary stood in the open doorway. “A missive from York, sir.”

“Come.” Titus waved him in and reached for the scroll. The soldier waited while Titus ran his thumb under the count’s seal and read. His mouth went dry, and bile churned in his gut.

“Shall I take back a reply, sir?”

“No.” Titus ran a hand over his mouth. “Help yourself to provisions and return to York.”

“My thanks.” The legionary bowed his head and turned.

“Have you word of my
optio
, Bacchus?”

He stopped. “No, sir.”

“Did you not see him when he delivered my missive to Theodosius?”

“Apologies, sir. I saw no one from the Twenty-second Legion.”

Titus nodded and the solider took his leave. His hands shook as they crumpled the parchment. Dulcitius had been named
Dux Britanniarum
, and Bacchus had not been seen in York?
Surely the count would not have made this decision had he known the truth
.

Titus opened the scroll and checked the date on the missive. He had only four days to reach Theodosius before the count sailed for Rome.
If I leave now, there may be enough time.
But this smells like another deception. Where is Bacchus?

Titus was no fool. This time he would ride south with a century ready to fight. If Dulcitius wanted war, he would have it. Titus roared for Alerio, the smart boy who had matched him in the game of Calculi.

The lad marched into the war room. “Yes, sir?”

“I appoint you
optio
until Bacchus is found. Sound the trumpet. The century will ride in the hour.”

Titus headed to his quarters and found Elspeth by the hearth, wearing her blue Pict gown. “I must ride to York. It appears Bacchus has fallen into evil hands, and Theodosius has appointed Dulcitius Dux.”

“Ye’re serious?” Elspeth sprang to her feet. “I cannot believe Dulcitius slips beneath the count’s nose with his trickeries. Tell me, what can we do to stop him?”

“
I am
leaving for York immediately. This time with a full century in tow. I dare Dulcitius to attack us and leave no witnesses.” He grasped her shoulders and kissed her forehead. “I must away. I heard word Greum continues to scout for us in the west. Go to him.”

Elspeth pulled back. “Ye must be tipsy with wine if ye think I’m letting yer sorry arse head south without me.”

“Elspeth. ’Tis dangerous.”

“Aye, and chasing Josias is not?”

“I cannot allow—”

“Ye want me to follow again?” She slapped her hands to her hips. “’Cause I will.”

He shook his finger. “Do not provoke me. There is no time for me to notify your brother.”

“Then ’tis settled. I shall ride with ye.” Elspeth dashed across the room and grabbed her trousers. “I can wear me costume with the hood.”

Titus clenched his fists. “I would prefer it if you stayed behind where it is safe. You are not trained with a sword.”

She yanked up the breeches. “Aye, but no one is better with a bow. If we are attacked, I’ll climb the nearest tree and kill them all.”

With a groan, Titus threw up his hands. “You will ride at the rear of the company. If anyone with the slightest air of suspicion approaches, I want you out of sight.” He marched toward her and was met with the blue dress in his face. He threw it to the floor. “Do you understand?”

“Aye.” She grinned at him with those damned dimples. “And I’ll carry two quivers of arrows if I’ll be needing to cover a whole century of men.”

Titus rolled his eyes to the ceiling. How could a woman be so fearless in the face of battle? He’d seen many men who could not match her courage. He had to give her that. He watched her pull the linen shirt over her head. She had done a good job washing out the bloodstains and mending it. “We need to march quickly. There will be little time for rest.”

“I’ll saddle Tessie and meet ye in the courtyard then?”

“Very well.”

As instructed, Alerio had the contingent assembled in the courtyard. Elspeth led Tessie out of the stables with her hood over her head, looking like a scrawny peasant. Alerio trotted his horse beside Titus. “That vagabond looks like he plans to travel with us.”

“I have asked him to come. He is witness to Josias’s confession. We must watch out for his safety.”

Alerio nodded. “I shall inform the men, sir.”

****

Elspeth was content to have the men ignore her. To them she was second class, a local ignoramus who meant nothing. The fact that Titus had ignored her since they left Vindolanda was yet another thing. For the past three days, they had been riding hard and steady, only stopping for a few hours of sleep well past dark each night and rising before dawn. Titus had ordered no cooking fire. They’d shoved down handfuls of sweet oats and dried meat when they could.

Though she loved to ride, trotting behind a company of legionaries for days did nothing to provide amusement. Occasionally the laddie Alerio would double back. Though they were probably close in age, Alerio seemed younger with his freckled skin and boyish grin. He tried to project an air of importance, posing as the
optio
. The men listened to him well enough—probably because they knew they’d meet with the wrath of Titus if they challenged the lad.

Bored with carrying up the rear, she considered what her wedding might be like—if Greum didn’t end up killing Titus when he asked for her hand. A giggle slid past her lips. She glanced up to ensure no one heard the gaffe from her high-pitched voice, but she’d fallen far enough back that she hadn’t drawn attention.

It seemed a peaceful day with a light breeze, but suddenly, for no apparent reason, her hackles stood on end. Her gaze darted across the open lea and then up the hill on their flank. She saw nothing—but still uneasiness gripped her like a vise. Then a legionary slumped forward over his pommel, and his horse skittered sideways into the mount beside him. With two sharp breaths, Elspeth’s gaze again darted up the hill. But she heard it first.

“Attack!” The legionary beside the dead soldier raised the alarm.

Elspeth spun Tessie in place. At least a hundred mounted men lined the hill.

Help
.

Without a tree in sight, Elspeth snatched her bow from her shoulder. She spurred Tessie to a gallop. The horse’s rump dipped as the mare skidded to a stop beside Titus. “No trees!” She tried to keep her voice deep, but it came out too high.

Bellowing their battle cry, legionaries cantered their horses, barreling down the steep incline with swords drawn. Above, archers moved into formation atop the crest of the hill.

Titus looked at her with eyes ready to kill, his face as hard as stone. Thinking his anger pointed at her, she could scarcely breathe until he pointed to an outcropping of rocks behind them. “Ride like the wind and do not look back.”

Elspeth slammed her heels against Tessie’s barrel and galloped hard. The sounds of battle rose behind her, but she spurred her mare forward. She pulled Tessie to a stop at the rocks and dismounted while drawing an arrow from her quiver. A dust cloud billowed around the battle and Elspeth struggled to discern who was who with everyone dressed the same. She spied the sideways horsehair crest on Titus’s helmet. He fought two men at once, and she trained her arrow and held her breath, waiting for a shot.

Anyone who touches him will feel me arrow in his back.

When Titus spun, she found a clear line of sight to his opponent. She let an arrow fly and then another. She did not miss Titus’s quick glance before he resumed the fight. With no clear shot, she focused on the wave of foot soldiers now charging down the hill.

Did Dulcitius dispatch an entire legion?

Elspeth fired arrow after arrow until both quivers were empty. She pulled her dirk from her belt and watched as the battle progressed. She could not shift her gaze from Titus. He fought like a wild boar, roaring and hacking men down, but the sea of attacking Romans seemed endless. Petronius reared. Titus thudded to the ground. Elspeth stood, dirk ready. Titus lay on back, making not a move.

Her blood coursed like ice under her skin. If only she could run to him now.

He told me to stay. Besides, I’ll be no good to him dead.

Forcing herself not to run, Elspeth crouched behind the rock. With Titus down, no one paid him a mind. The battle wound down, and the survivors raced back over the hill, leaving Titus’s men bleeding and dead in the open lea.

Elspeth crept out from behind her hiding place and ran to Titus’s motionless body. She fell to her knees with tears blurring her vision. Blood soaked the earth under his left hip, and she lifted his tunic to find a gaping gash. She ripped off her shirt and shoved the cloth into the wound and pressed hard while she leaned forward and listened for his breathing. When a soft exhale moistened her cheek, Elspeth’s heart leapt. “Titus. Ye must wake.”

Alerio crawled beside her and collapsed. She glanced at the lad, his helmet looking dented by a ball from a flail.

Elspeth pushed harder against the rag. “Alerio, remove your helmet.”

The lad rolled onto his back and tugged the helmet off. A knot forming on his forehead was turning purple.

“Ye must stay awake. The centurion is still alive, but he’s been skewered. I must stop the bleeding, for his breathing is faint.”

Alerio lay back and watched her. With bare shoulders, the only thing shielding her breasts from his view was the binding that had hid them under her shirt.

“You are a woman,” he said, his voice faint.

Elspeth glanced at him with a nod. “Aye, and a Pict. Titus thought it better if I traveled as a man.”

“Are you the woman who escaped the gaol?”

She maintained the pressure but turned to face him. “I proved me innocence to his lordship, but ye best not speak of it. If ye can sit up, find me another shirt and bandages so we can take him back to Vindolanda.”

Alerio sat up, but held his head. “The world is spinning.”

“Quickly. We cannot tarry long.”

Once he was moving, Alerio gathered the things Elspeth requested. She peered under her makeshift bandage. Thank the stars, the bleeding had slowed. “Now fetch his horse—and yers.”

“Mine…is…dead.” By his slow speech, the lad seemed stunned.

Elspeth surveyed the site. Tessie grazed beside Petronius and another gelding. “There’s three horses over yonder. Ye can ride the gelding. Now hurry.”

Alerio moved slowly, but he readied the horses while Elspeth bound Titus’s wound. She slipped the orange tunic over her head, scrunching her nose at the pall of a sweaty man. “We’ll put the centurion on me mare, but I’ll need yer help.”

Elspeth reached for Tessie’s rein and raised her hand above the horse’s head. She stared into the Tessie’s eye and pulled down on the bridle while lowering her hand. Her gaze remained unblinking while the horse lay down. “Roll him over the horse.”

Grunting, Alerio strained to shove Titus onto the horse. The big centurion was askew, but at least he was on.

“Now hold him in place while Tessie stands.” Elspeth prayed her mare’s movement would be smooth. Hopefully they would not start the horrible wound bleeding again. The mare tucked her hooves under her body and stood. Titus slid aside, but Alerio stayed with him, red in the face.

“Ye did well.” Elspeth worked to tie Titus on, resting his torso forward against the horse’s neck with his legs either side. She stooped over a dead archer and removed his quiver of arrows.

Alerio stared.

She flicked her wrist at him. “Find food and more bandages, then we’ll ride.” They would not be able to go far, but she could get them away from the carnage.

****

Riding Petronius, Elspeth led them north to the forest that lay between York and Vindolanda and ensured they traveled deep into the woods. She pulled Tessie alongside her and frequently glanced at Titus. She could see the chainmail on his back heave with shallow breaths. Each time it went up, a relieved whistle passed her lips.

Alerio rode behind them without saying a word. Elspeth had turned to check him a few times and imagined his head was sore. “Have ye been in many battles?”

“Yes…well, the campaign to reclaim Britannia was my first.”