"Yes, Gaius Augustus. I remember the woman I worked for calling him that on the day you and Hugh fought in the arena."

  By this time the soldiers were almost upon them. Dafydd stepped forward.

  "Hail."

  For several agonizing seconds an uncomfortable silence hung in the damp air. Finally, the man at the head of the column spoke.

  "Are you lost my friend?" He asked, running his eyes over Megan.

  Dafydd smiled. "We were en-route to Canovium with a special delivery and got waylaid by some locals."

  The man's eyes narrowed as he leaned on his spear. "Long way to be traveling, just the two of you and a girl."

  Dafydd spoke quietly. "We're on a special mission for the legate of Deva's right-hand man, Gaius Augustus."

  "Never heard of him."

  The man turned. "Any of you lot heard of an important man at Deva that goes by the name of Gaius Augustus?"

  The silence was deafening. Megan wondered if they’d managed to jump out of the frying pan only to end up in a Roman fire? Then a short, stocky man at the back raised his hand.

  "Tall fella, scar across his cheek?"

  Dafydd nodded.

  "I saw him at the fort of Segontium a few weeks ago. He seemed to be a man of significance."

  The lead man's face softened.

  "And where is the package you are delivering?"

  "As I said, it got waylaid by some locals; in a village a ways back." Dafydd pointed in the general direction they had walked.

  The man pondered Dafydd's words for a moment. "How many men of fighting age are there?"

  Dafydd shrugged. "A dozen at most."

  The man turned to the rest of the troops. "Right you lot, we're going to make a brief detour to retrieve some stolen property. It shouldn't take long."

  Dafydd led them off and Megan fell into step with him.

  "That was clever," she hissed.

  "You and Hugh were complaining we'd left her behind; this way she comes with us."

  "What do you think will happen when we get to the village?"

  "If Gronw has any sense he'll hand her over."

  "And if he doesn't?"

  "Well, remember it was you who wanted her back come what may."

  "What do you mean?"

  "It might get unpleasant; our Roman friends are ruthless bastards."

  Ω

  The group halted some two hundred yards from the village.

  The lead Roman soldier, whose name they'd learned was Vibius, turned to Dafydd. "So, how big is this package we are to retrieve?"

  Dafydd placed his hand flat just beneath his chin. "Just over five pedes."

  "It is a child?" Vibius asked.

  Dafydd shook his head. "A girl."

  This was the moment of truth, but Vibius took it in his stride. "Well, if this Gaius Augustus is as important as you say, who am I to question his reasons."

  He turned. "Right, you lot, form up."

  With Dafydd, Hugh and Vibius at their head, the remaining Roman soldiers picked up their spears and shields and arranged themselves into three rows. Megan lingered at the back.

  It was the same man at the gate as the previous day, and his eyes almost popped out on stalks when he saw the group approaching.

  He disappeared into the village, and by the time he’d re-emerged, Dafydd was only five yards from the gate.

  "What do you want?" He asked, struggling to keep his voice even. "I have summoned Gronw."

  Dafydd remained silent as the gatekeeper's eyes scanned the group.

  Two minutes later Gronw appeared. If he was shocked to see his erstwhile guests with a group of Roman soldiers in tow, he hid it well.

  Dafydd stepped forward and placed his right hand on the pommel of his sword. "I believe your daughter would prefer to accompany us on our journey. It's probably for the best if you get someone to fetch her."

  "And if I don't?"

  Dafydd half-turned to his left, his arm outstretched, indicating the men behind him. "Then we'll take her by force."

  Gronw snorted his defiance, but the look on his face mirrored the one on the guard next to him. He glanced over his shoulder. Without warning, he shoved his man towards Dafydd and bolted for the gate.

  "Servius," Vibius yelled. One of the soldiers stepped forward and launched his spear at Gronw.

  Abria's father had one hand on the gate when the projectile lodged in his back. He slumped to his knees.

  Vibius drew his sword. "Forward." Without another word he thrust the short, broad blade into the gatekeeper's chest.

  With eight Roman soldiers moving forward in unison toward the open gate, the realization of what Dafydd had said hit home for Megan. This had the potential to get badly out of hand.

  Dafydd seemed to sense it to; he rushed forward to catch up to Vibius. By the time Megan reached the gate, the Roman soldiers were already deep into the village. She heard a guttural cry, followed by a scream of pain, then another.

  Out of the corner of her eye she saw a young boy, maybe ten or eleven. He had emerged from a hut carrying a small axe — he probably used it for splitting wood.

  Megan caught his eye. "Don't do it, please," she hissed, vehemently shaking her head.

  His village was under attack and he wanted to help; Megan could understood that. Perhaps the lifeless body on the floor was his father, but his actions would surely end only one way.

  The boy let out a roar and raced towards the nearest Roman soldier, axe held over his head. The soldier span around, and the axe thudded against the big shield he carried. Megan saw a flash of metal as he rammed his sword into the young boy's throat.

  Megan fell to her knees and retched. For several seconds she remained there. The crackle of flames caused her to lift her head; someone must have torched a hut. Come on Megan get up, you have to try and stop this.

  Jumping to her feet, she set off toward the chief's hut at a sprint. All around her chaos reigned; bodies lay strewn on either side of the path. A young woman knelt next to one, tears streaming down her cheeks. Megan ran on.

  To her left, another hut burned while up ahead the soldiers had halted. Standing in front of Gronw's hut, Abria's mother stood with her arms wrapped around her daughter.

  Megan held out her hand. "We came back for you." She still wasn't sure how much of her Welsh translated into the local language, but thought she detected the merest glimmer of a smile on Abria's lips.

  "Dafydd, I'm not sure how much she understands; tell her that we've come back to take her with us, and I never meant for all this to happen," Megan said.

  Dafydd gave her an incredulous look and shook his head. He had warned her, but Megan, in her naivety had thought it would all be fine. Not for the first time since Tanya had pushed her off the wall of Flint Castle, she had to remind herself this was ancient life in all its gory, unpredictable detail, not a Hollywood movie or some sort of video game.

  Dafydd relayed the words, and if looks could kill, Briana's face suggested they should be calling up a priest to administer the last rites for Megan, who held out her hand again.

  Abria wriggled in an attempt free herself, but Briana pulled out a knife and held it against her daughter's throat. Megan wondered if this was where Abria had picked up her little party piece.

  Briana screamed. "Get out of my village or I will kill her."

  CHAPTER 23 - Aftermath

  Vibius glanced at Dafydd, who in turn looked at Megan. She didn't want to leave without Abria, but if her mother carried out the threat — and the look on her face suggested she might well do it, then all the people in the village would have died for nothing.

  For several seconds the standoff continued; the look in Briana's eyes was steely, manic almost. The small group had been joined by what was left of the village. A stunned silence reflected the surreal scene confronting everyone.

  The moment was broken by Vibius, who strode over to the nearest villager — a woman holding the hand of a small child. He grabbed her and yanked her toward him. Unprepared for the violence of the tug, the child let go of his mother's hand and started crying.

  "Tell the bitch to let go of the girl, or I will kill this woman, followed by her child. Then my men will slaughter the rest and she will have no village left." His statement was directed at Dafydd, the designated interpreter of the group. To emphasize his words, Vibius held the tip of his sword to the woman's throat.

  Dafydd relayed the message, but Briana's face remained resolute, then the small child ran toward her mother and Vibius kicked him in the head. The child went sprawling into the dirt.

  Briana's expression changed, and she loosened her grip. Abria wriggled free and made a beeline for Megan, almost knocking her off her feet with a hug.

  Vibius nodded toward Briana. "Statius, take care of her."

  The soldier drew his sword and marched over; she still held the knife in her hand, but it looked feeble compared to the gladius he carried.

  "No," Megan yelled. All eyes fell on her. "Hasn't there been enough killing for one day?" she yelled. The outburst had been involuntary, probably driven by guilt. The Romans of course had no idea what she was saying. The locals maybe understood a word or two; but it was Hugh — Megan’s knight's squire in shining armor — who stepped forward. He stood between Briana and the soldier, hand on the pommel of his sword.

  Dafydd called over to Vibius. "We have what we came for."

  Once again silence descended like a blanket as Vibius pondered Dafydd's words. Megan had the feeling he would have been happy to destroy the village and slaughter all who remained, them included, except for Dafydd, he wasn't sure about Dafydd.

  The Romans seemed like an orderly lot, violent, but great respecters of rank. Deva was the Roman center for the whole of North Wales, and the legate was the boss man. If Vibius thought Dafydd was carrying out the orders of the legate's right-hand man, then he would not go against him. At least Megan hoped not.

  Vibius bobbed his head. "Statius, sheath your weapon; we are leaving."

  Abria grabbed Megan’s hand and they walked toward the gate; the Romans in front of them, Hugh and Dafydd bringing up the rear. Bodies were scattered on either side of the path and the remains of two huts smoldered. Abria must have known the men. Megan glanced across and noticed a tear forming in the corner of her eye. Megan squeezed her hand and mouthed, "I'm sorry." Just a meaningless platitude, and Megan wondered if she would ever be able to forgive herself for what had happened?

  Ω

  The soldier stood ramrod straight, in front of Osian. "No one reports a ship being stolen in the vicinity of the fortress, sir."

  Osian frowned.

  "However, according to Optio Castus, two guards at the lead smelting works were murdered and stripped. The remaining guards confirmed that two men and two girls escaped on a small rowboat. The men were dressed as legionaries."

  Osian pressed the fingers of his hands together in front of his face as he ran through the scenarios in his head.

  "If the boat was small, they wouldn’t want to risk the open seas," he muttered.

  "Sorry, sir?"

  Osian shook his head. "It doesn’t matter. What is the nearest settlement to the lead smelting works heading west or northwest? "

  The soldier thought for a moment. "That would be Sacerdium, sir."

  "Have my horse prepared and request the decurium pick two of his men to ride with me."

  The soldier nodded. "Right away, sir."

  "You have done well, decanus.?"

  "Thank you, sir."

  The soldier span on his heels and marched out of the room. Osian was putting all his eggs in one basket, hopefully his instincts would prove to be right.

  Ω

  Megan waited until Dafydd had finished talking with Vibius, then she quickened her pace to get in step with him. They were climbing a small hill with a steady drizzle angling into their faces.

  "How far did Vibius say we have left to travel?" she asked.

  "At least two more hours."

  Megan noticed a pensive look on Dafydd’s face.

  "Should I be concerned?" she asked.

  "By what?"

  "The look on your face suggests something is troubling you. That normally isn't a good thing for the rest of us."

  Dafydd smiled. "I am wondering what awaits us at the settlement."

  "It is Roman though?"

  He nodded.

  "We should be okay then?"

  The slightly pained expression reappeared.

  "Dafydd?"

  "It rather depends on the man in charge. I imagine he has had dealings with the legate at Deva, but I'm wondering if he has run into Osian."

  Megan chuckled. "Gaius Augustus you mean."

  Dafydd chortled. "Indeed; it wasn't that easy to convince Vibius of our credentials. This time we will be dealing with someone more senior. I am a little concerned that is all, but we should be fine."

  "What are you going to tell him Osian needs Abria for?"

  Dafydd laughed. "I haven't quite figured that out yet."

  "Sounds like you have about two hours to come up with something."

  Ω

  The light rain never transformed into a major downpour, but the persistent precipitation didn't leave any of them less soaked. They were walking along the crest of a hill, and in the distance, through the gloom Megan could make out white tipped waves on a dull gray sea. In the valley below, a rectangular wall ringed a collection of buildings. Much smaller than the settlement of Deva, she decided that it still stood out from the surrounding countryside like a Catholic Priest at a Bar Mitzvah.

  "Welcome to Sacerdium," Hugh said.

  Megan turned and smiled at the new arrival.

  He returned her smile. "At least that's where we are, according to my new friend Statius."

  "Wasn't he the one ordered to kill Abria's mother?" Megan asked.

  Hugh nodded. "He told me that he admired my courage, and we started talking. He's not so bad, just a solider trying to survive a posting in a foreign land. Like my father when he traveled to the Holy Land "

  "Was he on a Crusade?" Megan asked. Hugh had never really talked about his father. Then again, he had tried to kill him on the battlements of Flint Castle.

  He nodded. "As a young man; before he met my mother."

  Megan was curious about the Crusade, but Hugh didn't look like he wanted to talk about it.

  "I didn't get a chance to thank you for what you did back at the village," she said.

  He waved his arm. "It was nothing."

  "It was a lot more than that. The whole thing got out of control. I didn't mean for all those people to die. I just wanted to get Abria back."

  "You like her, don't you?"

  Megan nodded. "Sure, I do."

  "No; I mean you really like her."

  She laughed and punched him in the arm. "Don't be silly Hugh."

  Megan glanced over at the lady in question. Was he being silly or was there more to it? She was walking alone — as she had been since they'd left the village — head bent against the rain.

  Megan thought back to the time at the ludus when Abria had kissed her. But that had been necessary for them to get into the building, it didn't mean anything. It didn't mean Abria liked her in that way. Did it?

  Megan hooked her arm through Hugh's. "What else did Statius tell you about the town?"

  "That the main building has heating under the floors." Hugh's voice was laced with wonderment and disbelief. Although to be fair, that was impressive given how far back in time they'd traveled.

  "There are public baths too, with steaming hot water," he added.

  Megan glanced skyward and was rewarded with a rain drop in the eye. Besides a burrito bowl from Chipoltle, she couldn't imagine anything sounding better at that moment than a hot bath.

  CHAPTER 24 - Sacerdium

  The gates to the settlement swung open. The last time Megan had entered a Roman fort was at Deva, and within half an hour she'd lost Hugh. This time they had Dafydd with them a least, which eased her mind a little, but when the gates slammed shut a shiver still snaked down her spine.

  The first person she saw was a young woman wearing an ankle length dress; the shawl like arrangement over it held together at her shoulder with a clasp. The small child walking beside her clutched her hand fiercely as Megan walked past.

  Vibius halted the troops. "You lot disperse and get your equipment dry." He turned to address Megan and the others.

  "You four wait here while I find the centurion."

  Megan looked around; the structures were mainly wooden, with one or two crafted from stone. There were several plots of land given over to growing vegetables, while lines of trees had been cultivated in another.

  She nudged Dafydd. "This all looks very domesticated."

  He nodded. "I must admit, it's not exactly what I was expecting. It's more like a small, fortified town than a fortress."

  "So, what's the plan, Dafydd?" Hugh asked.

  "I'd like to get our hands on a boat, or at least secure passage on a vessel sailing west. The alternative is walking across country to Canovium, then onwards from there."

  "You mentioned that before, is it a town?" Megan asked.

  He shook his head. "It’s a fort near the Conwy River. If you remember where we crossed that time with young Bowen? It’s near there. "

  Megan hadn't thought of Bowen in ages. "Of course I remember. I wonder what happened to him?" she asked.

  "I'm sure Blodwyn will have taken care of him," Dafydd said.

  Hugh nodded. "She did seem nice."

  The arrival of the centurion saved Hugh from Megan's withering gaze.

  He looked them up and down. "Vibius tells me you have been tasked with delivering a package from Deva to Canovium for a Gaius Augustus."

  Dafydd stepped forward and held out his hands, as if presenting Abria.

  The centurion's eyebrows arched.

  "Why did he not put the young lady on a ship?"

  "I'm not at liberty to say," Dafydd replied.

  The centurion's eyes narrowed.

  "I will dispatch a man to Deva to check all this. In the meantime, you will remain in the town as my guests. I will have them stock the fires for the tepidarium."

  Hugh whispered in my ear. "Looks like you'll be getting your bath."

 

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