The Warrior's Princess

by Barbara Erskine

  ‘He needs to be stopped,’ Steph said with conviction.

  ‘And soon,’ Kim agreed.

  ‘And that is best done in England,’ Rhodri put in. ‘If he follows you home then we will go to the police and say he is stalking you. There are laws about that. And the best weapon of all is that if you tell his wife what has been happening, then there is no point in his trying to silence you. Even if she doesn’t believe it at least it will all be out in the open.’

  ‘And you have another secret weapon as well. Carmella.’ Steph grinned. ‘With her on your side, you’re always going to be one step in front of him, and your spies are always going to be on his shoulder. After all she sensed there was something wrong when you were in Ty Bran before she’d even met you.’ There was a pause. ‘So, where is Dan now?’ she went on. ‘He is still out there.’

  Jess stirred uncomfortably and opened her eyes, staring towards the window. It was still dark. She listened intently. The apartment was sunk in silence and she was safe. The windows were locked, the shutters barred. The ladder, when Rhodri went to look for it, had gone. The front door had been triple-locked and bolted behind him when he had at last left for his hotel in the early hours of the morning. No one was coming into the flat tonight.

  19

  Pomponia Graecina had sent her litter for the girls. ‘You’ll be perfectly safe, Eigon.’ She smiled when she issued the invitation. ‘No one will know it’s you. But we won’t tell your mama. She has enough to worry her.’

  Caratacus was in bed, too weak to rise, his body racked by rigors which left him barely conscious. His gaunt frame was emaciated now almost beyond recognition.

  ‘Don’t tell Aelius either,’ she added. ‘Get one of the girls to cover for you.’ She giggled suddenly, her normally austere face lighting up at the thought of her plan.

  Julia and Eigon climbed into the litter, their heads swathed in their stoles and pulled the curtains across. The Aulus litter, carried by six slaves in front and six slaves behind moved fast and smoothly down the dusty track towards the road which led towards the Via Flaminia which would take them down into the city.

  ‘So, what do you think is behind the invitation?’ Doffing her stole, Julia was tweaking the ornately pinned curls of her hairstyle into place.

  Eigon shrugged. Melinus had given her a clue. And sworn her to secrecy. If events transpired as he suspected then Julia was to be whisked away on a shopping spree exciting enough to distract her for weeks to come.

  Beyond the curtains the day was hot and airless, the great pine trees that lined the road the only green things in a dusty parched landscape. Pedestrians and riders were tired and slow as they plodded in and out of the city.

  The attack when it came was sudden. At the approaching thunder of hooves, the slaves had moved smartly to the side of the road to allow the party of soldiers to pass. They didn’t. The riders had surrounded them in seconds, swerving towards the litter, forcing them to stop. They wore the scarlet uniform of the Praetorian guard.

  ‘Stop in the Emperor’s name!’ The side curtains were swept back on the point of a sword as the slaves dropped the litter and stood back. Eigon and Julia huddled together, terrified as one of the men dismounted. ‘Out!’ He wasted no time on pleasantries. The two girls climbed out and stood staring at him.

  ‘What is the meaning of this?’ Eigon found her voice first. ‘How dare you!’

  The officer looked her up and down, and then looked at Julia as if not sure which one of the young women he was to address. ‘I dare, sweetheart, believe me! Which of you is Julia Pomponia Graecina?’

  Julia shrank back. ‘Why do you want to know?’

  ‘Answer, lady!’ The man’s voice was harsh.

  ‘It’s obvious, Marius!’ one of the men commented. ‘Look at the colouring. This is the one we want.’ He nodded towards Eigon.

  Eigon straightened her back. ‘What is this outrage?’ She was trying desperately to keep her voice steady.

  ‘You.’ The first man pointed at Julia. ‘Back in the litter.’

  Julia stared at him. ‘I will do no such thing.’ She gathered all her courage. ‘How dare you! Do you know who my uncle is? You will suffer for this!’

  ‘You are not to be harmed, lady,’ the second man commented. ‘Please get back in the litter.’

  ‘Eigon! You first!’ Julia’s voice was shaking.

  Eigon did not need to be asked twice. She dived back into the litter, trembling. Julia followed her. Neither man had moved to stop them. Marius sighed. ‘Very well, if you both want to come. No doubt that can be arranged. You,’ he addressed the slaves. ‘Pick it up and follow us.’ The armed guard had posted themselves at the four corners of the litter.

  ‘No!’ Julia’s whispered voice was barely audible.

  ‘There are people coming, lady,’ Marcello, the senior slave muttered. ‘Hang on. Help is on the way.’ He glanced at one of the leading litter bearers and gave a slight nod. A cloud of dust in the distance heralded another party of horses coming from the city.

  ‘Move on!’ Marius’s voice sharpened.

  The slaves bent to their burden. Then the man in front stumbled. The litter lurched; the two girls clutched at each other in terror. In the short time it took for the litter bearers to sort themselves out, the second troop of soldiers had arrived, drawing to a halt in a cloud of dust. They bore the same insignia as the guard. The senior rider drew up alongside Marius. ‘What is this? Is someone hurt?’

  Marius shook his head.

  The newcomer nodded. ‘Come on then, my friends. We’ll race you back to the Castra Praetoria!’ His horse was snorting, bucking against the tight rein.

  Marius reined in his own cavorting mount. He drew his sword. ‘Out of the way. Our orders are to escort this litter to the villa of Titus Marcus Olivinus.’

  ‘No! Take us to my aunt’s house. Please, Marcello, tell him.’ Julia leaned forward. ‘This man was trying to kidnap us!’ Her face was white.

  Abruptly Marius shrugged. He pulled his horse away from the litter. ‘Rubbish! What nonsense the girl talks. Very well, lady. If you refuse my master’s invitation, that is your loss.’ It had all gone wrong. Now there were witnesses and besides, he had not been instructed to use force. ‘Don’t kill anyone,’ Titus had said with a grin when they had set up the plan after one of Titus’s spies had told them of the impending excursion. ‘For the gods’ sake don’t bring down the whole weight of the Senate on my head. Just grab the girl and run.’ He had snorted with mirth.

  ‘Away!’ Marius raised his arm to his troop. He gave a brief salute towards the litter and his men wheeled and galloped up the road followed at once by the second party of riders. In seconds they were out of sight.

  Eigon was shaking. ‘That was not a robbery.’

  ‘No, indeed it was not.’ Marcello wiped the sweat off his forehead. ‘Are you all right, princess?’ He gestured at the litter bearers. ‘Let’s move quickly. It’s not far to the gates of Rome.’ He glanced back over his shoulder. In seconds they had resumed their journey.

  ‘What happened?’ Pomponia Graecina received the girls in her boudoir, her face set.

  Julia shrugged. ‘They were Praetorians. They seemed to be looking for Eigon.’

  Pomponia looked at Eigon, concerned. ‘Do you know why?’

  Eigon was pale and drawn. She shook her head. ‘Was it something to do with Papa?’ She shivered.

  Pomponia shrugged. ‘I somehow doubt it. But one never knows with Nero what he may have decided on next. If it was anything to do with Nero.’ She sighed. For a moment the three women stood in silence, then Pomponia forced herself to a cheerful smile. ‘Well, whatever it was I am not about to allow a group of silly guards to spoil my plans. Julia, I am sending you on a special mission for me, first to the Vicus Unguentarius to pick up a flask of my special scent. You may buy something for yourself there. Then I want you to call in on my dressmaker. I have torn my favourite gown and you can leave it with her to be mended and look
at some of her new materials. And as I know such an excursion would bore Eigon, she and I are going to talk about healing with a new healer I have met. We will gather together again this evening and you will both stay here tonight. I will send word to the villa that you are both safe here. No,’ she raised a hand as Eigon opened her mouth to protest. ‘I will see to it that your parents are not concerned. As long as Aelius knows you are both safe no one will worry.’

  An excited Julia was equipped with a heavy purse, two young ladies to escort her, plus four slaves armed with heavy cudgels. Eigon watched the preparations half amused. Another part of her was knotted with fear. She knew exactly who had been behind the attempt to abduct her. And now she knew his name. Titus Marcus Olivinus.

  When Julia and her chattering friends had gone, Pomponia turned to Eigon. ‘Are you all right, sweetheart?’

  Eigon nodded. Fond though she was of this woman who was as much an aunt to her as she was to her genuine niece, Julia, she could never tell her the terrible secret that she shared with no one but her mother.

  Pomponia scanned her face. She nodded sadly. She suspected Eigon knew more than she was saying about the strange attack, but if the girl was not prepared to share the knowledge then she would respect her silence. She tucked Eigon’s arm through her own. ‘Today is a very special day for me. I want you to share it. I have some friends of yours here. Come.’

  She led the way towards the main reception hall. The first person she saw was Melinus. He smiled gravely. Standing next to him was Julius. Pomponia led her over to them. ‘Here is my special guest. Tell her, Julius, what is to happen, while I prepare.’ With a smile she took Eigon’s hand and put it into Julius’s.

  For a moment Eigon caught her breath. The touch of this young man’s fingers in her own had the power to send a bolt of excitement through her veins. The emotion frightened her. For a second they stared at one another, unable to look away. Embarrassed, it was Eigon who dropped her gaze first. Gently she removed her hand from his. She glanced towards Melinus who had been watching them with quizzical amusement. ‘What is happening?’

  ‘Peter is coming.’

  ‘Pomponia wants you to ask him to pray for your father,’ Julius said softly.

  ‘Peter the Christian?’ Eigon frowned. She glanced round at Melinus.

  Julius nodded. ‘You know that my grandfather and Melinus have become firm friends.’ He looked down at her, his brown eyes warm with amusement.

  It had happened almost as soon as they had met a few days after the terrible night Julius had rescued her and Julia from the mob. Julius had brought his grandfather out to the villa so Caratacus and his wife could give their thanks in person for saving their daughter. Later in the afternoon Melinus and the older man had found themselves alone. The two men had started to talk and had quickly recognised in each other the many qualities they shared in spite of the vast differences in their backgrounds. Their interests, their approach to life, their philosophies, though Melinus remained a Druid and Felicius had been baptised as a Christian, gave them occasion for many happy hours of debate. Melinus had admitted his respect for the teacher Peter, the head of the Christians in Rome, and had gone with Felicius to hear Peter’s colleague and fellow apostle, Paul of Tarsus, when he had arrived to preach in the city and he had told Eigon much of what he had heard.

  Christians were more numerous in Rome now, amongst the dozens of religions and superstitions which flourished there in the hugely mixed population, but although most beliefs were by and large tolerated by the Roman authorities men did not openly declare their allegiance to the Christian faith. Nero and his advisers were suspicious of them as were the ordinary people who, hearing rumours that they ate the flesh and blood of the son of their god, accused them of cannibalism, one of the few perversions no one in Rome would tolerate. From time to time they were arrested almost arbitrarily on charges of treason and worse and their fate was terrible. It was better to keep quiet about their faith.

  ‘It must be very frightening sometimes to think that people are spying on you. Don’t they notice that you don’t go to the temple for public sacrifices?’ Eigon asked quietly.

  Julius smiled. ‘People are more tolerant than you think. And our family is sufficiently respected for people to turn a blind eye to our eccentricities.’ He smiled again. ‘You are not afraid of being here, I hope, with so many Christians?’

  She shook her head. Unable as always to resist his smile she glanced round again. ‘Does Pomponia know you are Christians?’

  ‘Of course. She has asked Peter here today. Partly to meet you. Partly so that he can baptise her.’

  Eigon’s eyes rounded. ‘She is to become a Christian? Does Aulus Plautius know?’ Pomponia’s husband was known for his conservative support of Roman ways.

  Julius shrugged. ‘I guess not. He is away from Rome at present, as are most of his servants.’ He winked at her. ‘The lady Pomponia has always had her own way of doing things.’

  ‘Including getting rid of Julia.’ Eigon glanced up at him expecting his expression to soften at the mention of Julia’s name. His eyes were however still fixed on her own and she thought she saw a twitch of amusement at the corners of his mouth.

  ‘Julia is not one to show much interest in either religion or philosophy,’ he said softly. She had the impression that he was not paying Julia a compliment.

  A buzz of excited talk near the door interrupted them. Peter had arrived. The old man leaned heavily on his staff as he climbed the steps into the room and came towards them. On every side people were greeting him as an old friend. Julius’s grandfather was at his side, Eigon realised, and they were coming towards her.

  Peter’s eyes were a deep warm brown. They held hers for several seconds, then he put out his hands to hers. He was smiling gravely. ‘So, this is Eigon. I have heard much about you, my child.’ She could feel the warmth and love radiating from him. ‘I hear you are a healer.’

  She lowered her eyes with a little shrug. ‘I do my best, sir.’

  He laughed. ‘Don’t call me sir, child! My friends call me brother. Your father is ill?’

  Eigon nodded. ‘He has been ill for so long. It’s more than an illness. It’s unhappiness. He misses our home so much.’

  Peter nodded. ‘And your home is faraway in Britannia?’

  Eigon nodded. She glanced up. Melinus was standing behind Peter. He met her gaze and she saw him smile. He nodded encouragingly. ‘Will you pray for my father?’ Eigon asked.

  ‘Of course I will. And I will pray for you, Eigon. Jesus will bless you both.’

  ‘And my mother and my little brother and sister who were lost,’ she burst out. Her eyes filled with tears. It was a long time since she had mentioned Togo and Gwladys to anyone. It was strangely easy to speak to this man. It was as though by unburdening her fears on his stooped shoulders a great weight was lifted from hers.

  ‘Jesus will hold your whole family in his arms, Eigon. Pray to him, child. He will hear you.’ He rested his hand for a moment on her head, then he turned away distracted as someone else came forward clamouring for his attention.

  Eigon stood still. Julius smiled at her. ‘You understand now why we love him?’ he said quietly.

  She nodded. ‘Will my father get better now?’

  Julius shrugged. ‘Sometimes people are healed instantly. Other times, if it is the time for them to die then they will die, but they are enfolded in Jesus’s arms. He takes them to heaven to live with him. They aren’t frightened any more, Eigon. They are comforted and reassured.’

  Eigon frowned. ‘My father isn’t frightened. He is a warrior. His gods expect him to die bravely. Then he will go to the land of the ever young.’

  Julius shrugged. ‘That sounds to me like heaven,’ he said. ‘Not Hades. There is no River Styx to cross. In heaven there is sunshine and flowers and angels.’

  Eigon nodded with a smile. ‘The Isles of the Blest,’ she whispered.

  ‘Look,’ Julius said suddenly. ‘Peter is
going to baptise some of the people here. Sometimes they take people down to the river and do it there, but that is too public in Rome. Watch.’

  Pomponia Graecina was the first in line. Peter blessed a bowl of water and used it to mark the sign of the cross on each person’s forehead. He baptised Pomponia with the name Lucina. As they walked away from him dripping and laughing, the room seemed filled with happiness.

  Infected by the feeling of joy all around her Eigon reached for Julius’s hand. She wasn’t even aware that she had done it. The terrifying moments in the litter earlier were forgotten. ‘This is a wonderful house to be in,’ she said. ‘I feel so safe here!’

  Jess stirred and smiled in her sleep. The silence of the apartment was very deep. Outside on the landing at the top of the flight of stone stairs Dan stood listening, his ear pressed against the door. Silently he raised his hand and pushed. The door stood firm. Reaching into his pocket he produced a set of keys and inserted them into the lock. They turned easily but the door didn’t move. He gave a wry smile. It was bolted.

  In Jess’s dream Eigon seemed suddenly older now, taller, more elegant, her hair the deeper, richer black of a raven’s wing. She was sitting in the sunshine with her friend Antonia at her side.

  ‘Julius is hoping you will come to his birthday party.’ Antonia glanced up with a smile. She was making notes on a tablet with a stylus, crossing off items on a long list.

  ‘Me? Or Julia?’ Eigon smiled wistfully.

  ‘You!’ Antonia laughed. ‘You know it’s you he wants there. Are you never going to have pity on the poor man?’

  Eigon blushed. ‘You know it’s pointless.’ She would rather have died than admit that she had dreamed about Julius; that almost every day when she should have been studying recipes for herbal cures she found herself daydreaming about his handsome face, his warm laughing eyes. ‘Mam has forbidden me to go out. She has set Aelius to watch over me to see I can’t slip outside.’

  ‘And you still obey her like a small child!’ Antonia frowned. ‘Are you going to stay locked in this place like a prisoner for ever, Eigon? Your life is passing. You study with Melinus every second of the day and when you’re not studying you are working with the sick or tending your father. You never go out to the shops any more or to the theatre or to the games with Julia. You’re always working with Melinus on your healing and I know most mornings people queue up to consult you and that is wonderful. It is what God would want of you, but, for goodness’ sake, have you no unicia of healthy rebellion in you? Is it Melinus who is stopping you coming to us? Has he some sort of hold over you? Are you under a spell? Or is it because of our faith?’ She scowled.