The Warrior's Princess

by Barbara Erskine

  It was nearly dusk when the storm began to ease and the ship picked up speed. The sky cleared and they found they could see the coast on their right-hand side, far closer than they had expected. As the other passengers crawled up on deck word began to go round that they were indeed nearly at their destination and that the captain’s astonishingly accurate navigation was due solely to the offerings he had made to Neptune before they left land.

  The port was noisy, dirty and crowded. Commios took charge as they staggered ashore, trying to find their land legs, conscious of how wretched and ragged they looked in their wet clothing. They assembled their belongings, in the end no more than they could carry between them, and headed away from the quays to find the house of Tullius Gaius, a freedman whose father had worked for Drusilla’s grandfather and who was now a successful merchant and entrepreneur in the city, importing and exporting in a huge ever-increasing market. They were directed to a substantial house in the centre of the trading quarter and shown into a luxurious and comfortable home.

  Gaius wasn’t there, but his wife, Aemilia, greeted them warmly and at once set about finding them rooms. At her suggestion they made their way almost at once to the nearby baths. When they returned, clean, rested, wearing fresh clothes they found a meal waiting for them, their host had been summoned from his office and he and several of his friends were already arrayed on couches around the table, agog for news from Rome. It was soon clear that none of them knew of Drusilla’s conversion to Christianity or that their guests were members of the sect. At a warning glance from Commios Eigon kept silent on the subject, and they emphasised instead their need to travel on as soon as possible towards the north.

  In Eigon’s room later she and Drusilla sat on the bed, talking softly. ‘I want to stay here for ever!’ Eigon said, laughing. ‘This place is wonderful!’ Her sorrow had been walled temporarily away in some inner recess of her mind. It was too great, too all consuming to bear. She would face it one day again and deal with it, but not now, not while it was so fresh and so raw.

  Drusilla nodded. ‘And it doesn’t rock up and down being sloshed with sea water,’ she added fervently. ‘Commios was asking if we could buy a passage on a barge up the river Rhodanus. I’m not so sure that is a good idea.’

  Eigon smiled. ‘Have no fear. Barges don’t rock up and down. You’ve seen them on the Tiber. Flat and steady is what they do best.’

  Drusilla nodded. She glanced at the door. ‘We shouldn’t really tell anyone where we are headed,’ she whispered. ‘I’m sure we can trust these people, but I’d feel better if there were no clues left behind us.’

  Eigon’s face sobered rapidly. She shivered. ‘You’re right,’ she said reluctantly. ‘We should move on soon, shouldn’t we. Just as soon as our clothes are dry.’ She stared round the room suddenly, and shivered again. ‘Drusilla,’ she whispered. ‘Can you feel it? As though someone is watching us?’

  Drusilla shook her head. ‘Don’t be silly. I’m sorry, now I’ve frightened you. I didn’t mean to do that.’

  ‘No.’ Eigon took her hand. ‘No, you haven’t. You are absolutely right.’ She leaned forward and kissed Drusilla goodnight.

  She watched the door close behind her and stood for a moment, numb with exhaustion. Her guard down, her eyes filled with tears as loneliness overwhelmed her. It was when she was alone like this that it was at its worst. Her longing for Julius flooded back as she remembered that last journey with him into Rome, his last kiss. With a deep sigh of misery she knelt down beside the bed and prayed. For Julius. For his grandfather. For Antonia. For Peter and his ongoing cause. And she prayed for her own safety. Then once again she pushed her unhappiness away.

  As she rose to her feet at last she stared round once more. It was still there, the feeling that someone, somewhere was watching her. Not Julius. It wasn’t any of the people she loved, of that she was certain. She sat down on the edge of the bed for a moment, her eyes fixed on the guttering flame of the oil lamp on the exquisitely carved oak table beside the bed. The patterns in the wood reminded her of her childhood. They were the curling interlaced designs of home. She had heard Celtic being spoken in the port almost as soon as they had docked, one of a dozen languages being shouted on every side, and seen in several faces the unmistakable colouring of men and women from the northern edges of the Empire. It was a long, long time since she had allowed herself to feel homesick, but now suddenly she couldn’t wait to see again the green hills and misty distances, cooled by gently falling rain which had so haunted her dreams.

  She tensed suddenly. There it was again. The atmosphere in the room had grown heavy; the temperature had dropped. She stared round wildly. Then she closed her eyes. ‘Pray, surround yourself with prayer and with the golden light of safety.’ Melinus had taught her that. Peter had said much the same. ‘Send away demons in the name of Christ, my child. Surround yourself with His love. He will keep you safe. Pray.’ She shook her head. She wasn’t sure if her prayers were fervent enough, if they were working at all, because someone was out there trying to find her. Titus. And he was using an adept, someone who was having no trouble at all in locating her.

  ‘Oh my God!’ Jess woke with a start. ‘He’s on to her. He’s following her.’

  Will sighed. He didn’t have to ask who she meant. ‘So, she’s even haunting you at thirty thousand feet?’

  She shook her head. ‘I was dreaming –’

  ‘Never mind. We’re practically at Stansted. Look.’ He indicated the window. The plane was losing altitude. Already they could make out the patterns of lights below them. ‘You’re safe, Jess, that’s what matters now.’

  ‘But don’t you see, Titus is following her. And if he is, then Dan is following me.’

  ‘I doubt it.’ Will sounded grim. ‘But if he is, Jess, it doesn’t matter. We’re on home territory now. If necessary we will call the police. And anyway he is not going to find you. I’m taking you straight down to Cornwall. You’ll be safe there. He will never think of looking for you there in a million years. You’ll have time to decide what you want to do, and you’ll be able to relax and stop worrying.’

  The captain had started speaking. They would soon be landing. When he finished his announcement Jess turned back to Will. ‘I’m sorry, you have been so good to me, Will. You probably saved my life,’ she said gently, ‘but I’m not coming to Cornwall.’

  ‘Why not?’ He frowned.

  ‘You know why not. I have to go back to Ty Bran. That is where Eigon is going.’

  ‘No, Jess. It’s the first place Dan will look.’

  ‘I’ll have to take that risk.’ She reached over and put her hand over his. ‘Will, you’ve done more than I expected or deserve. I can’t ask you to do any more for me.’ There was a slight bump as the plane wheels were lowered. ‘I want you to go and see your parents. Enjoy what’s left of the summer. I’m going to stay with Steph.’

  He frowned. ‘Are you sending me away?’

  She grinned. ‘That sounds a bit bossy. It’s not what I meant. I just don’t want you to feel responsible for me.’

  He had coloured slightly and she couldn’t sense whether he was hurt or just angry. ‘Are you going back to see him?’ he burst out suddenly.

  ‘Who?’ She was genuinely puzzled for a moment.

  ‘Rhodri.’ His lips tightened.

  ‘No! I doubt he wants to see me ever again.’ She laughed out loud. She glanced at him sideways then turned to look out of the window. The plane was only a few hundred feet above the ground now. She could see the layout of roads below, the headlights of cars threading their way through the night. Rhodri. She pictured him for a moment, his broad shoulders, his weathered complexion, the neat but somehow rakish beard, the laughter in his eyes and the protective anger. He was an attractive man, there was no question about that. But that was his job. He was charismatic and she had been sucked in by his image. That was it. ‘You’re not jealous, Will?’

  ‘Hardly. As you reminded me, we are over.’r />
  ‘And that was your choice,’ she said quietly. ‘You left me, remember? At the time our break up nearly destroyed me, but you had sensed that all was not well between us long before I did. And now I realise you were right.’

  ‘I was a fool.’ He was staring straight ahead at the back of the seat in front of him. ‘Does it have to be for ever? No scope to change my mind?’

  ‘No one can know about for ever, Will, but for now.’ She glanced across at him sadly. Will had done so much for her. He had laid his life on the line, that was true and she was still fond of him; the anger and the hurt had gone. But gratitude and fondness wasn’t enough to base a relationship on.

  He was still looking away from her. ‘So, you’ll go straight to Wales?’

  She shrugged. ‘I’ve got to make my way to Heathrow first. I left my car there.’

  Will looked at her. ‘Shit! I’m sorry. It never occurred to me.’

  ‘It’s OK. I’m sure there are buses or trains that go there. Then I’ll go on to Wales.’

  ‘And wherever Eigon goes you go, I suppose.’ He sounded bitter. ‘You’ll ring me if you need help? You know I’ll come.’ He and Rhodri had made a pact to deal with Dan; could he work with Rhodri? He sighed. Probably, if it meant freeing Jess from this torment.

  ‘I’ll ring you, Will.’ She was smiling at him. ‘Are you still going to Cornwall?’

  ‘Later perhaps. I’ll go back home first. Remember you can come any time you like. No strings.’

  She grinned. ‘Then we might have each other’s company for a while yet. On the train into London.’

  She said goodbye to him at Liverpool Street Station. She was heading towards a connection to the Piccadilly Line and Heathrow, he was going back to South London. On tiptoe she reached up and kissed him once lightly on the lips. ‘Take care, Will.’

  ‘And you.’ He gave her a quick hug. ‘Don’t let Titus get you.’ For a moment she thought he was going to say something else, but he had already turned away.

  Dan sipped thoughtfully at a cappuccino, staring across the street. The sun was blinding, the heat reflecting off the cobbles. The air smelled of traffic fumes and hot stone. He was tired, depressed and so angry he couldn’t cope with the waves of fury which rolled through him with frightening regularity. There had been several messages from Nat, each growing more worried, more cross, more impatient. She had demanded to know where he was. He had promised to be home by now. The police, she said, had rung her three times now; so had the headmaster. What on earth was going on? He took another sip from the cup, wiping froth off his upper lip and called for a prosecco. Jess had disappeared. There was no trace of her. He had no idea where the others were. He had staked out Carmella’s flat. They weren’t staying there and they weren’t at the pensione. He drained the glass and put it down with a bang.

  And there was no sign of Titus.

  Shit! He slammed his fist down on the table suddenly, making the cup jump in its saucer. The woman at the neighbouring table turned to stare at him, then she turned away, shifting her chair slightly on its spindly legs so she had her back to him.

  ‘Up yours too, lady,’ he muttered. He stood up, threw some coins on the table and strode away.

  Titus sat quietly watching the woman as she consulted her oracles. Prophetesses were expensive and this was his third visit. Each time she gave him just enough to tantalise him, just enough to convince him that she could indeed see deep into time and space beyond the dark room where they sat. ‘I see others; patrician families, caught up in these plots. I see a lady, two ladies talking. They befriended your princess. They have friends in high places. They are beyond your reach.’ She gave him a look which was nothing short of withering. ‘I see a woman from faraway watching you, as you are watching her.’ She smiled enigmatically. She had felt this woman’s quest before; she was searching for the truth across time just as they were. But she came from another era. Marcia Maximilla was intrigued. She came back to the business in hand. ‘Do you wish to find out more about the princess?’

  Titus fought the urge to reach out and strangle her. ‘That is why I am here, lady.’

  She glanced at him obviously wondering if this was the moment to up her charge. Thinking better of it she looked away. She was getting an uncomfortable feeling about this particular client. Better to give him what he wanted and send him on his way as fast as possible. ‘She’s gone. Over the sea. I see the waves rough and turbulent. She stood at the prow of the ship, staring ahead into her dreams, and she has put Rome behind her for ever.’

  Titus clenched his fists. ‘Tell me where she is going.’

  For the first time the seer frowned. ‘I see her swathed in veils. Her destiny is unclear. No!’ She screamed as he lunged across the table at her and caught her by the shoulders. ‘I would tell you, lord, if I could see. She too is an adept. She senses me searching for her. She has surrounded herself with mist.’

  He subsided into his seat. What was the point of killing her? She was the best Rome could offer. ‘There must be something. Some clue. Has she gone to Gaul? Is she going back to Britannia?’

  The woman resettled herself, trying to be calm. She wanted nothing so much as to be rid of him. She glanced up and her face cleared. ‘I have it. Her thoughts betrayed her for a moment. She is going to Britannia.’

  It was the furthest place she could think of.

  Britannia! Dan picked up the thought as a blinding flash. She has gone back to Britannia. And if Eigon had gone back to Britannia, then so would Jess. He went cold. He had to get there fast before she did. He had to get to her before she had the chance to reach anyone with her stupid accusations and her petty obsessions. Particularly he had to make sure she didn’t get to Nat.

  Jess’s car was still there next morning when she reclaimed it at last. So much had happened it felt as though it was months since she had left it there in the long-term car park. Clutching her ticket, she opened the door and climbed in. Slamming it shut she lay back and closed her eyes. She felt safe for the first time in ages.

  Reaching for her mobile she dialled Steph. No reply. She dialled Kim. No reply. She resisted the urge to ring Carmella. She was on her own, by her own choice. Will, reluctantly, had gone. It was up to her now. She had to make her own decisions and she had to find somewhere where she could contact Eigon and that was not going to be the car park at Heathrow airport. Leaning forward with a sigh she inserted the key in the ignition and began to back out of the parking space.

  ‘We have to go. Now.’ Eigon was shaking Drusilla’s shoulder. It was first light and already the streets outside were noisy with the shouts of traders. ‘I’m so sorry, but we can’t stay here. He’s coming. He knows where we are. I’ve been warned in my prayers.’

  Drusilla did not question her. At once she climbed out of bed and began to pack her things.

  The travellers caught a river trader, boarding it soon before it sailed. Drusilla and Eigon were given a small curtained-off area to themselves on the flat-bottomed, wide-hulled barge laden with goods which was making its way laboriously northwards. Commios was content to find himself a corner to sleep amongst the crew. It made the cost of the trip much cheaper and he was able to talk to the men who worked the boat, one of whom he established at once was a fellow tribesman.

  ‘He is happy,’ Drusilla whispered to Eigon. They were leaning against the rail, watching the banks of the river slide by.

  ‘And we’ll lose him, if we are not careful. He has come home.’ Drusilla sighed. ‘He’s an attractive man, isn’t he?’ She gave a wistful smile.

  Eigon glanced at her. ‘I’ve noticed you watching him.’

  Drusilla was gazing out across the river watching a flock of ducks paddling against the tide. ‘And he has eyes for no one but you. If he stays with us that will be why. He won’t leave you.’

  ‘That’s not true. He watches over both of us. Peter gave him that charge, Drusilla!’ It had never occurred to Eigon that anyone would ever fall in love with her agai
n. She couldn’t even contemplate the thought.

  ‘And I am sure he will carry it out as long as he feels he can.’ Drusilla shook her head. ‘Take no notice of me, Eigon. I am a jealous rusty old woman; no man will look at me now. You can have him if you want!’

  Eigon stared at her aghast. ‘You talk such nonsense. You are not rusty!’ She gazed at her for a moment. ‘I can see a mature, beautiful woman without a blemish on her skin, overflowing with charm and accomplishments. But,’ she paused. ‘We mustn’t forget why we are making this journey.’

  ‘Peter didn’t swear us to celibacy!’ Drusilla said it rather sharply.

  ‘No.’ Eigon sighed. ‘Have no fear, Drusilla. I don’t want Commios. He is a fine man and I am fond of him and I treasure his friendship but there was only ever one man for me.’

  There was a pause. Drusilla bit her lip and reached across to touch the back of Eigon’s hand where it gripped the wooden planking on the ship’s side. ‘Sorry.’

  After a minute Eigon turned back to her. ‘You don’t think Commios would really leave us?’

  They both turned to watch him as he laughed and joked with his fellow tribesman. He noticed them watching him and raised a hand.

  ‘No,’ Drusilla said at last. ‘I think he will see us safe to our destination.’

  ‘And if he doesn’t? If he decides to stay in Gaul, would you stay with him?’ Eigon was watching the ducks with fierce concentration.