Decimus held Lucius’s arms tighter. “No one is more enraged than me. Yet in all wars, at one time or another, we must retreat and regroup before we can strike again.”
Lucius yanked away, the pain shooting from his shoulder to his arm. He hardened his stare at Decimus. “Who am I to trust? Someone stole my ring to seal a forged letter that ignited this inferno. Everything the queen says points a finger at Marrock, but Cunobelin could have directed these events.”
“Senator, you have achieved your primary objective,” Decimus said with a firm voice. “You have divided Cunobelin and Amren. Unfortunately, the queen holds Marcellus prisoner and has pressed us against the wall. We must make sure your son is released before we make final agreements with any of these barbarians.”
“The gods shit on me!” Lucius cursed, lifting his eyes to the ceiling. “Why must Marcellus keep tormenting me like this?”
Decimus winced. “Sir, I do not understand your meaning.”
“Every time I try to steer my son onto the right path, he turns everything into a catastrophe.”
“Sir, you should give your son some credit for his courage to volunteer as a hostage. His action helped ease a tense situation at our initial meeting with Amren.”
“Give him credit!” Lucius bellowed. “Before that bitch queen sent her nasty note, Amren confronted me, telling me that Marcellus had raped his youngest daughter. I know my son. This is an outlandish lie. He is too smooth for that.”
“Isn’t that what you instructed?” Decimus said. “Seduce her to find out more information.”
“My directive was not for him to get caught!”
“Senator, your anger toward Marcellus is misplaced. Right now, our first priority should be to get him back to Rome alive. As you said, we cannot trust anyone. You knew that when we arrived in Britannia. We must now think as Julius Caesar did—divide and conquer.”
“What do you suggest we do?” Lucius said, rubbing his achy shoulder.
“Do as the queen demands for the prisoner exchange,” Decimus said. “Make sure only a few of our most trusted soldiers are involved to prevent any misunderstandings.”
“How can I trust that fucking queen?” Lucius snarled as he gingerly lowered himself onto a chair. The throbbing pain in his shoulder had become almost unbearable. “Did you see the scowl on her face? She might attack our soldiers out of spite and rescue the king. She could keep Marcellus and make further demands.”
“Let me remind you, we still hold Amren’s eldest daughter as leverage. I will personally take charge of the prisoner exchange. I won’t release Amren until I see with my own eyes that only the king’s daughter escorts him to the site.”
“How can we get Amren and his commander out of camp without Cunobelin and Marrock knowing?” asked Lucius.
“We’ll transport them at night,” Decimus suggested. “We can tell Cunobelin later that our hands were forced to exchange them.”
“What if Cunobelin turns against us and attacks us for our betrayal?”
“He won’t, not if you offer him recompense—wine, luxury goods, whatever it takes.”
“You’re right,” Lucius agreed. “We could offer Cunobelin our Roman forces to help Marrock overthrow Amren.”
Decimus’s eyes widened. “How can you say that? The emperor ordered all our forces out of Britannia. That goes against his mandate.”
The tribune’s hesitation provoked Lucius. “Tiberius did not give us a timetable. I am not leaving this island with my tail tucked between my legs without teaching that arrogant boar and his sow queen a lesson. No one threatens me and lives!”
“Sir, I will not defy the emperor,” Decimus argued. “Praise the gods if we get Marcellus out of here alive. I do not have enough soldiers to defend us against the various factions if they all turn against us.”
Lucius roared, “Do not defy me, Decimus! You already failed me when your soldiers allowed themselves to be captured like stupid little girls. Now we must barter for the release of those idiots.” Decimus opened his mouth to speak, but Lucius pounded his fist on the table. “I told you not to defy me!”
The tribune’s jaw clenched. “What do you want of me?”
Lucius said with a commanding voice, “This is my charge to you. When Marcellus is released and out of danger, you will retake the king as prisoner and capture Catrin. When they are brought into camp, I want that pompous king to watch every soldier taking a turn with his beloved daughter. If Marcellus needs something to soothe his wounds, he can take that wench back to Rome and pillage her at will. When he is done, he can sell her off to a brothel.” Lucius stared coldly at Decimus. “If you confront me again about this, remember that I was the only senator who defended you when the others wanted to strip you of rank. I did this, even though I believed you committed an affront to the empire when you divorced your Roman wife to marry a whore from Gaul.”
Decimus swallowed hard and looked down. “Senator, I am indebted to you, but what happens to me if the emperor finds out what we have done here?”
“What you have done,” Lucius said bluntly. “And pray, my friend, I do not tell him.”
41
Meld with the Raven
She realized then, the divine creature was offering her the key for unlocking these supernatural powers.
Asleep, Catrin felt herself levitating over Marcellus’s headless body that was burning on a pyre. Horrified, she dropped like a rock and her arms flung up. Disoriented, she thought she heard Marcellus cry out, “Help me, Catrin!” and then something sharp clawed her chest.
Rousting out of her nightmare, she opened her eyes, finding her raven’s beak within inches of her face. Startled, she whacked the bird off and glanced around to confirm where she was. The hearth-lit hovel was disheveled with various cauldrons, stringed bird bones hanging from the beams, and jars of strong smelling herbs strewn across two tables. Smoke from an open hearth was filtering through the thatched roof. Nothing had changed. She was still in Agrona’s lair with her ankles chained. Having been isolated and shackled for at least a month, she had lost track of time, the hours and the days merging together.
Catrin again heard Marcellus’s cries for help, the urgency in his voice making her heart shudder. She couldn’t go on like this, helpless and desperate, not knowing what had happened to him or transpired at home. Loneliness had mired her in gloom. Frustrated that she could not return home was devouring her. There had to be a way for her to escape. If she did, what would her parents do to her if she could not convince them of the dangers that Agrona posed?
Every time Catrin gazed into Agrona’s eyes, Rhan was lurking there. Fiery red braids slithered around Rhan’s ashen face and her bluish lips contorted into a grotesque smile. Agrona’s eyes glowed like the mammoth red wolf that had accompanied her on the day the Druidess had entered Catrin’s mind for the first and only time. Successfully blocking Agrona’s further attempt to control her made Catrin realize that her power was at least as strong as Agrona’s.
The word “power” resonated in Catrin’s mind. She said “power” out loud. The words “power, power, power” ran together in a mantra. She stretched out her hand to summon the powerful forces into her fingertips. The energy entered her like a hot fluid and flowed through her arm, down her body, and all the way to her toes.
The raven’s loud shriek and sharp jab at her ankle broke Catrin’s trance. Annoyed, she pushed the raven aside and complained, “I hate being locked up in here as much as you.”
The raven tenaciously hopped back to Catrin, and it gurgled, wildly bobbed its head, and took another swipe at her leg. This time, she paid attention and asked, “What are you trying to tell me?”
The raven cocked its head, its eyes pleading for her to connect with it. She recalled the altered curse foretelling she would rise out of Apollo’s flames as a raven with the powers of the Ancient Druids. She realized
then, the divine creature was offering her the key for unlocking these supernatural powers. She extended an arm on which her raven perched and stroked the bird. Red sparks emitted from her fingers the harder she stroked the feathers.
Hearing footsteps to her back, she stopped and turned.
Belinus appeared in the open door with a belted sword at his side. He set a rusty-colored bowl on a table near the entrance and walked to the back wall where Catrin was shackled. He grinned and opened his hand to reveal raspberries. “Mor asked that I bring these to you.”
Catrin took a couple of berries to eat, but the bitterness of not being able to see her sister made the fruit’s sweetness sour in her mouth. She looked sadly at Belinus. “Why can’t Mor come? Why do you chain me like this? I am a princess, not a criminal.”
Belinus frowned. “As I already said, Agrona has ordered me to chain you until she lifts your curse.”
“Is this what Mother ordered, that I be chained like a crazed beast?”
“No, that is what Agrona mandated.” Belinus looked at the raven gawking at him. “Are you conjuring spells with that raven?”
Perhaps I should, Catrin thought, but she instead said, “No, it keeps me company. I still do not understand why I can’t go home. Has Mother said anything about you marrying Mor?”
“Yes, but she told me not to tell anyone.” Belinus’s jaw tensed. “There is something I should say … Mor says I can’t keep this from you … no matter what Agrona ordered—”
“Spit it out,” Catrin said impatiently.
Belinus said, “Senator Antonius has taken your father prisoner!”
Catrin felt her throat clutch. “What about Vala?”
“No one knows where Vala is being held,” Belinus said grimly. “The queen imprisoned Marcellus in retaliation. A week ago, your mother and some warriors left the village to gather support from the Regni king if war breaks out. They have yet to return.”
The bad news confirmed Catrin’s premonition that Marcellus was in grave danger. Now concerned for her entire family and people, she asked, “Who has been left in charge?”
“Agrona.”
A sense of dread crawled over Catrin. She said, “Mor should have been granted this authority. You have to believe me that Agrona is working against us. That is why she keeps me chained up, so I will not tell anyone. She wants everyone to believe I have gone insane.”
Belinus regarded Catrin for a moment. “The king ordered that Agrona be second-in-command before he left to meet with the senator.”
Catrin staggered to her feet, but the chains restrained her from taking a step. “Father does not know the threat that Agrona poses. Gods above! We are in a desperate situation. Marrock was here last week in the shape of a large wolf.”
Belinus raised his eyebrows. “You expect me to believe that?”
“Yes, I do. Marrock is conspiring with Agrona to destroy Father, to destroy our kingdom. You need to let me go, so we can stop this!”
He shook his head. “You know I can’t do that.”
Catrin realized that she would not be able to convince Belinus to go against Agrona. She had to find another way to escape. Calming herself down, she said in a more tempered voice, “At least give me some dignity and take off my shackles. Allow me to walk around the room and eat at the table.”
Belinus paused. “All right, but no tricks.”
He pulled out a straight key from a pouch, unlocked the shackles, and helped Catrin unwrap them. Her ankles felt sore and swollen as she followed Belinus to the table and sat across from him. He handed her some cheese from his pouch and gestured toward the red bowl of porridge. “I’m only unshackling you because Mor asked me to treat you more kindly.”
Catrin took the block of cheese and broke it in half, giving one piece to Belinus. As she nibbled on the tangy cheese, she nervously watched him pull a knife from his belt and examine the blade. He said, “There is something else I should tell you. Five Roman soldiers were captured near our village. Even though they refused to talk under torture, the queen assumed they were sent to help Marcellus escape. She suspects the Roman knew of the plan before he was held as hostage.” Belinus spat on the surface of the knife’s blade. “That Roman lover of yours cannot be trusted.”
Catrin swallowed the cheese in her mouth and gulped water from a cup. Her throat still dry, she rasped, “He helped me when I was stricken with the falling sickness.”
“You mean the falling sickness he cursed you with. Don’t let your affection for the Roman blind you. The only reason he still lives is that we can use him as leverage to bargain the king’s release.” With the tip of the knife, Belinus cut a thin line on his forefinger. “If I had my way, that good-for-nothing scum would already be dead, and I would make sure he died slowly.”
Belinus set the knife down and licked the blood off his finger. Catrin glanced at the weapon, wondering if she could steal it. She said, “It would be foolhardy for you to kill him. I believe he could help us negotiate a release for Father.”
Belinus sneered, “That Roman help us? Agrona is right. You have lost all reason and gone mad with Apollo’s curse.”
Catrin’s stomach knotted. “Is that what you think, that I’m crazy?”
Belinus waved two fingers in front of his eyes as if he was trying to ward off evil spirits. “You will be if Agrona cannot lift your curse.”
Catrin was not making any inroads with Belinus. At this point, the only trick she had up her sleeve was her raven. She quietly communed to the raven. It flew to her and its talons emitted prickly heat into her arm. A light flashed in her mind, signaling she had forged with the raven’s essence. This time, she was determined to direct the raven’s actions like a charioteer driving horses. She would coordinate her human form at the same time she controlled the raven’s action. Before, she could only control one physical form at a time.
Coordinating the movements of her human body and the raven concurrently was dizzying. She concentrated harder, telling herself step-by-step what to do next.
See through the raven’s eyes.
Her vision switched to the raven’s eyesight.
Move my human head. Speak to Belinus with my mouth.
The raven’s eyes fixed on Belinus while she tilted her human head toward him. Looking at Belinus through the raven’s eyes, she said, “Tell Agrona that I’m now willing to train with her.”
“This is a sudden change in attitude,” Belinus replied, suspicion in his voice.
Catrin could not tell if she was hearing his voice through human or raven ears. Turning her human head toward the raven, she still saw Belinus through the raven’s eyes. She told Belinus, “I’ve been considering this decision the last few days. Will Agrona be visiting me this morning, so I can start training?”
“No, but I am to meet her after I leave here.” Belinus leaned over the tabletop and gaped at the raven. “The light must be bad in here. I swear the bird’s eyes have turned blue.”
Curious as to whether her eyes had also changed color as a result of entering the raven’s mind, Catrin asked, “What color are my eyes?”
Belinus studied her face. “Blue … no wait.” His eyes grew bigger. “They look almost black in the dim light.”
Catrin directed the raven to look at her. When the bird tilted its head, the room appeared to whirl until she saw herself through the bird’s eyes.
“Are you all right?” Belinus asked. “Your eyes look strange … hollow.”
Catrin steered the raven’s head to look at Belinus. “I am not sure what you mean.”
He did not respond, his eyes darting back and forth between the raven and hers. She turned her head toward the raven and directed it to raise its leg. It did as instructed. She then wondered if she could see through both her human and raven’s eyes at the same time.
She could!
But seeing i
mages of Belinus and herself at the same time was disconcerting. She lurched out of the raven’s mind and switched completely to her human senses.
Belinus leaned over the table. “I can’t believe it!”
“Believe what?”
“Your eyes! They switched from blue to amber, and now they’re blue again.”
The fear in Belinus’s eyes gave Catrin an idea on how to play with his mind, so she could escape. “You must be seeing the eyes of evil spirits that live inside me. Go tell Agrona I need to speak with her. Tell her to hurry, so she can purge these demons from me. On your way out, leave the door open, so any ghouls hiding in here can also leave with you.”
Belinus flinched. “What ghouls? You know I can’t leave the door unlocked.”
“Oh, I forgot,” Catrin said.
Belinus flinched when the raven on her arm arched its wings and shrieked. He asked in a quivering voice, “Is that creature putting a curse on me?”
The raven answered his question by flouncing onto his head. Belinus froze, his eyes rolling up. “Get this thing off me!”
“Do not show the raven any fear,” Catrin warned, lowering her voice. “Its talons might shred your head like cabbage leaves!”
Belinus was as motionless as a statue as the raven raked its beak through his lime-bleached hair. Then the bird hopped onto the floor.
Eyes and mouth both gaping open, Belinus muttered, “I need to go now!” He picked up his knife from the table and opened the door, the raven waddling out behind him. The door slammed shut and the bolt clicked.
Hearing Belinus leave, Catrin leaned against the door to budge it.
Nothing.
Again she pushed. Still nothing.
Frustrated, she pounded on the door for several moments and then lowered herself on the ground in despair after realizing she had lost her chance to escape. The image of Marcellus’s headless body rolled into her mind. Panic struck her like a whirlwind that not only could he be killed, but also her father. What could she do? Even if she escaped, who would believe that Agrona was the embodiment of Rhan?
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