Defy the Eagle by Lynn Bartlett Read Free Book Online

silence. The sentry pivoted and began retracing his steps along the outside wall of the palace. At the same moment the Roman back was turned, a figure detached itself from the sharpening stone and dashed noiselessly across the shadowed courtyard and into the palace.
    Boadicea heard him first, and signaling one of her women to open her chamber door, she drew herself stiffly upright on the Roman couch, the only piece of furniture the soldier had allowed her to keep. "Enter, Caddaric," said in a hushed voice, "and tell me what news you bear."
    Caddaric obeyed, his tall, broad-shouldered frame filling the doorway before he strode into the room and went down on one knee in front of his queen. "Forgive me, Majesty, but our number is too small to accomplish your wishes this night. We require one more day in which to grow strong enough to bring the Romans low."
    Boadicea sighed. "So little time, Caddaric, and yet the morrow seems an eternity away. My heart screams for vengeance and you say I must wait." The royal features contorted with thwarted need as Boadicea came "to a decision. "Then tell my chieftains to fill the streets with Roman blood. Tell them also to bring to me the Roman Procurator and his personal guards. I will see their deaths with my own eyes."
    "'Twill be as you command, Majesty."
    For a moment the Queen was silent, contemplating the shadows cast by the room's solitary lamp. In a harsh tone Boadicea said, "They outraged my daughters, Caddaric. Stripping my daughters of their inheritance was not enough, the Romans had to take their virginity as well. Tell that to my people."
    Caddaric closed his eyes, rage heating his blood. "All will be avenged, O Queen. None shall escape our vengeance." He touched her hand to his forehead and went to the door.
    "Caddaric." Boadicea's voice swung the warrior about. "The young woman who helped me today—do you remember her?"
    "Aye, Majesty." Caddaric's hand tightened around his sword hilt. How could he forget Jilana when she had been in his thoughts throughout the day? She and the man who claimed to be her betrothed.
    "She is to be spared along with her family, if such a thing is possible. You will see to it, Caddaric." Before Caddaric could think her lenient Boadicea continued, "They will be made slaves—the girl will be given to the warrior who brings Catus Decianus to me."
    "As you command, Majesty." A wave of the royal hand dismissed him and minutes later Caddaric had left the town behind and melted into the forest beyond.
    He felt the presence of warriors and warrior maids all about him, but not even Caddaric's practiced eye could discern their positions. The forest was alive with his fellow tribesmen and though Caddaric was loathe to consider what the following day would bring, his pride in the Iceni nation swelled his heart. Clywd—once again swathed from head to foot in black—stepped from the trees directly into his son's path.
    "Rebellion?" At Caddaric's short nod, Clywd appeared to shrink under the voluminous folds of his robe.
    "There is no other choice, wise one. You better than anyone should know that we are powerless to fight what the gods decree.''
    Clywd turned. "The chieftains wait. I will take you to
    Caddaric delivered the Queen's orders to her chieftains and then detached himself from the waiting Iceni force and made his way to the clearing where he had discovered Jilana. Jilana. Caddaric's heart hammered painfully as he remembered his first glimpse of the woman who had haunted him for so long. His dreams had not done justice to Jilana's beauty—she was more incredibly delicate than Caddaric had imagined, her eyes such a remarkable shade of violet that to gaze into them was akin to drowning. He had not expected the unbearable yearning of his soul to possess Jilana, nor had he anticipated Jilana's bravery in the face of Roman justice. A faint smile curved Caddaric's lips and he stretched out full length on the ground and contemplated the moon. By the gods, but