Defy the Eagle by Lynn Bartlett

Author:Lynn Bartlett
Language: eng
Format: mobi, epub
Tags: Romance, General, Fiction
ISBN: 9780263850765
Publisher: Harlequin Mills & Boon, Limited
Published: 1987-01-01T16:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER SEVEN

Three days after Hadrian's escape, Jilana watched Caddaric saddle his golden stallion. It was barely dawn and the air was chilly. A light fog blanketed the camp, isolating their site from the others. Jilana shivered and stretched out her hands to the fire. Caddaric wore a cloak and seemed immune to chill; she had no such luxury, nor would she ask for it. Conversation now was limited to Caddaric issuing orders and her ''Aye, lord." Caddaric had not abused her further, not physically. In fact, aside from giving her orders, he ignored her. He no longer taught her to cook. That task was divided between himself, Artair and Heall, with the other two men teaching Jilana how to roast meat over the fire or make soup. As they explained what they were doing, Jilana would glance at Caddaric, hoping that her willingness to learn would lessen the tension spun between them. He ignored her overtures with the same supreme ease with which he ignored her presence in his bed.

The one question she had dared had been in regard to their sleeping arrangements. Jilana had asked if she should make up a different pallet for herself. Caddaric's answer was typical. His eyes had traveled slowly over her and in a voice rich with scorn he had asked, "Why?" She had not raised the subject again.

Now he was leaving. At the end of the wagon lay the saddlebag Jilana had packed, as Caddaric ordered, with dried meat, oat cakes and grain. Caddaric, along with two thousand other warriors, was leaving the war band to turn north to meet elements of the Ninth Hispana Legion under the command of Petilius Cerealis, the legate. The action had been decided yesterday, when allies from the north had brought the news to Queen Boadicea that elements of the Ninth Legion had left their fort and were on the march. The war council had decided to split their forces. Caddaric's force would veer north while the remainder of the war band continued south toward Londinium. Caddaric had been one of the first to volunteer, despite the greater danger, and Artair had volunteered as well. Clywd was going also; as a physician his abilities would be needed at the battle site. The southbound contingent did not expect to encounter any resistance. The news the forward scouts brought back to camp was that the Romans were deserting their coloniae—the settlements for veterans—and their rural villae rather than face the Iceni. No battles were expected until Londinium.

Around Jilana the camp had come to life. She could hear the usual morning stirrings even though the inhabitants and their actions were concealed by the fog. She added another piece of wood to the fire and bent to stir the oatmeal porridge. Only yesterday Caddaric had ordered her to ration their supplies more carefully, but she could not send him—or the others—on their way without a decent meal. Jilana knew they would ride hard, eating in the saddle and stopping only when the horses required a rest.

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