The Druid Chronicles: Four Book Collection by Phillips Christina

Author:Phillips, Christina
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 978-0-648-00417-2
Publisher: Phoenix 18 Publishing
Published: 2020-04-19T16:00:00+00:00

Chapter 34

As night fell they camped deep in the forest, not risking fires to cook their food in case the Romans were still searching for fugitives. Judoc had also joined them, and they’d traveled a fair distance from the battlefield, all things considered.

Morwyn leaned back against a tree. The women and children gave the three of them a measure of privacy, in deference to their status, but instead of sitting next to her, Brennus sat opposite, forearm resting over his raised knee, other hand occupied with his dagger.

Perhaps he didn’t wish Judoc to know of their relationship?

She smothered the pain that thought caused, but couldn’t help the subsequent one. Was he ashamed of her, because of her Druidry? She knew he still cared. He couldn’t hide the raw emotion in his eyes from her. But did he still want to care?

“What are we supposed to do with them all?” Judoc’s voice was low.

“Some can still return to their home villages.” Brennus shrugged one shoulder and she caught him looking at her, until he realized she saw, and then he jerked his attention back to Judoc. Goddess, did he now hate the way he still desired her?

Did he still desire her? After they’d left the mountain he hadn’t so much as touched her hand. In fact, he’d gone out of his way so they didn’t touch even by accident.

“But not all. Some of their villages are destroyed.” Judoc appeared supremely unaware of the tension vibrating in the air around him. Perhaps she would blow another dart in his neck, render him unconscious. Perhaps then Brennus would deign to talk to her, to tell her why he no longer sought her company.

“Some wish to return to the Roman settlements.” Brennus sounded as if he had no opinion on that one way or the other. “Wherever they want to go, I’ll ensure they reach their destination.”

“Perhaps,” she said, feeling she had been excluded from the conversation for long enough, “some would embrace the adventure of starting over, in Gaul.” That was his final destination, after all. Would it be hers? Could she bear to leave behind her beloved Cymru, never again see her kin still ensconced on Mon?

But I’ve already left Cymru. Where could she go, if she stayed? Back to Mon, back to trying to persuade the other Druids they should leave the sacred Isle? And do what?

Caratacus’ rebellion had failed. There was no rallying point any longer.

In the gathering gloom she caught Bren’s furtive glance before he once again concentrated on stabbing the ground with the tip of his dagger. “If that’s what they want.”

The pain inside her breast magnified. Not once had he asked where she wanted to go. What she wanted to do. He accepted her presence as an inevitable, yet ultimately uncomfortable, burden.

“What about Camulodunon?” She glared at him, knowing he couldn’t see because it was too dark. “There are plenty of opportunities there.” Such as begging, whoring, slavery, degradation—

“I always intended to take you there before I left, Morwyn.

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