When he was done, he turned to the Greek and folded his arms. “The queen told me you could get me onto that ship.”
Adrastos nodded and spoke around a mouthful of food. “You, yes. I have passage for two.” He scowled at Bahar and Phaedra. “Not for four.”
“What can you do then?” Thane was half hoping the Greek would tell him he could not get the siblings on board the ship. The night before, when he could not sleep, the gladiator had secretly planned how to rid himself of the cumbersome pair once they reached the port, but in his heart, he knew that it had nothing to do with inconvenience. He feared for their lives. What he planned would be dangerous, and they had no place in it. If they hated him for abandoning them, so be it; at least they would be safe.
“Yes, I have thought of that.” Adrastos swallowed and winked at Phaedra. “Slaves travel for free. That still leaves three.” He sniffed and took another bite of his bread. “I will ponder it along the way. I am certain a solution will present itself.”
There was a gleam in the Greek’s eye that made Thane think Adrastos’ plans aligned with his own, and he was grateful.
They cleaned up their lunch, and Thane ordered them back onto the road.
Late in the afternoon, Phaedra was walking next to him, and Bahar had taken the lead. He was well in front of them. When he disappeared around a corner, Thane shouted at him.
“Bahar, stay in sight!” At the same moment, Phaedra stopped and leaned against the ox, holding her side.
“I cannot walk any further.” She lifted one foot to her hands and rubbed the skin where it showed through the lacing. Her feet were black with dirt and red with nasty blisters along the top. “Please, we have gone for hours, can we rest?”
Thane nodded once and lifted his hand to shout at her brother, but just at that moment, the path filled with the sound of pounding hoof beats.
From ahead, Thane heard Bahar’s call and took off running toward it, shouting behind him. “Get into the wagon, Phaedra, and stay there.” She gave him a blank stare but stayed where she was. “Now!”
Before she could move Adrastos suddenly lifted the reins and pulled hard on the ox, turning it to the right. Startled, Phaedra jumped out of the way before the ox could trample her. Thane stopped in his tracks, watching the Greek turn the wagon to go the other way. Bahar yelled again. Cursing, Thane turned around and ran towards him.
Once he got around the corner, what he saw there stopped him.
Seated on magnificent horses, sat three fully armored Roman soldiers, each with a
pila
pointed down at Bahar who was on his knees in the road, his fingers laced behind his head. When they spotted Thane, one of them detached himself from the rest and rode over to where he stood.
“Does this belong to you?” the officer asked, gesturing with the spear.
Thane had to think fast so relaxed completely and smiled up at the Roman. “My apprentice,” he said calmly, “Bahar. He got too far in front of us, and I came when he called.”
The Roman nodded and looked from one to the other. “And you are?”
“I am Teutorigos,” he said bowing low. “A merchant from
Corieltauvi
.”
The officer snorted a laugh. “You do not look like a merchant. You look like a mercenary.”
“Ah,” Thane replied, motioning for Bahar to get up. “I was. There is no money in fighting when the Romans already rule the world, now is there?”
All three of them laughed at that, and Bahar got to his feet and slowly crossed to Thane.
“I like you… merchant. You know your place.” The Roman glanced behind them and lifted his brow. “Strange. Do you trade on foot and carry your wares?”
“No.” Thane pulled the boy behind him and threw a thumb over his shoulder towards the path. “My wagon is down the road. As I said my apprentice here got too far away.” He crossed to the Roman with his hands folded. “We have wares that we could sell… or trade… as you wish. I travel with a medico, a Greek named Adrastos. If you have ailments, he could sell you medicinals or herbs, all that you need.”
The tall Roman moved his horse back to his companions and sheathed his spear into a loop at the horse’s side. “We need no medicinals, merchant. You are a long way from the
Iter
. Where are you bound?”
“Londinium, sir. I am at the end of my trading with the small hill forts to the south.” He spread his hands to the road. “This is the best path to reach them. I return to Londinium to replenish my supplies.”
“Indeed.” The soldier pulled on his reins. “Then you may continue on your…” He stopped suddenly and looked over their heads. His horse tossed his snout, and the Roman’s face changed. “And who is this? Not another apprentice.”
Thane turned to see Phaedra standing stunned behind him. He mentally cursed to his gods and balled his fists, furious that she did not stay with the wagon as he had ordered.
“Girl,” he hissed at her. “Come to me.”
Phaedra’s eyes did not leave the three soldiers, but she moved slowly to Thane. When she got near him, he let his hand fly and landed a backhand across her face that threw her to the ground. Horrified, she stared up at him, touching her face with a shaking hand. He had pulled the blow, but knew it had to hurt. With an effort, he kept his face stern.
“I told you to stay with the wagon!” Spittle flew from his mouth, and he took one step to grab her by the arm and yank her to her feet. He could feel her hot skin trembling in his hand.
“I am sorry. I did not know…”
He raised his hand again, and she cringed away from him. “Master! I have told you before. You will address me as master. Do I need to beat you again?”
She lifted her eyes to him, and the hate he saw painted there fired his desire. Lifting her chin and standing up to him, she said through her teeth, “Master.”
He pulled her close and whispered into her ear. “Do exactly as I say. Understand?”
“Yes,” she whispered back.
In one quick move, he threw her to Bahar, who caught both her arms to keep her from falling. “Forgive me, sir,” Thane said to the officer. “She is new and has yet to learn her place.”
“A slave,” the Roman replied without taking his eyes off her. Thane had seen that look before. A spark of jealousy tightened his jaw.
“Yes.” The words came out as an accusation, and the officer shifted his gaze to Thane.
The Roman lifted his chin and glanced back at his companions. “She has no markings, merchant.” He folded his arms, and Thane knew he was on unsteady ground.
“I acquired her in
Verulamium, newly sold by her father. They caught her stealing, bringing shame to her family. I will have her branded in Londinium when I arrive.”
The soldier dismounted and crossed to them, signaling his juniors to stay mounted. He stopped next to Thane, looking at Phaedra. “Come here, girl.”
Phaedra exchanged a glance with Bahar, but her shoulders slumped, and she crossed to the soldier obediently. Thane was worried about her performance, but she played her part well. When she was in front of the soldier, she lowered her chin and put her hands behind her back.
“On your knees,” Thane growled, and Phaedra sank to her knees.
Reaching down, the soldier wound his hand in her hair and pushed her head back. “She is quite beautiful.” Forcing her head to the right then left, he released her hair and grabbed the hood of her cloak. In one quick move, he pulled it off her. She did not move, but Thane could see a shutter run through her.
When the soldier reached for the neck of her tunic, Thane felt his nostrils flare, and he took an involuntary step toward the Roman. The man turned his head and gave Thane a thin smile. “Is there a problem?”
Thane stepped back and bowed his head. “No, sir. It is just I do not want her harmed. She cost me a hundred denarii.”
Turning his head back to Phaedra, he pulled the tunic off her shoulders and down her arms until he bared her breasts. She still did not move, but the trembling increased. “She is worth the price, merchant. A virgin?”
“No, sir.”
The Roman pulled her forward and examined her back, then lifted her hair to check her neck. Like an animal, he pulled her lips apart to see her teeth. Phaedra took it all without a sound.
“Let me see your hands.” She pulled them from her back and presented them to him, still looking down. He glared at Thane suspiciously. “I see no evidence of chains or lash. Was she not punished for her crime? Have you not had to discipline her?”
Thane held the man’s eyes, giving him what he hoped was his most lecherous smirk. “The prison guards took pity on her when she offered them an… alternative. And as for me…” He let it hang in the air. “I am no stranger to female slaves. I rarely have to correct them. She will bring a good price at market. I do not want her marked.”
The officer chuckled under his breath and almost as an afterthought, ran a hand over each breast before roughly pulling her tunic into place. “I understand.”
Strolling back to his horse, the officer removed a bag from its side and opened it. Thane could hear the jingling of coins. The officer glanced up at his companions and a look passed between them. Thane was immediately on his guard.
“I will give you twenty-five denarii for half an hour with her, me and my men,” he said pulling out coins.
“She is not for lease, sir. As I said, she is much more valuable to me in her present condition. I will not have her harmed.”
“We will not harm her, merchant. I promise we will be very careful.”
“All due respect, sir, but the girl is my property, and I will not have her mauled, especially by men of your,” he lifted a hand to them, “obvious prowess. She will remain as she is until I sell her.”
The officer pulled air into his lungs and narrowed his eyes. “We could demand it, Brit.”
Bahar pulled his sword from his side, and Thane held a hand out to stop him. “Bahar, manners. If it was you upon that horse, would you not also barter for her services? I think so.”
Pursing his lips, he yanked his own
gladius
from the scabbard and all three men put a hand on their own weapon. However, rather than threatening them, he used the sword to clean his nails, then performed one of his most impressive maneuvers by twirling the sword skillfully, tossing it high into the air, and catching it behind his back, a move he had learned long ago under King Marius, Delia’s Roman husband. He glanced at the men to make certain they knew who they dealt with and slammed the sword back into its case.
“Something might be arranged,” he finally replied. “Make it two hundred and I will grant you that half hour.” Bahar opened his mouth, but Thane shot him an angry look, and he closed it.
“Two hundred?” the officer sputtered. “That is double what you paid for her!”
Thane shrugged. “Demand has increased.”
“We do not have that much between the three of us.”
“Oh.” Thane put his hand on top of Phaedra’s head and ruffled her hair. “Perhaps we could do this; I arrive in Londinium tomorrow and will be staying at the Fish’s Tail. Do you know it?”
“Yes. It is run by a Gaul.”
Thane nodded once. “Meet me there with the two hundred, and I will let you have her for the night. If she is damaged in any way the next morning,” he warned, “you will buy her for a thousand. Agreed?”
The officer spoke in whispers to his men then turned. “Agreed, merchant.” He got on his horse and turned its head back up the road from where they had come. “Be warned, Teutorigos, if you are not there tomorrow, we will scour the country to find you.”
Thane bowed low with a sweeping arm. “I never walk away from profit.”
With a yell, the Romans pushed their mounts to gallop up the road.
When they were well gone, Thane pulled Phaedra to her feet and examined her face where he had struck her. There would be a blackened bruise in a day or two and there was a cut where her teeth had hit her lips, but nothing was broken.
“I am sorry for…”
“It is all right.” Phaedra turned from him and crossed to her brother. Her voice was very tired. “I know why you did it. You probably saved my virtue, if not my life.” She touched Bahar’s arm to sooth the anger from his face. “Did you have to hit me so hard?” Trying to smile, she grimaced when she turned to him and touched her cheek.
“I… had to make it believable.”
“And a fine job you did.” She hugged her arms and Thane retrieved her cloak from the road. “Adrastos is gone. He turned the wagon and went the other way.”