Free Rescued by the Celtic Warrior (Roman Love ~ Pict Desire Series Book 1) by Amy Jarecki Page B

the blade back up. This time she pointed it at his nose. “Another barbarian, he looks to me.”
    “Not at all like the Attacotti. They’re a bloodthirsty lot.” Taran backed away and reached for the reins of his horse. “Come.”
    Pia scowled at Valeria. “How do you know this man?”
    “The bishop and I prayed for him in the gaol. Remember the blue eyes?” Valeria bit her lip. She didn’t dare mention how many times she’d visited Taran, or that she’d helped him.
    “Are you serious? We’re going from the hands of savages to outlaws?”
    Valeria shook her head. “I do not believe Taran is guilty of any crime. Perhaps I can talk him into helping reunite us with Papa.”
    Pia shook her head and planted her feet. “I do not approve of this.”
    “Do you have a better idea?” Valeria cast her tree limb aside. They were in the untamed land beyond the Roman Empire. Though she had no idea how the Picts would treat them, her instincts told her they would fare better with Taran than Runan and his evil Atta-whatevers.
    She bent down to one of the fallen and unbuckled his dagger, then fastened it around her own waist. There were not enough holes to draw the belt tight, and the contraption slipped to her hips. She didn’t care; at least she was armed. She pulled her cloak around her body to hide it.
    Greum and the others came back leading two horses.
    Taran nodded toward the women. “Help them mount.”
    “Hello, m’lady.” Greum smiled at Valeria. “This is Drust and Seumas. Fionn is over the hill. He took a nasty spill and broke his leg. He’s in need of doctoring.”
    Valeria nodded. “Pia can help him. My grandfather saw she was trained in the healing arts.”
    Pia scowled but mounted the horse.
    ****
    Fionn held up his slingshot as they approached. Valeria nodded to Pia, who gingerly slid off her horse. An enormous wiry-haired dog growled as she approached the boy.
    “Come behind,” Taran commanded, and the dog immediately jumped to his side. He gave Fionn’s head a pat. “The old woman can help ye.”
    Drust pulled a silver flask of potent mead from his saddlebags. “Drink. It’ll numb the pain.”
    Pia eyed the dislocated ankle while Fionn drained the flask. She lifted his limb and he jerked, grunting at the pain. “This isn’t going to hurt me, lad, but you’d better bear down.” She looked at Drust and Greum. “Hold his shoulders.”
    Seumas shoved a twig between his teeth while Pia planted her bare feet on either side of Fionn’s leg. Using her ample weight to her advantage, she twisted the foot and jerked it back into place.
    The blood drained from Fionn’s face, his eyes rolled to the back of his head and a howl of agony echoed across the trees. Valeria choked back an involuntary heave and turned her face away.
    Aside from the swelling, the foot looked normal. Pia stood and inspected her work. “I need a splint and some bandages to wrap it, otherwise the ankle will slip out of place again.”
    Taran raised his eyebrows at Drust who shrugged. Valeria glanced around and saw nothing that would suffice. She bent down and tore two strips off the hem of her tunic and held them out.
    With a stern look, Pia grabbed them.
    Valeria shrugged. “I’ve got the cloak to cover my legs.”
    “Yes, but one of our hosts could have offered a piece of his clothing. Not you.”
    Valeria glanced at the ragged men looking guilty as sin. Not one of them was clean, their clothing splattered with blood. Her meager tunic was the cleanest piece of cloth among the lot.
    Taran stepped forward and inspected Fionn’s foot. “Ye think ye can ride?”
    A hiccup slid past Fionn’s grin. “If ye keep the mead commin’”
    Taran circled his hand over his head. “Mount up. Give the healer one of the Attacotti’s horses, the other to Fionn—his mount is lame.” He turned to Valeria knitting his auburn brows. “Ye’ll have to double with me.”
    She bit her bottom lip. Ride with Taran? The thought frightened and