Free Defy the Eagle by Lynn Bartlett

the violet eyes filled with hatred. "You are a fool, old man, to think I will share so much as a word with that dog. I shall curse his name throughout eternity."
    "By whose gods will you curse him—yours or his?" A knock sounded at the door and, chuckling over Jilana's defiance, Clywd rose and lifted the bar from the door.
    The door had barely opened when Caddaric strode into the room and Jilana took an unconscious step backward. Gone was the centurion who had so bewitched Jilana in an isolated glade and in his place stood a fearsome Iceni warrior whose bleak expression turned Jilana's blood to ice. At some point in the night past, the centurion's uniform had been discarded in favor of the rough woolen tunic he now wore and the clothing, as well as Caddaric himself, was spattered with blood. What drew Jilana's attention, however, was the fresh gash which marred the Briton's left cheek. The bloody line cut diagonally from hairline at his temple, across the cheekbone, to end at the jawline.
    The dark blue eyes never left Jilana's face as Caddaric spoke to Clywd. "The Queen plans to address the people. Go below and tell the warriors and warrior maids to assemble at the palace."
    "You are hurt," Clywd noted anxiously. "Your wounds—"
    "Are not serious," Caddaric interrupted. "Go, Clywd. Give us." With a last glance at Jilana, Clywd departed, Caddaric waited until no sound issued from the hall beyond the door and then, in slow, deliberate movements, unstrapped his baldric, leaned his sword against the 11 and advanced upon Jilana. Halting at the foot of the he coldly surveyed his captive. "You seem to have survived your swoon well enough. Have you eaten?" Jilana stared at him balefully and Caddaric checked a flare of irritation. The drinking cup caught his eye and he picked it up and sniffed at the contents. Satisfied, he rounded the bed and offered the cup to Jilana. "Drink is first and then we shall see about getting food for you."
    Jilana turned her head aside and gazed out of the win-low. She would not countenance speaking to this man, let lone accept nourishment from him. If all other resources failed, Jilana would starve herself to death!
    "Tis not poison," Caddaric said, thinking he understood her refusal. He took a sip of the liquid and once more extended his hand. "Bitter, mayhap, but not deadly. Come, drink—"
    Jilana's arm struck out, sweeping the cup from Caddaric's hand. Clywd's draught spattered them both and with studied contempt Jilana brushed at the droplets on her toga. Anger flashed in the Briton's blue eyes but she refused to give in to her own fear.
    Caddaric glanced first at his tunic, then at the mess on the floor, and finally at Jilana. "You are a foolish woman," he said in a deceptively soft voice.
    Jilana tossed her head defiantly and presented her back to her captor. Juno, let him kill me now, Jilana begged as a vision of her family and Lucius appeared before her.
    "Since you will neither drink nor eat," Caddaric told the slender back, "you will tend my wounds when I have bathed. I would not have my Queen see me thus."
    Jilana swallowed the enraged retort which came to mind. Calling upon every Roman god, she silently rained curses upon this Briton's head and pleaded with the gods to give the barbarian a long, torturous death.
    Caddaric's temper rose with each moment that passed and he felt the last vestiges of control slipping away. When Jilana's shoulders resolutely squared themselves, Caddaric clamped a hand around her left wrist and spun Jilana about. "Though you hate me with every fiber of your being, you will obey me, Jilana."
    "Nay," Jilana spat, unable to remain silent any longer. "If Caesar himself so ordered me, still I would not obey you."
    "Your Emperor is in Rome, surrounded by Praetorian Guards and no doubt dining on honeyed fowl," Caddaric ground out. "You, however, are here. Alone."
    "Aye, alone," Jilana echoed bitterly. "You saw to that, did you not, Briton?"
    "I am Caddaric."
    "I know