the growing wind.
She shivered. “Sir, I should have brought my cloak with me.”
“I’m without a cloak or I would offer it to you.”
“There is a weaver in Duroliponte that I can recommend.”
He quirked one eyebrow. “I’ll get a new cloak tomorrow from the clothier at the fort.”
“Oh? How dull. I mean, a man needs assortment sometimes, don’t you think?”
Are we talking about cloaks or women, little girl?
For a young woman, though, she played this game too well. “I wear a certain type of helmet so that my men can locate me in battle, and when in full dress, I do look a bit different than the other men. That is my primary concern but beyond that, I am pleased to wear the uniform of a centurion in the twentieth. I thought I’d buy a cloak from someone nearby. What do you think of Adrenia’s work?”
She immediately stiffened and arched one brow with displeasure. “Well, her work is tolerable, I suppose.” A piqued, heated look entered her eyes as she stepped away from him. Almost as if she wanted to punish him for mentioning Adrenia. “She’s the daughter of a former slave. Besides, there are rumors about her family.”
Curiosity built inside him, along with an anger he couldn’t place or understand. “She’s the daughter of a freedman . A man given his Roman citizenship by your father. That makes her a Roman citizen.”
She smiled as a silky tone entered her voice. “Why of course. I only meant her weaving is not the best.”
“What rumors are you referring to?”
“I shouldn’t have mentioned it.”
He towered over her, well aware his height and size intimated some men and most women. “Tell me.”
Her eyes widened, her lips parting in uncertainty. “Over the years members of her family have gone missing.”
“What?”
“Her oldest sister Prima disappeared fifteen years ago when she was just a small girl. Then her only brother, Primus, disappeared three years ago. Very strange. It’s common knowledge around here that the people of Durovigutum do not like that family.”
Terentius’s brows knitted. “Because they’ve had the misfortune of family members disappearing?”
“There you are,” Cordus said from the doorway. Terentius didn’t see disapproval on the older man’s face. Relief wended through Terentius. He didn’t want the man thinking he planned to seduce his daughter.
Or, even more horrible, marry her.
All three of them returned inside.
As soon as darkness fell, Terentius decided they should leave. “It’s colder and snowing. While we’ve enjoyed the warmth of your hearth, sir, we will bother you no more tonight.”
Once they’d said goodbye and their horses traversed the road, Terentius wished they’d left earlier. The darkness, accompanied by clouds, made it so dark a human would have difficulty seeing in front of him without a torch. A good thing their horses knew the track and could see. The snow flurries had disappeared.
They rode in silence until they’d almost reached the fort. Welcome light poured from the gateway.
“So do you find Cordia interesting?” Victor asked. “Or maybe you’re thinking about Adrenia. She’s probably ready to expire from lack of a man’s touch. You know, if you’re not interested in her I’d be happy to—”
Terentius leaned across the inches separating their horses and grabbed the optio by the neck. He squeezed. Words ripped from his throat, harsh and final. “Don’t touch her.”
Victor jerked out of his grip. “By all the furies.” He rubbed his throat. “Now your true feelings show. You really do want her.”
“Screw you, Victor.” Terentius’s temper boiled, so out of control he could have beaten his good friend to a pulp. He hadn’t felt this way about a woman since…
Never.
“Promise me you will never touch Adrenia,” Terentius said. “If you do, I’ll be forced to kill you.”
All humor fled Victor’s craggy face. He saluted his superior officer. “As you will it. You know I
She shivered. “Sir, I should have brought my cloak with me.”
“I’m without a cloak or I would offer it to you.”
“There is a weaver in Duroliponte that I can recommend.”
He quirked one eyebrow. “I’ll get a new cloak tomorrow from the clothier at the fort.”
“Oh? How dull. I mean, a man needs assortment sometimes, don’t you think?”
Are we talking about cloaks or women, little girl?
For a young woman, though, she played this game too well. “I wear a certain type of helmet so that my men can locate me in battle, and when in full dress, I do look a bit different than the other men. That is my primary concern but beyond that, I am pleased to wear the uniform of a centurion in the twentieth. I thought I’d buy a cloak from someone nearby. What do you think of Adrenia’s work?”
She immediately stiffened and arched one brow with displeasure. “Well, her work is tolerable, I suppose.” A piqued, heated look entered her eyes as she stepped away from him. Almost as if she wanted to punish him for mentioning Adrenia. “She’s the daughter of a former slave. Besides, there are rumors about her family.”
Curiosity built inside him, along with an anger he couldn’t place or understand. “She’s the daughter of a freedman . A man given his Roman citizenship by your father. That makes her a Roman citizen.”
She smiled as a silky tone entered her voice. “Why of course. I only meant her weaving is not the best.”
“What rumors are you referring to?”
“I shouldn’t have mentioned it.”
He towered over her, well aware his height and size intimated some men and most women. “Tell me.”
Her eyes widened, her lips parting in uncertainty. “Over the years members of her family have gone missing.”
“What?”
“Her oldest sister Prima disappeared fifteen years ago when she was just a small girl. Then her only brother, Primus, disappeared three years ago. Very strange. It’s common knowledge around here that the people of Durovigutum do not like that family.”
Terentius’s brows knitted. “Because they’ve had the misfortune of family members disappearing?”
“There you are,” Cordus said from the doorway. Terentius didn’t see disapproval on the older man’s face. Relief wended through Terentius. He didn’t want the man thinking he planned to seduce his daughter.
Or, even more horrible, marry her.
All three of them returned inside.
As soon as darkness fell, Terentius decided they should leave. “It’s colder and snowing. While we’ve enjoyed the warmth of your hearth, sir, we will bother you no more tonight.”
Once they’d said goodbye and their horses traversed the road, Terentius wished they’d left earlier. The darkness, accompanied by clouds, made it so dark a human would have difficulty seeing in front of him without a torch. A good thing their horses knew the track and could see. The snow flurries had disappeared.
They rode in silence until they’d almost reached the fort. Welcome light poured from the gateway.
“So do you find Cordia interesting?” Victor asked. “Or maybe you’re thinking about Adrenia. She’s probably ready to expire from lack of a man’s touch. You know, if you’re not interested in her I’d be happy to—”
Terentius leaned across the inches separating their horses and grabbed the optio by the neck. He squeezed. Words ripped from his throat, harsh and final. “Don’t touch her.”
Victor jerked out of his grip. “By all the furies.” He rubbed his throat. “Now your true feelings show. You really do want her.”
“Screw you, Victor.” Terentius’s temper boiled, so out of control he could have beaten his good friend to a pulp. He hadn’t felt this way about a woman since…
Never.
“Promise me you will never touch Adrenia,” Terentius said. “If you do, I’ll be forced to kill you.”
All humor fled Victor’s craggy face. He saluted his superior officer. “As you will it. You know I
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