Page 67 of Taming the Eagle
Sucking in a deep breath, Fenella gripped her shawl around her tighter still. It wasn’t cold this morning, yet goose pimples covered her skin. Curse her. She’d looked forward to this day, had thought her heart would rejoice to know her freedom was imminent, yet instead, her bowels had turned to ice, and she felt oddly light-headed.
She still had to get out of the praetorium, collect her rope, and make her way to the watchtower above the Porta Principalis Dextra, fighting any Roman who barred her way. Then she’d rope down the other side.
Timing would be everything.
Fenella clenched her jaw tight before spinning on her heel and heading for the kitchen. The others were in there, waiting out the siege.
As she’d expected, Aedan was pacing the length of the space, restless, while the others sat at the scrubbed wooden table, fingers wrapped around cups of hot broth.
They all looked Fenella’s way as she entered.
“The air’s heavy with smoke,” she announced. “The sound of battle grows louder.” Her gaze met Aedan’s. “They’re inside the fort.”
“What?” Ava clutched at Caius. “They can’t have breached the walls?”
“Of course they can … if there are enough of them,” the steward muttered.
“We need weapons,” Aedan spoke up.
“The general has some in his room,” Kahina replied, rising to her feet. Her face was taut, although her voice remained steady. “I’ll get them.”
A search of Justin’s quarters turned up two daggers and a spear. Caius took a pugio, Aedan helped himself to the other, and Kahina grasped the pilum. Fenella and Ava made do with weapons from the kitchen. Ava armed herself with a cleaver, while Fenella took a boning knife with a long thin blade—one she’d had her eye on for a while.
The steward and cook took refuge in the kitchen then, leaving the three slaves to hide elsewhere.
They lingered in the courtyard, while above them the sun was rising, staining the smoky sky crimson. It was an ominous color. But even more disconcerting were the shouts and screams now ringing through the fort. The fighting was close enough that they could hear the clash of blades.
“Minerva, defend us,” Kahina whispered. Her brown eyes glittered. Her knuckles, which clenched the shaft of her spear, had gone white. “We should find somewhere to hide.”
Fenella’s heart started to pound.
This was her chance. She had to go now—before the attackers reached this house. She’d be trapped inside with the others once they did.
However, her feet wouldn’t move.
Even if Kahina and Aedan attempted to hide in one of the rooms lining the portico, they’d be discovered if the praetorium was overrun. She couldn’t leave them to the Wolves.
“There’s no point hiding,” she gasped, turning to her companions. “We need to go.”
Aedan stared at her. “What?”
Horror shadowed Kahina’s eyes. “But the general ordered us to remain within the praetorium.”
“And the general has likely been skewered on a Cruthini blade by now,” Fenella countered. Bile stung her throat then. Gods, she hoped not. Her gaze flicked from Kahina’s face to Aedan’s. They were both gawking at her as if a changeling stood before them.
“Listen to me,” she said, her voice low and hard. “I know a way out … but we have to leave now.”
“I’m not going anywhere,” Kahina shot back, her voice rising. “I’ll not abandon Aquila.”
“What?” Fenella viewed her friend with disbelief. “You owe him nothing, Kahina … you’re hisslave.”
However, Kahina took a step back, deliberately distancing herself from her. “Go if you must, Fen … but I’m staying.”
Muttering a curse, Fenella turned her focus to Aedan. “Don’t tell me you’re loyal to these people too?” she said, bitterness souring her mouth.
The Brigante stared back at her. A nerve jumped under one eye, but unlike Kahina, he appeared to be considering her offer. He was clearly torn.
“Make your choice, Aedan,” Fenella growled, taking a step toward the portico. “We don’t have much longer.”