Bertrice Small - Beloved

"There was really no need for Aulus to be quite so crude," Dagian chided.

"No, no," Zenobia defended Aulus. "It was that marvelous touch that convinced the centurion that I was naught but a blowsy and stupid slave woman. It was quite clever of him."

That night, Aulus was forced to offer the hospitality of his table to the centurion and to the legionnaires in his courtyard. Zenobia and Mavia kept to their bedroom, safe and out of sight. Mavia was nervous as she had not been since Palmyra, and at one point she began to cry. Zenobia soothed her child, making a game out of what they would do later. "We are going to sneak out of Uncle Aulus's villa just the way Mama snuck out of Palmyra to seek help from the Persians," Zenobia said.

"But the Romans caught you!" Mavia wailed.

"Only because Papa wasn't with us, Mavia," her mother said.

"Where is Papa?" the child demanded.

"With the Dobunni. They will help us to reach our island."

"The Romans will not catch us?" Mavia sniffed. "We will not have to live with the emperor again?"

"No, my darling, the Romans will not catch us, and we will never again see the emperor. I promise you, Mavia!" and Zenobia hugged her small daughter tightly.

"Always on the run, always fleeing," Bab muttered as she packed their things. "I hope that eventually before I die we will be given some measure of peace again!"

Adria bowed her head, smiling at the old woman's grumbling. They all knew that Bab, now in her late seventies, thrived on the excitement that seemed constantly to surround her mistress.

"Be patient with me, old woman," Zenobia said. "Surely this must be the last time I am forced to flee. Once we have gained the safety of our island home, then they will never find me again."

"I certainly hope so! If your dear mother were alive it would have broken her heart to see how those Romans have hounded you."

The clothing and personal effects necessary for a journey were packed carefully by Adria in a small trunk. Everything else was packed by Bab in the trunks for shipping later.

The centurion had been plied with excellent wine, and now with the aid of a light sleeping draught slipped into his last cup, he lay snoring noisily in a guest chamber. He did not hear the family as mey slipped one by one into Zenobia's chamber to bid her farewell. Erwina and Fearn brought their cousin Mavia a small gray and white kitten as a farewell gift.

"She is called Blossom because she loves to smell the flowers," lisped Fearn.

Mavia, hugging Blossom to her chest, thanked her cousins and promised to visit again one day.

"You must travel quickly now," Eada said, "but when we can send your things along safely, I will include many rootings and cuttings from my gardens for you." Her blue eyes filled with tears. "I wish you weren't going, Zenobia! I shall miss you."

"I have never had a sister," Zenobia said slowly. "I am fortunate that you are now mine. How can I ever thank you for your hospitality? If I were still a queen in my own land… but I am not. I have nothing I can give you except my love, Eada."

The two women embraced warmly, and then with a teary look at Zenobia, Eada left her. "She will never forget you," Dagian said. "She is a simple chief's daughter who has never in her entire life been farther than Corinium. You have brought the world into her life."

"She brought kindness into mine," Zenobia returned. "She opened her home and her heart to us. I can never forget that, Dagian, for it went beyond the bounds of hospitality." She looked searchingly at her mother-in-law. "Are you sure that you want to remain here? Once we have settled ourselves you are most welcome to come to us. Both Marcus and I love you, and Mavia is going to be lost without you."

"No, my child, I shall be content here."

"At least come for the winters. Eada tells me that the winters here can be harsh, and upon the island it will be mild."

"Perhaps for the winters," Dagian said, and then she enfolded Zenobia in a loving embrace. "Be happy, dearest daughter, for you have made my son happy! I could love you for that alone. We shall meet again." Then she kissed Zenobia tenderly, and hurried from the room.

Aulus came to get them. "You'll be leaving through the garden gate, and there's little likelihood of your encountering the Romans. There'll be a Dobunni to guide you to Marcus, and then you're safely on your way."

"Thank you a thousand times, Aulus. Without you I don't know what we would have done. The Romans came so quickly. I thought we had more time."

"You survived without me," Aulus muttered, embarrassed, for he was a simple man.

She kissed his rough cheek, and then before he might protest, said, "Let us go, brother! Bab, Chairman, Adria, Mavia! Come along!"

Old Severus was to go with them also, and he was waiting in the garden by the street gate for them. Dressed in dark cloaks to camouflage themselves, the six set off through the gate and down the street. At the corner they were joined by a barely distinguishable tribesman who stepped from the darkness to lead them. Silently they followed him, their eyes upon his dark shape as they traveled through the village and out into the open fields.

A fine moon had now risen to silver the landscape and show them the way. Finally they entered a small wood, where in a clearing Marcus awaited them. Thankfully he embraced his wife and daughter.

"Praise the gods you are safe!"

"They never saw Mavia, and Aulus told them I was a captive slave from Ierne. It was simple, my darling. Tell me now how we get to where we are going?"

"We will travel to Glevum, and be through it by morning; but we shall be able to bypass Corinium entirely, for they have built a new road in the last five years between Glevum and Aquae Sulis."

"Then we do not have to worry about a large Roman garrison!" She was relieved.

He continued. "From Aquae Sulis we go to Lindinis and finally the last really important Roman settlement in Britain, Isca Dumnonionim. Aulus has sent a message to the high chieftain of me Dumnonii. They will take us the rest of the way to the coast, where a ship awaits us. From here to there we travel in safety under the protection of the warriors of the Dobunni." He smiled down at her. "You are safe, beloved! You are safe now and forever!" And looking up into his moonlit eyes, Zenobia, the Queen of Palmyra, knew that he spoke the truth.

"Then lead on, my husband," she said quietly, "and take me home."

The island sat like a small green jewel in the bright blue sea. The mainland had suffered a bitter winter, but here the flowers had already bloomed and the air was mild and gentle. When they arrived there had been no habitable building upon the island, only the bleak and crude ruins of some past civilization; but there was a fine harbor and several freshwater springs and ponds. There were wild goats, and small game, and a host of birds.

Marcus had given Aulus a goodly supply of gold in order that his brother might barter and negotiate for him with the tribes, for Marcus did not think himself capable in this instance. Whatever Aulus had done he had done right, for the very day they landed upon the island another ship, this one bearing men and supplies, arrived. At once the building of a house had begun. Using the sand from a local beach, the builders began to mix concrete, and within days a large two-story house with walls fifteen inches thick had risen on the cliffs above the harbor. The inner facing of the house was of stone, the outer facing of fine white limestone that gave the building a smooth, hard, white finish. The roof tiles were red.

The house had been designed very much like Aulus's home, with an entry that had staircases on either side, and beyond, a large hall. There were wings on each side of the main fireplace, one containing the baths, the other the kitchens and servants' quarters. The second story of the house contained six large bedchambers, all looking out upon the sea. Between the wings of the house was a lovely sheltered garden where the family would sit in the evening and on warmer winter days. Beyond the garden wall stretched a long building whose lower story housed the farm animals they had imported to the island, and whose upper story housed the farm slaves. The entire area was enclosed by a wall, although Marcus did not expect to have to repel invaders.