It pleased Felix to see her happy.
Over the next two days, they journeyed east. Along the way, they met other travellers, including merchants who inspected the metalwork Felix carried and bought a few pieces in exchange for silver coins.
“I’ll use these to buy grain,” he told Rufus and hid the purse under his battle skirts.
He noticed Bethan often chatted with the people they encountered. She laughed with them, jabbering away in their common tongue; too quickly for Felix to keep up. When he turned his back, her voice dropped and the giggling stopped.
The third group they met, she did the same thing. She whispered something, and they, these strangers on the roads built by the Romans, whispered back. Cocking his head, Felix snatched a few familiar words. She was asking about slaves being sold, but why? Did she think he might sell her on? He’d no intention of selling her and Rufus would be furious if he did. She was too important.
That night, during which he and Rufus took turns in sleeping next to Bethan, he couldn’t contain his curiosity.
“What do you talk about with these folk on the road?”
“Nothing,” she answered, perhaps too swiftly.
He grunted. “You don’t seem pleased by what they say.” He’d noticed she frowned and seemed dejected by the exchanges.
“I didn’t want you to think I flirted with strange men.” She twisted her fingers around a loop of hair.
He wasn’t convinced; however, he was too tired to probe further. Neither he nor Rufus had fucked her since they visited the shrine. It wasn’t due to a malady on his part. She needed the respite, and once he was satisfied she was rested, he would resume their usual habits. Smiling, he closed his eyes. It was probably time he watched Rufus take her. Dozing off into a dream world, his cock hardened.
The next day, they took a path into the dales. Bethan said it would take them closer to where his clan lived in a scattering of small settlements. It also brought them into territory that was more dangerous.
Three men on horsemen rode over the brow of a hill. Felix reined his horse in and signalled Rufus to halt. They weren’t journeymen, because two of them had scabbards hanging from their belts and coils of rope attached to their saddles.
“Slavers,” he guessed. Fingering his weapon, he waited to see if they came closer. He’d rather not engage with those kinds of rogues. However, the horsemen moved over the ridge out of sight.
“We’ll camp here tonight.” He indicated to a dry patch of grass by a small brook and a copse.
Bethan gathered firewood and Rufus lit a fire using flint stones. They had no meat left and Felix’s stomach rumbled. He craved meat.
“Rufus and I will go snare a few rabbits. Stay in there.” He pointed at the cart. “Out of sight.”
She nodded and vanished behind the curtains.
The warren was along the track where they’d passed earlier. Rufus, with his eagle eyes, had spotted it. They made a few traps with twine and hid them close to the rabbit holes. Later they would return and check them.
The fire had turned to embers. Felix’s instruction to stay put had been taken literally; she hadn’t fed the fire. Peering inside the wagon, he expected to find her sleeping on the sheepskin, but she wasn’t there.
“She’s gone!” he exclaimed to Rufus.
“Run away?” his friend said with disbelief. “No, she wouldn’t.”
Felix’s fingers fisted around up the handle of his sword and his heartbeats increased in pace as he scouted the distant horizon for signs of her. “Those men… she’s been taken.”
Rufus examined the ground by the wagon and fire. “There’s no sign of horses beyond our two. Or a struggle.”
Felix frowned, remembering how she’d furtively questioned everyone they met. She’d been seeking information.
“Maybe she’s gone to them. She’d be a foolish and disobedient girl if she has.”
“Why would she?” Rufus stared to where they’d last seen the three horsemen.
“I don’t know. She’s been busy talking to everyone we’ve met. After we’ve found her and secured her safely, she will explain herself.”
“And if she has disobeyed you?”
“Then her arse will be punished, all night long if necessary.” Felix would see to it that she did not forget he was her master and, given how pale Rufus had turned, that her lover deserved an explanation.