The Warrior's Bride Prize

‘How dare you speak of our father!’

‘Because he loved me, too, Tarquinius! Because love is love, no matter who we are or where we come from. Only you wouldn’t understand that, would you?’

His lip curled contemptuously. ‘Julius was right about you.’

She reacted instinctively, raising her fist and planting it square in his jaw.

‘What...?’ He staggered backwards, raising one arm in defence as she pursued him.

‘I was faithful to Julius. He never doubted me until you turned him against me!’

‘I only told him the truth about your mother.’

‘You blackmailed him! You made him doubt me and our daughter! You made me hide something that should never have been a secret so that when he found out, he never trusted me again. You destroyed my marriage and you would have done it all over again with Scaevola!’

‘What about your new husband?’ His expression turned spiteful. ‘Does he know where you come from?’

‘Everyone knows about my mother.’ She smiled triumphantly. ‘Don’t they, Hermenia?’

His face blanched. ‘You’ve told people?’

‘Yes. You can’t make me hide it any more. But then you don’t really mind, do you, Tarquinius? After all, you were the one who was always threatening to reveal it. Of course, Scaevola was a little surprised, since you didn’t mention anything about it when you arranged our marriage, but I’m sure that’s something you can discuss when you find him.’

Her brother’s expression hardened. ‘You’re no sister of mine. I never want to see you again.’

‘Then I suggest that you stay in Lindum from now on. In fact, I wouldn’t come anywhere near the wall again if I were you. My husband wouldn’t like it.’

He started towards the doorway and then stopped, looking back over his shoulder maliciously. ‘And if your husband should die? It’s a dangerous place on the wall. If he doesn’t come back, what then? Don’t expect to come crawling back to me.’

‘I never would. Goodbye, Tarquinius.’

* * *

Livia waited until her brother’s footsteps had receded before collapsing on to the couch again, her legs giving way beneath her. Now that their confrontation was over, all the tension seemed to catch up with her in a rush. She felt as if she were shaking all over, scarcely able to believe that she’d finally stood up to him.

‘You were magnificent...’ Hermenia sat down beside her ‘...if perhaps a trifle duplicitous. I thought you’d only told Marius and me about your mother?’

Livia smiled sheepishly. ‘I might have exaggerated a little, but I wanted to see his reaction. Besides, I’m not going to hide it any more. If anyone asks, I’ll tell them. Scaevola will probably find out eventually.’

‘Perhaps.’ Hermenia patted her hand. ‘Although I have to confess I’m a little disappointed at you letting him off the hook so easily. Honestly, between the pair of them I don’t know which is worse, but I don’t suppose your brother will pursue him for the money now.’

‘Probably not, but I expect Scaevola has enough to deal with at the moment. And he might have suffered enough, worrying about it. In any case, if there are any more repercussions then they can fight it out between them. It’s nothing to do with me any more.’

She let out a tremulous sigh. Now that her heartbeat was slowing again, she felt as though she needed to get outside, to get some fresh air to clear her head.

‘I’m just going for a walk around the courtyard.’

Hermenia looked at her dubiously. ‘You really ought to get some rest.’

‘I will soon, I promise. I just need to calm down first.’

‘Of course.’ The older woman laughed suddenly. ‘Do you know, I liked you the first day we met. I thought you were strong then, but it seems I still underestimated you. You and Marius are perfect for each other.’

Livia felt tears well in her eyes, enveloping the other woman in a swift hug to hide her face before walking quickly out into the courtyard. The open air felt liberating, soft and summery against her cheeks, even if there were tears running down them. She’d finally done it, finally broken free from her brother, and yet the feeling was bittersweet, her victory tinged with sadness. If only she could find out that Marius was alive and safe, then perhaps she could find a way to be happy again...

She leaned against a pillar, staring into what passed for a garden, though in reality it was just a single tree surrounded by paving stones. That was the funny thing about courtyards, she thought, trying to distract her mind from her anxieties. They were neither indoors nor outdoors, neither a garden nor a room. Not one thing or another, just like her life. She was neither Roman nor Caledonian, not a wife or a widow. It was strange how many significant events of her relationship with Marius had taken place in courtyards, too, but then their relationship had never been one thing or the other either...

Footsteps on the other side of the courtyard made her heart sink again.