Read Online Nobilissima by Carrie Bedford - Free Book Online Page B

lid on one of the trunks and pushing Sylvia inside. Within seconds, however, the small door splintered under the blows of the soldiers and the room was filled with Goths, whooping and yelling. One grabbed me by the arm, and another caught Aurelia by the hair. They dragged us back into the main chamber, shouting at us in their own language. In the darkness lit only by the fires from outside, the room swirled red and orange, and the gigantic shadows of the invaders with their helmets and long wild hair loomed grotesquely on the high walls. It was a like a painting of Hell.
    There were no signs of any Roman guards. I felt faint but was brought to my senses when the Goth who held my arm pulled me towards him and I felt his foul breath on my face.
    “How dare you touch me? I am the Emperor’s sister,” I shouted at him. “Leave us alone!”
    The man just laughed, baring large, yellow teeth. In the strange light, his eyes burned red. He bent his head towards my face but I pulled back and managed to scratch his cheek deeply with the ruby ring I wore. Distracted by the gleam of the stone, he let go of me and grasped my hand, sliding the ring from my finger.
    “Any more where that one came from, girl?” he asked, in Latin. His accent was strong and it was hard to understand him, but his meaning was clear. I nodded, hoping that my chest of jewels would distract him. Moving towards my dressing table, I indicated a large inlaid box. The soldier still gripped my arm tightly while placing the ruby ring in a rough hide pouch he wore on his belt. He reached out his hand greedily to take the box. His stench was overpowering: a mix of sweat, dirt and blood. There were red stains on his tunic and spatters on his arms and face. I was gratified to see that the scratch I had inflicted was bleeding as well, but it seemed to give him no trouble.
    Suddenly, the vile soldier let go of me and stood straight. A tall man had entered the room, and all the soldiers stepped back to let him pass. Outside, the clamor of iron against iron continued unabated, accompanied by screams and shouts of anger and pain, but the room fell silent.
    The tall man came closer until I could see him clearly in the red glow. It was Alaric and he was followed by his brother-in-law, Ataulf. Both of them were dressed in Roman uniforms and held unsheathed swords in their hands.
    “Get out!” Alaric yelled at the men. None of them moved. His companion turned and waved his sword towards the door.
    “Go,” he said in a low voice.
    Reluctantly, the barbarians started to move towards the splintered doors. My captor let go of me and started to walk away but Alaric held out his hand.
    “Give me the box,” he said. “There’s plenty more for you to take. Go find it.”
    The odiferous Goth glared at me and then at Alaric but gave him the coffer without saying a word. Alaric handed the box back to me.
    “It’s too heavy to carry with you,” he said. “So take out what you want and leave the rest behind.”
    I started to speak, but he interrupted me. “Your tribune did well to find us and you are lucky we came so quickly. We must take you with us to a safe place. I can’t control the passions of my men indefinitely. We’ve waited for this night for so long.”
    I stared at him in contempt. “Yes, waited to kill, loot and rape. Is that all you are capable of, finally?”
    Ataulf took a step forward as if to defend his leader, but Alaric put a hand on his shoulder and shook his head. “It is only right for you to be angry. I am angry too that it has come to this. But we can talk another time. Now, we must leave and take you and your companions to a safe place.”
    “What are you going to do with us?” I demanded. Neither of the men spoke for a minute. Outside the room, close to the door, there was a clatter, the rattle of metal on stone and a volley of shouts.
    “Bring what you need and come quickly,” commanded Alaric urgently.
    Aurelia ran to bring Sylvia, and the