Read Online The Lion and the Lark by Doreen Owens Malek - Free Book Online

only one daughter of the king, and you can speak and read Latin.  You will be in the house of an important officer, you can listen and overhear, you can read documents when no one is around.  And when you say the time is right, when their troop strength is down and they’re preoccupied or weakened in some other way, we will strike.”
         Bronwen did not respond.
         “How many times have you told me that you were as tough and courageous as Brettix, that you can and would do anything to expel the Romans?”
           “You can’t blame me if I didn’t think it would come to this!” Bronwen flashed back at him.
        “You said ‘anything,’” her father reminded her.
         “So you’re sending me into the enemy camp as a spy.”
         Her father nodded.
         “And who will be my husband?”
         Borrus shrugged.  “One of the tribunes, probably Leonatus, the second in command.  Does it matter?”
         “My virginity will be sacrificed to some Roman goat,” Bronwen said tonelessly.
         “It’s a small price to pay to avenge your brother,” Borrus responded quietly.
         “That’s easy for you to say!” Bronwen spat.  “Don’t you care about me at all?”
         Her father flinched for the first time, and she saw that he did care. Then his face hardened once more, his resolve restored.
         “I wouldn’t ask you to do this if there were any other way.  We’ve tried wearing the Romans down, thinning their numbers over the winter, using our traditional methods to hack away at them and kill their determination.  It never works permanently.  When the weather breaks and the seas become passable they just bring in more troops from Rome and the cycle starts over again.  They’re the conquerors of the world, Bronwen.  They have infinite means, and if they want to keep Britain, they will.  Unless we change tactics.  With your help I hope we can get the inside information necessary to do that.”
         “A father never demanded more of a daughter,” Bronwen said, her voice trembling dangerously.
         Borrus looked pained, but did not respond.
         “Do I have some time to think about it, or did you already agree to this?” Bronwen asked.
         Borrus looked at her, and the answer was in his eyes.
         “I see,” Bronwen said tonelessly. “When?”
         “In two days’ time.”
         Bronwen exhaled slowly.  “Where?”
         “In the shepherd’s hut in Drunemeton wood.  We’ll garland it and build a fire and have the ceremony there.”
         Bronwen considered that.  The usual Celtic weddings were held outdoors during the summer festival of Lugnasad , and were dedicated to the chief god Lug who entered into a marriage with the earth goddess once a year.  Several couples were married at the same time in early August, bedecked with the fruits and flowers of the season to indicate and enhance their fertility.
         This wedding would be conducted singly, indoors, with the snow falling silently outside.
         It could not be a good sign.
         “Well?” Borrus finally said.
         “You’ve already told me I have no choice.  I am a faithful daughter, your will is mine.”
         Borrus rose from his chair and embraced her.  Bronwen stood stiffly in his arms.
         “You are doing a great service for your people,” Borrus said.
         Bronwen didn’t answer.
         It didn’t feel that way.
         It felt like she was throwing away her life.
     

 
     
     
     
     
     
     
    CHAPTER Three
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
         The day of the wedding was cold and overcast, with the threat of snow by nightfall.  The Celts arrived at the site at dusk and built a huge fire in the hut used by shepherds to shelter their new lambs on chilly spring nights.  The Iceni followed their custom of decking the room, as they usually decked the arch above the