Cormac spat. “The result will be the same. War among the clans rather than war against the Romans. The foreign dogs will emerge the victors without even having to unsheathe their swords.”
Rhiannon bit her lip. Cormac was right. If she refused Edmyg, the Brigantes would never drive the Romans south.
“Listen well, lass. There is little time to lose. The new commander has been in residence only a few days, but he’s already begun to unravel my entire winter’s work with his dawn drills and barracks inspections. If I’m to turn the garrison against Rome, we need to be rid of him. He’ll nay be expecting a woman to best him.”
The blood drained from Rhiannon’s face. “What would ye have me do?”
“Distract him with yer body. Then, when I give ye the signal, lure him outside the fort gates for a tryst in the forest—alone. Once he is”—a leer twisted Cormac’s lips—“bare-assed and pumping, Edmyg will take him.”
Rhiannon stared at him, aghast. “I’m to lure Luc—the Roman to his death?”
“Aye, that’s the short of it.”
A wave of nausea buffeted her. “No. I will not.”
Cormac’s fleshy fingers closed on Rhiannon’s wrist. “Ye will.”
“I won’t.” She glared at him, her fury building. “I’m a healer, not a murderess.”
His grip tightened until she thought her bones would snap. “Ye’ll do as yer told, lass.”
She twisted her arm from his grasp. “Nay. Ye have no need of me to kill him. Ye may sneak into the Roman’s room any night the fancy strikes ye.” The thought made her ill.
“Aye, I could slip a knife betwixt his ribs—perhaps even escape with my life after. But Madog wants the man alive.”
Alive. “For the circle,” Rhiannon whispered.
“Aye. At the summer fires. With the Roman’s blood offered in tribute to Kernunnos, we willna fail.”
An image of Lucius’s bloodied body sprawled in the Druid circle flashed before Rhiannon’s eyes. Her gorge rose.
Cormac jumped down from his perch on the crate. “Even barring the Horned One’s blessing, any fool can see that the fort will fall much quicker with the Roman gone—he’s far more able than his predecessor. Ye must do yer part, Rhiannon. Think on the clansmen who will die if ye do not.”
Rhiannon swallowed past the painful lump in her throat, not daring to answer.
Cormac’s gaze narrowed. “So much concern ye have for an enemy. Yet ye’ve nay asked after yer own brother.”
“Owein? What of him?”
Cormac waddled past her toward the door to the kitchen. Rhiannon overtook him with two quick strides and barred his path. “Is he ill?”
The dwarf halted and peered up at her. “Not ailing, exactly, as I heard tell.”
Icy fingers squeezed Rhiannon’s heart. “What then?”
“Edmyg has turned him out of the dun.”
“Turned him out? For what cause?”
“The lad woke the entire village two nights past, raving like a mad wolf in the mud. The clan gathered ’round him as he screamed his Druid curses.”
Rhiannon’s stomach rolled. “What do ye mean?”
“A death wish it was. For Glynis and her babe.”
“Nay,” Rhiannon whispered. “No curse. A vision. He canna help it. They come unbidden.”
“Owein has the Sight?” Cormac asked sharply. “Does Madog know?”
“Aye. Where is Owein now?”
“I dinna ken, but Edmyg vows he will kill the lad if he comes near the village. He’s forbidden any to speak to him.”
“He’ll have sought Madog,” Rhiannon said, her mind racing. “I must go to him.”
“Aye,” Cormac said. “Ye must. Deliver the Roman into Edmyg’s hands and I’ll see ye safe to the Druid’s door.”
Chapter Six
Twilight deepened into night as Lucius stood outside Rhiannon’s bedchamber, wanting more than anything to enter.
Walking through her door would mean leaving Aulus outside. Once within, the aura of futility Lucius breathed like murky air would vanish. The lilting cadence of Rhiannon’s voice would drive the self-reproach from his head. Her warmth would banish the chill failures from his heart. He would catch her scent, a shimmer of forest greenery and summer mist. Her body would tremble with need when he touched her, even as she pushed him away. The very thought of it caused Lucius’s rod to harden with pleasure akin to pain. To feel his nymph’s surrender, to bury himself inside her …
Lucius had no doubt that making love to Rhiannon would fill the aching chasm that had become his soul.