The Roman stops in front of me, considering. I do not dislike his countenance, and the fact that he is a friend of Amlaidh's bodes well, but worries crowd around me on all sides. He is letting Amlaidh go but not Verica! Such being the case, whatever he decides to do with me looks completely useless to her plight. And my head is killing me. I fight not to sway.

DAMN! I should really have swapped places with her. It was impossible. I should have tried all the same. Now I would be the one they will keep and probably kill. I am expendable. But they knew I was a Gael at first sight, despite my Roman looks. It was probably the swearing.

A smile turns up a corner of my mouth. I know it will probably make the Roman think I am mocking him, which is not the case, but I cannot help it. I have been stifling it since Amlaidh called us his "slaves". I do speak Latin, sweetheart. As soon as possible we will tell him what we think of HIM, the scoundrel! Oh, sweet Brighid. If only this were possible. I am dreaming. Here we are instead, Verica is still prisoner, and my fate hungs in the balance. If they keep me too... I will see at least that we die like warriors. I will embrace Death like the only lover I am really waiting for.

I shift my leg a little to brace myself against the waves of dizzyness. Was I mistaken in thinking I still have my knife? I believe I am imagining things. What if all of this were an hallucination and I was lying in some Roman dungeon close to death? No. I am alive and still waiting to know my fate. The Roman has no reason to free me, unless he seriously thinks I am just a harmless slave - yes, a slave armed to her teeth that managed to bring down one of them. Poor guy. Was he one of the bastards, or was he just there to earn his pay for his wife and kids? Do not get into that now.

Maybe he will release me as a token of friendship for Amlaidh. He looks like an honourable man - maybe he will understand why I am doing this. Well, not the remote reasons, I suppose. But the remote reasons are not important now: what matters is getting Verica out of here. Maybe he will release me with Amlaidh and we will have to try and find a way to get her out of here. With no weapons, just the two of us, sweet Brighid! How, how?

I blink. Only a moment has passed, so many thoughts crowding my fevered mind in so little time. What will the answer be?