Beast of Caledonia by Kate Poole Page A

of water to her lips. She sipped it as he told
her about his two accomplices. She was becoming more aware now, and things were
starting to make sense.
    When she indicated she had had enough, he set down the cup
and placed his large hand over both of hers on her belly.
    “Oh, Annachie, it’s dead,” she sobbed. “Our baby is dead. I
begged the emperor to wait, to let me give birth, but he refused. I am so
sorry.” She turned her face into his tunic so she wouldn’t have to see his
expression.
    He stroked her hair with his other hand and kissed her
temple. “Hush, nighean , it is all right. When we are away from here and
safe, we can try again…if you want to.”
    “Yes, oh, yes, I do. I want to give you a son, one who will
grow up big and strong like his father.”
    He hugged her tightly. “I would be just as happy with a wee
girl as pretty as her mother.” After a pause he asked, “Sara, why did you not
tell me what could happen? I would not have risked getting you with child had I
but known.”
    “That is why I didn’t tell you. I have always wanted you,
Annachie. From the first time I saw you when my father’s soldiers brought you
into the fort, I wanted your body. Then, as I got to know you, I fell in love
with the man. When I learned that you felt the same way, I suspected you would
not make love to me if you knew of the consequences should I become pregnant.”
    “You are right, I would not have.” He paused. “No, that is
not true. I had to have you, but I would have started to take precautions
sooner. I wanted you so badly, I could not think straight.”
    Sara laughed. “It is the same with me. I couldn’t be so
close to you and not love you with my body as well as my heart.”
    Suddenly, Sara heard footsteps approaching. “Annachie,” she
whispered, cringing against him.
    “It’s all right,” he said. “It is only Micah.”
    “How do you know?”
    “He is lame. I recognize his walk.”
    Even as he said that, a young man came around the corner of
the tunnel to the left of the chamber in which they sat. When he saw Sara, his
face lit up with a smile. “Ah, you are awake.”
    Sara nodded.
    “I have brought you both some food and drink,” he said. He
set a package and a wineskin down next to Annachie.
    “Thank you, Micah,” Annachie said as he unwrapped the food.
“Will you have some?”
    Micah sat down on the ground in front of them. “No, I have
eaten already with some friends of mine. When you are ready, we start for
Castrum Novum.”
    “Castrum Novum? Is that where we are going?” Sara asked.
    “Aye,” Annachie replied. “We will stay there until we can
get a ship to…well, somewhere.”
    Sara frowned at him. “Where?”
    Annachie shrugged his broad shoulders. “I do not know yet. I
will think of someplace. Will you go with me, wherever it might be?”
    “Of course I will.” She held his gaze with her own, as he
lowered his head for a kiss.
    Micah cleared his throat and smiled at them. “I will return
later,” he said, rising to leave.
    “You do not have to leave,” Annachie said, then chuckled. “I
am hungry for food right now, as well.” He broke off a piece of bread and
cheese and handed them to Sara. “How far is it to Castrum Novum?”
    “If we could take the roads and travel by day, it would only
take about a day and half. Traveling by night and avoiding patrols, we should
be able to reach it in a little over two days.”
    “Ah, I see. Well, as soon as Sara—”Annachie stopped speaking
when Sara gasped. “Sara? What is it? What is wrong? Are you ill?”
    She looked up at him, her hand on her belly. “No, I am fine.
I-I felt the baby move.” Annachie simply stared at her. “Our baby is alive. Oh,
Annachie, our baby.”
    He hugged her so tightly, she almost lost her breath again.
But this was a joyful breathlessness, the kind she always felt when she was
with Annachie. Not that of fear and death. She thanked the gods for giving her
a reprieve from her