In the Arms of a King (My Warrior Lover) Read Online Free

beginning of a revolution.’
     
    ***
    This was the moment that Blaine had been waiting for all these years. Throughout the days when he was exiled to the Orkney Islands for safety, he had dreamed always of the day he would come home.
    And now that day was here…and it was as good as he expected.
    Camlan was the only place in the world where he felt truly at home. And although it was not the finest village in the world, it was the place where he belonged. This was where his people lived. And here they were in spades – the men and women who had promised to await his return. The faithful who would now join with him to overthrow the enemy and return their world to its rightful order.
    As they walked towards the heart of the village, the cheering rose from the occasional shout to a crescendo of joyous exclamations. Many people shook Blaine’s hand as they passed. Some of the faces he recognized – men who had been boys when they last met, girls who had grown into attractive young women. Other faces were strange to him…much had changed since he last walked these lands. Then there was the most familiar face of all, his brother striding towards him.
    They met at the center of the clearing, and embraced heartily once more – reaffirming their kinship in front of the applauding crowd.
    ‘Welcome back, Blaine,’ Talorc said. ‘You have been sorely missed in these parts.’
    ‘Well now I’m back – and I won’t be leaving this land again. This is my home, and this is where I will stay, whatever the consequences.’
    Talorc looked at Sabina, and as his eyes took in the tunic, he became a little wary.
    ‘What’s this my brother? You have brought a Roman into our midst? An enemy into our own camp?’
    ‘She’s no enemy, Talorc. It is because of her help that I am here as a free man. She has already proved her loyalty to me beyond question. We all owe her a debt of gratitude. I will explain later, but for now, I would like our womenfolk to take good care of her. We have had a long and tiring journey, and she needs to be rested.’
    ‘As you wish, Blaine.’
    Talorc called over a woman who was standing at the front of the assembled crowd, while Blaine spoke briefly to Sabina in Latin.
    ‘Sabina…go with Agnis. You will be quite safe, and she will take care of you. She will ensure you are bathed and dressed. I have business to attend to, but I will not be far away. I will meet with you again, later. OK?’
    Sabina nodded her agreement, and the woman led her away.
     
    ***
    Sabina followed the woman called Agnis with some misgivings. Her thoughts had only been concerned with being near Blaine. But now she was beginning to realize the consequences of her actions. Here she was, miles away from her family and the safety of the fort – stranded in the middle of the forest with these strange and savage people. She trusted Blaine…she felt he would look after her. But the situation was still strange and scary.
    Agnis was a woman of about forty years of age. It was clear that she had once been a looker, but the ravages of time and a hard life had given her wrinkles and a deeply-lined face. She looked suspiciously at Sabina, clearly uncertain as to how a hated Roman could have won favor. She took Sabina to a roundhouse that was sparsely furnished but clean. There was a barrel of water, and Agnis gave Sabina a large square of clean linen by way of a towel. She motioned to indicate that Sabina should undress. A few moments later, Sabina was standing naked in front of the barrel, washing herself in the clear water and feeling refreshed.
    Agnis brought her clean clothes to wear. They were made from soft wool, and were surprisingly comfortable. Better still, they didn’t mark her out as a stranger, as her tunic did. She dressed quickly, the cloth uncomfortable against her skin. She wished there was a mirror so that she could see herself – the Roman woman transformed into a warrior princess.
    There was a shadow in the doorway.