Snippet reveal...Patiently waiting, or maybe not so much.

It's only 21 days until the launch of my next historical novel - AFTER WHORL: DONNING DOUBLE CLOAKS!

Ineda, a character from Book 2 - After Whorl: Bran Reborn - is maybe not so patiently waiting for her story to be revealed. What will she be doing just now? Why, waiting like she has been before, since she has little say in the matter!

Being taken prisoner is not a new theme in my Celtic Fervour series. Nara of the Selgovae, in Book 1, is taken as a captive by Lorcan of the Brigantes. He forces her south to his home Celtic hillfort of Garrigill and it's there that she finds she's a prisoner of sorts but her status is still high in the Celtic tribal echelons, since Nara is the daughter of a Selgovae chief. That allows her a certain amount of freedom.

At first Nara can't escape from  Garrigill as she is well guarded, but later on she could have done if she wanted to. However, by that time the opportunity arises, she is a well valued member of the community at Garrigill and does not want to leave Lorcan, not ever.

 

 

www.123rf.com

In Book 2 we have Ineda of Marske, a young Brigantian female who is not of the upper orders in her tribe. No status means little choice and when it comes to the time when Ineda and Brennus of Garrigill are set upon by a Roman patrol, Ineda has no choice at all over being taken as a prisoner by Gaius Livanus Valerius- a Roman tribune. The situation is such that even if she were also able to be 'bargained over' her Roman captor is not even interested in finding out about her status. He wants her kept prisoner for his own reasons.

Tribune Livanus takes Ineda and keeps her well guarded at his Roman Fortress, his own reasons for doing this not so well understood by his fellow officers of the legion. Can Ineda escape from his clutches? 

wwww.123rf.com

That is in part what Book 3 AFTER WHORL: DONNING DOUBLE CLOAKS is all about. As well as continuing the story of Brennus of Garrigill as he gets on with his double life of the spy - as Bran of Witton - gathering useful information about the Roman presence in northern Britannia.


Book 3 is coming soon! More details revealed soon.

 
But till then, here's another tiny snippet to whet the appetite....

Something had altered the tribune’s mood. Ineda had no idea what but was determined to find out.

            “Your new orders please you, Tribune Valerius?”

            He was deep in thought during the evening meal they shared in his quarters, fairly unusual since they normally ate in her tiny cell. It was a time when they conversed about mundane topics, but he had been silent. The smile that came her way startled her; it was such a rare occurrence for him to show any feelings, apart from displeasure or anger.

            “My new orders?”

            “Your grin must mean something pleases you.”

            It was unexpected when he reached forward and took her hand into his own. He never made any contact with her body, except during the night dark.

            “Something does please me very much, Ineda, but it has nothing to do with any new orders. Why would you think that?”

            She had no idea what to answer. He knew she was always interested in what was happening around the fortress, though he was always close-mouthed about relating any important developments. Anything new happening she gleaned from his secretary, Pomponius. In no way did she want him to be suspicious of her motives, or to curtail the small advantages she had obtained as his slave since he had started to make love to her. “Only that such smiles are rare.”

            He continued to grin as he pulled her to her feet and led her to his resting couch.

            “It is long past time for you to call me Gaius.”

            Ineda was not so certain of that. She had resisted thinking of him as anything other than her hated captor, although time and his proximity were making her understand more of the man who had taken her prisoner and used her as his personal bed slave.

Slainthe!