"Two days, three at the most," Cailin told him, "but no more. My child must be born in his father's hall. My grandfather's wives, Ceara and Maeve, are coming to midwife me. I can stay but a short time, and then I must go home, Anthony Porcius. You do understand?".

He nodded. "I will ask no more of you than two days, Cailin Drusus, and I thank you for your kindness to my child. She has not always been kind to you, I know, but surely you are her dearest friend."

Anthony Porcius departed the following morning for Corinium. Watching him go, Antonia felt relief. It would have been far too difficult to execute her plans if her father had remained. Oh, yes, the gods were certainly on her side in this matter, and her pleasure increased threefold knowing that they approved her revenge. In a way, she was to be their instrument of retribution against Cailin Drusus and her husband.

Cailin found herself quickly bored. Even when her parents were alive and she had lived a life similar to Antonia's, she had never been as idle as this woman seemed to be. Antonia had seemingly recovered from the ordeal of childbed instantly. She spent her time fussing over Quintus, the younger, and beautifying herself. The tinkling, vapid girls who surrounded her did naught but giggle.

Cailin knew from her conversations with Anthony Porcius that his daughter had been devastated and embittered by her husband's death; yet here was Antonia, freshly widowed, her newborn dead, behaving as if nothing at all was amiss in her little world; and acting gracious to the wife of her husband's executioner. Cailin found herself growing more and more uncomfortable. Why in the name of all the gods had she agreed to keep this woman company, even for just a couple of days? Worse, she could not seem to escape Antonia, who seemed to be everywhere she went, and always chattering, chattering, chattering about nothing. The longer Cailin remained with Antonia, the more her voice within nagged at her; particularly when her hostess brightly informed her, "I sent a messenger to Wulf Ironfist this morning telling him to fetch you in three days."

"How kind of you to think of it," Cailin replied, wondering why she had not thought of it herself. Being here must be addling her wits. Well, at least this day was almost done.

The evening meal was a particular trial. Antonia had always loved good food and good wine, which certainly accounted for her plumpness. She pressed dish after dish upon her guest, piling her own plate high with fish in a creamy sauce, game, eggs, cheese, and bread. She fussed at Cailin for not eating enough. "You will offend my cook," she said.

"I am not particularly hungry," Cailin replied, nibbling at some fruit and a bit of bread and cheese. Her stomach was in knots.

"Are you all right?" Antonia inquired solicitously.

"Just a bit of a queasy belly," Cailin admitted reluctantly.

The little fool was in labor! She was in labor, and she did not know it, Antonia thought triumphantly. Of course she wouldn't know it. She had never borne a child before. But Antonia was certain of it. "Wine is good for an upset in your condition." she counseled, and she poured Cailin a large gobletful. "This is my favorite Cyprian vintage, and you will feel much better after you have drunk it. Take a bit of bread to cleanse your palate," she instructed, and while Cailin was thus diverted, Antonia flipped the catch on a large cat's-eye beryl ring she wore and slipped a pinch of power from the secret compartment into the wine, where it dissolved instantly. She held out the goblet to the girl. "Drink it up now, Cailin, and you will soon feel better."

Cailin sipped slowly at the wine while she watched the half-full dishes of food being returned to the kitchens. No one, she thought, could eat all that food. Such a waste when so many are going hungry. Then she gasped as a hard pain tore through her.

"You arc in labor," Antonia said calmly. Of course she was in labor. If her earlier pains had been but false labor, the drugged wine had ensured the onset of the child's birth.

"Send for my husband," Cailin said, trying to keep the fear from her voice. "I want Wulf here for his child's birth!" Oh, the gods! Why had she promised to remain here for even a day?

"Of course you want Wulf here by your side," Antonia cooed. "I remember when I bore my darling son how very much it meant to me to have my Quintus with me. I will send a slave for Wulf. Do not fear, dear Cailin. I will take good care of you." She helped Cailin into her bedchamber.

Leaving her maidens with Cailin, Antonia sent for a young male slave she had intended to make her lover. It was unfortunate, she thought, but she would have to kill him for his part in this matter, and she would not even get to enjoy him for a night. "Go to Simon, the slave merchant in Corinium. He sends consignments to Londinium monthly and will be dispatching a caravan shortly. Say I have a female slave I wish to rid myself of and he must send someone tomorrow to fetch her. She is a troublesome creature, and a liar. She must be kept drugged until she reaches Gaul. I want her sent as far from Britain as possible. Do you understand, my handsome Atticus?" Antonia smiled up into the young man's face while caressing his buttocks suggestively.

"Yes, mistress," he answered her, returning the smile. He was new in the household, but he had heard she was a lusty woman. She would certainly have no complaints over his performance when she was healed from her childbirth and ready to take a lover.

"Tell Piso to give you the fastest horse in the stable," Antonia instructed him. "I want you back by dawn. If you are not, I shall whip you." Her hand moved about to fondle his hardening manhood. "You are well-made," she noted. "Did I buy you, Atticus? I do not remember."

"Your father bought me, mistress," he replied with more aplomb than he was feeling. He was as hard as iron within her hot hand.

"We shall have to find a suitable position for you shortly," Antonia remarked, thinking that perhaps she would not kill him immediately. After all, he would not understand what she had done. "Now, go!" She turned away from the slave and hurried back to her patient.


***

All through the night, Cailin struggled to birth her baby. Her body was wet with perspiration. She strained under Antonia's direction to bring forth the child. "Where is Wulf?" Cailin repeated over and over again to the older woman. "Why does he not come?"

"It is dark," Antonia told her. "There is no moon. My messenger must go slowly over the fields to reach your hall. It is not as if he could simply gallop easily down the Fosse Way from my home to yours, Cailin. He must pick his way carefully. He will get there, but then he and your husband must come back just as slowly. Here." She put her arm about Cailin's shoulders. "Drink some of my Cyprian wine. You will feel better for it. I always do.

"I don't want it," Cailin cried, pushing Antonia's hand away.

"Do not be such a silly goose," Antonia told her. "I have put some herbs in it that will ease your pain. I take them myself when I am in the throes of having a child. I see no reason to suffer."

Cailin reached out, and taking the goblet from Antonia, drank it slowly down. She immediately felt better, but her head was also spinning. Another pain tore through her, and she cried out. Antonia knelt and examined her progress. She began to smile and hum to herself.

"Can you see the baby's head?" Cailin asked her. "Ohh, I wish Ceara and Maeve were here with me. I need them!"

"They could do nothing for you that I cannot," Antonia replied sharply, then her tone softened a bit. "I can see the baby's head. Be brave, Cailin Drusus, just a few more minutes and your child will be born."

"The gods!" Cailin groaned. "Where is Wulf? Antonia, I am very dizzy. What exactly did you put in that wine?" Another pain came.

Antonia ignored Cailin's questions. "Push!" she commanded the straining girl. "Push hard. Harder."

The infant's head and shoulders appeared between its mother's legs. Antonia smiled, well-pleased. Cailin did not realize it, but she was having an easy labor. The baby would be born in just another moment.

Cailin was having difficulty keeping her eyes open. Her head was whirling violently and she felt as if she were beginning to fall. Another terrible pain washed over her. She heard, if somewhat distantly, Antonia's voice demanding she push again. Cailin struggled to obey. She couldn't allow herself to become unconscious. Making a supreme effort, she pushed with all her might. She was rewarded by the sudden cry of a newborn baby, and her heart accelerated with excitement and joy. Then, as suddenly, the darkness rushed up to claim her. She fought valiantly against it, but it was no use. The last thing she remembered was Antonia saying, "She is so sweet. I have always wanted a little girl," and then Cailin remembered no more.


***

When Wulf Ironfist arrived to reclaim his wife two days later, Antonia came slowly into the atrium to greet him. She was crying, the tears sliding down her fair skin. "What is it?" he asked, a sinking feeling overcoming him even as he put forth the question.

Antonia sobbed and threw herself into his startled embrace. "Cailin!" she wept piteously. "Cailin is dead, and the child-your son-with her! I could not save them. I tried! I swear I tried!"