Adventure Magazine Cover — page 50: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

48 Britons but not Tros, who knew the Roman law and knew the-dreadful penalties that even Cesar, who had sent her, would be forced to inflict should she be returned to him branded, a slave who had claimed to be free. If Tros should make a gift of her to Con- ops, the Britons might be offended, but there would be no chance of their interfering. Marriage by gift was binding, all the more so if the woman were a slave or a prisoner of war. She would not become Conops’ slave because he might not sell her; she would be bound to him for life, promoted or reduced to his rank—considering it promotion or re- duction as she pleased—in theory free, in practise a sailor’s drudge. Conops was as much alarmed as she was. “Master!” he exploded. ‘What use is she on a ship? Why, she can’t even cook! She’s——” “Peace, you drunken, blabbing fool! When I give you a wife, you’ll take her and be grateful, or V’ll break your head! Think yourself lucky to——’”’ But she who had been Cesar’s light 0’ love could not face life with Conops. “T will tell, Tros!” she said, and sat down on the chair again, shuddering. ‘You will not give me to that one-eyed thing?” Tros nodded, grunted. He hated to bar- gain with her, but on the other hand it would have gone against the grain to ruin Conops by imposing such a wife on him. “What Cesar wrote to you, Tros, it was meant that the lord Caswallon should read. It was supposed that some one, some druid, would know Latin and translate it to him. But the lord burned the letter.” “What did Cesar write?’ Tros thun- dered ather. ‘And why in Latin?”’ “He wrote, Lord Tros, that he trusted you, as agreed between you and him at Seine-mouth, to stir up the Britons against the lord Caswallon; in return for which he promised, as agreed, to confer high com- mand on you so soon as sufficient Britons should recognize the advantage of welcom- ing the Roman legions into Britain. He concluded by reminding you of your pledge that there shall be no opposition to his land- ing on the coast of Britain when he comes again. And he charged you, to that end, to Support the lord Caswallon’s enemies. Tros stroked his beard and pecked with his sword-point at the floor-boards. “Why did he write those lies?” he de- manded. Adventure But he knew why. He knew she was tell- ing the truth. He knew Cesar’s methods. She recovered a trace of her former im- pudence. | , ‘“‘Who am I, to know Cesar’s mind?” she answered, and Tros recognized something else that she was ready to betray any one for her own advantage. He clutched Con- ops’ arm and pulled him forward. ‘Answer me in full, or ss “Cesar hoped that any of several things might happen. The lord Caswallon might kill you, which would be payment for your : impertinence at Seine-mouth. Or the lord Caswallon might mistrust you and put you to flight, when you might fall into Cesar’s hands and be crucified. 3 “Or, learning of the lord Caswallon’s mistrust, you might turn against him in self- defense and, joining his enemies, start re- bellion against him, setting Briton against Briton, which would make invasion simpler. Or, you might be sensible and, accepting magnanimous forgiveness, take command of Cesar’s fleet, making use of your great knowledge of the British coast to forward an invasion.” $6} 3? Tros knew there was something left un- said. He jabbed his sword into the floor, pulled back the hilt and let it go until it hummed. She understood him. She must speak before the humming ceased. ‘“Tros, I am trained. I sing and dance. Some men -are easily tempted. Cesar thought ss “Continue! What did Cesar think?” “Tam not sure I know what he thought.” “Then I will tell you! Cesar thought I might be fool enough to accept his promise from your lips! I might be fool enough to turn against Caswallon, might be fool enough to captain Cesar’s fleet a while, fool enough to come within his reach and serve him, until usefulness was spent and he could pick another quarrel, crucify me at his leisure. You were to beguile me and ‘be- tray mé to him at the proper time!” “Lord Tros, I could not have done it! f could not betray a man like-you! I was Cesar’s slave. Now Iam yours. I would rather be yours. You are not wicked, as Cesar is! Lord Tros, I will be your faithful slave. I will betray Cesar to you! Only no degradation! I am not a common slave.” “T pity you!’ Tros answered. ‘‘Pity shall make no fool of me nor a successful rogue of Gomichbooks.com