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  So Evander had flown, was that a week ago, two? He had taken little time to sleep and even less to eat. The only rest he allowed himself was when he had to stop to rest Amicus and even that had been less than the animal needed.

  The cottage was in ashes. Amicus came to a skidding halt in the little yard, the grass trampled, the smoke still swirling up from the rubble. It couldn’t’ have burned more than a few hours before. The wooden structure would have burned in a matter of minutes. This meant the General’s men were probably still on the island. He spurred Amicus toward Mirna’s hut and found only ashes there too. Further on the orchard still burned and he sent Amicus flying through the center, the ashes raining down on them. He burst out into the open where the shrine and the druid monuments had stood the test of time. The soldiers were there, pulling down the stones, setting fire to anything that would burn. Among the churning hoofs were bodies of those who had come to protect their place of worship.

  Finally, after many miles, Evander slid from his exhausted horse. Paulinus was gathering his men, the destruction and activity bred chaos. Evander hurried to Paulinus’s side.

  “General,” the man’s eyes widened recognizing him.

  “What brings you here General?” the other man asked advancing to clasp his shoulder.

  “I’m not a soldier anymore.”

  “A shame. I was hoping the Emperor sent you to help squash these rebel heathens.”

  “No, I hate to disappoint you. I’m looking for someone that lived on the island.”

  The General paused and looked around him, at the few bodies they had claimed along with their shrine.

  “I hope they aren’t here,” he said. “It was good to see you still alive. I hope you find who you’re looking for General,” the man said as he turned his horse.

  “Good fortune to you,” Evander said as Paulinus road to the head of his troops and began to lead them away. Turning quickly he began searching the bodies. It looked as if they had all been struck down by the horses. He found her among them. The old crone whose offer to give him meat had meant a truce between them and her acceptance of him in Jillian’s life. Neither Jillian nor Teague was among those who died there. He left Amicus, his sides still heaving mightily, the animal still might not live but he could not worry about him when he did not know where Jillian was. He moved toward the river, what if they had been hiding in one of the places the soldiers burned? No, it could not be. He broke into a run, his feet beating the ground until it thundered in his ears to the beat of his own heart.

  He reached the river, out of breath he doubled over. The foulness of his thoughts lodged in his throat and he gagged to rid himself of them. They were here. Surely as much as he loved the woman he would know if she no longer breathed. “Jillian,” he called. “Jillian!”

  He stood still for a moment, listening but no sound save the crackling of the fire in the distance came to him. He ran on, back toward the cottage. He stopped at the little waterfall, how pure and untouched the water appeared on this day of death. The image of Mirna came to his mind though it wasn’t Mirna but Jillian. “Jillian!” he screamed now. “Jillian!” The smoke still thick in the air choked him, his eyes watered. “Jillian!”

  A rustle behind him and Teague was walking toward him. “Teague, where’s Jillian?” For once the young man was speechless and fear clutched at his heart. “Teague!” Evander snapped hoping to bring him out of the shock he must be in. Did he know of Mirna’s death? He didn’t have time for that now, later, after he had Jillian.

  “Teague,” he yelled in the voice he used before one of his soldiers received a harsh punishment for a misdeed.

  “Evander,” Jillian called breaking from the woods behind Teague and launching herself at him. He caught her, the joy that coursed through him made him feel like bursting. The woman squirmed in his arms as he squeezed her too tightly, he only loosened his grip but never his hold. He would fight a thousand battles for her but never would he leave her again.

  Author’s Note

  Roman General Gaius Suetonius Paulinus attempted to purge the Isle of Mona (Isle of Anglesey) of the druid influence in AD 60. As Rome tried to conquer England the druids were a great source of rebellion. It was the rebellion of Boudica that interrupted the intent of General Paulinus. Mona would not come under the rule of the Roman Empire until 18 years later.

  Little is actually known of the ancient druids. It is only the writings of those times that give us a clue about them and their religion.

  As we know little of their religion now, the people of that time period knew little of epilepsy. What they knew is what they saw and how they interpreted it. The seizures were seen as a body ridding itself of evil spirits, epileptics were cast from society so the spirits would not infect others.

  Thanks to the internet and the nearly endless information that can be found there, most notably Wikipedia and their information on the Isle of Anglesey, Druids, the Roman Empire and epilepsy.

  I hope you enjoyed this novella. I have many other projects in the works with deeper plots, dynamic characters that range from the Dark Ages to post American Civil War. I hope as they come available you will give those works a chance and I look forward to hearing from you.

  Angie Arms

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