Catlin and Aisling had walked most of the village. Every path, every tree, every person had a story. Aisling told them well. Catlin felt a pang in her heart. She felt the same way about the Sanctuary. She wished they were there now. She missed the support of her friends.

They ran into Conor as he was leaving the small meeting room. "Catlin," Conor said catching her arm, "I need to talk to you." "I'll be there in a minute," she said quietly.

"Thank you," he said softly as he walked to his quarters.

"That sounds important," Aisling said. "I will see you at supper, then?"

"Yes, of course," she smiled back.

"Conor?" Catlin called before entering his room.

"Come in, Cat." She stepped through the entryway. His tortured gaze peered at her. The chill of the early evening air had seeped into the little hut. Catlin hugged her cloak around her and sat on a small chair.

"It's getting colder," she said, futile conversation grinding to a halt.

Silence hung thick between them like fog on a dewy morning. "Ian wants to join the Confederation, but he needs the support of his

Council."

"That's good news," she said quietly.

"They meet in six days..." Conor couldn't look at her. "Catlin, I think it's best if you go back to the Sanctuary."

"What?" her eyes opened wide.

"I'll take you back and then return for the meeting." "Conor, this is ridiculous," she stood up and walked over to him. "Why are you doing this? What are you so angry about?" Tears again filled her eyes, but she would not let them slip down her face.

"Cat, I'm not doing this-"

"You are shutting me out!" she took his hands in hers and pleaded with him. "I know. I know you are still having dreams. Why won't you let me help you?"

"Catlin, those dreams... they..." he stammered. His eyes were glassy. He shook his head and turned his back on her. "You can't help me."

"There was a time when I could tell you anything... and you could tell me too," she said sadly shaking her head. "What's changed since then, what?" Stony silence was his response. Catlin started out of the room, anxious to get away from him.

"Cat..." he said without turning.

"What is it," she replied hollowly, just inside the doorway.

Conor turned to face her piercing stare. "We need Ian's people to join us. This will give us a foothold in the North... It's vitally important that they join us."

"I know that Conor," she could sense where Conor was heading.

"I saw you with him last night," he admitted. "So did the rest of the village..."

"And you think my being here is endangering the Confederation?" She closed her eyes.

"What?" It was Ian. He had walked in the room moments before. Catlin turned to face him at the sound of his voice.

"There's talk," Conor said.

Ian had placed his hand on Catlin's shoulder. "Conor, that is between my people and I. What I choose to do is my own business."

Catlin stared blankly at the two men. "And what I choose to do is mine as well," she stalked out of the room. Speechless, the men stared at the doorway.

"Ian, this union is more important than anyone's feelings... It's more important than any one of us. If Cat's being here is endangering the decision of the Council, then it's best that she goes," Conor said plainly.

"Conor, I appreciate your worry, but her being here is not a problem. The Council will make a fair decision. They won't be swayed by town gossip," Ian scoffed.

"You may be willing to risk that, but I'm not." Conor said starting to walk past him. Ian caught his arm.

"I think the one who has a problem with her being here is you." Ian stared him straight in the eyes.

Conor shrugged off his hand and went out to find her.


"My Lord," Antonius bowed his head as he held the parchment out for the immortal. "Ah, good. More news," Longinus smiled taking the paper from the soldier's hand. "Thank you, that will be all." Antonius again nodded and left the room. Longinus watched him go. It was the soldier who had been much in the service of Diana lately. He figured him a spy, but he didn't particularly mind. Let Diana have her little intrigues. She had no idea what was really going on.

With relish he broke the seal on the paper and read the news from his obedient servant.

"My Lord Longinus, I have become close to the leaders. There is much to discuss, but I wish to do it personally. If it pleases you, meet me tonight. I believe you know where. Your obedient servant."

Longinus smiled. Purposely, he set the parchment down on a small table in the throne room. Antonius was not terribly smart, so he needed to leave the paper where he could best find it. After all, this was one note that Diana would find far too intriguing to resist.


"Catlin?"

Conor stepped into the chamber without waiting for a reply. He found her sitting on the bed rubbing her neck with her right hand. Her eyes were closed. She did not hear him enter the room.

"Cat?" he said again, slightly louder.

Her eyes jumped open. The look of surprise that registered briefly turned to a glazed expression.

"What do you want Conor?" she sighed wearily.

He walked over to her side and knelt down in front of her. "Catlin," he said taking her hands in his, "You have to believe me when I tell you there's a reason for all of this." She looked away from him. A slight breath escaped her lips and she shook her head slowly.

"Tell me, then. Tell me the reason." Her gaze again rested on his.

"I... I can't." His brow furrowed. Catlin tried to pull away from him. He sat down beside her and refused to let her go.

"Conor, I will die to protect you, to protect the Confederation. I am loyal to you and the cause... but I can't bear this. I can't be your friend if you can't trust me."

Conor leaned in towards her and rested his forehead against hers. He released her hands and stroked her hair. "Catlin, I do trust you... But I need you to trust me..." he said softly. "I need you to follow me without asking why... I need you to believe in me."

"Conor..." she sighed. "You know I believe in you, but why won't you let me help you?"

He stood up and walked toward the doorway. "You can help me best by not asking why." He waited for a response. He turned back to face her.

"Fine," she said quietly, "I'll leave tomorrow... But I'm going alone."

"Catlin-"

"Conor! I'll do what you ask for the Confederation... but I'm perfectly capable of getting back to the Sanctuary by myself."

"We'll discuss this tomorrow," he said as he left.


After supper she slipped back to her room and waited. Waited for darkness. Waited for the others to go to sleep. She pulled her cloak around her and thought of Longinus. She would see him tonight. In the shadows she listed to the sound of the simple people going to sleep. At times she didn't know how long she could stand it. These people were so lost. Soon, though. Soon they would unite with Longinus or be destroyed.


Catlin packed up her bag. She would leave in the morning - with or without saying goodbye to Conor. There was no need for him to go back with her. She knew Fergus would be furious at her for leaving Conor alone, but she would deal with him later. She stepped out into the darkening night. A cold wind was blowing. Winter was upon them. Catlin couldn't remember it ever getting so cold so early in the season. "Catlin?" It was Ian. He was returning to his room. "Hi," she smiled. "You're going?" He stopped and walked towards her, shaking his head. "You don't have to go."

"I know," she smiled. "But Conor's right. I don't want to do anything to endanger the Confederation."

"You believe that strongly?"

"I do, yes," she shivered. He put an arm around her shoulder and led her back towards her chambers. "Come on, you'll catch your death."


"My Queen," Antonius bowed before the silken haired woman. He held out the parchment that earlier he had delivered to Longinus.

Diana sauntered over to him. He couldn't help but notice how the purple silk of her gown hugged every curve of her as she moved.

"Did you see who delivered it?" "Yes, my Queen. He was one of Longinus' secret guard. But I don't think he wrote the message."

"Oh... what a brilliant deduction," she said. The sarcasm was lost on the soldier. She took the paper from him and unrolled it.

Reading the contents to herself a small smile crept across her face. Her eyes widened and she tossed her black locks with a quick move of her head. "Get our horses ready. We're going on a little trip."


Fergus finished meeting with a small group of the Sanctuary's best fighters. They had been discussing strategies for better protection of their enclave during the winter. Hunting parties had been gathering supplies for several days. Winter was early and it looked as if she was angry as well.

The big man stretched as he walked out of the little meeting room. He headed toward Tully's chamber. The lad had been very quiet after his visit to confront Aiobhell. In his heart, Fergus didn't want to believe that she was in league with the Romans. But his head told him to be suspicious. He had caught himself surreptitiously glancing at the girl's arms, searching for the brand of Longinus.

He got to Tully's room and found him asleep. Careful not to wake him, he left the lad's room and walked over to Aiobhell's quarters. He called out her name twice before entering. There was no reply.

The room was tidy and there was no sign that she had been there in several hours. No embers glowed in the fire pit. Fergus put his hand on the pieces of burnt wood. They were cold.

"Sweet Brigit, Lass. You're not making it easy for us to believe you."

Raising his eyebrow and shaking his head he walked back to his room.