Son of a Pitch Entry: The Iceni and the Roman

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Title: The Iceni and the RomanGenre: NA Historical RomanceWord Count: 95,000
Query;Romans slaughtered Devona’s parents in the final battle of Queen Boudicca’s rebellion that nearly wiped out her Britannic tribe, the Iceni. Devona’s hatred and fear of the Romans grows as they hunt and destroy what little her tribe has left. But despite the fear surrounding her, she is driven to keep her last promise to her mother; to raise her four year-old-brother.
Right before his father’s death, Felix joined the Roman legions to escape the patriarchal dominion of his older brother. But since Felix’s family is wealthy citizens, his brother has sway among the military’s leadership. Felix finds himself assigned to the fringe of the empire, Britannia, keeping him away from any claims to land inheritance. Not that Felix is complaining. The post has ridden him of an unwanted arranged marriage and his brother’s tight grasp. Once he arrives, a young native woman intrigues him as she stands beside a funeral pyre. A girl who hates Romans for what they did to her clan almost six years earlier.
When Devona is abducted by Roman soldiers, Felix saves her and, despite how much she cannot trust him, they make an arrangement; to keep her safe, he will claim her and her brother as his property in exchange for warm clothes and homemade meals.
As Devona sees beyond her prejudice, she and Felix fall in love. But their love is challenged by a rival suitor for Devona who wants to use her to start his own rebellion, overcoming laws that will not acknowledge Devona as Felix’s wife, and most of all, keeping their relationship from Felix’s brother who would force them apart. But they will fight to be together, because they refuse to believe their love will break in a time where love has almost no value.

250 Words:Devona
The carnage left a metallic stench in the air as blood covered everything. And yet, the Roman soldiers still advanced, crushing men, women, and children alike between their wall of shields and the unbroken row of carts and horses.
Grabbing my frightened younger brother, I dragged his tiny limp body backward, out of the way of the onslaught. In the distance, Queen Boudicca’s cries echoed over the wails of our dying people, the great and noble Iceni.
With my heart pounding in my ears, I cleared the carts. Swung around to find my parents, Mother appeared in the commotion, her bronze hair streaked with dark liquid. Our eyes met across the barrier of carts and horses and she nodded. She wanted me to flee, and to keep my younger brother safe. There was no doubt in my mind she knew she would die along with most of our people. After our glorious revolt, the Iceni faced near extinction.
With a tug of his hand, I pulled my brother from the battlefield. Reaching the edge of the field, I coaxed him up a tree, following right behind him. Climbing as high as we could, we hid among the leaves and branches. I covered his ears to block out as much of the horrors as possible. I did not have such a luxury, I witnessed all of it.
Tears rolled down my cheeks as the final stages of battle passed, each one drawing out fewer final cries of death. Finally, the field fell quiet. Tucking my brother and I firmly in the branches of the tree to keep from being found, I watched as the Romans, each covered in crimson, streaks soiling the polish on their armor and shields, effortlessly parted the remaining carts and pushed through.
“You killed them all!” The woman’s cry echoed from among the dead.