One could hide nothing from a red-haired woman of the Iceni. Not even the secrets kept deep in one's heart.

In Borcovicus, Esca tends to Marcus.

Marcus wants Esca to be truly free, no matter what the cost may be for Marcus.

Marcus Aquila is an undercover Metropolitan police officer. His assignment is to infiltrate a slave-trafficking organisation which trades in men, bought and sold to fight in cages, sometimes to the death. When he makes the impulsive decision to intervene during a 'kill fight' involving a fierce young fighter called Esca, Marcus inadvertently finds himself the owner of his very own slave. Now Marcus has to find a way to complete his assignment, as well as gaining Esca's trust, without blowing his cover. The question is, can he do it before the secrets and lies catch up with him, and Marcus loses everything?

Before long the cloud banks are veined with lightning in their bellies, thunder rolling towards the little farm like ocean breakers. Marcus sets his jaw against the insistent thought of Esca and sets about readying the farm.

Marcus is one of the poorest liars Esca has ever encountered. There's no subtlety in him and no guile. He lies only when he thinks he must, for honour's sake, and even then he does it with a stiff discomfort which is entirely obvious to Esca's eyes. So when, one summer evening, their idle talk turns to the subject of women, Esca sees Marcus' desire to lie form before he even opens his mouth to speak, tension running stiff up his shoulders and colour climbing into his throat.