Is she truly what she claims?

The woman held out her bound hands, clearly expecting them to be freed, but Titus merely stared at her.

"Any woman could make such claims," he said flatly. "Can you prove the truth of them?"

The woman's eyes grew wide and her face tightened with anger.

"I am Sestia Penna!" she screamed. "Niece of an Imperial Governor and betrothed of a Senator! How dare you question my honour! Release me at once!"

"You do not have a look of a Celt, I'll grant you that," Titus replied calmly. "But you could have come among them in many ways. Capture, perhaps, or willingly. I say again, can you prove the truth of your claims?"

The young woman struggled to calm herself, tossing her black hair in anger as she glared at him.

"I was taken captive at....at...Gods who can remember the names of these scabrous towns? It was a month ago...a little more. Surely there has been word of it? Surely there have been messages sent to seek me out?"

"Nothing," Titus replied, his voice flat. "There has been nothing reach my hand."

The young woman stared at him in fury, her face starting to tremble with horror as she looked at his stony face.