Marcello’s father shifts his feet apart, not looking convinced. “Were you sleepwalking?”
“No, I’d gone to get some fresh air because the smoke was making our campsite stuffy. I thought she was asleep, so I left. Laduga followed me.”
“Laduga,” Marcello’s father drawls out, trying the word.
There is a loud snap, and he turns as another shoulder walks through, his breastplate shining in the torchlight that he carries. “Sir.” He stops, pounding his fist against his chest.
Now that there is light, I can more clearly see the man. I recognize him from the vision of Marcello’s past, only he is some years older now and he wears his cares in the lines around his eyes. His nose is sharp and pointed, resembling the beak of the eagle on his breastplate and a brilliant red cape hangs around his shoulders. He pinches his lips in displeasure as he glances between Marcello and the new soldier before finally, he says, “Tribunus, round up the other men. Tell them that I have found our missing centurion.”
The soldier bows his head, darting a quick glance toward us before dipping his chin. “Sir, yes, sir.”
As he talks, Marcello leans toward me, dropping his voice to the barest of a whisper. “My father cannot know about the finger. He will use it to create an army for the empire. And that will not bode well for either your people or my own.”
I nod to let him know that I have heard.
Just then Marcello’s father turns to us, but he goes still when there is a crashing in the woods behind us. His hand goes for his empty scabbard, and he curses when he seems to realize that his sword is still lying in the snow in the middle of the clearing.
Suddenly my dragons burst through the trees. They take up an offensive position just behind me, folding their wings in and curling their muzzles up around their teeth as they hiss loudly.
Marcello’s father’s eyes widen, and he lunges for his sword, but Marcello beats him there, grabbing it up and holding it behind his back. “No, stop. These are Laduga’s dragons. They won’t hurt you.”
“Well, without my say so,” I state.
Marcello’s father straightens. “They obey you unquestioningly?”
I give a small nod.
“Well… Laduga,” he seems to try out my name, not seeming to like how it feels on his tongue. “I thank you for the protection you extended toward my son, but I am here now, so you are free to leave and return to your people. I will not stop you. Let us part without bloodshed.”
I snort slightly. As if he could stop me…
My eyes dart to Marcello who is now looking at the ground, not seeming to be willing to make eye contact.
“And what of Marcello?” I ask.
The father turns, taking in his son, his eyes seeming to say,indeed what of him?However, outwardly he says. “I am sending him back to Imperialis. I spent enough time wondering if he was alive or not. I’ll see that he never steps foot in these lands again.”
Marcello whips his head up. “Father, you cannot send me away!”
“I can, and I will as your Legate failure to follow my transfer orders will be akin to desertion.” His father’s voice takes a hard edge. “Besides, you hate it here. You were always complaining that this land is too cold.”
Marcello turns slowly to me, desperation reading across his expression as the torchlight once again enters the clearing as a group of half a dozen soldiers file in, forming a perfect line. I lower my ax, putting it back into the loop on my back so that they don’t perceive me as too much of a threat. As it is, I catch them throwing nervous glances to my dragons.
“Say goodbye, Marcello,” his father says, clearing his throat.
“Father, I—”
“That’s an order.”
Marcello snaps his mouth shut, narrowing his eyes, but then his eyes dart to the soldiers standing there. He steps toward me, pausing a moment to pull me into a hug. “Please use this to save yourself,” he whispers and a second later I feel something slide into my satchel.
He pulls back, pressing a long kiss on my forehead before stepping back.
“Is that it?” I hiss. “You’re just going to leave?”
“I haven’t a choice.” Marcello looks over his shoulder, before he drops his voice. “My father is not a reasonable man. He will take me here by force and you will get hurt if you try to stop him.” He gives me a small smile. “Still…I am glad to have met you, Laduga Scaleborn.”
“And I—” the words fail me as Marcello turns and steps back toward his father. I drop my gaze to the scales on my arm, right now they represent a connection between myself and him, but if I raise the god then they will go away.
