He shot her a look. “Why, thank you, wife, I know... but it is still bloody tricky.” He sighed, stopping to think. “I don’t want to die in a northern shithole, choking on my own blood... not when technically I should be enjoying my retirement.”
She walked over to him and pulled him into her arms. “I know, dear... but you won’t die, you’re a tough little boar.”
“Yeah... sure...” His eyes darted to the slaves, packing his clothes. “Kyle! Pack your stuff, I’m taking you with me.”
They all froze, and Tertullia grabbed his arm. “What? You’re not serious.”
“Of course I am. I’ll need a sturdy slave there...”—his lips curled into a mischievous smile — “And so does my brooding general.”
Tertullia understood then, and she turned to Kyle. “You heard the man... pack up, pup.”
He left in a hurry, his mind numb. They were leaving Rome for the northern borders, unknown dangers lurking in those hostile lands... and Marius... he hadn’t seen him for three weeks...
They left the next day, very early, the sun barely rising, and Clavius rode next to his cart, Kyle silently sitting on the bench, driving the mules.
Clavius spoke to him, his face grim under his crested helmet. “You know why I’m taking you with me?”
“You need me, dominus?”
Clavius pursed his lips. “You are very useful, don’t be mistaken on that, but I need you to first and foremost take care of Marius. He can’t be efficient with his bleeding heart, and we all need him to be sharp and ready. Our lives are at stake...” Kyle nodded, a warm feeling invading him, but Clavius was cautious, eyeing his blank face. “Understood?”
“Yes, dominus.”
“That’s my boy!”
A small smile played on Clavius’ face as he thought about the document in his satchel stacked on the cart.
Marius was supervising the last preparations at the barracks, a young recruit holding his horse, the nervous animal chewing on his bit.
At last, Clavius arrived, and he looked down at him. “Not on your horse, general?”
“I was waiting for you.” His voice was clipped and Clavius noticed the dark circles under his eyes, his face drawn, pale under his helmet. Clavius hadn’t seen him since that dinner, too busy with court matters, and his worried eyes flew to Marius’ hands, shaking as he read a last missive from the emperor. He tucked it in his saddlebag and got on his horse, the black stallion pawing the ground.
They were riding with several centuries and all the carts were lined in the back, so Marius could not see Kyle, and Clavius held his mouth, not wanting to deconcentrate him. He went to shout orders, and Marius took the lead, at least two long weeks of journey lying ahead. Still, he didn’t mind, mercifully away from Seraphina and that miserable existence without his lover. He only regretted leaving the child behind, not knowing when he could hold her again, this little bundle of joy which meant everything to him.
Fortunately, the children loved her and played with her a lot, babysitting her, her senses awakening, and Seraphina let them, not interested anymore in her daughter, leaving her to the slaves. She had insisted that he bedded her before he left, but Marius had refused, pushing her into a fit of rage. He had retired to his room then, drinking himself into oblivion.
He shook his head, leaving Rome, the streets still quiet in the early dawn. They had to keep a good pace and he could already hear Clavius riding down their lines, scolding. Marius smiled, but he was worried for his friend, knowing full well the dangers lying ahead. The barbarians had managed to kill the general at one of the forts and that was where they were headed now, for gods knew how long. His bitter thoughtsflew back to Rome, to Kyle, wondering what he was doing.I couldn’t even say goodbye, love...
They set camp for the night, the men settling, guards taking their places, although there was nothing to fear here.
Marius was tired, his nerves frayed, and he examined the maps of their journey in his tent, carefully tracing the roads. His armor weighed a ton on his exhausted body, but he didn’t care.
Camp slaves carried in a bathtub and started filling it with hot water when Clavius walked in. “My butt is sore from all this riding.”
Marius smiled, not lifting his head. “I missed you and your whining.”
“Ha! Well, you will be happy to have me now for months, until we smoke out those shitheads from their accursed woods. Anyway... why do you still have your armor on?”
Marius shrugged. “I was busy...” He gestured a slave over from the bathtub and the slave unbuckled his straps, taking it off, helping him out of his leather tunic.
He let him do it and Clavius’ face fell when he saw Marius’ linen tunic loose around his gaunt frame. “Marius... what the fuck...”
He shrugged, his eyes dull. “It’s no big deal...”
“You’re wasting away.”
He sighed, determined not to give in to his emotions, his voice soft. “You’re not helping...”
