FIFTY-THREE: LEAVING THE CAMP

  “Do we need to leave before dawn, or was this your own choice?” Basilides complained as they clustered before the gates that led outside of the warcamp. The midnight sky was just beginning to soften with hints of the dawn and the chill of the night was only pushed back by the fires burning by the gate.

  “We gather before dawn and waste no light this way,” Cassius said as he stretched out the kinks in his neck. The rest of their small party was assembling even as the camp was beginning to rouse itself. Vira came walking from the noble’s quarter in fresh armor, undented or scarred from combat.

  “We travel again so soon,” Vira said as way of greeting.

  “Scouts for the legion rather than for a century,” Cassius said. They were the ones who had found the dungeon and thus they were the ones who had been designated to lead the legion to it.

  Scouts were coming from the auxiliary as well as a small delegation from the noble quarter. Not just the Agricola family but a duo from Lady Victoria’s family as well. A man and woman who both walked with the bow legged stride of people more accustomed to their horses than the ground. They carried the longer sabers that the Equites family seemed to prefer as well as a case that looked like it would hold a bow to go with the quivers on their hips. Neither of them spoke, simply stood by the sentries with taciturn faces.

  Representing the legion was Cassius and Valeria while the senators had decided they needed no one, keeping their small guard close to themselves. If their paranoia wasn’t likely to get people killed, Cassius would have found it amusing.

  “Just us six?” Vira asked as she looked over the group. Valeria was double checking her gear, ensuring her spear, shield, and gladius were all in working order. She had brought with her two extra canteens which hung from straps around her shoulders. Cassius kicked himself for not remembering to grab his own extra canteens, but made a note to remember the next time.

  “We will go and mark the path, the legion will be right behind us. No more than an hour of easy travel. There are no roads here to use [March] with,” Cassius said, repeating the words that General Invictam had told him last night. There would be a company of cavalry that could be deployed as a fast reaction team. If the horn he had in his pack could be heard and if the trees allowed the horsemen through in a timely manner.

  The brush wasn’t as severe as it was right as you passed through the Shifting Wall and into the Wilds. Cassius didn’t believe that the fast response team would be helpful in a true emergency, but it was better than what they had the first time they’d ventured out.

  “Let us be gone then, I wish to finish our trek as fast as possible,” Vira said. She turned toward the gate as if to push forward but the sentries didn’t open the gate. They looked apologetic as they bowed their heads in quick sheepish nods toward the noblewoman before they spoke.

  “The General gave orders that we are not to open the gate until he arrives,” they explained.

  “Then we wait,” Vira said testily, crossing her arms across her chest as her foot beat a tattoo on the ground. Her mood was such that nobody dared crowd near her aside from Cassius, even Valeria stalked off with a muttered grunt as she sat in the dirt and leaned her head against the wall and quickly fell asleep.

  “It is a good skill to have,” Vira said as she looked over at Valeria. Cassius nodded, still not knowing what it was that was said at the meeting that had irritated the young noblewoman so much.

  “I fear I did not hear what was said between Lady Victoria and your mother that made you so irate,” Cassius said. He came at the problem with the same tact that Vira normally showed. The two of them were off to the side and speaking quietly enough that no one should be able to hear them.

  “You did not hear any of the conversation? What was it that had your attention so focused that you did not hear my mother bartering me like a prize mare?” Vira said, voice deadpan as she stared at Cassius like it was his fault.

  “I was working on strengthening my connection with [Hunter’s Sight]. There is much more a skill can do than what one first thinks, but I think that is something you already know,” Cassius said. He blinked at her as he thought over what she had said and made the connection.

  “But, I had thought you had said your mother did not care who it was you spent time with? Or married?” Cassius finally said as Vira’s face slowly grew more and more blank while, in contrast, her eyes had begun to blaze with anger.

  “Oh, now you hear that part? Yes, normally I would have been correct. I had forgotten a small detail though,” Vira said.

  “You have pushed into the second tier,” Cassius said, drawing the conclusion in a moment.

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  “Correct. I am a second tier and the Equites has only Lady Victoria. Mother has agreed to enter preliminary talks of a minor merger of our houses,” Vira said.

  “Minor merger?” Cassius asked.

  “I am the third daughter of the dominant clan. Even as a second tier warrior I am not high enough in the family structure to qualify for a major merger.” Vira explained while leaving Cassius confused.

  “I have no idea what it was that you said. I know the words, but do not understand the context.”

  “One of Lady Victoria’s sons will bed and wed me for a few years. I will give him a daughter or two who will bear the Equites name. If my future husband and I earn enough wealth and fame out here, then maybe I would be looked at to start my own clan. Of course owing allegiance to both the Equites and Agricola. And their taxes,” Vira said, spitting to the side as if to rid her mouth of the bad taste.

  “Wed you for a few years?” Cassius asked.

  “Our lands are fecund as are the people who inhabit them and we live a long time, Cassius. As second tiers, even before [Regenerate] we could live for over a century barring violent end. Amongst the strata marriages are temporary. My children would be adopted by Lady Victoria if they proved worthy or would stay with me and my mother.”

  “That sounds…” Cassius trailed off as Vira cooly looked at him. Cassius bit his tongue and decided not to finish his thoughts.

  “A ten year marriage contract is the general length for a minor marriage like this. We would have the opportunity to renew it or move on afterwards,” Vira said. Cassius grunted, confused about the nobility in general and the Vira in particular.

  [Unyielding Spirit] tempered his soul and mind. It kept him grounded as he turned toward the sounds of commotion that approached them. General Invictam came striding forth in a hurry, his rich furs rustling along as he walked. Attia followed in his wake as a silent shadow while Captain Antonia Rufus looked like she had swallowed a thunderstorm as she marched toward them.

  “Good, you have yet to depart,” General Invictam said as he closed the distance. Cassius didn’t say anything as the General acted like he hadn’t left orders to keep them from leaving.

  “No, sir,” Cassius said when none of the strata bothered to speak up. Valeria had been nudged and had leapt to her feet, fist crashing to her breast as she saluted. Invictam waved her down as he stood straight and proud.

  “I wished to see you all off. While you are gone I have one of the blacksmiths fashioning a true stand for your superbia. Lead forward but do not push too far ahead. You three should be more than strong enough to lead us to the old dungeon. If there is anything in the way, kill it or mark it so that we can quickly destroy it,” Invictam ordered.

  Cassius nodded and wondered why the General had come down to wish them good-bye when they had already spoken about it last night.

  “Captain Antonia came down to deliver you a gift as well,” Invictam said, smile broadening slightly as the stern [Praetorian] reached behind her back beneath her cloak and pulled out a heavy coin purse. Cassius could hear the slide of metal on metal as she tossed it with a grunt of disgust at Cassius.

  “There was some betting being done around the ring. As the victor you are to be rewarded a portion of all bets. That is what the senatorial guard lost,” Invictam said with a wide smile. He grabbed an even larger pouch from his belt and hoisted it up.

  “This is your tax upon the winnings from our men. It seems quite a few legionnaires believed in you.” Cassius stared at the two bags of coin, both heavier than he’d ever felt.

  “You have to pay a percentage of the winnings and losses to the victor of the fight?” Cassius finally said.

  “Percentage of all bets is the rule. Bet five silver, one silver is put aside for the fighter who wins,” Invictam said. The heavy pouch he held now made more sense to him, it was a percentage of every legionnaires bet. Cassius bounced the senatorial guard’s percentage in his hand and even his active skill couldn’t keep a smile off his face.

  “I will take your debts into account with the payment of this,” Invictam said as the heavy pouch disappeared back to his belt. Cassius winced as he thought of the cost of the gear he was wearing. It was not cheap becoming a legionnaire and the cost of the replacement armor and arms was levied against him.

  “Take this as well,” Cassius said, tossing the pouch towards the general. Invictam caught it with one hand, raising an eyebrow.

  “Put it against Valeria and Marcus’ debts. Without them I would be dead,” Cassius said.

  “Generous,” Invictam said but didn’t argue as the second pouch of coins disappeared.

  “Now that this has been completed, I would see you all off. Open the gate!” Invictam ordered. Invictam and his trailing edge of followers turned and marched back into the awakening chaos of the camp without another word.

  “That was kind of you,” Valeria said. She bumped her shoulder into Cassius’ but she shuffled awkwardly around before coughing mumbled words.

  “I must not have heard you. That sounded like thank you,” Cassius said with a laugh while Valeria merely darkened in embarrassment before snorting and shaking her head.

  “You paid for all of our debts, but you forgot about Pius,” she said.

  “I had to listen to his attempts at humor. That was payment enough,” Cassius said, keeping his face straight as he settled his gear and started toward the opening gate while the three nobles fell in line with them.

  “This feels oddly familiar,” Valeria whispered.

  “I hope for better luck than your last adventure, I have plans for my death and they do not include the Wilds,” Basilides said as he caught up to them. Valeria took one look at the philosopher and snorted.

  “Might need to change your plans.”