Invader: Part Two Blood Enemy by Simon Scarrow & T. J. Andrews

Author:Simon Scarrow & T. J. Andrews [Simon Scarrow and T. J. Andrews]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: HeadlinePublisher
Published: 2014-07-08T16:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER SIX

As the detachment travelled west along the packed-earth track, the clouds lifted and the sun shone starkly over the land, warming the frozen mud. Brown leaves rotted beneath the trees and, as they passed through a pleasant valley of undulating hills and forests alive with birdsong, it was briefly possible to forget they were still at war in Britannia. The two sections of men under Figulus’s command rode at the front of the column, with Helva acting as a scout a short distance ahead of the main section. The young legionary was a natural rider and had a sharp eye and a keen ear, honed by hunting on his father’s farm as a child, and he had the makings of a talented scout. Behind the legionaries rode Trenagasus and his entourage. The king-in-waiting was closely followed by his quartet of personal bodyguards: maimed ex-gladiators he’d recruited to his cause during his stay in Narbonensis. Bringing up the rear of the column were the baggage mules, weighed down with saddlebags and feed nets bulging with hay.

As the morning wore on, Figulus gradually began to master his horse, remembering the correct position in his saddle and how to properly cue his mount. By the early afternoon, his horse was obedient, responding to his prompts, and the optio rode on confidently at the head of the column as they journeyed towards Clausentum, a flourishing coastal village where they would put up for the night at the fort. The clear skies helped lighten the mood among the soldiers and Blaesus entertained a few of his comrades by recounting stories of his various drunken nights out.

‘You should’ve seen the size of her tits,’ he said hoarsely. ‘Out to here, I tell you. And then her sister walked into the room …’

The other soldiers laughed. Figulus glanced back just in time to see Blaesus taking a swig from his wineskin. The legionary wiped his lips with the back of his hairy hand and grinned.

‘Hair of the dog, sir. It’s the local brew. Cethegus gave me some supplies before we parted ways. Got a real kick to it.’ He offered the wineskin to Figulus. ‘Care for a drop?’

Figulus shook his head. ‘We’re on escort duty. Best put it away.’

‘Come on, sir. We’re just having a drink, is all. No harm in that.’ Blaesus swept his arm in a broad arc in front of him. ‘Besides, we’re in friendly territory. Who’s going to bother us here? The local farmers? The sheep are in more danger than us!’ He laughed at his own joke and took another sip from the wineskin.

Figulus considered. ‘Fair enough, lads. Just keep it down, eh?’ With a knowing nod of his head, he turned in the saddle and faced forward. In the corner of his eye he noticed Rullus staring at him disapprovingly. The veteran shook his head and waited until Blaesus had resumed telling his story. Then he leaned over to Figulus and said under his breath, ‘You shouldn’t go easy on the men, sir.

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.