Legionary by Hector Miller

Author:Hector Miller [Miller, Hector]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2018-08-04T16:00:00+00:00

Chapter 18 – Thervingi

Bradakos was adamant to send three hundred riders to escort me to the lands of the Thervingi Goths.

I refused. I was unwilling to risk the lives of three hundred of my people. We nearly came to blows, but in the end Bradakos relented.

We settled on him providing us with three of the Huns’ best scouts and two Hunnic horses for each of us.

Once we had agreed, I left to join Marcus and Cai. I wished to wash in the river and rest before we would attend the compulsory feast in our honour. Barbarians know how to feast and I expected that the king would lay on something proper.

Cai and Marcus had already enjoyed a swim and I went to the river prior to meeting with them in the accommodation arranged by the king.

Typical of Cai, he was not forthcoming with information and Marcus was keen to be updated.

Marcus ambushed me as soon as I entered our tent.

“Lucius, tell me what happened. How is it possible that you can get an audience with a barbarian king? Why are they treating us like royalty?”

I sighed on the inside, knowing that I had to take the direct and honest route.

I drew my gladius and for a moment I saw a bit of worry in Marcus’s eye.

I grinned at that and said: “Don’t be concerned Marcus. I would have done it already if I wanted to.”

He chuckled and replied sheepishly: “I know Lucius, it’s just when you draw your sword, people normally start dying.”

“I will tell you as much of the truth as I can”, I said.

“But only if you make an oath on this blade never to reveal it.”

He immediately placed his hand on the sword and said: “I will not share anything. On the honour of my family name.”

I told Marcus everything that he needed to know.

I explained to him that my mother was a Roxolani princess and that I would have been the king of my people. I told him about the Huns and the battle with the Goths.

Needless to say, I left out the part where my father killed the emperor.

After I had finished my story Marcus just sat there for a while with his mouth slightly ajar.

When he had gathered his wits he said: “Lucius, had I not known you, I would have thought that you have a talent for telling tall stories. Thank you for sharing this with me.”

He had barely finished speaking when one of the king’s bodyguards came to fetch us for the feast.

Marcus muttered something about being tired, but I told him: “Marcus, there is no choice here. The king will be hugely insulted should you not accept his invitation. Even I would not be able to prevent them sacrificing you to appease some dark god.”

My ruse worked. Marcus suddenly felt less tired and decided to join us.

A small crowd awaited us. I was escorted to the seat of honour, on the right side of the king, with Cai and Marcus occupying the seats reserved for important guests.

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