The Phantom Queen Awakes by Mark S. Deniz

Author:Mark S. Deniz [Deniz, Mark S.]
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi, azw3
Publisher: Mark S. Deniz
Published: 2012-04-10T08:38:43+00:00

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“That happened to me, at the start.” Gederus indicated Rufinius’ trembling hands as they sat with the rest of the legion on the riverbank, their clothes steaming.

Rufinius found it hard to speak. His mind was still ruled by the memory of the vibration that had travelled up the length of his arm as a man’s face opened in a blossom of red meat and gristle beneath the point of his sword. The young warrior had misjudged his attack, leaving himself open and Rufinius, seeing his chance, had very nearly backed away from it. The idea of releasing something as absolute and irreversible as death on a man had terrified him. It still did. Only the threat of having his ashes scattered in this alien wasteland had prompted him to action, all notions of flight or mercy stillborn.

The few surviving Celts had soon fled, surprised by their opponents’ overwhelming numbers and leaving the corpses of their kinsmen to a trio of carrion crows circling overhead.

“So what saw you through?”Gederus asked.

Rufinius shrank a little under his comrade’s searching gaze.

“I don’t know what you mean,” he said, glancing at the length of gold chain just visible around his friend’s neck. “I had training...”

Gederus waved the words away. “Every man fights for something, even if it’s just his pay. What is it you fight for?”

He offered the first lie that occurred to him. “For Caesar.”

“That’s very noble,” Gederus nodded, and he began to relax. “But it’s crap.”

Rufinius searched frantically for any trace of accusation in the words.

“We all took the oath when we enlisted,” Gederus went on. “We all eat and sleep and shit for Caesar. But tell me, when you were knee deep in that water with your enemy at your throat, did you spare him a single thought?”

Rufinius opened his mouth to argue, considered lying, then shut it again.

“You need something of your own to stand for,” said Gederus. “Only a monster fights without cause. So I’ll ask you again; what’ll it be?”

“I...don’t know.”

Gederus coughed, spat and stood up. “Well I suggest you decide before we run into any more Celts. I’d be sorry to lose you.” He started towards the point where the column was reforming.

Rufinius remembered the sight of him striding calmly through the waters to meet the charge, his sword and dagger at the ready, silently marking up each of the attackers for death.

“I don’t want to die here,” he called after him.

Gederus paused. “That’s as good a reason as any.”

“And what about you? Why do you fight?”

“Honestly?” Gederus hoisted his features into a lopsided smile. “Because it’s the only thing I’m good at.”

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