Sons of Rome by Karrie Roman

Author:Karrie Roman [Roman, Karrie]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: NineStar Press, LGBT, PTSD, soldiers, military, age gap, disabilities, war, ancient Rome, virgins
Publisher: NineStar Press, LLC
Published: 2019-12-16T16:00:00+00:00

THE RAIN HAD fallen all night and continued to fall as Varus’s legions packed away their campsite the next morning. They were later leaving than usual because of the weather and the number of civilians following them slowing them down. Drusus had pressed his lips gently to Caius’s and held him tight before they’d left their tent this morning. He’d cradled Caius’s face and committed it to his memory.

The Eighteenth Legion, Drusus’s legion, was at the head of the column today behind the cavalry and some of the auxiliary. Several hours into their march, the ground remained sodden, though thankfully, the rain had eased. The sky was dark grey and foreboding. Never had Drusus wished more for sunlight and blue sky.

On their left was a hill and to their right a giant bog. The track here was even narrower than previous days, made worse by sections of ground that fell away on either side, creating pools of water. They were walking four abreast now, but even so, Drusus, on the outer left, and Ovidius on the outer right, struggled to keep their feet out of the puddled water and mud. They pressed closer to the men between them, Calpurnius and Caius. Their passage was awkward and difficult. All around him, Drusus heard tempers flaring as the men struggled along the track.

By the time the wagons of the rearguard came through here the wet earth would be churned up by the feet of the marching men and the hooves of horse and mule. Drusus would not be surprised if many of the wagons became bogged. He did not think they would march far this day.

The column bore left around the base of the hill. The men were so tightly packed together now that moving freely was impossible. Drusus felt Cal’s arm brushing against his, the baggage pole of the man in front of him virtually at his throat. They were too close, too vulnerable.

The sky rumbled as though the gods were angry, and it grew darker. Rain would fall again soon. Wind whipped amongst the soldiers, making marching more difficult as they fought against it. Their woollen cloaks were soddening, even with the coating of lanolin to help prevent the water from seeping into the wool. To Drusus, it seemed as though everything conspired against them. His skin prickled, and he was more on edge than he remembered at the time of his first battle. He desperately wanted this day ended.

In between the rumblings of the thunderous sky, Drusus heard a familiar whistling sound and hastily flicked his gaze up and to the left. The sky was almost blotted out by the spears raining down on them. Quickly drowning out the noise as the spears flew toward them were the screams of their attackers.

Arminius’s trap had been sprung.

“Shields!” Drusus roared as he struggled to raise his own in the cramped space, there was no room for them to drop their equipment, so Drusus took a blow from the palisade stake of the man in front of him to his shoulder.

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