Wine of The Boar (Soldiers of The Boar Book 4) by Harper Allan

Author:Harper, Allan
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2023-07-30T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter Twenty three.

The Forest.

Velio led them back to the clearing where Orann, Drusus and Mauricus had been snatched. They rode fast, each with their separate misgivings. Despite the bravado of telling the legate he would go with or without his help, Velio was gutted the commander had not offered half a dozen auxiliaries to help him out. But who would they take orders from unless Flavius Pansa sent an officer or a ranking trooper? Still, he had harboured the hope extra men would be made available even up to the point of riding through the gates. He would have bet silver on it. But, it was not going to be that way, they were on their own, citizens let loose in Germania. He had played too rough with the legate. If goddess Minerva truly was all seeing, she would surely plant the word in the ear of Marcus Aurelius that Flavius Pansa was not an honourable man.

On the other hand it kept things simple. Petronius, Eudo and Bodusio were his men. No weak links, no faint hearts. He arrived half expecting to find the mutilated bodies of Ulpius’ men waiting for him. Torn by the enemy, ripped by animals. With a jolt he remembered Ulpius had already retrieved his slain troopers. The events of the snatching replayed in his head. How could he have forgotten Ulpius getting the bodies put over the backs of horses for burial later? He shook himself to get a grip. Muddled thinking would not serve Drusus.

“We camp here and get moving at first light, as soon as the sun is up,” he said.

None of the others contradicted his decision.

Guilt and the stars of the Little Bear kept him company while the others snored. When it seemed dawn was ready to rise, the North star tired of him and he woke with a twitch and a sore neck. Bodusio woke next. Petronius got the fire going and they ate a sharp jentaculum. Velio put his bowl aside halfway through before picking it up again. He had no stomach for food but made himself swallow. Drusus did not have the grace of hot food in a bowl. His cold determination helped it go down.

Eudo and Bodusio watched him and waited for the word.Velio scanned the area muddied by the cavalry horses the day before and shook his head. Despite what he had said to Flavius Pansa it should not have been possible to get ambushed here. Orann should have sensed there was danger. If he had held them back until Ulpius brought the rest of his men up in strength the whole affair need not have happened. He spat oats from his teeth and climbed onto his horse.

Petronius thought he looked shaken to his core. As well he might, the odds of the three hostages still being alive today were slim. He thanked his family gods it was not his child who was missing.

At first the spoor was easy to follow, like a road of scuffed boot marks, horse tracks and bruised grasses.

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