The Centurion's Woman

Chapter 33

        Ixillius was swearing quietly when Alex fell in step beside her husband. Max and the mare were striding alongside the nearest feed cart, eating, and the stolen horses had been led away to join with the cavalry assigned to the 6th cohort.

        "What is wrong?" Alex asked, pointedly, after looking at the expression on Ixillius's face and hearing his low selection of words.

        "Verus has taken ill," Ixillius replied, and Alex looked as though he'd slapped her.

        "Speak," she commanded Marcus. He repeated the short story, adding that healers had been tending to the First File, but rumors said the infection was worsening daily.

        Alex listened closely to the rest of the news as her brain clicked through all the bugs, germs and other infection-causing things she knew of that could be expected in a flood surge and would mix badly with an open wound. Unfortunately, the list was a long one, and she didn't have the education to be able to identify the differences. At least the infection sounded slow, having festered for weeks already, so she might still be able to help. Marcus could only provide a few details, and those were based on the rumors he'd heard as he hadn't left his post in the 6th and 4th, and Verus always appeared fine during the morning orders. She wanted to leave for the 1st and 1st immediately, worry now overshadowing the initial happiness she'd felt at their return, but Ixillius ordered her to stay.

        She listened to the complete report as Marcus updated Ixillius on the happenings within the century specifically, and the Legion in general, from the past month. A few steps behind, Caeles and Brasus were having a similar conversation. Brasus and Ixillius had given Alex a brief telling of what had occurred on the day of the attack, prior to when they departed to come back and rescue her, and Marcus picked up the story at the day after the attack.

        It hadn't taken Verus long to rebuild a command. In only seven days, he'd installed and established a complement of officers to take up what he deemed were the needed postings left vacant, and then procured and ensured the loyalty of the Auxiliary that had remained. The day before they'd begun the march again, the half of the Auxiliary that had deserted had returned to the encampment and requested a negotiation. Verus had surprised everyone by attending on them, and then surprised them by not handing down any punishment from himself for their actions. (He was wise enough not to promise they wouldn't be punished for their short desertion, but he promised not to punish them himself.)

        Alex was fairly certain the return of the missing Auxiliary was the news that had sparked the messenger party to treat her as being above the officers she traveled with. As if she'd had anything to do with that... More likely, the Auxiliary commanders that broke rank had waited nearby to see if the Legion would fail with the entire command wiped out. When they got word the Legion would be moving out, they came back. The rumor of their return being tied to her rescue was more interesting, though, so would probably be around for a lot longer than anything close to the truth.

        The march had gone well for the first three days, and then they'd arrived at the river crossing and discovered the bridge washed out by the flood. They'd taken a day and a half to get the temporary bridge in place – two men drowning and Verus exposing his wounded leg to the flood water in the process of saving a third – and then had crossed without further major incident. The weeks since had been plagued with small misfortunes, bringing the more superstitious men to the logical conclusion of the Legion being cursed for losing the Eagle. A few of these men had gained a decent following after Verus's wound had become infected, and Marcus spoke quietly that there was a large divide within Minerva's 1st now that none of the healers were able to cure the First File.

        The encampment set quickly as twilight deepened to darkness. Alex was surprised to see the Auxiliary and civilians were included inside the fortifications, but Marcus shrugged and explained Verus had commanded them inside. After waiting a few more minutes to ensure the century was settling into their nightly routine, Ixillius told Alex to collect her kit and horses.