The Centurion's Woman

Chapter 3

        Driving the men into activity was difficult, but the logic that they would reach the winter spring by the end of the day had the wives forcing their men into line, and the married men – to appease their wives – pushed the single men. A cart already stood outside Verus's tent when Ixillius returned to pack his own, a row of spectators gaping as Alex started cinching a harness onto Max. The mare was already loaded with Alex and Verus's kits, content to continue being a pack animal. Ixillius watched his wife for a moment, scanning over what she had chosen to dress in for the day, scrubbed his hand over his face and decided not to ask about the warhorses or the clothing. Once his tent was down and packed, he strode past her without a word to check on Verus.

        The true First File was still under the effects of the draught, but he was breathing well, and Marcus updated Ixillius that the wound had produced even less pus this morning. The red line spreading down Verus's leg hadn't altered in length during the night, which Quintus confirmed was a first in the many days since the line had appeared. Until Alex had done the healing from her mother's people, the line had only gotten longer.

        Ixillius scrubbed his hand over his face again. Quintus recognized the gesture, and easily guessed the source of his commander's agitation, but offered no advice. Ixillius left Marcus and Alex to see to Verus's affairs while he and Quintus saw to the Legion.

                                                                ***

        Max was good with being in the harness, which was a surprise as this was the second time she knew of that he'd ever worn one. Quintus had quietly questioned her choice of putting Big Man in front of Verus's cart, most likely at the request of Ixillius – who still hadn't said a word to her, although he'd frowned at her a lot – and she'd sent him back with the polite response that Big Man Max was still Verus's horse. Quintus had looked at the warhorses for a long moment, the walnut colored mare plodding along as a pack animal beside the chestnut stallion, and then he politely took his leave.

        Verus was miserable about staying in the cart once he finally woke from the drugged wine. By the time he was fully coherent, Max was happy to walk with only the mare for company, so Alex stayed in the cart with her brother. She made sure he had food and weak wine – he absolutely refused only water – and chastised him bitterly when he argued about having to eat again. Their familiar, steady bickering had the desired effect on the men in the 1st and 1st, and by midday the worried glances at the cart had all but stopped.

        "If this is how I'm to be treated from your healing, dear one," Verus started, frowning as she ordered another meal for him that afternoon, "Then I order you to leave."

        "Ha!" Alex replied. "I will not give you the medicine tonight when I do the healing. You can scream like a woman." She didn't bother moving from where she was sitting. He attempted to glare at her so she smiled back.

        "I also believe that you are now torturing me for your own pleasure," he accused.

        "As long as you complain, I do not worry. So I will give you a reason to complain," she said. "Be grateful. Say 'thank you.'"

        He mumbled a few choice words before and after, but there was a 'thank you' in the middle. Alex laughed and pulled the blanket closer around him, noticing that he was shivering again even though sweat beaded on his face.

        "Before I forget once more, I believe this is yours?" He held out the small purse that had carried her ring from Ixillius and her momma's pendant.

        "You found the purse?" Alex asked, taking and gently feeling the pouch to be sure the ring was still inside before taking her mother's pendant out of her pocket and dropping the little charm into the returned purse.