金瓶梅第2部

Justus was in deep thought...

Somehow his brain wouldn't let go of the thought of marriage. He had someone he liked. She was sitting next to him.

"In other news..." Gia tilted her head. "I heard that the Eastern States have recreated replica weapons of ancient Tyrion steel. They call it Arcanite and the make looks remarkably similar and they say it holds a mana-charge remarkably well-- though it's not like they're going to take our ancient weapons out of museums to test the theories."

The blonde woman looked back to Justus.

Oh. Was he staring again? Uh...

She winked.

AH!

What was she saying? Everything she'd said, Justus had forgotten completely.

"Look alive, Justus League." Thankfully, Modestus saved Justus from more awkwardness, "It looks like the Deca-- err, the Duplicarius is heading back."

Another veteran groaned, "Maybe he's gotten another Flame-scarred promotion, so we all can be more confused at what to call him."

"I think we'll be fine," The scout on the opposite side of Rena nudged her with his elbow. "--as long as we don't mistake him for a girl."

Rena pursed her lips, "My husband can be a girl if he wants to be! There's nothing wrong with that!"

Her outburst was met with polite stares, all around.

Justus was sure there were one or two things wrong with her statement-- but its message was... sound? No... it was better not to address it.

Zehr's horse galloped by and quick-turned, adjacent to the wagon.

Gianna whistles, "Ohhh... wow. That maneuver was actually quite difficult. It looks like the Duplicarius is either a noble or used to work on a farm."

Justus' eyes widened in surprise, "How do you figure that, Gia?"

The corner of her luscious lips curled up, "Not everyone has access to a horse, silly Decanus, especially in Tyrion. Have you forgotten?"

He had.

"Nobility's more likely," One of the veterans offered. "He talks funny-- how I expect a noble to sound."

"Mhm." "Yeah, he does." --the crowd murmured agreement.

Justus stood up and offered a hand to Zehr, "Welcome back, Duplicarius."

Zehr stood up on the horse, grasped Justus' wrist, and stepped onto the wagon, "My thanks, Decanus."

Strangely, Zehr turned back to the horse, "You have performed your duties well, Heracles. Go with honor."

The horse-- apparently named Heracles, neighed in... a salute? It sped off, galloping back towards the front of the caravan.

...The tent group-- especially the engineer, stared in even more wonder than at Gia's stories.

It only occurred to Justus then, that there was no accompanying Eques to guide Zehr's horse back.

...He wanted very much to ask if that was okay, just letting Heracles go like that.

"Is everything alright, Duplicarius?" Gianna asked.

The visored Zehr took a seat, "It is not. You can tell?"

She tilted her head, "No. You generally hide your emotions well, so I figured it faster to ask."

Zehr shook his head and shrugged, "I gave the Primus Pilus a suggestion. It was rejected outright."

...Gianna was the smartest woman Justus had ever met. However, everyone in the tent group sat up anxiously and grew silent, after hearing what Zehr had said.

"Wh-what's going on?" The engineer asked.

"The Duplicarius knew about the kobold attack before it happened," One of the veterans explained. "And of course, it's the mushroom brains of our leadership that decided to ignore him."

"Yeah, if Zehr thinks something's wrong, by the Flame, we're gonna listen," The scout added.

"I see..." The engineer nodded gravely, "We have to do something, then."

Modestus turned around, keeping his voice low, "How about we break one of the wagon wheels? We'll have our wagon trail at the back of the caravan?"

A few voices of assent encouraged the plan.

The engineer looked unhappy about it, "Can we... pretend to have a malfunction, instead?"

Zehr pursed his lips.

Rena looked to him with worry in her face, "Are we gonna be okay, Zehr?"

"Yes, of course. Why wouldn't we be?" He responded.

"Is it because you're going to protect me?" Rena squealed.

"Is it because you have faith in our skill and camaraderie?" Justus asked.

"Is it because you're planning to pull a few crazy stunts like you did the other sun?" Gianna questioned thoughtfully.

Zehr tilted up his visor, revealing narrowed eyes and a thin crease between his eyebrows, "I feel like there may have been a misunderstanding..."

Gianna sighed, trying her best to smile-- though Justus noticed her eye was twitching, "Duplicarius... what did you tell the Primus Pilus?"

Zehr returned her look with a serious gaze, "I suggested that his horse, Bucephalus, would enjoy more fruit in his diet."

Eight out of ten members of the tent group tried to throw Zehr out of the wagon.

It took Justus at least twenty minutes of arguing to get them to calm down. It was the first time he actually missed Caelistis for his ability to demand obedience.

...

A few hours later, the Rhodok adventuring company had reached the mountain. The slightly reduced First Cohort-- with many new transferred groups, including Justus' own, would be trekking through the forest and rocky lands. The Second Cohort-- made up of a few tent groups of mostly Immunes, would care for the injured and watch over the remaining wagons and horses at the mountain's base.

As they marched on foot, a few Equites came by to pass word, their horses in a trot. The scout group was 30 minutes to a full bell ahead, so communication was paramount. Justus' tent group could see the group ahead of them talking amongst themselves, checking their weapons and gear in anxiety. It was obvious that the word the Equites were bringing was more precarious than usual.

Justus watched a clearly-struggling Decanus Ferrutius approach, circling the tent group on a familiar horse before coming close. He wrapped his forearm around the reins, pulling hard-- causing the horse to rear up and whinny in distress.

"Whoa there! Come on, girl! Seven hells, work with me!!" Ferrutius scolded Heracles.

"Your equine companion does not like you pulling on *his* bit so hard, Decanus Ferrutius," Zehr warned.

The orange-bearded Decanus scowled, "Oh, it's you. Do you have any other suggestions, Duplicarius?"

Zehr shook his head, "Heracles is a stallion-- a *male* horse. And he prefers the company of women."

Gianna took the hint, and with a reassuring hand on Heracles' neck and her gently whispering, she managed to calm him down-- the horse, of course.

Justus nodded, "Decanus Ferrutius, what's the word?"

Ferrutius shook his head and spat, "It's bad up ahead, Justus. The Centurion's looking for archers, as well as any volunteer Bronze-Ranks and higher."