The Centurion's Woman

Chapter 4

"HAVE YOU GROWN weary of watching her walk away, yet?" Verus asked quietly.

        Ixillius cursed and pulled his gaze from where Alex had just disappeared out the entrance of Verus's tent. Settling Verus had been the first time he'd seen her tend to a man before seeing to her horses, and the emotions had been plain on his face for Verus to read.

        "She tells me you called her a liar," Verus continued. "Though I'm curious if why she thinks you would say so aligns with why you think you are."

        "She seems to speak a lot to you for someone who says so little," Ixillius frowned. Verus chuckled, his hand snaking out from inside the blankets to lock on his friend's wrist when Ixillius tried to stand, his grip surprisingly strong.

        "She speaks volumes if you learn to listen," Verus challenged.

        "And she explains nothing!" Ixillius replied hotly.

        "What needs to be explained?" Verus asked. Ixillius sat on his heels and scrubbed his free hand over his face.

        "When I first brought her to Bonna, she said she was looking for her father," Ixillius started. "But she wouldn't tell me his name."

        "She was frightened to," Verus answered, releasing his friend's arm. "That was clear the night we forced her to."

        "Why?" Ixillius questioned, not expecting an answer.

        "Because when she told two slaves at the village where you first found her, they acted as though she was delivered by the gods. She didn't know how you would react, and was too injured to want to find out." Verus spoke quietly as he settled back onto his pallet. "I pestered her for all the details when she returned from selling Naevius's horse for him. One of the slaves she'd first told, a woman, she was present – married to one of the men – when the sale was agreed."

        "Helena," Ixillius sighed, then cursed under his breath. "Hludwolf, the one who stole Alex, the woman was his wife. She was terrified beyond coherency when Alex took up a sword. The reaction seemed excessive at the time."

        "What else needs explanation?"

        "She speaks of taking long travels, but was surprised at the trade value of meat."

        "Does she speak of trading?" Verus asked.

        "Well, no, but ..." Ixillius's voice trailed off, and he sighed. "But she discusses trap lines and teaching people how to live apart from all others, and that her father taught her how to recognize and avoid villages," he paused, "but that doesn't explain Max or how she can ride him without tack."

        "Max is entirely my cousin's doing," Verus frowned. "He was gifted by the gods in training horses. Pity he was murderous and insane, but lucky for Alex that he chose to create a mount for her."

        "Then what about the mare?" Ixillius accused.

        "That warhorse driven mad two years ago and has since refused to leave the Legion despite being sold away three times?" Verus grinned. "From what I saw today, the mare follows the stallion. And from... before, Alex befriended her with treats and loving attention, much the same as the lame kite that follows her everywhere, and you. I saw no point in telling Alex the mare is evil."

        "Brasus rode that mare," Ixillius stated flatly. There was a smug flash that passed on Verus's face, as whenever one of his private thoughts held true, disappearing quickly before Ixillius saw and could ask the reason.