The Centurion's Woman

Chapter 11

"FIRST FILE? FIRST File!" The messenger boys were quickly getting louder outside.

        "Ensure the girl is returned to her family – wearing her own clothing – and that her father is informed of her character," Ixillius ordered, and Aetius nodded. "Find out what she was looking for, and who sent her," he added, whispering, tilting his head toward the table. Aetius nodded again. "Quintus?" Ixillius set his helmet back on his head and strode out of his tent still carrying his shield, the Optio following.

        The two boys who'd been yelling stood in the middle of the Training Ground, and both came at a run when Ixillius haled them. They started speaking at the same time, competing to deliver the message and neither able to be heard over the other.

        "Silence," Quintus commanded and they obeyed immediately. "You," he pointed at the taller of the two boys, "Speak."

       "The Lady Avilia is at the East gate with a healer for Celsus Calix and Optio Nazario Albus struck one of the men on watch hard enough that he fell because –"

        Quintus held up a hand and the boy stopped, gasping.

        "You," Quintus pointed at the second boy, "speak."

        "Because the man named the Lady as evil and then Optio Nazario Albus sent us to gain permission from you because the healer is a stranger, First File, and –"

        "The Optio is leading the Lady and a healer in through the East gate?" Ixillius interrupted and both boys nodded eagerly. "They have permission to enter. Tell Optio Nazario that I'll meet him on the direct route through camp to Celsus Calix."

        The boys nearly tripped on each other before darting around Quintus and racing back toward Brasus. Ixillius wished he could feel relieved, but the news that his friend had struck one of the men on watch over such a small slight against Alex didn't bode well. He glanced around and assured himself that there were no ears listening.

        "How deeply can Aetius be trusted?" he quietly asked Quintus.

        "I trust him as I trust myself," Quintus replied, obviously shocked that the question was asked.

        "Good," Ixillius said, his hopes confirmed. "Stay with him so he's not called into question, and ensure the girl is treated in absolute respect. I asked him to find out what she was looking for – I'm not stupid enough to think she wanted me – so if he has no luck, I want you to get an answer out of her that's honest. I want to know her family name before sleeping tonight."

        Quintus nodded and went back to the tent where the argument between Aetius and the girl over her modesty in changing without the drape in place could be clearly heard. Ixillius stationed two messenger boys outside the tent to eavesdrop, noting that three more boys and a girl took up the order without being instructed. He grinned at the children, all of them standing awkwardly to attention, and then started toward the East gate.

                                                                ***

        Alex greeted the men on watch that she recognized from the Training Ground as Brasus led them through the gate. The looks the men returned varied from fear to wonder, settling into awe as Mikayla was highlighted by the torches. Whispers and calls raced between everyone that had gathered after Brasus had struck the guardsman. Children were running in all directions away from where adults stood, riveted, watching the Optio lead the two women.

        They moved quickly once between the tents, the familiar sights and smells of the Legion in the early evening were nice to be surrounded by again. Slaves that had seen Alex the first time she'd made the jump back reacted badly to seeing both Alex and Mikey in similarly strange clothing to what they remembered, and Alex tried not to grin at the gestures against evil that they made.