The Centurion's Woman

Chapter 22

THE WEEK PASSED easily. The discord of having the new command was softened considerably by extra time outside Verona due to the Legion behind being delayed by reinforcing the washed out bridge. The routine of training and working in the city – Ennius had promised the Governor some canal repairs completed before they marched for Illyria – left little time for the rumors that had been the main entertainment during the march. Ennius also didn't change much of the command organization that Verus had implemented; he'd only promoted Brasus to Centurion for the 6th and 4th. As well, the next Market Day was tomorrow, and Ennius had already circulated that all men were granted permission by the Governor to have the entire day for business. As the morning orders ended, Brasus quietly mentioned to Ixillius that his son's wedding would be taking place after the market so that friends could attend.

        "And what of you?" Ixillius asked him in the moments before heading back to their respective centuries. "Have you spoken with Rishima yet?"

        Brasus had shaken his head and looked away so Ixillius hadn't asked further. Ixillius wondered at his friend, who still doubted his woman after so many years and so many children, because she could now buy herself free. The newly promoted Centurion had only spoken to Magnus for setting up details about the wedding the past two days. Being in the same situation of willful ignorance against losing his own woman, Ixillius clapped a hand onto his friend's shoulder and made sure to smile before they parted.

        Ixillius walked back to the 1st and 1st and got his men organized into the work groups that Ennius wanted. The Legate joined him at the front of the line going into the city, and Ixillius found himself and Quintus again answering questions about the situation in Bonna, the politics happening when they'd left, and the rumors and facts of the march. Quintus spent most of the walk chuckling at the insatiable curiosity that Ennius had around the occurrences during the three night stay at the winter spring, getting Ixillius to repeat multiple times how sick Verus had been and that the messenger, Aetius Vitus, had stayed on for an extra day as acting Prefect.

                                                                ***

        Alex grinned over her blade at Yehao. Only Alex and Yehao had showed up for the morning training, the rest of the civilians were busy preparing for the market tomorrow. Yehao's eyebrows knitted closer together, her glare getting angry. She attacked again, jian flashing in the late morning sun, and Alex blocked and returned the blows until she could lock the blades one more time. Yehao threw down her sword.

        "You... you!" she whispered, too furious to yell.

        "This," Alex stepped back and spun her jian to hear the blade hum, "is not bamboo. And this," she gestured at the open patch they trained in, "is not a small alley with many people standing close to watch."

        The bruises on Yehao's face were nearly gone, and even Verus had complimented how pretty she was as she healed. Alex sheathed her jian, waiting to see if her slave would argue further. Today was the first time they could test each other's skills, and Alex wasn't surprised that – if only slightly – her own skills were better in the open. Yehao absorbed the comments, thinking fully through her response before she opened her mouth.

        "You let me win," she accused, finally.

        "No," Alex laughed and shook her head. "You won fairly."

        "Today proves those words are lies," Yehao was nearly crying she was so angry.

        "Today proves I can beat you in a wide place," Alex allowed. "But in the alley you would win again. If we spar in a narrow space, I will lose."