Chapter 30

"They could not have gotten far," A soldier informed Octavia as she stared at the body by her feet, "If we leave quickly, we can catch up to them."

Octavia continued to look at the dead archer that lay on the ground, "No."

"Commander?" The guard frowned, not wanting to question her but still confused by her answer.

"Octavia," Hadrian stepped forward, "We cannot afford to allow Marcia to reach the camp. We should send out a party-"

"-I said no," Octavia lifted her head and glared at Hadrian, his brown eyes narrowed in confusion, "I want you to organise a work shift and fix the perimeter where the fire has weakened it."

"You're just going to allow them to escape?" Hadrian whispered in anger, "What if Marcia heard something about-"

"-She heard nothing," Octavia turned and snapped at him, "My decision is final."

Hadrian, correctly, remained silent when they heard Polonius arrive with a handful of his own soldiers.

Hadrian turned until he was stood beside Octavia, showing his loyalty despite their disagreement moments earlier.

"General," Octavia greeted him.

"Commander," Polonius bowed slightly, his grey eyes murky with intrigue, "I hear that you have misplaced your prisoners."

Octavia breathed slowly, trying to remain calm as she heard the condescending in his voice.

Polonius looked around at the guards present before he turned back to her with an arched eyebrow, "You are not going after them?"

Octavia put on her most diplomatic smile, "No. They shall come to me, when the time is right."

"You must forgive me, Commander," Polonius challenged her, "But it seems to me that you are leaving the fate of a war to chance."

"Not chance, General," Octavia kept smiling though she imagined sinking her blade into his throat, "Knowledge."

Marcia shall return to Krista and tell her exactly what Octavia had allowed Marcia to witness, without realising she was witnessing anything at all at the time.

And Krista shall react in the only way she knows how; to attack. Once she did, Octavia will have her.

"In the meantime, General," Octavia asked Polonius, "I would be grateful if you could post additional guards on the perimeter whilst we get the fence fixed."

Polonius shared a look with Hadrian, judging where he stood in this situation, before he nodded, "Of course, Commander. I shall see to that straight away."

"You have my gratitude," The smile was lost from Octavia's face the moment Polonius turned his back on her.

When he was out of earshot, Octavia turned to Hadrian, "I have a job for you, which I need you to execute with all your stealth and experience."

Hadrian knew that this was not about re-building the fence, "Commander?"

"I need you to organise two parties of your best warriors. Send one to Greece and one to Britannia."

"Britannia?" Hadrian frowned, not seeing the plan, "What is it they are to do there?"

The smile returned to Octavia's face, "They are going to help us organise a small family reunion."

* * *

They continued walking as dawn rose over the horizon, only stopping to rest once they were confident they were not being followed.

Marcia put her back to a tree before she slid to the ground, exhausted and in pain as she stared at the burn on her arm unsettlingly.

"Here," Lazarus ripped a strip of material from the bottom of his tunic and handed it to her.

Marcia thanked him before she eagerly wrapped the crimson strip around her upper arm, hiding the brand. She could not allow her parents to see it; it would destroy them.

Lazarus looked around; stood just within the tree line, he could see the shape of the fort not too far away.

They would soon be back within the hour.

"Where-" Petra wiped her nose with the back of her hand, "Where do we go now?"

Lazarus turned his back to the stronghold and looked at the others, "Marcia and I have to go back to the fort but you three are free to leave. There is a river a few days walk north; you'll find a port there. They will be able to guide you to wherever you want to go."

"Can we come with you?" Petra looked to Marcia for guidance.

Marcia gave a small shake of her head, "Where we're going it is not safe. No one will come after you, take your sister somewhere safe."

Petra turned and hugged Philyra, pressing her face into her sister's hair as they began to part ways.

Lazarus turned to the man who had remained silent the entire journey and held out his hand, "Gratitude for what you did back in the camp."

The man stared at his out stretched arm for a second before he took his hand, "Varinius."

Lazarus shot Marcia a look over his shoulder, "Pardon?"

"My name," He smiled, "Varinius."

"Oh," Lazarus dropped his hand and introduced himself, "You have my gratitude, but as Marcia said, you should probably leave."

Varinius turned his head and looked at the fort, his eyebrows pulled together in concentration.

"There," Varinius nodded to the stronghold, "Do you kill Romans?"

Marcia got to her feet as she and Lazarus shared a look, "No. We do not kill Romans there."

Varinius looked disappointed.

"That is where we are gathering our forces to fight Octavia's army," Lazarus explained.

Varinius's dark eyes flashed between them eagerly, "So you shall be killing Romans?"

"On the battlefield, yes," Lazarus did not know why but he felt the deep need to explain that they killed only in the defence of their lives. They did not capture Roman soldiers and execute them.

Varinius nodded, "Then I shall stay, if that is alright with you."

Marcia nodded.

"Then it is settled, yes?" Varinius chuckled coarsely, "Come, we must go."

Varinius and Marcia took a few steps forward whilst Lazarus remained and watched the two sisters, holding on to each other for support, and their eyes wide with fear of what they were to face alone.

He wanted to escort them to the river, to pay for their journey, but he had no coins to spare and he could not stray from the cause.

War would be upon them and he could not spend it walking a dirt road away from the battle.

"I am sorry that we cannot escort you," Lazarus conveyed his sympathies.

The older girl, who spoke English, nodded understandingly, "A few days walk?" She clarified.

Lazarus nodded, "There will be a road further into the forest. Keep to the track for three days; from there the directions shall be posted."

Marcia walked back and hugged them, "Stay safe and keep to yourselves, the Romans are everywhere."

Petra smiled and took Marcia's hands tightly, "Gratitude for everything you have done."

Marcia simply offered her a small smile before she stepped back and they watched the sisters turn, Philyra offering a small wave goodbye over her shoulder, before their forms were swallowed up by the trees.

Lazarus hoped they went with luck.

Marcia pulled him from his thoughts by calling his name.

Lazarus turned and saw that she was stood by Varinius, facing the fort and away from the forest.

"Let's go," Lazarus snapped back into reality and took the lead, guiding them parallel to the clearing..

Fear suddenly gripped Lazarus's body as he remembered how he had left a few days earlier, without his parents' knowledge.

Infiltrate a Roman camp? Fine.

Face his mother after disobeying her? Lazarus's heart began to pick up speed as they stepped out from under the trees and began the long traipse up the steep hill.

With every step his feet seemed to grow heavier whilst Marcia and Varinius were nearly flying up the slope in their eagerness.

Lazarus looked at the Roman camp over his shoulder, he was almost praying for the Roman's to attack, if only to escape the wrath of his mother.

It seemed, however, he had used up all of his luck with Marcia because, as he turned back to face the front he almost barrelled into the back of Varinius.

"What-" Lazarus exclaimed.

"Mother?" Marcia whispered beside him and Lazarus followed her gaze to see the group that had gathered nearly half-way up the hill.

Frieda and Diomed flew down the hill to see their daughter.

Frieda's hands cupped her daughter's face, cherishing the image of her, safe and alive, before Marcia was enveloped in a hug that threatened to break her bones.

Stepping around her, Lazarus trudged up the last few metres to address his own parents.

"Lazarus," Krista said, her voice strangely controlled.

"Mother?" Lazarus frowned. She wasn't shouting at him and he could not understand why. His father was simply smiling as he stood behind his wife so she could not see.

Lazarus's stomach tightened in confusion and anticipation when Krista stepped forward and wrapped her arms around his shoulders, holding him tightly.

Lazarus was confused that he did not react straight away, simply standing there and feeling her arms enclosed around him.

When his mind kicked into action, Krista had already stepped back and the relieved expression on her face had disappeared.

She gently slapped the side of his head with the palm of her hand.

"Ow," Lazarus complained, reaching up to caress his wounded head.

Krista pointed at him, "You are never to do that again," She slapped him again when he did not answer straight away, "Do you understand?"

"Ow- Yes!" Lazarus exclaimed.

"Good," Krista nodded, relaxing slightly, when she spotted Artorius watching her.

"What did we agree on?" Artorius arched an eyebrow, as if guiding a little kid.

Krista rolled her eyes before focusing back on her son, "You did a good job."

Lazarus grinned, his pulse racing as he thought his ears had deceived him.

Artorius laid a hand on Krista's back gently as he reached out with his other arm and embraced Lazarus, "Welcome back, son."

His lips spread into a wide smile as he looked around them at the reunited family. Frieda and Diomed would not allow Marcia from their grasp and Marcia, secretly, would not have it any other way.

Leonidas and Cato hovered in the background, their hands clasped between them as they waited their turn.

It seemed almost a perfect picture until Lazarus turned his head slightly and the disease that was Roman loomed large in the distance.

Still glowing softly from the fire the previous night, Lazarus felt the happiness begin to seep from his bones when he realised what was coming.

And Lazarus feared they were not ready for what Octavia had planned to throw at them.