“I can’t abandon my men, my command. Not in the middle of battle.”
Venextos shook him. “Look at the line. Our men are going down. It’s only a matter of time.” He shoved a bag of something metallic into Lucius’s chest. “We’ve all known it was you who was meant to finish this mission. Ever since the goddess put her mark on you.”
Lucius set down his shield, resting it against his side, and took the bag, stowing it in his pouch for later.
“Go. We can buy you a little time to get away. Ride until sunlight and don’t let these monsters from the deepest, darkest places of Dubnos catch you.”
“But…”
Venextos raised his sword, poking Lucius in the chest. “For the love of the gods, go. Let us perform our duty to Roma and the gods. We can delay them so you can escape and complete the mission.”
Lucius opened his mouth, but the pleading in his friend’s eyes changed the argument to a single nod. Stepping back, he saluted his friend. “Venextos. Fight well.”
“My friend,” Venextos addressed him in their shared Gaulish dialect, “it’s been an honor to serve under you. Mylitos and the pater are at the horses. He’ll have the mounts ready for you all.” He turned and charged into the line, bellowing to announce his presence with authority.
Lucius gave one last look to his command as they struggled valiantly but in vain to push back the onslaught of monsters shredding their defenses. They were the very best of comrades, brave and loyal to the last. Forcing his body to turn, he dashed off to the back of the camp and their horses. As he drew toward the end of the tents, he saw the silhouettes of people on horses. Once he drew close enough, he saw Mylitos, Pater Tiridat, Ariazate, Tigran and another legionnaire Lucius didn’t recognize in the dark already mounted up. Mylitos threw the reins of a horse to Lucius then turned and led their small party with a line of six spare mounts and three pack horses.
As soon as they cleared the back picket line, Mylitos kicked his horse into a trot to sweep out in front to scout their way. The other legionnaire brought up the rear to handle the horses. In areas where they could risk it, they nudged up their speed. As he rode, trying to split attention between the trail and the struggle they’d just left, the sound of screams and fighting finally faded to nothing.
Sighing, he hung his head, shaking it. He’d remember their sacrifice and ensure they got the honors they deserved, but now was the time to focus. They needed to survive until the rising of the sun and the protection of Sol Invictus. But now, they were in the domain of Selene, and her light was needed more than anything. He didn’t like calling on the gods, but survival was more important than etiquette and becoming more deeply entangled with gods. He was far beyond that point by now.
“My Mistress, I am in desperate straits, pursued by the monsters assaulting the Wanderer’s holy temple.” He wasn’t sure if they were the same creatures but figured it would be better to err on that side of things to ensure they survived to find out if it was indeed true.
“I shall do what I can to assist you, my brave soldier.”
With that, the surroundings seemed to brighten. He wasn’t sure if she lit their path or enhanced his vision, but with the added light, they could risk more speed. The creatures hunting them could move fast like a horse and had the endurance to follow all night. Opening more distance while they were busy fighting was vital.
They rode for several hours, Selene in her moon chariot riding through the sky above them. When they approached the last couple of hours before sunrise, Lucius thought he heard scrabbling claws on the rocks and bodies moving through the brush behind them in the distance. Risking the time, he ordered a quick swap to fresh horses and led a last run from the creatures, hoping their horses wouldn’t break a leg or play out before the sun’s light met them.
The tension in the air turned the muscles in Lucius’s back to brittle knots as his head twitched toward every sound that might be one of the di inferi. Time stretched out to impossibly long moments that seemed to encapsulate infinity. No matter how many times he asked for it, staring into the eastern sky as they rose higher into the mountains, the sun didn’t want to arrive early.
As the sun failed to heed his wishes to rise early, the monsters, like coursing hounds on the trail, gained on them. The noises behind them became too crisp, too close. Looking over his shoulder, he thought he saw a pair of glowing eyes looking back. He shook his head to chase away the illusion, only to see several more pairs blink into existence behind them. He pulled the spatha from its scabbard on his saddle and drifted toward the back of the horse line. If they lost the spare mounts and supplies, the mountains would finish the monsters’ work for them, even if the sun chased them away.
“Gods above and below,” came a voice from the front of their line.
He saw it. The gentle and nearly imperceptible lightening of the dark horizon. The sun was on his way. Just a little more. They just had to hold on…
FOURTEEN
They found a sheltered indent in the rocks that wasn’t deep enough to call a cave to shelter in for a few stolen hours of sleep after the sun came up. They needed rest, as did the horses, if they were going to make it to Mithras’s temple. After a few hours, they returned to their saddles despite their weariness.
Since Mylitos was an experienced scout, Lucius sent him back to keep an eye out for any unwanted company. So far, he’d reported their trail clear. Lucius thought they might have escaped their pursuers for the moment until Mylitos came barreling up behind them.
“Parthians coming. Riding hard. Maybe a hundred or so about a couple hours behind, maybe a bit more.” He leapt off his horse to saddle a fresher mount before remounting.
Ariazate jumped down and unsaddled her horse, moving her saddle to one of the remounts. “Roman, give me a spare horse and some supplies and I’ll bring back help.”
Lucius couldn’t believe what he was hearing. “What help, Zati? We’re on the side of a mountain with Parthians breathing down our necks and blood-thirsty monsters trying to rip our throats out.”
“There are villages in these mountains, fierce fighters. I can raise enough people to save your skin.” She didn’t make eye contact as she finished prepping the new horse.
“How?”
The pater narrowed his eyes as he stared at her. Lucius wasn’t sure he liked the calculation in his eyes.
Finished, she walked over to Lucius and squeezed his hand while looking deep into his eyes. “Lucius. Trust me. I can bring help.”
He couldn’t look away from the intensity in her gaze as the mountain narrowed to just the two of them. He nodded once. “Mylitos, help her pack some supplies. Josephus, rig a lead line for her second horse. Everyone grab a bite and some water. We’re going hard.”
“Zati, what are you doing?” Tigran finally figured out what was going on.
“Tigi, you have to lead the Roman up the mountain. Stay safe and listen to him.” She held up her hand to stall more argument. “There’s no time, Tigi, and we’re running out of options. Do you understand?”
He nodded, his chin quivering. She took his head in both of her hands and kissed him on both cheeks, then on the tip of his nose. “I love you, Tigran. I’ll see you in a few days. Be brave, be smart.”
“Bye, Zati.” A couple tears spilled down his cheeks.
She gave Lucius a nod and the whisper of a nervous smile before leaping into her saddle. Pater Tiridat’s eyes moved back and forth between the girl and her brother. As soon as she was ready, she rode ahead, angling toward the north.
“Josephus, take Tigran and get moving. I want to consult with the pater and Mylitos.” Lucius’s left hand drifted down to rest on the pommel of his gladius. Once the boy and the legionnaire with the pack train moved off toward the east, Lucius nodded toward Mylitos. “Take a spare horse and drift back for a last check on their position. Don’t give yourself away.”
“Aye, Centurio.” Mylitos jumped into his saddle and trotted away.
Once they were alone, Lucius gave his full attention to Pater Tiridat.
“Who are those children, Centurio?” Tiridat asked.
