Lost Legio IX: The Karus Saga

by Marc Alan Edelheit

  Karus tapped the dispatch with a finger. “When did this fight occur?”

  “The day before yesterday evening, sir,” the trooper replied.

  “Tell me what happened.”

  “A squadron was scouting a village that had not yet been previously explored. They came across a party foraging about the village who surprised our men. However, the squadron was able to escape without any dead and only one man lightly wounded.”

  Karus could understand what had occurred. Valens’s cavalry had gotten accustomed to an empty countryside and let down their guard.

  “What happened next?” Karus was thoroughly irritated at the lapse in discipline. Though he was sure that Valens had already addressed the matter, he would write to the cavalry prefect all the same.

  “Prefect Valens concentrated those squadrons nearest and then attempted to make contact. The result was not a positive one, sir. Our envoy, who was under a flag of truce, was attacked. At that point, the prefect decided to stop toying with them, sir. Especially after they marched out of the village and formed a line, aggressive-like. They advanced to confront us, sir.”

  Karus closed his eyes. He knew what was coming. Valens was as bloodthirsty as they came. He would not have backed down from a challenge like that. He would have eagerly embraced it.

  “We rode them down,” the trooper said simply, “and killed them all.”

  “How many were there?” Karus had more to add to his dispatch to Valens, as his cavalry commander should have tried to take prisoners for questioning. Karus found his rage growing at Valens’s thoughtlessness.

  “Somewhere around twenty.”

  “Any further casualties?”

  “No, sir,” the trooper replied. “Funny thing, sir. They didn’t seem to know how to face cavalry. It’s like they never saw a mounted soldier before, either.”

  Karus’s thigh began to ache and he absently massaged it.

  “How do you know they were foraging?”

  “Well, sir,” the trooper said, “they had a wagon with them and it was piled high with food that had been looted from the village and any booty they could lay their hands on. Very much like how we forage, sir.”

  “I see,” Karus said. He touched the dispatch, pointing to it with one finger. “And this creature that the prefect mentions, what of it?”

  “Very strange, sir,” the trooper said, a troubled look passing across his face. “They were accompanied by a green-skinned manlike creature with tusks in its mouth. Prefect Valens thought, based upon how it acted before the fight, that it was in command of the foraging party. It is not human, sir. It’s a monster out of someone’s nightmares.”

  Karus was not quite ready to believe that.

  “I saw it with my own eyes, sir,” the trooper said, clearly picking up on Karus’s doubt. “The prefect had the wagon unloaded. He ordered the monster brought back here for you to see, sir.”

  “When will it get here?”

  “It’s already here, sir,” the trooper said. “Once we cleared the city gate, my optio gave me the dispatch and ordered that I ride ahead and report to headquarters.”

  “So, it’s here, now,” Karus said, “in the city?”

  “Yes, sir,” the trooper said. “The wagon is being pulled by two oxen-like animals. I’ve never seen anything like them either.”

  “Ride back and have it brought to the palace immediately,” Karus said, thinking quickly. He had to see the creature first so that he could plan his next steps before word broke out about it and the rumor mill started. “Your optio is to stop for no one, nor is he to show the creature. Is that understood?”

  “Yes, sir,” the trooper said. “Prefect Valens left orders for the same. He wanted you to see it first. It is covered over by a sheet.”

  “Good,” Karus said. “Thank you for your report. Dismissed.”

  The trooper saluted, mounted back up on his horse, and rode back in the direction he’d come. Karus watched him a moment, then folded up his map and tucked it away in a pocket. The aqueduct and the rest of his planned visits would have to wait.

  “You heard?” Karus turned to Mettis.

  “Yes, sir,” the optio said.

  “What do you think?”

  “Troubling,” Mettis said, “if true.”

  “I am afraid it is.” Karus blew out a slow breath. “Send a man to find Ampelius. I think he is somewhere back where we left him. Have him report to the palace immediately. Instruct your man to say nothing of the creature.”

  “Yes, sir.” Mettis snapped an order, along with a terse instruction, to the legionary he had selected to keep his mouth shut. The man hustled off, armor chinking, in the direction they had just come from.

  Karus glanced down at the dispatch that Valens had written, read through it a second time, then stuffed it in the same pocket as the map. He turned and made his way to the gate. The gate sentries came to attention and saluted as he passed into the palace district. Once at the steps to the palace, he sent runners to fetch Dio and Felix, whom he knew were working at headquarters. Karus would have invited Delvaris, but he had sent the boy earlier in the morning to the west gate to examine things there and report back.

  Mettis ordered his men back a respectful distance.

  “Stand easy,” the optio called.

  Dio and Felix appeared and made their way down to Karus.

  “Read this,” Karus said, thrusting the dispatch into Dio’s hands.

  Dio scanned over Valens’s scrawl, gave a low whistle, and then handed it to Felix.

  “The creature is in the city and being brought here to us,” Karus said as Felix continued to read. “I’ve also called for the surgeon so he can examine it.”

  “It may be native to these parts,” Dio postulated. “We have to remember we are far from home.”

  “Perhaps,” Felix looked up, returning the dispatch to Karus, “you should call for Amarra. She may be able to recognize and identify it.”

  “That is not a bad idea,” Karus said. He turned to Mettis. “Send a man to headquarters and have the prisoner brought to me.”

  “Yes, sir,” Mettis said and snapped an order to one of his men, who began moving up the stairs.

  “What do you think this means?” Dio asked Karus, gesturing toward the dispatch.

  Karus turned the dispatch over in his hands as he considered his reply. He tapped it against his palm. The contents did not bode well for their current situation, especially if this was a foraging party. It meant there was a larger force nearby, perhaps even an army. Had it been that which had precipitated the evacuation of the city? There was just so much he did not know. It was maddening.

  “I think,” Karus said finally, “that we are in a hostile land with no friends. Do either of you disagree?”

  Felix shook his head.

  “I hope that you are wrong,” Dio said. “But if we are in a hostile land, there are worse places to be. The walls sealing us in are quite formidable. It would take a determined enemy to overcome them and break into the city.”

  A wagon clattered loudly through the gate, pulled by a pair of animals that looked like oxen, but were far from it. Long haired, with great shaggy heads that hung toward the ground as they walked, they had six legs instead of the standard four and were much longer than an ox. They plodded along at a slow pace, almost grudgingly pulling the wagon. Everyone nearby stopped what they were doing to stare at the spectacle. Karus was sure it had been the same as the wagon made its way through the city. The rumor mill was likely already at work.

  Karus had difficulty dragging his eyes away from the animals before gazing over the wagon. It was a rough contraption with two wheels that hardly appeared roadworthy. The wheels were larger than they should be and had been made of solid pieces of wood nailed together to form a rounded whole. A high-backed seat for the driver was positioned at the very front of the wagon. Heck, Karus thought, that rickety thing was more cart than wagon.

  The wagon turned in their direction, a squa
dron of Valens’s cavalry riding right behind it. The wagon rattled to a halt before Karus. The driver hauled back on the reins before engaging the brake, locking the wagon in place. The animals pulling the wagon began to wuff quietly and toss their shaggy heads from side to side.

  “Sir.” The optio leading the squadron dismounted from his horse and offered Karus a salute. He handed the reins up to one of his troopers. “Prefect Valens thought you should see this personally, sir.”

  The optio moved around to the rear of the wagon, Karus, Dio, and Felix following. He pulled himself up and into the bed. Karus saw a coarse brown canvas covering whatever was in the back. Without hesitation, the optio pulled it back, revealing a body beneath.

  Karus sucked in his breath at what he saw. Dio made an exclamation that was barely audible and was more akin to choking than anything else. Felix said nothing, just stared.

  The creature that lay in the bed of the wagon was manlike in that it had two arms, two legs, and a head. The skin was a pasty greenish color. It was heavily muscled and wore black leather armor that had been pierced in several places. Greenish blood had congealed and dried around the wounds.

  The monstrosity was something out of a nightmare. It had two eyes, a mouth, and a nose, but there the similarity ended. The eyes were small, beady, and close together. The nose was thick, almost flat against its face. Two yellow tusks jutted from its lower jaw, which was open, revealing smaller teeth set farther back.

  “I wouldn’t want to come across one of those at night,” Dio breathed.

  “They die just like us,” Karus said, dragging his eyes away from the creature. “The truth of that is before us.”

  “We can thank the gods for that little blessing,” Felix said. “That thing must be at least seven feet tall.”

  Motion off to Karus’s left drew his attention. A guard detail was escorting Amarra down the marble steps from the palace toward the wagon. Karus almost did a double take. He had not seen her since she had been found in her dungeon cell, two days before. The transformation between then and now was nothing short of remarkable.

  She wore a plain gray dress that someone had clearly found for her. It had likely belonged to a slave or servant and had seen better days. Moving down the steps, Amarra made the dress look regal, her figure underneath fine and shapely. The grime and dirt were gone. Her jet-black hair, pulled back behind one ear, had been washed, then brushed clean and straight. A delicate ear was exposed, which only served to highlight her high cheekbones and button-like nose centered on a perfectly proportioned face. With olive-colored skin and almond-shaped eyes, he found her not only exotic, but captivating.

  The manacles had been removed. Karus could see the ugly red and purplish marks about her wrists. She did nothing to conceal them. There was a braveness about that. Over the years, Karus had known many who worked to conceal their defects and scars. She wore her wounds like badges of honor.

  She stepped up to him and inclined her head slightly, breaking the spell. Karus blinked, abruptly struck by the contrast between the horror in the bed of the wagon and Amarra.

  “Hello,” she said in broken but accented Latin. Karus found the accent fairly attractive. His heart beat a tad faster.

  “Amarra,” Karus greeted and gave her a slight tight smile of welcome, remembering the men around him.

  “Thank you,” she said in rough Latin and gestured down at her dress. “Thank you.”

  “You are welcome,” Karus said, though he had had nothing to do with its acquisition. He hesitated a moment and turned. “Come.”

  He beckoned toward the bed of the wagon. With a curious expression, she followed and made her way over to it where Dio and Felix waited with grim expressions. She gazed in the back and then froze. A hand went to her mouth, a look of horror passing across her face.

  “Orc.”

  She said the word with such disgust and revulsion that Karus immediately knew it was the name of the monster. She made a strange warding sign with her fingers, and then turned toward Karus and let loose with a string of fiery language that was thoroughly incomprehensible. Whatever she’d said was done with more than a little passion. He thought he caught the word orc at least once, but she spoke too quickly to be sure.

  “Orc?” Karus pointed at the monster.

  Her eyes widened with what Karus took to be surprise.

  “Orc?” Karus asked again.

  “Orc,” she replied with a firm nod. “That, orc.”

  “Well,” Felix said, “at least we know what it’s called.”

  “Think there are many more?” Dio asked. His coin appeared in his hand. He tossed it into the air and caught it.

  “There is a fair chance.” Karus noticed Mettis looking between them, a grim expression on the optio’s face. Karus turned to Felix, having made a decision. “I want this creature taken around and displayed to each cohort and the camp followers. Make sure everyone sees it.”

  “Why would you want to do that?” Dio exclaimed with some surprise, catching his coin and palming it.

  “The men need to be made aware of the threats that are out there,” Karus said. “More importantly, they need to understand that, if the legion dissolves, they may run into creatures like this one without the protection of their mates.”

  Karus fell silent. He saw Mettis nodding in agreement. There was nothing more important than being honest with the men.

  “I agree with Karus,” Felix said after a few heartbeats. “We must hide nothing from the men. If we start doing so, they will quickly lose trust in our leadership, which is even worse.”

  “It’s decided then,” Karus said. “Felix, I want you to make it plain this thing and others like it can be killed. The men must understand that.”

  “I will see to it,” Felix said.

  “That,” Dio spat on the ground, jabbing a finger at the orc, “won’t make anyone sleep easy, that’s for sure.”

  “No, it won’t,” Karus agreed. “But that’s not the point, is it?”

  He turned to Amarra and regarded her a moment. Someone had clearly taught her a few words of Latin.

  “It’s time we learn to properly communicate,” Karus said to her.

  She looked at him inquisitively.

  Karus stepped up to the wagon and rapped his knuckles against the rough wood. Then he looked at her. “Wagon,” he said. He gestured at the entirety of the wagon and repeated the word. “Wagon.”

  Her eyes brightened and she nodded.

  “Wagon,” she said.

  “Wheel,” Karus said and touched the wagon’s wheel.

  “Wheel,” she said.

  He then moved to the oxen-like creatures and looked to her in question.

  “Teska,” she said.

  “Teska,” he repeated, to which she nodded.

  “Karus,” Felix said, amusement dancing in his eyes, “if you continue to show her the wagon, I won’t be able to take this orc around, now, will I?”

  Karus chuckled and stepped back from the wagon. “Very well, the wagon is all yours.”

  “You called for the surgeon, right?” Felix said, sobering. “Do you still want him to examine the orc before I start off or after?”

  Karus glanced around, irritated that the surgeon had not yet arrived. Likely Ampelius was in some building somewhere attending to someone who was ill and had not yet been located. He considered the matter a moment.

  “He can examine the creature later,” Karus said.

  “I will see that he has time alone with it,” Felix said. “After I take it around.”

  “Thank you,” Karus said.

  Felix turned away and snapped out an order to the driver, who disengaged the brake and cracked the whip. The teska wuffed and lumbered forward. Felix pulled himself up next to the driver as the wagon picked up speed.

  “I think I will leave you to it as well,” Dio said as the wagon pulled away. Karus’s friend gave a mock salute before heading off for the administrative building, where he had billeted his coh
ort, leaving Karus alone with Amarra, her guard detail, his guard, and Valens’s troop of cavalry. It was quite a crowd.

  Karus glanced at the cavalry optio, who had dismounted from the bed of the wagon before it had pulled away. The man’s eyes were on Amarra. Karus thought he read suspicion there.

  “How long did it take you to get here?” Karus asked the cavalry optio.

  “We came straight on through the night and all of today,” the optio replied, weariness etched in his tone, gaze shifting to Karus.

  “Then you’ll be needing some rest,” Karus said with a nod. “Draw some food from the depot. Find a place to stable and care for your horses. Make sure you rest the night. Report to me in the morning. I will have a dispatch for your prefect.”

  “Yes, sir.” The optio offered Karus a salute, which he returned.

  As the optio led his squadron away, Karus turned back toward Amarra. Once again, he was struck by her incredible transformation. He reminded himself that she had been a prisoner, which meant she had likely done something to deserve being imprisoned. He could not permit her beauty to distract him from his duty. She held potentially vital intelligence locked up inside that pretty head, and the only way to access it was for her to learn his language and he to discover hers.

  “Come.” Karus made a gesture toward the steps, which she understood and began moving in that direction. He walked at her side, the guards falling in around them both. There were gardens behind the palace, and Karus felt it was a perfect place to begin learning, well away from any unwanted distractions.

  CHAPTER FIFTEEN

  Following a guide, Karus jogged down the empty street. Sweat ran down his face. His lungs and legs burned from not only the exertion, but the weight of his armor. Delvaris trailed just a few feet behind. Karus could hear the lad’s labored breathing as he struggled to keep up.

  Though the first of the two suns had been up for half an hour, the city was still heavily shadowed and the air chill. The guide led them through a tangle of streets and then around a corner and finally into a cross street.