The Kin
Page 31
Chapter Thirteen
In the peace and tranquillity of the olive grove, Marius wrote lovingly to his family back in Syria. He‘d only managed to spend two days with them in the civis before he’d been recalled into the fort. It wasn’t nearly enough time for a father to catch up with his three daughters and his would-be wife. Since he’d been in Rome he’d made a point of writing to them regularly, though he’d not yet received a letter in return, but that wasn’t surprising as it took ages for the mail of non-military personnel to travel across the Empire. Still, it was therapeutic to write to them.
His solitude was broken by the arrival of someone with a light, quick step, and he looked up to see Junius appearing between the trees.
“Do you mind if I disturb you?” The question was asked politely, further evidence of the change in his superior officer and the transitioning of their relationship.
“You have already,” Marius replied with a smile.
Junius grinned in response and sat down next to him.
“Are you writing to Alia and the girls?”
“I am. Though I’ll probably be back with them before they see it. It’s the thought that counts.”
“You’re so lucky, Alia’s a good woman and your daughters would make any man proud. Why don’t you go back to them now? Take the last weeks of the leave and spend it with them?”
Marius was quiet. “Because,” he said eventually, “I can’t leave you like this. I worry, Junius, we’ve been through so much and for a brief moment in Parthia I thought that it was over, but it’s not. I can see that something is troubling you and it’s not the pressure from your parents.”
Next to him Junius picked at the grass. “Can I admit something to you?”
Marius smiled slightly. “I think after all this time, it’s safe to say you can trust me.”
Junius looked askance. “You did try and kill me.”
Marius nodded. “I don’t deny it, but you tried first and I was saving you.”
“I’m scared,” Junius said simply without meeting his eye.
Marius sighed. “Yes, I would be too, but you don’t have a need to be. Nasir insisted that you could live a normal life again.”
Junius ignored that. “I dreamt of them last night. They were amongst forests. I know it’s a true dream. That transfer to Germania we were thinking about might not be such a good idea after all. It’s probably safer to stay in Syria.”
Marius swivelled round to face him. “I’m waiting for you, Junius. You decide to be a lawyer and I’ll go back to Syria; you ask for a transfer to Germania or Britannia and Alia and the girls will be packing and joining us. I’m not leaving you unless I have to.”
Junius studied him for a moment then bowed his head. “Thank you, my friend. That means a lot.” He was quiet for a while and they both drank in the tranquillity of the afternoon.
Finally Junius sighed and spoke again. “I requested an audience with the Emperor and I had a reply almost immediately. Will you come with me?”
Marius was speechless. “To see the Emperor? Why? You don’t need me.”
“Yes, I do, Marius. My father doctored the reports that were sent to him. The Emperor thinks that we were held captive by hostile tribes until Nasir saved us and returned us to the army. I want to put the record straight. I’ve a copy of the original reports, but I’d really like you to back me up as well. Will you be willing to do that?”
“Of course,” Marius volunteered at once. “But why did your father doctor the reports? The Kin are dangerous?”
Junius stared into the middle distance as Marius watched him. “I think you can guess why my father changed things. You’ve heard the arguments.” He turned back to Marius. “So now we have to warn Hadrian, and let him know about this real threat to Rome. If he believes us, then he’ll warn the legions and provinces across the Empire and the Kin will be easily identified and dealt with.”
“When do we leave?”
Junius laughed. “Thank you. Tonight. If that’s all right with you?”
Marius clambered to his feet, whilst Junius regained his, far more gracefully. He even offered Marius a hand, which the older man declined with a brusque shake of his head.