The ex-centurion knew if the Romans caught him, he was dead. Marius felt the horse strain under his thighs. The animal's head split the air in front of them. Wind roared, mingling with the pounding of Marius' heart and the jolting rumble of hooves against the forest floor. Blood flowed from a throbbing wound on his shoulder and spattered behind him, staining the horse's rump. He tightened his grip on the reins, bowing his head low over the animal's neck. The smell of horseflesh was stringent in his nose.
A grim thought flashed through his mind. He may never hold Delia again. Marius' throat tightened. He dug his heels into Brutus and forced him to move faster. He would make it up to the horse later, if he survived.
The forest blurred around him. Brown, green, branches growing like twisted mirages charging at him out of the foggy morning. He dodged them, sometimes successfully-sometimes not. His head and good shoulder ached where they sliced him. The movement of the horse's massive leg muscles deadened his thighs, making it difficult to manipulate the beast. Despite the speed, Brutus knew his master well and needed little guidance. Marius missed the Roman armor he had worn for twenty-five years, but the Celtic clothes gave him more freedom to manage the animal. He was slowly adjusting to being a citizen--very slowly.
Risking another glimpse over his shoulder, Marius saw nothing but the trees receding. The sound of jangling Roman horse tack, the shouts of Latin curses, and the frustrated bellows of General Suetonius had also faded. If he was lucky, the soldiers followed him into the woods, giving the refugees a chance to escape the blades or manacles of the governor's revenge. A wave of satisfaction sent a bemused smile across his face knowing they had once again out maneuvered the general. Except for the unexpected pila that grazed his arm, he had done well. If they did not catch him, he would count this a success.
When it was safe, Marius stopped and examined the wound, wincing when the gap opened a little wider beneath his fingers. It would need a surgeon's needle to close it properly. Delia was going to be furious. He could almost hear her voice: Not ONLY have your ruined the shirt I made for you, but they could have killed you. You have to be more careful! I will not raise this child on my own. Do you understand me?
Even seven months pregnant, Delia was still a fortune of fire, a passion of untamed spirit. Marius sighed. This would not improve her mood and another fight was inevitable. He sometimes forgot Delia was a Briton queen and leader of the Corieltauvi tribe. This always made their relationship interesting.
"You are going to have to be faster than that, liberatio."
Marius drew his sword, forcing Brutus to rear onto his back legs when the voice bounced against the trees to his right. The armored figure emerged from the forest with seven Roman soldiers at his back. Marius swore.
"Aelius, that is a damn good way to get yourself killed." He slammed his sword into the scabbard, pulling the red mask from his head. He patted the horse's neck to calm him. "Report."
The young man's dark blue eyes sparkled from underneath a crown of rumpled black hair. Aelius threw him a half-crooked smile. The innocence Marius used to associate with his ward was gone, burned out of his eyes on the battlefield the year before and replaced by the grim countenance of a veteran. He had seen it too many times and in too many men. It was disturbing to see it in the young man he had raised.
With a silent hand signal, Aelius ordered his men to take up their positions. "Forgive me ... sir ... but you should learn to pay more attention. Had this been a patrol..."
"You would be dead," Marius snorted and urged Brutus forward. "Report, soldier."
"Yes, sir." Aelius seemed to suppress the grin that edged its way around his mouth. "The general's men abandoned the chase about two miles back. They were confounded by the woods and by the fact that there were four different trails to follow and four different masked men. The centurion had us lead the bulk of Suetonius' men north. The road should be clear for the refugees. The queen's warriors are leading them to Hillfort. They will probably beat us there. The queen sent word that you should..." Aelius pursed his lips and tightened his fists on the reins. "Well, that you should get home soon, sir."
"Very good." Marius carefully tucked the red mask into an inside pocket of his heavy tartan cloak.
"Careful they do not catch you with that. It would be worth your head. The bounty has quadrupled in the last five days." The mischievous glint in his eyes made them twitch in the muted early morning sunlight sifting through the boughs. "Almost high enough for me to collect it myself."
Marius grunted and increased his pace when they hit the main road. "The higher it goes, the better we are doing our job. How many this time?"
Aelius shrugged and examined his men. "Two hundred, maybe a few more; mostly women and children. I think that is the last of them here. Do you want us to search for more this week?"
"No. You need to get the century to your patrol area before command gets suspicious. We will start again next week. Is Kuna coming back tonight?"
"No, sir." Aelius fell into step. "The centurion has gone to Londinium to fetch Aunt Antonia, and then he has been ordered to command camp by Tribune Quintius. Kuna says to tell you he would prefer to ignore the order again, but they are getting insistent. He cannot disregard it. He will see us at Hillfort in the morning."
Marius nodded and watched the fog dissipate.
They were out of danger for the time being but it was getting more difficult every day. Marius' time was running out. His guise as the liberatio mysticus would soon do nothing for Delia's people. The Romans were forcing their advantage and more Britons were dying every day.
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