Chapter Twelve

1000 words left, so celebration update!!

Enjoy

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Blandus watched his wife as she walked from the building they’d slept in the previous night. Despite himself he’d actually wanted her company; he wanted her to like him. He wanted to be her favourite.

“Esma.” He stated loudly, causing a few heads to turn and watch the interaction. “You ride up with Octavius, I’m afraid I’m not much of a conversationalist while riding.”

She sent him a small smile and nodded, looking over to where Albus was waiting for his orders. A smirk crossed Blandus’ lips as he saw the tension between them and it wasn’t a good type of tension. He was well on the way to being her favourite that’s for sure.

“Good morning.” Esma smiled up at Albus’ serious face, in an attempt to make things normal again, but he didn’t return the sentiment, he simply lifted her onto the horse and rode quickly off out of the fortress with hundreds of feet behind him, some of men and others of horses.

“Why are we going so far ahead?” she asked as they carried on at a gallop, leaving the legion far behind them.

“I’m scouting for the day.” He stated as the horse reached a peak from which they could see the valley route snake towards Hadrian’s Wall. “I’d rather have not had you with me today.”

“Well, drop me off and I’ll wait for Blandus, Juan or Felix to ride past and join them.” She snapped wriggling her way off of the saddle.

“Esma, it’s not safe.” He growled making a grab for her wrist before she walked off.

“For you maybe, but I’m not roman. Never will be.” she walked towards him and wrestled a knife from the sheath against his thigh, “And now I’m protecting myself, I’ll see you at the wall Albus.”

A second’s internal conflict made up Albus’ mind and he jumped from the horse and stalked after her in anger. “Esma, you’re being stupid!” he roared as she disappeared into a forest. “Do you know how dangerous this is?!”

“Do you know how dangerous you’re making it by speaking latin?” her voice stated angrily as she reverted back to her native tongue. “I’m a daughter of these lands, I don’t fear them.”

“True as that may be you’ve had brother’s to keep the worst away.” He growled snapping a branch that snapped back into his chest. “Esma, where are you?”

“Why should I tell you?” her voice snapped in the opposite direction to where he’d heard feet seconds earlier.

“Because we’re surrounded and it’d be helpful if I could see you.” He shouted grabbing his sword and brandishing it as she stomped out of the trees, hair flowing behind her like some sort of angry nymph.

“And that is all your fault.” Her finger jabbed at his chest. “I would have walked through here fine by myself.”

“You were going the wrong way.” He growled looking about them for signs of movement, he knew they were surrounded, but by how many he couldn’t work out.

She glared up at him before turning around, with all intending purposes of leaving him once again, but there were eyes staring right back at her through the trees.

“Believe me now?” he asked bitterly as she backed against his chest, before he leant down to whisper in her ear. “Get back to the horse and fire an arrow into the sky.”

“And leave you to die?”

“Felix and Juan will come at the arrow.” He stated feeling his annoyance grow.

“Come to our lands; take our daughters, our crops, our land.” A deep old voice whispered in Old Saxon, she turned to Albus, his face looked as if he hadn’t heard the voice. “The Invader’s will pay for their trespassing.”

“NO!” Esma cried out, remembering what her mother had taught her all those years ago. “He’s my protector. Friend.”

“Daughter lies.” The voice came back, “She is deceived.”

“No, I’m not.” She answered back pertly. “I know my own mind.”

“Then why run daughter, why shout?”

“What is he saying?”

“It’s all your fault for following me.” She whispered back, “They want to kill you for taking me.”

“You’re not mine.” He stated.

“I know that, they don’t.”  she ground out resisting the urge to let them kill him.

“Daughter can go, leave us the invader.” The voice stated, Albus prodded her for the translation, till she did.

“Go then, I’ll only be killed if you are too anyway.” He shrugged; her green eyes lit up as she passed him the stolen knife and kissed his cheek before running back to where she could hear the horse neighing at being left alone.

Esma tore through the woods, jumping fallen trees in an effort to make it back to the horse and fire that arrow before Albus was killed. After nearly running into the horse she fired three arrows in the air and turned back to where Albus was.

“Come on, let’s go find the idiot.” She whispered into his ear as they hit the dense woodland.

“I told you to go back to the others.” Albus growled as she ploughed down two men and span around so he could scramble on.

“No you didn’t.” she shrugged, firing an arrow at another man as he tried to shoot at them, she missed but it gave them enough time to escape.

“I’m glad I didn’t.” he admitted once they were out of the woodland and as safe as they could be with the legion a mile behind. “Next time, don’t leave my side.” He growled wrapping an arm around her shoulders and kissing the side of her head.

“Next time, don’t say you don’t want me.” She sighed enjoying the embrace and chaste kiss.

“Should have known you’d be contrary.” He laughed raising an arm as Juan and Felix came into view. “Celts in the forest, ambushed but safe now.”

“Albus, for the sake of the god’s, don’t go trying to take them on yourself.” Felix laughed before a frown crossed his face. “You’ve got a pretty bad cut there.”

Albus looked down and felt the wound instantly; his energy drained so much he was leaning against Esma.

“Can you ride a horse?” Juan asked her pulling Albus’ head back to look at his eyes and check his breathing.

“Yes, want me to go to Hadrian’s?” she asked a little anxiously.

“Yes, when you get there say you’ve got Albus Octavius and he’s injured. They’ll let you in straight away.” He stated as she nodded, “Now Esma, he’s pretty cut up.”

Panic swept through her limbs as she span the horse around and bolted towards the entrance of the valley pass, hoping and praying to every god she’d ever been told about and the ancestors that she’d get there fast enough, and that someone will be there to help.