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Lucius Alden
A Hundred Days
Part IV
-A sensitive matter-
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Lucius walked out of the commander’s tent and followed the soldier towards the gates. The Century Castrum had crude fortifications surrounding it, the tents neatly set inside in rows, but was a far cry of what a proper Legion would build on the road. Galio was determined to get the Northmen trained on this part as well, but perhaps suitable engineers were needed, he thought. Finding them wasn’t as easy as finding a soldier that could hold a shield.
He saw Curd the moment they stepped out of the gates. The wind that felt stronger outside of the cover of the timber walls another shock to his system and he paused to collect himself. The mix-breed looked better than the last time Lucius had seen him, though dog tired and worn out. Zofia looked tired as well, a bit older perhaps, but still had that fierceness and she stared rather annoyed at the armoured soldiers surrounding them.
Zofia carried a small baby in a sling also, fully hidden under the rough hides.
The detail disturbing.
Lucius crooked his mouth, the woman opened her eyes recognizing him behind all that armour and deep surprise registered on her face.
“Decanus Kaeso!” Lucius snapped and pointed at the nonchalant mix-breed. “Arrest that man!”
“Aye, milord,” Kaeso replied and signed for the soldiers to move on Dirk Curd. He raised his arms with a grimace, but didn’t fight them.
“Lucius, stop this,” Zofia said with a frown.
“Decanus, escort Lady Zofia to my quarters,” Lucius ordered disregarding her protest. He grinded his teeth trying to keep calm, but the unlikely appearance of both her and Curd had rattled him.
“What? You’re not going to order me around!” Zofia snapped and the baby started crying. “We’re not in Regia Lucius!”
“My lady, you’re in my camp,” Lucius replied sternly. “I won’t discuss my orders with you.”
Zofia glared at him and then at a legionnaire that had approached her. Lucius had no idea what her problem was, but he wasn’t going to talk it out with her in front of the men.
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Faye, thankfully back under her new armour, moved away from the small field table and Lucius plopped down on the uncomfortable chair behind it, a moment before Prefect Veturius came in. Lucius could hear Zofia protesting outside.
“The Northmen left,” the officer reported. “It wasn’t easy to communicate with them.”
“Layton seemed to be doing just fine. Big lads speak their own tongue, I suppose,” Lucius commented and eyed the map in front of him. Trupo had updated some details on it.
“It’s an older dialect. Apparently they are living deep in the woods,” Galio pressed his lips into a thin line, hearing Zofia causing a ruckus outside his tent. “What are you going to do about it?”
“Curd? Or Zofia?” Lucius asked with a bitter smile. “I have a feeling, I won’t like any of the answers.”
“Kaeso can make it happen,” Galio suggested, but Lucius grimaced showing his distaste. “Not everything needs to be explained away Milord. We’re on campaign.”
“I can’t start killing people behind closed doors, or out the back Galio,” Lucius explained. “Curd is a murderer, but he did save my life. His punishment will be fair and in the open. As for Zofia, I promised my father her safe return.”
Galio grimaced. “Yer father is not here and either way she’s not in danger. I’ll consider that part of yer promise fulfilled, milord.”
“Ah, that’s not how it works Prefect, but bring her in. Let’s hear her,” Lucius said and sat back.
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Zofia kept rocking the baby back and forth, her eyes examining those present.
“Where’s Roderick?” She asked. “I will talk to you both alone. No one else.”
Lucius scratched the stubble on his right cheek, his eyes hardening.
“Roderick was killed, back at the Montfoot,” he replied grinding his teeth. “Lots of good people alongside him. Everyone in here I trust, Zofia,” Lucius sighed. He tried to regain his composure and glanced at her pale face. “Do you know about your brother?”
Zofia nodded. “I heard about it, not that long ago. Where’s Sam?”
“No more than a week ahead of us,” Lucius replied.
“Going where?” Zofia asked unsure. “How did you make it out here Lucius? Is Regia invading, or helping us?”
“Let’s not talk about the campaign, Zofia. As for Regia no, that’s me,” Lucius explained. “What happened? Why aren’t you in Krakenhall?”
“Or dead,” Zofia retorted and he grimaced. “That’s Dirk’s doing.”
“Which part?”
“All of it, I suppose.”
“He will be punished for his actions,” Lucius assured her.
Zofia puffed her cheeks out and hobbled near the table. It was subtle, but noticeable.
“What did he do?” Lucius hissed.
“Can I sit on your table?” Zofia asked, her eyes teasing.
It made him uncomfortable.
“Get her a chair,” Lucius ordered and the guard left, after getting a glare from Galio. Faye standing aside seemed very troubled, which didn’t help Lucius at all.
“Dirk killed Seia,” Zofia said and a tick appeared on Lucius face above his left eye. “He let Canutia go—”
“So what?” He croaked.
Is she trying to justify his actions?
“Lucius,” Zofia paused, then stared at the solemn aged face of Prefect Veturius, before turning her attention at the closely watching them Faye. Her eyes narrowing, when she recognized the silent woman. “You’re that Numbers girl, Faye,” she said. “Benton’s sister,” the latter Zofia said to Lucius.
“I’m aware,” Lucius retorted, his patience running thin.
“Greetings Zofia,” Faye hailed her icily. “Can I hold the baby? Is it yours?”
The baby was the elephant in the room and Faye had pointed at it on purpose.
“He’s sleeping,” Zofia said defensively. “It was a tiresome journey.”
Lucius breathed out and cleared his throat to get her attention, the moment suddenly very tense.
“What is going on here Zofia?” He asked her, showing concern. “You know I’ll help you any way I can.”
“Have you talked with my father?” She asked, just as the soldier returned carrying a small wooden stool with three legs. Zofia sat on it carefully.
“Are you injured?” Lucius asked her.
“It’s not important Lucius,” she replied. “What did the Jarl agreed to?”
“The agreement wasn’t about you,” Lucius explained. “We thought… He believed you were lost.”
“Who is his man here?” Zofia asked and Lucius could see that mark on her forehead, the old injury now healed.
“Oscar Steele is at Ludriver Castle. He has someone following the baggage train. Why?” Lucius asked and Zofia flinched in shock.
“You’ve taken it,” she said. “The Jarl is across the river. How?”
“Zofia, the Jarl didn’t take anything, my men did. Sam is across Lud River not the Jarl. We made a bridge over it and we are intent on attacking…” he eyed Galio and the old officer shook his head right and left in a warning not to tell her anything. “…Vanzon.” Lucius said finishing.
“Up at Rockfort?”
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“Enough with the campaign stuff,” Lucius stopped her. “You are not yourself, what the hells happened?” He asked her losing his patience. Zofia put her left hand over the covered baby’s head and pulled at the cloth softly.
Faye gasped in shock, Galio clenched his jaw and walked slowly to the closed opening of the tent. He stood in front of it to block anyone from gaining entry.
I don’t want to know, the Jarl had said. Better she be dead.
“Damn it,” Lucius cursed, his blood boiling. “I’ll have that fiend killed.”
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“I wanted him killed as well,” Zofia said evenly, interrupting him. “Then weather caught up with us as we moved away from Kas and my limbs turned to ice. I felt myself fading away slowly,” she stopped, her face haunted at the memory and covered the baby’s head again. She took a deep breath next, her expression hardening.
“I wasn’t going to die out there Lucius,” Zofia added with finality. “Half of it was desperation, the other half… ah, I don’t have to explain myself to you, or anyone else.”
Lucius stood back on his chair speechless.
“Ye wanted Curd on yer side. Force him to help,” Faye said while he pondered on Zofia’s words. “It’s foolish to care for an injured man, or woman through a blizzard, much easier to just leave them behind. Curd is no fool, but he’s a man.”
Zofia eyed her alike a tigress stares at her prey.
“I won’t be judged by a brigand’s kin,” she warned her.
“My brother died trying to save you!” Faye snapped, her eyes flashing in anger.
Lucius opened his mouth to put an end to this, but Zofia was all fired up as well.
“Don’t give me that nonsense ye little shit! He wanted favor from the Jarl, much as everyone else!”
“Enough!” Lucius finally managed to say and banged his fist on the table. The baby woke up and started wailing right after. With a sign Lucius sent Galio outside to cordon everyone away from his commander’s tent and then stared at a wild eyed Faye.
“I’m not leaving ye wit her, Alden,” Faye told him matter-of-factly.
“Huh,” Zofia chuckled, very surprised. “Sir Lucius, I’m shocked.”
“Faye,” Lucius sighed, feeling cornered. “This is a sensitive matter.”
“Aye,” Faye replied, not backing down. “It is.”
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Galio’s face seemed as if it’d aged a couple of years, when he returned.
“Well?” Lucius asked, the state of affairs inside his tent volatile.
“Eh, word is out,” the officer commented. “The Northmen especially are difficult to calm down.”
“What are they saying?”
“They are rejoicing for her return at the moment,” Galio replied. “It will reach back to Oscar through the supply train in days.”
“What about Sam?”
“We’ll need to march, milord,” Galio said. “We can’t solve this waiting here,” the cover was pulled away from the opening and Centurion Trupo walked in.
“Yes, Primus?” Lucius asked.
“A group of Northmen is pressuring Kaeso, milord,” Trupo reported. “They want the mix-breed executed. I would put an extra detail on him.”
“You have to stop them, Lucius,” Zofia said and Lucius grimaced.
“Have Kaeso get his men under control Centurion,” Lucius ordered.
“Sire, it would be better to go ahead with this,” Trupo insisted.
“Centurion, the commander gave ye an order!” Galio admonished him.
“It’s fine Galio,” Lucius stopped him.
“I can’t let you kill him, Lucius,” Zofia hissed. “This isn’t your decision to make.”
“He betrayed my trust, Zofia,” Lucius argued. “Killed a woman under my command, how do you want me to handle it? This is my camp, my rules.”
“Perhaps, if we waited for Oscar Steele to respond,” Trupo offered.
“And lose a couple of days of good weather?” Galio bristled at the thought.
“Just sent her away for fuck’s sake!” Faye intervened and glared at the two officers. “Why is no one suggesting it? Send her back to her family. Let them deal with this!” She turned to Zofia. There was no love lost between them that much was obvious. “Steele will back ye is what yer thinking? Maybe ‘Mad Wolf’ as well, but no one has the balls to confront the Jarl about it, so what will it be?”
“It’s none of your concern!” Zofia hissed and Lucius thought of the baby that had started crying again.
“We’re in the middle of war!” Faye retorted and Lucius got between them.
“Trupo make sure no one kills Mister Curd by accident,” he ordered trying to keep his calm. “Galio, the Centuries will march in two days. We’ll consult with Steele first.”
“For Bear Foot, milord?” The Prefect asked and Lucius nodded dismissing them both.
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“Lucius you promised to help me,” Zofia reminded him later. She had eaten sparingly, mostly soup and half a loaf of bread brought from the baker that had popped up amidst those following the supply train. It was getting bigger with every passing day. Zofia had asked for meat and wine, Faye had proposed hard tack and a mule to send her away, but Lucius had dismissed both their suggestions.
This wasn’t a travelling circus troupe.
“What if your brother insists on having him killed? What then?” He asked her tiredly.
“He’ll have to fight him,” Zofia retorted. “It’s how we do it in the North.”
Lucius shook his head on the verge of despair.
“I remember you disapproving of the games at Riverdor,” he said.
“I won’t leave my son without a father,” Zofia replied. “There were no such odds in yer games.”
Still people died was her meaning.
“What about the Jarl? How will he take it?”
“Ah, the Jarl wants to win the war,” Zofia said simply and Faye snorted.
“She means the Jarl needs ye,” Faye hissed. “Is why she hasn’t run to Steele’s, or ‘Mad Wolf’s’ camps. Nah, Zofia of Ludr knows you’ll never allow anything to happen to her.”
“What will he do?” Lucius asked Zofia, putting Faye’s words aside. “It’s his grandson.”
Zofia frowned and reached for a cup of water. “I don’t know.”
“She does know,” Faye intervened. “She knew all along. Else she’d run Curd through in his sleep already and clawed her way back. Bet ye she thought all about it.”
“When one day you have a child of yer own,” Zofia warned her wearily. “Fight to stay alive to nurture and then bring it out into the world. When ye cry of worry because he stops breathing and turns all blue. The fear of something happening to him,” she sighed deeply. “Your perspectives might change then. You’d be surprised at what ye’ll do Faye Numbers or force yerself to endure.”
How to solve this? Lucius thought in the silence that followed her words.
He got up and stared at Zofia. “You will sleep here. It’s warm and food will be provided. I’ll have a guard posted outside.”
“What will you do?” Zofia asked him.
“I have a campaign to run,” Lucius replied. “Faye, we should take our leave now.”
Zofia made a face hearing his words, then smiled. “How is the North treating ye Lucius?” She teased some of her old self coming back.
Lucius had refrained from answering her.
> Sam O’ Dargan got ambushed after Bear Foot’s plateau by a warband working for Lord Vanzon, but he had the numbers and the attackers were pushed away. They retreated for Rockfort and either went over the bridge at Alford River, or hid at the nearby Ocean Plateau. One could see Abrakas Rock right where Jelin ended, if he stood at the far edge of it and the day was clear.
>
> The day wasn’t and no one was in the mood for sightseeing, so Sam O’ Dargan made camp there and sent scouts out to check on the condition of the stone bridge and the river. Alford was ice-covered, especially near the freshwater lake the records mention simply as Frozen, but the locals knew also as Selm Ailo in the old Nord Tongue.
>
> Will’s Lake.
>
> Anyway Alford River may have been half-frozen, but it was an unsteady ice and cracked, or disappeared near its mouth, where it met the sea. A great risk to walk over, so everyone decided they needed that bridge. They lost a day talking about it, the weather turning colder, but the river still dangerous and by the time Sam O’ Dargan reached a decision, Lord Vanzon’s army had appeared on the opposing bank.
>
> The heir to the Jarldom of Fetya sent word to the approaching, but very late Lucius Alden, probably using a bird of prey as Lucius had insisted to shorten the communications between the different parts of the army.
>
> Lucius Alden, after losing time to retrieve a presumed lost* Zofia O’ Dargan, Sam’s sister, hurried to reconnect with the army. He’d lost time since Oscar Steele had gotten word from Jarl David to keep Lucius force from leaving with his daughter.
>
> The record here is confusing as to whether the Jarl learned about it and gave the order, or his right hand man took it upon himself to act. Lucius despite a heated discussion with Oscar Steele that came to his camp himself, decided to stick to his original plan and departed after Sam O’ Dargan with Zofia in tow, leaving a seething Steele behind to guard his bridge and Ludriver Castle.
>
> Jarl David got reinforcements from Skuf Juter of the distant Rifjordal and moved out of Maja Burg in force that same month, bringing the army to Crimson Fort. He crossed the bridge himself with a small force in order to be informed of the campaign and visit Ludriver Castle. The first Jarl to do it in almost two hundred years.
>
> Upon learning of his daughter’s adventures either he rejoiced and again here the record is obscure, as if deliberately altered after the fact by the Duchess, or gotten so incensed he sent Oscar Steele and his men up the icy road after Lucius.
>
> When Lucius reached Sam O’ Dargan’s camp later that month, the Jarldom’s heir had been fighting a battle of attrition for almost two weeks. Baron of Rockfort Henk Bink’s blocking force was reinforced by Dier Vanzon, but remained in a defensive posture across Alford River and swatted away Sam O’ Dargan’s repeated attempts at crossing.
>
> Almost four hundred men of one-armed Kaiser Duke’s warband were sent by Lord Vanzon to guard the approach from the Selm Ailo, while he started gathering the bulk of his experienced forces to march from Krakenhall himself. He also sent word to the large city of Midlanor for help and his close allies the Crulls, but it is doubtful he was successful with the latter. As for Midlanor, Lord Vanzon’s request came at a nigh inopportune moment.
>
>
>
> *There’s a slew of stories (or gossip) regarding Zofia O’ Dargan’s whereabouts during the year Lucius was in Fetya. Some on the lewder side and others more sinister. In either case inappropriate to mention here.
>
>
>
> Lord Sirio Veturius
>
> The Fall of Heroes
>
> Chapter II
>
> (Legatus Lucius the third,
>
> Northern campaigns,
>
> A Hundred Days
>
> Volume II, 5th week,
>
> Second Month of Winter
>
> Group Red (Lucius)
>
> -Tiger’s feint, Lake of gore
>
> & the Conundrum at Rockfort-)
>
> Winter of 190 NC