Cato nearly smacked his head into a branch as he struggled to keep up with Tiberius. “I can see why these ‘Insidiators’ have evaded the patrols. What sort of lunatic would think to look past all this? I certainly wouldn’t even want to look through it, even if I knew my enemy was there.”
Lucullus laughed. “If only our enemies thought like that.”
Tiberius hacked away at the branches in the way with his bush knife. “We got those knives for a reason. Use them.”
“I’m just saying.” Cato chopped a few branches with his knife. “But won’t this dull the blade?”
“We’re not cutting firewood with it, so I think we’ll be fine. Besides, these branches are pretty thin, and most of the things we have to cut are softer plants; things like dead vines.”
“You really think this old friend of yours will actually agree to help us? I can’t imagine he would agree to take such a risk just because a friend asked him to.”
“It’s been a while, Lucullus. We used to be quite close back in my early years. Some things happened in the last year, and I just couldn’t go on doing the things we were doing. I was always somewhat of a vigilante, but in a more chaotic way when I was younger. There might still be some tension floating around the camp from when I departed.”
“What do you mean ‘tension’?”
“Certainly nothing like what you’ve been through. There was no bitter betrayal; just a disagreement in ethics.”
“What does that mean?”
“It means that I refused to continue using his extreme methods.”
Cato smacked his face into a branch. “And you still trust this man?”
“Make no mistake, the Insidiators are not a group that is taken lightly, but this man doesn’t attack like some rabid dog. He may be extreme, but he’s not unreasonable.”
After a few more close encounters with face-level branches, the three made it into a clearing. The light breeze blowing snow off of the trees was all that broke the utter silence. The clearing showed evidence of frequent foot traffic through it, despite the regular nighttime snowfall at this point in the year.
“We should be quite close to the camp. I think only a few hundred paces past that rock should do it.” He sheathed his knife. “Hopefully we won’t—”
There appeared before them four men in fur-lined armor, with short swords drawn.
Tiberius drew his knife, and assumed a defensive stance. Lucullus and Cato assumed more aggressive stances, with their knives raised.
One of the men stepped forward. “I thought you were done with the Insidiators, Tiberius.”
Tiberius looked back at Lucullus and Cato. “Put your knives up, lads. They’re with the Insidiators.” He turned back to the four men. “Don’t think that I’ve come back to take up old habits again. I am here to do a favor for a friend; one which I gave my word on.”
“Save your preaching for the vagabonds outside the temples. You might live in your daydream world, thinking you’re above us because we get our hands dirty and don’t sob about it afterwards. But that’s just life.”
“Save your preaching, too, Brutus. I didn’t come back to debate ethics with you. I came to see Unus. Will you take me to him, or not?”
Brutus scoffed and spat on the ground in front of Tiberius. “Yea, I’ll take you. Don’t know if the boss wants to see you, though. I know I wouldn’t.” He motioned for them to follow. “Don’t worry fellas, I’ll take these three with me. Stand guard for any other unwelcome visitors.”
The four marched through the last patch of trail before emerging into a camp fortified by a crude wooden wall. Despite being a band of brigands camped out in the woods, they had a very organized and decorated camp. It was almost like the forts erected by armies on military campaigns, yet with more permanent structures. They had a forge, places for people to sleep, hitching posts for the horses, and the odd watchtower; not that such a tower would do much good in the thick woods. But instead of simple tents, they seemed to have group lodges. They wouldn’t win a beauty contest, but they certainly were a step above the tents pitched for soldiers. And the horses had stables to keep them out of the elements.
“This seems more like a military camp than some brigands in the woods.” Lucullus looked around, amazed by how established the camp was.
Brutus chuckled. “That’s because the Sabina’s attack dogs can’t find it. Naturally, we’ve found the time to make it look good, and fortify it.”
Cato’s eyes darted from one brigand to the other in the camp. “Any reason why they’re all looking at us like we’ve got three heads?”
“It’s a surprise for them to see all three of you.”
“What do you mean, ‘all three of us’?”
Brutus looked over at Tiberius. “First off: this man, barely worthy of being called such, abandoned us.” He looked back to Cato. “And if that wasn’t bad enough, he managed to convince a few of our members to give up the gang, and start an ‘honest’ life. Whatever that’s supposed to mean. And now he’s come down from his high throne in the clouds to grace us with his presence once again.”
“I was leading those young men down a better path. Otherwise, they would’ve ended up in the Avarus Wall, like I did. I’m blessed with great fortune to be free of such a place.”
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“If that helps you sleep better at night…”
Tiberius rolled his eyes.
Lucullus looked at the brigands, and noticed them studying him. “So what about Cato and I? Why do they look at us like they do?”
“Well, you came in with Tiberius. And they’re suspicious of anyone new; doesn’t matter if they were brought in by Tiberius before he became a coward. They still don’t trust strangers. It’s also unusual for two nobodies to be marching straight to the boss when they’ve never even been in the camp before.”
They approached a large building with two guards posted at the front door. Brutus whispered to the guards, and they stepped aside. Brutus motioned for the three to follow him.
Tiberius turned back to Cato. “You may have to wait in the main room. Unus is very particular about who he sees. I’m pushing it enough by taking Lucullus inside.”
He shrugged. “It is what it is.”
Brutus led Tiberius and Lucullus into the private room, where the boss was sitting. “Got a special guest for ya, boss.” He nodded, and left.
The boss stood up, and walked over to Tiberius. He stared with his one eye into Tiberius’s eyes for what felt like an eternity to Lucullus. “And so you have returned.” His glance briefly darted to Lucullus, then back to Tiberius. “Though I suspect not to join us again. You know that such a pact is not broken lightly, so it must be something else… Something dire…”
“I’ve come to ask one last favor. And you know I wouldn’t ask this if it wasn’t important.”
“Have you come to trade that man for this favor?” He studied Lucullus intently as he waited for Tiberius’s answer.
“Not quite. I am asking this favor on his behalf. I only hope that you will remember the bond of brotherhood we shared when you choose your answer.”
“We shall see. But if it is a favor on his behalf, then I must hear what he wants from his own mouth. Even with our past friendship, I don’t just agree to do things for strangers simply because an old friend requested it. I must know who it is that I’m truly doing this for.” He walked over to Lucullus, but kept more distance from him than he did with Tiberius. “Now then. First, I must know your name.”
Lucullus looked over to Tiberius, who nodded. “I am Lucullus, son of Barbatus.”
“Where do you hail from, Lucullus?”
“Agros, in the Praelia region.”
“A farmer… Interesting.” He looked back at Tiberius, then to Lucullus. “I am Unus-Oculus, master of the Insidiators. What is it that you ask of me?”
Lucullus thought for a moment on what to say. He felt his mouth go a bit dry. “I need help in seeking revenge against a man I once called my friend, and to reclaim from him the things he stole from a friend of mine who was killed.”
Unus twirled a knife in his hand. “A betrayal of friendship. Ironic. And why do you need my help to do this? If he has stolen from you, then take back what is yours. I don’t need to send an army when some pickpocket tries to steal from me.”
“Those documents are simply what I need as proof to uncover the conspiracy. But what I need an army for is to reclaim my village. It has been infected by the conspiracy. The lord of the village has become a puppet, and my former friend must die for his crimes. It was he who had me locked up. It was he who allowed me to be scourged, and put in the Avarus Wall.”
Unus dropped his knife, and shot a surprised glance at Tiberius. “The Avarus Wall?”
Tiberius nodded. “We escaped from it. I’m sure you’ve heard about its collapse.”
“I haven’t. But I know I felt some small tremors earlier this winter.”
“They were much stronger at the Wall.”
He turned back to Lucullus. “So, this former friend of yours locked you up?”
“We were investigating the murder of my friend, Decimus. We found some things that belonged to Decimus; some letters and a map. I was close to uncovering the truth of this conspiracy. A conspiracy which, through the use of sorcerers, threatens to destroy Lucium. It has control in many of the highest seats in the land. Which ones, I’m not sure. But I do know that they are dangerous. Tullius, likely to save his own skin, had me arrested. They charged me with many things I never did, and sent me to the Wall. The last thing I saw of my home was my grieving mother. As far as I’m concerned, Tullius has become a chief member of this conspiracy.”
Unus pondered over his words, and walked back to his seat. “Tiberius, I have to say, you have brought me a unique case. I’ve never heard a man speak with such zeal.” He turned to Lucullus. “I share your pain, Lucullus; not all of it, but I do know at least some of what you feel.”
Tiberius looked with anticipation. “So, will you help him?”
“Lucullus, you seem like an honorable young man. I can see the fire in your eyes, that flame of vengeance, which can only be satisfied with one outcome. A man who can go through what you say you have; to be betrayed, scourged, then cast into the worst of all prisons, and still come back, shows strength beyond mere physicality.” He paused to build Tiberius’s anticipation. “I’ll help you, Lucullus.”
Tiberius silently celebrated. “Thank you, Unus. You are a better friend than I deserve.”
Unus held up his finger. “But… I must first ask a favor of you, Lucullus.”
“Unus—”
He put his hand out. “Hold on, Tiberius. I’m not finished, yet.”
Lucullus darted his gaze between Tiberius and Unus. “Favor?”
He nodded. “Indeed. Don’t think that I give my help away so easily. If this conspiracy is so dangerous, I don’t want to put my men in undue risk. I must first secure my people’s place in Lucium. The Insidiators have been under pressure from several of the noble houses over the years. But it is House Luctus that seeks to kill or control me, and thus have my men under their wing, doing their bidding, and furthering the ambitions of their sniveling coward of a count.”
“You want me to kill the count?”
He shook his head. “Far from it. I don’t want that weasel to be harmed whatsoever. I need you to control him. Find me some sort of dirt on him that I can use. Really, any means of controlling him is fine with me. Just don’t do anything that may disrupt the power structure among the noble houses. If the count’s position is weakened too much, one of the bigger houses may destroy his house, and I’ll have a worse problem.”
Tiberius gave a disapproving look to Unus. “This seems like a bad idea.”
“And me fighting some all-powerful conspiracy isn’t? I leave the decision to Lucullus. If he wants my help, then I will need his first. Otherwise, we’ll all just be marching to our deaths.”
Lucullus deliberated over the offer.
“Well?”
“I’ll do it. If it means that I can have my mother and my home back, then it is worth it.”
Unus got up, and went over to shake Lucullus’s hand. “You’re a smart man, Lucullus.” He looked at Lucullus’s knife in its sheath. “I see you are well-equipped to gather herbs from the forest. But that probably won’t be enough for the things you’ll encounter along the way. I shall see to it that you and your friends are given some better equipment.”
Tiberius looked at Unus with confusion. “I guess you do give away some things easily.”
“What leader sends his soldiers to fight a war naked and unarmed?”
“He’s got a knife and clothes.”
“I take it that you are wanted men, given that you escaped prison. I imagine the authorities in the north province would laugh at someone in peasant clothes armed with such a pitiful knife trying to defend himself. You’ll need some proper gear if you are to survive your inevitable encounters with them.”
After being well-equipped by Unus, the three men set out for House Luctus.