Katy’s POV
“How are we looking?” I signed to my partner as I watched the guard patrol along the target’s wall. It was a cushy job, and though they might have been well trained once, it was easy to tell that complacency had set in. This was the third patrol going past, every half hour on the mark. Each patrol was a single guard carrying a torch, insuring they only saw the edge of the torchlight.
“Good to go.” Nolan signed back. At my nod, he shot across the alley and plastered himself against the wall, turning and making a cup with his hands that helped me vault to the top nearly silently. Dangling over, he grabbed my outstretched hand and hauled himself up as I suppressed the urge to grunt, both of us immediately dropping into the courtyard and scanning our respective sectors to make sure nobody had detected us.
There were no surprises, but it paid to be thorough. Especially considering who we were visiting tonight. Keeping low, we darted from shadow to shadow in the miniature orchard before using a pillar to access the second floor balcony. There we waited for ten seconds, listening hard though the house was silent. The cook had been bribed well to add a dash of a powerful but slow acting soporific to the meal, making sure the servants and masters got a good dose, but keeping it away from the guards.
Nolan moved forward to the window and used a slim bar to slip the lock, and seconds later we were both inside. Their informant was accurate, as this was an office space for the Senator. His wife had the room across the hall, and their bedroom was three doors down. I pulled a chair to the middle of the room while Nolan went and cleared the other office, then we got to work.
* * * * * * * * * * * * *
Ten minutes later
“Seeeeenator. Seeeenator.” I coaxed in a sing-song voice. “Wakey wakey Senator, we have a lot to discuss.” His head lolled from side to side, slowly coming to with some gentle slaps to his cheek.
“Wah? Who are you? Do you know who I am?” He demanded as soon as everything registered in his mind.
“I do, Senator Locke. And you have been a bad boy. A very, bad, boy.” I said, punctuating each word of the last sentence by slapping the flat of my knife against his thigh. “Ah.” I shook my finger in a no manner in his face as I saw him start to scream, pointing to the windows that were plugged with thick towels. “Don’t waste our time dear Senator, we don’t have a lot of it. I just need to ask you some questions, and then I can guarantee you will be back in the bed you share with your wife. If she gives the same answers, she’ll probably even join you.”
“I swear to the gods, if you harm her…” He trailed off as my knife tapped his nose.
“Senator, senator. You forget, sir, that you aren’t in charge here. You make no demands, you have no power. You will answer my questions while your wife answers my partners, and then we leave you alone. That’s a fair deal, isn’t it?”
“You do realize that if I ever find out who you are, nothing will save you from my wrath?” He glared.
“Fair enough.” I nodded, pulling up a chair so that I could study him. I let the silence build as I slowly twirled my knife about. I didn’t think I would get much out of him, but I did hope to get a bit by being unpredictable. I waited until a bead of sweat slid down past his eye.
“How much does it cost to buy a Centurion post?” I finally asked, keeping a smile from my face as he flinched.
“You can’t buy a po.” He tried to lie, getting a gentle slap from the flat of my blade across his cheek. It drew a tiny drop of blood, but I wasn’t worried.
“Now, now Senator. You really should assume that I know the answers to most of what I ask, I just really need confirmation from you. And you are lucky that I do care about how you come out of this conversation. Right now, you had a minor nick while shaving. One or two of those could be believable, being as your razor has gotten rather dull. But if you keep lying, I’ll need to make more, obvious, marks.”
I stared at him, and after a few seconds his glare deflated. “I can give some information, but no names. And don’t hurt my wife.”
“I can honestly say I won’t hurt your wife, but it might not be up to me. It all depends on how much she resists my partner. He won’t start somewhere noticeable though, I can say that much.”
“Fine. Posts are traded like favors. Which post?”
“I see. And why would you demand a post for Centurion Clavis?”
“He’s my nephew.” He said. “Damnit, this is about Sean, isn’t it?”
“Why would you assume that?” I asked, but figured I could throw him a bit of a bone. “You’re right, but why?”
“Look, I know he was a little shit. I thought the Legion would straighten him out a bit, once I got him to where Leah couldn’t pamper him anymore. He already had my backing, but Corrine and Leah couldn’t inflate the kid’s ego enough. They pulled strings with the church, filling his head with nonsense. That’s why I wanted Volgan to be their trainer. He had enough clout to ignore my wife and sister.”
“And you didn’t expect him to twist what the church said into trying to kill a recruit protected by the church” I finished for him, nodding.
“Indeed. And since you are here, I have to assume that while Reginald is being as circumspect as his mother trained him to be, there are enough coincidences that someone is worried.”
“I must say, it is rather nice that you are being so forthright with me Senator.” I said. “This has to be one of the easiest interviews I’ve ever had to do.”
“Yes, well once you get to a certain position, you realize how the game is played. You managed to get in here without raising an alarm, which leaves me to believe that you want this to remain as quiet as I do. So long as neither of us reveal our sources, nobody can point fingers.”
“Indeed. Now, do you know anything that your nephew has been up to?”
“No. All I was supposed to do was get him a post.” He said.
“Very well. Goodnight, Senator.” I said, stabbing a needle into his hip. Within seconds, he was asleep again. A look across the hall revealed that the door was still blocked with towels, so I lugged the Senator back to his bed and started cleaning up. The drug I used would make most of this seem like a dream, all I had to do was make sure that the office was returned to the same state it was in when we entered.
* * * * * * * * * * * * *
Legatus Scipio’s POV
Thunder shattered the night as the flash of lightning left an afterimage of the rain soaked training yard in my vision. Blinking away the image, I turned to the aid that had just joined me. “Report.”
“Sir.” The aid saluted, then continued, “Most officers are going to want to push forward. The patrols generally report no contact within an hour of the fort, same with the hunters.”
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“Thoughts on how to proceed?”
“Send three squads. Two to build, and one to sweep the area.”
Scipio nodded, as that was common doctrine. “And our wayward Centurion?”
“Best guess? He’s going to be pushing for the glory post. He might have a green squad, but they’ve been bloodied several times and work together like a veteran unit. Though.” The aid paused, and I let him gather his thoughts. “Our feelers back in the capital have uncovered a few things. An incident in training caused an execution. We don’t have the names, but there are whispers that the commander might be connected to one of the executed.”
“Damn politics.” I growled. “Work on finding a direct connection. Right now all we have is a zealous commander that likes putting his underlings into the fire.”
“There are a few more issues, and some inconsistencies sir.” The aid continued, getting a surprised look from me. “It seems the Centurion is having the mail from his squad monitored, though they don’t send much. In addition, the quartermaster has asked about something strange with the pay chits. From what I gather, one of the soldiers has been acting as a Decanus while still receiving pay as if he were a recruit.”
“Name?” I ordered, instantly angry. Nothing caused more strife within a unit than messing with a soldier’s pay. There was a reason the empire paid its soldiers well, it kept them from deserting.
“A Brandon Clayson.” The aid answered after checking his notes, then added, “Also rumored to be involved with that training incident.”
“Gods damn it all.” Scipio muttered. “Jupiter should curse all these politicians to the same fate as Prometheus.” He turned to the aid, “So let me get this straight. From the surface, it looks like a Centurion used family connections to get posted to the front line to earn some glory. In reality, we have someone throwing fresh recruits into battle in the hopes of getting them killed in retribution for a relative getting executed.”
“Nothing definite, but its looking that way.”
“Find me something definite as soon as possible. Until then, keep an eye on any orders from Clavis, and be ready to countermand them if they cross the line. Order an audit of the quartermaster, I want to know how far back this pay fiasco goes. Keep it quiet, I don’t want to let him know we are onto him. Feel free to threaten careers if word gets out, I’ll back you.”
“Understood sir.” The aid paused, then said, “Sounds like the Centurions are here sir.”
“Let’s go then.” I said, following him into my meeting room. Waiting for me were ten Pilus Prior, each one commanding a cohort. Behind them were each of their 5 subordinate leaders, the Centurions. They were arranged clockwise in order of seniority. As I entered, they all stood and saluted.
“We’ve got a bit to get through tonight, so let’s get to it.” I said, returning the salute and taking my seat. “Start with logistics.”
“Sir.” Darren, leader of the third cohort nodded. “Supply lines are solid. We have food for a month should they be severed. Spare shields and blades to equip half again our troops, and 6,000 each of crossbow bolts and arrows. Medical supplies are topped off, and we have plenty of stones to keep the barrier charged.”
“Excellent. Xander?” I asked, turning to the leader of the scouts.
“Patrols need to head further out in order to come across the enemy. It’s getting to the limit where we need to push forward. If they keep getting attacked in the afternoon like this, there’s a chance they won’t be able to make it back before sundown.”
“Thoughts?” I asked.
“We need a forward camp. Send a few cohorts to set it up, send out about half the strength of the base here. There are a few positions that can take advantage of the natural terrain using a river or small cliff to limit access.”
“If I can make a suggestion?” Antonio, our Primus Pilus asked. At my nod, he continued, “We need something within striking distance of the Stone Maze. It’ll take weeks to map it, and even longer to fully clear it out. That time only increases the further we have to march to get to the maze.” I looked around, noting the nodding heads.
“Xander, any of those locations within an hour’s march of the maze?”
“One sir. Small hillock, but it does have a good view of the surroundings and maybe a half hour march to the maze. We’ll need to bring wood via wagons, but we can definitely get a dirt palisade up in a day.”
“Objections?” I asked, looking around. “Then I’ll need 3 groups. Two to build the new fort, and one to provide security while they work.”
“Sir.” Centurion Clavis, the lowest one, immediately offered. “My group isn’t the most experienced out there, but I would like to volunteer for guard duty. One of my soldiers is a special case and has a detection ability advanced enough that the embedded Hunters have asked him for training. I’m not sure if elevation will alter it or not, but they work together and are especially suited or a protection detail.”
“David?” I turned to my aid.
“The group is green, sir, but they have had several successful engagements in the field. They have also reported being able to detect and turn an enemy ambush against them.” He said, checking his noted.
“Very well. Centurion Clavis and his cohort will be on guard duty. Xander, see if we can spare a few scouts as well for a long range detection. Antonio’s cohort will travel with Clavis’ and get started on construction. Centurion Vant will travel with the wagons and provide protection, then remain and help Primus Antonio finish the fort. I want those three groups staying there overnight, and Centurion Marco will reinforce them in the afternoon, taking over the first watch. I want half this fort’s strength stationed there within a week, where we will begin tackling the issue of the Stone Maze. Unless anyone else has any issues, I believe we are done here?” I asked, looking around. Nobody said anything, so I continued, “Very well. Dismissed.” Saluting, the troops started moving out and making preparations.
* * * * * * * * * * * * *
Ten minutes later
It was quiet in the room once all the soldiers had left, and I had already sent my aid home for the night. Finishing up the last set of orders, I spoke, “I know you’re there and dying to talk about this. Come on out.”
“How did you know?” A voice laced with amusement asked as Eugene seemed to materialize from the shadows.
“As if you would miss out on such an important meeting. And you are getting a lot better, I honestly just guessed you were there.”
“I see. That Brandon kid? He’s been a blessing for our Hunters. You guys are a waste of his talents” He held up a hand before I could speak, “I know the story, and it isn’t your fault. I’ve already taken care of the idiots that gave such botched orders. Just saying that the kid was born to be a Hunter.”
“I know.” I nodded as Eugene pulled up a chair. “And I know that we aren’t only wasting his talents, but that there are some idiots in my command actively trying to get the kid killed. I just can’t act without evidence.”
“Psh. As if Corrine would let anything incriminate her boy. Even if the kid played second fiddle.”
“Wait, you know?” I started, then shook my head. “I should have known that a Hanzo would be able to have spies within the capital. You do your patriarch proud.”
“Bah, that’s basics.” He waved me off. “Besides, I’m no longer a Hanzo. Old Man Hattori threw me out, told me the family would give no more support.”
I paused to look at him, not realizing until just now that he truly believed that. “Eugene. If you really believe that the old man threw you out and hasn’t been silently keeping track of you, then you’re a bigger idiot than I thought. I know there were some strings pulled to get the recruiters who ‘found’ you in the right spot, and I highly doubt the only living Timeless One wouldn’t follow up on one of his most promising descendants in generations. Especially since you are effectively the head of the opposition against his liege Ieyasu.”
“Gotcha.” He grinned, and I smacked his shoulder. “You think I didn’t already have that figured out? I was trained by the most devious mind in several generations.”
“Jerk. So what do you know that I don’t?”
“A lot.”
“Ugh.” I shook my head. “About the situation with Brandon.”
“Right. Well, it turns out that Senator Locke’s son tried to kill him over some religious idiocy during training. That got the Locke kid executed. So his mom and Aunt Corrinne got his cousin Reginald placed as his commanding officer. Obviously under orders to either get the kid killed in combat or drive him out of the Legion. Considering some of the things he has ordered, likely the former.”
“Damn politics.” We both said at the same time, chuckling.
“At least we discovered a few things not in your summary on our own, though I bet you know about the pay. If he didn’t have his family’s backing, this would probably be enough to get him removed. I’ll work on getting more concrete evidence before the kid gets killed, can you and your Hunters keep an eye on him?”
“We would have even without you asking.” He nodded. “But you should get on that evidence as soon as you can. This has gone on long enough that most won’t look twice at what Clavis has been ordering. If he doesn’t have a specific plan, I bet he will make one as soon as you guys start entering that Stone Maze.”
“I think you’re right.” I said, shaking my head. The Legion was supposed to be brothers in arms, and the damn politicians were turning it into their own vengeance group. “Hopefully we.” I turned, and Eugene had already disappeared. “Damn bastard. I bet your Patriarch did the same thing when he was your age.” The only thing that greeted that statement was some disembodied laughter that quickly died. I put the seal on the last set of orders, then set them into a stack for David in the morning.