Britannia #3 opened on memories of war.
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scans_dailyAntonius Axia was remembering his service as a centurion.
His memories awoke his instincts; he blocked the sword raised against him with his own.
His attacker headbutted him and tried another swing.
" .. it's been years since I was a legionnaire. " thought Antonius.
" But that thing with time still happens. "
He looked down at the dead man's body and thought.
He thought of the " devil " he was investigating, the monstrous murderer whose work told a tale of swords.
He thought of the other Romans in Britannia he knew, of whom the dead man had been a comrade, who considered his investigation interloping at best.
He then mutilated the body with his own sword, to ascribe his self-defense to a demon's attack.
A real devil came to him, then- Orkus, whom he'd met before.
Orkus tore open the scars that were some Antonius' memories, and invited him to open a fresh wound on his throat.
Antonius defied Orkus. Orkus persisted.
Then another appeared to rebuke the devil- another whom Antonius recognized.
" .. we must leave this dark place. "
They did.
Farther away, she revealed that she'd summoned Orkus, against the Roman invaders.
She hadn't done it entirely of her own will, but at the insistent behest of the man Eryn, of druid blood.
She offered no other explanation; she turned, walked away, and vanished.
Antonius went after Eryn.
A local he found pointed the way to the son-of-a-druid's place, warning of curses laid.
He noticed the goblet.
" If you want a drink, you only need to ask. "
Antonius turned, and saw Eryn.
He asked the son of a druid about the summoning of Orkus.
Like the woman in the woods, he answered that it was a response to the Romans.
Then, like the devil in the woods, he went over Antonius' past.
Antonius raised his fist- and found it transformed.
Eryn went to his woman.
The next day, Antonius was back amongst his fellow Romans- and being summoned by their commander, Prefect Gabinius, who intended to use the scarred soldier's death against Antonius.
(He only saw it as something to use.)
Antonius walked into the prefect's tent, took a seat, and asked if he could have some of the wine on the table.
He was told he could, so he poured himself some.
Antonius sat alone in his tent that night, knowing he was as close to the truth of things as dangers were close to him.
Then Antonius heard steps outside his tent. He drew his sword.
Bodmall came in, fright of Eryn on her face and out of her mouth.
He dropped his sword. She came close to him.
He embraced her- they fell, he on top of her.
Antonius didn't know what was happening. He didn't care, either.
What he was doing now, he'd done with other women since his wife's death- but none of it had been like it was now, like it had been with-
He saw his wife's face on Bodmall's then, for a moment.
After the act, he told her.
" Forgive me. "
(Pagecount's 7 and a little more than a half of 23 from Britannia #3.)
His memories awoke his instincts; he blocked the sword raised against him with his own.
His attacker headbutted him and tried another swing.
" .. it's been years since I was a legionnaire. " thought Antonius.
" But that thing with time still happens. "
He looked down at the dead man's body and thought.
He thought of the " devil " he was investigating, the monstrous murderer whose work told a tale of swords.
He thought of the other Romans in Britannia he knew, of whom the dead man had been a comrade, who considered his investigation interloping at best.
He then mutilated the body with his own sword, to ascribe his self-defense to a demon's attack.
A real devil came to him, then- Orkus, whom he'd met before.
Orkus tore open the scars that were some Antonius' memories, and invited him to open a fresh wound on his throat.
Antonius defied Orkus. Orkus persisted.
Then another appeared to rebuke the devil- another whom Antonius recognized.
" .. we must leave this dark place. "
They did.
Farther away, she revealed that she'd summoned Orkus, against the Roman invaders.
She hadn't done it entirely of her own will, but at the insistent behest of the man Eryn, of druid blood.
She offered no other explanation; she turned, walked away, and vanished.
Antonius went after Eryn.
A local he found pointed the way to the son-of-a-druid's place, warning of curses laid.
He noticed the goblet.
" If you want a drink, you only need to ask. "
Antonius turned, and saw Eryn.
He asked the son of a druid about the summoning of Orkus.
Like the woman in the woods, he answered that it was a response to the Romans.
Then, like the devil in the woods, he went over Antonius' past.
Antonius raised his fist- and found it transformed.
Eryn went to his woman.
The next day, Antonius was back amongst his fellow Romans- and being summoned by their commander, Prefect Gabinius, who intended to use the scarred soldier's death against Antonius.
(He only saw it as something to use.)
Antonius walked into the prefect's tent, took a seat, and asked if he could have some of the wine on the table.
He was told he could, so he poured himself some.
Antonius sat alone in his tent that night, knowing he was as close to the truth of things as dangers were close to him.
Then Antonius heard steps outside his tent. He drew his sword.
Bodmall came in, fright of Eryn on her face and out of her mouth.
He dropped his sword. She came close to him.
He embraced her- they fell, he on top of her.
Antonius didn't know what was happening. He didn't care, either.
What he was doing now, he'd done with other women since his wife's death- but none of it had been like it was now, like it had been with-
He saw his wife's face on Bodmall's then, for a moment.
After the act, he told her.
" Forgive me. "
(Pagecount's 7 and a little more than a half of 23 from Britannia #3.)
no subject
Date: 2017-03-29 04:01 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2017-03-29 04:25 pm (UTC)There's going to be a sequel mini starting this April.