War games.
Ruby, to her surprise, greatly enjoyed them, especially when her cohort was able to build the defences. She, Logan and a scattering of other Vulcan kids would come together during their free time and plan every trapdoor or hidden net to be built that evening. They were starting to give the opposing cohorts a run for their money.
Tonight, it was fourth, third and fifth defending against first and second. The Vulcan legionnaires would have to work harder than usual, but it wasn't anything completely out of their league.
Ruby and Logan had appointed themselves as curo constructum, or 'managing builders', which meant they oversaw what everyone else did and gave advice when needed.
It felt good to tell people what to do- a stark contrast to Ruby's usual position as probatio. She still had eight months to go until she became full member of the legion, unless she could somehow perform an 'act of valour' and get her SPQR tattoo early. To be frank, she was prepared to wait it out instead of going out of her way to risk her life just for a stupid tattoo. Jennie had agreed, although Logan had grumbled about how 'un-Roman' it was.
"Ruby, does this plank go over here?" A lisping voice piped, jolting Ruby from her thoughts. She glanced over at a boy, maybe two or three years younger, clutching a metre-long plank in his hands. He looked ridiculous in his too-large armour, and his shield was at least a full foot taller than him.
"A little to the left," Ruby confirmed with a nod. The boy dragged his board over to where she pointed.
Logan stepped up to her, flicking his long bangs out of his eyes. Ruby had told him so many times that his long hair would catch fire or get caught in something someday, but he refused to listen and instead opted for looking like an emo Justin Bieber.
"Buildin' on the right flank's nearly done," he said, tossing his hair again. "We should be finished by dinner."
"That's making great time," Ruby said with a smile, "so, the traps?"
"I'll tell Leila, Jerry an' the other centurions to place somma their own near each one. D'ya think you can spare some of the Vulcan kids to hang 'round as well?"
"Sure. Can't wait to kick some first and second butts."
That evening
Ruby took a deep breath and gazed down at the first and second cohorts barrelling into the front of their defences, while their reserves circled around the back, surrounding the tower the defending cohorts had spent all afternoon building. Ruby motioned to Logan, who stood at the opposite end of the tower. He grinned and held up a fist. Nets sprung without warning on top of some of the legionnaires below, temporarily forcing them to retreat, but it wouldn't hold them back for long.
Third was fifth were both convinced they would lose to the more experienced cohorts, but fourth wasn't quite ready to give in yet. Their flag was positioned in the centre of the fort, and could only reached by climbing a series of wobbly rope ladders and getting past most of fourth's campers. Still, there had been far too many close calls already.
Ruby's eyes flickered up at the sky, watching Reyna dart through the clouds on Skippy. Her jet black hair flowed behind her in a dark curtain, shining in the fading light. Ruby gritted her teeth. Stop that.
"Brian! Casey! Why are you two up here?" She heard Logan demand angrily. He received a sheepish reply about how some girl in second had nabbed the flag and was already outside of the fort. Ruby let out a string of curses as she caught sight of the girl below, a wide grin on her face and a bright red flag in her hands. First and second flipped a few rude gestures and a couple yelled something about a graecus and how fifth sucked at fighting.
"Dammit," Ruby muttered, sharing a look with Logan, tossed his hair and spat down at the attacking cohorts. He cuffed Brian on the ear and whacked Casey's back. Ruby just sighed and began to climb down the rope ladders, dropping to the ground.
Octavian and Michael, centurions of the first legion, were looking very pleased with themselves when Ruby and Logan arrived. "Better luck next time, eh?" Michael sneered. Ruby put a hand gently on Logan's trembling arm, whispering, "He's not worth it. We'll win next time, okay?"
Logan ground his teeth, but turned and walked briskly away from the two centurions, leaving Ruby behind.
"Adjusting well to the camp?" Octavian said with feigned concern. Ruby said nothing. The augur smiled unkindly. "Made some friends, I see? That's good. Well," he rolled his shoulders, "I'd best be off. Prophecies to read, scrolls to interpret, all that. Come on, Michael."
As they sauntered away, Ruby's hands curled into fists. Those smug little bastards...
A hand tapped her on the shoulder. Turning, Ruby blinked in surprise at Reyna, who stood behind her looking awkward.
"Praetor Reyna," Ruby nodded, remembering that she was still probatio and had to address the praetor with due respect, "good to see you again."
"And you," Reyna said, eyes flicking downwards, then upwards, trying to avoid the probatio's gaze. "I'm glad you're settling in."
"Everyone keeps saying that," Ruby told her shortly, stepping a little closer. "I'm getting sick of it.
"But I'm glad we talked, after all this time," she added quietly, "really, I am. I.."
They were very close now. If Ruby stood on her toes, she would be at eye level with the praetor. She suddenly realized how easy it would be to just lean forward, and...
Reyna cleared her throat. The moment had passed. Ruby silently cursed herself for being such a coward.
"I... I'll see you later, Reyna." She spun on one heel and stiffly walked away, not looking back, eyes burning.
Reyna's mouth opened to tell her it was Praetor Reyna, raising one hand to do so, but she thought better of it and lowered her hand. She touched her wrist; her pulse was racing, and her face felt hot. She suspected she looked very red-faced indeed.
Reyna stormed away, embarrassed, calling Scipio to follow her.