Water Under the Bridge Part II
Aleron awoke in a strange place; it was just a simple shack but standing over him was the explorer he brought to Shiprock at the Interfector's suggestion. The Twisted Hairs explorer had carted Aleron to an abandoned shack somewhere in Shiprock and upon awaking, learned that he was out for nearly a day and a half. It was late in the afternoon the day after the duel and Aleron felt like he'd won, though his injuries said otherwise. After learning all he needed to from the explorer, he attempted to stand from the dusty bed but the pain in his abdomen prevented him. Aleron wasn't one to let pain and other worldly elements get in the way of his objectives and attempted to make even more progress in regaining his ability to stand every 20 minutes. The explorer was silent for the most part and informed Aleron of all that was necessary. Aleron learned that the troops of the Shiprock garrison began their rotation back to Circle Junction the previous night and that the new troops were settled in and already beginning their duties. This wasn't necessary information to hear, but it acted as a way for Aleron to shift his focus away from that lingering question. The question was one that he finally was able to ask after only two hours of being awake. Aleron asked;
"What is the condition of Montano?"
The explorer replied in a bizarre idiosyncratic way, as Aleron learned on the journey to Shiprock was usual for this particular servant of Caesar, "The man was taken, taken to recovery by his servants. A silent... answer... to your message... Like the message he had for-..."
Aleron wasn't sure what to make of the news. Aleron wanted to learn that Montano was killed, but shocked himself when he learned a part of him was relieved to hear that Montano still lived. Not sure what was going on in his brain, Aleron tuned out the rest of the explorer's words and it suddenly occurred to him what he'd done. Aleron didn't know what was to come of the incident again and it hit him how he'd let down the Interfector. Aleron assured his Primus that nothing would happen during the simple delivery but failed, until... He believed that Montano was at fault yet again and couldn't even fathom his own role in the mess at the time. Either way, Aleron knew his Primus was well aware of the kind of man Montano was, and so Aleron concluded that the incident simply wasn't worth mentioning. Still, Aleron worried about his actions and how the entire thing was seen by just about everyone in Shiprock. This was a worry that rapidly led to more curses towards his rival.
By the end of the evening, it was dark out and the Interfector was likely believing that Aleron and the explorer were on their way back, something that would've been true if that duel never happened. Still, by the end of that evening, Aleron was able to hobble around the shack with minimal agony and was able to rewrap his wounded abdomen himself without the explorer's aid. With Aleron awake and feeling revitalized by his ability to move around, he gave orders to the explorer to report the mask's successful delivery to the Circle Junction Elite. He also told the explorer to report that there would be two criminals coming in with the previous garrison of Shiprock after arriving from the rotation. The explorer was out the door by the time Aleron laid back down to sleep.
Aleron went to sleep with ease of mind in knowing that particular explorer was very quick about traversing the land. Remembering the time that speculatore managed to deliver a report to Legate Graham's camp in the far east and back in less than a month, Aleron knew that man was excellent at carrying out his orders rapidly and to the letter, even if he talked more than usual and less "To the point" than other servants of Caesar.
Aleron's hopes in sending the explorer out before him were based on the idea that the man would be able to deliver the simple news before the previous Shiprock garrison arrived back in Circle Junction with any possible extraordinary news to report. With that in mind, he was sure to tell the man that Aleron's reason for returning separately was about being held up in attendance of matters related to the new garrison troops. This was something Aleron fully intended to make good on the next morning in order to prevent a falsehood from being said. Still, Aleron worried that when the previous Shiprock garrison arrived back in Circle Junction, they may report the duel to the Interfector himself. Although, Aleron put that worry to ease again when he recalled how lower officers in the Legion typically didn't report anything unusual unless told to by their commander.
With this in place, Aleron figured the news he sent his explorer to report would align just enough with whatever the garrison reported to prevent further questions from being asked by the Interfector. Though Aleron would have, he didn't want to be put in a spot where he'd have to tell the truth about All that happened on the delivery trip. After all, not telling, isn't quite the same as lying, and lying or telling falsehoods was something a soldier like Aleron or any other legionary almost wasn't capable of doing no matter the potential consequences.
When morning came, Aleron awoke still feeling that pain in his side, but the explorer was kind enough to leave behind his own healing essentials without direct order. After rewrapping his wounded side and applying the crude healing powder that worked its slow miracles on wounded flesh, he exited the shack and proceeded to the Shiprock outpost. There, he checked in with the new veteran decanus in charge who didn't have anything to report. When Aleron inquired about an injured centurion who may still be around, he was informed that the officer saw something resembling a small wounded train heading south the previous day, joined by a vexillarius and a couple of slaves. Aleron again didn't know what to make of the news. He couldn't figure out whether he was mad that the man survived his bullet, or if he was relieved that he'd get another chance to kill the man in a more Legion way next time. When Aleron looked south at the 491, he couldn't see anything. Although, the sun was up at that point, and Aleron was well enough to hobble his way northwest, back to Circle Junction. The trip would be longer than it took previously, but time was something he had plenty to kill on the slow walk back to his Primus.
Around 2 Weeks Later
Montano was carted on a stretcher for half of the journey back to his new land, but upon recovering enough to walk, he insisted on doing so. His arm was still wrapped in a sling from that battle against the Guerreros, but time and crude treatment was enough to have him unwrap the thing by the time he arrived. Still, there was the new injury to deal with and the .44 pried from his ribs left a wound that required him to move very carefully for a few months afterward. Montano thanked Mars that he received such an injury only at the start of his respite period, and knew that this respite would last long enough to recover since there was still plenty of prep work to do before the official march on Colorado. On the return, Montano walked very slowly back to his land and refused all but the most necessary aid from his servants and staff. His slow individual pace on return extended the return trip, but when he arrived, he saw that his logistics administrator had returned to the land and began setting up all the goods he fetched accordingly.
Montano stood at the edge of his land off the 491 staring at the distant shack and all that potential with pride. There, he took out the notes he made about his land aspirations and immediately hobbled over to his staff, reserve legionaries, and new slaves ready to begin the work. By the time Montano arrived back at the land he'd been gifted, he pulled the mask from his satchel and had all but forgotten the terrible duel only a week prior. Montano knew the damage he'd inflicted on his rival, despite not seeing the man fall in the way he had, but that was alright since he was quickly lost in completing his respite aspirations. With Montano's new land, he knew he had something worthwhile to keep his mind occupied until either the Colorado Campaign or the next run in with Aleron.
As the days went by, Montano had firm plans set in place to construct a resupply station for the soldiers that would be marching up the 491 from lower New Mexico and Arizona on their way to the coming Colorado Front. Those plans were put in place immediately after returning, and one may not have recognized the man supervising the construction project as the same person who spat hate and death at the people of Shiprock. There was something about the way he was using his respite time that gave him some form of inner peace. As mentioned previously, the place he requested as a means of dumping his slave women turned into a small passion of his. Day after day passed, and Montano was seen roaming his land sunup to sundown supervising his new slaves working on a new structure, coordinating watch with his reserve soldiers, having his staff fetch reports from his century in Gallup, and using his servant women for the purpose he was known to.
Montano's respite period lasted a long time. From the end of the New Mexico campaign to the start of the Colorado was actually a period that lasted several months for many reasons. Some of those reasons will be elaborated later, but Montano enjoyed his new passion project, and after plenty of time, he used his personal funds from years on the march building upon the land, taking in more slaves, and filling the shelves of his armory and provisions structures.
Montano left the interior of his private domicile, that first shack, largely untouched. This was something that the slave women took to mean was up to them, and so they adopted that responsibility for themselves. Since Montano preferred to spend most of the warmer months sleeping under the stars and away from others, Clara and Raquel essentially had their own home. Of course, their own home was something that always had to be open to their master, but they still saw it as theirs nonetheless.
Though this didn't happen within the two weeks indicated above, the land that Montano was gifted eventually turned into a prosperous little outpost between Gallup and Shiprock. By the time Montano's respite came to an end, his land was home to 2 small armories, a slave quarters for his eventual 15 slaves, a small barracks for the 15 soldiers of the Recuperatio Unitatis, another barracks shack for any passing units, a corral for aiding passing forces with 5 of his own brahmin, a food store, and several campfires for the land inhabitants or those passing soldiers.
When the time eventually came for Montano to rally his century and depart for Colorado, Montano, in one of the most unpredictable actions he'd ever done, left Clara behind as supervisor over the land. Of course this wasn't done in any official capacity, but Montano still intended to make some use of his original reason for wanting the land. Montano had no intention of marching into Colorado with the two sisters constantly bickering behind him, and so he would leave Clara behind to keep watch over the land. Though the action was unorthodox and granting official overseer responsibilities to slaves was not permitted, Montano had been with Clara for so many years that he trusted her more than anyone not Caesar or Legate Graham. Coupled with the fact that Montano didn't trust soldiers of the Recuperatio Unitatis since he found their inability to adequately serve on the fronts as indicative of failure, he entrusted the land to Clara in that unofficial capacity. When Montano would finally depart for Colorado he'd take Raquel with him for his own uses since she was the more "Nubile" of the two sisters, but Clara had finally learned that she "Had it made."
After one day back in early 2262, Clara decided to go all-in by placing herself at the side of a murderously loyal warrior psycho, and after 8 years, it had finally paid off. Time by Montano's side allowed her to miraculously reunite with her sister, and joining that man all across New Mexico had finally left her with just about everything a servant woman in Legion society could ask for. Though it again wasn't in an official capacity, Clara was left with land, soldiers to protect her, and even slaves of her own. When Montano left for service, he left Clara to oversee the land as the direct liaison between himself and his other properties. What she would say and what she would do were on behalf of Centurion Montano himself, even when pertaining to matters regarding the soldiers who watched his land. Clara of course wouldn't abuse this privilege since she knew the kind of man she belonged to, but she became just about the safest and freest woman under the Bull banner for many years to come. Tending to the home and ensuring the land served the purpose her master intended, the only caveat in Clara's new life was that the doors were to remain wide open whenever Montano returned from campaign. With this in place, Clara happily looked over Montano's land knowing that her sister was relatively safe wherever Montano was and that Raquel would always have a safe home to return to so long as her master was alive.
A little over one week after the duel, Aleron finally returned to Circle Junction after the long and slow walk back from Shiprock. Aleron stopped many times along the way when the pain was too much or when he needed to forage from the land or even hunt. Though the trip was long, especially in Aleron's wounded state, he was able to stand upright since the healing treatments had worked their magic by the time he arrived at the outer gates of the surrounding slave city.
Through the gates he went and down the long fenced off lanes towards the Interior Fortress. Passing the slaves and soldiers transitioning between duties and sectors, Aleron approached the gate to the Interior Fortress surrounded by piles of barbed wire and dotted with mines. What stuck out to Aleron was how seemingly empty the streets beyond the fenced paths were. Reaching the gate, he asked the sentries on duty if Lord Interfector was at the Palace and was informed by a centurion that he'd gone to the arena in the Arizona Sector. Aleron asked for an escort after showing his injury and so a team of six legionaries from the gate crew joined him through the streets of the Arizona Slave Quarter.
Aleron only had to follow the noise since there appeared to be another rare spectacle for the region going on. The arena of Circle Junction was really just a fenced enclosure nearly an acre large that was topped with barbed wire. Slaves could petition to fight one another in there for anything from quarrels with other slaves or even fights for rewards of some sort. Also, much like the Flagstaff "Arenem" a legionary could sometimes attempt a fight against reputable slaves for the purpose of gaining the attention of a prestigious officer like the Elite.
So, Aleron followed the noise through the nearly vacant streets of the Arizona Slave Sector until rounding a series of large slave tenements and there he saw the crowd. The masses surrounding the chain and wire arena was an enormous mix of soldiers in crimson and slaves in gray. Aleron pained himself climbing atop a small crate and there he saw all of them howling at a recently slain man being dragged out one of the gates. Aleron saw all he needed to when his eyes drifted to the balcony of another tenement that had several Bull banners hanging from it. Aleron believed he could just barely see the plume of his Elite's helmet atop the balcony and just beneath the enormous black pillar pouring into the sky from the Arizona forge behind him. Aleron maneuvered his way around the crowd to the Interfector's sectioned-off overlook. Approaching the veteran sentries, Aleron allowed himself past, through the decrepit slave home, past more guards, and up the stairs to the third level. Knowing he was going the right way by the amount of guards, Aleron approached the last door in the commandeered structure and showed himself past the two other guards. Upon emerging onto the Interfector's private balcony, he saw his Primus glance back and see him enter.
Aleron froze in place in the doorway, still feeling like a failure for what happened during the mask delivery, but the Interfector glanced back again and said, "Look who returned..." Turning towards the corner, Aleron saw Gabriella sitting with the Interfector's new servant from the recent auction named "Amethyst" as he added, "Gabriella, your man's back."
Aleron still stood in place as his slave approached from the other side of the balcony offering a cup of water. He accepted and downed it, then she welcomed him back as Aleron rechecked his side to ensure his wound hadn't reopened. Finally, Aleron had been standing there long enough and the Interfector turned back around with the words, "Welcome back Aleron, take a seat."
Aleron gestured for his servant to depart as he approached the empty seat beside the Interfector overlooking the crowd. After taking his seat, the Interfector had not moved, but two other slaves entered the distant arena through a cheer from the mass below. The two men stared at the spectacle below and after enough silence, the Elite asked in his casual manner, "How did the delivery go?" without moving his head.
The duelist beside him said, "Centurion Montano received his gift from the Legate..." then asked, "Has the frumantarius yet to return as well?"
The Elite responded to the latter, "Dalton may be gone for a while, Frumantarii is doing a lot of work in Colorado at the moment."
Aleron began sweating, and this confused him since he wasn't nervous; the only thing that changed was that the slaves who entered the arena were choosing their weapons from the slave master in there. Aleron asked, "Anything else to be done in preparation for Colorado?"
The Interfector turned to Aleron with a sly smile, "There's always more to do, but I've had the tanneries and armorers in particular working overtime. Figured they could use a bit of a relief... Hence the show below." He paused again before adding another question, "Did the Shiprock garrison need anything in particular after the rotation?"
"No, My Primus..." Said Aleron plainly, internally thanking the explorer for delivering his half-true reason for delay.
The Killer replied, "That's good... I got those drug pushers you sent me by the way. They came in a couple days ago after the old garrison returned. I'm sure you'll be happy to know that they're being dragged back to Shiprock by their feet right now straight to a pair of crosses..." He paused, "... Next time you should probably just have someone whip them there in the street and send them to a cross. I trust you enough to make the judgment on site."
Aleron gulped, having just heard his Primus say indirectly that the duel was completely avoidable in his casual way. Still, Aleron replied to his Primus, "I knew my Primus would make the right call for criminals like them."
Still facing the crowd, Aleron and the Elite noticed that the slaves in the arena below had selected their weapons and were approaching their positions. One selected a large hammer and the other chose a pair of machetes. Both were equipped in leather strap armor, and both were making a spectacle to increase the crowd's energy by displaying their weapons triumphantly. As the audience of slaves and legionaries began cheering louder and louder, the Elite asked casually, "Anything else particularly noteworthy happen on your little delivery?"
Aleron slowly turned his head to study the Elite who's face had not moved from its focus on the arena. The longer Aleron looked at his Primus, the less his expression seemed to change. Even though Aleron could only see one side of the Killer's face, he knew what was being asked in that question. Finally, the crowd drowned out nearly all else as the start of the match was about to begin, and Aleron saw another smile crack its way across the Elite's face.
Aleron stated as a fact, "You know..." Then asked, "What did that explorer tell you?"
The Elite's smile grew wider and though his head never turned, he answered, "That man didn't tell me anything. He just said what you told him to... Then he said a lot of other nonsense about roads and messages and shit. That guy's still one of my best runners so I decided to send him off to frumantarii school just to get him to quit talking. I'm sure they'll beat some silence into him there, but I digress..."
Aleron waited quietly as the crowd got even louder. Finally, the Elite turned his head to Aleron as he said, "... But how do I know you and Montano fought? To that, I might as well have asked whether or not the sun will rise tomorrow. It was inevitable... But if you're wondering how I got proof, well, see for yourself..."
Suddenly, another roar came from the crowd as the slaves in the arena began their fight. As the men hacked and slashed away at one another, the incoherent cheers from the audience morphed into chants. Erupting from the masses of grey and red, slaves and soldiers, came the loud chanting of two words. One half of the mixed crowd was screaming, "Al-er-on, Al-er-on, Al-er-on" and between each of those were the other half screaming "Mon-tan-o, Mon-tan-o, Mon-tan-o." What could have been indiscernible to anyone else was all that Aleron, his Elite, and the soldiers in the crowd could hear. Aleron was lost and bewildered, never imagining in a million years that his feud with the man would cause the sort of scene he witnessed that day.
"What happened between you and Montano was hardly a secret. All of Shiprock saw what happened and when the previous garrison rotated back here, you think they were just going to be silent about what they saw?... Of course I don't know the details or how it started, but I'll say you typically don't create cheers like that for simple delivery orders." said the Elite.
Aleron was silent, the cheering for him and his rival from the audience below gave Aleron a paralysis of uncertainty about what to make of it. The entire crowd was split, despite the mix of both slaves and soldiers cheering for the fighting combatants as stand-ins for the fight between himself and Montano. After the duel in Shiprock, Aleron and Montano reignited a wave of enthusiasm for their legendary conflict that had been on hiatus for almost seven years at this point.
The Interfector had not turned to face Aleron, but that smile remained on his face even as Aleron finally mustered the courage to ask, "Have I failed you, Lord Interfector?"
At last, the Elite turned to face Aleron before saying what Aleron was thinking after each chant from the mass;
"You men reignited something strange..." He paused and Aleron waited, "... I'd say it was just in time too."
Aleron saw that grin on the Interfector's face even clearer, making Aleron ask simply, "My Lord?-"
And the Elite continued, "There's going to be some messy work that's about to take place before the start of our push into Colorado and I'll just say... A whole lot of people are going to start looking at Caesar differently, and... It'll help to have an example to point to when certain people start asking whether or not Caesar is worth fighting for..."
Aleron didn't know what his Primus was talking about, but just then, one of the Interfector's explorers stepped up to the two;
"Ave, My Primus. True to Caesar..."
The Elite nodded at the man, the crowd roared, and the messenger handed the Praetor a pair of letters accompanied by the words, "Your Frumantarius, Dalton, acquired that new intel you requested about Mesa Verde and there is a letter from Lord Caesar with new answers to your inquiry about the Twin Mothers."
The Elite thanked and dismissed the runner before tearing open the envelope bearing Caesar's sigil. The Elite skimmed it while Aleron watched the slaves still fighting to the cheer of he and his rival's names. Both slaves had left new patches of blood in the arena and were no longer swinging their weapons with skill. The two slaves were exhausted, bloody, and only swinging out of a will to survive and reap the glory. After several moments, Aleron's attention was turned to the Elite when he said;
"Time to start mobilizing. We'll be marching on the Twin Mothers very soon..."
Both slaves knocked each other to the ground, there was more cheering, and Aleron met the eyes of his Primus as the Elite stated, "Colorado draws even nearer."
A/N: End of Act. The next act may be a bit more fast pace than this one. A lot of events and a lot of time to go over as we approach a battle at a noteworthy structure near Sin City... Hopefully, that little note wasn't TOO big a spoiler Lol. There's a reason I covered a lot of what happens with Clara down the road in this chapter. Anyhoo, thanks for reading!