Sorry I haven't been updating as much as usual. I have school and family to pay attention to. I won't stop writing if some people think that. The longest I may go without an update may be 3 days max. I don't expect it to get that bad. I have also been trying to take more time to write the chapters so they can be longer and more in depth. I felt like I was sort of shitting out chapters at an alarming rate.
Chapter 10: To Trust Profiligates
The sun seemed especially hot out today. The hounds barked at Antony. The air tasted like sawdust.
Lucius and I stood at Caesar's sides awaiting the Courier. She was expected today. Aurelius of Phoenix had sent a message of the Courier's arrival at Cottonwood Cove.
Caesar shifted around in his seat impatiently. The Courier should have already been here.
The man in the ridiculous checkered suit knelt to the left. He seemed very anxious to meet with the Courier. When we found him, he smelled of liquor and sex. He was stupid enough to think that we wouldn't realize he wasn't Legion with that greasy hair and the cigarette. He would be an awful spy.
A stomp was heard from outside the tent. That must be the Courier, no one in the Legion would behave so childishly. One of the dogs growled as she walked through the the first "room" of the tent surrounded with Legionaries. You can never be too safe.
She stopped a safe distance in front of Caesar. At least she wasn't an imbecile. Only an idiot would get close enough to practically sit in his lap.
"Vale, Caesar."
"Vale. Are you enjoying your trip to the Fort?"
"I noticed a lack of women that weren't slaves. One of them told me to say 'hi' to him. She said her name was 'Sienna' or something like that." She pointed towards me.
He sighed at Sennia's foolishness. "It's Sennia."
Caesar looked sidelong in my direction. I knew he didn't like her. Said that she distracts me too much.
"Oh, sorry I guess. Anyway, why am I here?"
"You're here because you're the women who crawled out of her grave to scour the wastes, all to get revenge for the man who shot you. It's called ambition. I see a fire in your eyes that can be guide by the Bull."
I drifted off into my own thoughts after that. I could already tell she was rude and had no respect for for those around her.
Instead, I thought of Sennia. I wondered what would be or lunch. What would be for dinner? I liked her stew but she kept making it every night. Maybe I could convince her to cook something else. I thought about a few days ago on the sandbar. I had hurt her, yet she still loves me. I proposed to her and she said yes. I wonder sometimes if she felt pressured into it. She wanted an answer about what would happen with the relationship but I don't think she expected one.
The Courier shuffled over to the man on his knees to yell at him. She really was childish. What the hell did Caesar see in her?
"May I be excused?"
"You may."
"Thank you."
I made my way to the kitchen to find Sennia nowhere in sight. She may be at the tent.
I opened the tent flap to find her half dressed. She yelped as I turned around, flustered by the sight of her bare chest.
"Where are your clothes?"
"Oh, it's just you. You could have just said so. My clothes got dirty from some grease in the kitchen."
I turned back to her reluctantly, then relaxed enough to wrap my arms around her from behind. I kissed her neck. She leaned into it and gasped as I ran my hands across her chest and torso. I needed her more than ever.
"Do you have any extra shirts I could borrow?"
"I have a tunic, but I advise you to wear your robes around your waist. The tunics tend to come short on people with legs as long as yours." I slid my finger from her knee up to her thigh.
"It didn't hurt this time if you were wondering."
"I wasn't and I have just realized that I should have. I'm sorry."
"I just said it didn't hurt. Why is it such a big deal to you?"
"You are my love. Persephone. Venus. Juno. Every goddess out here. And I hurt you. I should pay for my crimes, yet you only love me in return."
"You think that highly of me?"
"I always have."
"Why?"
"Your beauty is paralleled to nothing. You carved Mt. Olympus. Your womb brought forth the universe. And you've given me everything. I am unworthy. We shall all perish in revenge for enslaving a goddess."
"Oh, gosh. No one has ever said anything like that to me before."
"Good or bad? Too cheesy?"
"Good cheesy."
I rolled over to wrapped her in my arms. She nuzzled into my neck.
"When do you think the war will be over?"
"I can't know for sure, but I estimate it around a few months from now."
"That's forever, isn't it?"
"For now, it is forever. When the time comes, it will feel like only yesterday we were laying here naked in this shitty tent."
"Don't you have to be with Caesar right now?"
I shot up. How could I have forgotten?
"You should probably hurry. He'll get pissed if he isn't already." She tossed my clothes toward me and I got dressed hastily.
"I'll be back in time for lunch. Love you."
"Love you, too."
I ran out of the tent with my boots half tied. I swung the main tent flap open and collected myself before I stood at Caesar's side again.
"You were gone long."
"Restroom emergency."
"It must have been a pretty big emergency if you had to go nude. Your tunic is on backwards."
I looked down to see it was indeed on backwards.
"I would have thought better of you to ditch orders to go fuck a slave, and then lie to my face about it."
"I had to tell her something. One thing led to another and I am here. It won't happen again."
"It better not. You're my most useful Frumentarii. That slave is a distraction in a time of war. I should have you both crucified for this. I need you too much so I should just have you punished and her crucified."
"I shall take my punishment but I beg of you not to harm her. Hurting her will work against you. I am to marry her and how do you suppose I will work in grief?"
"You make a valid point but I'll tell you only once: you are walking on very thin ice, Vulpes."
"I understand. I shall take my punishment."
"You can expect a flogging at noon tomorrow."
"Yes sir."
Lucius looked at me with a mix of pity and shame.
I stood my ground next to Caesar's throne. The ground shook wildly. Being in this area, earthquakes were common, but not in this degree. The poles of the tent began to sway and bend. It stopped in a matter of seconds.
"That should be the Courier." Caesar grumbled.
"I don't know what you see in her. She's rude and fickle. Not trustworthy."
"Vulpes, if I were you, I wouldn't be spewing shit about being 'trustworthy.'"
"Sorry, sir."
The Courier practically bounced into the tent and up to Caesar.
"I did it."
"I can only assume that the earthquake was from the destruction of whatever is down there?"
Her eyes shifted from him to me. "Yep."
"You're lying." I muttered.
"No I'm not. You can check for yourself."
"Do you take me for a drooling profligate?" I spat out.
"Uh, no?"
"Vulpes, that's enough. We'll have to see later. Courier, if we find out that you have, indeed, lied to the Bull, you will get the horns. Do you understand?"
"Yes sir. I need to get back to the Strip. Can I have the Chip?"
"You have done your part. You may have the Chip when you leave."
She turned and looked too relieved to get away. Lucius gave Caesar a questioning look.
"I know she was lying."
"Why didn't you have us execute her?"
"I want her to think she has a chance to get away. Trust me, we will get her back, just when she isn't expecting it."