A/N: Okay, folks, new chapter! I know, I know, you're like; 'hey, where's the other updates?' Bear with me and my nonsense. As always enjoy the voyage, ladies and gents!

DISCLAIMER: I don't own the Ninth Legion (That dubious honor belongs to the now defunct Roman Empire), The Eagle, or the awesomesause that is Harry Potter. All I own... Wait, I own my Muses! Ha!

WARNING: There is yaoi (boyXboy), so if you DO NOT LIKE, then DO NOT READ! Oh, and there's wanking. 3

-Ryder

P.S. READ ME FIRST! Harry will be refered to as Cian (dark one in Gaelic) in later chapters. Harry is too casual and Hadrian (of which Harry could be a possible nickname) is far too Roman for the part he plays.

P.P.S. READ ME SECOND! Long chapter is long. Hope it makes sense!

CMECMECMECMECMECME

Esca was surprised that Cian was still so open after all that had happened to him. Neglect by blood kin, absent & dangerous adventures and death; so much that even the death of his own father could not compare. Cian laughed as the Lybian stallion, Cornix, flung cold lochwater at him.

"Great silly beast you are, Cornix." The horse snorted, shaking himself off and the water landed on Cian. The tanned skin was littered with many scars, some from battles, some from his 'adventures', and some from his kin... If they could be called that. Beads of water slid down the enticing skin, as though caressing the muscles that worked to hold the high-spirited stallion in place.

"Do you need help with him, Cian?" He asked before his thoughts caught up with his mouth.

"Yes, surprisingly. He's being stubborn today." Cian grunted as he tugged down Cornix for the fifth time in a row. "Hold his headstall, please." The cloth was carefully weilded, scrubbing away lather from the worn points in Cornix's hair where the saddle rubbed. The stallion shivered, but held still other than that.

It took all afternoon to clean the horses. Marcus limped out and even helped with his own, the temperamental black that occasionally answered to Necromance. Even Cian, with his ability to soothe most animals, could not calm the willful mare. Marcus hissed, limped up to her, and popped her on her cheek, whispering soft threats and praise.

"She'll behave now." Cian patted her as he finished with her legs, reducing the slight swelling in her knees; she gifted the Mage with a slobbering lick.

"Eww! Call that behavin', do ya? Yuck! Now I have to bathe... Yes, you're welcome Necromance. Don't do that again, hmm?" Green eyes held laughter as Cian patted the mare dry and hobbled her before sending her out to pasture along with the other two. Seemingly without a care, the Mage stripped all the way, hanging his leathers carefully out of the way of the water. With a whoop, he jumped into the deep loch, coming up soaking wet. "Ya joinin' me then?" The question was aimed at him, as it was in Gaelic. Cian swam like a Kelpie, effortlessly slicing through the water with deft strokes. Once chest-deep, the glorious black locks were set free, floating in the water like a vision from the Horned One. He stripped and join him, washing as fast as he could, his eyes never straying from the languid poses that Cian seemed to do as natural as breathing. "See somethin' ya like?" Esca flushed lightly, turning his gaze away from the breath-taking visage of the wizard.

"I apologize... It's unseeming of me. I will not repeat such behav-Eh?" Slim, firm fingers tilted his jaw up so that he had to look into Cian's green eyes. They held amusement and a hunger that he'd seen only in women after his title of Chieftan; this hunger seemed aimed at him and him alone.

-SEX SCENE START-

"I didna say I minded, Chieftan of the Brigantes. I would like for my first time to be with both of you, but I didna think it possible." Esca's mind ran through the various positions, his face flushing as his aching hardness twitched at the thought of Marcus taking Cian from behind and him watching. "Need help with that?" The laughter was short-lived as Cian wrapped a callused hand around his hot erection and tugged, sliding a thumb over his slit and softly tracing his veins.

"Wh-Goddess that feels good..."

"Mmm, glad you like it." Cian purred, his grip shifting in the now warm water. Hot lips claimed his then nibbled on his throat. "You know... Marcus is watching us." That pulled a moan from him as he thrust his hips against Cian's hand wrapped around him. "Mmm, I want to taste you." The words, coupled with a rough bite to his throat had him coming in spasms. He leaned against Cian, reflecting in the post-coital bliss that the Mage had been named quite accurately.

"Wa-Was he really watching?" A warm chuckle followed his hesitant question and Esca felt ashamed suddenly. "I was convienent roll in the water." Again the slim fingers caught his chin, forcing it up.

-SEX SCENE END-

"No, not a roll in the water." Cian's warm tongue swiped over the bruise that was forming. "Far from it, Esca. I was marking my territory." He was not chattel! How dare- Another warm chuckle had him stopping in mid-thought. "Not like chattel, my firey one. It is so that others will not touch what I consider precious." Caressing fingers fanned into his hair, massaging his scalp in a most pleasant way. "Do you understand?"

"How did you know what I was thinking?" A soft smile lit up Cian's face.

"Your expression gave you away, Esca. It was actually cute."

"Cute? I'll show you cute, Magis!" With a war-cry, he tackled Cian farther into the loch. "How about now?"

"Mmm, maybe I should make you angry more often, my firey one. Now I want to take you against the sand, watch as you go over the edge..." Esca stopped halfway to shore, turning to face Cian with wide eyes. "Oh, yes. I did say that." The grin was just short of predatory.

"Amourous bastard, aren't we?" He grumbled gently as they dried off with rushes.

-PoV-

Marcus watched with wide eyes as the two Britons frolicked and had done something, in front of him. It was like he wasn't even there! The predatory look that Cian had subjected his slave to scorched his insides, making him squirm as they walked up, chatting amicably.

"Have your fun?" He inquired sourly, rubbing his knee as it throbbed. Cian's green eyes narrowed as they locked onto his knee.

"Why didn't you say anything?" The normally warm voice was now chilly. "It's infected, you idiot! Do you want to die on this quest? Esca, my bag, please?" By turns the Mage was quietly furious and loudly raging. "You're lucky I've a good knowledge of herbs, fool. It is pure folly that could kill you slowly and painfully!" He pulled off the bandage, exposing the yellow and red, quite swollen wound. "A stick, Esca." The stick was produced, and handed over. "You, bite down on it. We don't want the Seal hunting us down; even if we haven't done anything yet and are not even on their land." A wave of Cian's hand cleared away the pus and crusts that had started to form. That hurt like a bitch and Marcus bit down on the stick, his scream muffled. "I am sorry, Marcus." Cool fingers carded through his sweaty hair and he looked up to see his slave doing it, soothing him enough into relaxing. Cian packed pulped herbs into his wound and appeared to conjure clean bandages. The method was far different and supported his knee while allowing the wound to breathe. "You can spit out the stick now. I apologize for not paying attention to it sooner. There will be a large scar, but you won't be limping anymore." There was genuine contriteness in the expressive green eyes.

"Thank you. The healer said otherwise." That brought a smile from Cian.

"Yes, well, he didn't have access to a wizard who happens to be rather good at healing."

After tending to his wound (daily now, as Cian insisted upon seeing it), they ate what they caught and travelled farther. He was beginning to think this quest foolish, Necromance following Cornix as they trotted from one village to the next. They found that when Cian offered his healing services, the information flowed out of grateful patients. One such lead had them going through a forest.

"I think she lied, Cian."

"No-Watch out!" With a terrifying whip of green fire, Cian caught a black blur that was headed straight for him. The Mage descended into rapid Briton, apparently cursing the thing out faster than even Esca could keep up.

-PoV-

The thing turned out to be a Ninth deserter called Guern. Cian watched him warily, his magic crackling about him as the man explained to Marcus. Esca looked like he knew the outcome was different.

"Esca, do not lie to Marcus. He has suffered enough." He said heavily in Gaelic, understanding how Marcus felt.

"My father did not survive... But my Uncle did. Your father went down last. He was fighting until he died on a Seal spear." Tears skimmed the steel-grey, not falling due to his pride in the presence of a fellow Roman, if Guern could be called such. After Guern left, the tears spilled as Marcus faced away from them to stare blankly at the forest. Cian wrapped his arms around Marcus's waist, silently offering comfort to the distraught Roman.

"Thank you. I would have hurt him otherwise." Cian chuckled softly as he buried his face between the broad, taunt shoulders.

"Am I your sounding-board?" He teased gently, snuggling further into Marcus as he relaxed.

"Yes. You seem to be able to calm mine and Esca's temper. Why is that?" He laughed this time, shaking his head.

"Magis secret; not telling. Why do I get the feeling that if I wasn't here, you two'd be in big trouble?"

"Probably because we would have been." Of course, it was that Potter-troublemaking luck that hit the moment after Marcus said that. A blue-fletched arrow stabbed into the ground next to them. Cian silently and wandlessly cast the Translation and Speech Charms right before the Seal came into their camp.

"You are on Seal land; what purpose brings you amongst us?" He huffed and straightened his cloak, checking to make sure his face wasn't visible as he pulled the tough guy routine.

"Hmph. Rude, are we? I thought a trade of skills would be welcome. Apparently not."

"You are?"

"I am of the Magis Clan. If you do not wish for a trading of skills, we will leave your land." Cian answered, his inner Marauder warning his that he had to get this right the first time around.

"And the others?"

"Chieftan of the Brigantes and my assistant."

"Acceptable. What skills do you wish to impart?" The Seal leader had fallen for it; hook, line, and sinker.

"Healing techniques and a new way to sharpen your spears."

"Willingly given?"

"Again, most rude. Brigantes, perhaps we should take our skill elsewhere." Esca had caught on, as had Marcus.

"Indeed, Magis. We would be most welcome amongst my own Clan." Marcus folded his arms and managed to look intimidating as he stood straight.

"I apologize, Magis and Brigantes. You are welcome in my father's tent. Will you be participating in our warrior run?"

"We will join; on a condition."

"It is?"

"My assistant is to be left alone. He is still a warrior despite his wound and will reply in kind."

"Is he mute?"

"No. He merely remains silent as a warming for those who wish to renege on my condition."

"Fair enough."

-PoV-

Marcus watched and kept quiet as he now understood exactly what they were saying all of a sudden. He suspected Cian of allowing him to play along as the strong, silent warrior assistant. He watched as Cian beat the warriors easliy, allowing him time to limp around the camp, a brooding mask in place for those who dared to look him in the eye. Marcus finally found it; it was covered in heathen symbols and feathers.

"It's a prize won from the bastard Romans." One of the women cheerfully informed him, interest in her dull brown eyes. He was not to be swayed by anything other than bright green; which was a shocking fact. When had Cian gone from mere annoyance to potential lover? Was it when he tended his wounds? When he protected him from the hostile glares of the Seal? He spoke softly, almost failing to keep the sneer out of his voice.

"As opposed to insulting my friends?" Her eyes widened to an unpleasant degree and he turned away from her.

"You are not interested in a roll in the grass? You should say so, Magis assistant." She pouted with what could have been an attractive moue had he liked women anymore. "We could move it to my bedding?"

"No."

"No?" He folded his arms and deliberately stared at the Eagle. "Tell me, is he as flexible as he looks?" Marcus whipped around, a growl escaping his throat. His knee protested the rough movement, but he was defending Cian, who would most likely fix it.

"You will not speak of my friend that way, woman! Making assumptions when you do not get what you want; it only exacerbates the problem!" He snarled, beyond incensed at her insinuating tone. His tone dropped to nearly conversational, then threatened her quietly as he looked back towards the symbol of the Ninth. "He is my Healer and a good friend. Speak of him again, woman, and you'll find out exactly why I was retired."

"Maelgwyn, what have I told you about your knee?" Cian's voice brought release of the tension Marcus had known he was feeling.

"That bitch was insulting you, Cian." He said lowly as the Mage pulled apart the knee bandage, cleaning it out and packing it with soft moss before rewrapping it.

"I know. I honestly don't care. I'm used ta it."

Ending A/N: I finally got back my Esca/Harry/Marcus Muses! They're co-operating with me for the first time in ages and ages. Whoot! Hope it's good, Wizardsgirl!