“Felix?” Tierney asked, swallowing hard. Proculus nodded. Tierney nodded in reply and turned back to her sister. Proculus signaled for the soldiers to leave the room so the young woman could have her moment with her sister.
It was a somber day; clouds casting a shadow as if the Fates sought to emphasize the sadness. A freshly dug grave dominated the scene. A small group of legionaries stood on either side. Proculus, along with the Centurions and Options, were at the head of the grave. Diana stood next to her cousin, shroud in mourning garb. It was at her request that Proculus and his men attend. Kiana had sinned greatly, but to Diana she had made things right in the end. She had sacrificed her own life trying to save that of Felix. The young legionary lay upright on a litter hastily constructed by his mates. His wounds were still heavily bandaged, but there was a trace of color returning to his face. Artorius sat next to him, his injured leg propped up on a stump in front of him. He kept looking over at Diana, but she appeared to not notice him. Instead her eyes were fixed on the grave that would soon hold the remains of the girl she had so desperately tried to save.
A Gallic holy man walked at the head of the procession that made its way to the grave. Kiana’s father walked next to the man, his servants carrying the shrouded body of his daughter. His slaves carried her, for he would not allow Roman soldiers to touch his beloved child. Not surprisingly, Tierney was behind the procession, a good ten feet behind the body. Her father blamed her for Kiana’s death, and she was not worthy to walk beside him. As the body was carried to the open grave, Tierney made one last gesture to appeal to her father. But before she could say a word, he raised his hand quickly, almost striking her with the back of it. She then turned and walked away as her sister was lowered into the ground.
As she walked away from the grave, Tierney turned and for the first time since arriving at the estate she noticed Legionary Felix. The young soldier gazed at her, his own eyes filled with regret. Even with the bandages, Tierney could still gauge the severity of his wounds. His face was pale, sweat forming on his brow. He should not have been moved from his room, but he insisted on saying farewell to the girl who he had loved like a sister.
Felix then reached a hand out to Tierney. At first she started to shake her head, but then when she looked back at her father once more, Tierney realized the significance of the legionary’s gesture. She slowly walked over to him and took his hand in hers. She squeezed it affectionately, her eyes filling with tears as the holy man started to recite some verses from a tomb he carried with him. It was an ancient tongue that he spoke and only Tierney, her father, and a couple of legionaries who were of Gallic ancestry could understand. Even their servants could not make out the words. Tierney repeated each verse to Felix.
Gods of the earth
Welcome your daughter as she greets you on her final journey
Gods of the earth
Guide your child home
Sequana and Grannus, heal the hearts of those who loved her
As Aveta brought this child into the world, now may Nantosuelta embrace her in death
Gods of the earth
To you we return Kiana
Tierney shuddered as she recounted the final verse. Felix clutched her hand tightly. The holy man then threw some dirt into the grave, turned slowly, and walked away. Kiana’s father followed, not once looking back at his other daughter that he had now fully abandoned. The Romans started to disperse, some of the legionaries uncomfortable with having to witness a barbaric death ritual. There were others, though, who had come from similar ancestral backgrounds as Kiana and her family; and though they were Roman citizens who worshipped the Pantheon, they understood and respected the traditions of their distant kinsmen. A legionary stood at each corner of the Felix’s litter and they lifted their brother up, taking him back to his quarters.
“Stay with me, Tierney,” he whispered his voice hoarse. The young woman smiled and stroked his head gently.
“I promise, I will never leave you,” she said as she kissed him on the lips.
“Nice one, Felix,” one of his companions said as they carried him away. “Now you bloody well better survive that little scratch of yours!” Tierney laughed at the soldier’s remark and walked beside the litter, her hand never letting go of Felix’s.
Artorius watched as everyone left. With the exception of the slaves who were filling in the grave, only he and Diana remained. He felt himself envying young Felix. The lad had been through unspeakable trauma, and yet now he had found perhaps the greatest prize there was. Far from placing blame on him for Kiana’s death, Tierney embraced the young legionary who nearly gave his own life trying to save her. The bond between them was now unshakable. And while Tierney may no longer have been a noblewoman, such a status had only served to create a barrier between her and Felix. What Felix now had was a companion who loved him; who would stay with him for the rest of their lives, waiting for the day that Rome would allow their union to be made official. It would be a long wait, one predicated by either Felix’s rise to Centurion or else his retirement from the legions. It mattered not, for Tierney would still be by his side. They were both only twenty years of age, and yet it was as if they had grown up together.
“Are you alright, Sergeant?” Diana’s voice startled him from his thoughts. He quickly nodded and sought to compose himself.
“Yes, thank you,” he replied. “Sad affair, really.”
“Quite,” Diana said as she quickly walked away from him. He let out an audible sigh. Diana’s emotions seemed to go from affectionate to cold at every shifting of the winds and he could not figure her out. He guessed that men and women were deliberately designed that way; as if the gods were playing a joke on them by making them inseparable and yet a complete mystery to each other.
He looked back to where the slaves were quietly filling the grave with dirt and he was suddenly uncomfortable. He pulled himself up with his crutch and turned back towards the estate. He stopped, realizing he did not want to go back, even as a cool breath hit him in the face, making him shudder. Though it would be foolish to overexert his injured leg, he decided to take a walk down to the river and let his thoughts settle. He knew the only way to figure out Diana was to approach her with the same determination he used in all other aspects of his life.
He had much going for him in his life; he was alive, on his way to recovery, and had been recognized by his Cohort Commander. And yet, in spite of all the good in his life, he felt hollow and lost inside. It was an emptiness that had consumed him for some time and he knew not if it would ever leave him. He gazed up at the clouds as he hobbled down the dirt road, not caring if anyone knew where he was going or not. Like the time he had been there before when under mental duress, the skies were dark, the wind blowing gently, but no rain fell.
Chapter XIX: Revelations
Diana looked down the blade of the knife. It was honed razor sharp, as always. She hefted it in the palm of her hand. It was a standard issue legionary dagger, given to her by her cousin, Proculus, years before. Though used by many soldiers as a tool, it served as a valuable sidearm as well. For Diana it was perfect; small enough to hide, yet lethal.
Artorius stepped into the stables where Diana was examining her weapon. He was awestruck once again when he saw her. She wore a loose-fitting shirt and riding breaches, not unlike those worn by Gallic women. Her breaches were cut off at mid-thigh, which drew his attention immediately. Her legs were well defined with muscle, though still looked soft to the touch. Her arms were similarly shaped, and her chest and shoulders looked strong. In short, she exuded both elegance and power. He breathed a deep sigh to himself.