Prologue 1
Othello stood on the hill
over looking the carnage that had taken place here on the hill slope. His
Legion of five thousand legionaries had battled the three odd thousand
barbarians from the across the borders. It was a bitter sweet victory, as he
lost a good friend there, Camus; his Praefectus Pilus. He saw then his trusted
Centurion approaching him.
"What news you bring to
me from the woods?" Othello asked Iago. The former stood there in his robe
as the Legatus; the large rectangle cloak named the paludamentum pinned to the
left shoulder, and drapped around the arm, covered his cuirass armor of bronze
with the design of the muscles etched on it. His shoes were the adorned with
the lion's head while in his hand, was the short sword of his; the parazonium
with its hilt carved to resembled the leaping lion on its prey. He was not
wearing his helmet but allowed his short curled hair to be bathed by the
afternoon sun. It also revealed his dark mask that covered part of his face on
the left side, covering an old battle scar when a tribe warrior had burned his
face when he was a Centurion. He had killed that warrior with his gladius but
the wound left a permanent scar. He was partially blind in the left eye with
his cheek wrinkled. He was told with his dark mask; he looked more menacing and
was even given a nicknamed, the Dark Legatus.
"I bring good news,
Legatus." Iago removed his helmet; the Hellenistic designed piece with the
crest of the Legion.
"We had attacked their
supply train making their escape from the battlefield." Iago reported in.
"The wagons are being towed to our Armicustos."
"Good work there,
Iago." Othello praised his friend. Then he looked at Cassio. "You
have much to learned from him."
Cassio laughed at the
statement. Truly he had much to learned from Iago, like how to steal or plunder
from the defeated and then re-sell the stocks at the dark alleys. He knew much
of Iago, but he kept his silence as that was not the legion concerned just yet.
He did not followed the Legatus back but rode out in a circle before he back
tracked to the woods. He rode in a slow trot to viewed the clearing of the dead
by the slaves or prisoners while they were guarded by the Legionaries. He
dismounted and proceeded on foot to locate the wagons. He found them in the
clearing behind the trees; there were twenty of the, but they had half loads
each. He walked up to the Armicustos.
"Tell me, are those the
loads of capture from the enemies?" Cassio asked.
"Aye, Centurion."
The junior administrator replied. He was Cassio informer within the ranks.
"We were about to carry them back to the Fort."
"I was told that we had
some gold among it." Cassio asked, while he smiled at the officer. He also
handed over a silver piece. The other smiled flashing the broken teeth.
"Aye, Centurion. They
were taken away by the other wagons." The man told him. "Under the
purview of Centurion Iago. I could not do anything. I am just the
Armicustos."
Cassio nodded and then walked
back to his horse. He knew the man lied. He worked for whoever pays him, and he
got his share of the gold too. Now Cassio knew who are the ones to keep an eye
on when he gets promoted.
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