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<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;line-height:normal"><font size="5">Here is the next part of my Roman story. Sorry for the delay. All previous parts are available on my DA site: https://www.deviantart.com/captfox/gallery/73691223/roman-story</font></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;line-height:normal"><font size="5"><br>
</font></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;line-height:normal"><font size="5">We left Bitt wounded after a fight.</font></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;line-height:normal"><font size="5"><br>
</font></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;line-height:normal"><font size="5">Chris</font></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;line-height:normal"><font size="5">The Lurking Fox<br>
</font></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;line-height:normal"><font size="5"><br>
</font></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;line-height:normal"><br>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;line-height:normal"><br>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;line-height:normal"><br>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;line-height:normal"><font size="2">*********************</font></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;line-height:normal"><br>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;line-height:normal"><br>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;line-height:normal"><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Bitt woke up in the Valetudinarium – the
hospital. The bed he was in was in a cool part of the building. It was a large
room with beds lining the walls. He seemed to be the only patient there. A
slight breeze drifted through the open doorway bringing the soft sounds of
people to him.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;line-height:normal"> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;line-height:normal"><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>“Well good morning!” Tossius said
cheerfully. “How are you feeling you lazy fox?” The lion was standing in the
doorway.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;line-height:normal"> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;line-height:normal"><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>“Tossius!” Bitt said cheerfully. “Good to
see you. I’m feeling stiff and my side hurts,” he said and touched his bandaged
left side.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;line-height:normal"> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;line-height:normal"><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun:yes">
</span>“You’re lucky it didn’t go any deeper,” the lion said calmly.</div>
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;line-height:normal"><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>The fox nodded in agreement. “Yes, but it
still hurts.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;line-height:normal"> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;line-height:normal"><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>“The pain will subside with time,” was the
lion’s answer. He patted the fox carefully on the back. “You did well. Like a
real Legionnaire.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;line-height:normal"> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;line-height:normal"><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>“Thank you,” Bitt said and nodded his head.
“That means a lot to me coming from a veteran like you.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;line-height:normal"> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;line-height:normal"><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>“Brought you a gift!” Tossius said and held
out his hand.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;line-height:normal"> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;line-height:normal"><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Bitt reached into the lion’s hand and found
himself holding an arrowhead. “This the one they took out of me?”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;line-height:normal"> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;line-height:normal"><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>“It is!” Tossius responded. “Thought you’d
like to keep it as a memento.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;line-height:normal"> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;line-height:normal"><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Bitt looked at the arrowhead. It was of iron
and clearly well made. “Yes. I’d like that.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;line-height:normal"> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;line-height:normal"> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;line-height:normal">*******************</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;line-height:normal"> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;line-height:normal"> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;line-height:normal"><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Bitt was assigned to the Valetudinarium for
several days. His wounds had to be cleaned and the bandages changed daily but
he wasn’t bed bound so he was allowed to sleep in his own bed back in the
barracks. Until the wounds healed he couldn’t do anything strenuous. Lest he
reopen the wounds. This left him with a lot of free time as there was only so
many duties in the legion that didn’t involve using his arm.</div>
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;line-height:normal"><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>The worst part wasn’t the wound in his arm.
That was fairly simple. It was the one in his side that was the problem. The
arrow had gone deep and torn flesh and muscle. It seemed that even the simplest
movement would send pain lancing through his body. But there were some duties
that required no real exercise.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;line-height:normal"> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;line-height:normal"><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>“Cook?” Bitt asked. Incredulously.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;line-height:normal"> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;line-height:normal"><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>“Yes,” the Decanus said firmly. In his hand
was a large wooden spoon. Of the type used for cooking. The two were standing
in the room they shared with the rest of the Contubernium. “You can prepare the
meals for those of us who have to take up the work you can’t do.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;line-height:normal"> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;line-height:normal"><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>“Me cook?” Bitt looked at the spoon as if he
expected it to sprout tentacles and go for his throat. “I’ve never cooked
anything.”</div>
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;line-height:normal"><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>“You never helped your mother in the kitchen
when you were young?” Vinius asked.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;line-height:normal"> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;line-height:normal"><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>“No,” Bitt answered. “Mom doesn’t cook. My
mother is . . “ he paused for a moment. “Important. Cooking isn’t part of her
clan duties.”</div>
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;line-height:normal"><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>“Well, they ARE part of yours. So now
you’ll learn. And try not to burn the bread like Laturicus did,” he pushed the
spoon towards the fox.</div>
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;line-height:normal"><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Bitt reluctantly took the spoon. Holding
with the tips of two fingers. “Can I get some lessons? Or at least some hints?”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;line-height:normal"> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;line-height:normal"><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Vinius pointed to the sack of beans and
vegetables. “Those go into a pot of boiling water till they are eatable.”</div>
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;line-height:normal"><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>The fox looked from pot to sacks and back at
the Decanus.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;line-height:normal"> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;line-height:normal"><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>“You’ve been watching and helping <a name="_Hlk504334607">Tossius</a>,” Vinius commented. “You will do fine.”</div>
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;line-height:normal"> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;line-height:normal">*******************</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;line-height:normal"> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;line-height:normal"> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;line-height:normal"><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Bitt watched as the rest of his unit left.
He looked at the fire and the various items of raw food scattered around it.
Cooking. Never had he actually done anything like it. He wasn’t afraid of it.
But he was High Clan, the Empire called that social class nobility. It was not
exactly a perfect description but it was close enough. That meant he never had
cooked or cleaned. It was done for him. When he was hungry someone brought him
food. When he was thirsty someone brought wine or water. When his clothes were
dirty, someone else took them and cleaned them. Brought them back clean and
folded nice.</div>
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;line-height:normal"><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>But it wasn’t as if he had a life of leisure
– just laying around being bored. He’d seen too many empire nobles who did just
that. His clan were firm believers in ‘With great power comes great
responsibility.’ For Bitt that meant learning how to fight, ride and defend the
clan from any attacker. He was given his first lesson at age eight and never
stopped for a decade. And when he wasn’t practicing with sword and spear he was
being tutored. Bitt could read and write seven languages. He was being groomed
to lead. To lead clan in peace and war. Most of his clan had expected him to
wind up fighting against the legion. That that he was IN a legion had upset
many people. His parting for the legion had not been pleasant with many people.
Few people understood his real reason for joining the legion.</div>
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;line-height:normal"> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;line-height:normal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt">*****************</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;line-height:normal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;line-height:normal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;line-height:normal"><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>They day passed quickly for the members of
Bitt’s contubernium. There was the daily drilling and marching, sentry duty and
a rest of the day spent cutting trees and clearing brush. It was with some
trepidation that they returned to their quarters to see how the fox had done
with their evening meal.</div>
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;line-height:normal"><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>The first thing they noticed when they
entered their quarters was the smell. The air was filled with the scent of food
cooking. They detected meat, spices and other things mixed together. Making
their way to the back of their quarters they found Bitt sitting by the fire.
There was a copper pot on the fire and bubbling slowly.</div>
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;line-height:normal"><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Bitt took a bowl and filled it with a ladle
full of liquid from the pot. “Welcome.” He handed the bowl to Vinius.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;line-height:normal"> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;line-height:normal"><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>“What is it?” The canine asked nervously as
he took it. The bowl was filled with a brown liquid in which was floating bits
of meat, vegetables and beans. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;line-height:normal"> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;line-height:normal"><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>“Lamb stew,” the fox answered proudly.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;line-height:normal"> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;line-height:normal"><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>The legionnaire took a spoonful of the stew
and tasted it carefully.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;line-height:normal"> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;line-height:normal"><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Bitt leaned forward. “Well? How does it
taste?”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;line-height:normal"> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;line-height:normal"><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>“Not bad!” Came the answer.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;line-height:normal"> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;line-height:normal"><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>“Tastes good!” A second added. “Who helped
you?”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;line-height:normal"> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;line-height:normal"><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>“You don’t believe I did it myself?” Bitt
asked.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;line-height:normal"> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;line-height:normal"><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>“No,” the group answered in unison.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;line-height:normal"> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;line-height:normal"><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>The fox shook his head and his tail dropped
down and his ears drooped. “I got help from Kiana. The cook who works for the
centurion’s family.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;line-height:normal"> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;line-height:normal"><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>The whole group laughed.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;line-height:normal"> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;line-height:normal"><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>“I did help,” the fox offered in way of
explanation.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;line-height:normal"> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;line-height:normal"><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>After everything was cleaned up from dinner
Vinius assembled the whole contubernium.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;line-height:normal"> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;line-height:normal"><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>“In honor of your first combat,” the hound
said with great earnestness. “For wetting your blade you are awarded the bronze
Phalerae.” With that he extended his hand. In it was the size of the palm of
his hand and had the image of a roaring lion on it.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;line-height:normal"> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;line-height:normal"><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>“For being wounded in combat,” the decanus
said. “You have earned another.” The second disk he handed him was of brass and
had the image of a sword and two drops of blood. One above the blade, the other
below it.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;line-height:normal"> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;line-height:normal"><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Bitt took the two disks tenderly. This was a
great moment. He was no longer a tiros but was now a fully blooded Legionnaire.
An equal to the others. And the second showed he had done well and had not
dishonored family, clan or himself.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;line-height:normal"> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;line-height:normal"><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>“Thank you,” he managed to say.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;line-height:normal"> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;line-height:normal"><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>The badges would be worn on a harness on his
chest, over his armor during parades and special occasions.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;line-height:normal"> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;line-height:normal"><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Cups were taken down from a shelf and passed
around. A jug of fine wine came out from a locked chest and the cups filled.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;line-height:normal"> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;line-height:normal"><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Vinius held up his cup. “To Bitt. Who has
finally seen the elephant.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;line-height:normal"> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;line-height:normal"><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Bitt sipped the wine and found it was pretty
potent stuff.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;line-height:normal"> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;line-height:normal"><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>“Be careful,” Rolozius joked. “Drink too
much of that and you will be seeing elephants.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;line-height:normal"> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;line-height:normal"> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;line-height:normal">***************</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;line-height:normal"> </div>
</div>