They continued on the road to Remus with Katrina herding her sheep besides their carriage. Obran peeked out from behind the curtain to see if she looked dangerous but Katrina appeared to be just a young, simple shepherdess, who like Mara said, was rather pretty. She had wheat colored hair and was about Tori’s age and wore a long white tunic that went down to her knees—it wasn’t a typical Roman style and Obran guessed she was of Celtic descent. She carried a staff with a curved end and also had a sling at her waist. Her flock was small, only about half a dozen sheep, along with a large, brown haired dog that instantly obeyed all her commands and whistles.
“Katrina, may I ask how you became a shepherd? It’s not a vocation usually taken by women,” Zico asked.
“I kind of fell into it; it's a long story,” Katrina said. “So are you both traders?”
“Yes and sometimes I am a cook too,” Zico said.
“Yeah, I study too,” Tomas said.
Obran rolled his eyes. Didn’t they realize the need for secrecy. He’d already whispered to his brother, Tori, and Mara to keep as quiet as possible.
“May I know your names? You both have me at a disadvantage,” Katrina said.
“My name is Tomas,” Tomas said.
Obran wanted to whack Tomas on the head or throw him out a window.
“My name is Mathew,” Zico said.
“It is a pleasure to meet you both,” Katrina said. “I work as a shepherdess for an abbey in Remus. We are followers of the way—of the martyr. I hope that doesn’t offend either of you but I like to be open and direct about it since we are allowed to worship freely now.”
“I’m a follower of the martyr as well,” Zico said.
“Yeah, it’s no problem; I’m always open to learning new things,” Tomas said.
“I’m glad, brothers. You both should visit the abbey if you come to Remus,” Katria said.
“We’ll try if we can, thank you for the invitation, Katrina,” Zico said.
“Yeah, I’d love a tour,” Tomas said.
Tori, Mara, and Erkin had joined Obran in peeking out the curtain.
“Are you staring at her?” Tori asked Obran.
“No...just looking to see if there is any danger,” Obran.
“She looks dangerous alright,” Mara said.
Katrina continued her story, “You might not believe it but I when I was a little girl I dreamed of becoming a Vestal Virgin and I even drew lots to join them when a high priestess came north looking for suitable candidates to join their order. A lot of patrician noble women no longer view it as a desirable choice these days. But I wasn’t selected. Years later I joined the followers of the way. My family are Celts, one of the last tribes in Italy conquered by the Romans decades ago. So after joining the followers I made a pilgrimage to the east. I planned to go back north afterwards but the war prevented it and I only got as far as Remus. That’s when I joined the abbey. I worked in the soup kitchen for a time and wanted to become a monk but women are not allowed in the order so I prayed for the martyr to show me the way. The next day I found a shepherd dog on the streets of Remus. His old master had died and he wouldn’t follow a new one but he took to me right away, followed all my commands. Soon the abbey inherited some sheep from a devout patron. They were thinking of selling them for slaughter but I convinced them to let me herd them for the wool, since I make clothes as well. I have some relatives who are shepherds and knew a bit and kind of faked the rest.”
“I thought it might be a family profession. You seem quite natural at it,” Zico said. “My family has worked in trade for many generations.”
“And you Tomas, how long have you been a trader?” Katrina said.
“Uhm, I just started working with Zico. I’m learning the trade,” Tomas said.
“Have you gotten much work escorting travelers?” Zico said.
“From time to time. In the winter wolves often come down from the Apennines and attack travelers and they’ve been bolder this year,’ Katrina said.
“We’ll be careful,” Tomas said.
“May I ask—what did you all trade in Roma?” Katrina said.
“Just some high end wine and spices, and garum too,” Zico.
“No shortage of demand in the capital for that,” Katrina said.
“Is that your campsite?” Tomas interrupted.
There was a small clearing ahead, off the road where a tent was pitched and a fire had been burning.
“Yes, I’ll go ahead and get some milk and cheese for you,” Katrina said.
Katrina whistled and tapped her staff on the ground. Her dog moved the flock off the road towards the campsite. Up the road Obran saw a small village with a couple inns. This must be a rest area between Remus and Roma, Obran thought. The sun was setting so Obran thought they might as well make camp nearby.
“Do you want to see what else I have to sell,” Katrina called out.
“I’ll go,” Tomas whispered. “I’ll get the cheese and milk, and tell her we will ride ahead to arrive at Remus early tomorrow.”
“Be generous when you pay her,” Obran whispered.
“Okay,” Tomas said.
Tomas walked towards her encampment.
“When he gets back we’ll set up camp a bit further down the road,” Obran said. “And at least we’ll have some fresh cheese tonight.”
***
About an hour later the six of them sat around a campfire and Obran prepared the weeds and vegetables he ‘d brought while the rest of them snacked on cheese, bread, and milk. Obran made his stew quickly—nothing fancy; he didn’t want to have the fire on at night and it would be best to sleep and wake early to get to Remus before midday. But since it was a cool night they all kept their cloak and hoods on and wrapped themselves in the blankets Collatinus had left them.
“We’ll split up before we enter the city,” Obran said.
They had discussed it before they left Roma, all the details with Collatinus and Armenus as well. Tori, Tomas, and Zico would enter together and stay in the same inn with the centurions and Armenus would send word once he reached the city. Obran would help Erkin find a safe place to stay before helping to guard Tori as well, all the while Mara would scout the city for potential danger.
After they ate Mara did one last scouting mission before they slept, circling the whole area. There were plenty of camps, since they were near a village and not every traveler could afford an inn. The centurions camped at the other side of the village, a bit far, but still close enough to signal. Tori had invited them over but they said they would prefer to camp by themselves. Obran wondered if the thought of sharing a camp with gremlins, a gnome, and a fae bothered them but kept quiet.
Soon, Erkin, Tomas, Zico and Mara got in the wagon to sleep and Obran told them he would keep watch while they slept.
“I’ll keep watch with you for a while, okay,” Tori said.
Obran was about to tell her to sleep but remembered he might not have much time to be alone with her so they sat by the embers of the dying fire; Tori with a bow and a quiver of arrows by her side—she had insisted to Collatinus that she be provided with her preferred weapon.
“When we enter Remus stay close to Tomas, ok. Uhm...try to act like his wife as much as you can, like the humble wife of a young traveling merchant,” Obran said. That was the story they’d use until Obran and Tori left with Armenus and the other dwarves and the centurions.
“You think I act too much like a spoiled princess?” Tori teased.
“No. I don’t mean that. But you do stand out, Tori,” Obran said.
Tori looked embarrassed. Why is she shy? I’m sure all her life everyone has commented on her beauty, both in Roma and Carthagio.
“I’ll wear a bonnet and keep my hood up. I think we’ll be okay. With this blonde hair I hardly recognize myself,” Tori said. “...umh, Obran, do you think I’m pretty, I mean the way I look now?”
“...What? Uhm…” Obran said.
He was a bit surprised by the question.
“I mean...I just kind of assumed you saw me as just another human, that perhaps all humans are ugly to gremlins,” Tori said.
“Well, only sometimes,” Obran said and smiled. “But I imagined you saw me the same way.”
“No, I think your yellow eyes are pretty. They bring out your smile but why do you have sharp canine teeth if you mostly eat weeds?”
“Do you prefer it if I only eat flowers? I like weeds, they are tough and hardy, like us gremlins,” Obran said.
“Most human men prefer their women soft and gentle, like a gentle flower, maybe not weak, but in need of their help, like a rose that needs sun and water. But what are gremlin women like?”
“Fifis? They are tough and agile and full of guile when they need to be, but softness looks good on you Tori.” Obran said.
“Soft enough to save your life from two elves,” Tori teased back.
“How could I forget. Did you train to fight in Carthagio? I meant to ask you,” Obran said.
“Yes, I trained with The Sacred Band, along with my brothers and sister, ever since I was a child,” Tori said.
The Sacred Band was an elite unit of the Carthaginian army, consisting exclusively of the sons and daughters of noble Carthaginian citizens.
“Would you like to spar sometime,” Tori said.
Obran was about to answer when he heard a wolf call coming from the south, near the area where Katrina camped. He stood and quickly got up on the wagon, peering into the darkness. There were no wolves in sight but there were some hills to the west; he knew they could be hiding up there.
“What is it?” Tori said.
“I heard a wolf howl,” Obran said.
Tori notched an arrow into her bow. Obran had only heard one wolf, perhaps it was a lone male wolf or an exile. But if it was a pack they might attack Katrina’s sheep or other nearby goats and sheep.
“Should we get into the wagon?” Tori said.
“The wolf was far away but if I give the word make sure you get in the wagon as fast as you can,” Obran said.
“Yes sir Obran, as you command, but I can help you too,” Tori said, glancing at her bow.
“I know. Better yet, if I give the word get on top of the wagon; you could pick them off from up there,” Obran said.
Obran decided that if he heard another wolf howl he’d wake Mara and have her scout the area, though her night vision might not be as good as his. The horses had stirred too but Obran doubted they had picked up any scents at this range. Wolves did sometimes attack gremlins, but he knew it was rare for them to attack humans, especially if they were in a large group.
“If the wolf is alone I doubt he’ll bother us. But I’ll keep the fire lit just in case.”
“What about Katrina? She's out there by herself,” Tori said, a plea upon her face.
“Tori, she’s an experienced shepherd and also has a well trained dog,” Obran said. Corvus was a fierce large, fierce looking mut. Still, Tori peered south, trying to look past the other camp fires.
“But if she’s attacked we should go help; all the other herders nearby have been in pairs,” Tori said.
“Tori, you can’t afford to put yourself at risk,” Obran said.
Tori sat down.
“You are right,” Tori said. “It is her job and I’m sure Katrina can handle herself but if we hear more howls or see a pack we should go help her, agreed.”
Obran wanted to say that if there was a pack they should flee as quickly as they could.
“Okay. If we hear anything else we will go to her,” Obran said. “Now just rest. I’ll keep watch.”
Obran loaded his crossbow while Tori stretched out on a mat next to the fire. Tori must have been tired because she quickly fell asleep. One by one Obran saw the nearby camp fires go out and even the nearby inns soon went dark. But he didn’t hear or see anything else that night.237Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmwrq0hS68l
