It was near midnight. The others decided to rest again and Obran volunteered to keep watch again; Beqs offered to join him but Obran insisted he rest after his ordeal.
“I was a soldier once too, you know. It’s important to rest when you can,” Obran told him.
“I’ve heard of you sir, all that you accomplished. It's an honor to meet you,” Beqs said.
“Thanks soldier, just be careful when you get back north,” Obran said.
Beqs could not have been older than fifteen, the minimum age for gremlin soldiers. I hope he has a good officers, Obran thought.
The rest of them tried to sleep after Tori gave water to the horses and found them some pasture.
"I don’t think I need to tell you to be careful again but... be careful," Tori said as she lay down.
She slept or tried to while Obran kept watch; they turned off all the torches and braved the cold night. Obran wondered what was going on in the north? Is Roma under attack? The legions Roma had should be enough to handle orcs, even from all the Alps but it would be costly. He decided to worry about it later, but it was yet another reason for Tori to leave Italia as quickly as possible.
The rest of the night was quiet. No other scouts or anyone for that matter passed by. He woke them at dawn and they all ate together— Beqs like everyone else even enjoyed the fae food. Afterwards, Tori said goodbye to Agrippa, thanking him for believing in her and helping Gaius and Obran. She also wished the two legionnaires success and a long live.
“I hope you get home safe, your highness,” Agrippa said and nodded at Obran. “Good luck to both of you.”
Gaius and Agrippa walked ahead together, discussing some things in private.
“Sir, I hope you will come north when you finish your mission,” Beqs said.
“We’ll see Beqs…we’ll see…” Obran said. “Here take this.”
Obran quietly gave him the silver he’d found on the dead orc. He also told him to pick up the metal armor on their way west. It would fetch a good price or be made to suit Beqs.
“But sir, you killed the orc; It is your right to claim it all,” Beqs said.
“It’s okay, I want you to have it,” Obran said.
Obran couldn’t get over how much Beqs reminded him of his brother.
“Thank you, sir,” Beqs said.
“Legionnaire Paulus, be careful as well,” Obran said. “Don’t take unnecessary risks.”
“Yes, sir,” the young soldier said.
Agrippa returned and packed one horse while Beqs and Paulus mounted another. Luckily none of the horses were afraid or wary of them. The horse Obran rode the night before even approached him that morning, unprompted, and he decided to keep it.
“He likes you so you’ll have to name it,” Tori said. “Your first horse should be special.”
It was the tall, black horse used by the orc commander. The largest and in the best condition of the three.
“We’ll technically the horse is the property of The Praetorian Guard. I am praetorian after all and I am not sure of their policy on war booty,” Obran said.
“I’m sure he won’t be missed,” Tori said.
“Hmm, okay, I'll think of name then,” Obran said.
Agrippa, Beqs, and Paulus left shortly afterwards, riding north. Gaius mounted Obran’s horse and Obran and Tori sat in front of him. At least, Tori and Obran were both light and Gaius did not wear armor, so together they were not much heavier than a heavily armored orc.
They galloped down the mountain trail. After studying their map, Gaius said they would reach the southern road to Genoa by midday, and a few hours later reach the city.
“You both have to know the dwarven section is fairly autonomous. They handle all the shipping and trade into Genoa. Since they pay their taxes and run things smoothly and keep out pirates my father has never interfered with their affairs,” Gaius said.
“Even with Armenus there, I doubt the dwarves will be welcoming to a gremlin,” Obran said.
“But Armenus expects you and he can handle his men, at least when he’s not drunk...” Tori said.
“But I should enter the city alone and meet you both outside at the gremlin quarter. They could still be looking for me and Tori together,” Obran said.
“What? Are you sure?” Tori said.
“No, but it worked before,” Obran said.
“He’s right Tori, riding in together, the three of us will attract a lot of attention,” Gaius said.
"Okay," Tori said and Obran felt her arms wrap around him tightly.
They continued down the rough trail yet proceeded quickly since it hadn't rained. A few hours later, they stopped when they reached the main road south and ate the last of their supplies. Now they were just a few hours from Genoa and there was a steady stream of traffic headed to south. Just a few more hours with her, Obran thought.
“Obran, would you mind if I speak to Elissa alone,” Gaius said after they ate, sitting on the side of the road.
“Go right ahead,” Obran said. “I’ll take a look down the road.”
“We’ll join you soon,” Tori said.
Tori looked at his ears and shook her head. She didn’t want him to listen so Obran tried not to but as he left he heard Gaius ask her to stay again; he wasn't even trying to lower his voice. He added that they would work it all out and he would protect her; he asked Tori to marry him but she said she couldn’t marry him only for his protection and without her father or the KIng's consent. She also said many Romans who would never accept a Carthiginian in the royal family and that it would place him in danger. Obran felt guilty and soon stopped listening, hoping Tori would do the right thing.
He waited down the road and nearly half an hour later Gaius and Tori rode up on horseback. Tori helped him up and they all rode quietly until they could see the walls of Genoa. Outside the city Obran and Tori got off their horse.
“So we’ll meet outside the dwarven quarter in about an hour, take care not to be followed,” Obran said.
“Okay, don’t tarry, please,” Tori said.
“I’ll warn the guards not to bother any non-humans, Obran,” Gaius said.
“No, you just call attention to me and you are not even in uniform, your highness; the guards might not like being ordered around,” Obran said.
“We’ll see then,” Gaius said.
“I know there are more gremlins and gnomes up north but be careful. I always say that but I can’t help it,” Tori said.
Tori hugged him.
“I won’t leave without saying goodbye,” she whispered.
“I wouldn’t let you,” he whispered back.
There were tears in her eyes ; Gaius helped her back on the horse.
They galloped ahead and Obran walked slowly behind them on the road. He’d heard from a few gremlin traders that Genoa was a haven for profiteers, smugglers, and until recently, slavers. It didn't matter he wouldn't stay long.
Near the gate, Obran took off his cloak, revealing his gladius and chainmail armor as well as the crossbow on his back. A few travelers gave him a double look, no doubt thinking he was joining up to fight the orcs.
At the gate the ruse worked well and a few travelers even let him pass ahead of them.
“Are you a soldier, gremlin? I hope you didn’t just find those,” a gate guard said, looking him up and down.
“I fought in the wars sir and many Carthaginians felt my blade and bolts,” Obran said boastfully.
“Good, fight well, strength and honor soldier,” the guard said.
Obran felt strange boasting; still, he saluted and quickly entered the bustling city. The city of Genoa reminded him of Arretium. The tenements and temples were smaller but there were more taverns and gambling parlors. He got a few unfriendly look from the dwarves yet everyone seemed to mind their business, probably a long held habit. The city had been occupied at some point by Celts, Greeks, Etruscans, Romans, before being razed by the Carthaginians and finally liberated by dark elves. Now it had been rebuilt and was teeming with trade.
Obran passed by the main market and saw all types of exotic animals, spices, and garments, only rivaled by the markets of Roma. There he asked about the dwarven quarter. A trader pointed him in the right direction and he continued to the docks. He soon reach a dwarven arch which had iron bars and its set of dwarven guards. It's where he expected to find Gaius and Tori. But no one was there, instead the dwarven guards at the gate gave him a sharp look as if he were expected.
“What are you up to in that getup gremlin,” a dwarf guard said.
There were two of them, both with long beards and long axes. One had a full head of white hair and the other was bald. They both wore leather vests which showed their thick, muscular arms.
Have they already gone inside?
“I have business in the dwarven quarter,” Obran said. “I’ve been invited.”
“What business gremlin and who invited you,” the bald dwarf said.
“Ask your commander. Tell him his gremlin friend is here from Roma, along with his cargo,” Obran said.
“You're an impudent one,” the bald guard said.
“Wait here gremlin,” the other guard said.
The dwarf walked away, leaving his bald companion behind the large iron gate. The whole bay was sectioned off. But even from here he could see dwarven ships docked by the pier. Most of the ships were long and thin, with one lone sail and a dragon head at their front—dwarven ships were built for speed and to attack coastal towns or forts. But Obran caught no sight of Tori or Gaius anywhere; still, they could be inside one of the several buildings on the dock.
The white haired dwarf returned after a minutes with two more companions.
“We thought you were dead,” a dwarf said, one he'd seen at the Kings ball.
He motioned to the others to open the gate.
“Get in quickly,” he said. "In case you are seen. Armenus and the others are inside."
Obran followed him inside now escorted by four dwarves, each with a big axes and bulging muscles.
“But we’ll need those weapons of yours, gremlin,” the dwarf said.
The four dwarves stopped and tightly gripped their axes. Something was wrong but what could he do. Four hardened dwarves in close range. He might kill one, maybe two, but already he heard the gate lock. He’d chosen his fate coming in, chosen it by escorting Tori here, now there nothing to do but to hope for the best. He took off his gladius and crossbow and handed them all the dagger he carried. They would probably search him so no point in hiding them, besides he’d still have his claws and teeth.
“Quite a cache you’ve got there,” the dwarf he had recognized said. “You are an assassins, right...hmm, no such thing as a dwarf assassin; we come at you directly, with our axes raised high.”
“They’d need to be high for you to reach the neck of some,” Obran said.
The dwarf squinted, not sure if he was being insulted. His companion motioned Obran to raise him arms then patted him down. Are these dwarves loyal to Armenus?
“Armenus was more welcoming back in the palace; I never caught your name,” Obran said.
Follow me gremlin,” the dwarf answered.
They walked through the docks. It smelled of garum and salty air. Gulls clucked overhead and waves gently crashed against the boats. He counted more than a dozen ships of differing sizes and configurations bobbing in the surf. Some just arriving and being unloaded, others preparing to leave. The five of them walked to a large building at the end of the boarded walkway. Obran felt as if he were being led to an execution. The head dwarf opened the front door and motioned Obran to enter.228Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMo56dz17pY
