The Kin

  ***

  As dawn spread its rosy light across the sky they surveyed the scene.All around the mound were piles of dried bones. Numbers were impossible to count, as many had fallen on top of each and become intermingled. Of the local men, only twelve had been killed and fewer than a hundred injured.

  Marius stared out across the desert trying to comprehend that it was only a week ago that they’d entered the city and it had been less than a month since they’d left Susa on their survey. It was supposed to have been a low-risk operation, light duties for two hardworking officers, but it had nearly been the death of them. He turned, hearing someone behind him. One of Nasir’s men was waiting for him; it was time to face what remained of Junius.

  Nasir and the other leaders were waiting for him.

  “Shall we?” Nasir said. “I have some water for him, if he requires it.”

  They removed the plank and pulled the door open. Inside, material was strewn around the chamber and Junius lay on his back in the furthest corner.

  Marius’s heart lifted, when his eyes adjusted to the gloom and he saw the way his friend was lying. His arm was flung out behind him with the other by his side, but his legs were bent at the knee, it was Junius’s usual sleeping position.

  “I think he may be all right,” he ventured to the others.

  Nasir nodded. “His skin seems darker. But there’s only one way to find out.” He walked over and stood beside him.

  “Please let me?” Marius said suddenly. “He is my friend.”

  Nasir smiled. “By all means, guilt is a wonderful thing. You tried to kill him, but in doing that you may have saved his life. I think after our conversation yesterday, the two of you are equal.”

  Nasir handed the bottle of water to Marius and clapped him on the arm as he walked away.

  “Good luck, my friend,” he added as he took his place with Calla and Korkute.

  Marius stood over Junius considering the best way to wake him, whilst the others waited patiently, understanding that this was an important moment for him.

  Eventually he crouched next to Junius and gently shook his shoulder.

  “Junius, it’s time to wake up.” He waited, holding his breath, but there was nothing, no response. Marius looked anxiously over at the three men.

  “I would need more than that to wake me after a heavy night. Try again,” Korkute told him. Nasir and Calla laughed in agreement.

  Marius sighed. He hadn’t wanted to do it like this, but, if it was the only way to wake him, then so be it, and at least he’d get to vent some of his anger.

  He shook the prone body with force and shouted close to his ear. “Junius, wake up, you lazy bastard. Your need to be a hero’s got us in shit again and I’m fed up of getting you out of it. You hear? Shift your good-for-nothing, idle, patrician arse and get moving.”

  To his relief, Junius groaned, then told him to “piss off” in no uncertain terms and turned over on his side.

  The three men laughed. They didn’t know the language, but could understand the sentiment.

  In response Marius got to his feet, and opened the water canister and poured a liberal amount down onto the naked man. Instantly Junius woke and sat up spitting out curses and expletives. He growled angrily at Marius and promised grisly retribution. The three locals laughed again. Furiously Junius turned to glare at them and fell silent. Confused, he turned back to Marius, his face fell, and abruptly he reached down to clutch the wound at his side, then he looked up clearly bewildered and Marius saw genuine terror and panic in his eyes.

  Marius crouched down and gently offered him the rest of the canister. “Have some water, it’ll help.”

  “Tell me what happened. I have to know,” Junius said ignoring the offer. “Please, Marius…” He stopped and turned to Nasir who was walking over.

  Nasir came to a halt and stared down at him. “Can you feel them?”

  Junius seemed confused at first by the question, then understanding flittered across his face and his eyes lost their focus. Eventually he spoke, but his voice was quiet and uncertain at first. “No… Yes… It’s faint. There aren’t many left.”

  Nasir nodded. “You did a good job of destroying them last night. Though I don’t believe that was your intention. Where are the ones from the caves? Where have they scattered to?”

  Junius gazed at Nasir, then his focus faded again and he closed his eyes. They were all surprised when he spoke after only a few heartbeats and with confident assurance. “In the caves by the lake you know as the mirror. They’re all there, Kin from all the dwellings in the area. There’re several caverns, some of which are very deep.”

  Nasir didn’t say anything, but remained watching Junius, who opened his eyes and stared back at him. Calla and Korkute shuffled their feet waiting for Nasir’s decision; eventually he glanced over to them and nodded. Then he turned his attention back to Junius.

  “You need to eat something and drink, then get dressed. You’ll ride with me today.” He glanced at Marius as if daring him to argue, then turned back to Junius. “Tonight we’ll be far away from here, but you’ll be in another chamber like this one. You’ll be bound, gagged and alone. Do you understand, Roman? It‘ll be like this for many nights, but eventually you’ll be allowed out.

  “If I find out that you’ve lied about the caves, I’ll kill you myself. You gave me your word and I gave mine. This is the proper agreement, the real test. What you told me before, we ignored. We knew that you’d tell the Kin everything that had passed between us. We hoped you would, banked on it even. We fulfilled our promise and some men died getting you away, now it’s your turn to keep your word and provide us with information that we can use. This way the Kin won’t hear of it, and we’ll be able to destroy them once and for all.”

  Junius looked at him and nodded. “I gave you my word as a Roman officer that everything I’ve told you is true. The others are in the caves to the east of here. I don’t know your name for them, but the Kin know them as the silver caverns. They’re scattered and seeking refuge in them before returning to the city. You can send your men and finish them.” He paused for a moment and his eyes lost their focus again. “They’re all that’s left.”

  Nasir nodded. “Thank you, this will be a test of our agreement. Your friend here tried to destroy you last night.” Nasir paused and glanced at Marius. Junius followed his gaze. “Though he really didn’t have much choice, and considering you nearly killed him the night before, I would say that it makes you fairly even.”

  He studied both of them for a moment then strolled towards the entrance, but before he got there, he turned back.

  “Remember the eyes, Marius,” Nasir said and walked out, followed by the other two men.

  “What does he mean?” Junius asked in the silence that followed.

  Marius stared after Nasir then crouched down and peered into his friend’s face. Despite the gloom, he realised to his surprised relief, that though the bemused eyes staring back at him weren’t the intense green they used to be, they were at least a warm and trusting brown.