***
Though it was still daylight the gate of the fort closed with a bang. Then two sentries hurried to hold it fast with a strong plank of wood. Marius watched with grim satisfaction. All the living residents of the settlement were now safely within the fort. Twelve people who were showing signs of Becoming were inside the cells, both men and women, in varying stages of transformation. Thankfully, only two seemed close to becoming full Kin. But to be safe, he’d ordered that they all be kept separately from each other and that no one was to approach any prisoner during the hours of darkness.
Marius nodded at the guards, who responded equally grimly. They knew not to let anyone in no matter what excuses were used. Apulium was to be cut off from the outside world and entry would only be allowed in daylight hours.
The rest of the legion had made a good start on the outer walls for the settlement; by tomorrow it was likely that they would be complete and the residents would be able to return to their homes, knowing that they were secure for the night and no Kin would be able to infiltrate and prey upon them. Now he had to report to the general and ask permission to take the first cohort up to Salinae. From there he would move out and destroy the Kin in their lairs during the daylight hours. Junius would know what he was planning and hopefully by then he would have left and taken any Kin who were willing to go with him to the east. Failing this he would have to face the consequences.
As he walked past the outbuilding containing the cells, Marius saw two young children chatting to the guards stationed outside. Something aroused his suspicion, so he decided to make a detour and find out what exactly was going on, as he’d set orders that no one was to go near the prisoners tonight.
They fell quiet as he approached and the two legionaries stood to attention. The children didn’t leave though, and watched Marius as he approached.
“How are the prisoners?” he asked coming to stand right in front of them.
“Quiet, sir,” the younger of the two guards replied.
“Have you been in there?”
“Not recently, sir. You told us not to.”
“Good,” Marius replied. “Did you see what happened to them today?”
Both men shook their heads. Marius sighed.
“Trust me, you’re lucky you didn’t. It’s a sight no one should witness. That’s why this building is out of bounds. The people in here are dangerous for the moment and ill. If we leave them alone they’ll recover, but we mustn’t go near them at night.”
“But our mother’s in there,” a shrill voice piped up. “We want to see her.”
Marius looked down at the two desperate faces. He shook his head. “You’ll have to wait until tomorrow morning now, I’m afraid. Is there anyone else who you can spend the night with?”
The older child, which he thought was female, but it was hard to tell as they were both wearing similar clothes with unkempt hair, stared at him, then nodded.
“Our father is a centurion, but we don’t know where he is. We could find him?”
Marius’s heart sank. Their father would be in here somewhere and probably busy tonight watching over the people.
“Come with me. Let’s find him together.” He glanced at the sentries. “Remember, no one.” They acknowledged his command with a brief nod. “Come on,” he told the two children as he moved away and they trotted along after him.
Later that evening he stood before the desk of Sulpicius Rufus and waited for the general of the legion to answer.
“All right, take tribune Cluvius Celer with you. Find out what on earth is happening up there and then take what men you need and destroy as many of these creatures as you can.”
Marius worked hard to suppress the smile of satisfaction he felt playing across his features. “With your permission, sir, I would like to wait up there for a few days, in case any stay hidden and emerge once they think we’ve gone. That way, I hope we might wipe them out once and for all.”
The general nodded grimly. “That seems a sensible idea; take as long as you need. Only make sure that you kill them all.” He stopped, considering the implications of his words. “Don’t go too far into the mountains, the Roxolani could still be around and you’ll be sitting targets for them. But make sure you destroy any man who could infiltrate the army, even if you know him.” Marius stared at the old soldier, understanding what he was being ordered to do.
“Yes, sir.”
Sulpicius Rufus gave a brief nod, which let Marius know that he was dismissed, and went back to writing his report. A messenger had already left that morning to inform the Governor of the situation and now the general was busy writing up the events to keep him aware of how things were panning out. Soon even the Emperor and all his generals would be aware of the Kin and their attempt to subvert the army in Dacia.
As Marius left the room to try and get some sleep, he had the satisfaction of knowing that the Kin were now seen as a deadly threat and every officer in Rome would soon be on the lookout for their influence. He might die tomorrow, but at least he had the gratification of knowing that the Kin had lost.