Act I
Tump* Tump* Tump* A Group of eleven traveled the stone republic road.
All but one did not wear bronze to protect their flesh.
As he wore a fine long sleeved tunic with a leather furred jerkin.
'It's a good day for a hunt, I wonder if we'll actually find a boar.'
"Bannerfer, tell me is your Unit part of the garrison Centuries?"
The fair haired and skinned Lazir asked as he kept pace with the older men and women around him.
"Yes, young master. We are part of the 3rd century."
Lazir accepted the words of the older woman bearing a banner on her back, as they kept with their leisurely march.
"Is there. . ."
"Help! Help!"
Lazir was about to ask another small talk question, but he was cut off as a girl.
Dirty from field work screamed as she ran towards the well armed group.
The legionaries around him reacted, quickly drawing their swords and shields.
It made the girl that was running towards the well armed soldiers pause.
"Please help! My father fell into our well!"
She begged the group, her eyes switching between the woman clearly in charge and the youth behind her.
The commanding Bannerfer was about to say something but then Pat* pat* her armoured shoulder was pathed by a fair hand.
"Let us help this girl, and her father."
Lazir requested the Bannerfer.
The older woman gave him a puzzling look before lowering her head in acceptance
The youth gave the girl his charm, which made her paused.
It only took a little push.
Before she went back to urging the group of soldiers to follow her.
It was a short jog to her cottage, but for some reason it was tense.
As the legionaries that circled Lazir were being cautious of something.
'Did they know something I did not?'
Lazir thought before reaching the well.
"He's down there! Please help."
The girl pointed as she ran and stopped infront of the screaming well.
"Dolly! Dolly! Have you found help?"
Even without Lazir saying anything.
The unit's Bannerfer motioned for some legionaries to help the clumsy farmer.
While the rest spread out, securing the area.
Leaving Lazir, the farmer girl and Bannerfer to stand at each other's side waiting.
Nothing happened as the soaked man was pulled out of the well.
He wasn't that old, probably in his 30s around the age of the legionaries guarding Lazir.
"What happened, civilian?"
The Legionary Bannerfer asked, her eyes harsh, her voice authoritative.
It made the bruised and wet man to straighten his back as he answered.
"Bandits ma'am, I was gathering water for my pigems but then they appeared and pushed me in."
The Bannerfer looked alarmed by his words.
While the legionaries became even more alert watching their surroundings.
Giving special attention to the clearly kicked open cottage door.
"How many?"
The Bannefer asked as she motioned to the Legionaries to check the cottage.
But as they took a look inside with drawn weapons they shook their heads.
"I. . . I only saw four ma'am but I heard more than eight voices while I was in the well."
Lazir was surprised as he listened to the man.
'Bandits? this close to my Sister's Villa?'
"Bannefer, we are changing the hunting target for the day, please check the surroundings for tracks."
Lazir spoke up with the authority his tutors had forced into him through practice.
Thump* Thump* The Bannerfer and legionaries gave him a salute as they did what he had ordered.
"Farmer, tell me who's patronage are you under?"
Lazir asked the soaked man, making him lower his head.
"My household is under the Equestrian household Gladis."
Lazir nodded, as memories came to him.
'That family is under my Calda household, this farm was probably given to them to be managed by my sister.'
"Fear not good Civilian, we will deal with these rot, to our kindly Vallis."
The farmer whimpered and bowed as he gave his gratitude.
Act II
"We must be careful young Master."
Bannerfer, who was called Tivel, spoke with concern as she gave Lazir a meaningful look.
'What does that look mean?'
Lazir thought as the trackers of the legionaries, led the party through the wilderness.
The bandits were not a simple band of ruffians, as they numbered more than eight.
"Do you know which patrol Century is in charge of this area?"
Lazir asked, which made Bannerfer Tivel give him her attention.
"Yes, young master. We are in the southern countryside, which means this area should be under the 7th patrol Century."
Lazir's group was already in the western woods.
'From what I know patrols only travel the republic highways and some of the Villa roads.'
'It makes sense why these bandits had become so brazen as to attack a farm house only three households away from my sister's Villa.'
"How many bandits can your unit win against in an open fight?"
The question made a moment of silence as the unit in question kept an alert pace.
"If they're all unranked, then less than 60. . . Less if they're ranked. . ." Thud*
An arrow struck, as Lazir was pushed down as everyone made a rough shield square around him.
"Hold! And seek!"
Bannerfer Tivel cried out. Thud* Thud* Thud* Arrows and stones pelted the group from all around.
'Wait is that?'
During the bombardment Lazir saw an opening realizing that they were not surrounded.
With a quick motion he had drawn his crossbow and shot out in between the gaps of shields.
Ahh* a scream of pain, his shot was true.
"To the left, move!"
Lazir commanded as he quickly reloaded and moved.
The legionaries followed without question as the arrows and stones kept coming.
After a moment they only came from one direction.
"Wall and javelins!"
It was a massacre, as Bannerfer Tivel took the chance of the volleys of missiles weakening.
Within moments a line of shields appeared before javelins brought upon death.
"AHH! NO! RUN!"
The bandit scum broke quickly as they were struck by a disciplined volley of javelins, and then another.
"Run them DOWN!"
Bannerfer Tivel screamed, but none of the legionaries charged forward, just yelling in unison.
"CHARGE!"
Lazir watched as a worrying amount of bandits ran for their lives, leaving behind the wounded and dying.
'A trick? And it actually worked?'
The boy looked shocked before shaking his head.
Thump* "Well done everyone."
Bannerfer Tivel's armored arm patted Lazir's shoulder.
Waking him from his shock.
After that Lazir went forward to see if any of the bandits were worth keeping alive.
The legionaries stuck close to Lazir as he searched.
Regretfully most had already died with javelins plunged into their chests or guts.
Then Lazir saw one still gasping for breath.
She was pressing hard on her bleeding side, sobbing quietly as she struggled to crawl away.
"Gather the dead, we will be staking them by the Villa road."
Lazir spoke as he moved towards the wounded bandit, who stopped struggling as she felt his leather boot on her back.
"You have two options, die on a stake or serve me."
She struggled for a moment, but after a second she stopped and spoke with a pained voice.
"Please, don't kill me. . ."
Lazir nodded as he looked towards Bannerfer Tivel.
It made her pause before opening her pack to reveal a medical kit.
Act III
Lazir wasn't smiling as he watched the legionaries.
They were staking the dead bodies of the bandits on trees and poles with signs tied around their necks.
[Bandit] [Scum] [Raider] [Stain] [Rot] It was different curses written using charcoal on planks.
Farmers and traveling merchants saw the spectacle before moving away, as they saw Lazir sitting on a fence.
Right next to him was a hollowed eyed naked young woman in her 20s.
She was watching as her fellow bandits were staked naked and made into a message.
"How many bandits?"
Lazir asked the trembling bandit, but she did not respond.
Thump* A legionary kicked her shoulder making her drop on the dirt.
"How many bandits do you know of?"
Lazir questioned her again, as fear and hatred came back into her eyes.
She looked up, meeting the gentle eyes of Lazir.
In that moment he pulled on the rope on her neck, making her choke and look away.
"Fif- fifty Cough* cough* I was with Terick's crew. . . there's another crew."
Lazir nodded, as he relaxed his hold on the rope.
"We destroyed one of the two bands . . ."
Lazir said lightly as he watched the message he ordered.
'Should I hunt the other band?'
The thought passed through Lazir, but then something in him said no.
He looked up and saw it was already late in the afternoon.
With a shake of Lazir's head, he stood up, pulling on the new servant's leash.
He made his way to the legionaries as they finished their work.
"It's late, let's go back to the Villa."
That's all Lazir said before turning around and walking at a leisurely pace.
Quickly the legionary unit organized and kept pace around him.
They marched at a sedate pace, surprisingly the new servant was able to keep pace with their walk.
'I wonder what I'll do to her, should I just give her to my sister's Housekeeper? She's already training proper servants, what's one more?'
Lazir looked back examining the servant.
She had shoulder length red hair, green eyes and pale freckled skin.
'She's probably from one of the tribes based on how she looks.'
Thoughts of options played in Lazir's mind, eventually landing on should he sell her?
He looked at the woman with her head lowered, as she struggled with her walk.
'She's an exile?'
The thought appeared as he remembered the meaning of the red dyed tattoos on her back and arms.
As Lazir thought about his choice they made it back home.
The hunting group were greeted by the housekeeper and Villa servants.
"Housekeeper, get her washed, fed and relieved. . ."
Lazir spoke but then he paused as he remembered an ethics he must do as a noble after bringing home a slave.
"After that, bring her to my room with a whip and leather paddle."
Lazir ordered the housekeeper, as the servants helped the legionnaire with their used hunting gear and loot.
The old housekeeper was shocked for a moment but quickly lowered her head.
"By your will young master."
Lazir gave her a nod, gave his own gear to the servants.
Before entering inside, using a rug to clean his dusty and blooded boots.