Return to the Mainland (Part 2)
Erenia, true to her free-spirited Dein heritage, was far bolder than Rica. I watched as she wrapped her arm around my neck and asked,
"Blood ties won't stop you from beheading even an emperor if he crosses you. Do you really think your father would put faith in something like that in this world?"
"I wanted you to sell me for the highest price possible."
I gave a wry smile at her words. So that was the motivation behind her decision—my earlier threat.
If negotiations with her father fell through, she could end up being treated harshly. That fear had driven her to bare herself. If she became the linchpin of the blood alliance herself, at least she'd avoid such handling for now.
I didn't think she was foolish. Only a fool couldn't make such calculations. Still embracing me, she nibbled at my ear.
"Even so, I doubt your father holds you in high regard."
"And you?"
Erenia's blue eyes tested me.
"I'm just an ordinary man. One who couldn't even protect the woman in his arms. If you're throwing yourself at me thinking I'm some great hero, I'd like to dispel that illusion."
"Even so, this is my choice."
I smiled bitterly and claimed her lips. I'd spent years fixated on Rica alone, but I was still a man. I didn't have the self-control to turn away a woman who stripped and approached me. Looking back, before Rica, I'd been the type to embrace women without discrimination.
From her small, red lips came the rich scent of apricots.
With her arms still around my neck, Erenia slowly lay back.
I parted her lips, fragrant with the clear essence of spring. As our tongues softly entwined, her eyes naturally closed.
An hour later, Rikius entered the tent. I rose from beside Erenia, who lay wrapped in a blanket.
"Will you be all right, sir?"
Rikius asked without honorifics, implying there was no upside to bedding a barbarian woman.
Of course there wasn't. If there were those eager to bite at me, allying with a "barbarian" would give them ammunition to attack.
But word games like that wouldn't save the legion.
By taking Erenia, I'd made a deal with her. I'd told the Dein tribe I'd crushed with my own hands to strike at Belanga.
If I were the king of Dein, I'd consider my proposal carefully. Regardless of his enmity toward me, it offered a path to gain.
Knowing his daughter was in my arms would make him trust the offer's sincerity even more.
Of course, setting that aside, he might prioritize ripping me apart. But the target of a king's wrath wouldn't be just me.
Heigirt—who'd incited them to invade Briton, leading to their horrific losses—would share that fury too.
My proposal aimed to redirect that hatred toward Heigirt.
"It's a risk I have to take. Have you fed the men?"
"The camp's a bit restless, so I ordered rations early."
"Keep the troops in line—no panic. Not right away, but we'll head back to the continent soon."
"Yes, sir. And reinforcements—how do we handle that?"
Rikius asked cautiously. Supplementing forces locally was a commander's discretion, but this was Briton. We couldn't proceed without the governor's approval.
I donned my cloak and replied,
"I'll handle it. And—"
I nodded toward Erenia, still lying wrapped in the blanket.
"No one enters my tent for a while."
"Understood."
I patted Rikius's shoulder and stepped out.
After holding a woman, my body felt light.
But it paled compared to the bond I'd shared with Rica over so many years.
Of course, I didn't enter this relationship expecting that.
In crude terms, ours was a contract.
Like a token of the pact between barbarians and empire.
Expecting more from such a calculated bond would be foolish.
I glanced back at the tent and moved on.
The Briton governor had agreed to cooperate with our recruitment. With ties to the imperial mainland severed, even a barely stabilized Briton couldn't guarantee its own security. Refusing cooperation would have been the odd choice.
The governor contributed 300 solitus from his personal funds to aid legionnaire recruitment. Local notables and merchants chipped in too, securing us nearly 2,000 coins in spare funds.
I decided to use this to gather men who could contribute immediate combat power. First targets: bandits in northern Briton.
Provincials at this stage would harbor resentment toward me, likely becoming poison if recruited.
I sent envoys to those based in the rugged mountains south of the wall, living off plunder.
The bandit leaders responded in two ways.
One: submission.
Fearful that we'd turn our spears—having crushed Briton rebels, northern barbarians, Hiberia, and Dein—on them next, some eagerly pledged to join the legion. Small-scale groups rooted only in Briton felt the threat directly.
The other: scorn.
These were "veteran" bandits who'd fled over the wall during imperial purges, only to return when things quieted. They had no reason to fear me, who wouldn't stay in Briton forever.
Of course, I hadn't expected even them to submit.
I integrated the surrendering bandits into the army and trained them our way. Cogol, the epitome of an imperial officer, oversaw it.
But this fell short of fully restoring legion strength. Adding 1,000 bandits left the 16th Legion at 5,000 men total. Bellgorod and Drvina had legion troops, but they were beyond my command—counting them meant nothing.
So I need more troops.
I sank into thought.
Then a cold droplet fell, grazing my nape.
Ah.
I startled at the chill, realizing I'd overlooked something crucial.
In war, troop numbers aren't everything. Didn't I once turn a bluff into victory?
I recalled what I'd forgotten. Because the enemy was a monster.
A genius strategist who saw through everything—assuming something impossible and limiting options was folly.
I gained confidence I could return to the continent without massively swelling our ranks.
Just as I returned to the tent, Erenia lay on the bed reading.
It was a popular Briton folk tale about some knight's love woes. Might intrigue girls her age, but it held no interest for me.
I sat in a chair, took up a quill, and asked her,
"The letter?"
"Gave it to one of your men."
"Thanks."
"Don't mention it. It's the only way I can prove my value to you."
I turned back to her reply.
"Who knows. One question: What treatment do you want from me?"
"What do you think?"
"I'm no ordinary man. Not a monster who uses kin for politics and severs emotions without a second thought. I want certainty. If you'll be my woman, I'll give you what affection I can and protect you."
At my words, Erenia set the book aside and rose. The toga I'd given her—the outer garment of citizens—dragged on the ground.
"If that's sincere, I'll rely on you. But can I trust it?"
She approached, wrapping her arms around my neck again. I caressed her slender wrist, then gripped her hand.
"Yes."
Instead of answering, she kissed my neck.
I gazed into her eyes, sparkling like a blue lake, and smiled wryly.
Perhaps.
I might have seen Rica's shadow in those blue eyes. That shadow likely made me allow this young woman by my side so readily. Probably.
I stroked Erenia's soft golden hair. Freshly bathed, it felt like silk.
But.
No one knew better than I that Erenia couldn't fill Rica's void.
Rebuking my own indecision for sending Rica away yet craving her shadow, I buried my face in Erenia's hair.
The Dein king was infamous for greed and ferocity. The Dein themselves epitomized savage barbarians, so it was natural infamy clung to their king.
Stripping away the rumors, Orestes was clever and profit-savvy.
Such a man would choose nothing but the option maximizing his gain from his position.
Easy to understand, in a way. But that decisiveness made him terrifying as an enemy.
Orestes responded favorably to my proposal. No beating around the bush—he agreed to raid Belanga. Doing just that would improve ties with the empire and yield profit; a no-lose deal for him.
Straining with Heigirt was an issue, but given the losses from trusting him and invading Briton, he could lop off Heigirt's clan's heads and still not be satisfied.
With Orestes accepting, we hurried our preparations.
"The fleet will depart on schedule."
Said the naval officer managing the Briton Strait squadron. I didn't fully trust it—imperial navy timetables were among the emptiest promises these days—but no major delays expected.
While rowers and provisions assembled, I readied one fast ship carrying heralds to spread false rumors on the continent.
I instructed them to proclaim that Ain and the entire "Briton Legion" were returning. Pure bluff, but Heigirt couldn't easily dismiss it.
He might assume we'd decided to abandon Briton with Dein hordes incoming.
I figured Heigirt's cunning would make him buy our feint. And the moment he prepared countermeasures, Dein forces striking Belanga would rattle even that monster who foresaw everything.
If things go well, we can pierce their flank and seize Libitus.
Then summon legions from Bellgorod, secure mainland support, and form a posture to halt Heigirt.
I'd love to guarantee victory, but facing a fully prepared monster with sword drawn, our side lacked the edge. Time was needed for legions to rebuild and reorganize before fielding against him.
Of course, Heigirt knew that, choosing this moment to rise.
I assembled the legionnaires and stood before them.
Rumors of crossing to the continent within days had them tense, especially the new recruits.
"Eagles of the Empire! Yesterday, we quelled Briton's rebellion, crossed the sea, and punished vile traitors and their barbarian allies. As His Majesty and the Empire willed, we fulfilled our duty. Neither Hiberia nor Dein savages could halt our victory. Yes—we won."
"Hoorah!"
The men pounded shields.
"But while we bled for the Empire, a bandit bearing the title 'Imperial Commander' gripped his sword backward in treason. Had we been on the continent, that rat wouldn't have dared."
"That's right! That's right!"
The soldiers roared.
"Tomorrow, I return to the continent. I will prove a legion remains for the Empire, that treason is impossible before the golden eagle.
I ask you: Do you have the courage to cross with me and face that rat?"
"Victory for the Empire!"
The legion chanted.
"Thank you. I trust you. With you, the Empire won't fall. Loyalty to our Empire! Long live His Majesty!"
"Ain! Ain!"
I ended the brief speech and stepped down.
My path was set. Lead these faithful legionnaires across, thwart Heigirt's ambitions.
And so I must.
We are the Empire's steadfast shield—the legion.
(To be continued)