War Booty Ch 02

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I slept most of the day and night, and felt a lot better after breakfast. My thumb and leg didn't hurt too badly. I still had a fever but wasn't sweating so much. I noticed all the bread had been eaten, so I took the empty basket back to the kitchen and considered my situation.

I was a soldier with a city full of emperors named 'Roast Chicken', who needed a glowing dog to eat a chariot. Wait ... what? The world suddenly spun and turned upside down. I failed spectacularly at swimming through the air, and a girl screamed.

As I fell toward it, I thought; "I hope my nose doesn't hurt that nice brick oven ..." For a long time, everything was dark and quiet.

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A very shiny figure appeared in front of me, quickly asking; "Love or glory?" I could see my reflection on his silvery chest. When I didn't answer for half a breath, he grew impatient and asked again; "Love or glory? Mars and Venus need to know!"

I wasn't sure what he was talking about. "Huh?"

He said, very patronizingly; "Oh, you're a mortal. I'll help you." He said it again, MUCH LOUDER, and VERY SLOWLY. "L...O...V...E or G...L...O...R...Y?"

I wondered, "What the heck is going on? Why is he asking me strange questions? Hey! He's metal! He must be ..." I exclaimed aloud, "Mercury! You're Mercury!"

"Finally! Signs of life! You were quiet so long I wondered if you died. Mortals do that, sometimes." He sneezed, poked a finger up his nose, then wiped it on my palm. Instead of filth, there was a gold aureus coin in my hand.

"So?" He tapped his foot for three breaths. "Maybe this will take some time." He pulled a scroll out of my ear and started reading. He might be a God, but he was starting to annoy me. A short time later he swallowed the scroll and asked again, "L...O...V...E or G...L...O...R...Y?"

Two brief scenes flashed into my mind. War God Mars held a baby by one ankle over a pond full of crocodiles, standing next to a throne with an Imperial robe on it.

Love Goddess Venus stood on a boat balancing a throne on the edge, ready to drop it in the sea. There were three beautiful women and a group of children laughing behind her.

Mercury tapped his foot impatiently, asking a final time; "Only two options, nothing could be simpler. Love or glory?"

I briefly saw an image of Mercury counting something and writing on a scroll. Behind him, Een sat on a huge gold bar, wearing a ridiculously large helmet, three times the size of her head. A beautiful woman handed her a bunch of grapes.

I pondered aloud ... "Both? Neither? Money?"

"Time's up!" He swung his silver hand toward me in a slap. As his palm hit my cheek, there was a tremendous 'BANG!' and a bright light melted away the darkness. I was in my bed. I had a bandage on my forehead and sunlight streamed in through the open door. I heard another thunderclap and the ground shook a little.

Wow! That was a really strange dream!

An officer yelled, "There's a storm coming! Get the tents secured! Right now!"

As I moved the blanket to get up, a dozen sestertius coins fell from the bed and clattered onto the floor. Was the dream real? Did I choose money?

I touched my head and it was dry. I felt fine. I carefully stood up. My left leg hurt, but less than before. I waved my arms around and wiggled my toes. Everything seemed to work. I did some simple math and spelled several words to myself. My mind seemed okay, too. I gathered up the coins and got dressed.

Since the army would wait out the storm before doing anything significant, I had some time for reflection and planning. My military career was progressing even better than I hoped, and I knew Mars was pleased with me. But my wife and my boys! They're gone! The thought hurt, but didn't paralyze me anymore. Half my town, and most of my friends on the island were gone! Rebuilding would take a lot of people, and a lot of work.

Patrician status was only inherited through blood or official decree, not marriage! Kolius was trying to steal my title! Under the law, if land wasn't occupied by a noble's family and another noble lived there for 6 months, they could rightfully claim it! If he was the only 'noble' there and the people recognized him as Patrician, it would probably stand in court! He would have my land, my silver mine, and my noble title!

I quickly figured the days since the plague started. I would need to be back on the island by the Fides Veratus celebration, on the first of October! I had to be there in only fifty days!

The trip from Caledonia to Rome normally takes five to six weeks if you march most of it. On horseback or driving a wagon, three to four weeks. If the weather was good, maybe only 16 or 18 days by sea, but the autumn storms were approaching.

From Rome to Balit was another 14 to 18 days on foot, then a short boat ride. It would be or only 6 or 7 more days by sea, if I was brave enough. Pirates were a serious threat off the coast of Greece, and the autumn weather could be very fickle.

Venus had told me to gather the orphans, so I considered the situation of the children. Few families wanted new children over the age of two or three. Any pre-adults were almost worthless in the slave trade, so very few were even captured for sale. The Empire's theory was, 'If the Gods want them to survive they will, it's not the government's problem.' I felt very bad for them. It would be terrible to be on your own as a child!

Captives started becoming valuable at maturity, when young men could be apprenticed to craftsmen or work as laborers. Young women had an obvious use in the brothels, or could be used as household servants. A muscular young man who might succeed as a gladiator, or an especially pretty young lady might go for 300 or even a thousand denari, but that was uncommon.

I wondered how I could even find the orphans, much less gather them. The Picts who fought in the battle had lived in at least thirty small villages and hamlets, plus who knew how many hundred farms. Searching by myself would take months, maybe years.

On their own, kids might survive a few weeks, if they were lucky. Out of the corner of my eye, I noticed sunlight glinting off the shrine and my helmet next to it. Money! I'm sure the soldiers would search, if I pay them! It can't hurt to try! My trip home would have to be fast, but I would use three days to save some children, hopefully.

Reet ran in holding Een's hand. She shut the door once Tyranus was inside. Both smiled when they saw me standing. Reet felt the side of my face and said, "You no sick! Good! Good!" She asked, "You look chief talk?"

I didn't understand. She pointed to a message on the table. She pantomimed thrusting her chest out, puffing out her cheeks, and looking angry.

I said, "Legatus Pullo? Pullo sent me that?"

She nodded, "Chief paper talk you"

She held up four fingers and said, "You sleep days."

I read the scroll:

"Cenius, my friend, I regret that we must leave to make it to Ghent on time. Hopefully you will recover soon enough to catch up to us. I'm leaving my physician and four of your slave girls with you. I will try to get a good price for the rest of your slaves in the Ghent market. A few of the men asked to stay until you are well. We should make it to Rome the first or second week of October. I hope we can do the Triumph on the 19th day of October, the Armilustrium, in honor of Mars. If we can do it then, the priests will bless our weapons for luck.

Don't die before I see you again! That's an order!

Sincerely, Pullo."

Dana and Raya entered while I read, along with a much younger physician than the one before. This one only looked eighty or ninety. I told them, "I'm feeling much better now. I'll be ok to travel."

The physician skeptically commented, "Hmm, I'll need to check a few things."

He held my nostrils open wide and looked into them. He very carefully measured the distance between the corners of my mouth, while yanking a few hairs off the back of my arm. He spread my toes apart and smelled between them, all of them, on both feet. He barely glanced at my arrow wound.

He did what he called the two most reliable tests last. He had me cough as he poked a finger in my ear. Then for the grand finale, I had to lick one of my fingers, wipe it under my arm, and taste to see if it was salty or not. It tasted like an old saddle, but was indeed salty.

He declared me to be in perfect health. He recommended that I eat plenty of dried seaweed, as much as I could stand. I should avoid going near bakeries, since bakeries emit vapors that pollute the bodily humors.

I thought I could get better advice by listening to my horse's farts. I was more than happy to watch him depart.

The rain started and the pace of the thunder and lightning picked up. Many animals don't like storms and a lot of dogs are afraid. Tyranus isn't afraid, he gets angry. Maybe he thinks if he barks loudly enough, he can scare the storm away.

He barked after each of four thunderclaps, then Een started rubbing his neck. He laid down with his chin on her feet. I swear, if he was able to purr like a cat, he'd do it for her.

I led the older girls into the other room and told them, "You four are my slaves now. Do you know what that means?"

Reet said, "You say, we do. And you give food."

"Yes, that's right. You do what I say, and I will take care of you. When you cleaned me before, I got excited. Do you know what that is?"

Again, Reet answered; "Hand love."

"Yes, I like hand love a lot. I want one or two of you to do that with me each night."

Reet translated, and the older ones nodded. Dana smiled a bit. Raya turned bright red and licked her lips. Reet shyly said, "I like mouth love."

"Good. Would you do that for me?"

She nodded. I stripped and laid on my back. She leaned over, with her elbows on the bed. She gently took my cock in her hand and licked the head. The other girls stared, fascinated.

She stroked the shaft, licking and sucking, until I orgasmed into her pretty mouth. She caught most of it and swallowed. I panted and rested a little. I complimented her, "Very good! Wonderful! Sometimes I will do it for you too."

She looked confused, "How?" She pointed toward her waist. "Girl, no stick?"

"Lay down and enjoy." I lifted her skirt and took my time, slowly licking and sucking, to get her excited. She wasn't a virgin but was as tight as I would expect a woman to be before having a child. I also liked her flavor. Very nice!

I sped up and when she was near her peak I slid a finger into her, then licked the little bean above her womanhood. She moaned, then LOUDLY said several things in a language I didn't understand. She hugged me to her, as she panted. "GOOD! GOOD! Love master! Nobody do before! Love! So good!" I cuddled with her awhile. When the rain slowed, I sent Dana to get our dinner.

Before we went to sleep, Raya asked me; "Want bottom love?"

As I wondered what she meant, she undressed. She leaned over the edge of the table, pointing to her backside. She blushed as she asked, "Want use bottom one?"

I did, very much. I undressed and stood behind her, rubbing her buttocks with my hands, then started rubbing her little pussy. She smiled. "Mmm nice."

I rubbed the head of my cock around her opening, getting it damp and slippery. Sliding into her felt great! I hadn't fucked since leaving my wife at home, nearly two years earlier!

It was fabulous! Excellent! The slippery pressure on me was wonderful! I slid in and out, greatly enjoying myself. She moved in time with me, helping me stroke in and out of her. Raya practically sang, "Mmmm! Feel good, master! Ooooh!"

Far too soon, I emptied my cock into her. "AAAHH! Very good! YES!"

Reet helped Dana wash my penis and inspected it carefully. Dana looked like she was old enough for some love too, but Een would have to wait a long, long time.

I dressed again and got in bed, then the four of them climbed in with me. Dana laid mostly on top of me and Raya. Reet cuddled Een to her chest, and the little girl drifted off to sleep. My traitorous dog Tyranus sniffed Een's foot and whined, but there was no more room on the bed.

I woke as I climaxed in a dream. Venus was riding my cock! Her hair slowly changed from orange to blonde. I saw she had violet eyes and Reet's face, as I squirted deep into her. She felt so good!

I opened my eyes, as the last of my spurts ended. Dana had her hand on the shaft of my cock and lips on the head! She looked up and for a moment her eyes glowed violet in the darkness. She licked me clean, then in Venus' melodious voice, she said; "Love them, and they will love you. This is my gift."

Dana smiled and in her smooth sonorous voice said, "Love Titus master. Love." I played with her hair and caressed her cheek, before falling asleep with her little face on my belly.

When I woke, I pleasantly felt several bodies touching mine. I opened my eyes and smiled, as I saw and felt three girls laying mostly on top of me. After a moment, I wondered, 'Three? Where is Een?'

I sat up a little and looked around. Tyranus was in his usual spot on the floor and three of my four girls were in the bed with me. I worried a little and untangled my body from the others, slowly getting out of bed. As I moved toward my clothes next to the shrine, the dog made a quiet noise. He lifted his head and I could see he was curled around Een with most of her little body hidden. It was terribly cute. The three older girls and I went to have breakfast and left the two of them sleeping on the floor.

It almost looked like the legion hadn't left. Nearly a hundred men had stayed, waiting until I could travel, in addition to the 260 in the half-cohort that would be left behind to guard the camp until another legion arrived in a week.

I felt very honored, and grateful. I talked with the officers, offering fifty denari for each orphan the men found and brought to me in the next three days. Half of them left to start searching.

I talked with the girls, learning the Pict language. The Picts didn't have writing, so I started a Pict dictionary. I also taught the girls some Latin.

By supper time the soldiers had brought me only nine orphans, six boys and three girls, all between the ages of eight and twelve. I knew there had to be many, many more. My girls gave them food and I had a few men set up a tent for them, along with two more tents for the others I hoped we could help.

Before we slept, I laid on my bed on my back. I patted my hip and said, "Reet, sit on me, and do bottom love. I will do mouth love for Raya."

I licked and sucked the girl's little vulva, as the older one slid up and down on my cock. After a while I laid Dana beside me. She hugged my neck and smiled with joy. I was glad Tyranus was there to amuse Een as the others and I made love.

I said, "Dana, your turn." I kissed and tongue-fucked her little slit, until I shot my semen into Reet. After a little rest, Raya rode me, as the other girls kissed me, and played with my chest. I made Reet cum with my fingers, and Raya orgasmed just before I did.

Een slept in the other room, with Tyranus wrapped around her.

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The next morning Dana had gone to the latrine, a few hundred paces from the camp, to "drop dirt". The three other girls and I were close to finished eating, as we heard Dana yell, "NAI! HELP! UBA! NAI!" I heard a dog growling and barking loudly. I ran as fast as my wounded leg would let me. I heard a loud male scream. As I got close Tyranus ran over the top of the hill. When he saw me, he dropped a bloody mouthful. It was a penis and scrotum!

I gagged as the huge mutt ate his prize. Near the latrine, Dana cowered against a wall, crying. Her ripped tunic was on the ground near her. A Pict man laid in the dirt, groaning. He was curled up in pain, holding his hands to his crotch. There was blood all over his hands and the ground.

Dana hugged my waist, as she said; "Man bad take me! Dog help! Love dog!" She rubbed his neck.

At most mid-day meals I gave Tyranus half a strip of dried meat. That day he got two, and a piece of cheese.

Reet helped Dana put on her torn clothing, escorted her to the cabin, then fed her some porridge with berries.

I pointed at the badly wounded would-be raper and told a Decanus; "Take the garbage to the river and feed the fish." After two men grabbed his arms, I repeated it in Pict. He screamed and struggled, as they dragged him away.

The other girls helped me calm Dana. Reet gave her a little wine and she soon fell asleep on my bed. Tyranus jumped up and laid on her legs. I petted his head, saying "Good dog. Good boy."

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By the end of the next day, the soldiers had gathered a total of 29 boys and 34 girls. We finished breakfast and were about to leave when Narvus returned. He rode his horse leading a red-headed young woman driving a wagon. She was the prettiest I had ever seen! Almost as beautiful as Venus! In the wagon were two girls around eleven, both with beautiful red hair. There was also a red-haired girl of three and a boy of nearly two.

I spoke to the woman briefly. Her name was Mirna. A lovely name, for a gorgeous woman. She pleaded, "My man die! Need help! Need food! Please!"

"Do you understand what a slave is? You will all be my slaves. You do what I say, and I will take care of you."

She asked, "Food for all? Warm bed?" I nodded.

"No hurt baby?"

I shook my head and she smiled. Reet got them some fruit, a loaf of bread, and some dried meat, then we started our journey to Belgica. My four girls rode in the back of the wagon with the young redheads. Most of the way I sat beside Mirna as she drove. We stopped for lunch. I admired Mirna's pretty red hair and modest but sexy breasts, as she breastfed her toddler boy, Dirk.

Three times along the way we had to stop, so I could pick up rabbits Tryanus murdered and brought to me. Between hunts, he happily ran around the column, irritating the horses.

Four mounted archers and ten cavalry were in the lead, with forty footmen and archers behind them. Four more horse archers, ten footmen, and the rest of the cavalry followed our ten wagons and carts.

We reached the coast by late afternoon and had our camp set up well before dark.

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