Frontiers

Lamplight gleamed from polished wood paneling and reflected blue from the dark hair of a man bent over a desk. His pen scratched against a parchment, writing in clear letters a report of the state of his command. He paused, tapping the stylus against his chin, thinking. Clear brown eyes scanned the written lines. What else? Ah. He scratched a few more lines, adding an observation of a non-hostile tribe passing close, but moving north. It was a tiny bit of good news among all the bad that had been happening recently.

“Selucius!” He called, searching through the papers and wax tablets scattered across the desk. “Where is that report from the granary?”

“Where you put it when I handed it to you Commander.” The young aide entered the office carrying a tray of cheese and bread, a warm goblet of honey-laced wine balanced to the side. He pointed with his chin to the corner of the desk away from the lamps. “I also have your dispatches from Rome here.”

“Ah. Thank you.” The Commander smiled, tiny crows feet crinkling the corners of his eyes. “What would I do without you?”

Selucius put the tray down on a space he cleared by shoving some of the reports aside. “Forget to eat, forget to drink, forget to sleep, and spend your days watching mice.” He said jokingly. “The only thing you wouldn’t forget to do is bathe.”

The Commander laughed. “A true statement. So. What has Rome decided on my request?” He broke off a chunk of cheese and popped it into his mouth.

“They have granted your request for wool. In the next supply train will be enough woolen blankets for each man, as well as a felted cape.” He always read the dispatches first, filtering out what was unnecessary for the commander to handle. “Senator Julius Publius Alorian arranged for the shipment. Also, there is a letter from the Natural Science Society. They have sent you several writings from fellow members and have added your observations to the archive.”

Pleased, the older man leaned back in his chair. “Mice are interesting creatures.” He glanced at Selucius and winked. “But you have already heard all that. What else do you have?”

“A letter I may keep because it smells so wonderful.” He said. “But I fear what your wife might do to me.” The commander grabbed the letter and held it up the inhale the scent.

“My wife is the gentlest woman in all of Rome.”

“Perhaps to you. But about you, she is more frightening than a hungry chimera.”

The commander ignored him and carefully opened the letter sealed with his own stamp.

My beloved Gaius,

I hope my words to my father assisted you in your request for your men. It must be dreadfully cold to need such things. I have enclosed all my love for you and pray daily that Mars will see fit to guide you through battle, and Mercury lend you wings to return to me.
    -Your dutiful wife, Juliana
    Gaius held the letter close to his heart and sighed. His wife. Always one to smooth the way for things. The gentle scent of her perfume caressed his senses as if her soft touch were actually on his cheek.
    “I miss her terribly Selucius.” He sighed.
    “Are you not scheduled to return to Rome for a rest?” Selucius straightened the mess on the desk, picking up an occasional tablet to put it back in the rack on a shelf to the side.
    “I am, as you very well know. After the spring melt.”
    “Good. It will be well to get you out of my hair for a while. I will be able to reorganize.”
    Gaius’ eyebrow shot up. “Indeed.”
    Selucius nodded. “It is late commander. Perhaps you should retire?”
    “And let you clean up my mess?” Gaius waived a hand as his aide began to protest. “I am joking. Go ahead. I will just mess it up tomorrow.” He rose and picked up the letter from his wife. “Good night Selucius.”
    “Rest well Commander.”


    Early the next morning, Gaius met one of his centurions outside the granary. "Still no sign of the dog?" He frowned at the building as if sheer will could summon the wayward animal.

"No sir. The remaining animal refuses to leave her kennel."

"Odd. Well, I will put a request in for a new dog." He sighed. “Where could the beast have gone?” His eyes roamed the frozen ground around the granary.

“I wish i knew sir. Perhaps one of the maniples ate it.”

Gaius raised an eyebrow. “Claudius, I hope you are joking.”

The grizzled veteran chuckled. “Yes sir. I do not know any of the men that would eat a dog.” He stroked the gray stubble marking his chin. “At least not with good beef for dinner.”

The commander sighed, looking up at the gathering clouds. “What else could go wrong?”

Reviews

[SkepticState]

Great job! I think if I may offer a small bit of revision advice... Rename the Natural science Society something else... Maybe, depending on what era in Roman history you are in, make it the Library of Alexandria. As far as I know science was not really called science until relatively recently