The arrow in Septimus’ hand felt heavier than it should. The shaft was smooth, the fletching crafted with precision. Parthian work, unmistakably.


    But they weren’t attacking.


    Not yet.


    Septimus turned the arrow over once more before tossing it aside. Then, in his usual calm, clipped voice, he spoke:


    “Double the scouts. Nobody strays from the column.”


    The legionaries obeyed without hesitation. Shields were kept high, hands stayed close to weapons. But despite their readiness, there was no enemy to fight. Only silence.


    Lucius adjusted the weight of his gladius. This was worse than battle. In battle, you at least knew where the danger was. This? This was being hunted.


    ?


    A Camp on Edge


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    They marched for hours, the sun burning high overhead, but no attack came. The hills were empty. The trees, motionless. Yet the feeling of being watched never left.


    When dusk came, Septimus ordered the camp to be set up on a defensible rise, a small hill with clear sightlines. The palisade was built quickly, the men working in tense silence. Fires were kept low.


    Lucius sat by Marcus near the center of camp, their pila resting close at hand.


    Marcus let out a slow breath. “They’re toying with us.”


    Lucius nodded. “The warlord is testing us.”


    Marcus gave a dry laugh. “Testing for what?”


    Lucius didn’t know.


    But deep down, he felt something stirring. Something unnatural.


    ?


    Signs in the Dark


    The night stretched on. The watch was doubled, every man tense. Some whispered prayers to the gods, others gripped their weapons so tightly their knuckles turned white.


    Then, sometime past midnight—


    A low, guttural howl echoed across the hills.


    It wasn’t a wolf. It wasn’t anything natural.


    Lucius felt the hairs on his arms rise. Around the camp, men stiffened, hands tightening around gladii and pila. Something was out there.


    Septimus, standing near the palisade, showed no fear. But even he seemed more alert, his gaze scanning the darkened horizon.


    Another howl. Closer this time.


    Lucius swallowed.


    The Parthians were coming.


    But they weren’t coming alone.