Beginning of a journey

I didn't have time to reply as, at that moment, Cadmus Brutus rode up with the extra horses and expertly reined them in very close nearby.

"We'll discuss this another time." I told Hin. "Now that we are all together, it's on to the westernmost coast of Hispania. We won't have to worry about currency or the horses' ability. I will provide us with valuables, we can trade or pay for food, lodging, fresh horses or supplies."

Hin nodded like this was acceptable to him.

'What else do I have to update you on?' I wondered aloud to Hin. "Ah, yes!" I said, remembering, "Cadmus Brutus is a most faithful servant, and I am very sure everyone at the Roman fort is dead."

Hin raised an eyebrow in question.

"I did vow to burn the place to the ground, and after I burned a phalanx of the Emperor's private army alive, the whole situation seemed past the point of no return."

Hin got back in the saddle of his horse. "Do you suggest we get going?" he asked me. "Do you intend to travel by night for the first part of the journey?" He adjusted his grip on the reins. "Even though we most likely do not have pursuers now, there is no way the word of what happened tonight will not spread. I am sure there are those who we have angered, or affronted, with the desire for revenge or hampering our progress."

I smiled and nodded. "You are right."

Hin nodded and said "Cadmus Brutus." As a form of greeting to the newcomer.

"Sir." Was all Cadmus Brutus said with a nod in return.

"Let's be off." I said.

Two hours later we stopped near a wild looking grove of olive trees. We tethered the horses to a sturdy tree branch.

"You two get some sleep. When you are refreshed, we will continue our travels." I told them. They both stayed very close to where I sat, with my back against an olive trunk, keeping guard with a watchful eye. They slept for the next several hours, while I was left alone with my thoughts. I snuck another glance at Hin's sleeping face; he looked so peaceful. 'He must feel relieved to be free from under the thumb of the Romans' I thought.

As I gazed upon the sleeping form of Hin, I realized that his carefree, cute expression, reminded me of the one he wore the first time I lay eyes on him.

At the time, he was a child of ten. His mother sat near the hearth fire and held him sleeping in her lap. She always doted on him as he was the only male child she bore. All his younger siblings were girls. He lived many years with his mother and sisters, unwilling to leave them until he knew they would be alright without him there. Although his father, an acquaintance of mine, loved Hin's mother dearly, he did not live with them. He lived in a town, a number of miles away, with his first wife their many sons.

It was while I was searching for him, needing to discuss an urgent matter, that I located him in the roomy countryside cottage of Hin's mother. He greeted me warmly but was still annoyed for interrupting his time at the cottage with his third wife, and their children. He briefly introduced me to Hin's mother and Hin, before we went back outside to talk, and then I took my leave.

I knew that if someone had asked Hin what his first memory of me was, it would be a different one that my first memory of him. That is because that first time I met him, he was asleep, and when I left the cottage, he still dreamed with his head on his mother's knee.

The next time I met Hin he was in a state of wakefulness, and it was a number of years later. Hin had recently turned seventeen and was full of the wildness of youth.

A small smile crossed my lips as I remembered he had been in a dark mood that day, and everything said to him seemed to rub him the wrong way. It wasn't until later, I found out that his angry, resentful mood at the time was caused by him being bullied by the other young men his age. Though it was unfair that they bullied him for not being aggressive or assertive enough, and for being too pretty, and not rugged and rough-and-tumble, his father still gave him a beating for talking back to him in an 'ungrateful and disrespectful manner'.

'It took many years after Hin reached adulthood, for him and I to get to the point we are now.' I reminiscence.

I look up to the sun, judging the hour and the passing of time. 'It's been long enough,' I think, 'we need to keep moving.'

"Cadmus Brutus, Hin," I call to the dreaming men. "Time to wake up." I reach for Hin's shoulder and give him a gentle shake.

Cadmus Brutus wakes suddenly, looking in all directions as if expecting a threat, then settles into a more relaxed state when he realizes I am only trying to wake him up to continue our journey.

"Hin, wake up, let's go." I request more sternly this time.

He sat up, still half-asleep and yawned.

"You need to wake up," I told him, "we need to keep riding." I turned to Cadmus Brutus. "Cadmus Brutus?"

"Yes, my lord?"

"Could you ready the horses and make sure we are prepared to ride as soon as possible? I will deal with this sleepy-head over here." I gestured to Hin. "Who had better get his butt in gear," I said in a louder voice, "if he doesn't want to ride in front of me on a horse."

I knew when I said it, that it would hurt his sense of manly pride, and spur him into being awake and moving.

So, I was unsurprised when Hin said (just as loudly) "I am fully awake! I can ride my own horse. I don't need any assistance, thank you very much!'

I hid my smile.

Very soon afterwards, we were on the move again. It would be months before we reached our destination.