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Chapter 66 - Chapter 66 — Beneath the Enemy’s Skin

The sun had barely risen when Titus stopped atop a low hill. Beside him, Sextus tried not to slip from his mount. The landscape stretched out in soft waves of grass and scattered shrubs.

"There," Titus said, lowering his voice.

In a clearing, a few men were gathering firewood—or appeared to be. They wore dirty tunics, weathered skin, and moved with clumsy, routine gestures. Too clumsy.

"Peasants?" Sextus asked, squinting.

Titus shook his head.

"No one splits wood with their feet that wide apart unless they've held a gladius before."

Sextus nodded. They crouched behind some rocks, observing in silence. One of the men was pretending to carry a bundle of sticks, but his tunic concealed something long and straight that wasn't wood.

"Soldiers," Sextus murmured. "In disguise. Poorly."

"Do we follow them?"

"No. We circle around. And watch."

They advanced on foot, leaving the horses tied among bushes. The approach was slow, with the kind of silence learned through fear and necessity. As they reached the far side of the clearing, they heard a muffled sound.

A groan.

Titus spotted it first. Behind a patch of brambles, a makeshift shelter stood. Inside, half-covered with rags and leaves, a man lay bound hand and foot on the ground.

His tunic was torn, but he still wore a belt with officer's insignia. His face was swollen and bloodied, but he was conscious.

"Gods," Titus whispered, keeping his voice low. "That's no ordinary prisoner."

Sextus stared seriously. He recognized the symbol on the buckle.

"He's one of the tribuni. High-ranking."

"What do we do?" Titus asked. "Attack them? Wait?"

Sextus looked at the sky. It was no longer early.

"We can't leave him. But if we fail, they'll kill all three of us. We need a plan. Fast."

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