Marcus, anticipating Civis' request, detailed five auxiliaries to scout ahead and determine if the Muhnguls were indeed gone. Accipiter, concern in his expression, dismounted to check on Septi.
The young Tyrean was beginning to stir, groaning some as the pain of the bump on his head began to radiate all around. Accipiter bent over the prostrate magician, using his robe to hide what work he was doing. He shooed Civi and Sin Ying away, then told Radko and the others to go about there duties, that Septi would be fine. They left as they were told. Civi and Sin Ying walked backwards facing Gaius, and bumped into Civis, who was walking to check on Septi's condition himself.
None could see Accipiter lay hands on the head of Septi; nor see his green eyes flash gold with hints of blue then become green once more. Septi simply ceased to moan and his eyes opened. He looked around, tried to sit up, achieved the position but winced with the pain of the headache he felt. Accipiter stood up. "He will be fine," said the tall man. "He probably would benefit from some water."
On cue, Dania appeared with a sheepskin filled with water kept cool by Radko's ingenious methods of shading vital supplies. Septi drank deeply, wincing less now even as he tipped his head back to consume the cooling liquid. "My horse?"
Radko answered. "Fine, just exhausted from the gallop and scraped a little from the fall. Its injuries are dressed and he will carry you again in a day or so. You should ride one of the other horses for now."
Civis looked at Septi, relief visible on his face. "Would my white stallion serve that purpose adequately?" Septi's face lit up even as another sharp jabbing pain coursed through his head.
"Would you mind, Civis?" he asked. Civis laughed. "I won't mind. The question is whether the horse will mind or not." They all laughed, even the ever soulful and somewhat melancholy Gaius joined in. Sin Ying didn't hesitate to help Septi to his feet. Civi, ever so full of questions, opened fire on Septi even as they began to walk to where Civis' white stallion was being prepped by Radko to carry the Tyrean.
Just then the detail of five auxiliaries returned. Marcus took their report. "No sign of the Muhnguls anywhere, Commander," he told Civis.
"Good, Marcus. Let's try to put some distance between ourselves and wherever they may have gone. Be sure a column of your men rides on either side of our flanks to shield the caravan, if you will."
"Yes, Commander. I have already given that order."
"Excellent. Proceed."
From a distant rock formation, two asiatics called Muhngul by the Parthians watched with interest the movement among the foreigners. Said the shorter Muhngul to the taller, more muscular man next to him, "So these mounted soldiers are what the Parthians call Romans. They appear disciplined and formidable, though our arrows seem to have frightened their commander. I do not think we need fear these Romans, or especially their leaders."
"Do not be too quick to judge. They suffered none of their men to be struck by our arrows. We sent many flights to no avail. Soon we would have exhausted our arrows and then we would have had only our swords to defend us against as many of their men as at the beginning. No, they may appear frightened or weak, but their leader may in fact be much cleverer than we suspect. I think it best to let them pass and trouble only those we came to trouble, the Parthians."
"But..."
"There will be glory, my son, for all of us this day in another place. Pick your place and time wisely and the greater will be the reward. As Son of the Kahn, this is a lesson you must learn well."
"Yes, Father," the young Muhngul replied. "I obey the word of the Kahn." So saying, the young asiatic and his father quietly left their positions, found their horses and rode back to join their soldiers now heading southeast and away from Romans.
Accipiter suddenly straightened up, the expression on his face changing, his eyes taking on a look of distant concentration. Civis studied him carefully. "A problem, Gaius?"
The tall man refocussed his eyes on Civis. "No, not a problem now, nor for us this day. But a problem many years hence... We are safe, Civis, and can proceed." Romanus never tried to pry too deeply into the meaning of his friend's words. He accepted them at face value, no matter how obtuse they appeared. If Gaius said they were safe, then they were safe. Civis proceeded to restart the caravan's travels east assuming they were indeed safe as Gaius had said.
There were beautiful, snow capped mountains in the distance and Civis intended that they would be camped at their foot as soon as possible.