whenever u have time! <3 editing so that this can run simultaneously to the birth thread!
the morning grew toward afternoon. he had not been summoned and so did not approach his own doorway.
restless, germanicus summoned
@Kallik with a low howl. he meant to take a turn or two around the perimeter of their encampment.
"i take it you have spoken with arsenio," he murmured, knowing that the redstone wolf had meant to seek out the snowy
scutarius at once.
<3
He still found it hard to believe that the imperator had preferred for him to stay. He was also having trouble with the idea of leaving Mereo. The more days that passed after his conversation with Arsenio, the more intense the aching in his chest felt. He felt it most when he was doing his every day duties; he would find himself imagining doing the same thing in the vale, which brought a mixture of sadness and excitement.
The imperator's call pulled him from his thoughts, and Kallik left his patrol to find him.
The scutarius had been close by, so he arrived quickly enough and fell into step beside Germanicus. He was quick and to the point as usual, something Kallik had always appreciated.
Yes,
the soldier answered.
So you don't hate me, after all, was what he wanted to say, but discussing feelings had never really been something they did.
It is not an easy decision,
Kallik added. He was leaning more towards caution with this because there was so much uncertainty with leaving to claim the vale. Here, he knew what to expect, and he liked the canyon. But to be chosen to help settle the vale was an honor he didn't take lightly.
"it is not."
the two walked on. he focused his attentions ahead, ears attuned for the summons he both welcomed and dreaded.
was it fear growing within him or only a great unsurety? fear, terror; any of those bedfellows were not something that germanicus had remained accustomed. he had thought those sensations controlled if not fully excised.
"it is not a difficult choice for me to see you honored. both the praefectus and i have a vested faith in your abilities, scutarius."
there was a gravid pause.
"but i will not be glad to lose you from mereo, kallik." it was the way of things. fighters transitioned ranks. they were lost to battle. they were placed at the head of their own legions.
he had always envisioned the last for kallik. the irony lay in the fact that now it would happen outside his own ranks. "i wanted to discuss with you the role of a military liasion while you and arsenio build the vale. it would grant a higher rank but require more traveling." the medicus would give birth to children of their own. germanicus did not suspect that kallik meant to be gone overmuch.
Arsenio's words and now the imperator's words were at odds with his twisted perception of things. Where Kallik saw only the ways he had been lacking, Germanicus seemed to see the opposite. He was happy to see the scutarius honored with this new path. The scutarius didn't know how to process how he felt about hearing that. He was almost afraid to entertain the idea that he might actually be an asset to Mereo; if that was the case, then how long would it be before he let everyone down? He wasn't sure he could maintain such a high bar. Thank you, imperator,
was all he could manage to say, at least for now. It is hard for me to imagine not living here and serving Mereo directly.
He hadn't even realized how attached he was to Mereo until he was presented with the option of leaving it.
Kallik thoughtfully considered the imperator's next words. He wanted to promote him and give him more responsibility, but it would require more traveling than he would already being doing. His thoughts turned to his pregnant wife, and the familiar anxiety sat heavy in his chest. He didn't like leaving her at all, but again, he knew being a soldier meant he had to make sacrifices.
Where would I be traveling?
Kallik asked after a few moments of thought.
"it is odd not to imagine you greeting all visitors to the border," germanicus assured with a quick flash of resigned amusement. the moment begged to be lifted. but he was not a man who had studied levity. it did not suit his chosen role.
"you would be traveling between mereo and the vale. you would bring me regular reports of your progress. but your true focus would be aiding arsenio in whatever way he means to shape that place."
he turned to look at kallik. "it may require days of your time." and each day was crucial for a pregnancy, he was discovering.
Kallik nodded; it was hard for him to imagine, too. I'm sure there are others eager to take over that job,
he suggested. They had just had an influx of new auxillary, surely someone would rise to the challenge of being one of Mereo's guardians.
The scutarius understood what it would mean, and he knew Aquene would also understand the importance of his job, or he desperately hoped she would. It would be short-term discomfort for long-term peace. He thought he could handle it, even if it would make him a fairly grumpy soldier.
He nodded. I know it will.
He hated the thought of not being at Aquene's side and sacrificing his evenings with her, but this was his job. This is important, and I accept the responsibility.
germanicus appreciated kallik's devotion to his role as a soldier. it reminded him that despite his own loss of the man inside mereo, he would be able to watch the other flourish both in fatherhood and in responsibility.
"very well. i am not certain when arsenio will set out to establish the first camp. but i expect it will be soon."
he did not need to instruct kallik further. conferring with arsenio and aquene was surely already prioritized.
"i will not keep you, legatus." the eagle's tones were quiet but the yellow eyes were warm.
Legatus. It was his new title and already, he felt the weight of his decision. He had committed himself to long days separated from his wife, but he knew it would bring them even more in the future, so long as they could get through this.
Kallik nodded. Imperator,
he offered in return. He turned and trotted back towards the borders; he still had much to do before returning home. He worried for Aquene and the matrona, and since he could not check on things, he would need to distract himself.
towhee. kallik.
glaukos now.
germanicus felt a harsh urge rising, to rush to the den, to be with ruenna.
he willed it away.
and he moved off from the red sand where he stood, determined to make a success of the day if he could not bring himself to fulfill his regular duties.