Fox's Glade Bass

two things happened at once.

the first was that shardik fairly sent the breath out of germanicus' lungs and for the first time since they had set out, the breadth of broken things inside the man became apparent.

the next was the small girl stepping from the shadows and speaking in some heathen language.

the gallop of the roman's heart in two directions was almost too much. he made a gesture of farewell, the attitude of a soldier sheathing his sword and raising his hands in supplication.

"kvarsheim?" he asked, yellowpaint eyes flicking over the downy child.