Lost Creek Hollow venustas

"tumultuous?" germanicus asked lowly, rustgrey ears slowly swiveling forward. ico settled himself into a poured column of cream, and the soldier took a seat before him, some handful of coins away. close enough to see the light of consternation baying silently across ico's face.

"i learned not to question my leaders," the soldier stated after a breath, the hushflower yellow of his eyes holding the boy's limpid gaze. "but i was a soldier. we take orders. we do not give them." ico was none such, germanicus knew. he lent himself to listen all the same, wondering if he might help the vestal make sense of this situation even though he knew only one way.