070

"Eonus Censor." The man's voice was weak. "We, we knew nothing of the raiders." Eonus slipped closer to Gregor. "We came upon their trail after following rumours of missing cattle nothing more."

"You thought they were common thieves then."

"Yes, when we had out first sight of them, we believed them to be something else. And then we saw you. The dress of Censor to the Electorate held captive." The man stopped to cough into his hands. "Decanus Milonius heard of their numbers and thought they were something we could take." He paused for a moment and Gregor knew that in the dark the soldier, Eonus, was shaking his head. "We didn't really know."

"What was one Contubernium doing out with only a Decanus to lead you?"

"You cut to the quick Censor. We were a new unit, put together and on a training patrol. Nothing more then a glorified camping trip." Gregor could hear the emotion welling up in the man's voice. "Milonius was hungry for stature, he wanted more. So when he heard of the missing animals, he thought to turn the training patrol into a chance at glory."

"And a rescuing a captured Censor," Gregor finished, "would be quite the prize to return home from a training patrol with. With the odds he would have seen, it must have seemed as though the Black Crone herself had kissed him when he slept."