“First, we have to smooth down theplaces where the branches of the tree were cut off so that they areflush, because if any of them protrude, the ring that is attachedto the crosspiece can snag on it,” he explained, and while I do notknow much about ships, I knew enough to appreciate that he wasusing simple terms to describe the pieces, because mariners haveodd names for every piece of a ship. He continued, “Once that isdone, we sand the entire mast down before we apply a coating to themast so that it does not absorb water. But,” he shook his head, “wedo not have any of it with us, and I asked Ivomagus if they mighthave something like it, but he said they do not.”
“Is that going to be aproblem?”
“Not for crossing the channel,” heassured me. “But we will have to put in at Lugdunum Batavorumanyway, so that you can send a dispatch to your Legion to let themknow you are safe, will you not?” I nodded. “Then we can take careof that there before we finish the journey.”
As strange as it may seem, this was reallythe first time any of us discussed what would come after weeffected the repairs and resumed our voyage. I suppose it wasbecause we did not want to inadvertently curse ourselves since weRomans are a superstitious lot, and I had been informed that menhad been clamoring to be allowed to purchase small animals from theParisii so that they could make sacrifices to the appropriate gods.In fact, Saloninus had approached me earlier in the day with whatmight seem to be an odd request.
“Some of the boys,” he began afterclearing his throat, which I had learned was a habit of his when hewas about to broach something potentially sensitive, “have asked meto ask you if you will speak to Ivomagus about something,Pullus.”
“‘Some of the boys’?” I asked in anadmittedly teasing tone, certain that this was coming from my PilusPosterior, but I did not press the matter. “And what do some of theboys want me to ask Ivomagus?”
“They want to know the names ofwhatever sea gods the Parisii worship,” he answered, completelyserious. “That way, they can sacrifice to them as well as Neptune.”My first impulse was to have some fun at his expense, but I sawthat he was sincere, so I simply assured him that I would ask, buthe was not done. “And I’d like your permission to buy some animalsso that we can make sacrifices before we get back on theship.”
My initial impulse was to say no, but again,I could see he was serious, and when I gave it a moment’s thought,I could see no harm in asking, so I told him that I would. It wasperhaps two parts of a watch past noon when Motius informed me thatthe mast was now prepared and ready, and we had done everything wecould do that day. They were not obvious about it, but Ivomagus hadclearly sent men to keep an eye on us, which I assumed was becausehe did not trust us to not begin work, but once the seamen weredone, there was no reason for me to stay there on the dock.Acisculus and his working party had returned to camp, and it wasnot yet time to change the guard shift on the ship, but I could notbring myself to return to the camp to wait for Cogidubnus there. SoI decided to wander over to where the two dozen or so merchants hadtheir various wares arrayed, many of them simply spread out on ablanket on the ground, although there were several what I supposecould be called stalls. One thing I had noticed was that theseParisii are seemingly indifferent to anything other than sheerutility when it came to woodcraft. Nothing appears to be sanded,and in truth, it looks as if things are hastily thrown together,like the stalls, which appeared to my eye to be in danger ofcollapse. However, the same cannot be said for their metalwork,particularly their jewelry, and my eye was caught by a necklace,upon which was suspended a pendant with an incision of a bird thatwas surprisingly lifelike.
“Do you like what you see,Roman?”
That it was a woman’s voice, speaking Latin,caused me to look up in some surprise; the fact that it was thecopper-haired girl I am afraid made me gasp in shock, which Iinstantly saw amused her greatly.
“I…I…” I felt like an idiot, butsomehow managed to get out, “I was thinking of this as agift.”
“Oh?” she asked, raising an eyebrowthat I took to be surprise. “For your wife?”
Why was she surprised that I might have awife? I wondered, feeling a stab of irritation, and I am afraid Ilet it show as I said coldly, “We’re not allowed to be marriedduring our time in the Legion, lady.”
Now she was obviously shocked, while Inoticed that my hunch about the color of her eyes had been correct;if anything,
