IL SIGNUM

The Shadow

 Chapter 3

The Shadow

            Maximus sat in his room, puzzled out of his mind and aching for clues. “The scripture is written in Gaulish so I must find a Gaul that can help me understand it. ”It was time for him to leave his life that was lavished with beauty and riches, and then go out seeking the legendary land of Gaul.

            He would need provisions, a compass, a horse and money, not to mention clothes, flint and his bow. Turning his gaze to the large oak bed he spotted his brown satchel. This would provide an easy way of carrying his provisions. His thoughts now came to clothing, what would he wear?

            He wore dark hooded cape to cover his head and a scarf around his neck to hide his face, sealing him from other people’s eyes. He put on a padded black leather chest plate and wore black bearskin boots. Leather gloves then took the shape of his hand as he slipped them on covered by studded knuckles.

            Under his black tunic he wore dark breeches that had leather string laced around the side to fit a hidden knife. This may prove handy in dangerous situations that call for a bit of grappling.

            His last addition to his clothing was to put on his sword belt which contained a small money pouch. His sword had a medium double edged blade and a pattern coated handle that was made of blackened gold with platinum patterns. It would serve him well for the time to come.

            Sleep was his next chore, if he was to battle the elements and reach the distance needed he would have to leave at night, grab his horse and flee to the North. However, he needed to gain access to some food in the kitchen while it was still daylight because at night the kitchens were locked.

            Hiding his equipment in his satchel and putting his bow over his shoulder Maximus went out of his room stealthily looking around the corridors hoping not to bump into anyone on his way to the stable. Each corridor of the villa was filled with memories of his childhood that loomed upon every chip of mosaic on the floors, all haunting him as they acknowledge his want to depart. Pushing back all these memories Maximus made his way towards the end of the last corridor. He looked from left to right and spotted Dr Archimedes loitering around the stable door waiting for the messenger to arrive bearing news of Maximus’s fathers distance from home.

            Using the skill of an assassin he took a coin from his pouch, hardly worth any value and threw it on the ground of an open door opposite to where he stood. Archimedes, upon hearing the chink of a silver coin spinning to a halt followed the noise. When Archimedes was right opposite to Maximus with his back to him he took his chance and softly stepped through the door to the stable.

            The stable buck was nowhere to be seen, thank luck. Maximus placed his satchel, bow and quiver under a bale of hay and then silently left through the front. The courtyard was nearly empty so using some flint and steel Maximus set fire to some damp moss from the fountain right outside the door of the kitchen.

            The smoke began to rise, thick and smelly, filling the kitchen and forcing the cooks to exit it screaming. Like a shadow Maximus stepped into the smoke with his face covered and gathered some food into his cape. He gathered allot of salted beef that could be left over long periods along with a sack of nuts. Using two water skins that he had rummaged from one of the cupboards he filled them with water and after taking some fruit, stepped out towards the exit.

            Making his way back to the stable door he noticed another horse had arrived, plain with the decoration of the seventh legion, the messenger had arrived. Slowly Maximus entered the stable and put the food inside his satchel. After hiding the bag under the hay Maximus moved towards his father’s black stallion Arbus. He put his saddle behind the horse under the hay and finally sneaked back to his room to sleep until night time.

            Maximus woke up at midnight after hearing some wolves howling and began to put on his clothes. Silently he placed his sword into his belt; the time had come for Maximus to leave. Through his covered face he took one last look around the room that has been his for the last fifteen years then he turned his face and put on his cloak hiding a lonely tear.

            The hallways were empty and the villa was nearly completely black besides the occasional torch for the guards benefit. The guards did not see him and to his luck the stable buck was in a deep sleep. After finding all of his gear under the hay and attaching it to the horse. Finally he mounted Arbus and rode out of the stable as silent as possible making sure he kicked the door shut after him. 

    Where will he go? Where will he hide? This is a critical part in the story and i hope you are excited for the next chapter. Give me feedback! It will help me improve your reading experience.