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Rain began to spit down again from a slate coloured sky Leaves rustled and then bracken snapped

They appeared quickly, in two pairs, froh All four of the young ht to hied therimy and feral Both Oppius and Teucer knew that they were at a disadvantage and resisted reaching for their weapons

The apparent leader of the brigands stepped forward and occupied the middle of the road The youth had a sinewy body, harelip and sadistic aspect, which shone as brightly as the dagger he held up, after slinging his bow back over his shoulder

"This here is our road - and you need to pay a toll"

Teucer fancied that he would gladly have paid the toll if he thought that it would have gone to the upkeep of the road

Oppius assessed the situation The youths would be easy to best, just as soon as they lowered their bows With three of the their bows on the two of them it was likely that at least one of theands Already the centurion noticed how their ar inanely as they thought about what they would spend their booty on They would also soon switch to holding their daggers too as greed overtook them and they searched their victiands to his right, nearest to hi but unskilled He would allow Teucer to deal with their leader in front of him and the pock-marked barbarian to his left

"Let&039;s not fuck about What have you got on you?"

Both soldiers, thinking the sa,to be searched - rather than retrieved their valuables theand paused however, just as he was about to search Teucer

"Do I know you?" he asked, squinting suspiciously at the archer

"Doubtful I probably would have killed you if we had met before"

"No, I do know you You&039;re Adi should reward us if we bring hi evena lot better than you, by the looks of it," he replied, with a snigger His co their bows over their shoulders and re knives

"And how is o"

"Give her ards, when you see her"

"What? You should be worried about the kind of regards your brother is going to show you He&039;ll welcome you with a campfire - and then cook you on it," the brigand replied, letting out a laugh

They all now looked at each other and laughed It was the distraction that the professional soldiers had been waiting for In one swift, sand by the throat in one hand and plucked an arrow from the quiver on his back with the other - and plunged it into his eneh the air, as all htened by the unnatural noise Reacting at the same time - and with the saer and threw it into the barrel-chest of the youth who still had an arrow nooked upon his bow Shortly afterwards he was attacked by the other brigand to his right Oppius caught his knife-hand though as he was about to slash - and sla and crushing the cartilage in his nose Oppius then twisted his hand back so the brigand relinquished his dagger to hi from his throat, as the centurion sliced open his neck Oppius looked up to check where the re himself to fend hiure racing through the forest The as too dense for Teucer to take him doith a shot froe?" Oppius asked, concerned that the reer force

"Far enough, but we should get ly unmoved by the news about his mother and older brother