"One for sorrow, two for mirth. Three for a wedding, and four for a birth. Five for silver, six for gold. Seven for a secret... not to be told."
-Counting Crows
Lucius and I stare at the horizon. Behind us stand five legions. I was once as young as the boys who stand behind me, some not even old enough to grow beards, others struggling with their oversized armour. When I was just fourteen I joined the ranks of Curia, and I have not left since. My father would have been proud to see me where I am now, my mother surprised that I made it this far.
When I look at those boys, I can only see their parents, if they haven't lost them to the war already. I see their little sister who's only been in the world for a year, wondering why her big brother isn't coming home. I see the dog lying by the fireplace, waiting for its owner. I see their ancestors in the Underworld welcoming them, surprised and sad to see them so soon.
But I can't think about that. As a Centurion, I am supposed to be strong and not care about the dying soldiers around me. Even if I were standing face to face with Jupiter, I must not hesitate.
I crouch down and put my hand on the ground, among the grass. A routine I do before battles. When I close my eyes, I can sense the enemy army advancing.
Even though the hills hide their presence, the subtle shaking of the earth betrays them. This is how I prepare myself for the horrors that I'm about to see.
I take a deep breath and look up to the sky. The plume of horsehair on my helmet touches my armour as I stare at the sky above me. The clouds prevent me from seeing the sun. Thankfully, the rain that had fallen earlier has stopped. Otherwise, the grass would be so muddy that chariots would get stuck and we would struggle to move forward.
A single raven flies over, perhaps Minerva is watching. I stand up again and look at the legions behind me one last time. May she be on our side.
'Look alive! We're not dead yet," Lucius says, nudging me.
'Not yet,' I remark, but I can't help to smile. From the moment I decided to become a soldier, I knew I would die like this one day. All heroes must die. But they don't have to die alone. And what's better than going down with your best friend by your side?
Suddenly, the murmur of the legions falls silent. The boys who were talking nervously just now, turn white and shut up. The only sound is the music that returns to me, as an old friend. The music of war.
This music consists of the thumping of thousands of human feet and horses' hooves, the clanging of swords on other swords, men shouting battle cries and not much later the wailing of those who have been hit. This music makes my heart beat faster, this is what I was made for. So I stare at the horizon where the army is just barely rising above the hills.
My heart stops. I look at Lucius, and we both know it's the last time that we do. I go to stand by him, pressing my forehead against his. '
'See you on the other side.'
I then raise my sword and shout, 'For Curia!'