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Tribal Warrior

Chapter 2: A New Life

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Many gazes land on Nava as the gates open to reveal the camp. In the middle of the staring soldiers stands a man wearing different armour, with a distinct appearance, who seems different from the legionnaires standing around. He appears to be one of the higher commanders of this camp. Nava does not dare to say anything. Without being asked, she turns round again so that everyone can see that she really isn't carrying a weapon and that she can't show her hands because they are tied behind her back. The man nods approvingly and Nava steps slowly into the camp, always mindful of her movements. Just no sudden movements, as little hostile and threatening as possible. 
Hateful looks, curious looks, fearful looks, the legionnaires show her many different emotions.

But not their leader, who looks at Nava with a neutral expression when she stops right in front of him. The situation is tense and the air is dripping with silent expectations. The man in front of her motions for her to follow him. She walks slowly across the camp site, followed by the glances and trudging of the legionnaires.
The man enters a tent and she obediently follows him. Just don't cause any trouble, just don't make a fuss. Startled faces stare at Nava. One of the legionnaires in the hospital tent is so astonished that he drops a bowl clattering to the ground. 

"Examine her and get her some water to clean up!" orders her companion. Everyone immediately starts moving again and bowls and cloths are hastily brought. The man tells Nava to turn round and she immediately feels her bonds loosen and her tense shoulders relax. She carefully rubs her wrists as the man watches her with interest. 
One of the hospital doctors bustles around her and scrutinises her whole body before nodding and motioning for her to sit down on a blanket on the floor. She is handed a bowl of water and a cloth and immediately sets about cleaning her face.  Many sets of eyes rest on her the whole time. The doctor and her companion stand at a distance to discuss something. Nava is amazed that she is still alive. Also that she was received with relative friendliness. They have examined her, given her something to wash and loosened her bonds, which is more than she had hoped for. What happens next is written in the stars and seems to depend entirely on the man who let her into the camp. 
"No major external injuries. Scratched feet and legs, she must have walked a long way through the undergrowth," the doctor remarks dryly. "Her face?" "Not her own blood..." the doctor replies quickly. He is in a hurry, there are plenty of other patients who need his attention more urgently than a runaway Germanic woman. He nods and tells him that he can go. Nava tries not to listen to their conversation, but she can't help overhearing the man muttering to himself in surprise. "Why?"

She continues to wipe the dirt from her face impassively, what she would give for a warm bath now, a luxury she used to indulge in now and again at home. Home...what will become of her people now that she's gone. Feelings of guilt spread through her. She should have sorted things out when she still had the chance. Who will take the lead now? Hopefully they won't have to go along when Ballomar takes action against the Romans. Although she has repeatedly advised them against it, even warned them against it, she is sure that they will still go into battle against the Romans. 

"The Marcomanni tribes are planning to attack you," she says to the man. "Send envoys to Ballomar, he's a reasonable man...he'll talk to you..." Sharing information appears to be the best way to convince the Romans that she is not a threat. A negotiation would be beneficial for both sides and for Nava's tribe. She doesn't want her people to be sent to war unnecessarily, to die needlessly. She is so absorbed in her own thoughts that she doesn't even realise how several people are staring at her in disbelief. The astonishment comes not only from the fact that she has just shared important information, but also from the fact that she has spoken in flawless Latin. The man who had accompanied her is the first to regain his composure. "Come with me and we'll talk in peace," Nava awkwardly stands up. After sitting for a while, her limbs seem petrified after the previous exertion. Her movements are stiff and her whole body aches as she starts to follow the man. 

Limping, she follows the man through the camp, every extra metre hurting her bare feet. She heaves a sigh of relief when the man finally heads straight for a tent. The tent is spacious and stylishly furnished. The man sits down on one of the available chairs and gestures for Nava to sit down too. Relieved, she sits down on the chair.
Neither of them says anything at first. They scrutinise each other and it appears to Nava that the Roman is trying to assess her. As if he wants to find out whether he can really believe her statements or whether she is part of a large-scale trap. She wouldn't trust herself in his place either. I wonder what he sees while he's looking at her so closely.

Nava sees a handsome man in the prime of his life. His features look tired, but his blue eyes appear alert and intelligent. His short-cropped dark brown hair flatters his stern face. Nava cannot deny that he is very handsome. His posture shows a certain strength and his aura is authoritarian and commanding. Is he a just man? His legionaries seem to respect him and value his opinion highly; no one has openly questioned his decision. 


The Roman sees a pale, still rather dirty woman. He realises that she has probably walked a long way through the forest and undergrowth. She has short very dark brown almost black hair and green watchful eyes. She is perhaps a few years younger than he is. Without the dirt and obvious exhaustion, she is undoubtedly a very pretty young woman. But why is she here? Is it a trap after all? Or is she on the run? But on the run from what? Why would she willingly give him information?

 

"What's your name," he quietly interrupts the long silence. "Nava," comes a quiet reply. "My name is Maximus, I am the tribune of these troops. Now please explain to me how it is that a bound Germanic woman with blood on her face comes running into my camp and gives me information about the Germanic tribes' plans." Nava has known since she entered the camp that she will be expected to explain. She has not yet been able to think of an adequate solution to this problem. Should she just tell the truth? The whole story? Or just the important parts of the story? She won't be able to avoid telling the whole story at least once and Maximus seems open-minded and understanding enough. So she tells him the whole story, down to the smallest detail, and she repeats her proposal to send a messenger to Ballomar to start negotiations. "I just want nothing to happen to my people. Although I was never officially in charge of the village, it is my responsibility to protect them." A shiver runs down her spine as she thinks of all the people who could be killed by the unwise behaviour of Halvor and his father. 

Maximus is silent for a long time after Nava has stopped speaking. He looks as if he is deep in thought. Will he believe her? She doesn't know. Her body trembles, the cold of the night creeps into her tired bones and she wraps her arms around herself. Her stomach grumbles and her throat is parched; she doesn't dare ask for a blanket or some water. She doesn't dare disturb Maximus in his thoughts, because she wouldn't want to be disturbed. "Are you sure Ballomar is willing to negotiate with us?" he finally asks. "Make him a good offer, let him know that his people are safe, then he'll agree to a deal," Nava's teeth chatter as she speaks. Without a word, Maximus takes off his wolf fur-trimmed cloak and places it around Nava's shoulders. "I'll see what I can do." "Thank you."

She is housed in a separate tent. She is only given a few blankets to separate her from the cold ground and the chilly night air. Tribune Maximus makes sure she gets a bowl of warm soup and some water. She gratefully accepts the things and wraps herself in a blanket. She would give anything to be able to wash herself properly, but she is grateful for what she has received. Sentries are posted outside her tent and the guards on the palisades are doubled. The camp is still in a commotion after her arrival. She can't blame them, she would probably act similarly. 

As she slowly eats the soup, her thoughts keep wandering to the possibilities that now exist for her future. What will they do with her now? Prisoners of war who are not released are sold into slavery. Her best chance would probably be a gladiator school. She has heard about the battles and the brutality of them and she knows that she would stand a good chance as a warrior. Perhaps she could enlist in the army? After all, there are always Germanic tribesmen who join the legions and serve as auxiliaries. The only question is whether she would have the same chances as a woman. " Oh Sarolf, if only you knew what was going on here..." she turns her head upwards and peers through a gap in the tent wall out into the starry sky. She painfully realises once again that she will never see her brother again. She will never hear his voice again, experience his jokes or see his smile. She misses his advice, his understanding, his presence. "May the Valkyries accompany you safely to Valhalla, my beloved brother." 

The guards outside the tent hear her talking long into the night. In her language, not in Latin, but the words and the tone of voice sound so gentle and so full of emotion that they don't feel any concern about it. Maximus also comes to their tent at night to make sure there is no trouble. He hears her soft words, hears her trembling voice and hears the quiet sobs and then he knows that she is talking to the dead, that she is talking to her brother and in that moment of clarity he realises that Nava will not be a threat to them.