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Chapter 12: Self Control

Marcy’s POV

It had been a week since camp had started preparing for war. In that week I’d started asking myself if I could do it, if I could really go to war. I wasn’t even fifteen for another few hours!

Good gods I’d forgotten my own birthday! I was still adjusting to camp and constant preparations for war, and now my birthday was here and I’d only noticed when my chaotic thoughts slowed enough for me to understand them!

“Marcy!” I turned round to find it was Amy that had called, the centurion that had been drilling me with the other five probatio status campers in the third. She was a daughter of Bellona, goddess of war, and the Praetor Reyna’s half-sister.

Amy had dark brown hair flowing down over her eyes of the same color. Her features were gentle and curved as the rest of her body. If I hadn’t been pre-occupied with Kat and she hadn’t been nineteen with a boyfriend I might have been interested.

“Ma-am,” I saluted, bringing my other arm into my side and standing straight.

Amy hung her head in mock exasperation. “Honestly Marcy,” you can call me Amy, we’re off duty right now.”

I let my body relax. “Okay then, Amy, what was it you needed?”

“Just wanted to see how those moves were coming.” She said, with a bit of a smirk.

Amy had been teaching me how to fight individually; she did it with all the new recruits apparently, to get us the basics quickly.

I didn’t know why, but my sword didn’t glow as bright and didn’t send me directions anymore, so I had to learn.

“I think they’re coming pretty well,” I said, giving a very short demonstration with Oculus. I had started calling the spatha Oculus because I’d noticed the words Oculus Tempestatis inscribed into the flat of the blade near the hand guard. It’d taken me a while, but I’d translated the words from Latin and they meant, eye of the storm. I wondered why, but now wasn’t the time to ask anyone about that, if anyone knew what it meant.

“Good,” Amy said, and then she looked over my shoulder, “Oh, hey, I’ll leave you two alone.” And she left with a wink at me.

I turned and found myself face to face with Kat, and our faces were very close.

I felt my cheeks flush and I jumped back about two feet.

“Oh,” Kat said, her own face turning an infuriatingly adorable shade of pink, “Sorry, I didn’t mean to startle you!”

I had to shake my head clear, I had to keep myself focused, and I’d kept my distance from Kat the last week for just that purpose, but now here she was, and no amount of self-control could make me leave before we at least had a chance to talk.

“Hi,” I said, “How’s it been going for you? War prep and all?” I had to try and keep this professional. I couldn’t distract Kat, if that was something I could ever do anyway, she was a major player in Rome’s government and this was a bad time.

Kat looked almost disappointed at my greeting, but answered anyway. “Good,” She said, “The senate is prepared to send out delegates when they get here, probably Dave and Dakota, see if we can negotiate, and if that fails, well, they get back here as fast as they can and we prepare for battle.”

I was worried about the idea of Dave heading out there with only one other guy to help him, he was a good friend so far, but he was capable so I’d try and put it from my mind.

“So,” Kat pushed, “Anything special going on today?” She leaned in a little towards me, cocking her head to one side and holding her hands just behind her at waist level.

After I was sure my nose wasn’t bleeding, I answered, “Not really, it’s my birthday but I didn’t want to do anything.”

“You didn’t even tell me it was your birthday!?” Kat was totally indignant now.

“I’d forgotten myself until a few minutes ago!” I protested, she was making it really hard to be professional.

“Fine,” Kat said, “But Dave and I are on leave tonight and you are coming with us! Technically, Dave can grant you leave time as your officer, and I doubt Amy will object.”

I reluctantly agreed, just hoping this wouldn’t turn bad.

Description
Chapter 12: Self Control

Marcy’s POV

It had been a week since camp had started preparing for war. In that week I’d started asking myself if I could do it, if I could really go to war. I wasn’t even fifteen for another few hours!

Good gods I’d forgotten my own birthday! I was still adjusting to camp and constant preparations for war, and now my birthday was here and I’d only noticed when my chaotic thoughts slowed enough for me to understand them!

“Marcy!” I turned round to find it was Amy that had called, the centurion that had been drilling me with the other five probatio status campers in the third. She was a daughter of Bellona, goddess of war, and the Praetor Reyna’s half-sister.

Amy had dark brown hair flowing down over her eyes of the same color. Her features were gentle and curved as the rest of her body. If I hadn’t been pre-occupied with Kat and she hadn’t been nineteen with a boyfriend I might have been interested.

“Ma-am,” I saluted, bringing my other arm into my side and standing straight.

Amy hung her head in mock exasperation. “Honestly Marcy,” you can call me Amy, we’re off duty right now.”

I let my body relax. “Okay then, Amy, what was it you needed?”

“Just wanted to see how those moves were coming.” She said, with a bit of a smirk.

Amy had been teaching me how to fight individually; she did it with all the new recruits apparently, to get us the basics quickly.

I didn’t know why, but my sword didn’t glow as bright and didn’t send me directions anymore, so I had to learn.

“I think they’re coming pretty well,” I said, giving a very short demonstration with Oculus. I had started calling the spatha Oculus because I’d noticed the words Oculus Tempestatis inscribed into the flat of the blade near the hand guard. It’d taken me a while, but I’d translated the words from Latin and they meant, eye of the storm. I wondered why, but now wasn’t the time to ask anyone about that, if anyone knew what it meant.

“Good,” Amy said, and then she looked over my shoulder, “Oh, hey, I’ll leave you two alone.” And she left with a wink at me.

I turned and found myself face to face with Kat, and our faces were very close.

I felt my cheeks flush and I jumped back about two feet.

“Oh,” Kat said, her own face turning an infuriatingly adorable shade of pink, “Sorry, I didn’t mean to startle you!”

I had to shake my head clear, I had to keep myself focused, and I’d kept my distance from Kat the last week for just that purpose, but now here she was, and no amount of self-control could make me leave before we at least had a chance to talk.

“Hi,” I said, “How’s it been going for you? War prep and all?” I had to try and keep this professional. I couldn’t distract Kat, if that was something I could ever do anyway, she was a major player in Rome’s government and this was a bad time.

Kat looked almost disappointed at my greeting, but answered anyway. “Good,” She said, “The senate is prepared to send out delegates when they get here, probably Dave and Dakota, see if we can negotiate, and if that fails, well, they get back here as fast as they can and we prepare for battle.”

I was worried about the idea of Dave heading out there with only one other guy to help him, he was a good friend so far, but he was capable so I’d try and put it from my mind.

“So,” Kat pushed, “Anything special going on today?” She leaned in a little towards me, cocking her head to one side and holding her hands just behind her at waist level.

After I was sure my nose wasn’t bleeding, I answered, “Not really, it’s my birthday but I didn’t want to do anything.”

“You didn’t even tell me it was your birthday!?” Kat was totally indignant now.

“I’d forgotten myself until a few minutes ago!” I protested, she was making it really hard to be professional.

“Fine,” Kat said, “But Dave and I are on leave tonight and you are coming with us! Technically, Dave can grant you leave time as your officer, and I doubt Amy will object.”

I reluctantly agreed, just hoping this wouldn’t turn bad.