Cade allowed himself a thin smile. “You got a better idea?”

They packed their sleds immediately—sleep could wait. Their water jars were refilled surreptitiously from the Roman wagons, which were still waiting to be unpacked as the soldiers celebrated their new home.

They could not leave just yet though. It was all well and good to seek out the second Roman base. But without at least a direction to head in, they had no hope of finding it in time.

Now, it was up to Quintus, who had told them more about Marius. His friendship with the centurion was one that had spanned years. It was Marius who had championed the young legionary’s right to fight in the Ninth Legion, despite his hearing impediment. He who had shielded the boy from the worst of the bullying, and ensured Quintus was fed when his food was taken from him.

So they could do nothing but wait by the gate entrance as Quintus slunk between the campfires scattered across the harbor’s dry basin, seeking out his old friend.

He was gone for quite some time, and they could do nothing but endure the curious glances from passing Romans. In a way, Atticus’s proclamation protected them from further investigation—none wanted to incur the despotic leader’s wrath.

Quintus returned breathless, his eyes ringed with dark circles. But though his face was haggard, a smile was stamped across it.

“Marius could not speak to me. He ignored me when I asked him to show me the other place. But I walked away and watched. He drew this, and threw it behind him.”

He passed a rag to Cade, who held it up to the red light of the rising moon.

It was rough, scratched into the fabric with charcoal. Jomsborg, at its center, marked by a square with crenellations at its top.

There was Fort Caroline, a spike-topped circle to indicate the palisade around it. And a third object, a strange, jagged triangle, directly above the conquistador’s fort.

By luck or Abaddon’s twisted logic, their journey was a straight line, one that would return them to Fort Caroline. They would have a place to rest up, and would be able to investigate both locations further.

But there were disadvantages too. The Grays might well be holed up in their fort, but it was possible they would have sent scouts out to investigate what the Romans were up to. No doubt they would have discovered the location of Fort Caroline.

If there were scouts out there, they would be watching it. Perhaps even patrolling the route between the fort and Jomsborg.

Their only advantage was speed … and the cover of night.

CHAPTER

19

Quintus was hardly able to walk by the time they reached Fort Caroline, with the chirrups and calls of the local fauna announcing the arrival of the sun.

They had trekked through the night, watching the horizon for approaching Grays. But none had come. Still, the Grays could arrive at any moment, and as they staggered into the log cabin, the last structure remaining there, they left Quintus to sleep in a makeshift cot on one of their sleds. He only took the time to gulp down some water and jerky before he was out like a light.