Aurelia Rising

"It is through the darkest hours of the night that we must persist. For the dawn comes soon after, even if all hope seems lost."

- Ýrsil Aurelia Scania

The company walked with the Tibur river to their left. The angle of the sun's rays betrayed that it was still early in the morning, but Gregorios had spurred them on to move quickly. None of them had put up much resistance. Their supplies of food were beginning to run precariously low, and they would have to rely more on the rare chances to forage or hunt they were provided so deep in the wilds.

Tullius was nearly back to his old self, and was carrying a heavier pack than most as though to prove it. Aurelia just thought he felt guilty for not being able to contribute much these last few days. Gaius always seemed to find an excuse to be close by to the bowman, his eyes occasionally darting over to survey the nearly healed man. If he tore his bandages, Aurelia was sure Gaius would kill Tullius himself, no need to involve any orks in the affair.

Aurelia's shoulders twitched, and she ruffled her feathers as they walked. Flying definitely beat walking, and after spending much of the past two days in the air, the pace of their journey felt almost painfully slow. She adjusted how the weight of her pack rested against her back between her wings. If she wasn't carrying it she absolutely would be soaring high above, but they were giving the packmule as much of a rest as they could, and down here she could enjoy the company of the others.

She and Thessa walked side by side, with Junia leading her horse just behind them. Maybe later she could stash her gear on Mare so she could fly up and get a good look at their surroundings from above. They chatted idly, the three of them. Monin was about forty minutes into some tale about a long-dead ancestor's exploits against a goblin kingdom deep underground. The story would have been riveting, if he didn't explain in great detail the exact lineage of each dwarf he mentioned in his tale.

Thessa bumped her hips into hers affectionately, which made Aurelia's lips quirk into a small smile. They were becoming more willing to display their affections openly now. Whether it was the length of time together which was deepening their intimacy, or the frequent life-or-death encounters these past days making everything else seem insignificant, Aurelia couldn't tell. The men didn't seem to mind though, which she was grateful for. The knowing glances she had noticed before when they were trying to be more discrete had fallen away, replaced by what appeared to be casual acceptance.

Thessa hadn't told them what the Gods had offered her, and for that matter neither had Aurelia when she had had a similar experience a few days prior, courtesy of Iri. But they had all agreed to discuss the matter more when they arrived back in Rome. She actually wasn't sure where the little sprite was, she seemed to come and go as she pleased, but Aurelia was sure no harm would come to her. She seemed to be as much a part of these woods as the trees.

Though they were in good company, there was an undertone of desperation which was beginning to set in. Everyone could feel their packs weighing lighter today than they had previously, and could see the sacks of grain hanging empty off the mules sides. If they didn't reach Tibur, or another beacon of civilization soon, their passing might not be as glorious as perishing in combat with the enemies of Rome.

And so they pressed on, the sun crept higher in the sky, and their food continued to dwindle.

Later in the day, Aurelia got her wish. She soared through the air, delighting in the feel of the wind which rushed over her skin and drew back her golden hair like a long banner. She swooped up and down, whooping with the freedom she felt in that moment. As she rose and fell, she felt at first heavy, then weightless. Each change of direction tugged slightly at the hidden weight currently inside her. She found that she quite enjoyed the sensation of fullness, and the occasional pangs of pleasure which came when a ridge on the egg's surface rubbed against a particularely sensitive spot inside her.

She was loosely following the river downstream, further ahead in the direction the company was going. So far she had seen no sign of the city of Tibur, despite it being ostensibly named after the body of water they were currently following. Though, streams and brooks had been pouring into and joining the river below her, so maybe they were currently following a tributary and would only join the actual river later. Nevertheless, she had her course and her objective, and she was determined to follow them.

She rose higher in the air, taking in a view of the world she would have never imagined possible unless she were to stand on the peaks of the tallest mountains. The forest below her was a carpet of green, hills and valleys mere wrinkles on it's surface. The river a reflective streak which guided her way. In her childhood, she had once seen a hawk swoop down from the heavens and take a chicken. The hawk had been so high in the sky she hadn't even seen it, yet it had been able to see the chicken with such precision as to pick it out from the flock. As Aurelia flew, she began to take in details from afar that she was sure she wouldn't have been able to not long ago. She could pick out individual leaves from the trees, flowers in the meadows. She even caught glimpses of a field mouse when she really strained her eyes. It was with this newfound sensitivity of her eyesight that she spotted a crease of brown which cut through the land, like a colossal giant had dropped a piece of string. As she neared, she found with delight a slim road which wound it's ways through the landscape. And if there was a road, then surely there would be places it connected. It even drew alongside the river for a while, where she could direct the others to.

She drew near the road, skimming just above the treetops to get a better view. It was just a simple dirt path, barely wide enough for a cart and lacking the stone of the major Roman ways. Likely only a route used by local woodsmen or something of the like. She rose higher once more and began to follow the road in a vaguely downstream direction. With any luck, she would soon spot whatever town or city was nearby.

"So lass, what will ye do with yer cut when we get back?" Monin asked Junia. The dwarf had fallen back from his customary place further up the column when Aurelia had left, and seemed eager to make small talk with his new companions. "I don't rightly know, to be honest." Junia replied. "Probably something for Mare, but aside from that I'm not sure. Maybe more kit to be honest. I was half thinking of giving much of my slice of the reward to my family. They'd be much more accepting if I could show them concretely that this is really what's best for me, and not some idle maidens fancy that I'm chasing."

"Aye lass, I think I catch yer meaning. It too was hard to leave the hold and go out under the great sky." He said, looking up to meet her eyes. "I'm not even like some of my kinsmen who beat steel in a forge, or stack coins in a bank! But that's all fair, I don't know if I could ever set aside my love of giving buggers a proper smashing!" He patted the pommel by his waist to punctuate his meaning, a small smile on his lips. "I have a cousin in the bank in Rome, so I'll be squirreling all that I can away. I might not have a dragon's hoard yet, but over the years I've learned that the power of compound interest is greater than any elvish trickery!"

"Have you met many elves, then?" Junia asked, her eyebrows raised in surprise. As far as she knew, there was no love lost between the two non-human races. And they were both known to be rather reclusive in their mountain holds and forest realms.

"Aye, lass. I've met a couple in my time, though I'd have to put the last time I met one of the knife-eared buggers at about eighty years past." Monin said with a thoughtful stroke of his long braided beard.

"You're eighty years old!?" Junia gasped, unable to stop herself.

Monin looked up at her, his expression almost hurt. She was about to apologize before a wide grin split his face. "Aye lass, I've seen a fair sight more than eighty winters. But don't ye go thinking I'm some grey-bearded soup sucker, I've still got plenty more years of sore feet to look forward to."

At midday they stopped for lunch and to give the animals a rest. Their hooves weren't suited to the tough terrain, and they were carrying much of the remaining supplies. Gaius was stirring the pot over a small fire, Junia was brushing out Mare's coat, and Gregorios was checking the mule's hooves. It was to this ambiance that they heard a rustling of the trees and a flapping of wings. Thessa looked up to see Aurelia descending slowly, her wings beating occasionally as she lowered gracefully as if she was hanging by invisible strings. They each stopped what they were doing to look up and gather round the fire to hear the news. Thessa had to wipe a bit of drool from the corner of her mouth before joining them.

"Good news! If we keep going this direction we'll hit a dirt road, and if we follow that for a ways well hit a castrum before too long. It's not Tibur, but they should have beds and warm food for us."

Spoiler

A Castrum was a Roman fortification which ranged from a temporary camp set up by a marching army, to a permanent presence which could develop into a town over time. Characterized by grid like streets and rectangular walls, castrum and castellum (smaller versions) formed a lynchpin of Roman frontier security.

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They let out a small cheer at that. Porridge was only appetizing for so many days in a row before one's tongue grew tired of the taste, and they had long since run out of dried meats and fruits from the start of their journey.

Aurelia joined them for the next leg of their journey on foot. She wasn't sure exactly where her limit was with flying, but finding out in the middle of the sky didn't strike her as the brightest idea. She and Gregorios spoke a bit more about what she had seen, but she hadn't known what to look for in the castrum to answer any of his questions very well.

"Did you hear that?" Aurelia asked Thessa, who was walking beside her in the column. "Hear what?" She responded. "That rustling behind us." Replied Aurelia. She tried straining her ears, but no one else seemed to have heard anything anyway, and she didn't hear it again. She met Thessa's eyes, understanding flashed between them. It was very probable that it was Iri following them along, but since the sprite hadn't revealed herself to the others, it didn't feel right to comment on it further within earshot of the column. "I guess it was nothing." Finished Aurelia. After all, if they froze and investigated every noise in the woods they'd never get anywhere. There were surely deer and other animals which they would disturb with their passing, so long as they weren't leaping at them with teeth and claws, Aurelia was inclined to leave them be.

If she had waited a little longer, or if one of their number had better ears, they might have heard the quiet grunts and snuffles which followed them for a distance before turning back.

"I'm saved!" Declared Junia when they spotted the road. They spilled onto the dirt path with obvious relish, though none with as much aplomb as the brunette woman. "If I had found another rock in my boots I would have screamed." The others chuckled at the statement, though it was obvious that everyone enjoyed not being slapped in the face with branches constantly. Junia jumped astride Mare and leaned forward to bury her face in her horse's mane. With a deep inhale, she raised her arm. "Onwards!"

And so they did go onwards, following Aurelia's direction. If she was right, then it would only be a few more hours before they reached the castrum.

It was at this moment that Aurelia began to feel the call of nature, a common enough occurrence. She motioned towards the brush by the side of the road and made eye contact with Gregorios. He nodded in understanding. No need to delay the others, she would only be a moment. Protocol was to go in pairs, but Junia was draped over Mare and didn't seem keen on moving, while Thessa seemed enraptured with Gaius about some sort of herb lore. None of the men were comfortable with accompanying the women, it was some nonsense about virtue or whatnot. But to be fair, Aurelia didn't really want a guy to see her in one of those moments.

She took a few steps off the road and into the brush, just enough to be hidden from the view of the column slowly walking down the path. With a bit or rearranging, she parted her stola and bared her intimate parts to the wild. She had half considered simply squatting as she was, but that felt sacrilegious to the life inside her. And besides, she was fortunate enough to have another option. Slowly, her shaft emerged, followed by her weighty sac. She enjoyed being a woman, though she was doubly blessed. She couldn't imaging being a man, being so... flat. No curves at all. There was one piece male anatomy which she was extremely appreciative of, however. And hers was certainly exceptional.

She was whistling a half-remembered tune from her temple childhood when she heard a slight rustling in the forest. She craned her neck back and forth, though her keen eyes saw only the trees and green of the forest. Still, she gripped the wooden shaft of her spear slightly tighter than she had before. One hand on a shaft of wood, the other on one of flesh and blood. With a little shake and a twist, she was done.

It was that little shake that saved her life.

A crude black arrow buzzed through the air and implanted itself in a tree beside her. It was close enough to have surely struck her should she not have moved at the last instant. Her eyes darted to the source. Through the brush, half hidden behind a thick bush, crouched a tusked greenskined horror readying another arrow. Aurelia yelped! in an entirely non-ladylike exclamation of alarm, before turning to run. As she whirled around, the brush erupted into raucous roars and shouts. The trap had been sprung.

The brush was too thick for her to take flight immediately, and so she stumbled awkwardly over roots and plants in her haste to reach the clearing of the road again. She winced as her wings and manhood caught on low hanging branches and grasping bushes, but the sounds of heavy footfalls behind her sped her feet despite the stinging pain. Her spear, her constant companion throughout the journey, was more of a hindrance than a help in her flight. But she dared not let it go, she did not think the puny knife on her belt would protect her from the horde of orks for very long.

She burst onto the road with a gasp, nearly tripping over herself. There was an awful lot of movement below her belt, but she had no time for such things at the moment. She twisted her neck and looked down the road in the direction the company had been going. She had only been gone a moment, but there was a bend in the road ahead. She couldn't see the others and surely they couldn't have gotten far at the slow trot they had been going. She let out a loud cry as she began to run down the road "To arms! To arms! Orks! Orks!". After a dozen paces, she heard another crash through the trees. Looking behind her, to her horror, there were a dozen orks and goblins freshly emerged, with more pouring out of the brush with every moment.

She spread her wings, not able to fully extend them to their full breadth with the press of trees on either side of the road. With a leap and a lurch of her stomach, she tried to take to the air anyway. She rose for a moment, then fell crashing back to earth, she stumbled slightly as her feet impacted the hard packed dirt. Another arrow whizzed by her head despite the narrowness of the road, whichever ork which had let loose obviously finding it difficult to shoot and run at the same time.

She rounded the bend in the road, and there they were. The company stared at her with stupefaction, and she could have sworn that each of their eyes dipped lower as they saw her. Her shriek of "Ooorks!" broke them from their state of confusion. They started to run down the road now, the men dropping to the back of the column while Thessa, Gaius and the mule was brought to the front. Junia looked like she was about to wheel about to charge at the oncoming ork threat, but as the horde rounded the bend she grabbed the reins to reconsider.

Aurelia quickly caught up with the rest of the group, finally taking the time to get a good look at the threat chasing them. Orks with light-green skin filled the path behind them, each tall and broad as an ox. Their lumbering strides looked stuttering and clumsy, but ate up a deceptively large amount of ground. Most were armed with nothing more than simple clubs and mauls, though a few smaller figures closer to the back wielded simple bows. Goblins, Aurelia thought. At the front, the biggest and meanest looking ork she had seen yet led the charge. Easily taller than her, and seeming to be nearly as wide as it was tall, it's exposed chest and shoulders rippling with thick cords of muscle. Two large tusks protruded from it's lower jaw, stained a faint red from whatever past victims had been unfortunate enough to cross it's path.

From what she remembered of their route, there was still some distance to travel before they could hope to reach the safety of the castrum. Which meant they couldn't run from the orks forever. Their legs would certainly give out before the least of the foul greenskins. Gregorios and Monin and the others were all experienced adventurers, and could definitely take on numbers many times their own in the bottleneck of the road. But all it would take is one to falter for the rest to be doomed, and Aurelia had visions of that lead ork charging like a battering ram through any line they might hope to make, scattering them like dice. Even if it didn't kill any of them, a gap would leave an opening for the rest of it's dark kin to pour through and take their savage price.

Looking forward, she saw Gregorios and the others performing the same grim calculus in their heads. "Form up!" Gregorios shouted. Despite the situation, his hands did not falter when he drew his sword. He looked up at Aurelia, then glanced forlornly at Thessa and Junia "Not many in this trade die in their beds. But I'll be damned if I go to my ancestors without giving you three a chance.".

In a moment of shocking revelation, Thessa and Junia looked to her. Aurelia felt stunned at their trust in her, that they were putting the decision into her hands. "You two go on, we'll catch up in a bit." Her voice shook as she uttered the words, but to her immense relief the accepted them. Junia hauling Thessa up across Mare, and grabbing the packmule's lead before kicking into a canter.

Despite the sentiment of the action, there was reason too. Only so many could bunch up in the narrow confines of the road. Anyone extra would just be waiting their turn. And besides, Aurelia had the best chance out of anyone of escaping. She thought bitterly.

Gregorios stood in the centre, Comak on his left and Monin on his right. Even Gaius and Tullius stood with them. The healer hefting his staff with practiced expertise, and the archer unslinging his bow. Tullius nocked an arrow tenderly, drew back, grunted, and then released. He began to draw back again despite the obvious pain wracking his body. His arrow thunked into the chest of the big leading ork. It barely even seemed to react, simply letting out a bellow of rage. So blind with bloodlust it's eyes blazed red.

They stood in a line in Roman military fashion, they were even led by a genuine Roman veteran. But they had no shields to form a wall, and that leading ork looked like it could knock down a house anyway.

But then Aurelia had an idea. A idiotic, dangerous, almost assuredly suicidal idea.

"Comak!" She cried the man's name "Throw me up!". The man stared at her for a moment, not knowing what she meant. But as she began to sprint towards him, a shaky understanding seemed to enter him. Sure enough he dropped his mace to the ground, lowered his arms, and crouched down slightly.

Aurelia's feet pounded the ground as she prepared to launch herself. Step, her foot impacted against the hard-packed dirt. Step, she raised her knee and her next step came down on Comak's braided fingers. Step, she placed her foot on his shoulder and began to leap upwards. Comak heaved upwards with his arms and stood tall under her, giving her a boost with his body. Aurelia spread her wings as wide as she was able, pressing tight against the edges of the trees and ignoring any pain and snags along the way. With a mighty beat of her wings she continued her momentum.

It was enough.

With their strength combined she was able to clear the tops of the trees, and spread her wings to their full extent. Her next beat was full and unobstructed, launching her higher.

She might only have one good shot at this, and the Gods were watching.

Comak lent down to retrieve his mace. It had come with him through many long days and night, and he intended to be holding it if he were to finally fall today. The feathered woman was gone. But he supposed he would have done the same if he had wings. You didn't get paid to die.

Though, he'd always though his last thoughts would have been about the regrets of his life. Shouldn't have left the wife, should have spent more time with his parent's when he had the chance, should have taken a different job than this one. That sort of thing. He never would have guessed his last thoughts were going to be about someone else's manhood.

There had been entirely too much flapping flesh between Aurelia's legs when she had charged at him. He had sampled just about every pleasurehouse in Rome, and tasted everything each had to offer. He'd gotten his hands on plenty of non-human bits, but none had ever slapped him across the face. Tits belonged on a woman, and that... monstrosity... sure as all that was holy did not belong on a woman's body. Human or no.

What sick trick were the Gods playing on him, that his last thoughts were going to be spent thinking about Aurelia's cock and those... masses behind it.

Aurelia whirled through the air. Her lower body felt colder than usual, but she pushed the thought aside. She needed to concentrate for what came ahead.

She had wheeled around in the air, climbing ever higher as she did so. Looking further down the road, she could barely make out Junia's retreating form astride Mare. The bends of the road obscuring her vision with the greens of trees. Down below she could see the stalwart but resigned line Gregorios was directing, and the onrushing tide of green bodies. The leader had broken forward of the rest of his horde, his eagerness to spill blood outmatching the legs of his followers.

Good, it would make things easier for her.

She had always loved to watch the birds in the Groves of Ceres growing up. Listening to their songs or seeing them fly about, free as could be. Likewise, she had hated the hawks and raptors which had disturbed them. Diving and snatching their unsuspecting prey below to a young Aurelia's dismay.

But now Aurelia was in the air, and the big greenskin was an awfully large target.

The orks had lost interest in her as soon as she had left their line of sight, the fodder right in front of them presenting a target too tempting to let go. Or to think about where the large golden woman had gone.

Aurelia adjusted position in the air, ensuring that the lead ork was directly below her. It was nearly at the line, there were only moments before Gregorios and the others were bowled over and scattered. So she took a deep breath, tucked in her wings, and began to dive.

Gregorios stood ready, sword in hand and resting on the balls of his feet. The ork Bozz charging straight at him was a monstrously large specimen, close to the biggest he had ever seen. A small shieldwall and a few good men on horseback would have done the trick, but that was a different man and a long time ago. Their only chance lay in the monster's over eagerness. Since it was running ahead of it's mob, they would have a few seconds where it would be five on one. They would have to somehow survive it's charge unharmed and deal enough damage to it so that they could focus on the rest of the horde when it arrived shortly afterward.

"Gaius! Remember Asclepina?" He asked, his voice calm despite the situation.

"Yes, Centurion!" Gaius replied.

"Good! We're going to try something similar here." Gregorios said. "On my mark, everyone dives to the side! Let the big brute through!"

They held the line, Tullius continuing to pummel the onrushing orks with arrows as fast as he could with his injury. His tunic was stained red along his side, and he was slower than he had been at the start. Each motion of his arms and back made him cry out through gritted teeth, but still he drew back and fired.

"Steady!" Gregorios cautioned, the lead ork nearly upon them.

"Steady!"

"Steady!!"

But before he could give the word to dive aside, a piecing Whoosh! and a gust of wind buffeted them. With a sound which registered as a mix of a wood plank snapping and a wet boil popping, a nimbus of white and gold impacted the charging ork.

He had to blink his eyes clear for a moment, but when he could see again he couldn't stop himself from gasping slightly under his breath.

Aurelia stood on the shoulders of the ork bozz, which had been crushed to it's knees with her impact. Her spear, which had been dulled and marred days previous, was plunged down the nape of it's neck and through it's torso and body. It still had an expression of fury etched in it's features, not even having had the time to feel the blow before it's spine was obliterated.

The world stood still. The adventurers stunned to silence and the ork horde drawing to a halt at the sight of the sudden loss of their leader.

He watched as Aurelia stood and turned, balanced on the broad shoulders of the ork, which was pinned to the ground like a skewer. She spread her wings, taking up as much space as she could and then lit up like a beacon. Like daybreak on a starless night. The greens and browns of the forest turned black and white. Blinking again, he was able to see that most of Aurelia's efforts were being spent on the orks rather than them. The orks were trying to block the sudden blinding radiance with arms and hands.

It seemed that their moment had come, even if they hadn't had to rely in his plan after all.

"Chaaarge!" He shouted, breaking the others from their stupor. He led their motley crew of five, which was really only three and a half men, into the fray. They broke around the hulking form of the ork corpse, and with the backs of their heads facing Aurelia, they began to cut down the nearest of the orks, who were finally starting to rouse again.

It only took a few kills for the weakest of them to turn tail and run, and once the dam broke the rest began to follow. Tripping and bludgeoning each other out of the way to scamper off back down the road and into the woods. If they had all stood and fought, it would have been doubtful that the adventurers could have won. The orks had numbers, size, and ferocity on their side. But run on they did, until they were all out of sight. Aurelia's brilliance faded slowly into nothing,

They stood there heaving, hands on their knees. Only Monin not weary out of all of them. He looked a long moment at where the last greenskin had disappeared into the wilds, then turned to look up at Aurelia.

"Y'know lass, ye might want te tuck yerself back in. Someone could lose an eye with that thing swinging about."

Gregorios heard Comak grumble something, but couldn't make out the words.

Aurelia looked at the dwarf in confusion, then looked down at herself. With a slight adjustment so she could see past her chest, her face erupted into a bright shade of scarlet as she desperately stuffed herself back into her robes.

It seemed that Gregorios, and the others, now knew why the women were making so much noise at night.