Free Hosker, G [Sword of Cartimandua 00.5] Ulpius Felix- Warrior of Rome by Griff Hosker

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    Behind him he heard Cava say, “Come on lads.  At least this way we’ll get rid of the lice and we don’t want the fat bastard upset do we?” Marius smiled, Cava had spoken in their own language and no-one else would understand.  The sound of the hooves on the parade ground told him that they had obeyed his orders and he breathed a sigh of relief. The tonsor was waiting eagerly. He was a legionary who earned extra money and the thought of shearing the barbarians appealed to him. He stood at his door as they dismounted. They waited for Flavius and the Prefect.  Wolf asked, “Why must we have our hair cut sir?  It will not make us better warriors.”
    “The General thinks it will.”
    “Come on then ladies, do no be shy.”
    Cava walked up to the legionary.  Cava was a big, well built warrior and he had learned enough of the Roman words, thanks to Aulus Murgus to make himself understood. “Listen to me any blood and we will see yours too now cut mine first!”
    He sat himself down and said a mental prayer to the gods of his family to forgive him. Wolf and the others watched as the hair was swiftly cut.  They had never seen hair cut before and did not know how quick it could be.  Cava changed before their eyes.  When the tonsor put soap on his face and took the sharp blade they were tempted to rush forward and stop their comrade being tortured.  Flavius saw the movement.  “It is fine lads, it just makes the shaving easier.” They had all seen the officers shaving themselves but they had just used water and a sharpened dagger.
    The shaving took longer but when his face was dried they did not recognise Cava and Gerjen almost tried to run out, but the Prefect restrained him. “He is still the same Cava, just a little cleaner. Tell them Cava.”
    The Chosen Man gave a half smile and rubbed his hand around his face.  “Well I feel lighter anyway but this feels cold. It doesn’t hurt lads and I will watch this prick in case he gets sloppy.” He then glared at the legionary, knelt down and picked up the hair.
    “What the fuck…”
    Cava stood and put his face close to the soldier.  “A prick like you will not understand but I will bury this and when I go to meet my ancestors it will be waiting!”
    Soon they all looked the same and they stared at each other as though trying to reassure themselves that they were the same men. Each clutched the precious hair which had cascaded to the floor. “Well done.  You have shown yourselves to be brave warriors.  When we ride back into camp do so proudly.”
    “But sir what if the men laugh at us?”
    “Ignore them for by this time tomorrow they will all look the same.”
    As they left and the legionary began to clean up he looked after them and shook his head.  “Bloody barbarians! They’ll be back to collecting heads next.”
    Riding back in the darkening evening they all felt naked, as though they had no clothes on.  They had to ride through the other camps before they saw the sign of the bull at their gates.  The whole of the ala, officers included watched in silence as the seventeen shorn men rode in to their camps.  Panyvadi’s fears had been groundless as even Sura and his cronies stared in horror at the vision of their future. As the ala went back to their duties Flavius turned to Marius. “I don’t think it will be easy in the morning sir. I saw some very belligerent looks.  It’s a shame, all that good work undone because the Legate wants them to look like his legionaries.”
    Marius held up a warning hand. “Be careful with your tongue Flavius. This Legate regards any criticism as treason.  Let us see what the morning brings and deal with tas best we can.”
    Wolf and his turma went straight into their tents.  The last thing they wanted was to be stared at. Gerjen shook his head.  “I thought it was good to join the Romans but I do not like this.  I feel as though someone has taken my face from me and given me