The IXth By Kerry Buchanan

[Glitch]

Such an inhospitable country. A few inches of soil over granite was barely enough to support the growth of straggly grass and the wild horned sheep that grazed there. One of them watched him now, from the top of a pile of damp grey rocks. Those yellow slitted eyes seemed too intelligent for a sheep. More intelligent than some of his officers, truth be told.
Lucius turned and shouted down the hill. “Aurelius!”

“Yes, Tribune?”

“I fancy mutton for dinner. See to it.”

Aurelius saluted, then his eyes drifted towards the sheep, silhouetted against the haze of a mid-morning sky, and he frowned. There were stories told around the campfire, grim tales of what would happen to those who killed the local sheep, and now here was one of those sudden local mists creeping across the ground towards them.

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[Serendipity]

Nice one, Kerry.

 

[Droflet]

Damn, Kerry, you wrote the ^%#@*& out of that story. Well done.

 

[HareBrain]

I've often suspected sheep of having powers. You ever noticed they'll sometimes urinate when you get close? That's not nerves, that's contempt backed up by confidence.

 

[Kerrybuchanan]

Thank you, all, for the kind words! I think was cooking minted lamb at the time, and the smells every time I opened the oven inspired parts of this story...

 

[Abernovo]

Love the story, @Kerrybuchanan! Brilliant imagery.

Must admit, I got a giggle that the last sighting of Legio nona Hispana was around my home town, before they disappeared from recorded history.

 

[Kerrybuchanan]

Love the story, @Kerrybuchanan! Brilliant imagery.

Must admit, I got a giggle that the last sighting of Legio nona Hispana was around my home town, before they disappeared from recorded history.

Explains a lot!