Lucius remembered that bow, but he struggled to remember the man before him, peering through the thick beard and hair to try and catch a glimpse of his younger brother in the rough hunter standing before him. “Caecilius?” Lucius lowered his sword and stepped forward.
Clarinda took the torch from the man and he dropped the boar onto the earth with a thud, stepping forward.
“Lu…Lucius?” he said, his eyes watery in the light. He quickly wiped his eyes and continued to stare at his older brother. “You’re alive?” He observed the missing hair and scarred face and arms of the brother he had always looked up to, from whom he had always sought approval and attention. “What has happened?”
“They took everything from us.”
“E…everything?” Caecilius’ lip began to tremble. “Gods no…the children?” He
