Praetorian Series [4] All Roads Lead to Rome by Edward Crichton

that travelers who put some thought into their trips could always have a place to stay for the night.
    I hadn’t stayed in one of these motel-type establishments in years, but interestingly enough, Agrippina had been with me the last time that I had as well.  So had someone else, but I couldn’t remember who.  I shook my head as Agrippina and I led our horses toward the small, wooden establishment nestled in a small clearing in the trees a few meters off the road.  It was a fairly large building, far wider than it was deep, with maybe thirty open windows dominating its front façade; again, much like a motel.  In front were parking spaces in the form of hitching posts for horses, and a central door.
    There were only a handful of horses out front, indicating maybe just as many residents for the evening, but there could always be a few that had come in on foot. The fewer the better. There weren’t any carriages either, so I assumed no one of any worth or value was present, which was also good since that meant fewer reasons for trouble to come knocking.  With the lodge at low occupancy and without any apparent visitors of note – well, besides the Empress of Rome and the most wanted man in the Roman Empire, that is – hopefully the two of us could have the first completely peaceful and warm night we’ve yet to have.
    I gave Felix a little kick to urge him forward, and he complied immediately.
    I smiled and thought of all the ways Felix was most certainly the greatest horse that had ever lived or will ever live.  I was also legitimately sure that Felix was immortal, and that he would live forever, playing the part of a noble steed for ruling kings before he retired from active service to become a Hollywood film star, where he would literally play every single horse character to grace the screen, both big or small.
    Since getting to know him, I’d learned much about horses.  They were, quite honestly, the most intelligent creatures on this planet.  I now understood why Caligula had appointed his horse, Incitatus, as the head of the government.  I now knew who they’d hired to play the Horse of a Different Color in The Wizard of Oz – no special effects required.  And I’d finally met the horse they’d found to play a talking one on Mister Ed .
    Felix had even changed color and shifted breeds to play the role.
    Talk about a method actor.
    It all made so much sense now.
    I chuckled to myself as I was reminded of my insanely clever and astute deduction, not even bothering to answer Agrippina’s inquiry into what was so funny.  Besides, we were quickly coming up to the lodge, so with the easy grace I’d developed in recent years, I swung my leg over Felix’s rump and dropped to the ground – no easy feat without stirrups.
    I still needed to get around to inventing those things.
    I took Felix’s rein in my hands and then wrapped them around the hitching post a few times to secure him, even though I knew he wouldn’t go anywhere.  Stepping behind him, I grabbed the reins of the three pack horses trailing him. These I hitched as well, then turned to Agrippina and offered to help her down.  She accepted the gesture happily, so I gripped her waist as she swung a slender leg over her horse’s rump.  It was a fast motion, one that would have sent her straight into the dirt had I not had a firm grip on her, but I knew how to help a lady down off a horse or a carriage, so I was ready for it and gently lowered her to the ground.  She patted my arm and smiled at me sweetly, but then turned to head inside the establishment. 
    I looked back at Felix and scratched behind his ear and patted his mane.  “Watch over your buddies, all right?”
    Felix nodded his head and huffed at me.  “Will do, Jacob,” he said.
    I gave him a smile and another pat for good measure, then turned to the other three horses.  “Stay out of trouble.”
    “Yes, sir, Mr. Jacob, sir,” they all said, the three of them nodding in comic