A Sword Of Wrath, Book I, K. E. MacLeod [e book reader for pc txt] 📗

in the face but his swipe didn't connect and the overwrought drunken warrior fell forward, his face to the ground. He didn't stay down long, though, as he then raised his head and reached out to grab Tacitus by the legs, pulling himself up the rest of the way. The brothers then began to wrestle atop the leaf litter and over the next while as they rolled, grabbed and punched at one another, two decades of pent up bitterness between the two spilled out on the forest floor.

As Severus started showing signs of being short of breath, he felt a twinge in his back and released Tacitus, immediately, crying out, "I can't do it anymore, Brother, I can't... I can't fight you."

Tacitus, whose own breath was also coming in large gasps, reclined on his hands, "Me... neither. I yield."

Severus started to chuckle.

Tacitus, seeing his much-vaunted older brother flailing around like a turtle stuck upon its back, began to laugh as well.

"I'm old, Tacitus!" Severus shouted up to the evening sky above him. "I'm an old man! And now my back hurts..."

Tacitus shook his head, "No, not old, just... out of practice!"

He laughed even harder and covered his face with his hands, "I'm so sorry, Tacitus, gods, I'm so sorry. I meant nothing I said tonight, I'm just-"

"You're afraid," Tacitus said, his breath beginning to return to its normal rhythm. "You're afraid and you're not used to it, so it's making you angry."

He eyed his younger brother, "I don't give you enough credit. You are a thoughtful man, Tacitus, and there is no shame in that."

Tacitus stood, groaning as he did, and held out his forearm.

Severus took it, smiling, "I'm sorry-"

"No, don't apologize. I am a Cauda and," he looked away for a moment, then back, "and... I'm sorry for Nona."

"No, Tacitus. I know it is not an ideal situation between the two of you and... I'm sorry for that. If things could be different-"

He shook his head, "But they are not. For now, let us concentrate on more important thi- wait!"

"What?"

Tacitus spotted an object in the stirred up debris in front of them and ran towards it. He scooped it up, "Aelia's shoe!"

"Gods, that must mean she's nearby! Please, let her be nearby!"

They called out her name again and as they did, they began to feel tiny cold drops falling upon their faces.

"Not rain, not now! Gods, show us some mercy!" Severus spoke to the heavens.

"Aelia! If you're there, please come out! No one will be angry with you! I promise!"

The light mist falling on them was soon changed into heavy raindrops.

"Nonono, gods, no," Severus soon became frantic as he continuously flipped over stones and fallen trees like a man possessed. "What if she's gone down to the river?"

"Don't think such things, Brother, we'll find her! Aeliaaaaa!"

Thunder clapped overhead and lightning lit up the blackened sky and Tacitus anger at the gods increased. The brothers continued their search as the weather worsened, going deeper and deeper into the forest, until at last Tacitus spotted an ashen white foot sticking out from the inside of a hollowed out log. "Oh gods, Severus! I think I've found her!"

The brothers ran to a small pale bundle glowing in the moonlight and found the little girl curled up half-inside the trunk of a large oak.

"Aelia?" Tacitus retrieved the shivering bundle and cradled it in his arms.

"Uncle?" she said, her voice so very weak and tiny.

"Yes, I am here and so is your father."

"Tacitus, give her to me!"

He put Aelia into the arms his brother.

"Father, I'm cold and my body hurts," she started to cough

"Oh my dear girl," he held her to his cheek, her skin freezing against his own, "you're alright now. Don't talk, we need to get you home."

"I'm sorry I ran away. Mother was mad at me for being in the Order-"

"Don't talk, Aelia, please."

"I'm tired."

"Then rest for now and we'll be back in the village in a moment."

Tacitus face was marred with concern, "We need to get her back now, changed and in front of a fire. Take my horse and ride back to the village, Severus."

"But that will leave you here alone-"

"I will be fine. You know I don't believe there are truly goblins in this forest and I will be right behind you."

Severus stared at his brother a moment longer, "Thank you, Tacitus. You can never know the debt I owe you!" Then, holding Aelia tightly in one arm, he pulled himself atop of Bellona and, without further hesitation, took off for the village.

As he watched them ride away, Tacitus whispered, "Yes. Yes, I can, my Brother."

 

***

 

As night fell along the Eastern Shore, Hannah pushed her horse as hard as she could as she raced the path back to the Caves of the Veneficas - although she wasn't entirely sure of what she was going to do when she finally got there. The truth was, she didn't know much of anything anymore as the further she rode, the more her conscience began to bother her.

The Legate had done awful things to innocent people, she assured herself. He deserved whatever fate lay ahead for him but then she remembered the vision she had seen in her dreams of the Legate lying on a battlefield and her heart began to pound. Hannah slowed her horse down and gave out a cry of frustration as she looked over her shoulder and back down the road that she had just come from, "Damn you!"

Hannah gripped the horse's mane tighter as a surge of anger swelled within her. Timonus was supposed to be a monster, just like the Emperor was - but he had said such nice things to her and he hadn't even dared try to hurt her when they were alone.

She thought of Julian, who had always taken care of her - ever since that day he'd found her cowering from the lashes of a whip that the cereal seller had given her after she was caught robbing his stall. She was only about eight or so at the time and she was alone, her mother having just died the week before but Julian, older by four years, took her under his care. Even as they grew older and they were forced to work the streets of Ala, he made sure she was protected.

She brought the horse to a complete stop and cast another look backwards, towards the Lupa Faction's camp. I should go back, she thought, I should go back and tell him I was wrong... and tell him who I am. She was about to do just that when, from out of nowhere, a large, smelly hand clamped onto her mouth from behind.

She attempted to scream as the giant hands dragged her from the horse but it was no use. Even if she had managed to scream, there was no one nearby to hear it.

 

***

 

Euric stood in the barracks, eyeing his gladiators as he gave them the speech he had been practicing all day, "Men, I have called you here together today for one reason," he paused. "There are those of you here that cry 'freedom.' Now, we may dispute the semantics of the word but the truth is, there are a great many of you that want out of the arena and out of your contracts. Well," his eyes fell on Juko who stood nearby, "I have an opportunity to present to you that may give you your chance."

Euric continued as they gave him their full attention, "Things in the Empire are not going well. As some of you may have heard, there have been riots in the Ala District. Now, I cannot predict the future but I fear a great change is about to descend upon Odalia and I admit that what I'm about to tell you, well, I have my own interest at heart. And that interest is, of course, staying alive but I will need all of you in order to do it and in return, I will free you from your contracts."

Juko scowled, "I am not here to fight for your Empire. I am here-"

"Revenge, yes, Juko, I know. I’ve taken that into account and it is a major part of our plan. In fact, I wish you to remain here while Felix and Castor take the others out to the practice arena to give them their roles, should they accept them." He nodded.

Felix barked, "Recruits, regroup on the dust, full attire."

The men streamed out of the barracks quickly, equal parts excited and apprehensive about what the future held.

When it was just Juko and the lanista remaining he asked Euric, "So now you will tell me the full story of my brother's death. That's why you've sent everyone away."

"Yes," Euric agreed reluctantly, sitting down upon the edge of one the nearby beds. "I will now tell you the full story of the night of your brother's attempted escape." He took a deep breath before continuing, "That afternoon, I gave Suna my Rudus and, by all accounts, simply placing it in his hands should've been enough to render him a freeman in the eyes of the law but," he shook his head, "I was naive, again."

"I am surprised."

 "Are you?" he laughed slightly. "I am a mere showman-"

"You are a huckster."

Euric bowed his head with a small smile, "I cannot dispute that but... I am not malicious and I always hope for good things. That must count for something?"

"Continue on, lanista."

He sighed again, "That night, your brother and his new wife tried to make their way out of the city but they were stopped at the gates. He did exactly as he should and showed the guard the Rudus, which should've allowed him safe passage but, for some reason, everything went wrong. One of the guards recognized Lady Catherine and from what I understand, they immediately seized Suna. I do believe they thought he was trying to kidnap her at first and in the midst of all the chaos, he shouted at her to flee. She took one of the guard's mounts was able to get away, despite her... quite bulbous state. She must've been a remarkable horsewoman to do that but," he shook his head, "either way she managed to escape. For all I know, she may even still be alive as I've heard rumors that she fled to a witch woman's hut on the Western Coast."

"And Suna?"

Euric's face was downcast, "They took him into custody right then and there and threw him into a prison cell. I will spare you the details of the hours of torture that followed afterwards but the next day, they returned him here, throwing him out onto the floor of the Amphitheater."

Juko bristled, "And you did nothing?"

"What could I do, Juko? Die alongside him? What would that have accomplished?"

Juko was slow to answer as the rage within him burned greatly, "We are very different men, Euric."

"I agree. I am... hardly a man at all, some would say, but that is who I am. I am not a hero. I achieved my freedman status through cunning and theatrics. That's what I am and I don't deny it. Would you deny your true nature?"

The N’bari remained silent.

Euric continued, "As he lay bleeding upon the dust, the Decanus and his ten set upon him. Suna fought bravely and had he not been tortured before hand, I think he would've killed them all. He certainly caused his fair share of casualties! I watched the whole thing unfold, under threat of my own life of course, from the Emperor's seat... and the last blow came from the Decanus himself."

Juko stared ahead, his stomach beginning to turn, "What was the final blow?"

"Stabbed through the heart." Euric turned his face away from Juko as the memories returned to him. His voice was low and quiet as he continued the tale, "When they were sure that he was... gone, they left the Amphitheater. I," he cleared his throat as the emotions began to overwhelm him, "took his body