WarGod by Savile Steven

Author:Savile, Steven [Savile, Steven]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: thriller
Amazon: B009TE7M8Q
Goodreads: 16121071
Publisher: BadPress
Published: 2012-10-18T07:00:00+00:00

10 Roads that Lead to Rom

Then, Rome, Italy—44 BCE

TITUS LABIENUS WATCHED nervously as a phalanx of horses rode toward him.

In the light of the half moon, he could make out little more than their silhouettes, but there was no mistaking the orderliness of the formation or the military bearing of the riders—these were soldiers.

Not just any soldiers, but the elite Praetorian Guard, Octavian’s personal protectors, fiercely loyal, recruited from the very best the legions had to offer. And they were coming for him.

Not for the first time, he wondered if he had made a grave mistake in contacting Octavian. The young heir apparent had approved the idea of sending a quest to Britain in order to recover Caesar’s sword, and had even directed Labienus to travel with Marcus’ cohort of legionaries, but he had not changed the terms of Labienus’ imprisonment; the former tribune was still nominally under house arrest, still considered an enemy of Rome. The message was implicit; his status would not change unless the quest was successful.

Or until he was dead.

Labienus gripped the leather sheath in both hands. I’ve kept my part of the bargain. Will Octavian honour his?

Octavian knew that he had succeeded, knew what he carried, and yet he had not invited Labienus into the city for a formal reception. Instead, he had demanded this clandestine meeting.

He told himself that Octavian was merely being cautious, but part of him wondered if it would not have been wiser for him to cast his lot in with the senators—men who would have honoured his ill-advised decision to stand with Pompey against the self-styled dictator of Rome—or better, to simply take his prize and disappear, starting a new life somewhere far from Rome, Africa perhaps.

Too late for that now.

The horsemen surrounded him and he felt a new flush of fear as the powerful animals closed in. He could feel their hot breath on his neck. They circled him. The riders gazed down from a position of overwhelming strength. Round and around. Dizzying. But made no move against him.

Then, one of them dismounted.

“Titus!”

He knew the voice, though it had been many years since they had travelled together and the boy had grown into a man. Octavian.

Labienus stretched out his right hand, offering the customary gesture of friendship and peace. “My lord.”

Octavian did not return the salute, but instead clasped a hand to Labienus’ shoulder and guided him out of the circle of horsemen. “You have returned alone, Titus?”

“I have, lord. A great many things happened on the road.”

Octavian stared at the sheathed blade that Labienus still clutched in his left hand, held protectively against his breast. “I would hear your tale.”

Labienus nodded, and began speaking.

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