Part three of the Artorian Chronicles. Artorius and his men are tasked with tracking down a rampaging murderer.
A year has passed since the end of the Gallic rebellion of Sacrovir and Florus. Retribution has been exacted and the province is at peace once more. And yet there are some who escaped Rome's justice. They are led by a man whose heart burns with hate; an heir to rebellion. Knowing that there can be no victory against the legions; his vengeance can only be wrought through terror and murder. The Gallic city of Lugdunum will be the first to taste his wrath.The city of Lugdunum flourishes; the Twentieth Legion's Third Cohort having been stationed within the city since the end of the Sacrovir Revolt. For Centurion Proculus and his legionaries their comfortable assignment will soon come unraveled as a series of grisly murders looks to upset the order of the city. Sergeant Artorius inadvertently finds himself at the center of the search to find these mysterious killers before they undermine the city's faith in the protection of the legions; a search that will lead him on a journey into the darkest corners of what lurks in a broken man's wicked soul.
Excerpt
“What would you have me do?” she asked, clasping her own hands behind her back. It was strange, taking orders from a mere plebian soldier; however, Diana knew that her very survival could depend upon it. She swallowed her fear and steeled herself for whatever needed to be done. She was charged with safeguarding the Proculus estate, and she would not fail.
“Do you have any weapons here?” Artorius asked.
“The slaves have some farming tools, and I have a legionary dagger that Proculus gave me a long time ago.”
“Wear it underneath your stola,” he directed. “Don’t ever leave it anywhere. Close and bar the gates and post a watch up there at all times. I’ll return to Lugdunum and see if I can get some men posted here.”
“And if you cannot?” Diana’s face bore no emotion.
“Then I guess I will have to come back here and protect you myself,” he said with a half-smile. Diana smiled back as Artorius’ face became sober once more. “I promise I’ll not let anything happen to you.” Diana gave him an inquisitive look, but before she could question him, he turned briskly and walked out of the room. With a snap of his fingers, a slave brought his armor and belt to him. In that moment, Diana found she was utterly fascinated by this young legionary. She walked slowly out to the courtyard, where he was finishing up the ties on his armor while a slave strapped on his belt. Though he was handsome and looked capable of great strength, she had never paid him much attention. She thought of him as just a courier and he seemed a bit shy around her for some reason, so she was slightly amazed at how he took charge and handled the horrible incident. She suddenly saw him not as a boy who delivered her mail, but a legionary. And a brave man he was if he was serious about protecting her himself--alone.
Artorius swung into the saddle and turned his horse towards the gates. The horse felt the excitement and pranced, ready to run. He looked over his shoulder and shouted, “I will protect you my Lady!”
Tralee, Ireland. September 1948.
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