“This is preposterous,” exclaimed Ventus. “Sergeant at Arms. Have this man and his rubble removed from the chambers.”

  From the barely understandable speeches of just over twenty Senators, the chamber exploded when over a hundred began voicing opinions.

  Nigellus, a man experienced in commanding men in the heat of battle, raised his voice. The voice that moved Legionaries and won battled. A voice that silenced the Senate of the Republic.

  “Fireguard burns; a Qart Hadasht fleet rows up the Tiber to take our Capital; and the northern Legion is in combat with the Insubri,” he thundered. “And, you squabble?”

  During the silence, Senator Ventus demanded, “What proof do you have?”

  Nigellus turned and held out his hand. “High Priestess of Luna. If you would bring the Amulet of Luna?” he asked inviting her to join him.

  At the mention of the amulet, Gabrielus pushed off the wall and ran for a side door.

  “Lance Corporal Sisera. I want the barbarian’s head,” commanded Nigellus. “Go!”

  Chapter 70 - A Chase Through Smoke

  Alerio sprinted past the Colonel, the Ambassador, the dais, and a shocked Senator Ventus. He hit the aisle and climbed the steps two at a time. At the top tier of benches, he grabbed a bench back and used it to swing in a new direction. Spying the door used by Gabrielus, he raced for it.

  The hall outside the chamber was empty. On a guess, he made for the east entrance. There was no broad porch, just a simple set of clay brick steps. He leaped over the steps, landed on the pathway, and ran towards the smoke rolling in from Fireguard.

  Halfway across the Capital grounds, Alerio spotted the Tribune armor in the haze. Gabrielus had slowed, figuring he’d made a clean escape.

  On a street past the boulevard and the first villas, the figure disappeared.

  Alerio slid to a stop at the intersection. Looking both ways, he peered into the smoke trying to separate out a shape from the rolling gray soup. Gabrielus had vanished.

  “Where did you go?” Alerio asked himself as he turned from one side to the other. Then, he tried to think like a barbarian Prince in a hostile city. “I’d need a horse and the City Guard stables were only a few blocks away; with the rank of Tribune, the City Guard would open any gate; and as an Insubri Prince, I’d head north.”

  Alerio whirled around and jogged back to the north-south boulevard. At the thoroughfare, he set a fast pace northward toward the gate. Eight blocks later, the villas decreased in size and were soon replaced by tradesmen compounds and shops. He jogged and studied the types of businesses. A few blocks from the north gate, he saw a merchant’s shop that suited his purpose.

  The door was thick and locked. He bounced off the wood on his first charge. Pulling the hip gladius, Alerio shoved the steel tip into the metal lock. Steel beats iron and the rivets on the metal snapped and the front plate fell away. Using the tip of the blade, he rotated the gears and the door popped open.

  Alerio rushed through the whip maker’s shop and into the back room. On a wooden dowel suspended an arm’s length overhead, strips of leather hung almost to the floor. He hooked an arm through the strands and ran along collecting hundreds of the thin strips.

  The clop, clop, clop of a horse and rider could be heard from the smoke. Two heartbeats later, Gabrielus emerged into the hazy air. The barbarian had a lot of ground to cover once outside the city; with no apparent pursuers, he held the horse to a gentle canter.

  Alerio waited for the horse to reach the far end of the compound. Then he pulled back his arm and tossed the iron plate from the lock. It whirled end over end arching up and over the awning of the whip maker’s shop. When it clanged loudly to the pavers of the boulevard behind the barbarian, Gabrielus snapped his head around to investigate the noise. There was no one chasing him and he relaxed.

  Alerio heaved the armload of thin leather strips. They uncoiled as they sailed through the air. Being a City Guard horse and trained to avoid crowds, wagons, carts and other city obstructions, the mount danced sideways. If it had reared up, the barbarian would have easily maintained control. But, the mare jerked to her left and Gabrielus was thrown to his right. Too busy trying to regain his balance, he failed to notice the Legionary dashing from the corner of the whip maker’s compound.

  Alerio sprang on his last step and wrapped his arms around Gabrielus’ helmet. Already off balance and with the weight of a fully armored Legionary hanging around his neck, the barbarian came unseated. They tumbled to the clay brick pavers of the boulevard.

  Chapter 71 - Battle on the Boulevard

  Gabrielus landed on Alerio knocking the breath out of the Legionary’s lungs. It’s why the barbarian was able to gain his feet first.

  “Die Republic scum,” Gabrielus screamed as he drew his gladius.

  It’s all in the training or lack of training. The lack is what saved the Legionary. Rather than stab his enemy, Gabrielus use two hands to raise the gladius as if it were a long Insubri sword. When the blade fell, Alerio rolled away from the short blade. He rolled twice before raising to a knee.

  “Gabrielus. Colonel Nigellus wants you,” explained Alerio to the stooped over barbarian. “Come with me and stand trial.”

  “I’ve watched the Republic’s justice for years,” explained Gabrielus as he straightened up. “It always ends in a crucifixion; not me. I’m going to gut you then ride to my people. I’ll be back in a few weeks with an Insubri army. Then, it’ll be your Colonel Nigellus dying with a roof top view.”

  Alerio reached over his shoulders and as he rose from the knee, he slowly drew the gladii. Gabrielus dropped his right hand and reset his grip on the hilt with his left hand.

  The last time Alerio had fought a left handed fighter, he’d been fresh off the farm and fighting under arena rules. Even if the rules were skirted by Corporal Daedalus as he attempted to kill him and collect the Cruor syndicate’s bounty. This wasn’t a contest with betting and Medics; this was a battle and rules didn’t apply.

  The two combatants circled. Gabrielus to his left, keeping the gladius low and his feet balanced. Alerio to his right acting as if he favored his right arm.

  Gabrielus shuffled forward and brought his blade up trying to nick the underside of his opponent’s sword arm. To protect the arm, Alerio jerked it to almost shoulder level. This left his side unprotected and Gabrielus immediately brought his blade down as he lunged to take advantage of the opening.

  It’s difficult to back up faster than a foe can lunge forward. Both fighters knew this and Gabrielus was confident he’d won. Except, he didn’t see Alerio’s left gladius. The Legionary’s blade swished across body and sparks flew as the barbarian’s blade was driven off the line of attack.

  With his opponent’s gladius out of the way, Alerio snapped his right blade downward and smashed the top of Gabrielus’ helmet. The barbarian staggered back while slicing his blade through the air to prevent a follow up attack.

  “Surrender Gabrielus. I don’t want to carry your body back to the Senate,” explained Alerio. “It’ll be much easier on me if we walk.”

  “I’m not walking anywhere. After I kill you, I’m riding to join my people,” Gabrielus replied. “Your cities and towns will burn and your people will suffer. On that, you have my word.”

  As Gabrielus spoke, he pulled a dagger. With his right hand and no aim, he flipped it at Alerio’s face. The concept of the attack called for the thrower to charge while his opponent was occupied dodging the dagger. Gabrielus rushed forward with his blade tilted so the tip was on a line to Alerio’s chin. He was dedicated to the kill and failed to notice when Alerio’s left blade tapped the dagger in midflight. It tumbled harmlessly off to the side.

  Alerio watched the steel tip grow as it approached his face. Inches from his chin, when the barbarian was fully committed, the Legionary raised his left blade to meet the attacking blade. The two steel blades grated against each other. Alerio allowed for the crossed blades to slide two inches before spinning to his right.

  His right gladius whirled around with his body. Just before he released the pressure with his left blade, the right gladius completed the circle and buried its sharp edge into the back of Gabrielus’ neck. With the muscles and tendons detached, the barbarian’s head lulled as his legs folded up.

  After passing through the muscles and tendons, the blade chopped into the vertebrae severing Gabrielus’ spinal cord. The Insubri Prince would never reach his warriors or extract his revenge on the Republic.

  When her rider fell, the mare whinnied, turned and trotted off to the west. Presumably to complete a circuit of the Capital before returning to her stall at the City Guard stables. Alerio watched as his ride and transportation for Gabrielus’ body pranced proudly away.

  Chapter 72 - Emergency Measures

  Corporal Gratian’s boots clicked on the granite as he paced the porch of the Capital building. The blue-gowned Luna celebrants stood poised on the stairs. His men remained in their lines leaning on their shields. Centurion Kellerian had long ago been escorted into the Senate Chambers by Lance Corporal Iacchus. Throughout the grounds, the guardsmen and the auxiliary stood or sat in ranks.

  The City Guard Centurion had dismounted but waited beside his horse at the foot of the stairs. Periodically, he’d cast evil glances at Gratian. The Corporal didn’t take it personally. The guardsmen’s Officer would naturally resent any Legionary NCO, or Officer, who ignored his orders and Gratian was handy.

  Heals clicking on granite announced the arrival of several people from the building. The High Priestess of Luna, Colonel Nigellus, and Lance Corporal Iacchus came through the doorway.

  “Corporal Gratian. I’ll need an escort to the Chronicles Humanum Inn,” the Colonel announced. “Lance Corporal Iacchus’ squad will provide protection to the High Princesses and her Ladies. After seeing them safely to the temple, he’s going to the harbor to set up a blocking force.”

  “Yes, sir,” Gratian replied. “What about the rest of the squads?”

  “You’re to wait here for the Senate’s decision,” Nigellus replied. “You did a good job Corporal. I appreciate all you’ve done. And while I’d like to stay in the Capital and help you defend the City, the General had ordered me to join him after I spoke to the Senate.”

  “Thank you sir. It’s been my pleasure to serve you,” Gratian stated. Then turning to the lawn announced, “First squad, fall out. Reform for escort duty.”

  As First squad moved off the line and re-formed, Lance Corporal Iacchus descended the steps and gathered second squad. He spoke quickly with his men and soon they were spread around the High Priestess and her blue-gowned women. They were a study in contrasting styles as the armored and helmeted Legionaries walked across the Capital grounds with the blue-gowned followers of Luna.

  Nigellus strolled down the stairs. Instead of going to where First squad waited, he headed for the City Guard Centurion. They exchanged salutes and the Colonel leaned in close and spoke softly to the Officer for a long time. When he leaned away, there was a horrified look on the Centurion’s face.

  The Colonel stepped back from the Officer, turned, and jog towards his escorts.

  “First squad. I need two things,” Nigellus announced as he reached them. “Get me to the inn on the double. And open the east gate. Can you do it?”

  “Colonel Nigellus. Ready, sir,” the squad yelled back.

  “Take us out Lance Corporal,” Nigellus said as he stepped between the shields.

  “First squad. Double time, march,” the squad leader shouted.

  The squad and the Colonel trotted off leaving Gratian alone on the porch. He started to order his last two squads to relax but worried about what the guardsmen Centurion would think. Glancing down to where the Officer had been, he was surprised to see the Officer out in front of his ranks surrounded by his NCOs.

  There were a few raised voices from the NCOs but hard words from the Centurion hushed them. After a long meeting, the Centurion stood scanning the ranks as the NCOs strolled back to their squads. A Sergeant and a Corporal walked to separate sides and took up positions in front of the lines. The command staff watched as all the City Guard squads gathered around their Lance Corporals.

  Gratian got antsy and strolled down to the lawn. With hand signals, he called the last two of his squad leaders over.

  “Something’s up with the City Guard,” he warned. “Pull the squads into a loose formation so we can defend ourselves if it gets ugly. Do it slowly and don’t draw attention to us.”

  Almost casually, the Legionaries picked up their shields and wandered to a defensible place beside the speaker’s outcrop of the Capital’s steps. Gratian climbed to the area as if looking over his Legionaries. He was actually keeping an eye on the City Guard squads.

  They were moving. The guardsmen, squad by squad, slipped between the second line, placing them to the rear of the barbarian auxiliary.

  Gratian peered across the Capital grounds to where the surviving Qart Hadasht Ceremonial Guards were being held. The guardsmen there hadn’t moved or responded to the movement of their fellow guardsmen.

  When the City Guards pulled their gladii, Gratian snapped his head around and whispered to his Legionaries, “Stand ready.”

  Suddenly, the City Guards attacked the barbarian auxiliary. Outnumbered five to one, the barbarians were quickly subdued. Some lay dead, some were bleeding but most surrendered and were disarmed.

  Stripped of their armor, the barbarians were marched towards the City Guard Headquarters. As the line of near naked barbarians moved away, Gratian told his Legionaries to sit down and relax. He walked to the top step and sat down to wait on the Senate’s decision.

  Chapter 73 - A Change of Command

  From the northeast quadrant of the Capital grounds, Gratian noticed a single Legionary march onto a path. As the Legionary drew closer, Gratian could make out the helmet tucked under one arm and a basket tucked under the other. After a few more yards, he recognized Sisera.

  “Lance Corporal Sisera reporting mission successful,” Alerio said from the bottom of the stairs.

  Gratian remained on the top step as he studied the young man.

  “What mission?” he asked. “I thought you were in the Senate Chamber?”

  “Gabrielus ran at the mention of the Amulet of Luna,” replied Alerio. “Colonel Nigellus sent me after his head.”

  “And the basket?” inquired Gratian with a grin.

  “Gabrielus’ head,” answered Alerio. “Like I said, Corporal, mission accomplished.”

  “Come up here and have a seat,” Gratian said while patting the granite beside him. “You can tell me about it while we wait for the Senate to decide. Don’t ask. I have no idea what they’re deciding.”

  They talked about the coming battle with the soldiers from the Qart Hadasht fleet and Alerio’s fight with Gabrielus.

  “Where did all the City Guards and their auxiliary go?” Alerio asked as he waved his hand around indicating the mostly empty Capital grounds.

  They both jumped in surprise when the answer came from directly behind them.

  “The barbarian auxiliary has been arrested for the murder of Senator Faunus,” Centurion Kellerian explained. “Most of the City Guard is at the harbor where we should be.”

  “We can get there, double time, Centurion,” Gratian assured the Officer as he stood. “Just say the word.”

  “It’s Marshal of the City. The Senate appointed me the title temporarily until they can appoint a Colonel to command the City Guard,” Kellerian explained. “Corporal Gratian. You and your squads are staying here to guard the Senate. Lance Corporal Sisera. You and I are going to ride to each gate and inform the guardsmen that only Legionaries will be allowed to enter the city.”

  A noise from the building drew their attention. The Qart Hadasht Ambassador strolled arrogantly through the door. Closely behind, Peregrinus, the Insubri Prince, came through struggling with his two Legionaries guards.

  “Ambassador. Take your Honor Guard, and your boat, and row away from my city,” snarled Kellerian. Then, to the guards holding Peregrinus ordered, “Take him to the City Guard Headquarters and lock him up with the other barbarians.”

  “The Qart Hadasht Empire is vast and your Republic is a collection of farms surrounded by water on three sides,” stated the Ambassador as he descended the steps. “Being absorbed by the Empire would give you resources to fight the tribes to your north and west. And we can protect you from invaders sailing to your shores.”

  “And all the Republic has to do to reap these benefits is allow Qart Hadasht to appoint a new King for us,” replied Kellerian. “We threw off the yoke of a King two hundred and forty-four years ago. The Legions stand ready to defend our shores and lands. Even if we lose, we’ll die as free citizens of the Republic.”

  There was no reply from the Ambassador. As he approached the five remaining men of his guard, they rose, and despite being herded by City Guard javelin points, they formed a ceremonial guard around the diplomat.

  A roar came from the east and Kellerian, Gratian and Alerio jumped from the porch and raced to the corner of the Capital building. They all gripped their gladii expecting to see enemy troops fighting their way up the north-south boulevard. Thankfully, it wasn’t an enemy force. It was a mob of citizens racing to form bucket brigades to keep Fireguard District contained.

  “I guess Colonel Nigellus opened the east gate,” Kellerian said while observing the mob running up the thoroughfare. “Come with me Sisera. We’ll requisition horses at the City Guard stables and start our inspection at the north gate.”

  Chapter 74 - Riding the Gates

  The air held the smell of smoke yet it was surprisingly clear. Fireguard District had burned and produced thick, spreading smoke at first. Now the fire burned with enough intensity that the smoke was swept high above the city on an updraft. To feed the blaze, oxygen from every direction was being sucked into the inferno.