《Vindicta (Vengeance)》


 Jessica I

    Jessica Verotis'' earliest memories were of her father training the students at his academy. His shouting of commands and the students immediate reaction to them. Also standing out in her memory was the large wooden eagle on the wall in the main room of the family villa. She always imagined it staring down at her, the pair of gladius clutched in its talons, watching over her and the household. The large wingspan was wider than she was tall. The eagle was the symbol of their city state, New Pompeii. At every meal she would sit with her back to that eagle. As she ate, she imagined it was watching over her and protecting her and her father while they ate.


    In her younger days, her father would have been happier if she would have spent her time learning to sew or cook or weave or any other "ladylike" skill. Instead she spent her days watching him train with his men, swordsmanship, tactics, unit movement, she would just sit on the balcony overlooking the courtyard and watch. What the men down there didn''t realize was that she wasn''t just staring down at them, she was studying them. Trying to learn what they were learning. Every day she was out there without fail in both blazing sun and pouring rain.


    One day she wasn''t on the balcony anymore. Her father had been looking up every so often and there she was. Then one day he looked up there and she wasn''t anywhere to be found. He felt a bit of relief that maybe she had found something more appropriate to do then after a while he began to get a bit panicked when he remembered who he was thinking about. This small stubborn girl who had grown up without a mother. She had only ever known her father''s way. He gave the command and his men took a minute to go and rest. He hurried to the house to find where she had gone. After questioning the servants and searching her room thoroughly he stormed back to the inner courtyard to have his men form search parties to begin searching the town. As he entered the courtyard he let out a short laugh. There she was this little nine year old girl changed out of her normal dress and into a light and worn working clothes, the kind of thing she would use to work in the gardens. She was carrying an arm-full of the wooden gladius swords and was walking them to the corner of the courtyard that held the storage area for the equipment. He smiled gently at his daughter and asked her what she was doing.


    "Father, you and your boys never clean up after yourselves. You make a mess with your shields and swords leaving them all over the place when you are finished training. What this place needs is a woman''s touch to make things organized." she was saying exactly what she needed to say. She knew if she said that she just wanted to watch up close her father, he would have sent her away. But this way he wouldn''t have a choice but to let her be, because what she said was true and it made it at least seem like she was trying to act like a lady.


    Her father stood a little taller and told her to carry on. He had a sneaking suspicion she had some ulterior motive, she always did when she spoke like that with him. But when she had made up her mind there was no changing it.


    She took the training swords and began putting them in the rack on one of the walls, She was happy to just be allowed in the training area finally. She looked around the square courtyard. In all about 40 young men in their 20s stood in a loose formation as they were waiting for her father to begin the training again. Broken wooden swords and other equipment littered the corners of the yard. As she scanned the courtyard it was then that she noticed it. Under the balcony where she always sat, a small shelf with a small carved figure on it, only about 6 inches tall. She had seen figures like this elsewhere in the house. She had visited her friends at their houses and none of them seemed to have anything like them at their houses. She finished putting the unbroken swords into the rack. Then she went around to the corners of the yard picking up the pieces that were littered all over the place. She had not been moving with any real determination. She was busier watching the men training.


    Her father stood as he always did just in front of the balcony with the formation in front of him and facing him and the balcony. She liked the feeling of being up on the balcony all alone up above all the strong warriors. She imagined herself as a commander would when viewing his troops. But now she was on even ground with them, there she was this little nine year old girl walking around the formation of warriors. She watched every stroke and swing of their sword. When she had finally cleaned up most of the courtyard she found a small stool and set it up against a wall and sat and watched the training. Whenever they paused to rest she would look like she was busy and would bring them water or food. Whenever they asked for something they would always say it to her but loud enough for her father to hear and then would look at him for a response before looking for her to go get the items. He would nod and then she would run off and get the water jug or food. When the day was over she went inside before he dismissed the men. She changed back into her dress then got ready for dinner. She was surprised her father didn''t mention her disappearance or her sudden appearance in the training area. It was a fairly quiet dinner that night. The next morning after breakfast she changed once again and was in the courtyard before the men had started arriving. As they came in she would hand them their training weapons. As the first man grabbed the sword from her, he stopped looked toward the balcony, and said in a loud voice as if he was speaking to someone up there, "I thank you for this gift, may I serve you with my strength."


    He took the sword and walked to the center of the courtyard. It had surprised her she had never heard them say that before. She had normally waited till the training had started to go to the balcony. But now that she was in the courtyard with them she was out there much earlier. The next man entered the courtyard, took hold of the sword that she held out and same as first faced in the direction of the balcony and repeated the same words. She didn''t know what force drove them to do it or who they were speaking to maybe it was her father or maybe something or someone else. Then the next and the next after him all did the same. She didn''t show surprise and acted as if it was the most normal thing in the world. The men lined up just outside the gate and one at a time came in and received their sword from the young girl, speaking those words then gathering in formation in the center of the yard. Once they had all filed in she got her stool and sat and watched them.


    So it went for a couple days, It was right after the midday meal in the week after she had just appeared in the training area. The instruction had just restarted, her father was pulled aside by one of the servants. He told the men to pair off and spar for a while he was to go into the city and meet with the council. The students paired off as her father left the yard. Jessica knew this was the chance she had been waiting for. The pairs of men were busy sparing and wouldn''t notice her. She pulled one of the training swords off the wall and walked to one of the far corners of the yard. Her heart was pounding in her ears, she was so excited that no one had noticed her. She faced a wall and brought up the sword just like she had seen the men do so many times before. She swung the sword and it felt heavy in her small hands. She struggled to keep a hold of it at the bottom of the swing. She gripped it harder and swung again this time a upward stoke from ground to above her head. She was trying to repeat the movements she had seen the students and her father do so many times before. Then another stroke and another, she liked the feeling, finally being able to do what she had seen her father do so many times. She was starting to get into the flow of it. She stopped after a few seconds when she noticed the commotion of the men sparing starting to die down. She turned to see why they were stopping. She spun around on her heel and saw they were staring in her direction and smiling and murmuring to themselves.


    "Maybe there is someone to carry the Verotis sword." said one.


    "Not bad for one so young, regardless of the fact that she is a daughter." said another


    "There is a child of the Empire." chimed a third in jest.


    She stood there bashfully, putting the sword behind her back. She stood there for a second considering what to do then as best she could imitate her fathers voice and tone. "You had better get back to training, that is why you come to this place after all, is it not? What would my father say if he returns to find you all just standing around?" laughter erupted from the men for a second then they turned back to each other and began again. She thought it was odd that they had listened to her. She smiled sheepishly to herself and laughed under her breath as she thought that maybe it had been the imitation of her father''s voice that had them listening to her. She went back to what she had been doing. Training with the rough hewn wooden sword just like all those men around her. She started to really get into all the swings and thrusts and blocks that she had seen performed a thousand times and a thousand times again. She lost herself in her movements. She lost track of the movement of time until she heard the bell sound, the signal that it was time for the evening meal. She had been at it for several hours. How had she not noticed. She let the sword tip rest on the ground and looked toward the center of the plaza and saw the men start filing their way toward the exit. She turned to head to the weapon rack to start putting the weapons back in their places. Did you know this text is from a different site? Read the official version to support the creator.


    "Getting in a little practice I see." her father''s voice echoed in her ears.


    She froze in her steps.


    She knew she was caught. He had been standing right behind her and she had not noticed, she was not sure how long he had been there. She hoped it had not been long but there was no way for her to be sure, short of asking him and that seemed to be a bad idea to her. She looked at his face and saw a dishonest scowl like he was trying hard to sound as upset as he was supposed to be. She knew she needed to respond but she did not know how. She stood there quietly with the wooden gladius in her hand. He stared at his daughter as if he was studying her. She was just frozen in her step, caught in the act.


    He took pity on her position and gave her the much needed escape she was looking for. " you had better get over there before the men just start piling up the gear."


    She was so relieved that she wasn''t going to get scolded or punished. She ran over to the rack and started putting the wooden swords, shields and spears that had been removed back into their place. Once they were all returned to their proper place she headed back into the villa, through the main room and into her room. It wasn''t until she started changing back into her dress for dinner that she realized just how tired she was, how much her young body ached. She was not used to the exertion. But she was happy beyond reason. She had finally been able to train. To actually pick up the sword and swing it. It had felt great, she felt strong and powerful with it in her hand, certainly none of the other girls she played with, her friends, had ever been able to do that.


    The next day she woke up early and started getting ready for the day. Her father stopped her after breakfast as they were about to enter the plaza. She had known this was coming, She would have preferred to put this off of that she was certain.


    "Jessica, It seems like you found something you enjoy." He said with a fatherly smile on his face.


    "I think I have, father"


    "If you really want to train with the men I will allow it. But there are going to be some caveats."


    "Like what father?"


    "First off you can''t think so, if you want to do this you have to be totally dedicated, not just think it is something you want."


    "Then this is want. I want to do this I want to train to be like you."


    "Second, you are my daughter, a Verotis, and the daughter of your mother, if you are going to join this training then you have to be the best. I know you are going to start behind these men by several years worth of training even though you are a child and these men are adults. I expect you, my daughter, to surpass them. You must be better than any man I have ever trained."


    "I can do it Father, I will do it, I will surpass them. I am your daughter I will become the greatest warrior you have ever trained."


    "Lastly my daughter, and possibly the most difficult amongst these, you must know that women who become warriors are often shunned in the Empire. They struggle to get married, and most times never find love." He paused for a second, let out a sigh and with sadness in his eyes he continued. " I would be proud for my daughter to join the warrior ranks. I have struggled with how to raise you, ever since your mother lost her life bringing you to me."


    Jessica''s breath quickened, her father almost never spoke about her mother. She had known her mother was no longer around but she never really pressed her father for information about her.


    " I do not care what others might think of me. I will follow in the footsteps of my father, I will become a warrior. I will carry the name Verotis into the next generation. I will bring pride and honor to my name and to yours as well father."


    "Very well then you start your training today. As is the custom before we start the training we will hold the small ceremony to induct you and then you will start to learn, but remember you must learn quickly."


    "thank you father" She had seen the ceremony before when some of the new men had arrived to start training. She knew what was expected so no explanation was required.


    "And, a favor, my daughter"


    "What is it you request of me, father"


    "When we are in training call me by my name like the others not father. When training is done you can call me father once more. We have to keep discipline on the training field."


    "Of course father"


    He rose from his knee that he had sunken to while speaking so that he could speak with his daughter face to face and walked into the plaza. She looked around the yard as if for the first time. Everything seemed new and different. It wasn''t different and yet it was. It wasn''t just the plaza in her family villa anymore it was her training yard. Where she would learn to be like her father. Strong like him, wise like him, revered like he was.


    As she scanned the training yard the statue under the balcony caught her eye again.


    "What is the statue for father?"


    "This old man''s faith, It is a statue of Mars. We train before him that we can please him and he will bless us with strength and skill."


    Mars, she had heard this name before from old men and women and their stories. They were always talking about how the younger generations were forgetting the gods and forgetting the faith that had built the Impire. There were whispers that it was why nothing new had been created in a hundred years. No great thinkers had arisen and no one had built things never seen before. They were all happy with life just as it was.


    "You still follow the old gods, Father?"


    "Yes, I never forced you to do the same because I believed unlike some others that a child should decide for themselves if they wish to serve the gods"


    With that she walked over to the racks and opened the gates that led to outside and the first man entered and she handed him the sword. He spoke the phrase and took the sword. The words echoed in her head as she tried to really understand it. " I thank my master for this gift. May I serve him with my strength." She shuttered for a second with the realization that it wasn''t her father they were speaking to it was that statue of Mars on the shelf.


    When the last man had entered she stood there as her father strode to his place in front and the center of the formation. "Today we have a new warrior amongst us" The men recognized the phrase as the start of the induction ceremony. They all looked around for a new face, yet none could find one. They looked at each other in confusion. "Any who would come forth to claim the title Warrior come forward now." Again the men looked back and forth. For a moment she hesitated she knew this was the moment of her decision, that after this there was no turning back. She had made a promise to her father and to herself. This was the moment of truth where she would give up her normal life to be like her father to make her father proud.


    " I would claim the title!" her voice sounding more shaky than she had hoped for. She marched her small nine year old form to the front of the formation. Standing in front of the assembled men she felt so much smaller. She fell to one knee before her father, and bowed her head. Now was her chance to give her declaration in her own words, as was the custom. She realized all to late she should have thought of what she was gonna say before now. Here she was a small young girl kneeling in front of her father at the head of the formation of forty plus young men all warriors in their own right.


    "From this day on I dedicate my days to becoming one of the warrior class. Until the day I earn my own sword all my days are yours. You are now my brothers. I will not be lax on any of you and I expect the same from you."


    She looked up into her father''s eyes, a look of pride and almost to the point of tears if just almost. "For service to the Empire, For New Pompeii for you my brothers, and for you Markus"

 Markus I

    Markus Verotis had spent his young life in the city of New Pompeii, His family had lived there for generations and it was fitting that he would raise a family there too. He had joined the warrior class at around the age of 14 which was about normal for the beginning of training after making it through the basics school at around 19 he went to all the schools in town looking to see who he was going to have give him the advanced training. Advanced training was an option and often meant a command once you joined the army.


    The house of Cassius was the house of a man in the political class. Not normally where you would find the advanced warrior school, but the master of the house had hired a hero from the last campaign to teach at the school and for that was considered to be one of the best schools around. He walked up to the gate that led directly to the plaza in the middle of the villa. It was unusually designed for a school most had all the men practice in the yard in front of the house, as a way for the school to show off it''s methods.


    He entered the gate and stood amongst the warriors that were gathered inside. The man standing in front that was obviously in charge gave the challenge. "Who among you would claim the title warrior." He marched forward and in this way he entered advanced training. He enjoyed training and was pretty good, one of the best in the school in fact. As he was moved from the back of the formation to the front he began to notice a balcony that extended over part of the courtyard. He had never really paid that much attention to it until today. When he saw a young lady standing on the balcony watching the training going on below. She had dark hair and a stern look on her face. She studied the men on the training ground not like a teenage girl typically would. Not looking for a handsome boy that might make a nice boyfriend but instead she seemed to be paying more attention to their skill and the stroke of their swords, how fast they were with the block and parry. How well they fought and moved.


    Every day she was up there most days by herself but some days she would have her female friends up there with her. Her friends always seemed to be chattering amongst themselves and pointing at different young men as they trained and giggling to each other. They would whisper to her and try to include her in their whisperings. She always seemed more focused on their fighting form than their physical form.


    On one such day Markus was sparring with one of the other guys that was in training when he noticed the she was on the balcony again. His sparing partner noticed him looking up to the balcony now and again. "Her name is Jullianna you know, her father owns the school."


    "Who?" said Markus acting like he didn''t know what was going on.


    "The girl on the Balcony that you keep staring at."


    Markus smiled slightly at this point both men rested from the fight and moved to a more relaxed conversation. They moved over to the water jugs and continued talking.


    "We have all noticed her I don''t know if there is a man that passes through those gates that doesn''t notice her."


    "You might be right there.¡±


    "You have no chance with her Markus, you had better just give up on that dream."


    "I think you underestimate me, she is very beautiful, but I was looking at her to see what she is always watching us for." he said defiantly


    "Of Course not, " the response came with a bit of sarcasm and a wink. "Think about it, If you were a young lady such as her and you had lots of handsome young men getting all hot and sweaty in your yard wouldn''t you want to watch?"


    Markus smiled to himself at the thought " There is more to it than that. Her friends maybe, they are here to watch and ogle. But the way she watches us I think there is more to it."


    "How can you tell?"


    "I watch her eyes, to see where they are watching."


    "Why are you looking at her eye there are things much more pleasant to look at on her" his sparing partner responded and grinned slyly.


    "True enough." Markus responded


    "Again, give up on that deam you may have, she will be mine, Markus" he said cockily.


    "And what makes you so much more likely to have a chance with her than me?'' Markus asked.


    " I am better looking for one," quipped his buddy.


    "And dumber too" Markus retorted. They both laughed and went back to the formation to continue sparring.


    There she was day after day as he trained, the unreachable beauty that all the men talked about and now he knew her name. The training continued normally and Markus was beginning to shine as one of the brightest and strongest in the group. Soon he was moved to the first rank at the very front every action judged by the trainer. He was right in front of the balcony and could see her even better now and was even more convinced now than ever that she was not just man-watching but that she was focusing on something else. Markus was working hard to be the best. He started staying later and later to get in as much practice as possible. Even when everyone else had gone and there was no one to spar with he would stand in the sand and just practice his form. He liked the solitude of the training area at night. He was able to lose himself in his own mind, focus solely on the stroke of the wooden blade the feeling of its weight in his hand.


    So there he was just past dark one night standing alone in the training area. He closed his eyes and lost himself in an imaginary fight. He saw in his minds eye an opponent before him. He struck, bringing his sword down in a wide arch across the would be opponents chest, then another pulling from left to right slashing at the midsection. Then a step and a downward stoke.


    CRACK


    He heard and felt the wooden blade strike something. That sound was so familiar it was another wooden sword that he had struck. Wait a moment he was alone. He was sure of it. Everyone had gone home even the trainer was gone. There was no one there. Yet he had heard and felt the stroke of his sword stopped. He stood there frozen in the instant he felt the two swords meet. He opened his eyes and there standing in front of him was Jullianna. Just like him she stood there frozen in place. She held in her hands a wooden gladius she held it just above her head in a guard. The moonlight cascaded across her and the light night breeze caused her light blue tunic to flutter. It matched perfectly with the color of her eyes she was absolutely gorgeous. She always wore jewelry when she was on the balcony, yet she wasn''t wearing any now. But it took nothing away, He stood there trying to determine if it was a dream or not.


    "My apologizes, miss, I thought I was alone out here" he said as he dropped to one knee out of respect and apology. He laid the sword on the sand in front of him as was done when a lowly warrior spoke to one of the political class.


    "No apology necessary, No harm done." she replied smoothly almost inviting a retort.The tale has been taken without authorization; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident.


    "You were lucky you were able to stop that you would have been hurt if I had hit you." he said


    "You wouldn''t have been able to hit me if your eyes were open, much less so with you off in some other world." Julliana responded.


    "Is that so" Markus challenged


    "Yes, it is, even if you were trying to you wouldn''t land a single blow" she said with so much certainty in her voice.


    "Shall we test that?" he said with a grin.


    "You would raise your sword against a woman?"


    "If she would raise one against me" Markus rose to his feet and took ahold of the sword. Both took their position. Setting their weight rightly on their feet, swords at the ready both waiting for the other to strike first. Markus knew he would have to let her make the first move or he could really get into trouble. Even if she had challenged him. She obliged, a straight thrust to his chest. He easily deflected it knocking it wide right. She didn''t miss a beat and started bringing it back across as a slash across the midsection he jumped back a little and sucked his stomach in as much as he could muster and watched the blade miss him completely if just barely. As soon as it passed he made his move a trust at her midsection. He anticipated her to deflect it and he already planned his next move. She did something he would have never anticipated and stepped in with her leg and stood facing the blade as it passed in front of her. She used the momentum to slam her shoulder into him which threw him off balance. Then pulling her own arm across her body struck him with the pommel of the sword. That put him on his back. He wasn''t out of the game yet. He kept his guard up and kept the blade pointed at her even from his back. She smiled down at him and smirked. When she realized he wasn''t going to expose himself by attempting to get up she began a series of strikes at his guts. He rolled and ended back on his feet. She would strike and he would block and deflect the strike. On and on they went for several minutes, this was one of the longest sparing sessions Markus had been in and even by the point that 10 or more minutes had passed every time he thought he had the opportunity to strike or take the advantage she would close the opening or left it open and when he took it, it turned out to be a trap so that she would get the edge up on him and give her a chance to strike. She had landed strikes on his arms legs and chest. She was definitely good. Better even than the instructor at the school. No matter what trucks he tried he couldn''t land a blow. Now he was just hoping she would tire out. They had been at it for the better part of half an hour at least. This lethal dance or it would have been for Markus had the swords been real. Each of them swinging and blocking and dodging they both moved around and threw each others stances. Their hands and feet a blur of motion and forceful intent. They both smiled with each strike and parry. Neither had encountered someone who was at each others level before. The challenge of the fight was fun for them both. Markus watched in shear amazement as this beautiful woman, spun, twirled, and struck at him and parried his blows. He would have never imagined such a graceful creature existed much less that he would meet her. Each could see the other was tiring. They knew they couldn''t keep this up forever. Markus had been working her back towards a wall and he knew this was his chance. He heft the sword one last time and their swords crossed, met in the middle between them each pushing hard against the other in order to get the advantage. She leaned in to try to get more leverage on him and he did the same. It had all come down to this. They were going to see who was better. They both pushed into each other and leaned in a little more and more.


    Until they both looked up away from the swords and saw that they were inches from each others faces. They were just looking into each other eyes. Markus thought about where he was and who he was and more so who she was. He backed away from her kneeling on one knee with his sword point in the dirt. "I guess we will call this one a draw." He stood and looked up at her she was standing where he had left her standing against the wall. She was just looking at him. An unusual look in her eyes. almost confusion, and something else mixed in Markus didn''t know what it was. He turned and walked out of the courtyard without as much as a word from her.


    He slept well that night, exhausted from the fight. He dreamed of the fight, of that dance of death he had done, for quite some time he had danced with her and felt like he had learned more from fighting with her than what the instructor had ever taught him. When he awoke he missed her, she wasn''t there anymore. She had been there all night in his dream, fighting him, their swordplay to match the best that he could envision. When he arrived at the villa the next morning he was anxious to see her again. He met Westley just outside the gate.


    "You will never guess who I had a duel with last night.:


    "Was it the barmaid that works in the place down the street?"


    "No" Markus said inviting another guess.


    "Yea you are right that was me with the barmaid last night. We dueled all night long."


    "That isn''t what I meant at all. It was a female but we dueled with sword"


    "Please there isn''t a woman in all of New Pompeii that could match any of us with a sword."


    "There is and not only is she a match she is better than any of us here, even me"


    "And where may I ask did you find such a woman at such a late hour?" Westley responded becoming more interested and getting ever more suspicious of the story.


    "Here at the school" Markus said being vague.


    "So either one of the students is actually a woman or one of their family servants had too much time on their hands and spent too much of it with the trainer when he isn''t with us"


    "Guess again" Markus teased.


    Westly was getting noticeably rattled. "Well let me in on the secret or will I have to beat it out of you?"


    "It was Jullianna, the owners daughter, the one that is always watching us."


    Ha Ha Ha Westly laughed "Now I know your joking."


    "I wouldn''t joke about her" Markus responded strongly


    "Yea Yea, if you decide you want to tell me who it really was that gave you those bruises," Westly said looking Markus over." Let me know."


    "Don''t believe me then" Markus said defiantly as they entered the gate, received his sword and looked up at the balcony where she normally was. And there she was watching them as she always had.


    Markus knew better than to try to say anything to her, anything he would have tried to say would have been heard by all who were present. Her vision was just scanning the group of men. When her eyes passed over him, he would have sworn her eyes stopped on him if only for a moment and that there was a hint of a smile on her face.


    Maybe it was wishful thinking, anyone else would have sworn that it didn''t happen.


    He stayed late that night as he did the night before hoping she would show up for another round. She never graced him with her presence. When he decided that it was just too late to wait any longer he decided he had to go. For the next several nights he held out hope that she would show up for another fight. He wanted to see her again to experience the exhilaration that only a fight with her had ever stirred. But she never did. She was still there watching the group during the day as always, she would bring her friends up with her to watch.


    Apon his graduation from the school he was recognized as being an excellent student and easily was granted a command in the Impire''s army.


    When he arrived at his command he was informed that they were gearing up for the final campaign against the Holdout Nations. The last nations that were not under the rule of the Impire. Besides these lands all that could be reached by land or ship had pledged their loyalty to the Impire. Everyone knew this was their last chance for glory last chance for real combat. They were all moved by cart from New Pomeii where the army had originated. New Pompeii had been designated as the city that would be the source of the invasion force itself. The surrounding cities has been tasked to create the defensive forces to protect the cities in case of counterattack. The army from New Pomeii had been gathering for years now, and he arrived just within a few months of the planned start of the invasion. He had been given an element of 50 men that were his to command and to train as part of the invasion. They had all completed the basic warrior training that is required to wear that title. They had most of the basic skills that was expected of them and it was simply Markus'' job to have them combine their skills and to work as a unit. Every day the carts would stop to set up camp and he would form his men up and drill them to be sure they would react to his orders. He knew they would be of no use if they wouldn''t listen to his order under the pressures of combat. He drilled them in moving as one and how they should react to specific situations. So that even without his word they would anticipate and react. He saw other commanders were not so studious when it came to the training of their men, after all they were all warriors of New Pompeii, the best the Impire has to offer what did they have to fear. Markus understood, none of these men had actually seen combat before. When the carts came rolling up to the border he knew his men were operating as a single unit as if they were an extension of his swordarm of his very will.

 Markus I .5

    As the force approached the anticipated battlefield Markus and his men were chosen to be in the lead of the army as they marched to the city. The scouts had reported no sightings of the enemy all the way to the outskirts of the city itself. they had received word threw envoys and emissaries sent to the Land of O''Donovan, named for the ruling family of the Lands, that an army was definitely gathering to mount a defense. They were reported to be a proud people and had refused the submit to the rule of the Impire as so many others had done. They were by all accounts determined to go down fighting. So the Impire had sent this army to oblige them.


    Markus led his men all the way to the outskirts of the city. No longer was there abandoned farmhouses and small shops and inns along the road. They were finding organized roads with houses on each side. As they swept through the city they knew something was wrong. They were no reports of contact with the enemy by any unit. The whole of the army had come sweeping through the city from one side sweeping through like a wave. As they were approaching the center of the city they saw the first signs of the enemy. They saw what looked like a wall only slightly taller than a man''s height. It appeared to be a large circle encompassing the center of the city and the tower that stood there. When the men saw the wall they broke into a charge and ran straight for the wall. When they reached it they quickly realized that it was not a supported wall at all but more of a large hastily constructed fence. As each man tried to reach over the wall and climb to see what was on the other side they would fall as the wall bowed inward. Markus gathered his men all together and had them push on the wall all at one point. They could feel the wall starting to give. Then suddenly it snapped, the wall was breached. Markus and his men poured through the gap. As soon as they pushed through the fight was on. The enemy had been waiting on the other side, waiting for the breaches so that they could attack the men as they came through the gaps. Markus immediately called for reinforcements in order to bring up the units behind his. There were enemy soldiers everywhere as they passed the breach. Markus men were organized and as soon as they were all through they formed so that their backs were against the wall and they stood shoulder to shoulder with each other. This prevented them from being attacked from all sides and instead just one side as they formed a crescent shape pushing out into the center of the wall. They were having to act mostly defensively just blocking attacks and keeping themselves from being overwhelmed. It was a matter of simply staying alive. Not winning or killing the enemy and attaining victory and glory in the name of the Impire, it was just a matter of survival. As the Markus'' reinforcements came through they were not as organized. They went running right into the waiting enemy. Charging, going all out into the mass of the enemy force, they were just slowly trickling through the gap compared to the numbers of the enemy that were already waiting for them inside the wall. As more and more men poured through the gap that Markus and his men had made Markus looked out and noticed other breaches were starting to form in sections all over the wall. More and more of his men were starting to make it through. If they could start to form together and actually fight in a coordinated effort against the enemy, they might have a chance. However this was not to be. Even when groups of men gathered and began to fight together they would eventually collapse as they tried to push their way deeper into the horde. Why were they trying to attack so badly. Why were they throwing their lives away just to get a few feet deeper into the mass. If they would form with him and his unit some of them might be saved. As they day passed on, Markus continued to account for his losses, he had lost a few men, the other units that were coming through were not so lucky. Unit apon unit had come though and like smashing against a wall were destroyed to a man. Some level of casualties had been inflicted on the enemy but due to their strategy with the wall their losses were not significant compared to the losses suffered by the Impire. The streets and open marketplace that had been their battlefield was soaked with blood. Like a crimson stream had suddenly sprung up in the middle. The cobble that made of the streets were slick with the entrails and gore of men. Fighting men, mostly boys who had just recently become warriors themselves. These were the Impire''s men, Markus'' men that littered the ground. It was a sight that rivaled any story and who were there had ever heard as to the appearance of what the afterlife might look like. Both sides were tiring and a gap was forming between the lines where the two forces met, the sun was starting to set and both sides knew they couldn''t fight in the dark and the day''s battle was coming to an end. Markus gave the signal and his men pulled even further back from the conflict line and when the enemy saw it they too pulled back. Neither side turned their backs to the other as they both backed away from each others lines. All of the Impires men returned to their carts and the camp that was established with them at the edge of the city. Guard watches, patrols and watch-fires were set, as well as everything else that is needed to keep the camp from being surprised at night. Some officers were going from unit to unit to get a count of the army that remained after the day''s battle, although slaughter was a more apt word. They moved about getting counts of the wounded killed and missing. Markus had lost 5 men, he was down to 45 that were in fighting shape, it was a heartfelt loss but nothing compared to the losses some of the other units had received. They had taken amazing losses compared to the army that had arisen to oppose them. The Imperial men had thought themselves invincible and that thought had let to their defeat. Markus marked that day in his mind and vowed he wouldn''t make that mistake himself. "No one is beyond defeat." he told himself. When those in charge of the accounting returned to the command tent, Markus was called there to account for his lack of loss compared to comparable units. He was originally accused of cowardice in the face of the enemy, that was the only way they could explain why his losses had not been total like all the others to go in first. Once it was confirmed by reports of others that he had in fact charged in first and his men had been inside the wall the whole day that thought was quickly dismissed. He was brought in front of the Commander of the Forces, who was now personally curious about the story. He recounted the day to the Commander who applauded him for his grace under pressure and was promoted. He was installed as a sub-commander under the Commander of the Forces himself. He was tasked with assembling what was left of the broken units and combining them and organizing them as he saw fit so that on the third day he could be sent in if the need arose, where the units who had not engaged that day would go in tomorrow. Markus was given the set of armor and swords that were appropriate and denoted his new station and was returned to his men. He gathered all the units all together that he was put in charge of and began to talk to them, informing them of the Commanders decision and his new command, and the plan for the coming days. They would have one day to organize and rest and get bandaged as needed then on the 3rd day the would be the ones attacking again. He went around from campfire to campfire making sure all the wounded were helped and that all the units had been reorganized and unit leaders decided. Once this was done he returned to his bedroll to sleep. When he woke in the morning the troops that were going to be in the engagement today had already begun to muster and march toward the city center. It was about to be a long day for some of those men, and a markedly short day for many others. Markus couldn''t become focused on what was happening on the field only on the men he had been given charge of. Once he had them assembled he had them counted . They stood only 3,000 strong left from what was once 12,000 that composed the first half of the invasion force. The second 12,000 were now engaged in battle themselves, and no one was sure how many of them would return. He gathered his unit commanders together and walked them through exactly what he had seen the day before. They had all seen it themselves but each had seen it in their own way. Once he had reconciled the stories from the day before he sent each command to drill their unit on how to work as a team not as bunches of individuals. Yes of course they had been taught that in their basic warrior schools but in the battle itself most had lost that training and just ran in as groups of individuals instead of waiting for more men so that they could work together. The men were all veterans now having seen combat themselves. Even for Markus that had been his first taste of live combat of real steel passing through living flesh. The feeling of a slimy wetness and resistance when the blade bit into the chest or arm of a man. Those were moments not easily forgotten just as hard were the faces he saw or his own men when they were wounded or killed. Men he had trained for that time, albeit short time. Many of which he had met before as he had walked the streets and in the drinking establishments of New Pomeii. Friends from back home that were now gone forever. He took the remnants of his 45 men and distributed them amongst all the units that he had been given. They were to pass on what they could during the day. Off in the distance they could hear the sound of battle, the ring of steel and the screams of men. These sounds only reminded them how important their work was that day. They were all aware that they couldn''t afford to suffer the same losses they had the day before. They had been reduced from such a great force to a mere 3,000. By the end of the second day Markus command was working together well, not excellent by any means but they had no more time.


    Markus awaited the return of the other half of the Army that had been the attacking force that day, the second day. Only a few units returned and those that did were almost completely decimated. The unit commanders that did make it back to their lines were brought before the commander of the Forces to be questioned. Markus was called to the command tents to discuss the strategy for the next day. It was as Markus had feared the losses were near complete. The days loss had been due to a new strategy used by the Army of O''Donovan. As the battle had originally begun just as it had the day before with one major exception. As the day had gone on the opposing forces had been switching out the more exhausted soldiers on the fron line with fresher ones from the back, and in doing so they had fresh troops coming up against Imperial troops that were already tired from the fight. When this happen the Tired Imperial troops were decimated. The Impire refused to be routed and had stayed and fought even when they knew they needed a strategy themselves to compete. O''donovan''s men had continued switching out every hour or so so that exhausted Imperial men were being slowly ground down to the point of oblivion.


    The remnants of the Imperial now stood outnumbered nearly 2 to 1. Markus set his mind to how they were going to overcome that disparity. The next morning Markus awoke and set out with the men for the center of the city. The fence/wall that had once been long and continuous was now breached every 10 or 15 feet and each individual section still stood, but men could now pass easily between the gaps. Instead of continuing with the previous days idiocy Markus had his men focused on one small swatch of wall section only about 1/8th of the total way around. He lined them up on his side of the wall, and they began pushing the broken wall sections back into the circle toward the center. The enemy on the other side was waiting for them to pass threw the holes in the wall and when the wall itself started moving toward them they just let it move backing away from the wall in the area where Markus was working. They could see the gaps in the wall getting smaller as the wall sections started getting closer to the center and getting closer together. At this point the entire shape was no longer round but had a flat section on one side of the circle. Another hour of steady pushing they had started to buldge out into the center of the circle itself. Even still the army of Odonovan did not attack they were aware that whenever the Imperial men did start coming through the wall sections that they would now have them from both sides. Markus was surprised that they had not moved against him, they had not yet seen through his strategy. Once he had pushed his luck just far enough he gave the command and all at once only those who were at the point in the bulge that were closest to the center pushed open like a set of hinged doors and Markus led his men straight into the hear of the enemy focusing on the center. Like a sword point they cut cleanly through, he had his men hold the sides of the spear shaped formation that allowed more and more of his men to pour trough toward the center of the city, through the gap to the point of conflict. Markus with him men stormed into the tower, a three story tall stone and wood building that served as the throne room and housing for the Odonovans.


    The fighting inside the tower was the most intense Markus had seen up to this point he was loosing men but he was also destroying the tower''s elite guards little by little. He jumped into the fight himself standing in the center of the large open bottom floor. The tower guards were good but Markus had trained for a very long time for a situation just like this. He dodged and parried every attack and smiled to himself as he remembered the night that he had fought Jullianna and how simple these men''s attacks seemed compared to hers. Man after man was falling to his swords. He laughed aloud now as he was showered in the blood from a freshly cut throat. His dripping red face and helmet and armor was a site beheld uneasily by all who saw it. A ring of guards lay dead or dying at his feet. Their lifesblood covering the marble floor pooling in all directions as more men struggled to climb over these bodies to get to Markus as he stood in the middle of them. As they did reach them they were cut down easily. The steady stream of blood on the marble floor became a wave almost like the rising tide, the blood has begun to pool in the center in between all the bodies the dead acting as a levy to hold the flow in. The men were stacked a couple deep and several high at this point, and they were so many the blood was no longer leaving the center for no gap could be found. More men now focused their attention on the blood drenched warrior who was laughing like a crazy man in the center of the ring of bodies the blood now pooling so high that it reached over the tops of his toes in his sandals. As quickly as they would come at him they would fall. Markus knew in time his limbs would weaken and he might tire and be defeated. He did the only thing he had left to do and he called upon Mars himself to bring strength to his limbs that he might be able to send souls to the underworld in Mars name.


    It was mid day now the light that came in through the open sky light opening in the center of the tower streamed down to were Markus was standing. The guards themselves were starting to question if this man could be defeated if he wasn''t himself some creature loosed from the underworld. He stood there covered in their blood drenched from head to toe in it. His dark hair now matted with congealing blood. He would wipe his eyes occasionally to keep them from stinging with the crimson tide dripping into them. With every stroke a new mist of this red dye would coat his armor and helmet and legs. His laughing had turned into a war cry and then back into a laugh again so many times through the hours. The gore at his feet now pooled to above his ankles, he had started using it to his advantage,he would splash it up with his blade or foot into the faces of the enemy before his killing blows allowing their own contents to refill any that he had removed. Regular enemy soldiers had started ot pour in from the far side of the tower as the guards had begun to dwindle. Markus''s men held the door so he could exit at any time if he had been so inclined. He was not. As midday passed and the light from the open skylight began to shift Markus knew the time had come. He moved from the center of his ring of death stepping up the side farthest from where is men were at. Climbing over the now 3 foot tall wall of humans and pieces of humans . As if a man climbing out of a bath. Both swords held at his sides with their points toward the enemy. The soldiers now coming in from the outside were struck motionless and quiet at the sight of the 6 foot tall man covered in bloody stained armor atop a pile of their own rising out of a puddle of several inches of blood. A ridiculous grin across his face. Lifting one blade to eye level pointing it at them with an outstretched arm as a challenge. None of them moved. They all just stood there staring at this figure before them. He just stared at them with his sword in that manner, his men took it as a signal and moved around the ring of bodies and toward the enemy on the other side. The enemy reacted and bean fighting again to hold back the wave of Imperial men coming at them. With the flow of men stopped Markus found his way to the stairs and left footprints and drops of blood as he ascended. On the second floor he found no one left so he proceeded to the third floor by himself. his men called out for him to wait for them to be able to send some to help him. He continued on by himself on the third floor he saw a set of ornate double doors carved with figures of mythic creatures and battlefields. Markus recognized its description as the throne room. He kicked the door intending to alert those on the other side of the large carved doors that he was there but instead it swung open. It had not been barred at all but instead had been left unlocked.


    There stood a line of six men and behind them a man an a large wooden throne chair and behind him were dozens of young women and children all cowering behind one another at the sight of the blood covered warrior. They looked at him intently in an attempt to discover that if under all that blood stood a warrior of the Impire or one of the O''donovan''s clan or maybe something else. Markus lifted his swords as he had done before and pointed both at the throne.


    "I have come for your surrender or your head good king." Markus announced


    "You would threaten my life without as much as knowing my name or me the name of my would be killer." the king said boldly as if Markus had genuinely insulted him by what he had said.


    "My apologies good king, we cannot forget ourselves even at moments such as these."


    "Good to hear"


    "My name is Markus Verotis, a subcommander in the Army that is now at your doorstep."


    The king stood, threw his cape behind him and took a single step down from the throne. " I am Cian James Larry O''Donovan, as you have guessed I am the kinf of this Land. These are the most elite of my guard, held back to protect me and my family."


    "My men are coming soon and these mere six will not hold off the hundreds and thousands I have with me."


    "I was not told they were to hold off hundreds, I was told they were to be here to hold off one."


    "There is no way you could have known I would make it this far by myself."


    "Yet you are here as I was told a single man bathed in crimson would walk through those doors, Bathed in the souls of my men. I did not know until this moment the name of the man that would come through that door nor that the bathed in crimson would be so literal."


    "It matters not what someone has told you, I am here now and even these six will not stop me"


    "I was told six was all I needed, if they were not enough than we were meant to fall"


    "Than you will surrender if I kill these six?"


    "It would appear that is to be my fate"


    "Very well then," he turned to the six men, "Is it to be all at once or one at a time?"


    They all six glared at the single man in front of them and one began to laugh. They were all powerful looking in their own right large powerful men most easily outweighed Markus by at least 30 pounds. the first moved from Markus'' left and took a step forward.


    "One at a time then" Markus quipped. The large man hefted his axe above his head and came charging at Markus. Markus took two steps back then leaped forward sinking both blades into the man one at the navel and one in the chest. The man looked down and dropped the axe behind him, as the life drained from his eyes. Markus withdrew the swords and stood waiting for the next. The line of men stood seven or so paces away from him still at the entrance to the throne room. The next lowered his spear to the chest level and ran at Markus. As Markus shifted to his left he saw the point of the spear follow him then again as he shifted right. The tip now only a few feet from its target the man lunged and sent the tip of the spear towards Markus'' chest. Markus turned to the left so that his right side faced the opponent and the tip and shaft passed in front of him. As he turned he had raided one arm and brought the blade down on top of both of the spearman''s arms. The man fell and his momentum carried him past Markus. As the man attempted to stand Markus quickly slashed across the back of his calves and the man collapsed to his knees holding his bleeding arms in front of him and screaming. A loud gasp was heard from all the woman standing behind the throne. The woman''s eyes and gasped tugged at Markus'' heart but he knew hesitation here would mean death. Maybe if he made enough show of this the others would back down. He sheathed his left hand sword and grabbed the wounded man by the hair and brow in a clean slice a the neck then another then another. On the third stoke the head spit clear of the body and the body fell to the ground with a heavy thud. As the body landed he took the head and lobed it over the remaining 4 men and it landed just in front of the throne and rolled just slightly pas it into the crowd of women. A few screamed as they clamored behind each other.


    "Who is next? There is a stack of men at the bottom floor who couldn''t best me, save your lives and surrender." Markus stated hoping they would back down and end the bloodshed.


    Instead the next man stepped forward. Markus drew his second sword forth again, shook his head and settled back in for the next round. This one carried a shield and sword, He was a large man even by Markus'' standards. He charged with the shield held before him as a great ram in an attempt to smash Markus into the wall. Markus saw his opening, backed up right to the wall. The man was convinced he had succeeded in scaring Markus into backing up so he pressed his advantage and came at him even faster. As the man threw his arm with the shield forward Markus shrunk down and let the shield hit the stone wall. He felt the reverberation as the metal cap of the shield knocked small shards in every direction. Markus had crumpled himself into a ball against the wall and pushed off the wall and rolled under the shield arm and came up behind the man. The man stunned by both the force of hitting the wall at a full run as well as thinking that he had crushed his opponent was not moving. A sharp cut under the shield arm near the armpit and the arm went limp. Markus had hit something important for blood started pouring from the wound. A small girl from the crowd behind the king cried out " Ddddaaaadddddddyyyy" her voice quickly stifled by the child''s mother. The man spun and swung his sword wildly. There were tears in his eyes as he went. These were not the well aimed strikes of a warrior, they were wild swings fueled by emotion easily dodged. The man knew he was beat but something inside him drove him to keep fighting, he wouldn''t give up. The man''s left arm flopped around limply as he swung, blow after blow each easily blocked or dodged simply by the east grace that had settled apon Markus. He knew they were not gonna give up, he would have to kill them to a man in order to end this. On the next stroke the man overextended and Markus easily cut the man''s throat. Blood spurted from the wound with each beat of the man''s heart. There were only a few of them. The subtle crying of the little girl and her mother filled the hall. The room was quiet save those two and Markus'' deep breathing.Unauthorized duplication: this narrative has been taken without consent. Report sightings.


    "This is taking too long and men are dieing down there." Markus said very matter-of-factly. With that the remaining three men looked at each other then charged him all at once. Markus ran to one side so that they were all in line with each other. Flipping the blade in his left hand so it was blade down. He came at the men in succession. Each blocking their strike with one blade and cutting at their midsection with the other as we went. He passed through them, the first he passed on the man''s right then on the next one his left and so on. All three doubled over holding their wounds and grunting in pain. Markus now behind them turned around to face them, before the last one in line could even spin around to face his attacker Markus'' blade pierced his neck with a thrust that caused the blade to enter from the back and come out the front of the man''s neck. Markus moved up and a hack severed the next man''s spine. By now the man in back was using his hand to try to keep his blood inside him, he was gurgling and spitting up a small river. with the strike landing on the second man his body went limp, with the severing of the spine. The first man turned around and raised his sword-arm just as Markus reached him and cut deep into that arm nearly severing it clean. The sword clattered to the ground and Markus bent down and crossed the blades of his swords under the man''s chin and looked over at the king.


    "I do this to save the lives of so many of mine, there on the field and so many of yours as well, that all men might live in peace." A flick of both wrists and the head of the man rolled free of the rest of him across the floor. Markus raised his sword toward Cian. Its over now lets end all this death. The king grabbed a horn from the wall and let out a few short blasts. Markus backed up out the door just as the figthing at the bottom of the stairs stopped. Markus stood there as his men rushed up the stairs past him and started to fill the throne room. Markus moved in and started at the scene before him.The king stood before his throne, a dozen men pointing their swords at him and dozens more pointing at the women and children behind him. His men parted as Markus stepped through them toward the throne.


    "Let me kill the king." one man said. " I always wanted to kill a king."


    "No one is killing him." Markus bellowed. "So what is your move king," he said directly at Cian.


    "I did tell you if those men fell it was destined that way." Cian said as he hung his head. "We will submit to the rule of the Impire the exact terms of which will be discussed with the envoys I assume."


    "You are most likely correct in that. As long as the killing is stopped I am content." Markus said.


    "While I submit my kingdom to the rule of the Impire, I as a king surrender to you alone."


    "The Commander will come and formally accept your surrender."


    "No" Cian insisted " Only to you, you led these men, you bested these six."


    "I am not sure how the commander will take that but I will let him know your wishes"


    With that a shout went up from Markus men, first just the ones in the throne room then the ones downstairs soon it could be heard from outside a shout of jubilation, a shout of victory. All the men began sheathing their weapons. An Imperial man reached out and grabbed a young woman from the crowd , and yelled out, "This one is mine." The young woman appeared to be about 19 years or so and was dressed plainly in a simple white dress. She struggled against him but this young woman was no match for a full grown warrior. He wrapped his arms around her smearing her white dress with mud and blood from the battlefield. He leaned in as if to kiss her. She put both her hands up and pushed his face away. With that several other men grabbed their "prizes" from the group. The women were screaming and struggling and holding onto each other to keep from being pulled into the flock of men. The woman in the white dress was still trying to push her attacker away. She pulled her fingers across his face and scratched him, he threw her down and raided his hand as if to build up strength to strike her.


    " THAT WILL BE QUITE ENOUGH"


    Markus screamed pulling one of his bloody swords form its sheathe. " None of these are to be harmed. Any who would do anything to the against the will of these women will answer to me. Is that understood?" Markus bellowed.


    The men grumbled and let the women go as they found it best not to argue with a vice-commander who was literally covered head to toe in the blood of men they had just seen him killing.


    "Not many men would stand up to their own warriors in defense of defeated prisoners." The king O''Donovan said candidly.


    "You are not prisoners. You and your family will likely retain power in this land, I will do my best to see to that. You will just have to answer to the Impire for your actions. And pay your taxes of course, everyone has to pay taxes," Markus said to the king trying to break up the tension in the air with a bit of brevity.


    The king stepped forward and reached his hand out to shake Markus'' and said " I would like to invite you to dinner tonight with me..." he was interrupted by a shout from the bottom floor the accent in the man''s speech mad him out to be one of O''Donovan''s men, "Sit it''s Mohalley again."


    The king sighed in recognition of the name and began to head toward the stairs. "I would ask you to come along Markus, some of yours might need controlling as well" the king said regretfully.


    Markus followed the man down the stairs and out the tower. None of the Imperial men raised a finger when they saw Markus with the king. It was apparent from their stares that rumors about what had occurred inside the tower were already spreading. Markus could see the commotion not too far from where they had left the tower. As Markus and Cian got closer it became clearer what was going on, there was a ring of Imperial warriors and in the middle was one of O''Donovan''s. The man stood a head shorter than Markus himself. The man looked as if he had spent his whole life doing some form of hard labor or perhaps spent it just trying to see what was the heaviest thing he could pick up. Markus considered himself well put together. But this one had biceps so large a full grown man couldn''t wrap his hands around and get his fingers to touch, all with a chest and legs to match. A bull of a man, if he had been a head taller might have been unstoppable in any right. He was swinging a large double bladed battle axe at the men around him, not so much at any one of them but at all of them in general. He didn''t seem at the moment to be trying to kill any of them just keep them all at bay. If he hadn''t been completely surrounded no telling what kind of damage he may have caused. From the blood on the weapon and on the furs the man wore it was evident he had been already involved in some of the days battle. His screaming was mostly indecipherable until they were just outside the circle. It seemed as if the Imerial men were toying with him. He was yelling what were likely horrible curses in his culture. Telling the men how he was going to kill them and disembowel them. Markus was also pretty sure he heard some references to fornification with the dead bodies at least he thought that is what the man had said. These were meant to frighten his attackers Markus guessed.


    "Damn you Mohalley, I sounded the horn that means its over put the axe down."


    "I am gonna kill em all, just wait and see" the hulking mass of a man rambled.


    "You are doing it again, when I tell you to do something you need to do it." The king said as if he was speaking to a child not a fully grown, or rather a fully overgrown man.


    "Just watch me I will smash that one into little bits, then that one I will cut in half then..."


    "MOHALLEY" the king roared


    The bull was still intent on charging even if the king had silenced his rant. He kept swinging the large axe at anyone who dared to make even a small step toward him.


    "Someone is going to get hurt if I let this go on" Markus stated matter of factly and marched toward the madman wielding the axe.


    As expected as Markus stepped forward the axe swung toward him. Markus leaned forward and sucked in his midsection and let the blade pass under his shoulders. just as soon as it passed Markus wrapped his arms around the arms of the large man trapping the axe under his armit and behind him. With that the beast of a man began to swing his arms wildly taking Markus with him. After a couple back and forth motions that failed to shake Markus loose he began to squirm and struggle to get his arms free, Markus move had given the men all the time they needed to close the gap and before he could free himself they were on him. Once there was 10 or so Imperial men holding him down was Markus confident enough in their control to release his grip.


    "Now that that is under control, what was it you were trying to say before we were interrupted." Markus said nonchalantly as if it had been some minor interruption in the conversation.


    "I was trying to invite you to dinner with me and my family.¡± Cian said in a worried tone. " That was dangerous, He would have killed you, Moholley is quite mad, He doesn''t care that the battle was over."


    "No more dangerous than anything else I have done today." Markus responded. " It saved lives so it was worth risking mine." With that Markus went back to the tower to make sure things were going as planned. The envoy was being brought up and the king was arranging the meal from the city stores. Markus saw to his men and the wounded and dead.


    When the time came for the meal Markus had found a basin and washed his armor and himself as best he could. His skin and hair still tinted red from the gore that had covered him. He felt odd dining with people who he had killed their kin earlier that day. But according to the reports that was how they were, battle was separate from their social lives. Some cases had been reported of men from opposing clans drinking together at the same establishment one night and fighting to the death the next day only to all go drinking the next night with the same men that remained. He knew that the people he was dining with had been disarmed but it felt weird for him to wear his armor and no swords, so he decided to keep them. As he walked back from his tent to the tower men were still dismantling portions of the wall. The men that were working would stop and stare at him as he walked by. This disconcerted him, however he did not question them as to who they acted so. As he was about to enter the tower which now had his men flanking the entrance he pulled free one of his swords in an attempt to check his reflection in the blade. He made sure had no obvious spots of blood showing on him. Finding none he sheathed it and proceeded inside. He was escorted to a seat beside the king and began to enjoy the large array of foods he had never seen before. He talked with the kind and his family which was quite extensive. From the far side of the table he could see several young women eyeing him. Their faces seemed to be a mix of glares for loved ones he had taken and various forms of flirtation. He was confused but tried to show as little of his uneasiness as possible. Once the meal was concluded the king invited Markus into a side room to talk more in private. "I would offer you a room here in the tower, but I fear you would be allowed no sleep." the king said in jest.


    "Do you really think any of your men would try to kill me in my sleep?" Markus asked.


    "It is not my men you have to worry about," the king snickered.


    "then who?" Markus asked


    "the wives of the men you killed and the ladies that you saved in the throne room today."


    "What would I have to fear from them, I saved them from a horrible fate, and as for the women who''s husbands I killed, Men die in war surely they must understand this." Markus said confused.


    "fear? I wouldn''t say fear, Just worry about, their thanks and the collection of dues is what you should worry about." The king said obviously holding something back.


    "You don''t wish to tell me do you?" Markus said


    "I will tell you only this, Fear not for your life for they don''t want to kill you. Instead They want to take your life with them," the king laughed warmly at his own attempt at being cryptic. " I think I will have to write that down , that was great." being quite pleased with himself.


    "I don''t understand." Markus questioned.


    "Of course you wouldn''t you don''t know my people well enough. Stay the night in my tower and you will come to know my people and their ways better," He said being intentionally cryptic again.


    "My only option is to accept your offer if I want to find out what you are being so secretive about" Markus exclaimed obviously now at the end of his rope. "Am I right?"


    "You are." the king said rather matter of factly.


    Cian called for a servant and after what sounded like a few seconds of people stuggling with each other a young woman appeared. She walked up and bowed to the king and asked what he wished.


    "It would be you Cathliene, ha ha very well. Show Markus to the best guest room we have that he may see the grandeur these "Savages" can create." the King overemphasized the savages part. It was an insult used by people of the Impire for anyone who refused to fall under the Imperial system.


    "With pleasure my king." She said as she looked up at Markus


    Markus was in the chair facing the king. Cathliene stepped forward into the light of the fireplace. Fiery red hair cascaded to her shoulders in light curls. Taller than the women found in the Imperial cities she was just about as tall as Markus. She wore a low cut "barmaid" top that showed off her ample cleavage. A short brown leather skirt that hugged her shapely hips and thighs to just about her knees. Quite a woman Markus thought to himself, no wonder the king would keep such a beautiful woman as servants.


    She outstretched her hand to Markus, he rose to follow her. As they left the room the two Imperial men who had been guarding the door followed Markus and the lady as they headed to the room on the second floor. Along the way Cathliene had made a point of stopping at several tapestries and carvings that depicted battles her family had been involved in or accomplishments attributed to her family name. She passed by several large carvings and would only describe them if Markus asked about them. Markus noticed this and was confused as to why his tour guide was trying to make her and her family sound so great. Just one of those cultural differences he guessed. They came to a single large wooden door with a large sword carved on it and battle standards carved in relief behind it. The guards posted on the door and Markus followed Cathliene inside. In the center of the room was a large bed covered in furs of every shape and color, the headboard was intricately carved in small whirls and loops the crossed over each other, Large antlers hung from mounts on the walls.


    Cathliene walked around the room showing him the water pots and were wood for the fireplace was stored as well as a stand for his armor. He thanked her and she walked off to the doorway and he tossed another log into the coals in the fireplace. He took his helmet that he had been carrying under his arm and placed it on the stand. As he did he heard the latch on the door fall closed.


    He let out a sigh, he could relax now, no more keeping on his best behavior or watching how he worded things as to not offend a nation. He the fresh log in the fireplace began to catch filling the room with its warmth and he felt himself start to unwind.


    He heard someone else breathing in the room with him and realized he was not alone, he spun around and drew his swords on instinct. It was Cathliene standing there, he quickly sheathed his swords and apologized. "You startled me." I thought you had left", he said in relief that is was her.


    "I would have what I am due" she said quietly half under her breath loud enough that Markus was sure to hear her but just barely.


    "What? What do you mean?" Markus said worriedly.


    "Today you took from me a husband and a brother, and for them I would have what I am due." She said again this time her tone was more defined, moving her hand to the waistband of her leather skirt.


    "I don''t know what you mean but the killing is done, by your kings own order, I also have no intention of ending more lives today." Markus said resting his hands on the gripps of his swords preparing to draw them at any sign of a weapon.


    "The king didn''t explain did he? of course he would have thought it more amusing this way." she said and let out a heavy sigh. "Very well then" with one hand she pulled at the latch on the waistband of the leather skirt and the skirt fell to the floor. With the other she pulled the tasseled strings on her shirt and it unlaced itself and fell off her shoulders and onto the growing pile of clothes on the floor.


    Markus was speechless at the sight that greeted him. The now naked Cathliene looking back at him. Her red hair glistened in the firelight, she rested her hands on her hips. Her breasts now freed from the cloth prison of the shirt now rested gently against each other. A muscled body and defined midsection led down to a small patch of red hair that showed he to be a woman even if just out of her teens. She stood there for a moment and let him drink her in.


    " I am Cathliene daughter of the house of Shawtus. From me you have taken something in battle. A husband and also a brother. In accordance with our customs and laws I am here to claim my due. A chance to restore to my family what was lost and to give that family the strength of he who had defeated it. " she said very monotone as if reading it from a script in front of her.


    " Let me get this straight, I killed members of your family and you want me to sleep with you to repay you?" Markus said still lost in confusion.


    "Of course, I don''t hold it against you that you killed them I simply ask for the chance to feel the strength of the one who has defeated them, and if the ancestors are willing bring forth the progeny of your strength."


    "I can''t marry you, I don''t love you, I just met you."


    She laughed softly "I never said marry, it is my right to claim a night or a few if possible, However with the number of men to fall to you today you are about to be a very busy man." she smiled a devious smile. "You can refuse of course, it is your right."


    "I am a stranger in a conquered land how could i refuse such an offer from one such as you?"


    With that she stepped out of the heap of clothes at her feet and walked up to Markus her ample breasts bouncing with each step. Until she stood just inches from his armored body. "Lets get these off" she said as she reached around his waste to the clips and buckles that kept the belt and breastplate on. As she did her breasts pressed against the cold metal and rough leather becoming erect and sensitive at the touch. As the clips came undone she pressed her mouth against his and kissed him deeply. He returned her kiss and pulled at the leather thongs that held his armor. He kept his lips pressed to hers as the armor began to fall piece by piece to the floor. She pressed herself against Markus and he felt the edge of the bed behind him, and he fell onto it, her body falling on top of his. The weight of her naked body resting on him. She kissed his neck and moved down to his chest as she peeled away the padding that had separated the rough armor from flesh. She reached down with one hand and caught ahold of his manhood. Gentle and firm she held it in her hand and began to stroke it up and down as she kissed his rippling abs. It grew hot at her touch and a smile grew across her face as it did. She crawled up and kissed him on the lips keeping her hand around his now hard erection. Markus pushed her on one shoulder and rolled over on top of her. This caught her by surprise. and her grip on him tightened in shock but only for a moment.


    He smiled " If I am required to repay a debt I intent to repay it fully."


    She raised an eyebrow in curiosity. With his right hand he grabbed her breast and kneaded it gently as he kissed her neck and the lobe of her ear. Her nipples grew harder under his touch. He pinched one gently between two fingers and pulled it gently upward then released it watching the mound of flesh as it returned to its perfect shape. He moved down and kissed one breast deeply keeping the other in his caressing hand. He could feel the heat coming from her body growing. He kissed down her stomach and hip to her thigh. She looked down at him from between her two large breasts with a look of slight confusion on on her face. He gave her an evil grin as he placed his lips against her wet mound. She shuttered for a second at the force of his movement. He began to lick and kiss at the whole of her mound. Her flesh became hot to the touch as blood filled the flesh of her young sex. She let out a soft moan as his lips and tongue continued their work. Her juices began to form damp spots in her fire red patch and the smell of passion began to fill the room. He tongued his way between her lops to find her small clit resting amongst the flesh of her mound. As his tongue brushed against it she began to buck and tighten her body. Her hands grabbed at her own breasts and she groped them as he continued. Her whole body suddenly became taunt and she held her breath. Her legs shook slightly on either side of Markus'' head. Markus began to lick up the sweet juices that had begun to drip from her. As she released her muscles and collapsed onto the bed, he crawled up till he was face to face with her. He smiled quite proud of himself.


    "By the ancestors, what was that?" she said still half out of breath.


    He laughed, "Nothing special, Don''t pretend you haven''t had this before." he sneered, "After all you did tell me you were married.


    "I was, but no one in these lands does such things, Even my sisters and I talk and the same for me and my sister-in-laws. None among them has ever mentioned something as that. Who taught you such wonders?"


    "Not wonders, it is perfectly normal to those of the Impire." With that she rolled on top of him and began to kiss him. He could feel the softness of her breasts against his skin and the warmth and wetness of her mound against his body. She positioned herself by sliding up a little till her breasts were resting in front of his face which he felt obliged to kiss and nibble on. She lined up his now solid member with the entrance to her waiting warmth. She slid the mound against his cock and let her wetness coat it till she could easily slide her body down its length. Then pulling herself up one last time lined the tip of him up with her waiting hole. She exhaled sharply as the tip entered her. She rose to a near seated position on his hips and held just the tip of him inside her. Then all at once she released her weight and with a grunt he was filling her completely. She sat there for a second her mind in a blur of pleasure. He has been surprised at the swiftness of her movement but it hadn''t detracted from the feeling. Her warmth and wetness now enveloped all of him. She slowly lifted herself off a little then released once more ramming his length into her once again.


    "By the ancestors what I wouldn''t give to keep you for my own." she said in a hot breath. She began a rythm of pulling herself up and falling back down on him. He reached up and played gently with her breasts as she fucked him. She began to move faster and faster. Each stroke getting longer and longer until all but the very tip of him was inside before her mound would swallow him entirely once more. She kept this up for some time before she felt Markus begin to tighten under her. It had been several months by cart to the city so Markus was definitely in need of a woman''s comfort. He knew his own limits had been reached by the journey and knew he would soon release into her. As she noticed him begin to tighten she slammed her hips down on his and began to grind her hips against his keeping the rhythm going yet keeping him always inside her. She could feel her own body begin to reach it''s peak in the anticipation of his release. He moved his hands to her hips and pressed them to him as he shot string after string of his seed inside her, the moment the hot spray met her inside she orgasmed. Her muscles tightened around his shaft and her legs began to shake again. He looked up at the glorious sight. Her face contorted with pleasure the fire that almost leapt from her eye as she looked down at him. As her body finished twitching she collapsed on top of him, her breasts smothering him for a second until she rolled off of him and lay next to him for a second. Before anything could be said she got up and gathered her clothes put them on and turned to him.


    "Your debt to my family is paid. I have been given that which is due. I thank you for it and wish you health and long life." She said once more as if reading that script again. She turned to the door. As she grabbed the handle she turned back to him. " I would have enjoyed more time with you but it is quite impossible. They will all be quite jealous when they hear what I have experienced. It paid to be the first in line." with that she slipped through the door and closed it behind her. Markus shook his head a bit confused at her words as always. He took his armor and put it on the rack where it belonged. Putting another log on the fire he found his way back to the bed and sat on the edge of it..


    Tap Tap Tap


    There was a knock at the door before he could even stand two blond headed figures entered.


    "I am Mary and I am Samantha we are daughters of the house of O''donovan and we have come for our due"

 Markus II

Stolen from its rightful place, this narrative is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.

 Markus III

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    ¡°¡°His exploits on the battlefield are most certainly not the only virtues our hero has to offer,¡± she said to them with a sly grin. She began to stroke him gently with one hand and massage her breast with the other. The fire of passion was starting to build and she was being less aware of those around her and was focused on the task at hand. It was only a matter of moments before she was grinding her hips against the erection in her hand. She was grabbing vigorously at her breasts and pinching her nipples. She was not being near as quiet as the blonde had been before. She was moaning really low almost in a growl. The base of his rod was now soaked in her juices as she rubbed herself against his shaft. Her eyes were closed as she lost herself in what she was doing. After several minutes she snapped out of it and opened her eyes. She lifted herself up and holding his erection in her hand rubbed the tip against her slit and probing at her entrance with it. Once it had been lubricated to her satisfaction she inserted the tip fully inside her and released the grip with her hand. And she slowly began to sink down on him. She held her breath as it slowly worked its way inside her. As she settled down to where it was all inside her and her hips rested on his, she turned to the others.


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 Markus IV

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    ¡°Fine YES I AM!¡± she said sternly ¡°Is that what you wanted to hear?¡±


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 Markus and Jullianna I

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    ¡° important people¡± He emphasized the word important because he still did not see why the people though so much of him. He had done no more than what he had been trained to do. Now he was surrounded with praise and adulation, with people just wanting to be around him.


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 Markus and Jullianna II

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    The author''s narrative has been misappropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon.


    Woman when it came to matters of combat. They would huff and bluster on about how a woman knows nothing of swordsmanship or combat. Until they saw her fight. Her and Markus had started every week with a demonstration. They would fight each other and the students would watch and see what they could pick up. They did it as much for themselves as for the students, Jullianna had found pride in her skills and she like to teach others what she herself was passionate about. Even if it was only men that she was teaching. She didn''t come down to the yard as often any more ever since it had started to become evident she was carrying their first child. Markus had been so excited when she had revealed the news to him, he had lifted her a lot shouting thanks to the gods and quickly declared that a celebration was in order. It was only a few months away now till the child would arrive. As he stood in front of the formation he was as happy as any man ever was, He had a wife he loved, a child on the way and he taught others a skill he himself enjoyed.


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    The next several weeks were a blur of activity for the young man. Every morning and evening he would be instructed on how to care for the child, and the house staff set up a place for the livestock to keep the supply of milk constant for his young daughter. He also made arrangements for the burial of his wife along side her father in her families burial plot. The school was temporally closed as Markus had decided to focus all of his efforts on his daughter. When she was a month old, as was traditional Markus took her to the temples and presented her before the priests and priestesses there for a blessing. As he stood before that gathering of them there.


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 Markus and Jessica I

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    ¡°Do not be that way toward her, She put the care of my child above everything even the employment itself and that is what I want.¡±


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 Markus and Jessica II

    She always had so much of her mother in her, in her face, in her eyes, but most certainly in her heart. The child grew up proud and strong she never was much for learning to sew or draw no matter how much Sara tried to teach her, she learned how to cook but that always seemed to Markus to be more for herself. She was now unto her ninth year and every day Markus saw her up on the balcony watching. As time progressed the school had prospered under Markus and he was able to hire more servants to help maintain the villa as he began to be called away more and more to attend to his duties in relation to the council seat that he held. Sara had stopped being a caretaker for Jessica a year or so before and would still come by several times a week to spend time with the young girl. Meanwhile at the academy some of his students were preparing for their graduation.


    Markus was in the yard training his men as he always seemed to be, and as always as he would now and again peek up to the balcony and there he would see his daughters smiling face watching him and the men. Whenever he looked up there it felt like Jullianna was watching him through the little girl''s eyes. They were only a quarter or so of the way through the morning''s training when he looked up once again and she was gone. ¡°Maybe she has finally gotten tired of watching,¡± he thought to himself, then suddenly the realization jolted through him, ¡°No this is Jessica we are talking about after all¡±


    ¡°Rest!¡± he ordered his men and began to head inside to search for the little girl. After searching inside and not finding her he decided to enlist the assistance of some of the newer trainees to help find her. As he stepped into the courtyard to gather them he was surprised to see the the small frame of his young daughter standing in the yard with the students. He saw the look in her eye, a kind of determination and slyness found native in women from time to time, and he knew that she had made her mind up about something and that she was planning more than she intended to tell. He wasn''t sure what it was yet but he knew it would likely be some point of contention between them. Pretending not to notice this  not so very well hidden look of determination he asked what she was doing and she responds that she is simply there to clean the yard. A very unlikely story but he had no reason to deny her this and he was curious what she was up to so he allowed it. As he resumes teaching he keeps and eye on her as she moves around the outside of the yard picking up trash and broken training equipment. When the yard around the group of men was clear she sat on a bench near the equipment rack in one corner and sat watching them intently. Maybe this is what she wanted to see the group from a different angle to be a little closer, so he let her be. At the different rest periods he would watch as she walked about amongst the men and get them water and food, giving his silent permission whenever one of the men would look to him for such. As the day came to a close she quickly rushed inside to begin preparing the evening meal. The next morning she was up as early as Markus himself. He watched her hand out the training swords she had so carefully put away the night before and stored away the students things for the day¡¯s training. Every day for almost a week she would do the same thing. Markus decided he had played along long enough and it was time to see what she was really up to. He pulled one of the servants aside and told them that just after midday to come and pull him from the yard as if he had been summoned to the council meeting. ¡°Let us see what she will do when I am not watching¡± he thought to himself now determined to figure out the little girl''s motives. And so he went out like he had everyday and began the lessons. And just as he had instructed just after midday the servant came out and retrieved Markus. Leaving instructions for the students to spar while he was gone, he went inside and watched from the doorway. The students not knowing any better followed his instruction and soon the yard was filled with the noise of effort and weapon clashing. Markus watched eagerly as his young daughter edged her way over to the equipment rack in the corner of the yard and pulled a training sword off the wall and snuck her way over to the far corner of the yard. He watched as his little girl that he had watched from the first day of her life until today lift the training sword and face an imaginary target. He couldn¡¯t help but notice her footing was off a little as she attempted a simple strike. The teacher in him yearned to go and correct her form, the father in him wished to go and take the sword from her and tell her to go learn to do some more traditional woman''s work. But he knew he had to let her choose her own way or she would surely resent him for it. So it seemed she would follow her mother, no matter how much he had tried to nudge her away from that life.This story is posted elsewhere by the author. Help them out by reading the authentic version.

 Jessica II

    She noticed it even as she finished taking the oath. The men looked at her differently, even as she took her place in the back of the formation. They used to view her as Markus'' daughter, the constant observer, then again as a curiosity down on the training yard with them. But now she was in formation with them, following along with them, training along side them, learning the strikes and blocks and parries. She wasn''t quite sure of what their new expressions meant. It wasn''t any look she had seen before, it wasn''t pity, or distain, and yet not approval either. Every day she went to sleep and her arms and legs ached, she wasn''t used to such exhaustion. The training wasn''t meant for someone so young or so small. For her the swords were long and heavy, none of the armor fit. It was only a few days before Markus had that particular deficiency fixed and a smaller set of leathers brought to the villa. They fit her well and she knew that she would have need of them for a while and whenever she outgrew them she was going to have to find something else to use.


    She had only been at training for a week or so when she encountered the first of the problems that her father had warned her about. After training one day she walked to her friend''s house who lived next to her. The servants who had so many times before greeted her with smile and a warm welcome now barred her way and told her she was no longer welcome to visit. When Jessica asked why she was told it was because the master of the house didn''t want his daughter learning anything dangerous or picking up any of her bad habits.


    It stung that she couldn''t see her friend anymore but what hurt even more was being treated like a wild animal for wanting to take up the mantle of service by joining the warrior class. All the boys who had joined the school were extolled for their service and congradulated for gaining entry. She received no such greeting and no congradulations. Mostly people would avert their eyes whenever she would walk by. That is of course unless she was with her father. They were all so certain to not show such indignity around him. So they painted on their smiles and warm greetings for the both of them. Jessica wondered what they all really thought of her father and yet would not say to his face. What they said about him when he wasn''t there to hear the words. Would they speak ill of his because of the choice she had made?


    All of their indignity and indeference she felt only served to strengthen her resolve about the decision she had made. She was going to be just like her father she was going to make her name known so that when she walked down the street and into the market everyone would welcome her and treat her with the same respect they treated her father. Every word her father spoke was listened to by someone. While on the training ground the men obeyed his word without question as did she. And when he went into town and people would ask his advice about matters of military, policy or otherwise they would listen when he spoke.


    She had always stood at his side at such times, but now it was different. She wore the vestages of a student in his school and people treated her differently as such.


    As of late he had become more and more involved in the matters of the political class. He would receive sumons from the council on a regular basis while he was teaching and would oblige them and attend almost or as many times as he would ignore them, or send his regrets. Markus himself would not say it, that he had just absorbed all the sway and power that the Casius had held on the council but rather that he had received a small bit of it apon his wife''s death and had begun to grow that influence through his own charisma and leadership as well as his near celebrity status due to the events of the war.


    Restarting the school had also been good for his position with the door open again private and Imperial gold once again filled the family purse. Even Jessica as a student of the school began to receive a stipend. Markus was unsure what to make of it at first. He as many times before desided to let her have it and deside for herself what to do with it, even though as a daughter in his house any costs she had were taken care of.


    ¡°Do with it what you will, my daughter.¡±


    ¡°Father, I know you told me before it was mine to do with as I please, now I ask you as your daughter for your advice on what I should do with it. Even when I go into the market and buy all the honey sweets I want, or the few small changes of clothes that I require I still have much of it left over.¡±


    ¡°Well my daughter, if you ask for my advice I will give it. First I would say to honour the gods, Take an offering of a few pieces to the temples and offer them to the priest and priestesses there with a prayer. Second I would tell you to go and purchase something that while it may not be of so much value to you now may be worth more later, as it grows more rare, or take your money to the lenders in the market that in a few seasons you may see the increase of it.¡±


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    The young Jessica set to take her father''s advice She took from the purse of coins she had received on her first month a few gold coins, each stamped with the imperial eagle on their lustrous surface, and with them a few of silver and copper she had received as change upon the purchases she had made. She fit them into a smaller pouch and made in the direction of the temples. She had been a student for more than a full month an already she was recognized. The vestages made it clear to all who weren''t familiar. She walked through the streets with near impunity, workers moving aside as she passed, even if none would look her in the eye they still seemed to now hold defference to her chosen occupation. As she arrived at the hill where the temples were located she realized she was only passingly familiar with which temple belonged to which deity. From the statue outside of one she knew it to be the Temple of Mars. She entered the diasis and was greeted by a grey haired man who leaned heavily on a crooked walking stick.


    ¡°How can I help you young lady?¡±


    ¡°I wish to learn of this place and to make my offering in an appropriate manner.¡±


    ¡°Well it is unusual for one as young as you to arrive here unaccompanied, But who am I to turn away any who wishes the favor of Mars.¡±


    ¡°Thank you sir.¡±


    ¡°And such a polite visitor, Mostly here we see warrior students praying for success in training or those wishing victory in a competition.¡±


    Jessica kept silent as he perhaps had not noticed the insignia on her tunic or maybe it was a test of some kind.


    ¡°Mars is the god of war, of the sword, Patron of this city. For hundreds of years this city has produced the finest warriors of the Impire. Those who go out and have now conquered all the known lands.¡±


    ¡°My father was a part of the last campaign.¡±


    ¡°Unfortunately not many men returned from that campaign, If it wasn''t for the strength and wisdom of the hero Markus Verotis, and Mars blessings on the same man, it is said that all would have been lost.¡±


    ¡°I have heard those rumors before.¡±


    ¡°They are not mere rumors child!¡± Every man who returned sings praises to that man''s name. Not only did he conquer the kingdom but was also able to make friends with the king and make the transfer of power to a governorship seamless. Those men and many more would follow him without question no matter where he marched.¡±


    ¡°No offense meant¡±


    ¡°If your father was one of those to return alive then you would be well served to give prayers of thanks for Mars blessing.¡±


    ¡°He was such a one.¡±


    ¡°Come to me again if you wish to speak of the gods. Beyond this room is the room for offering prayer and beyond that is the room reserved only for Mars servants the warriors themselves to give their offerings and prayers.¡±


    ¡°Then that is where I shall go.¡± and with that she quickly stepped around the old man and headed straight for the rear of the temple, leaving the old man reeling.


    ¡°I said it was only for those of the warrior class. If you pass through those doors you may well invite Mars'' wrath upon you.¡±


    ¡°It is good then that I have those credentials, I would not want to go offending the god who brought my father back to me.¡±


    The priest stood there dumbfounded as she proceeded and closed the doors behind her. The room was small just larger than her own bedroom back home. In the center of the room was a large statue of Mars with the eagle of the Impire resting on his shoulder and his arm outstretched to the sky, sword in hand. She took two gold coins from the pouch and tossed them at the feet of the statue were rested other such coins from other patrons. She fell to one knee uncertain of what exactly she was to do. She looked up to the statue and spoke.


    ¡°I do not know if it was you who had a hand it bringing Father back, or if it was the strength of his own arm. He believes in you and in your blessings. He is a wise man that led our men to victory in the Land of the O''Donovans. I have come here to offer my thanks for this. I have taken up the mantle of your followers. I am to be a warrior like my father. I pray that I may be blessed with victory as my father has been.¡±


    She was uncertain of what to expect, a voice from no where or the torches to flicker. But only silence and stillness lingered in the air. She arose and turned and left the room and made her way through the empty main chamber and back to the street. She looked down the street to see which of the temples she might visit next. As she took a step forward her way suddenly blocked by a young woman in her late twenties. She had long red hair pulled back into a braid and emerald eyes. She stood in Jessica''s path and looked down at her as if studying her.


    ¡°You are the daughter of Jullianna Casius are you not?¡± The woman spoke to her.


    ¡°Yes she was my mother , but rightly I am the daughter of Markus Verotis, my father.¡±


    ¡°The goddess knows who your father is.¡± She said in a stern tone.