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Midnight South Productions
The Emperor's Soldiers
The Emperor's Soldiers
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As Marcus journeys from Gaul to Rome, he learns more about his duties before the Emperor...and about the Emperor's reticent companion Vitus. With Hierocles and Vitus at his side, all should be well...but there are rumors of rebellion in the Empire, and Marcus will need to be vigilant to keep his friends and the Emperor safe.
Their journey passed quietly once they had passed the point of threat, and Vitus grew more satisfied as he realized that no one in their cadre was a traitor. He spoke more freely with Marcus, as well. Though there were no words about who Vitus suspected the traitor might be, Marcus suspected he knew that well enough. But Vitus shared more of their travel plans with him, and more of his feelings as well. Marcus learned that Albus was loyal but lazy in Vitus’s eyes, that Septimus couldn’t retire soon enough for Vitus’s tastes, and that Vitus wished more men served as quietly and capably as Junius. He also learned that Vitus thought of Hierocles often. Once, when they were scanning the landscape, Vitus had said, “and Hierocles would be telling us to watch the light of sunset, of course.”
“For the weather?”
Vitus snorted. “Hardly. To appreciate the beauty the gods had given us this day, or to watch the light as it touches your face...something in that vein.”
“My face?”
Vitus looked at him, not quite jealous. “Yours, I think.” He smiled a little, almost to himself. “He told me I looked best by lamplight. I could never decide if that was a compliment.”
“You look fine in the sunset,” Marcus said, before he could think better of it. Vitus grinned.
“As do you, Marcus. Come, we need to give the men their orders.” He put his arm around Marcus’s shoulders, and led him away from their vantage point.
Their journey passed quietly once they had passed the point of threat, and Vitus grew more satisfied as he realized that no one in their cadre was a traitor. He spoke more freely with Marcus, as well. Though there were no words about who Vitus suspected the traitor might be, Marcus suspected he knew that well enough. But Vitus shared more of their travel plans with him, and more of his feelings as well. Marcus learned that Albus was loyal but lazy in Vitus’s eyes, that Septimus couldn’t retire soon enough for Vitus’s tastes, and that Vitus wished more men served as quietly and capably as Junius. He also learned that Vitus thought of Hierocles often. Once, when they were scanning the landscape, Vitus had said, “and Hierocles would be telling us to watch the light of sunset, of course.”
“For the weather?”
Vitus snorted. “Hardly. To appreciate the beauty the gods had given us this day, or to watch the light as it touches your face...something in that vein.”
“My face?”
Vitus looked at him, not quite jealous. “Yours, I think.” He smiled a little, almost to himself. “He told me I looked best by lamplight. I could never decide if that was a compliment.”
“You look fine in the sunset,” Marcus said, before he could think better of it. Vitus grinned.
“As do you, Marcus. Come, we need to give the men their orders.” He put his arm around Marcus’s shoulders, and led him away from their vantage point.
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