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A temple for Jupiter.
A triangular pediment topped four sturdy columns, decorated with many small, gold statues, all of them holding thunderbolt spears in slightly different positions.
Chryselephantine statues made of black ivory and gold arose from the ground, forming an autonomous army to guard the temple. They stamped and thrust their weapons in unison, coming to life.
‘Stop!’
Claudia’s party had been surrounded by soldiers and praetorian guards. Their formation now blocked escape in every direction, creating endless walls of men holding enormous shields, and at the helm was…
‘There is nowhere left to run,’ said General Aquinas, stepping forward. ‘Unless your goddesses are willing to descend from the heavens to rescue you personally, I’d say you were done for.’
Claudia and Gia moved closer together. Claudia reached out a hand and found Gia doing the same.
They looked up hopefully at the sky, but there was no sign of Minerva et al amid the chaos.
When Aquinas clicked his fingers, the entire troop took two steps forward, the square of soldiers shrinking, closing in.
‘Women were never meant to rule. I hope that is clear to you now. You cannot fight the military, Claudia.’
He snapped once more, and his soldiers stepped closer.
‘It’s over,’ he said. ‘I am the new ruler of Rome.’
‘Spare me from your delusion,’ she said. ‘You are nothing, Aquinas. A mediocre man of little acclaim and even less personality.’
‘I am the new emperor,’ he chuckled. ‘You did my job for me, by killing Marcellus.’
‘You are a mere general.’
‘And you are a mere whore. The people of Rome would pick a monster to rule them over a woman like you.’
‘And you are that monster? Not much of a boast.’
‘If I have to be. Real strength is cruel, it is ugly. It is something you can neither fathom nor possess.’
‘Certainly, it is ugly,’ she said, looking at his cold-eyed, haggard face. ‘But you will not hold the empire with brute force alone.’
‘Your ignorance would be pitiful if it wasn’t so infuriating.’
‘You think mighty Jupiter will choose you to represent him?’
‘I am the last man standing.’
‘Not for long,’ said Gia.
‘You have offended the gods, and made a mockery of all men.’
The circle of soldiers tightened around them.
Aquinas raised his arm, about to signal his men to charge, but he was cut off mid-word by the rumbling sound of an approaching brigade.
A horn blared.
A hundred voices began chanting… in Persian.
Through a cloud of dust, kicked up by a dozen horses, Prince Darius appeared, riding atop a well-decorated steed and holding his ornate shield, surrounded by soldiers and the more fearsome of his menagerie beasts, which immediately began attacking Roman soldiers.
Aquinas directed his soldiers to greet them, as the two parties erupted into the carnality of warfare.
