"Forgive me darling Lucilla, but I was held up in the meeting hall by Father."
She sat upright with wide eyes.
"Don't tell me you're leaving again, I've barely set my eyes on you and you're leaving again?"
She put on the cutest baby face I've ever seen, I was really moved to stay, but I knew I had to complete my mission and return to my real home.
"Do not worry about me Lucilla, I will be home soon, all I ask is that you pray for my safe return."
Her face sank, I could tell she was really hoping I'd stay home this time.
"So where are you going now." she asked.
"To Naumachia Vaticana, the Saxons have taken over that place, I mean to drive them out."
Lucilla sulked and I really felt bad for her.
"When I return, we will go jolly horse riding in the Plains of Ianiculensis."
She brightened up
"Promise?"
"I promise."
****4 days later****
We set off to Naumachia Vaticana, I've already been briefed of the Saxons mode of battle; to them the rules of engagement means nothing, they battle and they slaughter anyone they come in contact with, I've been told by Father not to hold back.
"My lord Maximus, are we really taking no prisoners?" Namor asked. He's been a close friend since our first battle against the Persians.
"No, Father has asked for their obliteration."
Another soldier rode up to us.
"In that case shall we forsake the rules of engagement as well?"
I didn't look at him but kept my eyes ahead
"Yes, it's best to fight fire with fire, only then can you extinguish the lesser flame"
I said no more and rode ahead making my intentions clear to them.
I spotted a wagon coming ahead and I got alert.
"HALT!!!"
My troop came to an abrupt stop.
"DEFENSIVE POSITION! TRIGONAL FORMATION!" I barked out orders, I was taking no chances, who knew if those bastard Saxons were setting a trap.
As the wagon drew closer, I was able to spot a haggard looking woman, she didn't look old, should be in her early twenties but she sure was haggard and dirty.
"Stop where you and identify yourself."
She looked up, her eyes seemed distance.
"My lords, my name is Habiba, daughter of Mathias from Naumachia Vaticana, I fled when the Saxons attacked, my son Ashram is in the back of the wagon, we seek safe haven at the capital."
A soldier had already gone over to inspect the wagon.
"My Lord, she speaks the truth, I recognize the initials of the wagon and there is indeed a little boy here."
I looked at her for a while, then took off my the chain necklace around my neck which had the royal emblem on it.
"Apologies for we will not be able to escort you to the capital, therefore I'm giving you this, I want you to go to the palace, tell them Commander Maximus sends you, they shall give you safety within the capital walls."
She hesitated for a brief moment before accepting the chain necklace from me.
"I shall return this to you the moment you return victorious." she said.
I smiled
"Then surely the gods are with us." I then nudged my horse forward and we continued our ride to Naumachia Vaticana.
As we entered Naumachia, there were bodies littered all over the place, dismembered and burnt, it was sickening sight.
"Spread out, but stay alert, they're still here, I can feel it." I strode off praying to see a survivor, I was already sick in my stomach, this kind of slaughter isn't something any sane person will want to see.
"My lord! Over here, I found something."
I rode straight over to Namor
"Namor, what seems to be the problem."
He pointed at a corpse lying in front of us.
"This body isn't like the others, this one seems like it's been dead for just a few hours, whereas others have been dead for days." He said looking at me. An idea occurred to me and immediately I thrust my sword down on the corpse, the assumed corpse rose up to defend itself but was a second too late and my sword thrust into his chest.
"DEFENSIVE FORMATION! ON ME! SHIELD WALL!"
I shouted as my men rushed over setting up the formation around me.
We made no sound and it was eerily silent, and then, it BEGAN.
War cries from all around us, they had us surrounded, we've walked into a trap.
(Theme song for the next chapter should be: "What's up danger" by Blackway and Black Caviar).