The Italian Pearl & The Irish Peasant

By Laura Joyce Moriarty

This is a story taken from the lineage of the O'Malley family in "The Secrets of Nine Irish Sons".

Around 300 B.C., a handsome Roman general, nephew of the reigning Caesar, is sent off to battle pirates and bring home treasure for the glory of Rome. Along the way, he comes across an extremely unusual Irish ship crewed by both male and female pirates, a bad omen as far as his crew is concerned . . . and an unlikely source of any kind of treasure. Nonetheless, the general is instantly smitten by the ship’s beautiful captain and orders his reluctant crew to pursue the strange vessel. Despite disaster, his quest continues until the general is taken prisoner by an unfriendly King. When the King turns him over to an ugly peasant woman, our hero continues to pine for his lost love. Both prisoner and caretaker live in fantasy worlds where they yearn for what they cannot have until a shocking discovery changes everything for both of them.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Laura Joyce Moriarty
• Release date: Nov 13, 2011
• ISBN: 9781465852397

Laura Joyce Moriarty

Laura Joyce studied Political Science at Emory University and went on to the University of Georgia to complete a Masters in Public Administration. She then worked at Emory University in Information Technology for seventeen years. During part of that tenure she wrote extensively on various technology topics and was the chief editor of a scholarly journal entitled, A Publication on Information Technology from Emory University [POINT]. Many of her papers on information technology can still be found on the Internet.She has completed a trilogy:The Secrets of Nine Irish Sons I – The BeginningThe Secrets of Nine Irish Sons II – The Rose OisínThe Secrets of Nine Irish Sons III – The Forces of StonesShe is now retired and living in Florida.Extended Bio at: http://www.fourrosesandbrownpublishing.com/aboutlaura.htm

Book preview

The Italian Pearl

&

The Irish Peasant

By

Laura Joyce Moriarty

For my granddaughter Brooke

Appeal from Phillip drunk to Phillip sober . . .

Anonymous: Valeríus Maximus

Facts ac Dicta Memorabilia (c. A.D. 32)

Copyright 2011 by Laura Joyce Moriarty

Registered U.S. Copyright Office

All rights reserved.

Smashwords Edition

Permission for reproducing in any writeable format for any purposes must be sent to:

[e-mail]

Part I

When the small ship left Genova, Italy in 482 B.C., only one notable was onboard---Phillip Ignatius---the nephew of the reigning Caesar of the Roman Republic. He was the ship's captain and beloved by his crew.

He was pure Roman as far as he knew, but was softer in appearance than most. His cheekbones were high and his smile broad, but his nose was far less aquiline than most of the Italian population. In fact, his face showed little resemblance to most of his family. So to cover for his incomprehensible look, he wore a thick beard that was meticulously groomed, very smooth, and shiny, and a rarity among Roman soldiers. Everything about him was so inordinately handsome that everyone he met wanted to be around him. He was tall and well built and with little effort looked very commanding and powerful.

He wouldn't have stood out as unusual, however, as many of the elite Romans were good looking—-especially well groomed, and very skilled. But what was extraordinarily unusual about Phillip was that he could sing. His tenor voice was beautiful beyond what the public had ever heard, and they cried out for serenades constantly.

Phillip Ignatius was not a man who enjoyed being a commander. This too could be said to be different for a Roman elite. He lived a life of luxury and accepted his fate only because he could pursue his many interests---singing, healing, history, and science---none of which included battle strategies. This was a major problem for the Caesar. He scorned his singing and was embarrassed when his nephew was seen in public plays or crooning love songs in local establishments. It makes him look common, he would say.

The fact that this particular Caesar had never fought in a battle and that Phillip had lost his own father in a reckless mission was of no consequence to him. He expected Phillip to command many troops and bring home trophies for Rome.

Phillip did not argue with his so-called divine leader, but he detested the military life. He had bowed out of as many battles as possible until he could conjure up no more excuses. The pressure was on and not just from his uncle. His troops pleaded with him daily. On the other hand, there was no one in his life to plead for his freedom---no wife---no children---not even his mother. Everyone wanted one thing and that was for Phillip to go to war and bring home remnants of his conquests.

Phillip had many friends and was adored by the public, but only one friend he confided in---his name was Lucius---a bastard child of a friend of his mother's. He was in his early thirties and was very fond of power in Rome. Phillip was a little younger, but just as clever and knew well Lucius' ambitions. He was very kind to him despite the fact that Lucius would kill him if it meant he could be recognized as a potential Caesar. But Phillip was not even opposed to the idea. He figured he'd never have to go to such an extreme and told him so.

I know you have obsessive ambitions to lead this new government. I have none. It is yours if you can grab it. I plan to turn it over to you if I am pushed into it.

I don't understand your reasoning, said Lucius. You can do anything you want if you rule. You don't have to ask permission for this or that. If you don't want to send armies off to war you won't have to. If you want to fill your palace with healers and seers, you can.

You are wrong about living the way I would want. It is a life or moral depravity, conspiracy, and battles. The competition is always severe as each man tries to gain favor with Caesar. I watch all of his advisers, his friends, and even distant relatives. They are all lechers. What's worse is they are all capable of betrayal---all suspect of rape, theft, and murder. A Caesar can have no peace without spending his life scrutinizing every daily event and paying out huge sums of money to protectors. His days are spent avoiding tricksters and spies. I won't have it---I won't live like that.

"You've never explained the campaign that killed your father. But I think it had an impact on you---made you far too cynical. I understand your loss was great and I regret it. No one except I can comprehend what that must have meant to you. You just need more time to