The Legends of Capia

By John M. Deckelmann

Chapter X The Turning

In Nether World, there were approximately three thousand nightwalkers that made up the population of the southern clans. Of these three thousand, nearly two thirds were natural born. Nightwalkers can conceive children who grow there fangs and could hunt small rodents by the age of two. At thirty years of age, the growing process stops and physically they remain at that age for all eternity, but there were those nightwalkers that had been turned.
Those nightwalkers that had been turned were once human beings that have been bitten by nightwalkers and survived. Why nightwalkers turned some humans into beings like themselves varies. Some did so to increase their numbers when birthrates were low, others did so simply out of a need for companionship.
Most humans that have been turned really didn't have a say so in the matter. Most were given the choice of either being turned or being dead. No human has ever been known to voluntarily seek to be turned, but that is what Cassia has chosen in order to ensure her survival.
For nightwalkers that have been through the process, a turning was looked upon with the same reverence as a baptism or a second birthday. To be turned marked the ending of one life and the beginning of another, and once one had been turned, there was no going back.
Nickademus awoke in his cave shortly after sundown. He made his way up the path to the cabin and to Cassia. He did so with a heavy heart. He had not brought her here for this. This was something she did not want, but had to do because he had failed in the one thing that he had promised her, protection. Tonight she will be turned.
Cassia had changed her sleeping habits since arriving in Nether World by being up most of the night to guard against attack. This was no life for her, and she knew that. To constantly be on guard against a nightwalker attack after sundown was far from the peace and security she had hoped to find after escaping the Empire.
On this day, however, she could not find sleep. She began the day by watching the sunrise knowing that it will be the last one she may ever see. She did the same when the sun set for the evening. In between she would be a whirlwind of emotions from heartache to gladness.
Gladness to know that it was possible to live the type of life she wished to live, free of having to keep one eye open for trouble, sadness of knowing that the Cassia-Ren that was reared by her parents, adored by her country, and married to Shia Davi, would cease to exist.
In her place will be a stronger, faster version of her former self, one that will stay young forever. Gone would be the old Cassia-Ren that will live on only as the stuff of legend.
Nickademus gave his usual knock, and this was followed by her usual invitation to come in. They both stood there in the room in complete silence with each incapable of finding the right words for a moment like this. Finally, it would be Nickademus who would break the silence first.
"Cassia, are you prepared?" he asked.
"I'm as prepared as 1 think I'll ever be", she said as she moved across the room and took a seat on the edge of the bed facing him. She patted the bed next to her inviting him to sit.
"Come on, sit", she said. "1 promise not to bite ...that will be your job."
Cassia was trying to keep the mood somewhat lighthearted. She knew that Nickademus did not want to do this and that he must be feeling terrible about it. She wanted to reassure him that he was not the one responsible for the choice she had to make. She came to Nether World by her own free will, and this was the price one had to pay for admittance.
Nickademus moved slowly and sat next to her. He was as nervous as a virgin about to experience the first time at making love, sitting on her bed during such an intimate moment as the biting of the neck didn't help ease his nervousness.
She turned her head to face forward and tossed back the portion of her hair closest to him to allow him gr

• Language: English
• Publisher: Xlibris US
• Release date: Jun 5, 2013
• ISBN: 9781483626581

John M. Deckelmann

John M. Deckelmann is an author that lives in Southern Maryland. He has authored two books to date, The Legends of Capia and its sequel, The Legends of Capia: The Three Kingdoms. He is currently working on a new book to be a prequel to The Legends of Capia. To be titled, The Legends of Capia: The Lost Garrison. Early next year, he will begin working on the third book of the Capia saga, The Legends of Capia: Vendetta.  

Book preview

PROLOGUE

During the ancient times of the great Capian Empire, The Emperor Horris the Great assembled a team of the greatest writers of the day. They were entrusted to keep an accurate historical record of the events of the period. For some unknown reason, this group of historians splintered into two separate groups. Each group writing its own version of the events that occurred, claiming that theirs was the most accurate.

The writers of the untitled ancient historical text are considered by modern scholars to be the official writings endorsed by Horris and those writings are still taught to our students to this day. Students must show a good knowledge of the events listed in the text in order to graduate.

The second group of historical writers, unsanctioned by the Empire, created their own version of the events of the day. This book entitled The Chronicles of the Capian Empire, also tell of the events of the period, but with the elements of storytelling. This book is not considered historical fact by the scholars of today, yet the general public seems to have a fascination with the tales within. Some believe that this work is not a work of fiction, but an accurate depiction of events as they really happened.

You, the reader, must decide for yourself as we tell the tale of Cassia-Ren, the legendary insurrectionist. You will follow Cassia-Ren as she struggles with love, loss, and survival.

Two men will love this woman. One will attempt to bring her glory. The other will give her immortality. All within the backdrop of a crumbling world order.

As in all stories found in the Chronicles, some will live. Others will die. And as any story found within the Chronicles, there is a little fact, a little fiction… mixed with a lot of what you choose to believe.

CHAPTER I

An Assassination in Tracea

As in all stories, the beginning is a good place to start. Let’s start by telling of the beginnings of the Capian Empire. On the world of Monsro, there are seventeen nations that make up the known world. The nation of Capia, and its capital city of the same name, boasted a population of 2.5 million. With double the amount of people than other nations, coupled with its expertise in science and engineering, this country created the largest military force the world had ever seen.

The first Emperor of the Drudia dynasty, Plaugus the elder, used this military force to set about doing what was thought was impossible, the conquest of the known world.

In two hundred years of wars, and forced annexations, the other sixteen nations fell to the Capians, one by one. The eighth Emperor of the house of Drudia, Horris the Great, conquered the last two remaining free countries, Stragg and Estis. Upon his death, his twenty year old son Maximus became the ninth Emperor of the house of Drudia.

Short in stature with light brown, wavy hair, his smooth face and blue eyes gave Maximus all the appearance of a boy. His inexperience in the political arena of the day, made it possible so that his uncle Claudius could serve as advisor to the young Emperor.

Claudius Drudia was known as a stern, and at times, a cruel man. Never far from the Emperors side, was he always there to guide Maximus through the political meetings and affairs of state. A man in his late fifties, he still wore his hair shoulder length, except now that hair was more gray than black. His eyes were a steely grayish blue and cold looking. The lines on his face told that this was a man of great experience in both politics and war. Claudius kept an office at the Imperial Palace complex, and a small desk in the throne room behind and to the left of Maximus. Whenever Maximus was seated on his throne, Claudius would be seated at this desk, always within earshot of the business being discussed.

Another man was also seen not far from the Emperors side. Shia Davi, better known as the Supreme General of the Capian Army. The writers of the Chronicles were diligent in their writings on Davi, recording, with great accuracy, his life and exploits. With the exception of one very curious detail, nowhere in the writings is found a description of the man’s physical appearance. Some scholars believe that this was purposely done at the request of General Davi for privacy reasons since Davi was alive during the writings of some of his earlier exploits.

Centuries after the writing of the Chronicles, an artist, fascinated by the stories found in the ancient text, rendered his version of Shia Davi on canvas. The painting showed a man in the full splendor of a Capian officer. The white breastplate over a white tunic with black trousers, the red cape with gold clasp denoting his rank. Tall and muscular with brown hair combed straight back revealing rugged facial features and blue eyes. The scholars of today are quick to point out that the now famous painting was entirely the work of the artist’s imagination, but since the painting was so popular with the general public, it was regarded by many to be an accurate depiction of the man.

What is known about Davi is this. That at the beginning of the reign of Maximus Drudia, Davi was in his mid-forties, Promoted to the rank of Supreme General of the Army by the Emperor Horris ten years prior to Horris’ death. During this time, Davi became close to Horris’ young son Prince Maximus. With Maximus losing his mother shortly after his birth, and his father busy at the affairs of state, the two became as close as brothers.

Our tale begins with the site of Shia Davi waiting nervously outside the throne room. It was not meeting Maximus for the first time as Emperor that was making him nervous. The fact that the two were like brothers should not be lost simply because Maximus Drudia had been made Emperor, or so Davi had hoped. Davi had seen power corrupt good men before. How all this power of ruling the world will corrupt Maximus remained to be seen. Davi’s young friend was now the master of the known world, and he was barely a boy.

As Davi entered the throne room he could see Maximus in his bright yellow tunic sitting on his throne with Claudius at his desk a few paces behind. Claudius could be seen wearing his white, but worn looking tunic over brown trousers, looking over some imaginary paperwork before him. Davi knew that he would listen to the conversation he was about to have with Maximus. That was the man’s job, to guide Maximus in matters of state, but Davi knew that there was a fine line between guidance, and influence. Others have noticed this as well, and often wondered who exactly ran the Empire.

Davi did like Claudius, and considered him a friend, but there was always a feeling of suspicion about him. As if he never told the truth about what he did or did not know about a political matter. There was also something strange about a man who was second in line to the throne prior to Maximus’ birth, and went through the legal procedures to have the title of Prince removed from his name.

The nervousness Davi felt came from a message from the Tracean ambassador about a serious situation that has developed in the city of Darth, the capital city of the small southern nation of Tracea. Tracea was ruled by A Prefect, or local ruler, named Leonidus Ren. Leonidus was a loud boisterous kind of a man used to getting his own way. His country was peacefully annexed by the Empire ages ago. Leonidus resented the Empire, but learned to cooperate and work with it for the sake of his country’s security. He’d better since his tiny nation of three hundred thousand had only a small army of about five thousand troops. Capia would easily defeat this country and over run it in a day if they were to rise in rebellion against the Empire.

Good morning, Your Grace. began Davi. I was hoping that your first official day on the throne after the coronation would be an easy one, but I’m afraid the news I bear is of a serious nature.

This definitely had the attention of both Maximus and Claudius. A crisis was the last thing anybody wanted for a young Emperor at the start of his reign. A crisis, even a minor one, could define the rest of Maximus’ tenure on the throne, and if handled incorrectly could have dire consequences.

The timing could have been better for a serious situation, Shia. said Maximus. What news do you bring to bear, old friend?

Twelve days ago the Tracean Queen was found brutally murdered in the gardens of our Imperial Palace in Darth. Some Traceans believe that our Governor Carracala himself was responsible for the crime. So much so, that the Governor was assassinated eight days ago at a public gathering in Darth, by a single arrow to the heart.

This is outrageous! said Maximus angrily. The people assassinate our Governor on the assumption that he did this crime. What of the two hundred Centurions assigned to Carracala?

I have heard no word, your Grace. replied Davi. The message I received from the Tracean ambassador said that he believed that the Centurions recovered the governor’s body and left Darth the day of his assassination. That was eight days ago, they should be at our southern gates at any time.

What of Prefect Leonidus? asked Maximus.

I’ve received no messages from the Tracean court, Your Grace. replied Davi.

This Leonidus, what do you know of him? asked Maximus.

I’ve never met him, Your Grace. said Davi. I have heard that he is a man that doesn’t like the Empire, but he is not one to start an insurrection.

Still, with my governor dead, and my Centurions on their way back here, I have no Imperial presence in the country. said Maximus. I think it may be wise to send a garrison to Darth, and I would like you, Shia, to lead them.

Me? Why? Davi asked.

You are the Supreme General of the Army. said Maximus. It is a position that commands respect. Leonidus will respect you more than any garrison commander. He will know that you are acting on my behalf as you try to reestablish our presence in Tracea. I want you to meet with him. See if you can find and apprehend this assassin then bring the culprit back here for trial. I want you to do this without any aggression. The region is highly politically sensitive. The quieter this is done, the better.

Davi did not like this. The last thing on his mind coming to work this morning was to go on a week’s long march with a thousand man infantry garrison across the desert. He has been the Supreme General for ten years. He was now a bureaucrat. It was he that gave the orders for a garrison to march. Now after all this time, he was asked by his Emperor to perform one more mission. Although he did not like it, he knew that Maximus had the utmost confidence in him. He was not going to let his friend down.

I’ll prepare a garrison at once, Your Grace. said Davi.

Davi spent the rest of the day issuing orders to the closest garrison, the eighth garrison of the tenth legion, to prepare to march with him for Darth. He then organized the thirty attendants that will go along on the march to serve as cooks, blacksmiths, and horse handlers.

Plenty of food and water would be needed to support a thousand man garrison, and all had to be ready to depart in two days’ time.

CHAPTER II

The Emperor’s Study

One of the most prominent figures in late Capian history was Claudius Drudia. He is also prominent within several stories of the Chronicles as well as the historical text. As prominent as he was, he was a man of great mystery to many. For example, it has never been made clear to the public his reason for having the title of Prince legally dropped from his name. Even his late Brother, Horris was at a loss for an explanation.

Also, there was the rumor that he was the head of his own spy ring. Although the existence of this ring was never proven, some found it amazing that Claudius seemed to know the business going on in the courts of the various countries Prefects.

Claudius did indeed hear every word of Davi’s report of the Tracean matter, but he felt the need to bring up an important element that was not discussed during the meeting with Davi. Later the same day of Davi’s report, Claudius would meet with Maximus in his private study to discuss the Tracean crisis and the importance of this element in the drama to come.

Maximus’ study was rather small considering it was the study of the Emperor. The room was barely large enough to hold his desk plus another round table for meals. The two men could be found sitting on opposite sides of the desk discussing the business of the day.

I have to say, nephew, that I was very proud of the way you handled yourself during the meeting with Shia about the Tracean affair. said Claudius.

Thank you, Uncle. replied Maximus.

To go in with a big stick and to speak softly is a good idea. I mean that as a compliment. said Claudius. There is one important element that I did not hear of your talk with Davi. Emotions and the part they may play in all of this.

Emotions? asked Maximus.

Yes. said Claudius. Those people have just lost a beloved Queen, and they think Governor Carracala murdered her. It’s very possible that Leonidus believes that himself. He is also grieving for the loss of his wife. Grieving men have a tendency not to act within their right mind sometimes. I imagine that the Empire is not very popular in Tracea at the moment.

That is exactly why I sent Davi there with a garrison, to assert control. said Maximus. I am very sorry for the loss of their Queen, but to assassinate my governor was uncalled for. I won’t punish them. I just want to reestablish our presence in the country. To calm them down before things really do get out of hand.

That is wise. said Claudius. I’m just saying that it sounds like you and Shia expect to talk to a reasonable man. Leonidus may be anything but.

What else can I do? asked Maximus.

Nothing. said Claudius. That’s all in Davi’s hands once he gets there.

Maximus’ attention shifted to Carracala’s Centurion regiment.

Uncle, has there been any sign of Carracala’s regiment? asked Maximus.

No, and that’s puzzling. replied Claudius. We should have seen them by now, unless they only intended to leave Darth for a few days to let the situation calm down. They may have gone back into the city, but either way, we should’ve at least received a message.

I’ll send a strong letter of reprimand to the Centurion Captain of the regiment regarding his lack of communications. said Maximus. One thing that is very important to me is receiving up to date messages on time.

CHAPTER III

The Prisoner in the Dark

Antonius looked in the mirror shortly after waking up this morning. He looked at the gray scruff that now covers a once barren chin. He thought he might swing by the barber for a quick shave before heading into work. He decided against it, after all there were to be no parties for this last day of work before retirement. As the headmaster of the Imperial prison, located in the southern section of the city of Capia, no one was going to miss him. It was not the fact that he was not well liked by his guards, he was. It’s just that the position itself, although well paying, was considered one of the lowliest jobs to be had.

After arriving at the prison, Antonius could be found standing in the ramparts of the northern wall looking at the spectacular cityscape of Capia. From this vantage point, one could see nearly all the government buildings in all their white marbled, columned glory. He could even make out the peaks of the great northern range so very far away. The scene would look as a painting if it weren’t for that god awful smell emanating throughout the prison. The smell alone driving down the value of the surrounding properties, but this is the way Horris ordered it to be. Prisoners here were never allowed to bathe, ever. To Horris, prisoners were nothing but animals, and ordered them to all live as animals. That was all well in good, but nowadays, everyone in the southern section of the city would suffer. Especially on hot summer days when the wind was just right.

After twenty eight years at this post the sixty year old Antonius will say one final good bye to the stink that fouled his nostrils all this time. His greatest wish upon retiring was to go somewhere, anywhere, to catch a breath of fresh air.

In the western section of the city, a thirty year old black haired handsome man was waking to a feeling of great joy at this new day. On this day, Clementus Arturo would be taking over as new headmaster of the prison. Finally, he had found a well-paying job. One that maybe can afford him a wife and perhaps children. He awoke with a smile, and he kept that smile throughout the morning even while dressing into his salmon colored tunic. Even the smell from the prison he was walking towards, later in the morning, was not enough to strike the smile from his face at the prospect of a descent home now being affordable to him.

Clementus would be escorted to Antonius who was still at the top of the northern wall. It was a tradition at the prison for the outgoing headmaster to conduct a tour of the facility for the incoming headmaster. Antonius knew that this tour was part of the job, but it was not to be a joyous occasion. It angered him to see the smile on the face of the approaching Clementus.

I’m Clementus Arturo. said the younger man to the older one.

I’m Antonius, and wipe that silly smile off your face. said the old man. This is a prison, the only ones you’ll see smiling are the men who died in their cells and found some relief by dying.

Clementus’ smile instantly went away as he listened to the old man.

Your tour begins here. said Antonius. First tilt your head back and take a big sniff.

Antonius did just that, and with some slight goading, made Clementus follow suit.

There! You smell that stink? said Antonius. That is the stink of nearly four hundred stinking things that used to be called men. Most of them will never see freedom. Trust me young Clementus, you will find no smiling faces here.

Antonius led Clementus back down to the lower level to the courtyard, and to the entrance to cellblock one. Antonius took the key ring off his belt that looked to hold a hundred keys.

You’ll need to know this key ring well, my young friend. said Antonius. It is the master set. It opens every door, every cell, and every gate to the prison. Some keys open more than one cell. The guard Captains have sets to their cellblocks only. This ring opens them all.

Antonius found the key and opened the entrance to cell block one. That is when the stench really hit the nose of young Clementus, forcing him to turn his head to the side for relief.

There is no such thing as bathing here. said Antonius. The Emperor doesn’t permit it. These men are the scourge of Capian society. They preyed on the innocent like animals; therefore, they are to live like animals. They get beans and water and a pot to piss in. If they knock over the pot, so be it.

Cellblock one was a long corridor with about twenty cells to each side, and two men to a cell. Clementus had never seen conditions like this, and even though this prison would soon be in his charge, he still did not wish to look into the cells, giving only occasional quick peeks.

Antonius noticed the young man’s demeanor and decided to walk much slower through cellblock two to allow for the sites to sink into Clementus’ mind.

The sites Clementus would see peering into the cells would be seared into his memory forever. He saw men with skin decimated by bedbugs, lice, and disease. He saw rats nibbling on the toes of a sleeping prisoner, and one or two prisoners appeared to be dead, and yes they did appear to be smiling.

Antonius turned to look at Clementus. There was no smile now. He did notice that Clementus looked a bit pale in color and had beads of sweat breaking out on his brow. When the two men reached the end of cellblock three, Clementus could hold out no longer and he vomited. Antonius laughed as he helped the young man outside to the courtyard to get whatever fresh air he could.

Ha! You did well! said the old man. You didn’t puke until the end of three. I didn’t make it past two when I did this tour. Well done, my boy!

Clementus stood erect, wiping his mouth with the back of his hand. He was breathing heavily and sweating profusely as he looked upon the old man as if he were crazy at thinking of vomiting as some badge of courage. Antonius started to take pity on young Clementus. He approached him softly as a father would do to a long lost son. He placed his hands upon the young man’s shoulders and faced him square.

Young Clementus, there is one more cellblock to show you, cellblock four. said Antonius. It is unlike the others, but before I tell you more, we must go to my office so I can explain about cellblock four in private.

The two men made their way across the courtyard to the western side. They climbed up a two story staircase to a landing and the door to Antonius’ office. As they entered, Antonius walked over to a shelf on the far wall and took down a ledger. He set the ledger down on his desk and opened it.

I have sixty four guards at this prison. Two of them assigned to cellblock four. They are illiterate men, who can neither read nor write. They were former prisoners that have had their tongues cut out so that they could never tell a soul about cellblock four.

Clementus listened intently as the conversation turned to a darker tone. Antonius pointed to a wax seal on a document inside the ledger.

Recognize this? he asked Clementus. This is the mark of the house of Drudia. The Emperors mark.

What is this document? asked Clementus. He scanned the document before him. Along with the Imperial seal, there was a short paragraph, and below that four signatures in a column.

This is a contract between you and the Emperor. It gives the Emperor the right to have your head if you should ever divulge to anyone what you are about to see in cellblock four. You cannot tell anyone about what you will see. You cannot speak to the guards about it, nor can you tell your family. If you tell anyone, the Emperor will have you killed, and no one would ever know what became of you.

Clementus was astonished by this turn of events. Never in his wildest dreams had he thought that this job would include something so secretive that it would cost him his life if he were to ever tell the secret.

The signatures on the bottom are of the previous headmasters. My signature is the one on the bottom. said Antonius.

Antonius handed Clementus a quill to add his name to the list on the document. He quickly read the paragraph, gulped, and signed his name, all the while thinking if he had bitten off more than he could chew.

It is done! yelled Antonius. Come; let me show you cellblock four.

The two men left the office and went down the stairs to the courtyard below. Antonius led them to a solitary door along the east wall, away from the other cellblock entrances. Antonius found another key on his key ring, and in a moment they were in the main corridor of cellblock four.

Clementus could see that this cellblock looked similar to the other cellblocks except all the cells here were empty. The only one occupied was at the end of the corridor across another passageway and facing towards them. As the two men approached the cell, Clementus struggled to see the figure sitting on the back bench of the cell that was dimly lit by the oil lamp on the corridor wall. When they got to within a few meters of the cell, Antonius stretched out his arm to halt Clementus’ progress, they would go no closer.

Clementus looked into the cell illuminated by the lamp. On the bench facing them was what appeared to be a man, naked except for a loincloth, and shackled to the bench by the wrists. There was not a hint of body hair on the ghostly white skin of the man. The man appeared to be sleeping with his chin resting against his chest. His long platinum blonde hair hanging over hid his facial features.

Who is he? asked Clementus.

He came here some forty years ago, before my time here. said Antonius. From what I was told by the previous headmaster, Horris’ soldiers brought him here in the middle of the night. The headmaster was never given this man’s name. We still do not know where he comes from or what crime he may have committed, all we have is that contract you just signed, and a set of instructions for this man’s care.

What instructions? asked Clementus.

This man is allowed to sleep during the daylight hours. He is never to have any physical contact with sunlight, and he is to be given nothing but pig’s blood to drink.

Clementus was fascinated by the sight of this man, and the instructions for his care. What has this man done to deserve such cruel treatment?

Have you ever heard of things called nightwalkers? asked Antonius.

Just stories like everybody else. answered Clementus. They are mythical beings that live in the Nether World valley. They don’t really exist.

That may be true. said Antonius. However, if there ever was a candidate for someone being a nightwalker, I believe this man is it.

Clementus was astonished at the revelation that such a mythical creature actually existed. He had heard stories of nightwalkers as a child; most people did, but like most people, did not believe that such things actually existed. Still, there was a certain mystery about the Nether World valley. The name itself implied a place where man was not meant to go. Many people over the years have ventured through the Kabur Pass, the only passable route to the valley, only to never be seen again. Although the existence of nightwalkers was in question, most people did believe that something dangerous existed in the Nether World valley, and that it may be best to have whatever it was to stay on its side of the mountains and for humans to stay on theirs. This is the way it has been for as long as people could remember.

Come now, young Clementus, the tour is over. said Antonius.

Antonius led Clementus back out into the courtyard. The two men walked over to the main gate as Antonius reminded Clementus about keeping the secret to cellblock four. As the two men reached the main gate, it began to open.

Now, my dear Clementus, the prison is now yours. said Antonius. I’ am off to retirement. Take care of yourself. And he handed Clementus the key ring and walked out the gate. He did not look back once, and it would be a long time before Clementus would ever smile again.

CHAPTER IV

The Dawn of Insurrection

Years ago, the use of the word ‘king’ to describe the local rulers of conquered countries was banned by order of the Imperial government. To call oneself a king meant that they saw themselves as an equal to the Emperor, and of course, no one is an equal to the Emperor.

The Imperial government adopted the word Prefect as a title to the local rulers. The term queen was still used to describe the wife of a Prefect, but she had no real power, and it was not considered proper to address her, or her husband, as ‘Your Majesty’. Instead they would be addressed as Lords, using the terms M’Lord or M’Lady to address them.

Still, the position was that of a hereditary monarchy the same as a royal family. The children were still called prince or princess, and they were addressed as ‘Your Highness’.

Prefects were charged with the actual management of their country which included commerce and trade, education for their children, care and maintenance of streets and roads, as well as, care for the sick and elderly. They even maintained a small army for the protection of their borders since disputes with neighboring countries over some territories was still commonplace.

The Imperial presence within these countries was actually small, with an Imperial Governor residing in a palace within that nation’s capital. Along with him was a two hundred man Centurion regiment. Centurions were trained just as regular soldiers, but their task was to enforce Imperial law, and essentially act as police and body guards for the Governor. The uniform of a Centurion was that of a silver breastplate over a brown tunic. They too, wore a red cape with a gold clasp.

The governor’s main task was the collection of taxes paid by citizens of that nation to the Empire. These taxes were heavy, and were the main source of discontentment towards the Empire. Apart from that, most people still enjoyed most of the freedoms they had prior to the creation of the Empire. They could worship at any religion they chose, and maintain their own culture. If it were not for the oppressiveness of these heavy taxes, people may not have minded the existence of an Empire.

Prefect Leonidus of Tracea, was under a lot of stress these last few days. His wife, the Queen, had been murdered; the Imperial Governor had been assassinated a few days later. Surely, the Empire would return to his country, and in greater numbers. It was very possible that he or even, his entire country could be severely punished by the Empire for the death of the Governor. Certainly, he would be arrested if the Empire learned the full truth of the incident.

The relationship between Prefect Leonidus and Imperial Governor Carracala was strained almost from the onset when the Governor arrived almost six months ago. Usually relationships between Prefects, and Governors were rather cordial, and sometimes friendly, but Carracala was a type that some would call arrogant, others would call it psychotic.

As a tradition, and a token of goodwill, Leonidus supplied fifteen slaves to help maintain the Governor’s residence. Of those fifteen slaves, five were women, and after six months, Carracala had sexually assaulted all five. There were other abuses as well suffered by the male slaves who suffered floggings for even the most minor infraction such as sitting during