LOVE AND HONOR: The Mad Emperor (BL)

f Janu

n guard shouted-an elite pro

nking praetorian officer, with a golden scorpion emblem adorning his shoulder

NG

secret tunnels beneath the palatium-the imperial palace-a stark

torchlight, sliced through the air, the golden scorp

earthen floor, amid the bodies of his fallen brothers-the brutal af

ss dance of death. But only

e was occupied-guarding

is eyes burning with desperate fury beneath his helmet,

NG

cry-of neither victory n

le stripe now stained crimson from killing his sworn brothers earlier,

the same duty, turning on each other. Lower-ranked g

eld clattering on the stone with a clank, the so

ing has becoming more prominent, it mingled

guard's voice was a snarl, his eyes, glintin

' He wondered, each p

ay. He knew exactly how his enemies moved, familia

of metal against metal. Screams tore through the air,

their dying cries echoi

sneering counter, a venomous whisper of an

CLAS

f urgency, ended with both the defending guard and his attac

, the one brandishing his gladius with a horsehair crested helmet-an

guards and one, with a figure of unea

the betrayal earlier. His stumbling feet were clad

hing in the dim torchlight, sat askew on his go

nt and imperious, now blazed

ood and decay. Even the sweet myrrh he once fa

w suffoc

CH SQ

SH

e biting into his leather sandals, t

hom the stumbling man thought was his remaining protector, g

llably, unable to

to protect him, had no

nsive robes, inflicted by the traitorous

heir God!' The beautiful ma

am, but he bit back the words, refusin

SH

sticky wet stone scraping against his ski

is anger was a burni

nnel's gloom, but the glint of steel was unmistakab

their feet as they mov

looked around for someone or anything to untie

d stared at the blurry faces of the other three backsta

his guards spoke, his voice flat and em

The emperor's command, usually so

d's eyes were empty, de

ands clenched into trembling fis

stant dozen footsteps, and a thunder

e celebrating your downfall.." The gu

ror screamed and raged some more. His nerves s

SPLAS

e plunged into his side. A man wearing a t

scream, shot through the emperor's whole being,

wounds that he received earlier

palace!" Another blade, this time in his stomach. It's a

bled from

GH

A dagger in his shoulder. This time, it was

continued, each blade a

rom the head of his gu

e." Then he shoved the

P

gghh

other man.." Someone comme

HED SQ

blood a macabre trail, but a

k, looking up, trying to make out

saw them-piercing green eyes, filled with something

s Lep

ou

kne

*********

a-TA

y, its vibrations reso

is of marble temples, grand basilicas,

air, accompanied by the sweet scent of incense waf

events drew cheering crowds, while at night, torche

d the air, momentarily halti

festival games held in honor for the gods or goddesses-stop

, on the first day of celebration

Ludi Palatini? Another celebration? What was the occa

hup.... Go to the palatium! They are announcing s

spread lik

nnouncement, the pe

, instead of the emperor or a high-rankin

ople, afraid it was one of

ered, the herald stood straig

he end of the tyranny

silence ensued. The herald looked

ror Gaius Julius Caesar August

e into cheers, and like a wave, th

hhhhhh!!!!" The

joyfu

*********

apidly, igniting a frenzy of jubilation and

of the celebration earlier, surged through the streets, targe

massive marble statue of the emperor stood tall, until a group

through the forum as the statue's

NK

fire was lit beneath it, and the flames engulfed the metal,

appening. Statues were toppled, effigies

wer now lay broken, a proof of the

the destruction. The air resonated with cheers, shouts, and the clan

CLAN

wood and scraping whee

CLAN

s way out of the city. The driver, wearing a black cape with hood drawn to his

y an orange glow coming f

ce disinterested in t

dropped down t

that unmistakably resembles a body, breathing sl

slightly, as if the person beneath

ed inscrutable, a flicker o

on the subtle mov

crowds, the destruction-all

ely on the plaustrum,

k of the reigns, and

and scraping wheels, became the

m, leaving the burning city behin

CLAN

*********

DE

event that include games

or chariot races, but it was also

- nobl

publi

*********

FA

at public events, or to avoid assassins, ironically, Caligula was assassinated in one of these passageways. Historical accounts indicate, that Caligula was