Chapter 5 - THE GENERAL WHO NEVER DIED
Lucan couldn't move.
“Is he alive?”
Darius looked at Mara.
She seemed afraid to hear the answer.
“Darius.”
“Is Marcus alive?”
Darius nodded.
“Yes.”
Mara covered her mouth.
Lucan felt the room tilt beneath him.
“Where?”
Darius sat near the fire.
“After Varro betrayed him, Marcus was badly wounded.”
“We believed he died.”
“But loyal soldiers found him before Cassian's men returned.”
“They carried him north.”
Mara's eyes filled with tears.
“Why didn't he come back?”
“He tried.”
Darius looked at Lucan.
“Twice.”
“The first messenger was captured.”
“The second was murdered.”
“Cassian spread word that Mara and the baby had died in a fire.”
Mara stared at him.
“He thought we were dead?”
“For years.”
Lucan clenched the golden ring.
“Where is he now?”
“In the northern mountains.”
“Take me to him.”
Darius shook his head.
“It isn't that simple.”
“Why?”
“Cassian knows Marcus survived.”
The king had learned the truth only months earlier.
Since then, royal troops had been searching the northern provinces.
Marcus had gathered surviving soldiers of the Seventh Legion.
Not enough to conquer Rome.
Enough to start a civil war.
“He won't attack,” Darius said.
“Why not?”
“Because thousands of innocent people would die.”
Lucan thought of the arena.
“Cassian doesn't care about innocent people.”
“Your father does.”
Mara stood.
“We go north.”
Darius nodded.
“We leave before sunrise.”
But they never got the chance.
Umbra roared.
An arrow flew through the temple entrance.
It struck Darius in the shoulder.
“DOWN!”
Royal soldiers rushed from the trees.
Varro had found them.
Darius drew his sword.
Mara pulled Lucan behind a stone pillar.
Umbra charged into the rain.
Men scattered.
Elias grabbed Lucan's arm.
“This way!”
They ran through the rear of the ruined temple.
A soldier appeared.
Elias slammed into him.
Both fell.
Lucan grabbed a fallen wooden staff and struck the soldier's wrist.
His sword dropped.
“Run!”
They reached the horses.
Mara climbed onto one.
Lucan mounted behind her.
Darius stumbled from the temple, holding his wounded shoulder.
Umbra appeared through the rain.
Then Varro stepped into their path.
He carried a sword.
“You've caused enough trouble, boy.”
Lucan looked at him.
“You're afraid of my father.”
Varro smiled.
“I defeated your father.”
“No.”
Lucan pointed at Umbra.
“You betrayed him.”
Varro's smile disappeared.
Umbra charged.
Varro jumped aside.
Mara kicked the horse forward.
They escaped into the darkness.
Lucan looked back once.
Varro stood in the rain watching them leave.
He wasn't angry.
He was smiling again.
Lucan turned toward Darius.
“Why is he smiling?”
Darius looked behind them.
Then his face changed.
“Because he wanted us to escape.”
Mara understood immediately.
“He's tracking us.”
Darius nodded.
May you like
“Varro doesn't want Lucan.”
“He wants Lucan to lead him to Marcus.”
