Destiny by Jason A. Cheek Read Free Book Online

residence, Tiberius’s bulls were battle hardened veterans that had spent most of their life in armor fighting during the Tuonellian War. Even so, Imperium troops were expected to have a certain level of military proficiency. What he was seeing was a disaster of epic proportions if this was his father’s plan for the armies of the Imperium. Bowing his head, Tiberius gave a quick prayer to the Goddess Akras asking for forgiveness for what he must do next.
    Looking at the smooth-faced young males surrounding them, Tiberius knew they would be forced to kill a number of the bullocks before their lines broke, but at least, the majority would live to see another day. For a moment, regret welled up inside of him for the path that the Akras had chosen for him to take until Tiberius heard Commander Brutus voice ring out around them.
    “Praetorians, your orders are to kill these traitors to the Emperor. Now advance!”
    Hate welled up inside Tiberius as his sorrow and rage found a focus for its outlet. One way or another he would find the answers to what was happening to his people, and he knew who was first on his list. As his blood surged through his veins, Tiberius raised his voice in command.
    “Shields on me … single formation … advance!”
    “Hhhooorrraaahhh!”
    The explosive reply reverberated from the stone walls as Tiberius’s legionnaires leaped forward. Their ironidium-shod hooves struck the cobblestones with a metallic ring as they picked up speed. Moving as a single unit, Tiberius’s bulls launched themselves scutum first into the Praetorian phalanx like a battering ram.
    Heavy ironidium spearheads crumpled on impact against tinnearlian shield walls as the front two ranks of the Praetorian Guards were blasted from their hooves into the ranks behind them. The entire front of the formation was suddenly thrown into chaos. As the first contuberniums forward momentum suddenly came to a stop, Tiberius realized something was horribly wrong.

Chapter Five
    Location Irlendria / Lúthien Narmolanya:
    Lúthien cringed as the old door’s hinges squealed loudly throughout the empty chamber. Carefully she peeked into the dark room beyond. It was just as she’d expected. At this time of the day, the Atrium of the Ancestors was deserted.
    Slipping through the crack, Lúthien quickly closed the door behind her with a muted thump. Leaning against the smooth wood, she sighed softly at the sight before her. Looking out across the gigantic chamber Lúthien’s thoughts went back to her grandmother who always brought here to sit among the Tinnearlian trees when she was young. After all these years the natural beauty of the Atrium still stole her breath away.
    On either side of the central aisle, silvery trees grew to form the walls of the chamber. Their delicate branches created a shimmering canopy high overhead while their jeweled leaves sparkled like stars in the low light. At either end of the atrium, the calcimite stone walls of the Fortress merged flawlessly with the ancient grove creating what her people called “living architecture.” Warden Morwen told her there was nothing like it in all of Irlendria.
    Grinning mischievously Lúthien’s silken slippers whisked across the marble floor as she dashed across the silent chamber. Bounding up the dais at the far end of the room, she slipped behind the jewel throne at the very top of the steps. Going to the back wall, Lúthien studied the intricate inlaid designs depicting the history of Irlendria, searching for the secret lever Warden Morwen had pointed out on her hundredth birthday. Finding the image of the Elven God Tapio, she ran her delicate fingers to the top of the Bear King’s head. Spreading out her slender hand, she measured down Tapio’s face. One … two … three … stopping at the center of the god’s lichen beard, Lúthien felt the depression under her thumb and pushed.

CLICK
    Silently the hidden door swung open as a cool breeze momentarily blew her long