Mortuus Virgo by Kevin Ashman Read Free Book Online

She had never walked the streets of the city and at eighteen was still relatively unwise in the ways of the world.
    Before the small procession marched a Lecter, the personal bodyguard that had been afforded her by the Senate for her visit to the Emperor. In one hand he carried a staff to indicate his authority and strike any coming too close while in the other he carried an axe, a reminder he had the power of execution in the service of the state. The Contubernium marched before and behind the litter and the Centurion brought up the rear so he could see any threat.
    ‘A Virgin approaches,’ came a cry and Rubria peered forward to see a commotion in the street as several of the populace rushed to get a better view.
    ‘Clear the path!’ shouted the Lecter, ‘Make way for Vesta.’
    ‘ Bless me, priestess! ’ called a woman and ran towards the litter.
    A soldier broke ranks and pushed her back.
    ‘Control them!’ called the Centurion, ‘Keep the way clear.’
    They soon cleared the streets and within ten minutes the litter had been put down in the grounds of the Domus Transitoria. Rubria waited until the slaves and the guard had withdrawn before she got out of the litter. Before her stood the Lecter, his staff resting on the floor and axe hanging at his side. The Centurion still sat astride his horse.
    ‘From here you will proceed alone,’ said the Lecter, ‘Go through the doors and proceed past the royal pools to the double doors at the far end. The Emperor awaits.’
    ‘Thank you,’ she said gently and looked up to thank the Centurion. What she saw took her aback.
    The soldier was staring at her with an intensity that was frightening.
    ‘Centurion, are you okay?’ she asked.
    Dragus snapped back to reality. For a moment he had been swept away in the glory of her beauty. Her face, her piercing blue eyes, even her very demeanour took his very breath away. Never had he seen a vision such as this and he realised why the Holy Mother recognised such promise in her.
    ‘I am fine, Holy Sister,’ he said,’ I will wait at the gate for your return and will escort you back to the temple.’
    ‘Thank you,’ she said and held the stare of the handsome soldier for a few more seconds than was proper, before lowering her eyes. She turned and walked through the gates, her silk wrap flowing behind her.
    Dragus watched her go, confused, annoyed and frightened at the feelings coursing through his blood. He was on fire, his skin tingled and he breathed as hard as if he had run a race. This was all wrong! The girl was a Priestess and beyond the reach of any mortal man but never had he felt such as this. Surely it was a test sent from Vesta herself.
    ----
    Rubria walked towards the inner doors, past a line of fountains feeding a beautiful pool. For the first few paces she considered the reaction of the guard but quickly put it out of her mind as she concentrated on the audience she was about to undertake. Nero had ruled as Emperor for ten years and the first five had been kind and prosperous with the aid of his mother, Aggripinna but as he had grown more confident and took more control of his own fate, he had seen her as a threat rather than an ally and arranged her murder five years earlier. Despite this, Rubria held her head high for no-one was beyond the reach of the Goddess and perhaps she, Rubria, could reach out to the kindness within.
    ----
     

 
    Chapter 6
     
    London 2010
     
    ‘So, who is he?’ asked Brandon.
    ‘Unless I am mistaken,’ answered India, ‘It is Phillip the Second of Macedonia.’
    ‘Means nothing to me, who was he some sort of Roman god?’
    ‘No, not a God,’ she said, ‘Not even Roman.’
    ‘History wasn’t one of my strong points in school,’ he said, ‘More interested in rugby, women and cider.’
    ‘It figures,’ she said.
    ‘So who was this Phillip?’
    ‘Phillip the Second was the king of Macedonia in the fourth century BC and father of Alexander the Great,’ she said,