“Do you think it will be bad, Gaius?” Antonius’ nerve was failing.
Gaius understood as he tried to control his own.
“Yes. It’ll be bad. If they’ve wiped out three legions…well…they’re more numerous than the immortui were. They’ve got to be.”
Just then a head poked around the door to the peristylium and Daxos appeared.
“Centurion Gaius?”
The boy looked terrified and Gaius cursed himself for having neglected him the last day. How long had he been listening?
Antonius held out his hand and Daxos entered the room.
“Daxos, I’m sorry,” Gaius said. “I’ve been so busy lately. Can you not sleep?”
“How are you, Daxos?” Antonius asked.
“Are you leaving?” the boy asked Gaius.
“The Emperor has ordered us to march north to investigate what happened.” Gaius hoped this would be enough of an expla
