“Talia. Be strong like I know you are,” Gaius said. “For Daxos…for your family…for your people.”
“And for Good,” she said, her pugio ready.
Gaius nodded and they walked through into a fire-lit hall of stone. Then, he dropped his gladius with a clang on the ground.
He had to fight for composure, harder than he had ever fought.
Before a great fire in the far wall, was the chained Daeva, a creature Gaius had never imagined existed.
She turned her massive, horned head to look directly at the Roman, black tears running down her scaly face and scarred body.
Yet, another horror awoke Gaius and Talia from their shock.
A few feet away, Daxos stood chained in the same manner, naked but for a loin cloth, his young, pale, lean-muscled limbs stretched painfully taught.
“Daxos!” Talia called, an
