Max, Iatus, Amber and Ates sat in the living room of the Metellii mansion, eating from a selection of dishes scattered about the room. Aelith sat on a perch usually reserved for Max's father's hunting bird, eating from a large sack of bird seed.
"I really am very sorry for stabbing you," Max said for the ninth time.
Iatus sighed, "At least you realised it was me quickly enough to heal me."
Max and Iatus had just finished telling their respective stories and they were now listening to the crowd outside cheering for Capitus as he paraded himself about atop a much smaller hydra.
"So... What do we do now?" Max asked.
"I, for one, am not about to let Capitus take all of the glory," Amber said, rising, "I will summon my legion and hold an even bigger parade through the merchant quarter, you are welcome to come with me."
Max chuckled, "Oh, I don't think I'm up to that, you go on though, you deserve it."
Amber turned to Iatus expectantly.
"No thanks, I don't have full control over my legs yet, I would hate to ruin your moment by falling on you."
Amber nodded and exited the room.
"So, what are we going to do now."
Iatus sighed, "I think I am going to head west, there were a lot of cities and towns destroyed by the horde, many more lives will be lost if something isn't done. I'm going to go and do what I can."
"Really? After we just got back to Rome. You deserve a break already. Haven't you done enough?"
"I haven't done everything I can, so no, I haven't done enough."
Max sighed, "And what about the boy?"
"Well, he is a powerful fire mage, what better place to grow up than with a Metellus?"
"So you are basically just passing him off to me?"
"Pretty much. But he's almost old enough to be sent to the Academy. I'm sure it will be no great burden."
"Fine. But the child doesn't know me or anyone here. I demand you wait at least one month before leaving."
"I'll stay two weeks."
"20 days, minimum."
"Fine. 20 days."
They both looked at Ates as he took a great bite out of a slice of watermelon, getting juice all over himself and smiling.
YOU ARE READING
The Demons of Rome
FantasyA small beggar boy, the most powerful mage in a millennium. A wise cracking baby owl of death. An academy filled with the next rulers of the world and a war in Gaul about to start. You might say trouble is brewing. Rome wasn't built in a day, or so...
