New Rome

70. The Sacrifice

Caesar was handed an ID badge on a lanyard to place over her neck. The badge had her new name, Lensa Valfir, and her job role - Assistant to the Ambassador of New Rome. Her palms were sweaty as she adjusted the badge's angle. This was a job – a real, comes with a salary job. Her stomach fluttered nervously. Lensa Valfir wasn't a slave. Lensa Valfir had never been a slave. And from now on, she was Lensa Valfir.

A porter led her across the stone courtyard. Caesar walked awkwardly, favouring one leg, but she had enough balance to keep up. Craning her neck, she looked up at the palaces' high walls. Their gothic design was discoloured from city smog and soot and, up on the battlements, guards with machine guns  scowled down at her.

Security agents were posted at every door – running scanners over those coming in and out of the building - and Ceasar and her guide joined the queue of people waiting to be allowed access.

"Remove your shoes and place any electronic devices into this box." Barked an irritated agent. Caesar complied. A milder man asked politely for her to also remove her jacket. Cesar shrank a little as she obeyed. Her jacket had a high collar, that she'd been relying on to hide her neck.

The scarring on Caesar's throat had left the skin a horrid, dark-pink shade that hung in folds from her jaw, in a way that resembled a turkey neck. She caught the pitying glances of the agents and Caesar's gaze dropped to the ground, not wanting to make eye-contact with anyone. The buzz of radio static came from the agent's devices and this was swiftly followed by a roar of noise coming from the gates.

The shouts of rioters thundered and Caesar looked back. A car was attempting to make it past the gate and rioters, guessing who was inside, were throwing things at the vehicle's tinted windows.

"AGOST THE BLOODY!" The protestor's shrill shouts made Caesar flinch.

"Don't worry." A guard reassured her. "You're safe. If any of them try to push past the gate we'll shoot them."

"It will be like shooting fish in a barrel." Added one of his colleges, looking smug. Caesar said nothing.

                After a brief orientation, Caesar was taken to Rube's office.

"Excellent." Rube enthused, when they were introduced. "Heart gladdens to have some help around here. I'm afraid you will find working here a slog, but currently we're swamped." Rube steered Cesar to a desk and, speaking very rapidly, gave her a whirlwind explanation of what needed doing.

Before Rube was finished, the office doors opened and a young woman entered. She was dressed very casually, in athletic-wear, with her hair tied up messily in a bun.

"I received your message." She said to Rube. "What talk am I supposed to be giving this evening?" Caesar could tell from the woman's posh accent that she came from money.

"Worry not. I have your speech written. You need only impart words to memory." Rube handed the woman her tablet to scroll through.

It was then that Caesar realised who this woman was. 

She was Arly, the princess of New Rome. The girl she'd come here to spy on.

**

                   Kaze braced himself, as the stretcher he was laid out on was lifted up. The soldiers tried not to jostle him, but every slight movement made Kaze grunt and groan. Beads of sweat rolled down his dirty face. The platform was packed with soldiers, all being herded onto the waiting train. There was a mood of desperation. These were the lucky ones that had survived. They were headed home.