Descendants of Rome (#3 in Gladiator Series)

Chapter 51

Chapter 51

Lazarus stood at the open gates of the fort and looked across the field of dead bodies towards the Roman camp.

His mind was empty whilst his heart felt as if it was on fire. The man who had killed his family was down there.

"You cannot go!" An older man warned him, "You cannot!"

Lazarus made no indication that he had heard him because, in truth, he did not care enough.

"It will be a trap. Tell him, Marcia!"

Lazarus now turned his head and saw the blonde warrior walk up beside him; her eyes were red from where she had been crying but now all the tears had dried up and anger had taken residence inside of her.

Their eyes locked for a moment as she stopped beside him before she too turned to look over at the enemy encampment. He was confident that she felt the same as him.

The man sensed Marcia side with Lazarus and he gave a loud grunt of annoyance, "They will kill you both where you stand!"

"Not before I kill them," Marcia growled. Lazarus saw the bow clenched in her fist and the sword at her waist.

"Krista's blood runs through your veins, Lazarus!" The man stepped forward and Lazarus could see that a bloodied bandage was slipping from his head, his cheeks flushed with frustration, "You must see that-"

"-All I see," Lazarus turned and looked at him, "Is my mother's dead body."

The man lowered his gaze, "But you must know that this is a trap."

Lazarus knew. He just no longer cared.

"Get the others to safety by the back road," Lazarus told him, "Find our brothers and sister, they shall be waiting in the village for us."

The man stepped forward and held out his arm to Lazarus, "Then that is where we shall wait for you both."

Lazarus clasped him by the arm and looked him in the eye, "Do not wait too long."

He gave them both a worried glance before bowing his head slightly and hurrying back into the fort.

The relief that they had won the battle had quickly dissipated when they remembered what the cost had been.

People had been elated with the news that they were finally free, that they were no longer going to be attacked but the elation grew into sadness when they glanced upon the dead form of Krista and was reminded of the death it had brought.

They were thanking the Gods that their torment had ended.

Lazarus, however, would wish to the Gods for one more death, though the Gods had abandoned him long before.

Lazarus and Marcia walked forward, their feet falling silently amongst the grass as they descended the hill and into the midst of dead bodies, friend and foe alike.

Their progress was slow as they placed their feet carefully whilst they inevitably looked for their family.

Lazarus spotted Leonidas first; he was nearer to the fort than Lazarus could have believed but he was lying on his back and his eyes were shut.

They bowed their heads but they could not stop. If they stopped, Lazarus feared he would lose what little control he had left.

Marcia clenched her bow tighter as they neared the Roman camp; they were not forced to stop again as they could not find the bodies of their loved ones.