Octavian sat down at the altar in the Temple of Jupiter Optimus Maximus with a thick book
in his hands. He looked up at the statue of Jupiter, and felt just the tiniest shiver go up his spine. The god, not the statue, seemed to be in a state of anger. The augur could tell by how stormy the skies outside were.
It was around 4:30 on a chilly October morning; the other legionnaires in Camp Jupiter wouldn't be awake for another two hours. This gave the augur plenty of time to catch up on his reading. Octavian opened the thick book and began to read. It was a good book, in the augur's opinion. It was about a boy who finds out he's a wizard, of all things. He goes to a school of magic and has to fight for his life against an evil wizard. In the installment of the series that Octavian was reading, the boy is fourteen years old and in a wizard tournament against a three of his fellow wizards.
The augur really enjoyed that book. In fact, he was so into it, when Reyna appeared by his side and called his name, he didn't even look up.
"Octavian." she said. He didn't respond. She sighed. "Octavian." the praetor spoke more firmly. This time he looked up.
"Reyna," Octavian spoke in pleasant tones, marking his page by dog-earing the corner and setting the book down. "What brings you here?"
"I could ask you the same." she responded. "Why have you come up here?" the augur gestured to the book on the ground next to him.
"Peace, quiet, a good book."
"Ah," she said. "But couldn't you just read in your quarters?" the augur shook his head. He then smiled and chuckled lightly.
"I would, but the roof is leaking again. I might need that fixed. You should get someone on that. So, as I've stated previously, what brings you here?" Octavian queried.
At this, the praetor's face seemed composed, but her dark eyes told a different story. They were frightened and panicked, like a mouse cornered by a cat. As hard as she tried to show decorum, it was a futile effort. The augur could see past the veil of false composure. Reyna shuddered, so small and minuscule, that if you hadn't looked close enough you wouldn't have seen it. But Octavian was very good at reading people and their body language.
Right now, from what he could tell, the praetor was worried. She took a deep, silent breath. Octavian watched as she shuddered again. Obviously, something was bothering her. It took a lot to rattle the praetor. Reyna moved her lips without making a sound; she was trying to form the words to say. When she found the words to say, she spoke them.
"Jason. He's gone."