This is the sequal to ROMAN TREASON, I hope you all enjoy it!

Chapter 1

A Roman Sunset

A golden sun shone on the intricate courtyard. The gardens were in full bloom. Flowers of every shade and color made it look like a rainbow had exploded in the large terrace. Immaculately trimmed bushes and trees made the courtyard become a labyrinth of greeneries, flowers, marble benches and flowing fountains. The golden sun was falling lower into the sky, no longer blue but now a painting of purples, reds and oranges. Another Roman sunset made his face smile.

He, was Clodius Varrus Valens, General of Rome's Northern Army, Caesar's most well-known and admired general. The twenty-three year old had risen quickly in the ranks of the Roman military. The son of a poor farmer from the mountain region near Gaul, he was forced into servitude but it seemed he had found his calling.

After a horrific battle in Africa when Rome had believed they had lost, Clodius came forward with an excellent strategic plan. The plan's victory had elevated him from a lowly Centurion to a high ranking Praetorian and given him the name of Rome's greatest military mind. Throughout the next years his military leadership and battle skills brought his skills to the eyes and attention of Emperor Cassius, Caesar.

The meeting that had promoted him to General had slowly brought him to this moment. He saw that he was alone still in the lush gardens and leaned back against a tree the marble bench was in front of. Looking at the fountain he smiled a bright set of teeth. The fountain was of two angels their cupid like arrows pointing to his overgrown bench.

Clodius thought of the reason he was sitting on this bench. To him it was the most beautiful reason the world could give him. She was a goddess, an image of Venus. Even without her there in front of him he could picture her standing before him. She had hair like the raven's back, but the softness of his horse's coat. Her silky skin was sun kissed from her leisurely strolls through the gardens and forum shops in the city. Her lips were the color of the roses that lined the garden bushes and her eyes… they were the color of the Mediterranean as the sun glimmered upon it. He had never known anyone to be so beautiful, and the world had allowed her to notice him.

He was getting anxious sitting on the bench, his palms grew sweaty and his legs began to shake. Standing up he walked over to the large fountain and picking up a few rocks he began to skip them across the water. He was on his second handful when the sweetest voice in the world sounded from behind him.

"You know, usually children would throw coins into the fountain for good luck. Making a wish before it touches the water." He turned quickly and looked at the goddess standing before him in her airy sea foam colored Roman styled gown. His chocolate brown eyes met her ocean blue. They both smiled. "But you throw rocks," she continued to speak in her sweet voice as she took a few steps forward. "Is there something you don't want to come true?"

Clodius complimented her few steps by taking a few steps closer to her. "I throw rocks for the only reason I have nothing more to wish for."

As if they were on a rope that had been slowly pulling them to each other as they met she gave a quick jump into his arms and he leaned it kissing her delicately. She wouldn't have it though, she pushed onto him and pushed deeper into the kiss. When she kissed him all Roman propriety went out the window, as if somewhere in her heart she was not Roman at all but a native of an uncivilized place. Clodius held her tighter and they broke apart gasping for air. She laughed as she hugged him tightly.

"I've missed you so much," she whispered into his ear.

"There is no more missing for tonight." He peered into those eyes that had captured him ever since he gazed into them four years ago.

Clodius suddenly put her back on the ground and walked toward the other side of the fountain. She realized that someone was coming. She suddenly began to speak of meaningless things.

"So your campaign went well I assume General?" She spoke in her noble tone, no longer the frolicking girl she was moments ago.

"Yes my lady it did. It was very successful. Syria remains a Roman province." Clodius spoke in his military tone that was respectful the lady of noble birth. He could see a dim shadow walking up the path and continued to speak. "The natives were a dedicated people to right but using advanced Roman thought and tactics we were able to overtake them."

Clodius could now see the man that had approached them. "Lady Anera," he said. She turned around and smiled at the man.

"Gaius," she exclaimed as if she had not thought he would follow her. Gaius Falco was Anera's protector, following her and taking care of her since she was born in Illyrium. "I was just speaking to General Clodius about the campaign in Syria."

"I can see that," Gaius was never pleased when men were speaking to Anera. He felt that there were no men that could love Anera in the proper way. The stories about Praetorian Gaius were intriguing. Clodius had only heard bit and pieces of those stories while on campaign from men who had known Gaius or knew men that had fought with the man.

Gaius had been a solider sent to escort a Senator's daughter to Britannia over twenty years ago, when it was still part of the empire. Once there he had committed serious treason against Rome and was forced to return to Rome in shame. Clodius was unsure how he received the posting of protector of Caesar's daughter but he was considered a lucky man to constantly be around the Lady.

"General, Caesar wishes to speak with you," Gaius said to the General.

"Thank you Praetorian," Clodius said as he made his way to Caesar's chambers, a room he had come to know. Clodius strode past Anera keeping his eyes ahead of him and left the Praetorian and Caesar's daughter in the gardens.

"Anera…" Gaius began to scold.

"What?" She chuckled as she sat down on the marble bench. "Gaius I merely wanted to see how the campaign went. If I asked my father he wouldn't give me a straight answer, and if I asked Lucius he wouldn't know. So I decided to ask a man who would give me a straight answer and actually know what he was talking about. There is not harm in that." She laughed again at her protector's angered face.

"Do not do anything you will regret in later years." Gaius cautioned. He turned to leave but noticed she was not following. "Are you coming along my Lady?"

"I think I will enjoy the sunset and the warm breeze a bit longer thank you." She smiled looking to the sky.

Gaius knew something was going on with the two young adults but he didn't know exactly what and was not prepared to make any accusations. "As you wish my Lady," he said walking up the pathway he had come from.

Anera sat on the marble bench that Clodius had been sitting on waiting for her. They had met there every possible time they could, but always as secretly as possible. For it was considered a high crime to court the daughter of Caesar unless you were her betrothed or given permission by Caesar. Neither of which Clodius was.

She watched as the sun fell below the horizon allowing the stars to shine dimly upon the city of Rome. Anera had the strange feeling again. A feeling she had felt countless times throughout her life, as if she didn't belong in Rome. The first time she had the feeling it persisted for many days. She finally decided to leave the city and when to her family's estate in Illyrium where she was born. Once there the feeling left her.

She relaxed a bit and enjoyed living in Illyrium where the sunset was even lovelier since her estate was surrounded only by flowing grasslands and wheat fields. Yet when she returned to Rome a few months later the feeling returned to her. She traveled yet again to Illryium hoping the feeling would not continue but it did. Speaking to her mother about it, Alexia, Empress of Rome, told her to simply travel the Empire. So Anera did what her mother advised. But to no avail, the feeling persisted. She wasn't where she was supposed to be. After almost a year of traveling the Empire through grasslands, forests, and deserts she returned to the glorious city of Rome.

Reaching her father's chamber to be welcomed home there stood a man. He was tall in stature which a straight back but an even straighter face. He was a Praetorian of this Anera was sure from his armor. His skin was a deep olive complexion, and his chocolate eyes complimented the skin tone. But although everything about him screamed uptight, stern soldier, his eyes told Anera she should not fear him.

Looking back she could remember the day vividly, still remembering she was wearing a light yellow dress with her hair mostly up but many strands falling down around her face from running through the palace to see her father, a man she adored. She walked into the room completely unaware there was someone else in there. Throwing open one of the doors she stopped quickly seeing the soldier standing before her father. He had just risen from kneeling and both his eyes and her father's shot over to her. For the quickest of seconds her eyes met the soldiers and she was surprised at the kindness in them.

She smiled as she remembered the story. But laughing a bit at what would happen if her father or the blessed savoir forgive her brother find out she has been 'frolicking' with a General… she grew a bit scared. It was common knowledge in Rome that Lucius had always loved Anera a bit more than a brother should. Anera would always worry what Lucius would do if she did ever fall in love. She was nervous he might actually harm the other man.

Thankfully her thoughts were interrupted by footsteps coming down the pathway. She sat up straight, in case it was her mother, but grew more lax hearing manly footsteps. Smiling she saw Clodius walk toward her. Jumping off the marble bench she gracefully walked over to him and put her arms around his neck. He placed his hands on her waist and lightly kissed her, but pushed her away and walked towards the fountain.

"What's wrong?" Anera questioned, a bit confused as to why he would push her away. He wouldn't answer her, just kept looking at the fountain's angels. "What did my father want with you?"

"I'm leaving," he said sadly.

"You just got back," the sadness transferred to Anera's voice.

"I know, but work is never over for a General."

"You need time to rest," Anera began to argue.

"You know I don't need the resting period most men do."

"Then I need you," she demanded, almost in a childish tone.

"I need you too, but I can't refuse Caesar."

"Oh, but you can refuse me?" Anera turned around giving him the cold shoulder but as soon as he began to speak again she turned back around.

"I don't what to refuse you Anera but I need to go where I am needed."

"What if I say you are needed here!"

"Don't…." Clodius said as he threw a large pebble into the fountain.

"Stop that," Anera comforted as she put her hand on his. She could feel through his hand all his tension leave as she caressed his palm. "Where are you going?" Her attitude changed, the last thing she wanted was to have a bad parting and have unsaid words hanging over them.

"Spain, your father says the Spaniards are giving the forts problems."

"And you will be the savior of Rome yet again," Anera chuckled as she laid her head on his chest. He caressed her black hair and put his chin on her head.

"I wish I could walk away but I can't. This is where I belong in life, fighting for the glory of Rome," Clodius spoke as if he needed to convince himself.

"We could leave," Anera quietly said.

"What are you saying?"

Anera lifted her head from his chest and looked the General in his brown eyes. "We could take two horses from the stables and leave Rome. Leave the Empire never to return. You know the lands and I could get us anywhere."

"And go where?" Clodius chuckled at the thought.

"Anywhere they oppose Rome. Mesopotamia, lower Africa. Anywhere Clodius."

"You know your brother and father would hunt you to the end of the world. Mesopotamia or lower Africa won't stop them and it can't protect us."

"I don't want to wait for you again. How long will this campaign be?" Clodius shrugged his shoulders. "Six months? A year? Why not take your time and make it a two year campaign. I can't keep waiting for you Clodius."

"What are you saying Anera?" He grew nervous at the thought he was having.

"I'm saying that I won't wait forever. You need to decide where you're loyalties lie; with me… or with Rome."

"I can't make that choice," Clodius didn't want to make that choice.

"Then I don't know how this will work," She looked to the fountain letting go of the arm she had been holding. Turning back to Clodius she had the look of despair in her eyes, it broke his heart to see her like this. "My father is already looking to marry me off. He won't last much longer and he wants another strong man to keep Lucius off the throne. Sooner or later I'll be betrothed… then where will we be?"

Clodius didn't know what he could say. "I don't know Anera."

"Neither do I." She turned to the horizon and peered out into the city from the gardens. "You'll leave and do your duty in Spain and I'll be here."

"So you will wait?" Clodius excitedly asked.

"For a time," Anera cautioned. "I won't forever."

Clodius walked to Anera and held her close, "You won't have to wait forever." He comforted her as the moon began to shine brightly overhead.

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