Roman Spain – Distant Past
Juan pressed a final kiss to the top of Adrian's head before pointing the boy toward Aarón. "You'll treat him well, yes?"
"Of course father."
"And you'll ride him daily? You'll train him as your horse?"
"Yes father."
"Good." Juan knelt before Adrian. "Because I need you to train him. To run hard and fast. To protect you in battle. To make you strong as you protect your mother and this house. Do you understand?"
"Yes father."
Juan pulled Adrian close, kissing him again. "I love you."
"I love you father." Adrian's arms tightened around him and Juan only broke the embrace with difficulty.
"Protect this house and watch over you mother." Adrian could only nod at the repeated instructions as Juan stood and turned to Ana. "I will come back to you."
"May the gods have mercy on your soul if you break that promise." Ana wiped at the tears in her eyes before dragging Juan toward her to hug him. "Because I will not."
"I know." His grip around her tightened and loosened as he stepped back. "I will not fail you. I will return."
"If you do, bear your shield or be carried on it." Ana hefted the shield, passing it to Juan before sliding his sword into his sheath for him. "As the Spartans did."
"I will my lady." Juan walked to his horse and mounted it, handing his shield to the man next to him. "Company, ride forth."
He forced himself not to look back until they reached the arch that led to the road. When he did look back he saw a horse racing on the track outside their house and smiled when he recognized the flash of golden hair flying free. With that sight he turned back to the road and kicked his horse to gallop after the departing column.
They rode for days. The dust and sweat almost formed another layer of armor on him as it irritated and chafed. When it cracked on his skin it sloughed off but the process only repeated until Juan was sure the trail back to his home would be easily divined from the bits of himself left along the road. And when rivers proved scarce or their water supplies demanded rationing for water only, Juan tightened his jaw and led his equally uncomfortable troops by example.
An example that carried them to the presence of General Robertus and the impressive army hearing the imperial symbols of Rome.
Juan dismounted, scowling at the state of his armor and body before turning to the man at his side. "Josephus, have the men make camp and arrange the watch. I want the latrines built and the cook fires going by the time I reach my tent."
"Yes sir." Josephus hurried to comply, taking the reins for Juan's horse in hand as Juan turned to the other man standing beside him.
"What news from the scouts Alfrid?"
"They anticipate the Gauls are mustering their forces and might attack as early as sunrise tomorrow."
"It would give them the advantage in these trees." Juan scowled again as he took in the terrain. "Have Josephus put our camp on the top of one of those hills. Scattered between the trees if he has to. I want lookouts available to keep this entire valley in our scope."
"Yes General Bartolomé."
The fire-headed giant bounded off to leave only one other man at Juan's side. He made a noise and Juan turned to him. "Something to add, Tomaso?"
"I'm curious if we can trust Alfrid with such a message."
"He's proven himself to me."
"He's a Saxon, General."
"He's a Briton and, therefore, a part of this empire." Juan rolled his shoulders, "More to the point I trust him."
"He could be-"
"I'll hear no more about it." Juan nodded toward the tent ahead of them. "The General awaits us and we'll not keep him any longer."
Tomaso grumbled but Juan ignored him and entered the tent. A gray-haired man leaned over a map spread across a table in the center of the space. A few others stood by, conversing with one another softly as they pointed at the map or argued about possible formations with tiny models. The clink of Juan and Tomaso's armor drew their attention and all quieted to give the man at the table a chance to speak.
He took them both in and came around the table to salute Juan and Tomaso. "I feel almost guilty dragging you all the way from Spain Bartolomé."
"My wife was tiring of me and insisted I leave before she put me to work in her vineyards, General." Juan managed a small smile and the other men in the tent laughed. "I'm at your service, sir."
"And not a moment too soon." The General pointed to the map, urging Juan and Tomaso forward. "The Senator and his men-"
"Senator?" Juan's eyes swept the room, noting the discontented shuffling of the other men, but not finding a Senator among them. "What Senator risked a campaign?"
"One seeking glory for himself." One of the younger men, with dark hair and darker skin that fit his eastern accent. "Senator Crudus."
"Captain Antonius has his own opinions as to why Senator Crudus brought his troops to the battle." General Robertus made a face before turning all attention back to the map on the table. "Regardless of those motives, his soldiers are well trained and we could use them as a phalanx to break any wild charges from the Gauls on this side."
They debated tactics as the generals and captains spoke to their experience and the might of their divisions. Each offered possible troop arrangements and files for their position before Juan cleared his throat. All quieted as Juan gestured toward the models on the table.
"We've already given them the advantage."
General Robertus blinked at him, "What?"
"We're in the bowl of a valley. They will have speed and position over us should they choose to attack at dawn. Or even now." Juan reformed the models to demonstrate their position. "We would have to battle them uphill to gain advantage. Any weapons they wield against us would also have the advantage of distance."
He studied those in the room. "Who arranged this location?"
General Robertus blinked at him. "You did."
Before Juan could respond shouts reached them. The captains and generals darted to the doorways, drawing their swords as a troop of barbarians met them there. The tightness of the space proved a detriment to the enemy combatants as the Romans immediately fell into a formation with Juan at the head. Breaking through like a blade through butter they exited the tent to leave the moans of the dead and dying in their wake.
"Captains, to your men. Have them move to the ridges in tortoise formations. Take the advantage from any of the long-range weapons." Juan pivoted to Tomaso as the captains scattered to their posts. "Find our men and rally them with Josephus."
Tomaso almost appeared to hesitate but he dashed off with the others, weaving between clumps of fighters as the Romans battled to join their appropriate formations. Juan dodged a large sword and lowered into his shoulder to take the body of the man in the chest. Their combine force toppled the other man to the ground and Juan buried his sword in the man's gut before ripping it free to cut across another Gaul attempting to attack General Robertus from behind.
Robertus finished his direct attacker and surveyed the scene with Juan a moment. "I thought we had until dawn."
"What did you mean?" Juan put a hand on the man's shoulder, pulling him from the possible pitfall of deadly contemplation. "You said I arranged the location of our camp."
"We received your messenger two days ago." Robertus insisted and Juan dragged them back into Robertus's tent as a hail of arrows rained down on them. A few of the blades scraped at Juan's skin before he took cover under the fabric of the ten. "This position was clearly marked on the map."
"That's impossible. I came here are your orders." Juan pulled the message from inside his armor, showing it to the General. "It was left when you and Senator Crudus departed my home."
"The Senator put this battle under your command." Robertus insisted and rummaged around at another table before producing a message bearing Juan's family seal. "It was a concession he said he gained from you when we met in Spain."
Juan ground his teeth, the paper in his hand crumpling. "And where is the good Senator now?"
"His troops camped…" Robertus went to point to the map when another hoard of barbarians burst into the tent.
The two of them fought savagely, using their weapons and any available detritus around them. Juan used the edge of a table to topple one barbarian and leave his head the perfect height to remove it from his neck and then flipped the same table to push it over the ground as a battering ram. It knocked into two others, leaving them uncoordinated enough for Juan to leave sizable gashes in their abdomens.
Breaking off one of the table legs, Juan hurled it like a javelin to upset the coordination of a barbarian ready to hack at Robertus with an axe the size of his head. The momentary confusion allowed Robertus to disarm the man and then seize both axe, and the attached arm, to hurl into the chest of another barbarian. Both howled in pain as Juan moved to join Robertus in the center of the tent.
But just as he reached him the other man stumbled. Juan went to his knees and caught Robertus as he fell, blood spitting from his mouth to cover Juan's face and armor while a spear stuck from his back. The weight of Robertus nearly toppled Juan and he barely dodged a downward sword strike.
Rolling free, sword in hand, Juan tried not to stare open-mouthed at the person before him. "Traitor."
"I'm no traitor." A man with auburn hair, bearing a Roman sword, circled the tent to match Juan's movements. "Not when this finishes."
"Do you believe your barbarian friends will match the power and might of Rome?"
"They don't have to." The man, half covered in various barbarian skins and furs as loose camouflage for the field of battle, divested himself of them. "I only need wait for them to be defeated and then sweep through in the aftermath."
"You killed Robertus."
"I think you'll find the evidence is that you killed Robertus." The man whistled a note and Juan spared a look toward the entrance of the tent to see Tomaso enter. "Is that not what you saw, General Tomaso?"
"Stabbed him in the back." Tomaso reached behind him and roughly tugged forward. Juan could not even spare a cry for the two people who dropped to the ground beside Robertus's body. One man, barely that, with flaming red hair lay glassy-eyed before him. The other, Josephus, twitched and groaned under the weight of his wounds. "After his Saxon scout betrayed the position to the barbarians. After all… He led us to this spot."
"You did this?" Juan looked between Tomaso and the other man. "You conspired with Senator Crudus to betray Rome?"
"No." Tomaso almost spit, lunging forward but Juan deflected the blade and kept his distance from both men. "I betrayed you for Rome."
"What did I do to deserve your betrayal?" Juan nodded toward the three men on the ground. "What did they do?"
"They chose to follow you." Tomaso stood taller. "Do you not recall, on so many fields, you chose them over me?"
"I gave you command. I trusted you."
"You tolerated me." Tomaso shook his head and offered Juan a self-satisfied smile. "Remember what you told me, on the first field of battle we shared?"
Juan's jaw set. "Death can be a fickle friend."
"As of today it is your friend no longer General Bartolomé." Tomaso lunged again.
Juan batted his sword away and, faster than Tomaso could recover, drew a knife to slash upward. Tomaso fell sideways, dropping his sword to clutch at his bleeding face. With a dive Juan retrieved Tomaso's dropped sword and immediately charged at the Senator.
The fear in the other man's eyes practically set Juan's blades alight. He swung in mad fury, the clang of their blades nothing but humming in his ears like the reverberations of the striking blades did naught but fuel the strength in his arms. And with the two blades working in perfect harmony, he knocked the Senator's blade loose from his hand and left the man crying out.
For a moment the blood rage subsided, enough for Juan to notice the Senator's right hand now lacked for two fingers. But it pumped through him all the hotter as Juan raised his blades to strike simultaneously. In his mind's eye he could already see the effect of the dual swipe of the blades, coming from opposite angles, to fully sever the Senator's head from his neck. But before the blades could even touch skin fire ripped into his leg.
Juan fell to his knee, rolling to break the shaft of the arrow buried in the back of his right calf. One of the swords dropped and he tried to regain his footing as three Roman soldiers piled on him. The force of their bodies impacting Juan drove the air from his lungs and he wheezed under their weight as the arrow drove deeper into his leg when one of them landed hard enough to almost crack his kneecap.
They disarmed him, dragged Juan to unsteady feet. He noticed three others holding the now unconscious form of Josephus while a physician immediately saw to the injuries still leaking blood through Tomaso's fingers. Juan tried to escape the clutches of his captors, lunging with all his strength toward the unsteady stand of the Senator.
Captain Antonius entered the tent, his armor hanging off his shoulder and a deep gash in the arm he kept close to his chest. His eyes swept the room and he went to speak but the Senator spoke first. With an arm flung toward Juan, he practically spit at the Captain with each word.
"Have him arrested and taken for execution."
"Senator I can't-"
"General Robertus is dead." The Senator directed Antonius's focus around the room. "Captain Tomaso's wounded and General Bartolomé is to blame."
"General Bartolomé would never betray General Robertus. I know these men and they were stronger than brothers."
The Senator snorted and snapped in Tomaso's direction. "Captain, what did you find in the General's camp?"
"Correspondence," Tomaso partially slurred through the treatments of the physician. "In his tent you'll find the arrangements for this very ambush."
"It's impossible." Juan argued and then cried out when one of the soldiers holding him drove his heel into his already wounded calf. "We only arrived today and-"
"And it's rather suspect that you appeared, put your men on the ridge, and then happened to be alone with General Robertus." The Senator crouched before Juan, holding his bleeding hand wrapped in the edge of his robe. "Did you want his power for yourself? Did you so crave victory?"
In a moment Juan ripped the arrow from the back of his calf and, with the pain driving the strength of his shout, drove it through one of the Senator's eyes. The man fell back, screaming to the tent top as the three soldiers holding Juan dragged him backward. Kicks and blows rained down on him until one caught him on the temple and all was blackness and quiet.
Beijing, China – Present
"And we do have beds for someone of your-" The man behind the counter opened his mouth, moved it in shapes John did not recognize, and finally settled on one. "Immense height. We could you and your family to a larger room with a bigger bed."
"Perfect." John glanced out of the corner of his eye, noting how Emmy practically clung to Anna as they toured the little shop near the concierge desk. "And… Do you have a workout room? Or a gym, I guess."
"Yes sir." The man pulled out a pamphlet for the hotel and opened it to a guide. "It's on floor three."
"What about conference rooms?" A lanky man joined John at the desk, smiling at him. "Changing rooms too?"
"I need to change beds."
"We are rather above the average here aren't we?" The man stuck out his hand to John. "Henry Talbot."
"John Bates." They shook and John shrugged, "You stuck here because of the storm?"
"Unfortunately." Talbot shrugged, "What a way to spend the Christmas holidays."
"Not at all what I was hoping for." John nodded toward Emmy. "I've got all her gifts under a tree in Yorkshire."
"A child's best year is the two Christmases they didn't expect to have." Talbot smiled, "The adventure here and then the presents later."
"I'll take your word for it."
"Well…" Talbot paused, his eyes narrowing. "It can't be."
Before John could figure out what Talbot meant the man was two strides away from him and vigorously shaking Anna's hand. "Talk about surprises."
"I would've thought you would've risked a bush pilot to get out of the country." Anna smiled at Talbot as they returned to the desk. "John this is-"
"We've met, briefly." Talbot looked between the two of them and then at Emmy. "Anna… Is there-"
"Oh no." Both John and Anna hurried to say, giving their nervous smiles before John continued. "Ms. Smith and I met, rather fortunately, last night at the airport."
"Then you're staying here too?" Talbot whistled, "And here I thought I'd be an idiot all on my lonesome in one of those conference rooms."
Anna frowned, "How'd you mean?"
"Well I was-" Talbot looked up as the man came back. "The conference rooms, are they taken?"
"We've three medium sized ballrooms on the second floor, sir. And a large ballroom on this floor." The man studied the collection of foreigners. "Are you planning a party?"
"No, I just needed to check if anyone was using the rooms before I put them to use" Talbot nodded toward Anna, "If you're up for a sparring partner I could use some practice with the Great Anna Smith."
"You're punching a bit above my weight Henry."
"Good practice all the same." Talbot gestured toward Anna as he answered the confusion on John's face. "I caught most of the competition Anna did here."
"Did you compete?"
"No," Talbot shook his head. "I'm an amateur but I'm an avid fan of the sport. No, it was lucky I caught it at all."
"Then you weren't here for the matches?" Anna asked, glancing at the pamphlet to get the floor for the gym.
"No." Talbot's face sobered. "I… I was here to gather my mother's things."
"Oh I am sorry." Anna put a hand on Talbot's. "My condolences."
"Thank you." Talbot let out a breath. "I have all of her things packed and ready to ship to my father's home in California but with this storm…"
"Is your father here too?" John risked but Talbot only shook his head.
"My father couldn't bear it. To stay, that is. He was here to retrieve my mother's body and then only just managed to take her ashes back with him." Talbot sucked the inside of his cheek. "It was quick, which I can only hope for myself with the time comes."
"Can't we all." Anna tapped the pamphlet to get John's attention. "Do we have a new room or-"
"Yes." John held up the new keycards. "We can move our things and then return these old cards so they can flip our room."
"We're moving?" Emmy's face bore evidence of her confusion as to whether to rejoice or sorrow at the news.
"Yes. Daddy had to get himself a bigger bed." John picked Emmy up as Anna took the pamphlet. "And we've got one now so we need to get our things."
"If you don't mind-" John turned at Talbot's interruption. "Which room is it?"
"2010." Anna held up the key to show Talbot. "Why? Want to be roommates?"
"It'll make it easier to invite you to spar if I'm not combing this hotel for you." Talbot leaned on the counter. "Once I get myself a bed big enough that my feet don't dangle over the edge I was hoping to put in a workout."
"Then," Anna checked her watch. "Why don't we say… Two hours?"
"Perfect." Talbot two-fingered saluted them. "Pleasure seeing you again Anna. And lovely to meet you John."
"Same to you Mr. Talbot." John pivoted carefully to keep Emmy on his shoulder as they entered the lifts. "He seems a nice man."
"I've never heard anyone speak ill of Henry Talbot." Anna tapped the keycard against her fingers. "You don't mind, do you?"
John blinked at her. "Mind what?"
"Oh. I thought…" Anna snorted a laugh, "One day of faking being married to you and it's as if we actually are."
"Smoothest marriage I've had so far." John ducked out of the lift and put Emmy on the floor. She held the key to their old room and dashed there to open the door before the adults could reach her. "And it'll stave off boredom."
"I can't imagine it'll be easy for Emmy." Anna followed John into the room, moving into the bathroom to clear out her things.
"She'll find things to do." John looked at where Emmy gathered the few items of hers not already safely packed away and stuffed them into her bag. "Won't you?"
"It's an adventure." Emmy insisted and John kissed her head before moving into the bedroom to repack his suitcase.
"Although…" Anna stood in the doorway to the bathroom and John paused in his folding. "She could come and watch."
"She'll want to try it."
"It's a way to burn energy."
John pursed his lips before shrugging. "We'll see. I want to get a lay of the hotel before I commit to risking my daughter's eyes growing big as saucers as she watches a fairy princess defeat someone."
"I'm not sure I could beat him."
"If you don't then she'll try." John pointed toward where Emmy was attempting, with marginal success, to replicate the tai chi of the morning with a few added kicks. "She's very determined."
"That's not a bad trait."
"Never suggested it was." John checked all the drawers methodically before ducking under the bed and opening the closet. "I'm always worried I forgot something."
"I'm sure they'll let you know." Anna zipped up her bags and moved into the sitting room. "It's not as if we're going far."
"Still…" John almost flapped his arms but they landed with a flop. "Still worries me that I might forget something."
"Here," Anna got Emmy's attention. "Let's do a thorough search."
"Okay." Emmy bounced off the sofa and scurried around the hotel room before coming back to Anna. "All clear."
"See?" Anna made a face at John. "We'll all clear."
"Alright." John pointed at Emmy's bags. "Can you manage those yourself or do you need help?"
"I've got my rucksack."
"Alright." John balanced his briefcase, Emmy's roller bag, a roller of his own, and a duffle before following them to the door. "Lead on."
Emmy guided them, marching determinedly down the corridor to the lifts. It gave John enough space to speak to Anna without Emmy overhearing. "You're all clear too."
"What?"
"The way you are with Emmy." John shrugged, "I think you've got the makings of being an excellent mother."
"It's been barely a day."
"Doesn't mean you wouldn't be good at it." John offered her a smile. "If you needed an opinion."
"Thank you." Anna led into the lift as John fit in with the bags and Emmy held her finger ready to push the right button. "That means a lot."
"Don't mention it." John nudged Emmy with his hip. "Alright, get us to the twentieth floor Emmy."
She giggled when she pressed the button.
Edge of Roman Empire – Distant Past
Pain proved his companion and mistress as Juan opened his eyes. Trying to move, his body fought him for every attempt until a tug on his wrists and ankles stopped him. Blinking carefully, as blackness threatened to block his vision, Juan took in his surroundings and the groaning man next to him.
"Josephus?"
"General?" The other man's voice, hoarse and cracked like his lips. "I'm so glad you're alive. I thought they killed you."
"I think they tried." Juan tugged at his bindings but whomever trussed him up like a boar for dinner did their job well. "Where are we?"
"I-"
"On your way to Carthage." Juan craned his neck to see the man standing above… The cage. Above the cage where he and Josephus lay. As the man crouched closer to them he recognized Captain Antonius. "It was all I could do."
"Why?"
"Because otherwise Senator Crudus would have killed you both."
"Captain-"
"It's General now." The other man cringed, "General Barotolomé, I do not know what happened. I do not believe you killed General Robertus but the evidence they gathered against you is damning."
"It's false."
"And I want to prove that. But…" Antonius shook his head. "Right now the best I can do is spare your life."
"What about Alfrid's life?"
"I think Captain Tomaso killed him." Antonius hung his head now. "I have a messenger, a good friend, on his way to your home in Spain now."
Juan tried to sit up but his bond prevented him. "My wife? My son?"
"They'll be as protected as I can make them until I can go myself." Antonius sighed, "This was the best I could do for now."
"I am innocent."
"Then I hope the gods set you right." Antonius stood, "Until then I must choose my battles. And yours is one I cannot fight on two fronts."
"Then fight for my wife. Fight for my son." Juan tried to reach out a hand but could not. All he could do was flick a finger against the bars. "My life is nothing without them."
"I will keep them safe." Antonius bit at his lip. "As General… I've taken your lands under my banner. It was my right and I thought I could claim them before Senator Crudus attempted to do so. He raged against you when you…"
"Did I take his eye?" Antonius nodded and Juan managed a smile. "Then he'll have one less advantage when I come for him."
"Save your revenge for later." Antonius nodded at someone Juan could not see. "Survive, General. Survive and come back for them."
Juan could not answer before their cage rocked and moved away, dragging he and Josephus off toward Carthage.
