Octavius POV

Chapter 31: The treacherous cowboys

Carefully I laid my hand on the damaged part of the statue of Julius Caesar. All the other statues of the Roman temple were completely broken down, except for the statue of my father. It was only missing a little piece, like someone hit it a few times and then just gave up. Agrippa told me there was also a rope hanging around the right arm first, but they did nothing with it. I really wonder what made the cowboys stop from damaging this statue too. But no matter what happened, I'm grateful to it. I am not sure if I would be able to go on without the strength and hope the statue gives to me. But the rest of the temple is still completely broken down. Even from the statues of my dearest Gods, Apollo and Jupiter, is nothing left.

I turned around and finally left the temple. I noticed how Agrippa tried to get some order, but many people were still panicking and many soldiers were still unconscious. I don't think we can die, but we do feel pain. It didn't take long before I woke up after the attack, but I still had a headache and a hug crash on my right arm.

I just decided that I would help Agrippa to regain some order in the hysterical, when I saw him in a blink of an eye. Everybody else would've thought he was just a shade in the bushes, but I knew him long enough to recognize him everywhere. I took a side road to the fountain and when I was there I found out the shadow was indeed Jedediah, who was spying on my people.

"I can't believe you still dare to show your face here," I said, while trying to hide my anger. Jedediah startled, turned around and looked amazed at me.

"Octavius, let's just talk for a while," Jedediah said like nothing was going on.

"All right," I said like I didn't care. And to be honest I didn't care what he had to say. "Do you have something to tell me then?"

"Actually no," Jedediah replied immediately.

"Then I want you to leave. Now!" I said angry and pointed at the secret tunnel.

"Octavius, listen..."

"You and your men attacked my city," I shouted before he could say anything more. "You didn't just knocked down my soldiers on a brutally way, but also the women and children."

I could see how Jedediah turned his head away from me and looked at the ground like he was ashamed.

"Many buildings are damaged and my temple is completely destroyed. There is even nothing left of the statue of Julius Caesar." Within a second Jedediah looked back at me in shock.

"That's impossible," he yelled and he looked at me in disbelieve.

"The entire temple is destroyed, my people got hope and courage from those statues," I continued. Maybe I didn't speak the truth about the statue of Julius Caesar, but I didn't mind lying about it for a moment. It was true all the other statues were broken down and Jedediah had nothing to do with the miracle which saved my father's statue.

"We are in war, Octavius," he suddenly said without showing any emotions at all. "Attacking each other is a part of that war."

"I called your name and you just ignored me," I said still angry.

"The alliance and the sign should only be used in cases with giants," Jedediah said calm. "I haven't seen a giant, so there was no need for me to respond to your call. Why should I help you against my own attack?"

I felt how the angry even grew inside me, because of his words and the calming way in which he spoke. Why did he act like he didn't care anymore about the alliance and all those times we fought together?

"I will take the first chance I get to attack you with both hands," I said calm, but angry. "No matter how many or how hard you call my name. I will give all my catapults and all my archers the command to shoot on your land."

"Go ahead," Jedediah said angry and walked passed through me. It took a little while before he crawl inside the tunnel, but I refused to turn around.

I expected to calm down since Jedediah left, but it didn't happen. I still felt incredibly angry. I didn't waste any time and decided I would immediately made sure my army would be ready for a counter attack. Those barbarians broke down all my statues, but hadn't thought about also breaking down my catapults and chariots. Next time when the wall of glass will be open, we will attack the cowboys with all our might. It will be the Roman Empire who will win this war. Jedediah never even stood a chance with his unorganized horde. But why do I feel so angry? Why am I so unspeakable angry at Jedediah? Maybe because I feel like he betrayed me. And maybe because I'm afraid this could be the end of our alliance. But it's probably for the best if it ends. Why did I ever form an alliance with that traitor?

~Jedie & Ockie~

"Octavius?" Agrippa asked suddenly. I was lost in my own thoughts, so he startled me a bit.

"Are you sure you want to make the soldiers ready for the attack?" Agrippa continued.

"Yes," I said shortly and I was already busy with something else.

"But we could try and talk to Jedediah and Jacob," Agrippa suggested to me. I immediately looked angry at him, but he just stared back at me like he suggested something ordinary.

"No!" I said angry and looked straight in his eyes.

"Alright then," Agrippa sighed. "Please, tell me if you change your mind." He left my room, while I still looked at him.

How could he forgive those treacherous cowboys so easily?

Chapter 31 is finished! ^^ Told you this would be a long story... =S Already more then 34.000 words, it's almost a real book. But the ending is pretty closed now, but not yet there.

Thank you for reading it so far. Like I said, it's a long story and that you took the time to read it all makes me really happy and proud. So thank you.

I hope you had a better day then Ockie had in this chapter!