Free Emperor: The Death of Kings E#2 by Conn Iggulden Page B

gate!” came a man’s voice from the other side, his fist banging on the wood yet again.
    Aurelia signaled to the servants and they removed the bracing beam, pulling the gate open for the visitor. Aurelia saw they were both armed, another rule of Tubruk’s.
    Three mounted soldiers entered, resplendent in gleaming armor and helmet plumes. They were dressed as if for a parade and the sight of them sent a chill through Aurelia.
    Why wasn’t Tubruk here? He would be able to handle this so much better than she could.
    One of the men dismounted, his movements easy and assured. Holding the reins bunched in one hand, he handed Aurelia a roll of vellum sealed with thick wax. She took it and waited, watching him. The soldier shuffled his feet as he realized Aurelia was not going to speak.
    “Orders, mistress. From our master the Dictator of Rome.”
    Still Aurelia was silent, gripping the hand that held the scroll with the other, her knuckles showing white.
    “Your daughter by marriage is here and Sulla orders her presence before him in the city immediately,” the man continued, realizing that unless he spoke, she might never open the scroll that confirmed the orders with Sulla’s personal seal.
    Aurelia found her voice as the shaking steadied in her for a moment. “She has just given birth. She cannot be moved. Return in three days and I will have her ready to travel.”
    The soldier’s face hardened slightly, his patience unraveling. Who did this woman think she was? “Mistress, she will be made ready now. Sulla has ordered her to the city and she will be on the road immediately, willing or not. I will wait here, but I expect to see her in a few minutes at most. Do not make us come in to fetch her.”
    Aurelia paled slightly. “Wh . . . what about the child?”
    The soldier blinked. There was no child mentioned in his orders, but careers were not made by disappointing the Dictator of Rome.
    “The child too. Make them both ready.” His expression softened a little. It would hurt nothing to be kind and the woman looked very fragile suddenly. “If you have a cart and horses that can be harnessed quickly, they can travel in that.”
    Aurelia turned without another word and disappeared into the building. The soldier looked up at his two companions, his eyebrows raised.
    “I told you this would be easy. I wonder what he wants with the woman.”
    “Depends who the father is, I should think,” one replied, winking lewdly.
    *      *      *
    Tubruk sat stiffly in the chair, nodding as he took the wine offered to him. The man he faced was his own age and they had been friends for the best part of thirty years.
    “I still have difficulty recognizing I am not the young man I was,” Fercus said, smiling ruefully. “I used to have mirrors all round my house, but every time I passed one, I would be surprised at the old man peering out at me. Still, the body fails, but the mind remains relatively sharp.”
    “I should hope so, you are not old,” Tubruk replied, trying to relax and enjoy his friend’s company as he had so many times over the years.
    “You think not? Many of those we knew have gone on to cause mischief in the silent lands by now. Disease took Rapas and he was the strongest man I ever met. At the end, they say his son put him over his shoulder to carry him out into the sun. Can you imagine anyone putting that great ox over their shoulder? Even a son of his! It is a terrible thing to grow old.”
    “You have Ilita and your daughters. She hasn’t left you yet?” Tubruk murmured.
    Fercus snorted into his wine. “Not yet, though she still threatens to every year. In truth, you need a good, fat woman yourself. They hold off the old age wonderfully, you know. And keep your feet warm at night, as well.”
    “I am too set in my ways for new love,” Tubruk replied. “Where would I find a woman willing to put up with me? No, I’ve found a family of sorts at the estate. I can’t imagine