Free Muses of Terra (Codex Antonius Book 2) by Rob Steiner Page A

influence. He buried the thoughts of “doing something” deep. Like he always did.
    They entered Nascio two miles after the last cross. Cordus didn’t know anything about Nascio other than the locals considered it a small city on a planet where the largest cities barely reached 50,000 residents. This one looked to hold no more than 5,000 permanent residents. It didn’t surprise Cordus since most people on this continent lived on their farms and only came into the city for supplies or to deliver their produce.
    Nascio seemed to have taken the brunt of the revolt.
    They first passed the old Roman Legion compound. Broken down fences and gates surrounded six military buildings. Most were blackened and crumbling ruins. An intact watchtower stood in the middle of the compound, the top floor lined with broken windows. Several blackened military ground cars were parked near it, their Roman Eagle sigils scoured off.
    As they moved further into the city, Cordus noticed more rubble than intact buildings. The only ground cars on the streets were wrecks, and few people wandered the streets. Those who did all wore heavy black robes and hoods covering their heads. Cordus couldn’t tell if they were men or women. Some carried shoulder packs, some carried boxes, some carried nothing. All walked in joyless motions.
    A large number of Dis Pater worshipers lived on Reantium, more than on any other world. They believed that neglecting rituals produced dire catastrophes, from extreme weather to famines to wars. The only way to atone for the sins that caused the catastrophes was even greater attention to rituals, moral restraint, and sacrifices. Part of “atonement” required all believers to cover their bodies in shame when in public, for they had offended Dis Pater through their actions or inactions, and did not deserve to be seen.  
    Could Reantium have rebelled against Roma for the same reason the Kaldethi did sixteen years ago—because they believed Roma was corrupt, decadent, and not observing the proper rituals? That didn’t make sense. The Kaldethi rebellion had simmered for decades before it exploded. Up until two months ago, Reantium was the definition of a stable Roman colony.
    Uller broke the silence in the ground car. “We are approaching a checkpoint. Please let me speak to the discipuli. All will be fine.”
    Cordus tensed along with everyone else. Even Blaesus was quiet.
    Cordus watched the checkpoint get closer. Two former Roman armored cars were parked on either side of the road. Scavenged chain fencing was fastened to a long pole that hung over the road. Two discipuli, each dressed in black flamen robes with hoods over their heads similar to the Nascio residents, sat next to the armored cars. Their robes were dirty, torn, and ill fitting, as if they’d been stripped off dead flamensand did not quite fit the new owners. The discipuli stood up from the shade next to the car and approached the center of the road with their pulse rifles in both hands. Cordus noticed a naked old man sitting on the ground hunched over with a chain around his neck fastened to one end of the gate. Dirt, bruises, and open cuts covered his body. The man looked half-starved, for his rib cage bulged from his torso. He stared at the car with dead eyes.
    “Gods,” Blaesus said. “I know that man. He was the garrison tribune in Nascio. Manius Galerius. We had dinner together at Tarpeius’s villa last time I was here. Gods…”  
    A discipulus held up a hand, motioning Uller to stop. Uller pulled up next to the discipulus and lowered his window. “Dis Pater’s grace on you, discipulus. These are the guests I mentioned on my trip through here.”
    Only the discipulus’s blue eyes and pale skin were visible in the shadows of his hood. The man stared hard at each passenger in the car. Cordus tried to put on an air of indifference, as if he had nothing to fear because he had nothing to hide.  
    But men like these like to inspire fear and may see