Part Six, Final.

It was rare for Hadrian to trust anyone but himself when it came to his inner thoughts. Only Sunset could be trusted to hear those, and even then she was well aware that he kept much to himself. Hadrian was a man who expected you to be able to think for yourself and an inability to anticipate what he would want was a good way to find yourself freed from his service.

Nevertheless, so dire was the situation that day that as soon as the party ended, and he was able to escape back to his chambers, Hadrian summoned both Sunset and Avanicus to his presence.

“The situation is grim,” Hadrian told them both bluntly. His back was to them, and he was looking out over the balcony and towards the bay. “Varus is far more stupid than I had realised. But with stupidity there does sometimes come luck. I do not know how he has done it, but I have been outplayed.”

He turned, his face was bitter, his eyes were angry and it was clear that he was struggling to hold onto his self control. His face was a mask of fury but as Sunset watched, he **** himself to take a deep breath.

“I will find a way out of this,” he said. “I have been cornered before and I have always succeeded in the end. But it will be difficult.”

“Master,” Avanicus spoke. “What he said before, was it true?”

“That he has undermined my powerbase in Rovan? Possibly, but that doesn’t much matter. He is correct that by the time I got a messenger back to the capital, it would already be too late. Even if I still have the power to move against him by the time I put the pieces in order, he will have grown too strong.”

“Shall we kill him?”

Sunset turned, surprised by the blunt suggestion. The ex-gladiator did not look ashamed. He gave Hadrian a frank look.

“Varus is staying in the villa tonight. Tomorrow, he goes to meet his legions. Tonight is the last chance to reach him without him being surrounded by soldiers. A **** could be arranged.”

“He is a fool,” Hadrian said. “But not that much of one. Varus knows how to fight, and that man - Arminius - he will be a warrior as well.”

“With respect,” Avanicus said. “I am a gladiator. If there is one thing I know it is killing. Leave me in the room with them both, and you will have two corpses, that I can promise.”

“Three corpses,” Hadrian’s mouth twitched. “You might win, but you would not survive.”

Avanicus shrugged.

“As the gods will it. Three corpses is still minus two threats. My own **** is regrettable - I hope - but if it is needed…”

Hadrian shot him a look of surprise.

“You really mean that, don’t you? You really would die for me if I gave the order.”

“I was born to die. As a gladiator, I always knew I would not grow old. As soon as I started to slow, I would meet my **** at the hands of a younger fighter. Whether I die in the arena or in your service, it makes little difference.”

“No,” Hadrian said. “Your loyalty is touching, but it would not help. It would be known that we killed him, and his legions are arriving soon. I have no wish to be declared a traitor. Varus will have allies who would seek to avenge him in the event of his ****.”

“Then what do we do?” Avanicus asked.

The question rang out. It was clear that Hadrian did not have an answer, and equally clear that this annoyed him greatly. He turned to regard the bay again, his eyes following the ebb and flow of the tides and the waves. The play of the gentle moonlight upon the water.

“Varus has presented strength,” Hadrian spoke slowly. “We must find weakness. There will be weakness. Varus is young and arrogant. He will have missed something. Forgotten some crucial step. Somewhere, there will be something we can exploit.”

“How long do we have to find it?” Sunset asked, speaking for the first time. Her heart was beating faster, and she was feeling a curiously mixed emotion. The part of her that had been Ciara felt no love for Hadrian. In fact, it loved to watch him squirm! Seeing the defeat on his face had been just a small payback for all he had done to her.

Yet she was also aware that without Hadrian, her own chances of survival were slim. As far as the Rovanii were concerned she was property. A **** to be sold to the highest bidder in the event of her current master’s ****. She would be put to chains and brought to auction again. There were many fates which could befall an exotic female ****, and Sunset did not want to roll that dice again.

“A week.” Hadrian said. “I can buy a week. Varus’ legions will arrive tomorrow, but there are ceremonies I can undertake. Seekings of blessings from the temples, feasts, that kind of thing. Varus will know we are up to something, but decorum will not allow him to refuse to participate. Once that week is over, however there is nothing I can do to prevent him from taking his soldiers and moving to the lands of the Germanii and the Keltoi.”

Sunset shivered at that. Her people. She had not had time to process just yet but she knew what Varus had in store. It was not merely raiding for slaves now. He was thirsty for conquest and for dominion. The Keltoi would bend the knee to the Rovanii or they would be destroyed by them.

She did not know what to think. She had not considered herself truly Keltoi for some time now. The Rovanii had gotten inside of her, infected her. Made her into Sunset rather than Ciara. The woman she had once been would have been panicking, perhaps overcome with terror.

But Sunset was able to think. She could hold the fear at bay, though it filled her belly with ice.

Helping Hadrian would help her people, she reasoned. Even if she could never go back to being that innocent Keltoi woman, she did not wish for the rest of her tribe to face enslavement or ****.

Deep inside, part of her wondered if she was lying to herself. If she wanted to help him for different reasons, but she pushed such thoughts aside as unworthy. Now was the time to give her whole focus to the emergency which had befallen them.

“Arminius,” She said.

“Yes,” Hadrian nodded. “Varus’ right hand man. A barbarian raised by Rovanii. I have spoken to some veterans in my employ and it seems he is quite skilled. A rising star in the army. He is a commander of horsemen, and if he were born Rovanii, he would probably be slated for a generalship himself.”

“Varus said that he was Germanii, master.” Sunset reminded him. “The Germanii are close to the Keltoi. Perhaps I can talk to him?”

“Perhaps,” Hadrian mused. “But it would be dangerous. Varus is not a fool. He will be watching Arminius carefully. You would need an excuse to be in their presence and a way to talk to Arminius without Varus overhearing.”

He turned to observe her, and Sunset felt her cheeks colour slightly. She was still naked, wearing the chains and shackles that had adorned her during the party. Her pussy was wet, and still pulsed for attention with a hungry ache that she was doing her best to ignore.

“The first thing I think I can manage,” Hadrian said. “The second you will have to work out on your own.”

_______________________________________________________________

And so it was, later that night Varus heard a knock on the door of the shared quarters that he had been given alongside his bodyguard and second in command.

“Master,” Sunset tipped her head as the door swung open. Varus looked at her for a moment, his eyes were black but a flicker of recognition followed as he recalled her from the party.

“You were the ****-girl tied to the throne.”

“That’s right,” Sunset said. Her face was burning red. “I am Master Hadrian’s prized ****. He wanted to show me off during the party, and arranged that demonstration so that all would know his power.”

“Sounds like him,” Varus muttered, though Sunset could see how his eyes lingered on her naked body. “Why are you here? If the old man has sent you as a messenger then know I have no interest in speaking to him. Everything I wanted to say, I already have.”

“Master Hadrian takes his role very seriously,” Sunset said. “The two of you may be enemies but you are a guest in his home. It would shame him if he did not offer you the very best in all things.”

“I see,” Varus’ eyes were suspicious. He was gazing at her with lust, but there was an edge of scepticism in his voice. Just like Hadrian, Varus had long since learned that one did not survive as a Rovanii politician without making resourceful enemies. “So he sent you to what, service us? Fuck us until we’re happy? Get on your knees and humiliate yourself for our amusement?”

“If that is what you want,” Sunset said. Her heart was hammering and the blood rising to her face. “You may do with me what you will.”

Hadrian’s voice rang in her head. The warning he had given her before sending her on the mission.

‘’Varus is foolish and young, but he is Rovanii. He will not easily accept your presence nor let down his guard. You will have to find a way to ease his fears if you are to succeed.’’

“Varus,” growled another voice. “What is it?”

“It seems my old mentor has sent us a gift.”

Varus moved aside and the black-haired form of Arminius appeared at the door. He was clad in a casual tunic, his armour discarded. But there was still power in his body. He was muscular, with a proud and noble face.

If she had still been Ciara - and still been among the Keltoi - Sunset mused that she probably would have wanted to marry a man like this.

“May I enter, sirs?” She tried again. “If you want, I can perform for you out here, but it would be humiliating for me. I would rather service you in private if you would allow me even that dignity?”

“I don’t know,” Varus said. “She could be a trap, or a way to gather information. We should turn her away.”

Arminius rolled his eyes.

“Let her in for the sake of the gods. I know you’ve been stressed and so have I. A little fun could be just what we need. Besides, we’re heading into battle in less than a week. If you die there, would you regret this moment in your final seconds?”

“I suppose I would,” Varus admitted. “She is quite desirable. Very well. You can come in, whore. But don’t think of trying anything. Even without Arminius, I am quite able to protect myself.”

The door swung open fully to allow her entrance. Sunset’s pride stung at being called a whore, but she endured it silently and stepped within. The quarters that the two had been given were large, consisting of multiple interconnecting rooms. There were two bed chambers, each with a balcony that overlooked the sea, a dining chamber, two bathing chambers and a large common area.

The common area - where they stood now - was draped in silks and furs. Animals from all over the world had found their final resting place upon Hadrian’s walls. There were large sofas which could be reclined upon, and a small library of books and treatise of the Rovanii.

The door closed behind her with a click. Sunset was still naked and collared. There was a heat between her legs, and a boiling desire which had been only strengthened during her time at the academy.

“Well, if there is one thing I can say for my old mentor, it is that he still has good taste in slaves,” Varus commented. “Let’s see what he has sent us.”

He reached forward, hooking a hand around Sunset’s collar and dragging her closer. The Keltoi ****’s heart fluttered as his fingers closed around her chest. Her nipples grew harder, and an inner heat broiled at the contact against her breasts. She breathed faster and excitement coloured her face.

Varus explored her chest, his fingers fluttering, teasing, enticing and drawing out the naked want which pulsed within her. A shiver ran down her spine, and she could already sense a wetness growing between her legs. He caressed her nipple, enjoying its texture and hardness.

His body was pressed close to her own now. He was standing with his front to her back, forcing her to look outwards as his hand snaked around her back to grope her breasts. A low moan escaped her lips. Varus released her collar, allowing his free hand to dip lower and lower. The first touch against her pussy was like a bolt of static. The hardness of his erection was pressing into her from behind.

Varus’ fingers curled about her womanhood. His touch was soft but demanding, seeking out every inch of her sex as if he wanted to explore it all. His fingers were lingering and slow, spreading ripples of heat and want through her body.

Sunset closed her eyes. An entire day of being edged by her own hands roared in the back of her mind. Her legs were shaking. Varus’ touch inspired a sparking wave of pleasure, but he was so slow. She wanted more!

She would have it soon. Already, his touch was becoming more confident. His earlier scepticism melted away to be replaced by lust and desire. To get to Celentium from Rovan, he would have had to be travelling for weeks or even months.

It had been a long time since he’d been able to have his way with a woman.

He spun her around slowly. Spreading her legs with one hand, his other continued to pleasure her. Sparking delight and shame in equal measure. Sunset welcomed it all. The feeling raged through her, intensifying and becoming stronger by the moment. His cock was hard, and she knew that she had to move things forward if she wanted to earn a place here.

Slowly, she bent her legs, bringing herself into a kneeling posture. Varus was wearing a long tunic, but under that, there was little else. She moved it aside, noting how he tensed just for a moment. As if he had expected her to attack. His cock was long, engorged with desire. She ran her hands along it as if she were worshipping a god. His body trembled and she felt it growing even harder between her hands.

Sunset loosed a long breath, enjoying how the exhalation tickled his member. The feeling of power she got from it was strange but undeniable. She was on her knees, about to suck off a man who wanted to destroy her people and yet she felt so totally in control. How different she was now from the innocent girl who had first been enslaved by Hadrian!

She opened her mouth, drawing his cock between her lips with her tongue. Varus threw his head back, the feeling clearly met with his approval. She could taste his arrival. His cock throbbed and she started to move her head back and forth. Just like she had been taught before. She was good at this. Able to read the language of his body. She knew quickly what felt good and what did not. His shaft twitched and trembled, her tongue explored him. Her lips closed around his cock and the rhythm of her motion brought him pleasure.

She was getting wet too. She couldn’t help it. Ciara would have been horrified by this feeling but to Sunset it was simply part of who she was. A bed-**** was meant to enjoy doing things like this. Heat boiled through her, her pussy grew wetter and wetter. With one hand, she started to rub her womanhood, kneading her mound with her fingers as she gave pleasure with her mouth. Her clitoris sparked, filling her body with tingling delight.

Fuck, this felt so good. Why had she ever fought against this fate?

Arminius was astripping. She saw it out of the corner of her eye. He was taking off his clothes, his tunic, his boots and laying them neatly on the ground. His manhood was aroused and engorged. His body was different from a Rovanii man, Sunset couldn’t help but notice.

To the Rovanii, civilization was all. They considered barbarism to be the worst state a man could fall to. To that extent, they tried to ensure a sleek but powerful physique. A mix between the physical and the mental. To be too small meant that you were not strong but to be too big meant that your strength ruled your mind. Thus, men like Hadrian and even Varus sought a combination of the two. Not thin, but wiry. Toned, with rippling muscles that promised power but were carefully kept from becoming too large.

Arminius was not Rovanii however and it showed. His hair was dark and wiry, and his chest was broader. His shoulders were powerful, and his muscles were rippling. He was far beyond the point where any Rovanii man would have stopped, but then, Arminius would never be accepted as a true Rovanii and he knew it. His body was bulky and powerful, the very image of the barbarian warrior which the Rovanii hated and despised.

He moved closer and without even missing a beat, Sunset’s hand closed around his cock as well. In the academy, she’d been taught how to handle two men at the same time but until now she had not been called upon to use that knowledge. Her body felt hot. Varus’ hands closed around the side of her head, forcing his cock further down her throat. He moaned, and she gasped, desperately grabbing at air whenever she got the chance. Her tongue teased his shaft, while her other hand pumped Arminius’. The barbarian-Rovanii grunted in pleasure, enjoying the feel of her firm but pleasurable grip.,

Meanwhile, her other hand was working her pussy. Rubbing herself, caressing her clit. Teasing her body and making her legs shake with arousal. Both of her partners could see that she was doing this and it seemed to turn them on all the more.

Varus came first, filling her mouth with his seed. She sucked on him, drawing out as much as possible and swallowing it down without a hint of shame. He stepped back, a look of satisfaction on his face.

But Arminius had only just gotten started. As soon as Varus was away, he spun her around again, and his hands slid down her side. She felt his fingers at her waist, and then he spread her legs. His cock was hard and stiff, and he obviously intended more than a handjon. He lifted one of her legs up, exposing her pussy to his cock and thrust forward.

Sunset moaned. The feeling of penetration after so long was exquisite! Arminius’ cock filled her up, sliding into her pussy and shrouding her with a kind of deep, warm pleasure. His hips thrust forward and she found herself moving to match. Grunting and moaning, Sunset felt the man inside of her. Her clit pulsed, demanding more and more and more. The feeling took her breath away.

Arminius’ thrusts grew faster, pounding through her with an urgent need. Sunset’s pussy clenched about his cock, its back and forth motion fogged her mind with arousal. She was breathing fast and hard, one of her hands rose to tease her chest as ripples of delight spread through her body.

For the next few moments, she knew only pleasure. Arminius was a demanding lover, not delicate or gentle, but constant. Her nerves cried out, screaming with pleasure as he thrust and penetrated her womanhood. Her body shook, convulsions of delight dancing down her spine. Her back arched, and Arminius’ hungry thrusts became faster and faster.

Varus was not done, however. Now that he had had a chance to recover, Sunset felt him moving behind her. His hands pried apart the cheeks of her ass, and she felt something cold and slippery poured there. Varus started to rub in the lubricant, the feeling was almost sensual, his hands moving back and forth as Arminius continued to fuck her. She squeaked, feeling Varus’ cock press against her back entrance.

And then the two were taking her together. She was pinned, trapped between the two men. A cock in her pussy and one in her ass. It felt intense, boiling, heated and naughty. She’d never quite done this before, but she knew what to do. Each thrust tore a moaning gasp from her mouth, she felt herself being penetrated from both sides. Her ass was tight, and Varus moaned with pleasure, throwing himself forward to bury his shaft inside of her.

Meanwhile, her pussy clenched about Arminius’ manhood, and the barbarian warrior made a deep grunt of appreciation. Pleasure boiled up inside of her, fogging her body and clinging to her mind. Each thrust from one of the men sent trembles racing down her spine. Her toes curled, her heart beat fast, and spikes of ecstasy cracked through her nerves.

Sunset climaxed for the first time then, sandwiched between the two men. But it would be far from the last. Arminius reached his own peak a moment later, and his cum filled her pussy. It dripped down her legs, and she threw her head back as the wave of heat and ecstasy scorched through her being.

It took a bit longer for Varus to climax, but he did as well, filling her ass with his seed. But that was only the start of the night, and Sunset led the two men onwards with her body and with a carefully selected mixture of words and sultry looks. She used her appearance, her skills, everything that she had been taught to fuck the men again and again again. She did it until she was tired, until both of them were spent. Until she felt like she had never given more of herself to her task.

Eventually, it was over. Varus was sleeping deeply on the sofa, his face contented and yet smug.Arminius lay on the second in a tangle of limbs. Sunset lay on the ground, her chest rose and fell as she tried to catch her breath.

She did not know how long she had spent pleasuring the two men. Only that her body was now aching. Her chest was rising and falling. She felt totally used up, and spared a silent thanks for the medical herbs which would prevent conception.

Shakily, Sunset rose to her feet. She was still breathing deeply, feeling the dragging fingers of exhaustion as they tried to lure her to sleep. She resisted it, knowing that she still had work to do but before she did.

To her surprise, she realised that she was not the only one awake. Arminius’ eyes had flickered open as she rose, and he was watching her carefully. She gestured towards the balcony which overlooked the sea and he nodded. Together, the two of them crept as far from the sleeping Varus as they could.

Outside, the air was brisk and cold. The cries of gulls were silent now, for it was late at night but she could hear the lapping of the tides and taste the salt in the air. She shivered, still naked but for her collar.

Arminius had crossed his arms.

“Your performance was impressive,” he said. “But now is it finally time to talk face to face?”

She blinked, confused.

“Performance, lord?”

“Do not think me a fool,” The dark-haired warrior grunted. “You are Hadrian’s bed-****, not some common whore. Even if he felt the need to send entertainment to us, it would not be you. You have come for a different reason.”

For a moment, Sunset considered lying. Sticking to the idea that Hadrian had sent her just for their pleasure. But the look on his face killed that idea. Arminius was not a man who would suffer foolishness, and he already had a read of the situation.

“You are right,” Sunset carefully chose her words. “I would not normally be sent. Another girl would be dispatched. In this case, however, I requested that it be me.”

“Really?” Arminius raised an eyebrow. “And your master allowed that?”

“He thinks that I am spying on you for him,” she admitted. A thrill of danger coursed through her body. She was playing games upon games now, and she felt like she was running on a thin sheet of ice. Any moment it could crack and she would plunge to a cold and lonely ****. “I told him that I would report back on whatever you said or did. So that he would have something to use against his enemy.”

“Against Varus,” Arminius said. “I see. And are you prepared to do that?”

“I don’t understand…”

“Don’t pretend stupidity,” he turned his back on her, gazing out over the beach. “You are not Rovanii, but that does not matter a great deal. Plenty of their slaves are broken into loyalty. I was asking if you are one of those.”

Sunset said nothing for a few moments. Her heart was beating faster. A sense of danger gripped her. Both of them were naked, but Arminius was a massive bear of a man. She had no doubt that if she answered incorrectly, he could kill her with only his fists.

But what was the right answer? If Arminius was loyal to Varus, then the correct thing to say was that she was also loyal to Hadrian. A good little Rovanii ****. On the other hand, Arminius had now implied that he was not loyal to Varus. In which case, if she was loyal to Hadrian that made her a problem for him.

“I serve myself,” Sunset said as cooly as she could manage. She tested each word, going over it in her mind before she ever allowed it to enter her mouth. Even one wrong step could be the end here. “My own survival. A barbarian **** in Rovanii lands has no rights.”

“That’s not an answer,” Arinius noted. He looked away from the bay and back to her. “You are Keltoi.”

“That’s right. You are Germanii.”

He gave a hollow laugh.

“By technicality. I have not been in Germanii lands proper for nearly sixteen years now. As a child of eight, I was taken along with a dozen others to Rovan. There to be raised by the Rovanii for the sake of the future.”

“What happened to the others?”

“Many things. Few of them pleasant. Suffice it to say that only I remain. I met expectations. Became what they wanted. A tamed barbarian willing to turn upon his own kind. As you say, a barbarian in Rovanii lands has few rights and requires powerful friends.”

“Varus?”

“He is the latest such friend, yes. But there were others before. Each consumed with their own ambition. Their own desires. Each with their own enemies and each one each facing their own downfall in turn.”

“A downfall that you caused?”

He looked at her, giving a grin that was at once both exciting and dangerous.

“Of course not. I am a loyal friend to the Rovanii. They raised me far away from my people, and treated me like the finest of pets. I would never betray or hurt them. But if it just so happens that those who I got close to tended to meet bad fates…well, that was just unfortunate luck.”

He gave a small chuckle.

“The Rovanii believe that they alone can play the game of knives and words. That a barbarian like I could never be a politician. Let them believe that. It is…useful. I became a soldier because it was the only role in which a barbarian would be allowed to excel, and eventually my talents came to the eyes of Varus. A man consumed with his own imperfections.”

“My master Hadrian, he said that Varus was a fool,” Sunset prodded carefully. “Someone who only managed to rise as far as he has because of powerful friends.”

“Aye,” Arminius agreed. “That is true enough. Varus has friends on the senate who want to use him. He wants to be a hero because that will get him influence and among the Rovanii, influence is power. It’s as good as a title. But their relationship can only end in betrayal and both of them know it. For now they are aligned, but that will change if he is successful.”

“If?” Sunset pursed her lips. “The way he presented it during the party, Varus seems to think that he already has been successful.”

Arminius gave another grin.

“And now we come to the crux of the matter. What you have been building towards. You wish to know what will happen with Varus. Once we march away from this city. Once he has his legions. You want to know how the future will change.”

She said nothing. Sunset could sense something in Arminius’ words. A lingering trace of an emotion she could not quite place.

“Do I tell you? If I do, will you report my words? There is time yet to alter course. If it got back to the right ears, the Rovanii could yet be saved.”

“What do you mean?” She asked slowly. Not sure if she had understood him at first. “By the Rovaii, you mean…?”

“Varus of course,” he said with a smile that did not quite reach his eyes. “Nothing more. Suffice it to say that once he marches away from these walls, Varus will never march back. Not to Celentium and not to any other city of the Rovanii.”

“You will kill him?”

“He will die. By my hand or someone else’s. What is your name?”

“Sunset,” she was surprised that he had even bothered to ask. Arminius shook his head.

“Not that name. The one you were born with. Who were you before you found the Rovanii?”

“C-Ciara. I was Ciara.”

“I see. Ciara. Now it is time for you to make a choice. I have already told you enough that if you report it back, you can seal my doom. I would ask you not to do this.”

“You want me to stand back and allow Varus to die?”

“I expect you to do that. Varus is the enemy of your master, after all and the Rovanii do not know loyalty among themselves. His **** will only help Hadrian. However, if Hadrian learns about my schemes, my own **** will surely not be far behind. Like you, I merely wish to survive.”

A trill of danger coursed through her body. Sunset looked up into Arminius’ eyes.

“If I was going to tell him… would you kill me to prevent it?”

“No,” Arminius looked back towards the ocean. “I have no desire for the blood of kin to stain my hand. You are Keltoi and I am Germanii. The connection is faint, but present. Your **** would bring me sorrow.”

“Why?” She surprised herself by asking. “We do not know each other. We have never spoken before. I could be your enemy.”

“You could be, but that would be your choice. Make no mistake, Sunset. I am not a nice person. Not a gentle man. I have killed and will kill again. That man in there, Varus, he trusts me with his life. It is a trust I intend to betray. But I will not kill you for we share but the faintest, most distant connection. And yet you are the closest thing to kindred I have seen for sixteen years.”

Sunset was floored. She had not expected such an answer and for a moment she found herself struggling to figure out how to respond.

“Make your choice,” Arminius went on. “Think carefully on it. If you feel you must tell your master…that is unfortunate but I will not stop you. Hadrian will not stop my hand before it slays his rival, so Varus will die regardless of anything else. After that…well, the future is not yet upon us and the dawn of a new age is often not an easy one.”

“The dawn of a new age?” Sunset questioned him. “What do you mean by that?”

“It is a thought. A dream. For as long as I have known, the Rovanii have been invincible. Unstoppable. They are not seen as a civilization but almost as a natural ****. They can be fought, but they are never beaten. They can lose battles, but never wars. This is the mode of thought which seems to dominate the world. The Rovanii conquer and all others merely endure.”

He turned to look at her again, his eyes were deep and piercing.

“What would happen if they suffered a defeat they could not walk back? If that sense of invincibility was cracked? Would their enemies then be so quick to crumble and despair? Would they ever enjoy that same kind of supremacy once more?”

He shook his head.

“Nevermind me, Sunset. I am merely dreaming. It does not matter right now. Leave this place as I know you must and report to your master. Tell him that I said nothing or tell him everything that I said. The choice falls upon you, and I cannot influence it. Either way, go with my blessing.”

_______________________________________________________________

“I see.”

Hadrian’s face looked severe as Sunset reported back to him several hours later. She had taken the time to bathe herself, as well as to snatch an hour of rest before meeting once more with her master. Avanicus stood in the corner. The gladiator’s arms were crossed, and his face was carefully blank.

“And Arminius said all of those things?”

“He did, master.” Sunset inclined her head. She felt a bitter taste welling up in her mouth. Was it a betrayal to give up a man she had never known? Perhaps Arminius did see them as connected, but she did not have to agree. She knew that Ciara, the woman who she had been, would have seen this as the most monstrous thing to do.

But Sunset was torn. Her loyalty conflicted. There was a bond between herself and Hadrian now, a connection she could not ignore.He had made her and shaped her. Taken Ciara and reforged her into someone else.

Without Hadrian, there would be no Sunset.

And yet even so, saying the words stung. She felt as if she was dragging a blade through her own gut with each sentence. Hadrian sat and listened as word by word and moment by moment, Sunset reported back everything that she had heard.

When she was done, silence fell. No one spoke. Not Sunset, not Hadrian and Not Avaniucs in the corner. At last, Sunset looked up to see her master’s fave and dared to voice a question.

“What will we do now?”

“That I am still working on,” Hadrian told her. “In a sense, this solves everything. Varus will never return, and never make good on his threats. He is a dead man walking. In another sense, a far greater problem is looming out of the shadows. This man…Arminius…he is not as he first appeared. I thought him a crude barbarian. A tough fighter, but of minimal danger beyond that. This does not seem to be the case.”

He turned, stalking across the room. He was not angry as he had been when he first learned about Varus, Sunset realised. That was because Varus had been an insult. Someone who should have been far below him who dared to rise and cause trouble.

But Arminius was something else. Hadrian was focused, intent, and very wary. He was treating him as a real enemy. Someone who had to be carefully manipulated.

“We could kill him,” Avanicus said. “Once he has dealt with Varus, Arminius must die as well.”

“That goes without saying,” Hadrian agreed. “The question is how. The killing will not happen within the walls of the city. So it will be beyond the border, where Varus is surrounded by his own men. Logic tells me that Arminius cannot expect to slay him and survive. Yet I do not believe those were the words of a man who intends to die.”

“You see him as a threat, master?” Avanicus asked. “The barbarian?”

“I do not see him as one, he is one.” Hadrian turned a sharp look upon the gladiator. “He spoke with charisma, and knows how to win battles off the field fo war as well. Do you remember what he told Sunset? Everyone who has ever helped him has died for us and yet he himself has never been suspected. That means that he is smart, and moreover, that he does not expect to die this time either. Not only that…”

Hadrian trailed off.

“His final words concern me. About the Rovanii and the end of our supremacy.”

Avanicus scoffed.

“I don’t see how he could achieve that in a thousand years! Not some lone barbarian out on his own.”

“Nor do I,” Hadrian admitted. “And this worries me greatly. Arminius is not a man who makes empty boasts. If he says it, it means that he thinks he might be able to do it. And as he cannot do it alone, I am **** to assume that he is not acting alone. He could be a rallying symbol. A future warlord. He was taught by us, learned Rovanii tactics and strategies. If that man ever linked up with our enemies, it would cause us a great deal of pain.”

“Enough to break out hold on the world?”

“No. Not that. Never that. But it might be costly and that is a thing to be avoided.”

Hadrian nodded to himself, as if he had come to a decision.

“Both Varus and Arminius must die. Varus first, at the hands of his lieutenant and then Arminius at the hands of my agent. That agent will be you, Avanicus.”

The gladiator blinked in surprise.

“Me? My lord, I am a good fighter and I can kill like no one else, but I am not sure if I can be subtle enough to do what you want.”

“There will be no need,” Hadrian allowed a grim smile. “I will use my contacts, have you hidden among one of the Legions that Varus is commanding. However he plans to escape, Arminius is relying on confusion. With their commander suddenly dead, the army will be consumed with chaos for a few hours as they sort out what has happened. During that time, Arminius intends to slip away, I know it. You will prevent that.”

“You want me to kill him myself?”

“Only if you must. Far more likely, you will merely have to point suspicions in his direction. As a barbarian, he will already not be well liked. Simply ensure that the period of confusion that Arminius is relying on is shorter than he expects and that alone will be enough.”

“I see,” Avaniucs nodded slowly. “I am not a soldier, my lord, but I can play one for a little bit. I will see your enemy dead.”

“Good,” Hadrian said. “Your loyalty is beyond question as always. Allow Arminius to deal with Varus and then see Arimius himself stricken down. When you return, I will reward you greatly for your service.”

He turned, stepping towards Sunset.

“And as for you, my Sunset. You have proven your loyalty beyond a doubt. You are beyond worthy to be my bed-**** and my partner as well. If I had any doubts at all, this night has removed them. Your future will be bright at my side.”

Sunset smiled, her heart beating with pride at his words. But even so, a small part of her knew that she would forever be sorry that those words were earned in this way. She had liked Arminius and felt guilty that she would be the cause of his ****.

But at the end of the day, it was all about survival. Ciara might have been able to go home, but Sunset had no home but here. She was of Celentium, and her connection to Hadrian could not be denied.

She would mourn him, but keeping his secrets had never truly been an option.

________________________________________________________________

A week later, Varus led the first of his legions - three in total - beyond Celentium. His intention was a probing series of raids while the main bulk of his forces assembled at the city. However, as they crossed into Germanii lands, Arminius and the detachment of scouts which he led vanished into the forest.

Once beyond the sight of the legion, they joined forces with several Germanii tribes who had been contacted via trusted messengers. Taking command of his new army, Arminius directed them to surrounded and envelope Varus’ legions.

The battle was fierce and bloody, but ultimately, Hadrian was proven right to worry about Arminius’ ambition. The legions were destroyed, and all men within them assumed killed. Varus himself was cut down and buried in a shallow grave.

The Rovanii had not suffered such a defeat in living memory, but Arinius knew that he had little time. They would recover, and strike harder for this defeat. Before that happened, he needed to have somewhere defendable, with strong walls.

Naturally, his attention turned towards the nearest city.

Celentium.

But that is a different story.