Read Online Empire Under Siege by Jason K. Lewis - Free Book Online

trust.”
    Turbis’s eyes reddened, his face flushing. “Sorry lad, sorry. You know I’m here for you.” He shook his head. “It’s the damned wine; fogs the brain. How’s your plan going?”
    “I think I have convinced the Emperor and the Senate that they shouldn’t kill all the captives,” Martius chewed his lip. “They are to be sold in the slave markets instead.”
    “Good, good. Bondage is better than death, surely? You will save many lives.”
    “Yes, but many will die in the mines, the quarries…” Martius did not want death for the savages captured at Sothlind. What honour was there in killing defeated men?
    “And many more will live, man. You cannot save them all. Do you think they would have shown us mercy if they’d won, eh?”
    Martius ran a finger slowly round the top of his goblet. “You know, when they invaded Selesia, they didn’t cause as much damage as we thought. The walled cities were passed by, left unmolested if they paid a ransom – in food.”  
    “But they destroyed the Twenty-first Legion outside of Veirian, didn’t they? They are barbarians. It’s all well and good you preaching all men are equal in the Empire, but barbarians?” Turbis looked wistfully at his empty goblet and shook his head. “You didn’t show them much pity at Sothlind, did you? ‘Kill the bastards’ I heard you say it, man.”
    “That was different. They were armed, they could defend themselves. Did you get a good look at them?”
    Turbis waved his bandaged arm. “I would bloody well think so. Yes!”
    “You know what I mean. The only reason they got as far as they did was because there were well over half a million of them. The scouts have reported that most who remain are women and children. They were poor, hungry and disorganised. They are not soldiers.”
    “You are growing soft, man. They killed thousands of our people, they deserve to be punished. Look at what happened to the Third and the Twelfth, not to mention the other legions. We were damned lucky to win.”
    Martius pursed his lips. “We were lucky to win, yes. But if we continue to rule by fear, we are doomed. Our dead cannot be replaced but if we exact a terrible revenge, no one wins, don’t you see? The Third and the Twelfth will be rebuilt.”
    “Not the Twelfth,” Turbis whispered.
    “What?”
    “The Twelfth will be disbanded.”
    “Don’t be ridiculous.” Martius frowned. “I should know – I do command the army.”
    “And the Emperor will command you to disband the Twelfth. They broke; he feels they are a disgrace.”
    “How do you know this?” Martius leaned forward, searching his friend for any sign of malice or deceit.  
    “Kourtes talked of it this morning at the temple. Apparently the Senate have voted on it too. All agree.” Turbis dropped his gaze, seemingly looking at his stump as it rested in his lap.
    Martius felt his blood pounding in his ears, hammering out in protest. “They broke, but I lead them. I should take responsibility and I should decide if punishment is warranted.”
    “You saved the day, though, and yourself in the process,” said Turbis. “You are immune, for now… The Twelfth are not so lucky.” Turbis’s eyes grew wide, a rivulet of sweat ran from his hairline down to his chin. “Gods dammit! I need more wine. Why should I have to tell you?”
    Martius tensed. “Tell me what?”
    Turbis wiped the sweat from his glistening forehead. “There’s something else.”
    “I know there’s something else, Turbis; for pity’s sake, what is it?”
    Turbis looked up, his eyes red. Martius thought he saw tears mingling with the sweat, but he couldn’t be sure. “Decimation.”

CHAPTER TEN
Conlan

    CONLAN’S HEAD ACHED, A dull reminder of the injury he had received at the battle of Sothlind. He had learnt to live with it in the weeks that followed. Alcohol couldn’t erase it; drinking just compounded the discomfort. This morning he had woken feeling grey and tired, his mouth a dry