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The previous night

Through the flas, through a sea of bobbing heads, Oppius could still see the precious, gleale nested in the sacellum, a sacred shrine dedicated to the standard Even in the safety of the Roman encampment the standard bearer tried to keep an eye on the seionaries to be awarded the honour of serving as an aquilifer - a standard bearer Lucius so however, owing his duty to protecting the standard rather than fighting alongside his friends and cole had tasted blood a couple of tilory-hunter, or just plain le&039;s beak and talons as the aquilifer had fought off the barbarians Oppius was honour bound to sacrifice his life rather than the standard

His attention was taken away from the shrine when Teucer handed him a plate, with a charred piece of venison on it Oppius drained half his cup of wine and poured the remainder over his plate, to soften and moisten the meat At the same time however he watched Roscius down his cup in one and quickly refill it

"You should pace yourself Roscius We have a long day ahead toe forever euts over the side of the boat," Teucer re would probably fall on deaf ears As their General often exclaimed that "Caesarand killing o weak at the knees, it&039;ll be due to sick sickness rather than any hangover," the hulking legionary replied, wine dribbling down his stubbled chin "If ills"

"I remember the last time when you eak at the knees, when you fell for that whore in Massilia," the Briton re of watered down acetuirl I also nearly lost a aveat his own joke

"So what is Britain like Teucer?" Marcus Fabius asked, when the laughter had died down Marcus Fabius was a teenager, a new recruit He was the son of a merchant who had once been Oppius&039; centurion, when the standard bearer was a raw recruit himself The elder Fabius had asked Lucius to keep an eye on Marcus The youth&039;s ambition was to be a poet, but the father had entered the son into military service "I want to put some steel into his soul I just don&039;t want so some steel between his ribs" Coe his features and innocence "The eneht you lad," Roscius had co adolescent

"There are parts of reen and lush but that&039;s partly because it rains so much The people can be friendly, especially when they&039;ve had a drink or two Yet my people can also be violent, especially when they&039;ve drunk toobetween theht just unite the usually fractious tribal leaders Caesar must aim to divide and conquer He also needs to avoid a pitched battle on open ground, as the eneht pick us off in a piece at his venison in an equally piecemeal fashion

"And what of your people? What are they like?" Fabius asked, his eyes filled with curiosity, although his heart was soe barbarian race

"My people can be proud, rapacious, ignorant, brave and noble - in short, they are much like everyone else Marcus"

"But will you consider the toruffly asked

"No, but I&039;ll still knohich side I&039;m on, don&039;t worry about that Roscius A Briton will still receive an arrow in his front, as opposed to a Roh, I believe I will also be fighting for my homeland and its people still I have little doubt that Rome will subdue Britain eventually - and unfortunately that subjugation may well be bloody, as our experiences in Gaul have proved But it alsoRome will tax Britain and mine it for its tin and take a share of the harvest, but in return ill receive laws, security, increased commerce and advances in the arts and sciences Tin and corn are a fair trade for a more civilised society"

His voice was clear and confident, but Oppius couldn&039;t help but notice how the Briton appeared troubled, or pained, as he spoke