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"It's done," said Venator, his voice solees is safe"

Severus came and stood beside him "A pity the same can't be said for us"

Venator turned "If God grants us a se home, what have we to fear?"

"Torture and execution," said Severus flatly "We have defied the Eive easily There will be no place for us to hide in the En land"

"My wife and daughterthey were to meet me at our family villa at Antioch"

"The Eents have probably intercepted them by now They are either dead or sold into slavery"

Venator shook his head disbelievingly "I have friends in poill protect them until my return"

"Friends can be threatened and bought"

Venator's eyes widened in sudden defiance "No sacrifice is too heavy for e have achieved All would be for nothing if we did not return with a record and chart of the voyage "

Severus was about to reply when he observed his second in corade toward the tent The young legionary's dark face glistened in the noonday heat, and he was gesturing up at the edge of the low cliffs

Venator held up a hand to ward off the sun and stared upward His ht line

"The barbarians, Severus They have coe"

It was as if the hills swarmed with ants Over a thousand barbarian men and women stared down at the cruel intruders of their land They were armed with bows and arrows, shields of leather hide and spears with chipped obsidian points Soripped clubs of rock tied to short wooden handles The men wore only waistcloths

They stood in stony silence, expressionless, savage, and as o storm

"Another force of barbarians has massed between us and our ships!"