Chapter 14


Lucius walked up the steps into the senate hall. He was called there by the senate to speak for his actions. Lucius neither feared the senate nor did the senate fear Lucius. So many thoughts were going through his head he was worried that he wouldn't be able to say anything when he was in front of the senate.

He passed the two guards and entered the hall. There he was motioned onto the platform so that people could ask questions. He walked fearlessly, very soldierly like onto the platform. He turned around so that the podium was in front of him and waited.

If there was muttering when was approaching the platform, then the hall was dead silent now.

The first senator spoke. "Lucius, why did you allow many of Romes sons to die without cause?"

Lucius said nothing. Hate was burning in his heart.

The first senator spoke again. "Do you disrespect me? What have I done to you that you let my own son, get ambushed in a forest?" There was sorrow in his voice, he sat down before he almost broke down in tears.

The leader of all the senate spoke. "Lucius you are to answer the questions you are given, otherwise we will throw you out."

Lucius looked at that man, and nodded. "Senators, when I left for Dalmatia, I was given a task. Go to war with Epieros and destroy them. I was named Consul of Legio I and i was allowed full control of the army, its tactics and movement. I fought hard in many battles to ensure Roman victory. I was careful with our boys and sought out safety for them. Now let me ask you! Why did I receive a letter from Rome stating its orders to march on the Eporites? My men were exhausted and the Eporites were many! Why did Quintus Amelius demand that advance on them? Since when does the senate send orders like those? What idiot allowed thousands of Legionaries to die needlessly?"

The hall was now completely silent. Then there was an uproar! The senators stood up and waved there fists and yelled. No one could make out what had happened.

"Order! Silence! Men of Rome!" The leader of the Senate spoke. "Lucius I assure you that we have sent no such orders. Neither did we ever plan to.

"That is a lie!" Lucius yelled back at him. There was grumbling among the senators.

Lucius got of the podium, and walked over to the Senator and pulled out the orders that he received.
The senator read them quickly and terror flooded his face. He looked up at Lucius and kept reading. After he was finished he was speechless for a moment. He too had lost a son in the battle.

His voice shaking and loosing authority, the senator spoke. "We did not send this."

"Then who did?!" Lucius now enraged. "Where is the traitor of Rome?"

"I don't know. It doesn't make any sense." He replied.

"I have never wronged Rome, and never plan to. That letter proves my innocence!"

By this time the Senator had read the orders and shown the seal of senate to some of the men. There was so much confusion going on that no one noticed Lucius leaving the hall. When they did realize that he left they discussed what they should do. They all agreed that another Legion would be raised under his command and that he would sail back to Dalmatia to continue his conquest.