…
“Sir, there are armed men outside the main gate!” The servant was wide-eyed and sweating when he finally reached
GeneralHankerchief. The increased commotion from the main gate had been growing for some time, but he had tried to ignore it. Despite all his suspicions and all his precautions, after the woman arrived he had truly begun to believe this would be a pleasant evening. She was not beautiful, per se, but there was something incredibly charming and sexy about her. She was not shy, that was for sure.
GeneralHankerchief was still (relatively) sober, but it was apparent he would not remain that way for much longer. He kept making a mental note to pace himself, lest the ability fade, even while the desire grew.
A loud shout broke his increasingly inebriated thoughts; something really was going on at the main gate. He looked at the servant. “WELL? In the name of Juno, what is it man?!”
The servant swallowed, “They stand in the night with torches blazing, not attempting to hide from us. They have been there for some minutes now, and have not uttered a single word, even though we’ve asked their business several times and ordered them to disperse.” His eyes strayed over to the woman before springing back to look at
GeneralHankerchief. “They are all holding gladii, sir.”
GeneralHankerchief looked over at the woman for a moment, and heaved a heavy sigh. He put down his wine goblet and stood, strapping on the blade that he had wisely kept nearby, even after she had arrived. “Tell the men to stay on guard, do not leave the villa, and do not unlock any door or window. No one is to enter this house until sunrise, no matter who it is!” The servant spun on his heels and ran off to report to the rest of the guards holding the front gate.
GeneralHankerchief turned and looked at his guest. “I apologize, but this is not a matter I can ignore, even for one such as you. Please,” he gestured to a servant at the back of the courtyard, “he will show you to the side door, you may leave from there. It is no longer safe for you here.”
…
…
They had locked themselves inside the secured storeroom, comfortable letting the guards deal with the men at the main gate.
GeneralHankerchief was irked, but not incredibly worried. He was in a secure, heavily guarded villa, locked in the most secure room, and he had an armed guard at his side. Together, they sat in silence, listening to the cries of battle coming from outside.
Suddenly, the guard slapped his hand to his eye and began to rub furiously. The man’s tunic was spattered with dust.
GeneralHankerchief looked up and saw a trail of fine debris falling from the ceiling. He opened his mouth to give a warning, but there was no need. The sound of breaking roofing tiles was loud enough for all to hear. The guard was still struggling to regain his vision when several men jumped through the holes, each of them clutching a gladius. The first one down drove his deep into the guard’s neck, nearly severing his head. The others moved on
GeneralHankerchief.
An increase in noise from outside the room told
GeneralHankerchief that the front was now being assaulted as well. His guards were distracted, they would not reach him in time. He swung his blade at the nearest foes and cursed them all as loud as he could, but there were too many men, and they were between him and the door. There was no escape.
GeneralHankerchief screamed a curse and the men and charged. He died fighting.
…
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