Authors note:

For those of you who have taken an interest in, favored or requested alerts for this story
I heartily thank you. You have made this my most popular story this far. In appreciation of your support I give you this scene by way of introduction to the sequel which I have just begun posting. Think of it as a sort of Bridge between ‘All Roads lead to Rome’ and ‘When in Rome be like the Romans’. It is un-beted since I originally had something else in mind but this worked out better. It is short, a teaser really, but I hope you enjoy it anyway.

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Shadows in the Night

It was the darkest watch of the evening. Horse and rider were nothing but darker shadows slipping through the wood. It seemed the sullen moon was the only witness to their passing. Cloaked in shadows the young man rode astride his noble steed with confidence. In broad daylight the same could not be said. The fact was, Claudius was ugly; mis-formed from birth.

His eyes were overlarge and glassy the lids drooping to shield them. His muscles spasmed unpredictably and mouth gaped slightly. When excited or nervous the moisture from it glistened on his chin. In the daylight everyone knew him to be a simpleton, an idiot. Even the woman who birthed him declared him a monster.

For all that, he dressed well, as befit his station. For, regardless of his many infirmities, there was one at least who saw value in him. And that one, His elder brother, was one of the most important figures in Rome. True, after their father had died in battle, the emperor had compelled Uncle Tiberius’ to adopt his brother Germanous into his household as a potential heir to the Imperial throne. While Claudius’s fate had meant being passed off to his maternal grandmother who, in turn, left to the not so tender tutelage of an oxheard--directed to teach him discipline as he would for any of his other beasts.

Even so, his dear elder brother never forgot him. So Claudius wore tunics of the finest weave, carefully embroidered in silver and gold. The horse he rode would be quite at home in the emperor’s stables, and had in fact lodged there on many occasions. And when Germanous needed a messenger of unquestioned loyalty to convey a message on extreme importance it was Himself, and no other the man turned to.

Claudius’s hand caressed the small pouch secreted in the folds of his tunic to reassure himself that the rolled parchment was still there and turned his horse back onto the road. It was not far to the Kushrenada estate and with luck he would arrive with the dawn. Having his business concluded in secret. If not he would be expected to wait his turn with other petitioners as the great lord conducted daily business of his estate. The thought made him uncomfortable. But it was no terrible hardship when conducted at his brother’s behest. And Treize himself never abused or disparaged him as so many other nobles had.

So lost in his reflections Poor Claudius had not noticed other shadows concealed in the night. The enemy set upon him with the alacrity of a professional and his world was eclipsed in blackness. The last thing his numbed mind registered was his body sliding from the saddle. Rough hands searched his body for that hidden missive and consciousness left him.

--------------- notes,

Claudius and Germanicus are both notable Historic figures.

The elder brother is considered one of Rome's most beloved generals. By an interesting tangle in the family tree, he was related to six Roman Emperors and indirectly to two more. His maternal grandfather was none other than Mark Antony, right hand man of both Julius and Octavian Cesar. Augustus was his three times over grandfather. First by blood. Next as noted in the text by being adopted by the emperor’s step-son the future Emperor Tiberius. Germanicous became Agustus's grandson a third time by marrying the emperors granddaughter. There was no question Germinicous was to succeed to the throne.

But it didn’t happen.

He died under suspicious circumstances at the age of 35 and a very bloody period in history followed. His Emperor/uncle/stepfather, Tiberius, was suspected of having him poisoned. After him Germanous’s eldest son became emperor. History knows him by the name Caligula. After a very messy bout of political infighting and political intrigue most of the royal family was killed. Who was left standing at the end of it all? Brother Claudius did what his illustrious brother could not. He ascended to the throne and ruled till AD 54. It was a bloody and war torn era that likely could have been avoided if Germanous had lived. I expect you can see why I think Treize would have been drawn into situation; they were kindred spirits after all.