Chapter 425: Gabriel Arrives

"The scouts have seen movement. Magnus is on the move again." Octavius said with a grave tone. Looking into the distance, he took a deep breath and shook his head, "He made us wait too long. The men are out of the flow of war now."

"The casualties he took weren’t low. A week and a half is expected." Julius chuckled, "Any news on Cassius. Did he fall in the last battle or..."

"He was spotted alongside Magnus during their march. He must have hidden within one of the houses in the city during its final moments." Octavius smiled at the sight he envisioned of Cassius cowering in the corner. "I can’t even say he’s a coward for hiding. It was over a meaningless death. I just don’t know if I could have made the same choice, even if it was the right one."

"If you have to hide in a pig pen just to survive, I suspect you would do it, Octvaius." Julius said seriously, "If you can’t either kill Magnus or Julius, then I don’t want to hear a story of your glory. Battling to the bitter end with a broken sword. Reputation and such don’t matter in the face of survival."

Turning to look at Julius, he saw under the silver mask the scars littering half his face. Octavius didn’t know the exact truth of how Julius got the scars, nor did he dare ask. He didn’t doubt Julius believed his own words. The experiences he had been through, from being betrayed by his own father to not having a single sibling he could trust, had made him jaded and desperate. Octavius didn’t doubt that if he had to hide in a cart of manure to live, that Julius would do it.

"I’ll take your words to heart, Your Majesty. In the meantime, I have a location in mind." Julius smiled and followed Octavious to a nearby tent. Unfolding a map and laying it across the table, he pointed at a road that Magnus would have to take with an army as large as his. There was a series of small hills flanking the road, making it the perfect place to attack.

Octavius knew that Cassius would be on high alert marching through such an area, but there was nowhere else that would provide them with such an advantage. Julius stared at the map for a while, trying to catch up with Octavius afterwards.

"Are you confident in your victory here?" Octavius looked back down at the map and replayed the opening of the battle in his mind. Closing his eyes, he took a deep breath and opened them again.

"Of course, Your Majesty." Julius smiled and left the tent. Walking through the camp, many of the soldiers had placed numerous tables outside, along with one another. They had obviously been looted during the preparation for the defence of the city and taken back to be held by the reserve forces. How they transported them whilst marching, Julius had no idea.

Men sat shoulder to shoulder, happily drinking a wide variety of alcohol that had once again been lotted, as they happily chatted with one another. Julius had seen these men drunk more times than he had trained, and it annoyed him. He couldn’t help but think that this was Magnus’ plan by delaying his attack.

Jumping up from the table, Julius quickly caught the attention of every man. The chatter died down, and Julius walked along the tables, looking down at his men. Many had favourable impressions of him ,having seen him fight alongside them on the wall. Some had spoken to him about meaningless things, and others shared a drink with him.

They knew Julius left the city early during the siege, and whilst it left them unconfident at the time, they understood why he did it. He was the Emperor and the common soldiers. His importance was vastly more important. He had already fought alongside them once. They knew he wasn’t a coward.

"Men!" Julius shouted with a proud voice, his eyes scanning everyone in sight, "Today is the last day you will drink like this." His words caused his favourable opinion to drop slightly. Raising his hand to stop their chatter, he shook his head, "This is not a punishment, but because our enemy is coming. I know you are all hard sons of bitches." Julius couldn’t believe such crude words came out of his mouth, "And that is why I need you in top form. Ready to destroy our enemy, protect our homes and women. And fill our pockets with riches."

Men hit the bottom of their cups on the table, alcohol spilling out over the top as they did. Many nodded in agreement. "I don’t want drunken fools fighting, not knowing the arse from their hand. I don’t want to be embarrassed by the men who I believed could slay Khors himself. I need you all in shape, ready to prove you are worthy of your role as soldiers of Severia."

The bagging got louder as they all looked at Julius with respect. None of them hated being complimented, no less by their emperor. Julius nodded and raised his hands to stop them, "I promise you this. Some will die, maybe I will, maybe Octavius. We will not walk away unscaved. That’s why I will give you an incentive to live. When this war is over and Magnus Maximus is dead, we will march on his lands, and you all shall have your fill to plunder his home."

"You will not rape or murder whilst you do this, for we are civilised people, but any wealth or riches you find are yours to keep." The men smiled at the idea, and Julius could see he almost had them completely ready for the coming battle. "And then when we return to Antila, I promise you this. I will host the largest feast the world has ever seen. There will be so much alcohol that the Empire will run dry for a few months. And you shall have your share of booze and women then. You’re right at having won a war."

Julius passed and looked at them. "DO YOU STAND WITH ME!" Crying out, he looked at them. The soldiers grabbed their mugs and stood up, throwing their mugs into the air with a cheer. The alcohol that hadn’t spilt everywhere was quickly consumed as Julius jumped off the table towards Octavius.

"Let them drink today. Have them ready to march tomorrow. I want this war over in this battle, Octvaius. We are running out of time."

"Of course, Your Majesty. I expect nothing less."

"Good. Find me if anything important happens." Julius tapped his shoulder and walked back to his tent. Closing it up behind him, he took his mask off and sighed, falling onto the bed provided for him.

-------------------------------------------

Garbiel stood outside the Imperial Palace of Severia. With his entourage of Templars, he strolled in without care for the palace guards or the people in his way. They would move for him, not the other way round. People within the place peeked out the window at the sight below, wondering if they were seeing the church commit a coup whilst Julius was away, but as the Tempalrs didn’t attack anyone, they sighed in relief.

Gabriel raised his hand to stop most of the templars, only two following him inside. Stepping through the front door, Janus stood waiting with the Archbishop sent by Constance. "What is the meaning of this?"

Janus asked in a cold voice, wondering if a battle would break out. Gabriel reached behind his breast plate, making Janus freeze, but seeing him pull out a letter, he eased up. Taking it from Gabreil, he read through the contents and froze before smiling. "His Majesty will be pleased with this."

"Confirm the truth first. I will be around for a while. Use me as you see fit."

"His Holiness orders?"

"No, but I believe he thinks like this. He wouldn’t have sent me as a mere messenger otherwise."

Janus nodded and pocketed the letter. "I will prepare lodging for you and your men."