Soldier of Rome: The Centurion (The Artorian Chronicles) by James Mace Page A

activity as one of the legionaries returned with a team of medics from the hospital just as Praxus and Rufio returned. Magnus was also standing in the doorway with a large group of legionaries. The medics ignored the rest of the men and immediately began to work on the injured soldier.
    “Shit,” Magus said quietly as he stared at the slain Centurion. “Well done!”
    “Sergeant Magnus!” Vitruvius barked. “You will place Optio Artorius under arrest on the charge of murder. Take him to the guard house at once.” Magnus looked over at Artorius and was immediately berated by the Centurion. “At the double, damn you!”
    Artorius gave an affirmative nod to Magnus, who swallowed hard and signaled for several legionaries to come with him. The two men’s gazes met, and the Norseman did not know whether to be elated at the death of the hated Centurion or terrified for his friend. Vitruvius followed them out into the night, his heart breaking at the sight of his friend and protégé being marched to the guard house by the very men whose lives he had possibly saved. It was a gross injustice, but he knew there was nothing they could do about it.
    “Vitruvius.” The Centurion was startled out of his thoughts by Praxus, who stood right next to him, his face full of vexation. “What the hell happened?”
    “That is for the courts to decide,” Vitruvius replied as he marched off into the blackness.
     

Chapter IV: Soul Forged
    ***
    Diana approached the gate of the fortress at Cologne. She had never been to Germania, and though the province fascinated her, it was not what she wished to see. For Diana Procula was finally taking a journey for herself and not on the whims of others.
    She was taller than most women, with strong shoulders and extremely powerful legs, molded on years of horseback riding. Though well muscled, she was at the same time very femin ine, her stunning face and deep-set grayish blue eyes masking her strength. She wore a form fitted tunic and high cut riding breaches, with a legionary gladius strapped to her hip. Between her attire and with her shoulder length hair dyed a dark blonde, one would almost mistake her for a German or Gaul, rather than a Roman noblewoman.
    She stopped her horse just shy of the g ate. Two legionaries from the First Legion, Germanica, were on duty. She dismounted and walked towards the men.
    “Good day, ma’am,” one of the men said. “If you’re wishing to enter the fortress, you’ll have to check your horse in at the stables, just inside the gate. Also, no weapons are allowed inside.”
    “I see,” Diana replied with a sigh.
    “Who are you here to see, miss?” the other soldier asked.
    “Optio Artorius,” she replied. “He’s with the Third Cohort of the Twentieth Legion.”
    “Artorius…” the first legionary said while thinking for a moment, his face suddenly brightening. “Oh sure, I know who he is! He’s Valeria’s Legion Champion . He has been for a few years now.”
    “Isn’t he the one who got himself into a spot of trouble recently?” the other soldier asked, causing his companion to smack him in the stomach with the butt of his javelin.
    “Excuse me?” Diana asked, suddenly concerned. She had not received word from Artorius for several months now. They had written sporadically to each other since his return from Gaul, but he had never mentioned any trouble.
    “Sorry ma’am,” the first soldier replied. “Something we can’t talk about…um, is there anyone else here you know?”
    “Yes,” Diana replied, suddenly agitated. “Centurion Valerius Proculus is my cousin.”
    “Oh , of course!” the first soldier said quickly. “He’s one of the Primi Ordinones of the Twentieth. Here, I’ll show you how to get to his house…uh, you still need to leave your weapon here, ma’am. Most sorry for the inconvenience.”
     
    The fortress at Cologne was huge, especially since it housed two entire legions. The long rows of century billets were