The downed Latin had just regained his feet when Titus rode up and drove his spear through the big man’s throat. Blood sprayed as he fell.
A great cheer went up from the watching Romans. They all moved toward Titus, congratulating him from their horses. The Latins, standing at the edge of their camp, looked on in sullen silence.
Over the merry ruckus, Titus called, “Let us take the defeated man’s armour so our comrades may know of our victory.”
A roar of approval answered his words. Once the armour was retrieved the scouting party rode away, leaving the enemy and their corpse behind.
Titus laughed and joked with his companions as they went. His cheeks hurt from smiling by the time they rode into camp. From the first moment they entered, …show more content…
“Where’s that armour?” he called, grinning once again.
The blood-splattered iron held together by leather straps was passed forward until he had it in his hands. Titus raised it up and yelled, “For Rome!”
They were still cheering as the tent flap shut behind him. At the far end the consul Manlius, the army’s commander-in-chief, sat behind a massive oak desk. He wore his magnificent breastplate of shining silver adorned with six wolf heads. His head was bare, revealing how much hair he had lost over the years. Wrinkles creased his forehead and the corners of his eyes.
Titus approached and stopped with a straight back. …show more content…
He swallowed to get rid of the lump forming in his throat. “The Latin insulted mother Rome. I was defending her honour, our honour. I thought you would – ”
“Outside. Now.”
Titus had to bite his tongue as they strode from the tent. The men were still gathered and more had come to swell their numbers. All were laughing and chattering lively. When they saw Titus emerge, another great cheer rippled through them.
Manlius held up his hands for quiet. When he had it, he spoke loudly and clear. “Titus Manlius, you have respected neither consular authority nor your father’s dignity. Such an undermining of military discipline cannot go unpunished. Soldiers, seize this man and bind him to the stake.” His words were followed by total silence. Titus could not believe it. His joy instantly turned to horror. His stomach clenched and his breath quickened as he stared at his father.
It seemed his fellow Romans were just as dumbstruck. No one moved or made a sound.
After a short moment, Manlius bellowed, “Do as your consul commands.”
This time a few men lurched into motion and moved to take Titus’s arms. His shock was so complete that he couldn’t even find his voice to
A great cheer went up from the watching Romans. They all moved toward Titus, congratulating him from their horses. The Latins, standing at the edge of their camp, looked on in sullen silence.
Over the merry ruckus, Titus called, “Let us take the defeated man’s armour so our comrades may know of our victory.”
A roar of approval answered his words. Once the armour was retrieved the scouting party rode away, leaving the enemy and their corpse behind.
Titus laughed and joked with his companions as they went. His cheeks hurt from smiling by the time they rode into camp. From the first moment they entered, …show more content…
“Where’s that armour?” he called, grinning once again.
The blood-splattered iron held together by leather straps was passed forward until he had it in his hands. Titus raised it up and yelled, “For Rome!”
They were still cheering as the tent flap shut behind him. At the far end the consul Manlius, the army’s commander-in-chief, sat behind a massive oak desk. He wore his magnificent breastplate of shining silver adorned with six wolf heads. His head was bare, revealing how much hair he had lost over the years. Wrinkles creased his forehead and the corners of his eyes.
Titus approached and stopped with a straight back. …show more content…
He swallowed to get rid of the lump forming in his throat. “The Latin insulted mother Rome. I was defending her honour, our honour. I thought you would – ”
“Outside. Now.”
Titus had to bite his tongue as they strode from the tent. The men were still gathered and more had come to swell their numbers. All were laughing and chattering lively. When they saw Titus emerge, another great cheer rippled through them.
Manlius held up his hands for quiet. When he had it, he spoke loudly and clear. “Titus Manlius, you have respected neither consular authority nor your father’s dignity. Such an undermining of military discipline cannot go unpunished. Soldiers, seize this man and bind him to the stake.” His words were followed by total silence. Titus could not believe it. His joy instantly turned to horror. His stomach clenched and his breath quickened as he stared at his father.
It seemed his fellow Romans were just as dumbstruck. No one moved or made a sound.
After a short moment, Manlius bellowed, “Do as your consul commands.”
This time a few men lurched into motion and moved to take Titus’s arms. His shock was so complete that he couldn’t even find his voice to