The Centurion - 22. Chapter 22

Chapter Nine:

The Rage of Revenge

Jason was awakened by the feel of Philip’s warm body joining him in his bed. “Morning, your majesty.”

Jason did not like being called that and looked for a way to make that clear to Philip. “Morning, C-5-7”

“Hey... You promised!”

“Don’t call me ‘your majesty’ then.” Jason laughed.

“I see... you are in a good mood this morning.”

Jason wanted to say he was always happy so long as Philip was with him, holding and comforting him, but he did not feel ready to say those words.

Concerned by the long silence Philip asked; “What’s wrong?”

Jason, afraid Philip would disappear like Melissa from his life, replied; “I hope the parade goes well.”

“As General Darius led the final attack on the Labyrinth Tower he has the right and privilege of having the main spoils from the war, you and your father’s skull, with him in the chariot. As I was the one who saved you, Darius has given me a spot in the chariot as his banner man. Then...” Philip began explaining while helping Jason to dress.

The parade went as expected, the fifteen thousand soldiers marching through the city gates, circling the market square, passing the Senate before reaching the Grand Hall of the Field Marshals. There, General Darius stopped the chariot, handing the reins to Philip before climbing the stairs to the grandstand. Next, Field Marshal Xavier left his fellow Field Marshals, heading down the stairs to meet the general.

That’s when the fighting started. Jason, from the bottom of the stairs, saw a scuffle at the top of the parade stand with Field Marshal Lukas literally jumping out of the box, two swords sticking out of his body. The white-armored Home Guards near the parade stood frozen in place as if in shock, not responding to what was clearly an assassination attempt.

For a while no one knew what had happened until a voice shouted from the grandstand, “Field Marshal Gorr is dead!”

As Gorr had been the leader of Darius’ men, a loud groan came from all of them. “Who did it?” General Darius demanded as he climbed up the steps to the top.

“Famulus!” one of the Home Guard shouted, holding the bloody rags of a black robe.

As word spread through the Eastern army, robed Famulus began to make themselves scarce, but it was not long before the Centurions went into a bloody rage.

Philip, while furious, kept his cool – if only for Jason’s sake. He did not want the young king to see the mindless carnage that was about to spread all over the city. Taking over the chariot, Philip sent the horses racing toward his home in the Centurion quarter. Luckily for him the Main Square was not clogged yet, giving him a free path away from the developing riot.

As soon as he arrived back at the house he pounded on the main gate till his Famulus servants opened it. “Shut the gates and bar them,” he ordered as he dragged Jason deeper into the house. He did not stop till he led Jason into a small windowless room, protected by a thick iron door.

“Stay here,” Philip ordered before leaving a frightened Jason.

Soon after Philip was gone, his mother, brother, and Jonathan joined Jason. “

What is going on, Philip?” Alex asked confused, when Philip came back.

“One of the Field Marshals has been assassinated by Famulus. The Eastern Army is going on a rampage killing anyone wearing black on sight.”

“But our servants!” Philip’s mother asked panicked.

“All I can give them is a painless death,” Philip said sadly.

“Do you need my help, Philip?” Alex asked.

“No... you are not a Centurion of age yet... I don’t want our Famulus’ blood on your hands.”

“What do you mean?” Jason asked panicked, held by Jonathan tightly to his chest. “Why are you going to kill your servants?”

“I’m sorry, Jason, I have no choice. Please explain it to him, Alex, even though I am sure he won’t understand. Sometimes I don’t

understand myself,” Philip said as he left.

“What is going on?” Jason demanded after the heavy iron door was closed and locked.

“The Centurions will be going from house to house killing any Famulus they find,” Alex replied.

“Why!” Jason asked, shocked.

“Because they killed a Field Marshal,” Alex said sullenly.

“Then they should punish only the guilty.” Jason insisted.

“In a just world, yes, but we are Centurions. We don’t distinguish the crimes of one from those of the group.” Alex said as he led Jason to the lounge chair in the corner of the room.

“But why is Philip killing his own servants?”

“Because he can kill them mercifully. If other Centurions get their hands on them... their deaths will be slow and painful,” Alex replied stoically while his mother cried.

“He should not be doing this!” Jason said as he made a dive for the door but was tackled by Alex, and the skull was knocked out of his hands.

“Jason... Philip put us here for a reason. He does not want us to see what he is going to do,” Alex said as he held Jason tight.

“But he should not be doing it. He promised me he would never kill again.” Jason cried, the skull ignored.

“Shhhhh... I know, Jason. You might want to learn our ways, and although you are not a Centurion, you are also not like any Legatio I have ever known,” Alex said as he lifted Jason up and rocked him in his strong arms. Jason continued to cry but no longer struggled. Alex held Jason tight, nuzzling against the back of his neck. Jason was so innocent, so naive, so unlike any of the other Legatio. Jason was what a Legatio was supposed to be... a person worthy of protection.

Feeling the desire to express love for the first time in years, Alex kissed the side of Jason’s neck. Jason responded by raising his neck higher, exposing more of it. Alex let his tongue run down Jason’s pale skin, leaving a wet smear.

“Jason... has anyone ever loved you,” Alex asked, between kisses.

“Loved me... no. I think Philip likes me though.”

“No... what I am trying to ask is has anyone made love to you?”

“Sex?” Jason asked, remembering that strange word.

“Yes... sex.”

“No...” Jason said embarrassed.

“Well I guess we have that in common. Neither have I.”

“I know,” Jason sighed as he felt Alex hug him tighter.

“You knew?”

“Yes... I saw the tattoos on your back. You don’t have the ones

Philip has.”

“Hahahaha... he is pretty proud of those marks.” Alex chuckled while his fingers explored Jason’s stomach, knowing that underneath the red robe Jason’s anima had to be glowing.

“Yes... but I still don’t know what sex is?”

Alex nodded in agreement. “Not sure how to describe it as I have never done it myself.”

“Why not?”

“I just want to be in love with the person I do it with,” Alex sighed as he kissed the top of Jason’s head.

“Is that not the way it’s supposed to happen?” Jason said as he slowly stopped crying.

“Not amongst us Centurions. Oh we do fall in love from time to time but it never lasts long... a battle, a war, while students at the Academy. Very few of us bond to another and even fewer get married to a woman,” Alex said.

“What is the bond?” Jason asked as he was lowered down on the lounge chair.

“It is when two lovers exchange their anima fluid,” Alex said as

he climbed up on top of Jason resting his head on his chest, his hand reaching down to where Jason’s anima fluid was stored.

“How do they get it out?”

“I’m not sure... it is sort of a secret. It is passed down to the Field Marshals. When two Centurions want to bond they go to their Field Marshal and they tell them how to do it.”

“Can a Legatio and a Centurion bond?”

“Yes they can, but it has never happened in the history of Domus.”

“Why?” Jason asked.

“Because a Legatio can bond only once in his life. Why would a Legatio bond to a person who will be dead within a few years,” Alex said with bitterness.

“Oh...” Jason said sadly.

“Yes... That is why it is sort of the ultimate expression of love for us.”

The way Alex was smiling at him and rubbing his stomach Jason knew what Alex was hoping for. “You want to bond to me?”

“I think both my brother and I would like to,” Alex smiled.

“Alex!” his mother shouted in surprise.

“Yes mother?” Alex laughed as he continued to hug Jason.

“Jason is Philip’s friend,” she reminded him.

“Philip is 32 years old... I’m only 20,” Alex pouted.

“Yes but...”

“It’s just an idea, mother. I don’t really think that Jason would give his bond to either of us,” Alex said matter-of-factly.

“I would like to give it to everyone,” Jason said honestly.

“I know. That is what makes you special.” Alex giggled as he reached under Jason’s robe and tickled his sides.

“Alex!” his mother said, not understanding why her usually stoic son was acting like he was some love-starved man.

“He is with a Legatio who was not raised on his people’s prejudices.” Philip’s voice came from the now open door. He was dressed in fresh white clothes but looked very tired.

Alex on seeing his brother jumped off Jason quickly as if caught stealing something that did not belong to him.

“Keeping my spot warm, Alex?” Philip grinned, going over to Jason only for the Legatio to pull away

“Now I don’t want the two of you to fight,” their mother warned as she left the room.

“We won’t fight... right, Alex?” Philip said with a wink.

“Duel?” Alex offered.

“Oh no... I already know you are better than I am,” Philip replied.

“You broke your promise to me Philip. I don’t want you two fighting over me.” Jason said worried. He then got off the couch and left.

“I won’t if Alex won’t,” Philip called after Jason.

“Then how will we tell who wins?” Alex asked confused, not understanding why Jason was upset. Having two Centurions fight over you was considered one of the highest forms of flattery.

“You don’t win a person by fighting off all your rivals.” Philip laughed.

“Then how?” Alex asked curious.

“It is a seduction. You draw in your love’s interest, like an opponent into the reach of your sword... taking a few steps back, forcing him to follow. Then when he least expects it, you move in closer to surprise him with a trapping blow that keeps him close to you.”

“So love is like a duel,” Alex said intrigued.

“Yes, but the goal is to keep the fight going as long as possible.”

“Why not just defeat him.”

“Well you could, but it would not be as much fun. How interested are you in dueling with an opponent you’ve already beaten?” Philip pointed out in terms that he knew his brother would understand.

“I see your point, but still, which one of us is going to pursue Jason?”

“I want to talk to you about that,” Philip said as he went over and closed the iron door.

“Well...?” Alex pressed when Philip did not speak up right away.

“Alex how old am I?”

“32...”

“Yes, 32. At best I have eight more years of life left. You are 20. When I die, you will only be 28 and have 12 more years to live. I also just broke my promise to Jason by killing our Famulus.”

“I know Legatio look at our killing as proof of us being less civilized than them but Jason couldn’t have really expected you to keep that promise? We are Centurions after all.”

“That is something I think I will never be able to get Jason to understand, that we live in a world where people are forced to take the lives of others just to survive. Now let’s go find Jason and tell him we won’t fight over him before he starts to wonder if we’ve killed each other,” Philip said as he patted his brother on the back.

They found Jason on the roof practicing with the quarterstaff, not showing any awareness of them. He was also showing remarkable improvement. His elbows didn’t lock up, his swings flowed more smoothly and he went from exercise to exercise at a much faster rate than before.

Philip gave Alex a wink and waved him over to the weapons stand, giving him a quarterstaff as well as taking one himself. The two

of them then went to either side of Jason.

Jason, as he went into the next exercise, was shocked when his

staff made hard contact with Alex’s staff. “Continue.” Alex grinned. Jason went to the next position, only to hit Philip’s staff.

“Continue!” Philip said excitedly.

Slowly at first but then faster, Jason continued his exercises meeting another staff with each move. It was like a three-person waltz as Jason, Philip, and Alex moved all over the practice floor. After Jason made his last move he burst into laughter.

“You are getting better!” Philip grinned as he tossed his quarterstaff aside and lifted Jason off his feet.

“You are almost ready to spar,” Alex agreed.

“I don’t think I am any match for the two of you.” Jason laughed as he hugged Philip back.

“Don’t worry... we will be real easy on you,” Philip said cheerfully but giving his brother a warning gaze. If there was one thing Alex never did halfway, it was sparring. Teaching Alex how to duel without wanting to defeat his opponent was going to be interesting.

“When can we?” Jason asked excitedly.

“How about tomorrow? My men will be coming by to celebrate coming home. They would love to see your sparring debut.”