Soldier of Rome: The Centurion (The Artorian Chronicles) Read Online Free PDF Page B

shoulders, inflating it to even bigger size. His chest was large and his back ripped with muscle, all tapering into a normal-sized waist. Jutting out from his waist was a pair of thick and well-defined legs. What he lacked in height he more than made up for in size and power. Only Centurion Vitruvius and the Norseman, Sergeant Magnus, came close to matching him. All three had trained together at the Lugdunum gymnasium and each was his own icon of strength. All three required their tunics to be custom made, along with their armor.
    He decided to work his chest and shoulders this day. He made sure he properly stretched and limbered up his muscles, lest in his frustration he injure himself. He took a medium-sized boulder and while lying on a bench he went through a series of presses. He then took a pair of the handled metal balls and used them to stretch and strengthen his chest. Boulders of increasing weight were pressed overhead to add size to his shoulders, while he took a pair of the heaviest weights and let them hang from each hand while shrugging his shoulders. It felt good as his muscles burned.
    “You could have come and got me first , you know!” Centurion Vitruvius’ booming voice interrupted his thoughts, and he almost dropped the weights.
    “Sorry, I had to burn off some aggression first,” he replied without sounding apologetic. Vitruvius removed his tunic, revealing a taller, though almost equally well-muscled body. He leapt up and grabbed the bar and started to repeatedly pull his body up, working his back muscles. He then dropped to the ground and addressed his former protégé.
    “If it’s about the new Pilus Prior, I understand.”
    “At least you have command of your own century,” Artorius replied, dropping the weights. “You don’t have to answer to some pompous ass that has never had to draw his blade against the enemy.”
    “Yes, not a good situation to be in,” the Centurion agreed. “To go from having Macro and Proculus to…well to be honest, I’m not sure what.”
    “I don’t know,” Artorius grunted as he hefted an even greater sized boulder over his head. “ I just hope that our fears are unfounded and things won’t be so bad. After all, Macro and Proculus could not stay with us forever. Perhaps we should give their replacements a chance.”
    Vitruvius simply grunted as he walked over to where he had set up a pair of stone steps on a platform. There was a gap that was just large enough for a man to stand with his feet shoulder width apart. A large square block with a rope fixed to it sat in the hole. The Centurion squatted down, grabbed the rope in both hands, and proceeded to repeatedly lift the heavy weight out of the hole, his forearms, back, and legs threatening to tear through the skin as blood rushed to the engorged muscles. His face red from exertion, he dropped the block after several repetitions.
    “So how’s the family?” Artorius asked as he set a boulder down after working his shoulders. His former mentor was down on one knee, catching his breath.
    “Well enough,” Vitruvius replied. “Celia keeps me in line, and the boys are getting bigger and scrappier every day!” There was a broad grin on the Centurion’s face, which Artorius could not help but match. Vitruvius had married the daughter of a wine merchant soon after their return from Lugdunum. Though the family did a very respectable amount of business, in private, Vitruvius would complain that his father-in-law’s wine was overpriced and “tastes like mule piss!” Celia had born him twin sons, Marcus and Tiberius, the year before. It seemed like the two had learned to fight before they had even fully learned how to walk. They were always rolling on the ground, trying to beat each other, which their mother found appalling, especially since Vitruvius encouraged it.
    “And what a bout you?” Vitruvius asked. “No comely young lady that’s caught your attention lately?”
    “Eh, not for more than a