The Hekamon Read Online Free PDF Page B

with him, the feebleness of the boy irritated him
immensely. To think Aegis was being lined up for the position of
kentarch. The leading officer of the militia. As such, the boy would
be leading men who had seen combat, fighting men, warriors, heroes.
Men like himself.
    "Move," he shouted up, and watched as Gregario
encouraged the laggard.
    While he waited for them, Decarius found his mind
wandering. He recalled the moment Volusia had told him she
was making him acting-kentarch, and how Aegis would take the command
from him when he came of age at twenty one. This was an honor, she'd told him, to hold the post until her son could take over. An
honor? To be no more than an interim leader and then replaced by
an imbecile. It was an insult. The only consolation being, that
Volusia's decision to prepare Aegis for promotion to such an
important position, had strengthened the feeling against her.
    "This is a lot of effort for a bag of old gloves."
Aegis said, struggling to climb down before making it to the ledge
below.
    What did he say?
    "They are the Plautius relic, don't speak of them
in such a fashion," Gregario shouted down from the column above,
giving Decarius a worried look. On seeing his expression, Gregario
called to him, and started hurrying down, "Decarius, stay calm."
    "Old gloves?" Decarius shouted, grabbing
Aegis. "The Plautius Gauntlets are the Eagle Standard of
Coralai, when it falls into enemy hands it brings shame on us."
He was incredulous, the boy spoke of them as though he would soonest give them
up.
    "I know that, it just seems a lot of effort, that's
all."
    "A lot of effort? One night through the Eyrie?"
Suddenly he was manhandling Aegis towards the precipice, and was in
his face, screaming at him, "Men have spent years and given
their lives defending this position." He was lifting the boy off
his feet, holding him over the edge. Did he have no honor? This
coward was going to be the leader of their militia? A boot to the
face and be over with it.
    "Decarius, stop," Gregario was shouting,
dropping down onto the ledge.
    Decarius'
mind raced with the possibilities. Why
can't I just throw Aegis off the mountain? Gregario would nobley take the blame, suffer the punishment and be
lauded for his sacrifice by all right minded people. A selfless act
for the good of Coralai.
    Volusia could be dealt with in other ways, with new plans formulated.
    "Decarius man, calm down." Gregario pleaded,
trying to pull him back from the brink.
    The swirling, strengthening wind joined the fray, and
Decarius thought it to be on his side, howling and grabbing at Aegis'
cloak. Feeling it too, the boy started screaming in terror, yet it
felt like the gale was dragging them all off.
    "Decarius this is wrong, you must stop, no good can
come from it." Gregario shouted, holding on to Aegis, wrestling
for control, pulling him back towards safety. "The mission is
paramount, we must not fail," Gregario said, his voice
threatening to be carried away by the wind, but the man's words had
proven forceful enough.
    He
had been set a task, he
must fulfill his mission .
Decarius relented and started to bring Aegis back to solid ground.
Once the boy had found his feet, the three of them moved closer to
the shelter of the cliff face. The boy huddled into a corner of the
cliff and Gregario placed himself between them, breathing hard,
staring at him and mouthing something. Decarius couldn't make out
what, but he didn't need to, the look said everything, and Gregario
was right. One more day, that was all.
    It was being at the Eyrie again. It had brought it all
back to him. The horrors of warfare and the disregard for human life. It was
contagious. He had to maintain control, he knew that, and looking at
his terrified young companion, realized he couldn't afford to break
what little spirit the boy had, or they would never get down. If
anything he would need to toughen him up, put some backbone in him.
    He moved closer and turned the boy's face to him.
    "Much