The Winged Serpent (The Order of the Oath) Read Online Free PDF

the room reached for the sky at his words, which suggested a host of meanings, but truly revealed nothing.
    “It is Aurora to you already?” Cornelia mocked, bitterness trickling through her voice. “First you, now my husband.” Cornelia raked her with cold eyes. “It would seem the whore has a voracious appetite.”
    “That is enough, Cornelia,” snapped Claudius, his tone firm. As unstable and crazed as Cornelia appeared, Aurora considered it a great feat this woman’s unhinged mind could even grasp she’d reached the end of her husband’s patience and it was best to restrain herself.
    From the way Cornelia’s eyes shifted erratically, brimming with anger, Aurora gathered the woman’s restraint would not hold for very long.
    “As Cyrus noted, I am certain you are quite adept at many things,” Claudius spoke directly to her, but with his jealous wife’s presence, he was subdued. The lust that had burned so openly in his gaze just moments ago was now nothing more than a dying ember. Aurora imagined her lusts would wane as well if she were wed to Cornelia. The woman appeared as cold and frigid as a Germanic winter.
    “But I would first have Cyrus judge your skills in the arena, before you discount yourself,” Claudius continued. “If you are found lacking in the arena, then I shall find another purpose for you—”
    “In the fields! I would have her toiling in the fields—”
    “Silence, Cornelia.” Claudius glared at his wife. “I shall decide where she serves this house, not you.”
    It was obvious Cornelia wished to protest, but the stern look upon Claudius’ face brooked no further argument.
    Claudius nodded to the guard who’d brought her to him. “Return her to her quarters.”
    He glanced at Cyrus. “When you have completed your training for the day, summon her. I would have you test your skills against her.”
    Cyrus did not look pleased, but he bowed his head out of respect.
    Aurora was then led from the room and returned to her quarters, which were now empty of Artemisia. She noticed upon her return, the house was fully awake, alive with the din of noise and the heavy tread of footsteps.
    Aurora drowned out the cacophony of sounds floating around her to reflect upon her assignment.
    Her mission was to secure her place within the House of Norbanus, gain Claudius’ trust and kill him at the first opportunity. Aurora did not relish taking a life. During her days as a gladiator, she had despised it. And of late, she’d grown weary of the toll her duties exacted upon her weathered soul. She consoled her conscience with the knowledge that Claudius was obviously a detriment to The Empire, but far worse, he was given to the depravities of his perversions, bartering in the trade of children for sexual servitude.
    What he did was against the laws of Rome, for there were many impoverished parents who would sell their children outright. Instead, Claudius took the children of his enemies and those who owed him debts, because his station conferred upon him absolute power over the region, and no one would dare protest against him out of fear.
    Still, that was not why she’d been sent to eliminate him. There were many who dealt in the unlawful trade of children and The Order did not involve themselves. Claudius had done something to threaten The Empire.
    His actions in the kidnapping and bartering of children could very well be the threat, or it could be another offense entirely. Whatever it was he’d die because of it; he’d die to right his wrong. It wasn’t her duty to know all of Claudius’ sins against the Empire. Her duty was simply to dispatch of him.
    As if reminding her of her assignment, soft laughter echoed through the tunnels. It was the laughter of the slave children who were still young enough to idle about their days.
    She closed her eyes, her thoughts drifting back to her original purpose. Every slave was subject to the whims of their master and could be sold at any point, but