About an hour later, the pounding of hooves was heard outside the temple and the younger spearman entered. "Vican demands we bring Decius Numas and Lucius Sipio to him immediately," he declared.

The older man gestured to Decius and Lucius. "Come with us. Once outside the temple, unbuckle your swords and give them to us."

Decius nodded, keeping his hands up. "We will."

Vican's four soldiers backed out of the temple, Decius and Lucius advancing with hands away from their belts. As soon as they passed out of the temple, they both unbuckled their swords from their belts and placed them on the ground, stepping to the side as the younger spearman collected them.

"Mount up," the older man ordered, gesturing to their horses.

Lucius and Decius obeyed, gathering in their reins as the spearmen mounted up, the archers swinging up behind them. The younger spearman went first, the older man coming in behind the brothers.

The ride through the rest of the ravine was short, the path opening out into a valley seeded in waving green grass. A city rose from the center of the meadow, the buildings seeming to dwarf the elegant stone walls. Scattered throughout the vast meadow were small clusters of huts, sheep and cows grazing around them. Ringing the valley in were the magnificent Trajan Mountains, sealing Ciceri in from the outside world.

Lucius felt awe steal over him. The scene was so peaceful, so beautiful. He hadn't had a chance to appreciate nature's beauty during their ride north, being too rattled to notice much about the countryside he had anticipated seeing, but now he could truly see its magnificence.

Their escort guided them through the meadow to Ciceri, passing through the open gates. Lucius had never seen the gates of Fure open longer than the couple minutes it took for someone to pass in or out. But despite being at war with Fure, Ciceri didn't seem to fear attack. Then again, they didn't need to, not with the ravine to bottleneck any army seeking to attack them.

They rode through the city, approaching the center forum. There, the older man gestured for them to dismount and the brothers obeyed, the reins of their mounts taken from them before they were escorted into the council chamber.

A man in his fifties stood in the center of the chamber, a sword belted around his waist and dressed in imperator's garb, the sharp red tunic crisp despite appearing to be old. His dark eyes were sharp in his lined face, his black hair greying around the edges.

"Decius Numas," he said, stepping forward. "And Lucius Sipio. I am Brittanicus Vican, former imperator of Fure and now occupier of Ciceri."

"We are grateful you have agreed to see us," Decius said. "We have fled from Fure, seeking aid and shelter here. Lucius Sipio the elder has perished, murdered by Pirilius, who has assumed the throne as interrex before attempting to have my half-brother and I assassinated."

Vican looked at Lucius, his eyes cool, before glancing at the escort. "You four are dismissed," he said. "Leave their swords. The son of Decius Numas is always welcome in my company."

The four men left, placing the sheathed blades on one of the seats. Vican waited until it was only the three of them before resuming. "Why have you come to me?"

"I heard you were an ally of my father," Decius answered. "Neither of us had anyone else to turn to. Lucius suggested we ride north, to seek your aid."

Vican looked again to Lucius. "You did, boy?"

"Yes, I did," Lucius replied firmly. "You once stood by Decius' father against Pirilius; I thought perhaps you would do so again. And as my brother said, we had no one else."

"Your father was no friend of mine," Vican told him coolly.

"I know," Lucius said. "But he was a friend to Decius. He died refusing to allow Pirilius to kill my brother. He didn't die the enemy to Decius Numas that he had previously been."

Vican looked from Lucius to Decius. "So you come here for shelter?"

"Yes, for aid," Decius said carefully.

"And for alliance," Lucius said calmly, drawing the gazes of both men back to him. Vican narrowed his eyes at the lad, as if not sure what to make of him. "Fure's throne belongs to me, by law of inheritance."

"It belongs to Decius, by law of inheritance," Vican said. "Not you."

Lucius pulled back, eyes flashing. He wanted to protest but found he knew not what to say. Vican was right; the throne did belong to Decius.

Decius glanced at Lucius, his eyes clouded. "If my brother wishes the throne, I have no objection."

"I do," Vican said curtly.

"It is practically a law in Fure," Lucius started, finding his voice again. He struggled to keep his expression and voice impassive. "That the interrex, if left on the throne, has claim over it and therefore can pass it on to his heir."

"Then the throne belongs to Pirilius' heir, not you," Vican returned, lifting an eyebrow at him. "Be quiet, boy. You have no place speaking to your elders."

"My brother is more intelligent than the elders realize," Decius said quietly. "I would allow him to speak."

Lucius felt anger boiling inside him. He hated being treated like he was a child, inconsequential. He was Fure's heir, had been since his birth. Sipio had been accepted as legitimate king and that made Lucius the heir. Not Decius.

"Vican," Decius was saying. "Perhaps you can answer a question I've longed to find the answer to. My father...why was he killed? Why was my family massacred? And why wasn't I?"

Vican sighed. "Your father opposed Pirilius' faction in the senate. They wanted control of Ciceri, with a ruling council made up of only Ascantals. Numas refused. He said that Ascantal and human were equal and that there would be no special favors for either species. They didn't like that, and continued to pressure him until finally they decided it would be better if he wasn't king."

"Why Ciceri?" Decius wondered.

"Ciceri was established long before Fure was," Vican explained. "It is the Ascantals' home, before they founded Fure with the humans. Before Numas was killed and I took the city, the Ascantals would have a procession here, every year, during the festival of Verula, their main god. In the procession, they would carry the coffins of their dead, to bury up here in the cemetery. No Ascantal was ever buried anywhere else, up until my occupation of Ciceri."

"Then they were buried outside the walls," Decius said softly. "I remember seeing the processions."

Vican nodded. "Ascantals don't believe in cremation; bodies are buried wholly intact. It's part of their ritual. When Pirilius proposed the Ascantals be given complete rule over Ciceri, claiming that since it had always been their city, they should have it back, Numas wouldn't allow it. He shared with me that he thought the proposal masked something else. He was killed before he could share any more of his suspicions." He glanced down. "I was unable to reach Fure in time to stop them."

Silence fell on the room for a moment before Decius spoke again. "And what of my mother?"

"The Lady Tarquil," Vican said. "Yes. She wasn't in Fure when your father was killed. She was in the country. Sipio reached her before I did. He'd always loved Tarquil, but Vilius had given her to Numas over him. He wished to wed her, but Tarquil had one request: that to marry her, Sipio would have to vow to protect her infant son, you, from Numas' enemies, and to raise you as if you were his own son."

Decius drew back. "So that is why Sipio protected me, all those years?"

"That was the promise, as I heard of it," Vican affirmed. "Tarquil would be his queen if you would be his son."

Lucius glanced at his brother, knowing what he was thinking. "Brother, Father did care for you outside of his promise to Mother," he said quietly. "He died protecting you. He needn't have done that, if he didn't care."

Decius remained silent.

Vican looked at Lucius. "You two are welcome to stay with me in my house, at least for the present. I will do my best to make sure you acclimate to Ciceri and are able to begin your lives anew here."

"Thank you," Lucius replied stiffly. "We are appreciative."

"You still want the throne," Vican observed.

"I was raised to sit on that throne," Lucius said quietly. "I was raised to believe it was my birthright." He glanced at Decius. "But I now know it was once my brother's birthright, and so if he has no claim, I don't."

Although it should be mine.

Vican nodded. "Yes, you're right, boy. It is Decius' before it is yours." He jerked his head toward the door. "Come, you should rest after your journey."