Chapter 2

  Clashing steel rang out as Livia's and Tiberius's swords struck against each other.

  "Arms higher!" the Emperor snapped at her. "You are neglecting your defense!" Quickly, she raised her arms a bit, not a moment too soon, for Tiberius struck again. His sword clashed against her sword, exactly where her head had just been. The force of the impact almost knocked the sword from her hand, and she staggered a few steps to the side before resuming her fighting stance. Her arms burned from the weight of the sword and the hours of training, but Tiberius showed no mercy.

  Tirelessly, blow after blow followed, which she could barely parry. Slowly but surely, she was losing the ground she had held and even improved at the beginning of the fight.

  "Emperor!" suddenly shouted a loud voice. "Something has happened, you must come immediately." Relieved by the welcome break, Livia let the sword drop. But hardly had she done so when she felt a cold blade at her throat.

  "Sister!", the Emperor barked. "Never, never let your guard down or get distracted. In a real fight, you would be dead now!"

  Too exhausted to answer, Livia just nodded, and her brother lowered his sword. They bowed to each other to conclude the fight, then Tiberius briefly hugged her and went to Aulus, who had called for him. Livia handed her sword to one of the slaves and limped into the atrium, where she collapsed into an armchair right next to her sister and her husband, an Antonian.

  "What happened?" she asked him.

  "The Lombards have invaded the empire in the north. They have already conquered Lugdunum and Vesontio. I'm afraid your brother must go into battle again."

  A lump formed in Livia's throat, and she had to fight against the tears that threatened to stream down her face. Despite her fatigue, she quickly jumped up and ran into the house to say goodbye to Tiberius, but when she arrived in the entrance hall, the Emperor and the generals had already left.

  Since the departure of the army from Rome, a few days had passed and there was still no news about their whereabouts. As every day, Livia pored over her brother's maps to determine his location, for the uncertainty and worry were making her ill. All the more relieved she was when there was a knock at her door and a slave appeared with a letter. Hastily, she sat down at the table and broke the seal.

  My dearest sister,

  now several days have already passed since my hasty departure, and only now do I find the time to write to you. First of all, I apologize for leaving without saying goodbye, but time was pressing and many preparations still had to be made. I am hopeful, no, I know that you can forgive me and understand my reasons, for you have always been a warrior and leader at heart! This is also the reason why I entrust you with the difficult task of caring for and protecting our people during my absence. I know that you are up to this task. And now, farewell my dear Livia! May we see each other again soon!

  With love

  Your brother Tiberius

  Note: Should anyone raise objections or question your new position, show them this letter so that they may read my word, the Emperor's word, and fall into silence. For this is not only my wish, but also the command of the Emperor, and it must be obeyed!

  Livia had to smile at her brother's words, and a strange feeling came over her. It was as if all her dreams had come true. She was now her brother's deputy. The deputy of the emperor, the sovereign, the most powerful person in the entire empire. She could hardly comprehend it. When she regained her composure, she hurriedly rolled up the maps, gathered her dress, and ran as fast as she could to the Exedrium, where the senators had been meeting since the beginning of the war to track its developments. Even from a distance, she could hear their voices. But it was not the invading Lombards they were talking about. Curious as she was, Livia stood behind a wall and listened.

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  "Those wretched Vandals!" cursed Brutus Aemilius, and her heart nearly stopped. The barbarians attacked not only from the north but also simultaneously from the south. That was bad. Worse than bad, actually, because her brother couldn't be in two places at once and lead the troops into battle.

  "What are we supposed to do now?" She heard Senator Publius ask worriedly, as if he could read her mind.

  "Isn't that obvious?" his brother snapped at him. "A general calls together the remaining available legions and mercenaries. Maybe a part of the Praetorian Guard as well, then these barbarians should be defeated.”

  "Then you don't know the Vandals," Senator Servius interjected. "A man of theirs fights like two of ours, and even with the Praetorians, we are outnumbered. You must consider that we also have to leave soldiers here for the security of the country. Aside from the fact that the mercenaries are problematic. Without enough money and the right motivation, they will hardly fight. If they haven't already killed each other beforehand. They are fickle, unpredictable, and greedy for money. It will make our coffers bleed. And which general is supposed to take over leading the troops at all? Aulus and Marcus have gone along with the Emperor.”

  "It’s not as if there aren’t enough applicants," Brutus grumbled.

  "The Emperor explicitly stated that none of them should hold the position of a general," Servius replied sternly.

  "Great!" Brutus began to roar, and Livia could see the veins on his forehead bulging. "And what do you think we should do, esteemed senators? Should we let the Vandals conquer our beloved land, even Rome, just because we couldn't find a general? What would the Emperor say about that, hmm? I don't think he would be particularly pleased.”

  "What about Rufus?" Publius ventured cautiously, daring to speak.

  At that moment, Livia stepped out of the shadows and approached the senators.

  "That won't be necessary," she said before Brutus could respond. "I will lead the troops into battle." The senators looked at her for a moment before they all burst out laughing in unison.

  "That must be a joke," Brutus snapped. Unperturbed, Livia looked at him.

  "By no means, esteemed Senator. I was completely serious. And its my brother's wish." She held out the letter to them, and each of the senators skimmed through it.

  "It doesn't say a word that you are to become the new general," Brutus sneered.

  "But it says that I should protect our land in the absence of my brother, your emperor. And I would do nothing else but defend our empire against the barbarians.”

  For an long hour, the discussion went back and forth until Govenor Servius finally lost his temper.

  "That's enough!" His piercing voice cut through the heated argument, and silence fell instantly. "We're not getting anywhere like this," he began. "Every moment we hesitate here gives the Vandals time to conquer more territories. I am therefore of the opinion that we should trust the Emperor and also the esteemed Lady Livia and appoint her as General.” To Livia's surprise, many of the senators nodded.

  "Your trust and loyalty will one day be your downfall," Brutus shouted angrily.

  "That's enough!" Servius sharply reprimanded him. "You should choose your words carefully! One could interpret it as treason." With eyes narrowed to slits in anger, Brutus stared at Livia, but no words came from his lips. Servius pointed at her and continued.

  "As far as I know our Emperor, she will know more about tactics and strategy than most of the soldiers. Besides, she can fight. Augustus is far-sighted and would never write such words without careful consideration. And here it is." He waved the letter. "that it is his explicit wish and command and not to be questioned. He entrusted Lady Livia with the task of the imperial deputy, and as such, it is even her duty to lead the army into battle. So don't talk, but prepare everything for departure.”

  With these words, he clapped his hands, and the senators hurriedly scurried away, none of them doubting her legitimacy any longer. Only Brutus cast a hateful glance in her direction before he left. Servius encouragingly squeezed her shoulders, and when she was finally alone, Livia breathed a sigh of relief.

  The first part was done, but she knew that the hardest part was still ahead of her.