Radulf was here now, not the trick of light from before, just him. But he looked at me and said, "Is Brutus all that's left?"
"All that's left in this field." I hated to say the next part, but without his help here tonight, I'd have certainly failed. "Thank you ... sir, for coming."
"I should've come sooner, but your magic was so erratic, I couldn't get a feel for what was happening here."
Brutus arched his neck in defiance. "The only thing happening here is Nicolas and I coming to an arrangement. This doesn't concern you, General Radulf."
Radulf turned back to Brutus. "My grandson always concerns me, Decimas Brutus. When he finds the Malice of Mars, my first act will be to destroy every Praetor in the Roman Empire."
Which was why I could never allow Radulf to get the Malice. Destroying the Praetors was only his first intended act. Radulf hated the empire for what they had done to our homeland, now in service and slavery to Rome. I had never felt the same way. For all its brutality, life was better here than I'd ever known it to be in Gaul. So his plans were clear. After he finished with the Praetors, more destruction would follow.
"I've told Emperor Florian about your plans," Brutus said. "A group of soldiers will bring you to him, by force if necessary."
Radulf chuckled at the word "force." "Those soldiers are
loyal to me," he said. "I warned the emperor not to threaten me."
Something about the look in his eye made me nervous. I knew enough about Radulf to believe him. Radulf always meant exactly what he said.
"Nic, is it over?" Aurelia emerged from the path, with Callistus behind her. Crispus and Livia followed behind them.
"Except for this one," I said, pointing to Brutus.
Livia ran up and gave me a warm hug. "Thank the gods you're safe."
"Your sister is beautiful," Brutus said. "So like her mother, wouldn't you agree?"
My heart went cold. "Get behind me," I said to Livia. Brutus wouldn't break free from the vines; I had sealed them with magic. But his tone made me nervous.
Aurelia took her place at my side and murmured, "Don't even talk to him, Nic."
"Talking isn't necessary." Brutus nodded eastward, where the morning sun was beginning to peek over the hills. "The boy knows what will happen now if he does not give me the key."
"He doesn't have it," Radulf said. "If he did, don't you think we'd already have the Malice?"
"Maybe he doesn't know he has it," Brutus said. "And maybe you don't know how to help him find it, but I do. Turn yourself over to me right now, Nicolas, and I will get the key from you. Or if you do not, the men who are holding your mother will execute their orders."
To execute her. I saw her face clearly in my mind, which made it even more impossible to think about losing her forever.
From behind me, Livia put a hand on my arm and whispered, "You must do something."
"He will not go with you!" Radulf said. "I will not allow it."
"Nor will I!" Crispus looked over at me. "I'll be an apprentice to the Senate now. My first loyalty is to Rome, and I can't let you harm the empire, not even to save your mother."
"Listen to them," Aurelia said. "Don't go with the Praetors. I'm so sorry, Nic, but this is how it has to be."
I looked back at Livia, who had put her other hand on Callistus's neck. She was as pure as the unicorn; it was no wonder they looked so right together. Tears rolled down her cheeks, but she only shook her head at me, begging me to think of our family first. I truly didn't know what to do. It was the wrong choice to submit to Brutus, and an equally wrong choice to sacrifice our mother. Livia didn't know I had just come from seeing our mother, and how that tore at me now.
"Give me your decision," Brutus said. "Either you return with me now, or within one hour, your mother will be gone and I will turn my attention to a new target until you cooperate." His eyes drifted to Livia.
"I'm not afraid of him," Livia whispered, though her voice trembled. "Save our mother."
"Nic will not go with you," Radulf said.
"Then his mother will die!" Brutus countered.
"You and I made one bargain!" I shouted above them both. "Let's make another."