Taurus Read Free

and knock on the door of the governor doomed her plan to failure from the beginning.
    “I cannot tell you my purpose, but be assured you are safe and will come to no harm.” A beautiful smile lit her face, and Taurus thought the sun had come from behind a cloud. “Is he truly the monster they speak of in Rome?” The girl made a sign to ward off evil.
    Indignation rose in his throat. “Monster! You Romans need look no farther than your own emperor to find a true monster.”
    “I agree. Caius Gregorian is worse than a demon from Hades.” Her reply left him speechless for a moment as she packed away the remaining rations and water with a sigh.
    “What do you know of Gregorian?” Taurus asked.
    She offered her hand to pull him up from the log where he sat. This was the moment to upend her and use the knife to slit the ropes, along with her throat. He jumped to his feet in an instant, about to knock her off balance.
    “I am his sister, Kalliassa Gregorian.”
    Taurus paused in mid-swing, erupting into fits of laughter at the ridiculous claim. Noble Roman women did not cavort through the countryside shooting arrows, riding horses, and taking prisoners. “Come now, be truthful.” Taurus chuckled, amused by the girl. “No one in their right mind would believe such nonsense.”
    She moved out of his reach. “It does not matter what you think. The governor will believe me, and he is the only one important enough to assist me.” She mounted her horse and signaled for him to do the same.
    Taurus smirked as he swung into the saddle. She eyed him curiously. “You may call me Kallie. I have no wish for my real name to be used for now.”
    He made a concerted effort to keep a straight face. She planned to see the governor of Panua but did not know she conveniently held him in her grasp.
    “What of my men?”
    “My friend will release them later today, but not the one named Barca.” Kallie smiled ruefully at Taurus as though she understood his asking. “I will give you a token to return to the camp. My companion will know I have safely arrived at the governor’s house. Your officer will be free once the token is delivered.”
    Taurus settled in the saddle, planning to make her pay for this insult. He would be home by sunset, and life was about to take an interesting turn, if she was truly who she claimed to be. Meeting a Gregorian was the last thing he’d envisioned, but now his imagination ran wild at the unexpected appearance of this strange girl, disguised as a boy, calling herself sister to the emperor.

Chapter Two
    The home of the governor stood on the remains of an old Roman fort that over many years had transformed itself into a palace. To the outside world, it proved an impenetrable rock on the top of a huge hillside overlooking the city. It had been the governor’s residence for the last two decades, ever since the Romans killed his father. Lidia Paulinus had singlehandedly turned Panua and the surrounding region into a separate state, defying Rome and the old emperor, making Panua a law unto itself. When she adopted a boy in her son’s memory, she groomed him as the heir and eventual master of Panua. An old woman with deep wounds, Lidia harbored a hatred of Rome that burned like an eternal flame, flaring out of control every once in a while. The people had fought many battles on her behalf to keep the enemy from their door, but when the old Roman emperor died and the new one took his place, Panua had waited and watched for his first move.
    Now, as Taurus rode behind a woman claiming to be the sister of Caius Gregorian, he considered this might be part of a devious plan by the young emperor, or a fortunate gift from the Fates. To have a family member of Gregorian under his control tempted him beyond reason, even if she were a touch strange. To hold her hostage gave him a huge advantage in negotiations with a hated enemy. Lidia would be beside herself with joy at the prospect of having the girl at her disposal.