The Eternal Empire Read Online Free Page A

the Atlas Mountains in Africa, the forests along the Rhine in Germania,
the hills and lakes of central Britannia and the coastal regions of Asia Minor.
He must have been one of the few sane legionary officer cadets who actually
looked forward to a 20 mile route march in full kit.
    He took hold of the big brass knocker
on the door and commenced to signal his arrival but after the first knock the
door was wrenched open. Since he was still connected to the door by way of the
knocker Cornelius was propelled into the spacious entrance hall. 
    Recovering quickly, Cornelius turned to
see the door being held open by an elegant lady with a slightly mischievous
smile on her face.
    "Hello Mother, I might have
guessed you would be waiting for me."
    Julia Petronius smiled at her eldest son
as she closed the heavy door.
    "You're so predictable Cornelius.
You're a stickler for being punctual, and since you always walk from that tiny
little apartment of yours - why you don't stay here like your brother is beyond
me - I know that you'll be here within a minute of the starting time."
    Cornelius smiled in that resigned way
known to sons throughout the ages, dutifully kissed his mother and removed his
cloak, handing it to the servant standing nearby who had seen the Lady of the
House pull this little trick on her first born many times before. His mother
took him by the arm and guided him through to the main reception room.
"The family members are all here" she informed him in her usual
collected manner, "we are just waiting for a few more guests to arrive,
then we can go through for the meal."
    Amongst the guests there were three
men, also in formal togas standing in the centre of the room with a glass of
wine in hand. A couple of servants hovered discreetly in the background with
trays of additional drinks. The youngest man was his brother Titus, fresh out
of the Imperial Military Academy in Ravenna and due to take up his first
posting with the army as a junior tribune. The dinner party tonight was in his
honour. Beside him was their father, Anatolius Petronius, regaling his youngest
son with stories of his own army life in the legions of the Empire, and their
Uncle Tiberius.
    Anatolius Petronius had gone into the
family business, after serving in the army for the number of years expected of
an aristocrat. Taking advantage of the explosive growth in rail transport he
had built up what had originally been a small wholesale and distribution
company in Northern Italy into one of the largest transport groups in the
Western part of the Empire.
    Tiberius Sextus Petronius was their
fathers’ younger brother and had the robust look of the professional soldier
that he was. Tiberius had no interest in the business world at all and
dedicated himself to defending the Empire, serving with distinction in a number
of conflicts and campaigns. Six months earlier he had being appointed the
legate of the Legio I Germania on the Rhine, and Anatolius had hosted a dinner
party in his honour just as he was doing now for Titus.
    They broke off their conversation when
Cornelius and his mother entered the room. Titus sighed with relief. Their
father's military service had been a long time ago and Cornelius and Titus had
heard all the stories a hundred times before. Cornelius greeted his father and
uncle with a warm embrace and then turned to Titus with a big grin on his face.
    "So you survived Ravenna did you,
they must be getting soft."
    "You are just jealous that the
Emperor isn't paying you to see the sights of the Empire anymore. Your seven
years in the army was just one big walking holiday!"
    They laughed and gave each other a hug.
It had been nearly six months since the two brothers has last seen each other.
Both were dark haired and of medium build and it was clear from their faces
that they were related, but in temperament they were quite different. Cornelius
was thoughtful and reflective whilst Titus was impulsive and easy going. The
older brother had excelled