Spartacus

Talons of an Empire

By: Robert Southworth

Narrated by: Virtual Voice

The slave army has been crushed, any hope of freedom has been obliterated by the legions of Rome. A lone gladiator is surrounded by his captors, his body beaten and bloodied. He expected only death and yet the blades did not rise and fall. A figure picked its way through the crowd, the clean, whiteness of his garments stood in stark contrast against its surroundings. The gladiator raised his head, fighting against his injuries and exhaustion, he would not show fear before this prancing peacock sent from Rome. His days may well be coming to an end, but he had dared to challenge Rome and he had, at least for a short time, felt the cooling breeze of freedom upon his face. He looked again to the peacock. "Why hadn't he given the order for the death sentence to be carried out."