Chapter 6

  An unpleasant feeling jolted Livia out of her unconsciousness. It was almost as if someone was hitting her. And indeed, as she slowly blinked to fully regain her senses, she recognized one of the soldiers who was just about to swing his arm to slap her again. Quickly, she raised her hand to deflect the blow.

  "Lady, you are awake again!" she heard his joyful voice.

  "Yes." Slowly she tried to got up and a sharp pain shot through her. Hissing, she sucked in air between her teeth.

  "Your rib is broken, Mistress," the voice sounded again. "But you were lucky. It could have ended much worse.” The legionary extended his hand to help her up. Livia took it, and he pulled her to her feet. With shaky legs, she surveyed her surroundings. At the sight that greeted her, she felt nauseous and began to gag. Only with great effort could she prevent herself from vomiting. A horrified sound came from her throat, which sounded foreign to her own ears.

  "Horrible, isn't it?" the man asked her quietly. Livia nodded. For wherever she looked, severed limbs and dead bodies lay everywhere, brutally mutilated, lining the clearing, the grass stained red with the blood of the wounded and the dead. Nevertheless, a feeling of relief washed over her. Because what she couldn't see were fighting men.

  And since she and her savior were still alive, that could only mean one thing.

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  "We won, didn't we?"she whispered."

  "We have indeed." the man confirmed to her. "And that is only thanks to you, General Mistress."

  A strong wave of pride washed over her at his praise, but she merely waved it off and turned carefully to check on the whereabouts of her troops. She was not disappointed. Behind her, the entire remaining army had gathered, along with the captured Vandals, Servius, and Brutus, whom she had lost sight of in the chaos of the battle. They all looked at Livia with anticipation and she gazed proudly at her soldiers.With a little smile, she cleared her throat.

  "I thank you all from the bottom of my heart," she began. "For fighting by my side and thus proving yourselves to be loyal and honorable. After this hard-fought, costly battle, the title of brave, fearless warriors is certainly yours. You shall be admired and showered with treasures for the glorious service you have rendered to our land and our people, even if it may not be the homeland of all. Should you nevertheless feel a kind of connection deep in your hearts," she addressed the mercenaries.

  "I then welcome you to my legion, the Aquilaners, as you shall be called from now on. For today, something wonderful has happened. As the defeated, we entered the battle and as the victors, we emerged!”

  With newfound strength, she lifted her sword, which lay beside her on the ground, and thrust it towards the sky.

  "We have won!" she roared, and immediately thunderous cheers erupted.

  "Augusta, Augusta, Augusta," the calls rang out, and Livia's eyes began to shine with emotion.

  After a while, she raised her hand and the cheers of joy gradually subsided.

  "Let's return to the camp," she said. "We are all exhausted, and I am sure that, just like me, you could devour a bear. So come on, my warriors, we can celebrate in Rome later.”