‘So who betrayed us? And who pushed me off the city walls?’

Germanus looked around the High Council. No-one spoke.

‘It has to to be someone in this room. No-one but you – all you sitting here – knew of our plans: to send an advance force to mop up local resistance and rally more to our cause; that we were less than fully defended as a result; and we were not ready for a surprise attack!’

‘Except we were ready, thanks to my magister militum!’     

Aureliana looked at Germanus. He was sitting next to her in his full uniform. He looked battleworn and should have been resting after his latest injuries, but he had insisted on rooting out the traitor now, before any further damage could be done. The Queen of t...

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