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contempt. “What a dumb beast, admitting you have broken yet another edict from the Emperor. You of all people should know ignorance is no excuse for breaking the law.”
    “All private guards have been banned throughout the Imperium.” With surprising ease, the smaller bull effortlessly shoved Tiberius away from him. Raising his voice, the Commander continued contemptuously. “Your soldiers will lay their arms down and leave immediately, or I will have their heads put on spikes around this plaza!”
    Tiberius had spent almost his entire life surrounded by his personal guards. Every one of his bulls had become a member of his household on the day of his birth when they took their oath of fidelity. Without looking behind him, Tiberius knew that they would fight to the death before relinquishing the means to protect his life.
    “I am the son of the Emperor and next in line for the throne. The Senate itself has sanctioned the Royal Family to have their personal guardians present at all times. You will ...”
    With a bellow, the smaller male overrode Tiberius words. “There is no more Senate!” Seeing the stunned look on Tiberius’s face, the Commander smiled darkly. “Nor will there be any more of these traitorous legions left running around the Imperium.” Before Tiberius could respond, a deep baritone cut them both off.
    “I think that’s enough discussion, for now, Commander Brutus.”
    Looking up at the sound, Tiberius froze as he saw the apparition of his father, Emperor Manius Decius Lupus, standing before him. Physically, it looked like his father, but at the same time, it was nothing like his father. The once white robes hanging from his gaunt shoulders were now filthy, stained with chunks of some unidentifiable rotting flesh while dried encrusted blood matted the course fur of his long muzzle. His father’s once bright brown eyes now looked like dark sunken holes burnt into the center of his skull. There was no longer the decisive proud bull Tiberius had loved and admired as a young bullock. Instead, there was only madness. Before Tiberius couldn’t find his voice, his father lips curled in disgust.
    “You have been a great disappointment, Tiberius.” Slowly pacing back and forth, his father began ranting. “I sent you to quell the rebellion in Tulskana. Instead of killing the rebels as I commanded, you imprison my Praetorian Legatus and let those traitorous beasts live. Now, after bringing disgrace upon our house, these miserable creatures have the audacity to celebrate your return as if you were some returning hero.” His father stopped suddenly as his red-rimmed eyes bore into Tiberius. “Now I’m stuck cleaning up your mess!”
    Infuriated, Tiberius voice began rising in volume. “What rebels are you referring to father? The Praetorian Legatus and his goons that were unjustly slaughtering whole towns full of our people and then began destroying the entire provinces’ crops by closing off the aqueducts? The same crops, might I remind you, which are needed to feed the entire population of the Imperium. Or, are you talking about the law abiding citizens defending themselves against the insane bulls slaughtering them without cause?”
    Shaking his head, Tiberius’s father laughed out loud at his outburst. “Do you think I wasn’t aware of what my Praetorian Legatus was doing?” Gnarled hands suddenly grip Tiberius’s collar as his father lifted him into the air bellowing at the top of his lungs. “Nothing happens in the Imperium without my command!”
    With a wordless cry, Tiberius was flung back into the bulls behind him as his father began frothing at the mouth. “Just in case you hadn’t heard, those pointy ear savages you call friends have just destroyed the First and Second legions on their way to Aosta as they passed through the Great Forest.”
    Tiberius saw his father’s face harden into an unrecognizable mask of fury. “Your unnatural infatuation with the Elven Princess has placed