by Brian Smith
10
After flying south-west for several hours they approached the Roman fleet on its way to Egypt. The griffin put his head down and they dived towards the warships and troop transports. When the griffin was spotted panic broke out on the ships. There was shouting and the general alarm was sounded but the griffin flew so fast that it landed on the deck of Julius Caesar’s ship before any of the archers were ready. The children and their companions slid off the back of the griffin in front of the amazed Romans. The huge bird flapped its wings and flew away again before anyone could say a word.
“By Jupiter!” Julius Caesar exclaimed. “Who are you?”
Edward and Anthony stood in front while Flavia and Geetu were behind the two men.
“I can tell you who they are!” a voice boomed across the deck. “They’re the murderers of my daughter!”
The angry voice belonged to Lucius Caecilius Flavus.
“Have them put in irons, oh Caesar,” he said.
Just then a little figure dashed out from behind Alric and ran towards Senator Flavus.
“Father! Father!” she cried and threw herself into his arms.
Senator Flavus was overwhelmed and confused. He knew his daughter was dead and yet here she was in his arms, how could it be?
“There’s obviously more to this than meets the eye,” Caesar said to Senator Flavus. “Let’s take them all below deck and hear what they have to say.”
They told their adventures to the two powerful men who listened from beginning to end without saying a word.
“By Jupiter!” Caesar said again. “If this isn’t the most incredible story I’ve ever heard then I don’t know what is. Such daring and bravery! I wish all my legionaries were just as brave and daring.”
“Hear, hear,” Senator Flavus said. “I obviously misjudged you all. Philomenus and Alric, I give you both your freedom. From this moment on you’re not slaves anymore, you’re free men!”
The two men thanked the senator and bowed.
“And as for you children,” the senator said, “how can I reward you?”
Edward and Anthony looked at each other.
“Actually,” Edward said, “we have a request for Caesar.”
The most powerful man in the world leant forward slightly and said “If it is in my power to grant your wish then it shall be done.”
Caesar and Cleopatra
When Edward told him what they wanted Caesar first looked surprised and then he laughed.
“You can ask me for anything in the world you like and your wish is to travel with me and Cleopatra in a ship on the River Nile?”
The children nodded.
“Then it shall be so,” Caesar said.
A fortnight later Queen Cleopatra’s royal barge left the quayside and sailed up the River Nile. The four children were standing at the prow and looked at the mighty river. There were some crocodiles swimming in it and in the distance they could make out several hippopotami.
“At last,” Anthony said, “we can go home.
Edward smiled and nodded.
Geetu turned round and peered at the main deck where a sumptuous meal was being served in front of Julius Caesar and Queen Cleopatra. They were smiling at each other and chatting happily.
“So that’s how this famous love story began,” Geetu thought. “And I’m really here with them!”
At that moment Geetu remembered that they had fulfilled the dare. She laughed and clapped her hands so that the others looked to her. “What a wonderful adventure we’ve had,” she smiled. “I just feel sorry for all the slaves.”
Geetu looked at Edward and Anthony with an impish glint in her eye.
“No, wait…” Anthony said.
“I dare you,” Geetu interrupted him, “help me free a thousand slaves.”
Whirling stars appeared all around them and in a trice Edward, Anthony and Geetu vanished in front of Flavia’s eyes. She knew about their secret, though she did wonder where they had gone. Only Caesar and Cleopatra didn’t notice anything. They were too busy enjoying their time together and planning not only their own future but that of the ancient world.
Here’s a sneak preview of Edward and Anthony’s next exciting adventure!
Free the Slaves!
When Princess Geetu dares Anthony and Edward to free a thousand slaves, the three children are hurled through space and time to appear in midst of a medieval battle. It is truly a dark age where a human life means nothing and when the evil Lord Rochefort captures the children all seems lost. Will they outwit and defeat their enemy?
Can YOU survive the Dare Quest challenge?
…Edward, Anthony and Geetu landed on a hard grassy plain. All around them was the air was filled with shouts and screams and the fast approaching thunder of horses at full gallop.
“Watch out!” Edward yelled and quickly pushed the others out of the way. And not a moment too soon! A knight on horseback charged past them just inches away.
They had landed in the middle of a battle in the Middle Ages.
Geetu and Anthony were still stunned from the unexpected violence around them and Edward…
An evil Lord
A power mad slaver
Thousands of innocent victims
Follow this quest to the end in
Free the Slaves
ISBN-10: 1507688032
Meet the author
www.briansmith.de