The early dawn sent swirling, blood-red tendrils snaking through the morning sky, bringing a soft, foreboding light to the open hills of ancient Italy. Civil wars raged throughout the Roman Empire, ignited by the ceaseless greed of politicians and the dissension they caused.

Nestled in these dew-laden hills lay a small city, which had foolishly defied the Roman Empire with a proclamation of total independence. As tentative rays of light crept up from behind grassy knolls, new arrivals with less peaceful intentions came as well.

Hidden from sight behind the barren, treeless hills, endless ranks of Roman warriors marched toward the city in near silence. Their shimmering armor and brutal weaponry glittered in the half-light, and mounted cavalry rode forward on powerful steeds to lead the infantry. Military commanders and members of the elite aristocracy rode further back, cowardly protecting themselves with the massive swarm of soldiers that marched before them. Nearly all of them smiled greedily as they mounted the crest of the hill, and, squinting into the rising sun, beheld the sleeping city below. All of the high-ranking men had been promised a share of any land they conquered, as was the timeless tradition used to reward the loyal.

The ocean of ruthless soldiers suddenly halted, leaving no sound to penetrate the stillness. Their leader rode forward on a magnificent white stallion, yet another benefit of wealth and aristocracy. As he unsheathed his shining sword and raised it to the heavens, a tense murmur of anticipation and battle lust shattered the silence, but quickly and obediently subsided. The commander stared sternly out over his columns of men, then suddenly sliced his sword through the air, and with that sharp hissing signal, the army let out a horrific battle cry that resounded and echoed through the empty hills. Wave upon wave of soldiers swept down toward the quiet city, tempered swords and narrow spear-points lowered, and impenetrable bronze shields raised high.

The sound of running feet and pounding hooves came down upon the city's sleeping inhabitants like a sudden clap of thunder out of clear skies, and the inexorable war beast of the Roman Empire was within their walls before anyone could sound the alarm. Their own meager militia was soon mobilized, but this futile wall of sand was torn down by the waves of the Roman army.

Roman soldiers mercilessly slashed their way through the city, indiscriminately cutting down both enemy warriors and confused civilians. Monumental buildings burst into flame as rampaging cavalry galloped back and forth through the city, touching fiery torches to everything in sight. But after several hours of this slaughter, desperate villagers from the far corners of the city were arming themselves with bloodied weapons pried from the stiffening grasp of fallen warriors. They ambushed Roman soldiers in wildly mad attacks, but the opposing forces were unstoppable and overwhelming.

All those who resisted were hunted down and viciously decimated, while those who did not fight back were rounded up to be sold into a hopeless life of slavery. Marauder squadrons were sent on horseback to pillage the city and gather its wealth, while others followed them and set fire to each building once it was looted and empty. Having thus completed their vile deeds, the Roman ranks marched homeward, dragging behind them plunder and slaves.

That night, the sun set over a gruesome scene of destruction, death, and desolation. Forgotten corpses lay in pools of cold, dry blood amid charred ruins and the burnt and blackened skeletons of those whose houses had been burned down while they slept. Glowing embers dimmed as the chill of evening descended over the hills. Rivulets of blood, the ugly marks of war, stained the ground, tarnishing forever the once innocent and fertile earth.

The crimson fingers of the setting sun at last released their strangling grip on the devastated city and drew away. Finally disappearing beyond the horizon, they left the ravaged city in darkness, allowing its unfortunate inhabitants to rest forever in peace and unbroken silence.

Copyright (1998) by John Faron