VESPASIAN: TRIBUNE OF ROME was 2011's bestselling historical debut novel. Here's the first chapter from the sequel VESPASIAN: ROME'S EXECUTIONER. Roman history as the Gods intended!

VESPASIAN
ROME’S EXECUTIONER
by Robert Fabbri

VESPASIAN EASED HIS weight cautiously onto his left foot, trying not to rustle the dead leaves or crack any of the twigs that carpeted the snow-patched forest floor. He’d covered the last few dozen paces with hardly a sound, his breath steaming in front of him as he tried to lower his heart beat after a long chase. He was alone having left his companions, two hunting slaves borrowed from the Royal stables, a couple of miles back to follow on slowly with the horses as he stalked his wounded prey on foot. His quarry, a young stag, was close now; the trail of blood from the arrow wound to its neck, that he’d inflicted earlier, seemed fresher, a sign that he was gaining on the slowing animal, weakened by loss of blood. He pulled back the string of his hunting bow and brought the fletched end of the arrow to his cheek, ready to release. Hardly daring to breathe he took another couple of steps forward and peered around, looking through gaps between the crowded trees for any sign of dun coloured fur in amongst the umber and russet hues of a forest in winter.

A slight movement in the corner of his eye, off to the right, caused him to freeze momentarily. He held his breath as he slowly turned his stocky frame to face the source of the distraction. About twenty paces away, half hidden in the tangled undergrowth, stood the stag, motionless, with blood-matted withers, staring dolefully at him. As Vespasian took aim it collapsed to the ground making the shot unnecessary. Vespasian cursed, furious at being denied the excitement of the kill after such a long chase. It seemed to him to be a metaphor for the past three and a half years that he had spent in Thracia on garrison duty, since the quashing of the rebellion. Any promise of action would always fizzle out to nothing and he would return to camp, frustrated, with an un-bloodied sword and sore feet from chasing a few brigands around the countryside. The harsh truth of the matter was that the Roman client kingdom of Thracia was at peace and he was bored.