The great Sugambrian shrugged. “I did. I supposed you’ve proven your worth. But no man should have to kill his own father. I should know.

Even still, it wasn’t over. For if a battle could be won so easily, men would soon forget its horrors and clamor for it all the more. War would come more than once or twice...

Septimus grinned. “It’s not coins I seek. I seek the power of Hercules.