Alison Morton:-From Diamond to Platinum: Celebrating Queen Elizabeth II's Platinum Jubilee
To celebrate Her Majesty, Queen Elizabeth II's Platinum Jubilee Discovering Diamonds is hosting a series of excerpts or articles written by our wonderful review team. For our author reviewers: the theme is an excerpt from one of their novels portraying royalty - or an equivalent leader-type character. For our non-writer reviewers: a favourite monarch and/or novel about Royalty... In other words, an enjoyable mix of entertainment to acknowledge Queen Elizabeth II's longest reign in British history! 70 years!
God Bless you Ma'am.
(say ma'am to rhyme with 'jam' not 'farm')
Today:
Aurelia Mitela’s speech
to the liberation forceshe is commanding on behalf of Imperatrix Silvia Apulia
of Roma Nova
Excerpt from RETALIO, the fourth Aurelia Roma Nova adventure
With
Junia and the centurions standing to the side of the short wheelbase that I was
using as my staff car, I clambered onto the seat and stood looking round at our
troops, our task force. Although they all wore purple armbands with gold
eagles, some were kitted out in old uniforms, some plain green trousers and
jackets, some in black, dark blue and brown all jumbled up. Praetorians were
mixed into each group along with women ex-vigiles
and military. Some of our fighters were young, fired by patriotism and adventure,
others, older, were more cynical, but all were prepared to risk their lives. As
they stood easy, their fingers around the tops of the barrels of rifles resting
on the concrete, I could sense the contained tension. I must not fail them.
‘Free Imperial Forces of Roma Nova,’ I began. ‘Today, we go to
liberate our country. We are entering Roma Nova city to free our own people
from a tyranny they have endured for nearly a year and a half. Our argument is
not with our friends and families, our colleagues and neighbours who have lived
under such extreme conditions that it may have marred their judgement.
‘Our argument is with a usurper and his henchmen, his
destructive and grasping council of terror. I expect you to shake their world
into pieces. Be ferocious in fighting, wipe them out if that is what they
choose, but allow them to surrender if they choose otherwise.
‘Civil war is uncivil. Thus, it must be quick and sharp if we
are to stitch our country back together. We have survived over fifteen hundred
years. My aim today is to ensure we survive for the next fifteen hundred.’
I saw a few smiles at that, but only a few, as it started to
dawn on them that we were now plunging ourselves voluntarily into an
unremittingly harsh situation.
‘My intention is for every single one of you to be alive at the
end of today, but some standing here and those preparing themselves in other
imperial units or in resistance groups in the city may not be. We will treat
their bodies with dignity and send them back to their families.
‘Caius Tellus and his so-called nationalists should be in no
doubt that we are their personal Furies. We will pursue them to their
destruction, if necessary. But a word of caution – I want Caius Tellus alive to
stand before a court of the Roma Novan people and be judged.
‘Most of you have served in the military, at least fulfilled
your national service. For some of you that may be a dimmer memory than for
others. Many of you have received training in Vienna. Remember it and obey your
commanders even in the most harrowing moments. They will bring you through.
‘But above all remember
this: it is a big step to take another human life. You may not have a moment to
think about it if your opponent is aiming a weapon at your head, intent on
killing you. Your training and instinct for survival will kick in. But if
someone surrenders to you then be firm, but gracious. We are not barbarians.
The ones who are determined to fight on, well, we will not disappoint them.’
I took a breath and looked around. Bright eyes and serious, some
grim, faces looked back.
‘Roma Novans are fierce fighters; this is our history,’ I said.
‘Today with Mars’ blessing we will add to that history. Bona fortuna and may the gods be with you.’
What’s RETALIO about?
Early 1980s
Vienna. Recovering from a near fatal shooting, Aurelia Mitela, ex-Praetorian
and former foreign minister of Roma Nova, chafes at her enforced exile. She
barely escaped from her nemesis, the charming and amoral Caius Tellus who
grabbed power in Roma Nova, the only part of the Roman Empire to survive into
the twentieth century.
Aurelia’s duty
and passion fire her determination to take back her homeland and liberate its
people. But Caius’s manipulations have isolated her from her fellow exiles,
leaving her ostracised, powerless and vulnerable. But without their trust and
support Aurelia knows she will never see Roma Nova again.
RETALIO is the
fourth Aurelia adventure and follows AURELIA, NEXUS and INSURRECTIO.
About Alison
Alison Morton writes award-winning thrillers featuring tough but
compassionate heroines. Her nine-book Roma Nova series is set in an imaginary
European country where a remnant of the ancient Roman Empire has survived into
the 21st century and is ruled by women who face conspiracy,
revolution and heartache but with a sharp line in dialogue.
She blends six years’ military service with a life of reading crime,
historical and thriller fiction. On the way, she collected a BA in modern
languages and an MA in history.
I loved writing it! They are going to liberate their country so they're keen, but Aurelia is realistic and wants them to be serious and focused. There are resonances for Europe today...
If readers would like to dip into the first two books in the series, INCEPTIO and CARINA, they are both on offer at 99 pence/cents for the whole of June.
And I am suddenly desperate to get to our country house and bury myself in my Roma Nova books! You go, Aurelia!! (Need I say I love the excerpt?)
ReplyDeleteThank you! Well, you need to get the troops motivated when you're sending them into harm's way. But of course, Aurelia is leading them there...
DeleteNow THAT was a speech! Great stuff!
ReplyDeleteI loved writing it! They are going to liberate their country so they're keen, but Aurelia is realistic and wants them to be serious and focused. There are resonances for Europe today...
DeleteIf readers would like to dip into the first two books in the series, INCEPTIO and CARINA, they are both on offer at 99 pence/cents for the whole of June.
ReplyDelete