The borderlands of the new Romanus Empire were changing.
What had once been little more than shifting terrain marked by patrols and loosely claimed territory was now taking solid form — stone by stone, post by post.
Julius rode at the head of his vanguard along the fresh eastern line, the border wall a gleaming scar of control dividing his empire from the Principality.
The wind cut sharply along the ridgeline where they paused, dust trailing from the hooves of their cavalry.
From this vantage, Julius could see the beginnings of what he had envisioned days ago now realized in stone and iron.
More than a wall.
A statement.
A severing.
He dismounted slowly, surveying the tower before him as a team of legion engineers finished securing the final gatehouse lever.
