charloft - 100 drabbles - 35. Burn

[on_holy_ground]

Once the bulk of the fighting was done, Darius gave his men permission to loot, pillage, and burn the once great city of Rome. His only instructions were that they were to leave the holy places and those who cowered there alone.

It was not mercy that stayed his hand, or any reverence for the Gods and the places they held sacred. It was simply the rules of The Game that such places be left alone, and so he did so in all aspects of his life.

His men cared not for his reasons however, they simply followed his orders.