Cladius walked out of the marble theatre, shuddering. He rested his head against a painted pillar, his curly hair brushing against it. Suddenly, he felt a hand on his shoulder. He turned swiftly and found Larius smiling at him, revealing three golden teeth among the yellow ones.

“Cladius, pal. What did you think of my speech?”

Cladius took a deep breath. “Well you did sound like you’re full of conviction.”

“I am glad you liked it. I was thinking of you.”

“Were you? Why is that?” Cladius raised an eyebrow.

“I need your help and advice,” Larius narrowed his one eyed and smiled. Cladius cleared his throat.

“My advice? You massacred an entire town. You’ll empty the province you’re in charge of. An entire race for goodness’ sake! You knew I did not agree.” He felt guilty for not telling anyone. Well, what good would it do to let anyone know, it had been too late. “And what about that spurious idea about a conspiracy? Where did you get that from?”

“Cladius. Why do you doubt my words? We did our research and uncovered the plot. Do you want more people in our glorious Capital to die under the hand of those... those savages?”

“And what evidence did you have? Only your word. And even if what you say is true, that Larius was not honourable. You could have checked on them, observed them closely, infiltrated the meetings.”

“So you’re a traitor as well.”

“What?” Cladius turned. “Of course not. I just wish to defend the dignity of this Empire. It is called Sacred for a reason, and it is that we respect the will of the gods. And the gods long for peace and order.”

“It is for peace and order that I have carried this out, old friend,” Larius chuckled.

“And now you did it.”

“Yes. Just one thing.”

“What...”

“Don’t cause trouble.”

Cladius clenched his teeth.

“What do you mean?”

“I knew of your projects. I knew you had communication with the Artisan Guild, and that they had some ulterior motive behind.”

Cladius took a deep breath.

Larius continued.

“I know you wanted their support for your own campaign next summer. And lo and behold. They are gone now. Your base for Consul is gone forever.”

Cladius swallowed. He had been outplayed.

“So now, desist, brother; as the gods have chosen me to carry out this duty; and their favour is shining on me to protect this land.”

Cladius breathed deeply.

“And I will keep honouring my duty to this Empire, while traitors like you rot and die. Unless you join me. I am giving you a chance, Cladius Julianus Duodecimus. Do not stick your nose in here, for you will be gone if you don't do this. I am a civilized man. I'll give you the chance to help me, or else you will be gone like your stinking bear-men. I will have you working by my side if there is to be peace between us.”

Cladius lifted his chin.

“I...”

“I trust in your good judgment,” Larius said, turning his back on him. He turned once again. “And, no hard feeling between us. I’ll let you know when I have something for you.”

Cladius released the tension on his body and shook his head. Yes. His plans to run for office as a Consul had been thwarted. He had thought of the Gadalian artisans as easy targets to root for him if he kept promoting their products, but now; an alliance with the Western ones would be difficult.

He looked at Larius, who strode toward the exit, as senators greeted him like a hero. Cladius then walked back to the now empty theatre, he took a deep breath and peeked, stared at the place where the half-breed patrician had died. The blood was still there, but his body had been taken out as a nuisance; and a testimony to Larius’ research.

There was someone who could help him. He scanned through the crowd. Who he was looking for looked exactly like everyone else in there, with a long white robe and white hair and a long cane.

“Senator Walpatinus. Senator!” he called, pointing at the man, who looked back. Cladius noticed his downcast face. He stared at him, waiting for him to approach.

“What is it Cladius?” the old man asked.

“Did you hear Larius’ speech?”

“I am not deaf, Senator Cladius.”

“What do you make of that?”

The old man took a deep breath.

“Well. Larius screwed those horse people over.” He laughed with a decrepit smile. “No more gold armours for us. They were too expensive anyway.”

“Sir, you don't even know half of it. He told me this morning. But I have been working with people from the province where it happened. Believe me, there was no evidence for the conspiracy he talked about.”

“Well. What good does it make? You found out too late. Like us.”

“You don't understand. It was all a lie. I had contact in the countryside, in his province, and no word of such a conspiracy ever came to us.”

“Well that is obvious.”

“And? You can't do anything?”

“What can we do? The matter is resolved.”

“No. It is not. First, this represents the destruction of a people. It is a crime, Senator Walpatinus. It is...”

The old man stared at him, slightly raising an eyebrow.

“And what do you want me to do?”

“Sir. A crime has been committed. It has to be proven somehow.”

“Well.” Walpatinus looked from side to side, then lowered his voice. “If you want to do something about it, let's try. Meet me at my home tomorrow evening. We will discuss.”

“Thank you. I knew your desire for justice could be trusted.”

He seemed pleased with Cladius' words. And that was the only help he could get in there. He knew of only two other people who knew what was happening and who managed his dealings in the Eastern provinces.

***

Tiranus Apolus could be found at a decadent tavern during most of the day. And there, he was sitting, his short hair more dishevelled than usual, with two women under his arms.

“Tiranus,” Cladius called.

The merchant turned around with a smile and dimples appearing on his pale face.

“Cladius! What brings you here!” Tiranus exclaimed. He turned completely. His chest was exposed, shaven. His face was statuesque, quite handsome, and with dimples on each side.

“Tiranus.” Cladius shook his head worriedly. “You won't believe what just happened in the East.”

“What happened?” He dropped his hands to his knees and quietly dismissed the girls. “Did someone else give them a better offer? Calm down, Cladius. Just tell me, how much do we need.”

“I don’t need any money. It’s Larius.”

“Did he bribe them? Come on...”

“Listen to me. Larius sent a Legion to the east and massacred all the men in four Gadalian villages.”

“Come on! Don't play around like that, Cladius. It's not funny.”

“No, it is not funny. This bastard did it!”

“He did what?”

“He slaughtered entire villages. Killed hundreds of men. Innocent men.”

Tiranus snapped his fingers, and an Irelandic slave rushed from the other side of the room, carrying a coat made of fox fur. He wrapped it around Tiranus' shoulders.

“Now that,” he lifted his finger, pointing at the wind. “That is the work of a sick bastard.”

“Oh, indeed.”

“And now.” He scratched his chin. “That's too bad... But you know, it's been good investing with you, but... Come on, boy, give me a good offer. Show me what you have in mind, and we'll find something else.”

“Tiranus. I don't care about the campaign and the financing anymore.”

“How so? Mate, you've been fighting so hard for this.”

“No. You know. I never even dealt with those people personally. Never saw them. But... It makes my blood boil. Everything I have has been produced by their damned hands blessed by the gods. By Apollos. Not so much by Ares, though. But... I am sorry.”

“My friend, Cladius. My friend.” Tiranus placed a hand on his shoulder. “Why worry so much? They are barbarians.”

“Barbarians? Who cares if they're barbarians or not? What if one day you don't come back to your wife. What will she think? What if someone were to kill you in front of her?”

“Boy, she'd be glad.” He took a sip of wine.

“Tiranus. Are you hearing me correctly?”

“I mean. That's what she says every day.”

“No...”

“Marriage is not for love. Who said that? You've been watching too many plays.”

“You don't know.”

“Marriage is just to bring little brats into the world and then bring more and have a good name. Pleasure is for... Places like this, you know. Where we can enjoy with no restraints, no constraints.”

“Tiranus...” Cladius shook his head.

“What do you want?” Tiranus put his hands on his waist. “Come on, shoot.”

“I feel sickened by what happened. Yes, I feel like my plans have been thwarted, but it is also a treason against someone who trusted us. Not only a man, an entire people.”

Tiranus snapped his fingers again, and a slave walked in through the mauve curtains.

“Give this old dog a good glass of distilled wine with Mithraic mushrooms,” Tiranus said, a perfect smile on his face.

“Yes, sir,” the slave responded with a voice as deep as a gorge. He rushed to bring a clay vase with a peculiar design; an explicit scene involving the god of wine and an unnamed character. Cladius raised an eyebrow.

“Come on, sit,” Tiranus said, dropping back on the old seat of padded cement, one arm on the armrest. He examined Cladius from head to toe. “You, old pal, you never went to the army, did you?”

“I did not.”

“But you sure did a good job moving upward. Even with a good family, it’s not easy these days. You're a Senator.”

“Yes. I married well. Lukrezia is a good wife.”

“Good. Good. So... Don't worry about some nasty barbarians.”

“Tiranus. They are people like us.”

“Cladius! By Bacchus! They live in shacks!” He made a mocking gesture. “And before they came here I heard they did not even have houses. They only had horses. Ah, they say they had this weird umbrella thing.” He started laughing loudly. “Yes. So, they didn't even have houses. They just rode around under their umbrellas, like enlightened monkey-men.”

“I don’t care if they lived under the sea. I don’t even give a rat’s tail about the merchandise, nor the contracts. I think about the honor of this very Empire. How come it has gone mad? How can the bastion and guide of nations be the one that decimates them from the earth?”

“Well, there must be a reason,” Tiranus muttered and drank a mouthful.

“Larius thinks they are a nuisance. Or rather, he’s still wild about the siege that happened fifteen years ago. That’s the reason. And… He knew about our dealings. You know. When that legion finds out…!”

“What do you want, Cladius? I’ve been asking you since you came, and you keep rambling.” He lifted his hand up to his head and shook it.

“I want to prove the men he killed were innocent, and deal with Larius as he deserves.”

“Is that all?”

“I don’t want the consulate anymore. Well, I actually want it. But not for my own glory! I want to preserve order and lawfulness before the whole Empire comes crumbling.”

“Tell me what you need. What are you planning to do?”

“I know what I have to do. I need to prove that he is lying. I need to punish him, as his deeds are murderous. He has slaughtered hosts of the Empire. The law clearly states that it is a crime.”

“Now. Speak now. How do you prove it?”

“Investigate. Tiranus, get the men who dealt with the Gadalians. I will go with them to the East.”