Chapter III

... a pack of Lupi Divini (Divine Wolves) approached Maximillius and his siblings. The fifteen wolves split up, each one heading for one of the siblings. The largest one, pitch black, twice the size of the other wolves, approached Maximillius.  As the wolves approached the siblings they growled, the pitch was low and sent shivers down their spines. Cornelius and Flavius were shaking as the wolves approached, and they held up their brother Maximillius. The alpha, the one approaching Maximillius, stood before him it let out a howl that would have woken the dearly departed. Then it lowered its head in cozied up to Maxmillius. It was then that all the wolves established a soul-bond with their respective masters.

An extract from the Fabula Maximillii (the Fable of Maximillius)

(Note: Sorellia is 10,1 decicorpi, which is 193.4 cm, 6’4)

(Note: Imperial Governors will appear in the chapter so here is the basics of how the Provincial Hierarchy is structured. At the top is the Magister Maximus and the Magisterium, sort of like an Emperor and his Imperial Court. They appoint Promagisters, deputy Magister, to govern an imperial diocese. The Promagisters then appoint Proconsuls, deputy Consuls, to govern the Imperial Provinces. The Proconsuls then appoint Propraetors, deputy Praetor, to govern a Provincial Region. The Propraetors then appoint Procurators, deputy curators, to govern the pagi, regional subdivisions.)

(Note: Promagister < Proconsul < Propraetor < Procurator)

Dies Lunae, Maximillianus, 49,912 Praesens

Shortly after getting into some more comfortable clothing Tacticus was dragged down to the town’s temple by Sorellia.

‘At least I’ll be able to see that old augur again…’ – Tacticus

“Hurry up brother, the temple will be closing soon.” – Sorellia

“I’m coming, rather you shouldn’t be running on the temple thoroughfare.” – Tacticus

Sorellia comes to an abrupt stop, turns around to face her brother. A dark aura is forming around her; an evil glint comes to her eyes. She has a smile on her face, but it doesn’t quite reach her eyes.

“Did you say something brother?” – Sorellia

‘Crap’ - Tacticus

“No, nothing” – Tacticus

“Okay, well come on, we need to get to the Temple.” Sorellia

Once again Sorellia begins her mad dash for the temple. They arrive a couple of minutes later. As the pair were walking up the stair to the temple a man called out from their left. He had a gaunt face with a timid, feeble build. Barley 80 decicorpi (153.2cm, 5’0) tall

“Sorellia, how are you, have you reconsidered my offer for later tonight?” - ???

‘Who’s this imbecile” – Tacticus

An evil glint appears in the eyes of Tacticus.

“Fuck off Tullius” – Sorellia

“Come on dear, don’t be like that. Hey, wait a minute, who’s the bastard walking with you?” – Tullius

‘WHAT DID HE SAY!’ - Tacticus

Before Sorellia could say a word Tacticus had moved from her right and was now standing right in front of Tullius. His face was a mask of fury.

“I’m her brother, Tullius, and if you ever, and I mean ever, approach my sister again, I’ll personally escort you to the temple’s crematorium.” – Tacticus

“S-sorry.” – Tullius

Tullius’ face turned pale, panics entered his. After all, what kind of fool would pick a fight with, not only the son of the Captain of the Vigiles, but with the prodigy of Gabinaculum. As the stories went, Tacticus beat all the vigils in a sparing session, when he was eight years old. As Tullius ran off, madly dashing out of sight, Sorellia turned to Tacticus.

“Thanks, now let's go see old Horatius” – Sorellia

“...” – Tacticus

The two of them walked into temple. As they enter a small, timid, man approaches them.

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‘Here comes Argimenius, it’s good to see him again, haven’t seen him since my parents introduced Sorellia to him to being her tutoring’ - Tacticus

“Sorellia welcome, and is that you Tacticus. How long has it been, three, four years? It’s good to see you again” – Argimenius

“It good to see you as well Argimenius, it must to have been three years since I last visited here, bringing little Sorellia along to start here tutoring under Augur Horatius.” – Tacticus

“Very much so, well I presume you would like to see Horatius?”

“Yes please” – Sorellia

“Come this way then.”

Argimenius led the pair towards a door on the right side of the main hall of the Temple. He opened the door and then, turning left, led Tacticus and Sorellia down the corridor.

“Have you heard the news from Octodrium?” - Argimenius

“No?” – Tacticus and Sorellia

“Our Proconsul (of Alpinia Octodrionnis) has been ordered, by the Promagister of Alpinia, to raise a levy. From what I’ve heard, the Promagister is worried about the Proconsul of Transalpinia, since he threatened secession. So, as a precaution, the Promagister has threatened to decimate Transalpinia.” – Argimenius

(In this case ‘decimate’ is meant in the traditional, Roman, sense. That is to kill one in ten people.)

“What was the Proconsul’s response?” – Tacticus

“Word is that our Proconsul is more than happy to support the Promagister, but the Propraetor of Grathia has informed our Proconsul that he will support Transalpina, with or without the consent of the Proconsul.” – Argimenius

Tacticus and Sorellia stoped, their faces awash with shock.

“What happened to the Mos Regminis?” – Sorellia

(Mos Regminis: The Way of Governance. It refers to the tradition that within the imperial hierarchy the subordinate must, always, obey their superiors. But, by the same token, the leaders must always heed the advice of their subordinates.)

The pair began to walk again, following Argimenius and as the corridor veered left. The timid man began to answer Sorellia’s question.

“The Mos Regiminis has fallen apart. Due to the Interex’s usurpation of power from the Magisterium many of the Promagisters have, either officially like Aquitania and Pannonia, or unofficially like Carpathia or our own Alpinia, seceded from the Empire. Because of this many of the lesser Governors, the Propraetores and Procuratores, have become unwieldy, declaring that the Diocesan Governments lack either the support of the Purple (the Imperial Government) or the support of the Plebs (‘Plebs’ is a latin word meaning ‘the masses’). They use this reasoning to weaken the authority of the greater Governors, the Promagisteres and the Proconsules, strengthening their own power. In the Diocesis Serviae (The Diocese of Servia) the Imperator of Pannonia sent the IX Legio Imperialis, Valerium (The 9thImperial Legion, Valiant) to pacify the lesser Governors, due to this very issue. The pacification ended with the Imperator dispatching a Military Prefect to govern the diocese, citing ‘For as long has the civil leaders of the Empire continue to rally behind petty causes, seeking to usurp the righteous authority of their superiors, I, as the Commander-in-Chief of Pannonia, Servia and Callia, designate the assets and territories of the Diocese of Seriva will be placed under the control of the new Praefectura Militaris Seviae, the Military Prefecture of Servia’. – Argimenius

“Can the Empire sustain itself, considering the circumstances?” – Tacticus

“Tacticus, when I was your age my father would gather me and my brothers around the dinner table, just before dinner, and have us chant ‘Ave Patira Mea, Aeterna et Pulchra’. Now, as the years pass, it is chanted less and less. Few now remember the words of the chant. With Pannonian Blight moving closer and closer to the Imperial Capitol. The Purgatorial Orders in Gracia come closer, with each passing day, to breaking out of Acaia. Even now our home, Alpinia, has began to fracture. So to answer your question, no. It cannot sustain itself if it does not change. Its fate grows darker with each passing year, soon not even a Maximillian could save our Empire.” – Argimenius

(A Maximillian is someone drawn from the Gens Maximilliorum, The House of the Maximillians. The main branch of the family, the Maximillii Regales was, before the usurpation, the Imperial Family of the Empire.)

Argimenius stopped the pair in the middle of the corridor, to their right was a wooden door.

“Any way, step through the door, Horatius will be inside.” – Argimenius

Tacticus and Sorellia bid goodbye to the old, timid, man as he left they way they had come. The pair then turned to the door, turned the door handle, opened the door and stepped inside.