They did? Good. Great! That settles who the assassin was, then. I knew it the whole time, though." Aiden paced the Great Hall in front of the assembled senate. He ran his fingers through his curly black hair as he spoke. The first swipe mussed his hair more than it helped. The next smoothed a few unruly strands, only to have the third leave him more disheveled than before.

There had been no assassin in the race. Livia knew it, the other senators knew it, and the empire knew it. While they all dealt with the after effects of the race, Aiden had sailed from Oram's port and had presumably been enjoying the Phillip Sea in the week since his outburst at the festival. Upon his abrupt return, he had ordered the senate to meet.

Livia could see by the empty stretches of stone benches that many senators were not in attendance. Aiden would not notice. That was something else they all knew. Those senators who did show had tried to tell the emperor about the new challenges that had arisen in his absence. Most of their words had been wasted.

Livia collected her thoughts. The rebellion, led by the Consul of the island province of Vencia provided a mask for the chaos Aiden had wrought. A case could be made to the citizens that Aiden was right. Livia tried to convince herself.

"Send all the legions to Vencia! Everyone! I want that island sunk back into the sea!" Aiden's outburst shook Livia from her thoughts. She grasped for words, and they came quickly.

"Your grace, please. There is also the Urzoth menace. What can be spared to confront them?" Livia was as gentle as she could be. She knew she could not out right oppose her husband, but if she could just get him to say something that made sense. Aiden spun on his heels and dropped to a knee in front of Livia. She struggled to hide her disappointment.

"Do not worry, my love. I know these barbarians trouble you so. You are safe, I will keep you safe." He brushed Livia's face and she feigned a smile. Aiden stood and faced the senate, "I will crush this horde myself!" Even Livia could not hide her astonishment. "They ride for Adrianople, you say? Good! I will gather my Placian forces and crush them against its walls!"

"Your grace, I would fear for you every moment. Please, I'm afraid it would be too much to bear." Livia's plea was half hearted, but she knew she had to say the words.

"Perhaps the Lady has a point, your grace. A voice called from the upper rows of the sparse crowd of senators. "General Archaeus could call on reinforcements from the legions at Joan and pursue from the north, and if the scouts are true and the Urzoth are heading for the coast, we have capable men in Adrianople as well. Surely your grace would be of more service here, overseeing both fronts of the war?" It was Sculla.

Livia hated him. His family was low class, wealthy sure, but with an atrocious pedigree. It was whispered that Sculla's father had made the family fortune by extorting the victims of fires. A fire would start on an estate or in a shop, then Sculla's family would show up with all the tools to help. They would help after they were paid. It was an ugly business for ugly people, and to Livia, Sculla was ugly inside and out.

This must be a game. There is always a hidden game with him. No one else sees him but I do. Livia was careful not to stare, and not to look away either. What was his play in this? Was he truly trying to keep the emperor out of battle or did he simply know how to stoke his flame? Perhaps he was pushing Aiden into the fight? For what purpose, old snake?

"My love, could you bear to sacrifice our time together? For the empire? For the great Novissime Empire?" Aiden said as he stretched a hand out to Livia.

He has no sense, Livia turned her attention back to Aiden. She nodded silently.

Aiden may have been young, and dull as it were, but he had been diligent in his training and Livia did trust his Placian Guard. Plus if he were to confront the Urzoth surely he would be assisted by the greatest military minds of the empire. However numerous, these Urzoth would be outmatched. She wasn't sure she believed any of it, but she knew it did not matter.

"It is settled then!" Aiden struck a triumphant pose. "I will take the field against this invading horde. Brennus, this Urzoth King, will have his head atop a spike within the week."

"And who shall we send to quell Vencia, your grace?" Crassus asked. Livia knew him to be loyal, and from her understanding, a man with no wife, children or hopes of power. If there was a man to give her an honest answer, it was Crassus.

"I will consult with the legions before we come to a decision." Livia responded in her husband's place.

Aiden turned to her, "Yes my wise and wonderful flower. As Tullia has said we must first understand our position then only should we move." He stroked her face and called to the old man sitting some distance away, "Isn't that correct, teacher?"

"It is, your grace." Tullia said. His expression and tone betrayed his words. He was resigned to the fact that his pupil could recite teachings, but was incapable of absorbing a single thing. He felt there was no point in hiding it.

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"Then it will be done. On the morrow, my friends. The lady and I must tend to other matters!" Aiden leered at Livia with a childish grin.

It was crude. Of course it was. It was Aiden Severus, the Emperor of the Novissime. Livia knew how to hide her disgust.

As the senate left, Aiden gazed upon Livia with doe eyes.

Another empty pose, Livia thought as she stood. "Your grace, I must first speak with some members of the court. I will be along shortly."

"Do not let me wait too long, my love." Aiden said. He strutted from the Great Hall.

Livia made her way toward the small room adjacent to the large senate meeting area where she often spoke with her own small council of advisors. They were Tullia, Crassus, General Remus and Porcia Sabina; all members of the senate. Before she reached the meeting hall's door, she felt a cold hand grip the exposed flesh of her upper arm. Again, it was Sculla.

"I truly wish him to stay in Oram, my lady."

"Livia, will be fine. And I heard your thoughts."

Sculla took a long moment before continuing. Livia felt exposed by the silence. "Yes but I am afraid your trust in me has wavered. I do not think the Urzoth to be the threat Archaeus has positioned them to be, but there have been reports of a much more potent barbarian force on their heels. And I am sure you have heard the rumors of the strange disappearances on Vencia."

"More Druid nonsense? I've heard this as well."

"Perhaps. But the winds of change are upon us all now. We should not simply allow these things to happen to us. Don't you agree?"

"Know your place." Livia let the words hang. She knew the snap was incorrect, but she could not show it.

Sculla smiled and bowed slightly. "Indeed, It was my mistake. I am sorry I disturbed you. Thank you for your time." He crept away through the few lingering senators and out the Great Hall's doors.

Livia put the issue behind her and entered her small court's meeting room. She took her place at the head of the table and addressed Remus. "What has been lost on the island?"

"The Legion was defeated soundly, my lady, less than a third made it back to harbor and the rest were killed. It was a small contingent though, not a true legion. 100 men lost, maybe less."

"Yes. And the capabilities of response?"

"Close to them would be Archaeus, he has recalled his cavalry to Fort Annius to aid in its recovery, but if he is to be used on the Urzoth problem then he cannot. Agrippa in Joan is near and strong, however Vencia has always been a stubborn people. I fear he may not be enough. There are others, but frankly I would not waste time with them."

"Stilicho from the south could be of aid, but that would take time." Crassus added.

Inside, Livia shuddered at the name. They don't know. No one knows. "It would take time to reach Vencia, yes, but less to help with the Urzoth horde."

"Your Aiden will be in a hurry to that front." Porcia said.

"I will do what I can to delay his advance. Send word for general Stilicho he is to sail from Calor and meet here. No. Give him the details and have him head straight for Adrianople. Agrippa and Archaeus are to draw plans to retake Vencia. Has there been confirmation of the Nu people Archaeus spoke of?"

"None." Porcia said, "I have heard of their exploits from The Bryer, but that was nearly two decades past. Even then they seemed to surprise the legions in a couple skirmishes and when they came back the Flavian we had as Consul got scared. He's since been replaced."

Livia was unconvinced. She had heard of their abilities and knew the legions' replenishment of forces had slowed over the years. They were indeed not the dominant force they had once been. "Still, the retaking of Vencia must be swift. If the Nu have frightened the Urzoth South of the Dain, perhaps they will pose a unique threat. Tullia, do you have any parting thoughts?"

"I worry separating our forces will create difficulties. Is the island of Vencia really worth the expense and time of two generals? And I worry how Aiden will fare on the field of battle." Tullia said.

"My lady, if you could convince him to garrison inside Adrianople with General Maximus until Stilicho arrives, they should have no issue crushing the Urzoth against the city's walls." Remus said.

Livia nodded.

"The boy is hot headed with a full heart. You must be very persuasive, my lady." Tullia said, head in hand.

"Yes. There is still the matter of the racers though. Are they hurt?" Livia asked.

"Yes. As ordered, they have been hurt." Remus replied.

Livia smiled slightly at the jest. "Are they in a state to be returned to their families?"

"Some more so than others, my lady." Remus said, more seriously.

"Might it be necessary to send payment for the trouble caused?" Crassus asked. He had been unusually quiet, and the question surprised her.

"Sure. As well as a letter explaining what happened."

"My lady," Tullia began, "as we are already at war with Vencia, I would suggest their rider not be released so quickly."

"You are not suggesting having him killed?" Livia asked. She had considered the idea herself, but knew even here among her council she could not be too quick to agree to such a thing.

Tullia's face grew dark and somber. "No one knows their fate right now. It is an option."

"He is right, releasing him after the Emperor's public comments could create a wedge between the two of you. And there are many who may look to exploit such a division." Porcia said.

Livia leaned back in her chair and looked away. "Oh Aiden, such trouble you put me in." But her thoughts were on Stilicho.