Her husband was dead. Perhaps she expected more sorrow from the senate; more mourning. How could she, though, when Livia herself felt little? She had forgone the front row seat, opting for a perch at the top of the senatorial amphitheater. She focused, with the rest of the senators, both on Stilicho as he recounted the events of the Battle at Adrianople, and on how to best respond to their new environment.
“Why so few women retrieved from their camp, good Stilicho Clara?” Sculla questioned.
Such a thing for him to ask, Livia thought in disgust. Looking for more concubines? Or painting the general a thief? She wondered why he even spoke. Marcus Sculla had always been a silent member of the senate, yet as of late he was often the first to speak.
“When my men approached their hidden camps, many of the women took arms against us, Senator. We cut down several before the bulk of the prisoners were cowed. On the march to the capital, another attempt was made by the Urzoth and the same action was taken.” Stilicho answered the question without a hint of suspicion of the accusation. It is one of his best qualities, Livia thought to herself, recalling their months together when Stilicho had served on her council. She might have even smiled a little, but collected herself.
“Indeed, yes a horrible thing you were forced to do, however the threat of the Urzoth are no more and we have you to thank.” Sculla said, then stood and addressed the court. “I would propose a Festival of triumph be planned and scheduled upon the end of winter in honor of the good general. Further I think it only fitting to appoint him as Stilicho Clara Adrianus, and raise him to Consul of Adrianople, the city that owes its safety and future to this man.” Whispers wound their way through the senators.
It was a formality to offer these titles and positions to a general after such a victory, and seating Stilicho as the political and military leader of what many considered the second capital of the Novissime Empire would serve to steady the city. But you have a different play here, Sculla. Such a man as Stilicho Clara in Oram would serve to undo whatever schemes you have planned. No, you look to lure him from the city with shiny things, but you do not know my Stilicho. Livia had to shake the smile again.
“A great honor to be sure, senator, but I am afraid I have no affinity for the political workings of such a city as Adrianople. Perhaps a more appropriate appointment will be found.” Stilicho said.
“In the immediate, you may have your choice of the prisoners, and if the senate approves, I would like to grant you the revenues from their sale to be divided among your men. Untaxed!” Sculla offered. The motion was met with cheers of approval from the senate and shouts of “Show us! Show us again!”
Livia turned away, as she had done the first time Stilicho showed it, then she stopped herself. I must look. Stilicho nodded his acceptance and raised the severed head of the Urzoth king from a crate at his feet. It was caked in dirt and blood, unwashed and smelled of the vile, sickening scent of death. Stilicho held it by the long gray-black hair. A beard of the same straggly tangle masked most of the severed throat. Livia saw the trophy's eyes, open and cold with a ring she thought might once have been sky blue around the unfeeling pupil. She was not disgusted, but disheartened as the room erupted in even louder cheers.
They are just trying to impress themselves with this, Livia thought bitterly. Look at me, I support the victory. Your emperor is dead! She grew more and more upset while the cheers continued, but she had enough experience not to let it show.
Minutes crawled until the noise lowered enough to hear another call from a senator Livia could not see. “What of the position of emperor? Aiden had no heirs.”
“Yes, yes. Good Stilicho Adrianus please sit with us. We would all benefit from your input in the matter.” Sculla said.
Livia stood, addressing the senate for the first time. “Noblemen and Ladies, while we take the needed steps toward our empire’s new future, I will serve in my husband’s stead until more permanent arrangements can be made.”
Before she was seated, Sculla was again speaking “Yes, yes,” he said, not too dismissive but more than enough for Livia. “Though we mourn the loss of our dear Emperor Aiden Severus, we must indeed act quickly to appoint a successor. We have all studied the histories and know the legions' and consuls' propensity to anoint their own leadership when we delay.” Livia did not hear the rest of the crooked senator’s declaration, though she knew it would be wise to pay close attention. She had locked eyes with Stilicho at the bottom of the stone steps.
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There would be no meeting of her small council after this. She had a meeting of her own to attend with Stilicho. The Senators had begun to file out of the amphitheater. Livia noticed them only after Stilicho stood. He shook hands with many of them as he crossed the floor he had just been praised upon, toward her. Livia descended the steps, moving past Porcia Sabina, Tullia and others. When they came together, Livia took Stilicho by the arm and left through what used to be her and Aiden’s personal exit. Once out of sight of the senate in a poorly lit stone hall, Stilicho quit letting her lead. He stopped and faced Livia.
“To the garden, general.” Livia urged him, acknowledging his suspicions of her more personal intentions with a coy look.
Stilicho was still. “A den of snakes, as it always has been.” He said. “Does it still trouble you?”
Livia considered the question. Of course it did, but perhaps she had become one of them more than even she knew. “Come on.” She said again, taking Stilicho’s large dark hand in hers.
The two followed the hall to the emperor’s garden, which Aiden had never cared to visit. Livia had made it hers, though. It was filled with violets, roses, a row of mulberry trees and a large olive tree all tended by the palace servants. She had them lay river rocks as a stone path through the scenic little area, though she wished she had chosen flagstone or perhaps just wood chips.
She made a game of it, as she walked, foregoing her normal gate to step from stone to stone as Stilicho strode normally beside her. Such a child again. She cursed herself.
“I’m sorry about Aiden, my Lady. I know he was good to you, but such is the terrible cost of war.”
“He was a fool, Stilicho. You know the same as I." Livia hissed, followed by a softer, "Sorry.”
Stilicho wasn’t sure how to respond, so as was his way, he didn’t. But Livia understood him. She brushed her shoulder on his. They could speak frankly here.
“You were smart not to take the appointment in Adrianople. It would be a waste of, of you. I think Sculla looks to move against me.”
“It was clear he intends to appoint a new emperor. Without an heir, Aiden’s death seems to bring the natural end of the Severan Dynasty.”
“Yes, I suppose. But I worry for my own fate. Snakes, you called them?”
Stilicho nodded and smiled gently. The two met eyes again then looked away.
“Would you stay? You are a powerful man now, perhaps the only capable general remaining after Vencia. The senate knows that now. Together we could-”
Stilicho stopped her with a kiss.
They grabbed at each other. Face, hair, bodies. Their limbs wrapped around one another and pulled them closer together. What she felt, she knew, was not love. There was no intimacy in the act. She felt only a sense of rebellion. A rebellion in the face of those senators who had pretended to revere her husband and had pretended to revere her for so many years. She was rebelling against the world and all of its fakeness. Then she remembered her decisions over the course of her life and her reasons for them. Her reasons were not the senate's approval. She knew she would stop the kiss.
Stilicho pulled away first.
“Sorry.” Livia said. She placed her head on Stilicho’s chest. She was unsure why that was the word her body chose.
Stilicho smoothed a few of the wilder strands of Livia’s auburn hair back into place.
“Everything, every man, every beast, even a God is not safe in a pit of snakes. If you seek safety, if you would like to live your own life, finish your business here and accompany me back to Calor.”
“Stilicho.” Livia said, on the verge of tears. I should have known not to ask.
“Have you not had enough of this? You heard the accounts of the Nu. Vencia has been lost, The Bryer may be next. Even Joan and Calor. Theodosius made it clear when I left, he desires independence. I will do what I can to hold him but you see the path of the Novissime. You must.”
“I do.” Livia pulled away and looked once again, deep into Stilicho’s eyes. They seemed to scream at her to leave. “But it was the same when my father died. And when the Flavians threatened a revolt while we faced the rebels of your Calor province.” She straightened her posture. She was herself again. “An empire like ours - no there has never been an empire like ours, for we do not sit at the top of the world, we are the world. And as the world continues, so will the Novissime. Go and steady your home then ask yourself where your place is. I know mine, Stilicho Clara Adrianus. Who would I be if I did not rise to it?” Livia did not look back as she left Stilicho in the garden to face the coming storm.