In the afternoon we sat sail for Porosia. It took us twelve days of pleasant voyage. That whole time Otho and I discussed and speculated about the Ancients. At night I thought about Antonia, Marius, my family and things I’ve seen during the Elixir dream. I wrote a letter to Nicola, describing the voyage (leaving out the pirates’ camp). I intended to mail the letter to her once we reached Porosia. Helena post office system was quite efficient and somewhat of a joint venture of all the realms. Mail rarely got lost.

When I saw the shores of Porosia I got excited. It was the first strange land I had ever seen. My parents told me we’d once visited the Dwarvenlands, but that I do not recall, so it doesn’t count.

Otho was in a pleasant mood as well. He had a nutty smile on his face pretty much all the time. Sometimes I’d observe him from the side, feeling deep sympathy towards him. My childhood wasn’t a pleasant one, but I couldn’t have imagined being disowned by my parents. I’d remember my mother and how she embraced him and how she accepted him immediately as one of her own. It brought tears to my eyes.

The last third of the sail we traveled paralleled with the shore. People on the land observed us with curiosity. Vetulonian ships, for obvious reasons, were hard to miss. Some waved, some yelled curses, some stared. It was an odd feeling watching foreign people and their reactions to us.

One day Titus approached Otho and me. He put his hands on our shoulders and sighed.

“Tomorrow, lads, we’ll say farewell. But don’t be sad, I’m sure we’ll be seeing a lot of each other. Here, I made something for the both of you.”

He gave each a carved wooden piece. I got a wolf and Otho got a horse.

“There’s fire in you, Antonius, that’s why you got the wolf. And Otho, you have more dignity and grace than all of us combined. Hence, the horse!”

Stolen novel; please report.

“Thank you!” we both said at the same time and then we all laughed.

“Will you board the shore?” I inquired.

“Of course! Whores are already waiting for me and my money! Ah…Only for a day or two, so the crew can stretch their legs. We have to pick some mail and some merchandise, and then we’ll head back home. Your new entourage will be the legionaries, but you already know that.”

“Yes, we’ve been told. A hundred of them. That’s a small army.”

“Well, better to be safe than sorry. We’re not very popular around here. Neither Porosia nor the League like us very much. And other parts of Helena can be quite unpredictable. Alright lads, back to work I go!”

Titus trotted away, while Otho and I continued watching the passing shore. Just as we both lit tobacco sticks, Tiberius appeared behind our backs.

“Otho, give me one of those.” Otho took out his wooden box and handed it to our Lord. He opened it, took one tobacco stick and lit it with a lens he fetched from his pocket.

“So, tomorrow work begins. Which means, do exactly what you’re told, when you’re told! Ears open and don’t talk unless addressed. Understood?”

“Yes, my Lord.”

“Be observant of everything and everyone. This isn’t merely a diplomatic mission. We’re dogs, trying to sniff out what may or may not be. Yes?”

“Yes, my Lord.

“Remember to check your tunics, they must be in perfect condition. Normally I wouldn’t give importance to such vane matters, but the people we’re meeting tomorrow are quite impressionable. So it will benefit us if we act the part.”

“Yes, my Lord.”

He turned around and went bellow the deck.

“Everything is moving so fast. A year ago we were still in Academy. Now…” said Otho with a distant voice.

“Now we’re here, being cursed by this sad lot,” I laughed and pointed to a farmer, yelling at us from the shore.