Dinner was a lavish feast. The grand table was filled with all sorts of foods. There were about fifty people present. I sat next an eagle-rider (a high military rank equal to a knight) and the minister of culture. They both bored me to death. Again, the choir was present, this time composed of both young men and women. With their relentless singing and the two bores I sat next to, I felt miserable.
The dining hall was quite large and illuminated by beautiful candle chandeliers. I counted twenty of them. The walls were gray and decorated with colorful, but dull paintings of countryside.
There was no talk of business during the dinner. But once we had finished stuffing our tummies, the consul suggested we step to a private room. The rest of the lot stayed in the hall, not paying attention to our sudden departure. Some still nibbled their food, while others went dancing to the soft voices of the choir.
The consul guided us to an elongated hall that led to a small room. A large glass window offered the view of the city levels below.
“Sometimes I use this place to conduct business. I enjoy the view while I contemplate my schemes, ha ha ha! Please, sit. Is it necessary for the young ones to be present? We could have this talk by ourselves, Lord Tiberius.”
“I prefer it this way. The young folk have still much to learn. And what better way than active participation?”
“As you wish. So, what do we need to talk about?”
“Well, consul… You must be aware the League’s power is growing and presents a threat to us all.”
“We are aware. So, you wish Megalopolis and Vetulonia to become allies, is that it?”
“In a way, but more. Vetulonia has envisioned a future that would serve us all. A grand alliance of Helena, comprised of all the realms on the continent. This alliance would be governed by a council made up by us rulers. It would deal with disputes in a peaceful way, keeping everyone in line. The realms have already established a somewhat joint postal system. Next should be a network of well maintained and guarded roads, for safe traveling and trade. Then a standardized currency, again, to enhance trade. At one point we’d have to deal with the Orcs as well... Together we all have so much to gain. Why be foes, when we can be friends?”
“Quite an ambitious plan, my Lord. Anyone on board yet?”
“We signed a treaty with Alena, and Alena signed a treaty with the Elves. And Vetulonia is all but allied with the Dwarves of Dwarvenlands.”
“Ah, yes. Our ill-tempered cousins. Well, it is something, I'll give you that.”
“Come spring, Vetulonia will dispatch invitations to all the realms to a conference in Lux. I urge your attendance.”
“Why not, heh? Are you aware, my Lord, that we signed a treaty with Porosia five days ago?”
Tiberius and Julia glanced at each other.
“No. Being on the road, news travel slower than usually. How did this occur?” he frowned.
“Well, the Porosian ambassador visited us seven days ago. It appears the Porosian king is concerned with the state of his kingdom! Seeks guidance and protection from the great republic of Megalopolis! His mother died, you see. Since they put her in the ground the boy is quite lost or so I've been told. Anyway, I responded to his call. It’s an election year and I’ll use this as a fine promotion of my politics. Once again, as in the past, the realms of Helena seek guidance and protection of our great people! The voters will like that. You see, lately we’ve been having heavier bickering with the opposition than usual. You know how plebs are, always unsatisfied, bored even. Always on the verge of a riot! Well, the Populares party is quite good at harvesting this agitation. True, we Optimates have been having a hold on the senate for over twenty years now. Corruption did infest some of our governance processes, that is also true. But what Populares are promoting is against every core value of our great republic! Our constitution! I won’t have it!”
“So you and Porosia have merged fates? How did this go through the senate? I do know you Optimates hold a slight majority in the house. But still, two third of the votes are required for such an act,” Tiberius again frowned.
“Well, I persuaded some Populares with my great patriotic speech! You should have heard it, I narrated it with perfection! I can have my secretary fetch you a copy, if you’d like. Some I suspect are the League’s sympathizers and would welcome a war that they feel we cannot win. Treacherous lot! And others we bribed.”
“But you do realize this can very well… No, this WILL lead to war with the League!” Tiberius raised his voice.
“We'll see about that. But even if war happens our republic would come out victorious and my party will then claim the benefits. And by party, I mean me.”
“You may very well lose this war,” said Tiberius with a harrowing voice.
“If the Populares win the next election we might as well be invaded by the League. It won’t make much difference,” the consul shrugged her shoulders.
“I’m aware of the political differences between your two parties, but has it gone that far? You’d rather see your people slaughtered than Populares rule?” Tiberius shook his head in disbelief, widening his eyes.
“You are out of line, my Lord!”
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“Oh, am I?” he laughed.
The consul answered with an irritated smirk seasoned with a pinch of contempt. There was lingering silence and a stare-down between our Lord and the consul. She then continued:
“Come spring, Megalopolis will attend your glorious meeting. But I’m afraid, my Lord, it’s too late for such idealism. Twenty years ago you might have accomplished something, but now? War is brewing. But let’s hope for the best, yes? Anything else?”
“I don’t know, is there?” Tiberius threw his hands in the air and smiled.
“If that would be all I suggest we get back to the party.”
We all stood up at the same time and she led us back to the dining hall. There Tiberius and Julia started mingling with our hosts. We pledges lingered about, observing the crowd. Soon Otho was talking with two middle-aged women who appeared to be drunk. They laughed at everything he said and touched his face quite often. They also kept his cup full. Cecilia and Flavia were being courted as well by two young men, unusually tall, handsome and vigorous. And so I ended up alone. But I didn’t mind, quite the contrary. I watched people around me getting drunk and that was quite amusing. After some time a woman of my age came up to me.
“Are you bored?” she asked with a boisterous voice that immediately made me smile.
“No, not at all. I’m never bored when left by myself.”
“Oh… Should I let you be then?” she cordially asked.
“Not at all!”
She had two cups in her hands and offered me one:
“Want some?”
“Sure, what is it?"
“Beer!”
“Yes, give me some!”
She laughed and then leaned against the wall next to me.
“My name is Zalana.”
“Antonius.”
“What a pretty name!”
“Thank you. Chosen by my grandmother. So, how come you’re here? What’s your role in this… Splendid occasion?”
A man not far from me threw up on the floor, then slipped and fell on his behind. People, him included, laughed.
“Oh, I’m the daughter of Aldon Beleg.”
“Hm. I know this name. I’ve read about it, somewhere. If I’m not mistaken, he is the leader of the Populares, the opposition party?”
“The very one,” she pointed to him. He was short, with gray hair, and a straight, almost perfect nose.
“To Megalopolis’s old guard he seems quite extreme. Plebs love him, though. You share your father’s politics?”
“No,” she answered and got more serious.
“Optimates then?”
“No,” she repeated her answered, but this time she smiled and said:
“Megalopolis’s politics is nothing more than a theater. A cheap show for the masses. Our senate house is a battlefield of a few wealthy families locked in an eternal fight for power. My father’s nature, beneath his idealistic mask, is the same as the current ruling consul. Oh, a dangerous snake that one!”
“So, how do you untie this knot of corruption?” I asked sipping my beer.
“You can’t. Realms come and go. Megalopolis and Porosia are on their death bed.”
“Just like that, ey? It didn’t have to come to this,” I sighed and thought of Calista and Lord Cronos.
“No, it didn’t. But here we are. But if it does come to war, I won’t be sitting here idly, waiting for some disgusting soldiers to force themselves on me. Most of my friends are spoiled and ignorant, but I’ve read history books, I know what happens to women when armies invade. So I’ll pack my bow and my arrows, saddle my eagle and fly to Vetulonia. I like your republic. From what I’ve read it seems like a pleasant place to live. In Megalopolis though, the public opinion of Vetulonia isn’t that high. Some say it’s not much better than the League and some sneer it’s even worse! A dictatorship ruled by the Cohort! At least the League has elections, even though they’re of dubious nature.”
“But anyone can pledge to the Cohort and many get accepted. There are just a few rules that are there to keep the power in check, that’s all. If you leave, what will happen to your father? Wouldn’t you miss him?”
“No. My grandmother raised me. He was always too busy with politics, politics, politics. The defender of the common people! But the only thing my father cares about is his power and self-pride. He conceals his vicious thirst with big idealistic speeches and phony compassion. So if the worse happens, he'll have to live with the consequences of his actions, but without me by his side! I will not be his collateral! Want another beer?”
“Yes, yes, I do.”
She went to the tables and brought us two cups each.
“Is it strong?” I asked.
“Very much so,” she answered and laughed. We talked for hours while getting drunk. She told me of her poems and recited a few of them. They were quite good. She told me she had a suitor who was a bit older than her. Although she liked many aspects of him, he was a devoted Populare, faithful follower of her father. So she suspected his affections weren't genuine.
“Why are you tolerating him then?”
“He’s good in bed.”
“Oh! Well, he wants to leave a good impression on your father.”
She laughed. It looked like a promising night, but after the fourth cup, I got immensely tired and I excused myself. She didn’t seem bothered by my sudden ill mood. She hugged me and said goodbye without much pomp and walked away. I then glanced around the hall. Tiberius and Julia were debating an older couple. Cecilia and Flavia were dancing with the men that courted them earlier. And my friend Otho was nowhere to be seen.
I left the dining hall and headed to my chamber. Of course I got lost on the way and found myself in a long, ill lit, narrow hallway with four doors. Being drunk I thought it might be a good idea to knock on one of the door and ask for directions. And that I did. I picked the first one to my left. Nobody answered. So I slowly opened it and saw a man and a woman having intercourse. They were in bed and the man was taking the woman from behind. They were so captivated with each other that they didn’t notice me. I was about to leave, when I realized it was the consul herself and her fierce political opponent Aldon Beleg! I got disgusted by their hypocrisy. I left the room by slamming the door with full force and then ran away.