I awoke early in the morning of the gathering. Leaving the bed with a groan. Using the water-filled basin to fresh and wake up. Next was to choose a fitting toga for the meeting.
A white toga with a purple drape spotting our crest was equipped. For footwear, a pair of leather sandals had to suffice. After quickly combing my hair I was on my way to the gathering.
"Morning governor", the guards greeted as I left the temple behind. Four escorted me.
"Good morning", I replied.
The walk to our destination was rather short. The old senate hall would function as the meeting place of our council.
The stories about the senate were well known to every child in Italia. Yet that was all they were, stories. The Senate had been dissolved several times during the time of the empire. More often it was just filled with loyalists of the emperor.
The success of the senate was outshined by its unceremonious fall. The actions of Julius Caesar and that of his assassins and later the ones that avenged his death were the final straws for the republic. The Senate would never regain its importance with the rise of Emperor Octavius.
The guards stopped at the hall's entrance. Guarding it with two soldiers on each side. The hall had been emptied from rubble and trash. The building itself had survived the recent events, its interior though had not been so lucky. The mosaics had been scraped out from the walls, ground and ceiling. The furniture stolen or used as firewood. Everything of value looted long before our arrival.
A wooden round table stood in its centre. Chairs around it, one for every member. One of the first thing crafted by the colonists. The supplies trickling in from Neapoli had started the re-construction of Roma.
Two servants entered and brought with them the requested papers for this meeting. They looked startled by my early presence but resumed their task quickly. Information, blank papers, ink, fathers and refreshment for us were placed on the table.
Most of the papers contained all the information we have gathered since our arrival. The rest was filled with the lists of issues I and Alaric had drafted. Copies had been made for every member so that they could prepare for the meeting.
I waited for nearly an hour and collected my thoughts. Testing several sentences in my head and then with a low voice. I need to present and articulate myself properly. This was to be an important moment of my governor career.
I again went over all the points to be discussed today. The sound of shoes clacking on the ground made me look up from the papers.
"Hello Alaric."
"Hello Lucius. How long have you been here?"
"Around an hour, probably. Just want to make sure that my first gathering is a smooth one."
Alaric nodded. Seating himself to my right. He as well began again to go through the papers and issues. We discussed parts of them again until the next participant arrived.
Valerius Scipii entered the hall. The blond boy sat down next to Alaric.
"Greetings to you", he said.
"Hello", Alaric added.
"How have you been?", I asked him. He beamed a smile at my question.
"Actually, wonderful. I accompanied father to the northern conference and for once the nations actually listened to our interjections", Valerius said. I shifted in my chair as my interest was piqued.
"Has the conference reached a conclusion?", I inquired. The conference had been called to decide how the lands of the northern alliance would be split up. We were invited as observers, together with the east.
"Not quite, but negotiations are nearing their end. The Kingdom of Aquitania will likely get the western part of the alliance. Everything up to the city of Genua will be theirs. The United Kingdom of Illyricum and their elven prince would get land in the east of Italia. Everything east of Altinum will be theirs. The city itself and the rest of the alliance goes to Raetia", Valerius concluded.
"What of the east, the Visigoths, the Franci Empire and us?", I asked.
"The federation had to pay a small sum of war reparations to all participants of the invasion. The east got nothing and, in return, we got neither. The franks got a sizeable part from the spoils of war", Valerius answered.
"I would say that such an outcome is acceptable for us", I contemplated. Father had sent Rastus Scipii to stop the east from getting influence in Italia. It would have been good if Rastus secured some influence for ourselves but stopping the ambitions of the east was good enough, for now.
Constantine Brutii was the next to enter. To his right Duvira Oakenshield. Both were partaking in a fierce discussion as it seemed. They greeted us shortly before continuing to argue next to Valerius.
"The is no way for your small raven to beat my earth rumbler", Duvira tapped her head. "Earth beats fathers."
"Perhaps a bout will have to settle this argument", Constantine offered, smiling.
"Oh yes it will", Duvira accepted. The duo exchanged time and date for their fight.
Juladia Nightbringer came next. Sitting to my left. She started to observe the rest of us while her hands played with the daggers. The runes on those looked interesting.
The last three arrived together. Anaitis Triton came in while speaking with Statilia Ruber Vulpes. Followed by her husband Aellelorn.
It was the first time that I saw both of them. They had elected to settle in their mansion first after arriving in Roma and now I could see why. Anaitis had a round belly and caressed it with a smile.
"Greetings governor, fellow council members", Anaitis started and the other two followed suit. Then they sat down left to Juladia.
I hit the table thrice and the conversations around me died down. Everybody turned to look at me.
"Today we have gathered here to hold the first meeting of this council, the council of Roma. Is there anybody here that wants to reconsider his position on this council? I will count silence as acceptations of the rights and duties such a position brings with it", I spoke steadily and clearly. Waiting for a few seconds to give them a chance to speak. My heart beat rapidly.
Nobody spoke. I nodded shortly, then continued on.
"Then let us continue. First, let us discuss your positions. Starting with the Warden of Roma. Constantine from the house of Brutii do you accept this position?"
"Yes my prince. I accept and swear my loyalty to you, your father and the good of the dukedom", Constantine replied. Another, a longer oath, was exchanged.
"Alaric would you", I said and he began to speak.
"Warden, you have read the papers sent to you. Are there any remarks or questions you want to share with the council?", Alaric asked.
The warden's tasks were to organize a permanent system of guards in Roma. Then those guards would have the task to upkeep the law and order, mediate in conflicts and protect groups of citizens that could face persecution from other groups in the city.
Constantine also had to organize a separate guard for the government complex and the mansions of the officials. Ensuring my and the council's safety. As warden, he was to also escort state guests safely into and out of the city.
"Yes, several. Can the guard consist of locals, how much leeway do the guards have when enforcing law and order, are we to treat everybody the same?", he looked at Alaric. "By the way how should I address you."
"Royal adviser", I interjected and nodded to Alaric.
"The city guard can consist of locals. The guards for the government complex will consist of loyal Neapolitans. Make sure to check the background of every one of them. The guards have certain leeways for small crimes. Everything bigger has to be resolved by trial through a judge. As we lack a judicial system for now you and I will be the judges for major crimes", Alaric explained. Looking to me for a moment. "Every citizen is entitled to the same rights and duties. You are to treat them the same. There are exceptions for foreign guests but you are to make sure that they don't get a chance to break the law."
Stolen content warning: this tale belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences elsewhere.
"Thank you royal adviser. That would be all", Constantine began to write on a paper. Noting down Alaric's answer.
"Valerius from the house of Scipii do you accept the position of the first envoy?", I asked again.
"Yes I do", he answered. Oaths were repeated.
"Do you have questions?", Alaric inquired.
The task of the first envoy was to maintain and foster diplomatic ties with foreign states. Valerius first task was to establish an embassy in Raetia. Then a few in the biggest cities in northern Italia. To create ties with local powers.
Of course, we first need to get permissions from Raetia. They will likely want to have their own embassy here in Roma. After Raetia, one diplomat will be stationed in Napule. So that we can interact with guests that came to speak with my parents.
The last two countries on our list were the duchies of Sardinia and Corsica. The non-aggression pact should give us a chance to establish a relation. They had plenty of copper and iron mines. The province and Neapoli needed those. Not only for weapons and armour but also for better tools. Though such a treaty lies in the future. First, we built the relations, then we profit.
"One. I would advise establishing an embassy in Carthage first", Valerius advised.
"Explain", Alaric prompted.
"They are losing the war against Numidia. The east will surely use the instability to gain influence in the republic. We need to prevent cooperation between those two", Valerius explained.
Alaric looked at me for a moment. I nodded. Father is probably already planning to do something about it. It does not hurt to put more effort into it. The east can't be allowed to expand further. They are already dangerous enough in their current size.
"Then you are to establish relations with the duchies only after establishing one with Carthage", Alaric stated.
Valerius nodded, starting to make corrections to the documents before him.
I turned to look at Duvira. Having rehearsed the next sentence like all of them before.
"Yes, yes. I do accept", the dwarf waved me away. Repeating the oaths.
Master-builder acquired. She was to be an intermediary between me and the guilds. Furthermore, all construction projects would be overseen by her or her servants.
Duvira rolled out a paper. It turned out it was a map of Roma. Aqueducts, tunnels, sewage system, roads, houses, temples and mansion were all marked on the map. The map was drawn to scale. The dwarf began to plough ahead.
"So the aqueducts are the easy ones. Just have to replace the missing parts. One of the things the empire actually was capable of building properly. I suggest placing runes on the things when it enters the city. Against poisoning or unclean water. Train a few civilians how to control their mana and pay them to charge the runes every day. We have a similar system in Messana", the dwarf continued to speak without pause.
Alaric was about to intervene, but I motioned for him to not. I wanted to see where this was going.
Duvira had no praise for the late empire's architecture after praising the aqueducts. First, she tackled the roads. Nearly every road in the city had a different width. Most of them were also paved with different stones and techniques. Sometimes there was just a dirt road. Though those were few.
She wanted all roads to be paved the same way, with the same width. Except for two roads. Those would be wider. One from the east to the west and one from the north to the south.
The city then was to be split up into blocks. Some looked more like eggs than blocks, but we couldn't rebuild the entire city. Duvira also wanted to have many Insulas in the blocks instead of simple houses. So that more people could fit into the city.
The fountains and baths were to be spread all over the city and not just the centre. That also was the case for temples, schools or all other buildings the general population needed access to. The sewage and water system was to be expanded and cover the entire city instead of just parts of it.
Duvira continued to lay out how to improve the efficiency of the city layout. Creating a practical city. With infrastructure covering all parts. Allowing for organized building and planning in it. She finally ran out of breath.
"That would be all of my corrections", she said between taking breaths.
I smiled widely.
"I see the perks to rebuilt Roma", I gestured at her plan of the city. "like that. You are free to implement your changes into the plan. Still, you are to first focus on the water supply and then the roads."
The dwarf waved me away again.
"I know, I know."
There was yet another batch of plans for constructions. Those concerned the entire province. The cities, towns and villages. We will first focus on Roma and then on them. The core idea was to set up a proper infrastructure in the entire province. Connecting everything to Roma.
I turned to the married couple next.
"First congratulations. Secondly, your positions are a bit more extensive. You are to manage the land and water outside the cities, towns and villages. The villages are a bit off a grey area, but most of their residents will work on the land under your supervision", both of them nodded. They had read the papers after all.
Their task was to distribute farmland and grassland to the peasants. They had to split up the forests for the lumberjack and watch that those keep the forests healthy. The rivers, seas and coastlines were also under their supervision. The only exceptions were our mines, those fell under Duvira's tasks.
Anaitis and Aellelorn Triton would support the villagers in planting the right crops in the right way. Using the three-field economy as a blueprint. They had added further ideas to increase the productivity of the fields.
Proper fertilization with animal dung, planting different crops next to each other instead of monoculture. This apparently helped insects and those apparently helped to increase the yield of crops. For the same reasons, some parts of the land would be left wild. To give those insects places to nest.
"Do you accept the positions of Master of the Land and Master of the Sea?", I asked. The names were the best way to describe their area of responsibility.
Both of them accepted and repeated the oaths. There had been no objections to the plans from them. Most of the planning was done by them and on account of the experiments they made. The rest of us lacked the knowledge to propose better solutions.
I was also fully aware of some measures that would hinder growth and productivity. Measures to protect natural habitats and the animal population.
That has been discussed with Alaric. In the end, we let those two do as long as they didn't overdo it. I had one major reason for that. It was part of their cultures. Elves like to live with the land and woods. Not on its cost. The sea-folk lived with their rivers, seas and coastlines.
If I wanted to have a multicultural province then I would need to make it attractive for all the races. More immigrants meant more power. Different people living together would result in an exchange of cultures and ideas. That was the goal for the province. To get the best of all races. The ultimate state.
I turned to the last council to be appointed.
"Statilia of the Ruber Vulpes. Do you accept the position of Steward and Treasurer?", I asked.
"I do", she repeated the oaths. The last time for today. Alaric took over.
"Any objections to the plan for administering the province or city", Alaric inquired.
"No, none", Statilia replied.
We had already spoken plenty over her ideas as we created the taxation system. Her next task was to oversee the collection at the beginning of next year. Furthermore, we would count our population. That process was nearing its end.
Not just counting though. Writing down where they live, what their job is, religion, children, life partner, race, income and wealth. And names. Every commoner family would get a second name. Can't have thousands of Julius in a city without second names.
Collecting all that information about our residents would allow for better planning of the reforms and also allowed us to see the effects of certain measures.
"That concludes the appointment of councillors and discussions of the reforms and plans", I spoke. "Do any of you have further issues that should be discussed?"
Anaitis raised a hand.
"Yes", I gestured for her to speak.
"There are conflicts between the eastern immigrants and the locals. Especially with the elves. It is worse when soldiers are not present. We need to do something", the mermaid said. A worried expression on her face. Her long scaled ears seemed to hang low. Aellelorn placed a hand on her shoulder.
"This issue needs to be resolved before it becomes a deeply rooted festering wound", the elf added.
"Any ideas?", I looked into the round. Everybody had a thoughtful expression on their face.
"We could split the city up into districts. Would lessen the contact between the races", Constantine proposed.
"No. No districts", Aellelorn interjected. An expression on his face that I had yet to see. Utter disgust mixed with anger. An unshared story behind it. "They just postpone, never solve the problem."
Phases of silence were followed by ideas thrown in. We talked about mixing the Insulas up so that elves lived next to humans. Or to arrange interracial marriages to force bonds. Arranging festivals for all residents so that bonds form naturally.
"Note down those who make problems. Throw them in a pit. Problem solved", Juladia proposed. "Worked in my mother's barony."
In the end, we found no immediate solution. We planed a few festivals to allow for an exchange of culture and release of tension. The remaining legionaries and bodyguards had also to work more. Their presence could prevent the worst. Hopefully buying enough time until we find a way to solve this.
A short discussion about minor problems followed. Questions about future reforms. How I planned to establish councils in all settlements of the province. Or what happens with noble titles.
A few questions were clearly aimed at what I would do when I became duke. My answer was clear.
"I am concerning myself with the matters of the province. I will shift my attention to the dukedom when the succession is near. Is that enough?", I asked.
Duvira, who had provided the question about the future of nobility, nodded. Not looking overly convinced. Most of them didn't. They knew what I was doing with the nobility in the province. I was erasing them all but in name.
There was only one way to convince them of my plans. I had to show them the gains they could make. And the example for those gains would be the province of Roma.
I dissolved the council meetings when there were no more questions. It had become dark outside. All of them began to head out.
I concentrated on the bond. Closing my eyes. Feeling Quintus presence north. Far north. I concentrated for minutes to feel more. To maybe get a response from him. Nothing happened.
My eyes reopened, I was alone in the hall. A few candles and a rune on the ceiling provided the only light sources.
"What are you thinking about?", Juladia's voice entered my right ear. I would like to pretend that I didn't jerk up in my chair and that my heart didn't beat like crazy.
She still sat to my right. I swear I heard her leave! I saw her leave! Her legs were even laying on the side of my chair.
I used mana sight to study the spells she used. I only got a short glimpse. Then they all dissolved.
I felt her presence, heard her breathing and could see her without a problem. A complicated expression formed on my face.
"Show me again. The spells", I said. Those silver eyes stared back. I wanted to know. How?
She smiled. "But that would be less fun." Juladia turned into a shadowy mass. The mass collapsed like a pile of ash. Dissolving as it hit the ground.
"That one is new", I stood up and headed back to the temple. The next months would be important. I was laying a new foundation for the province, for the dukedom … and maybe for something bigger.