Imperium Omnibus Aemulari

Et Sapientia Ducere

Justinius felt a growing dread as he approached the library where his father resided. He hadn’t even heard his father rise that morning; he had been in the library since he had stirred from slumber. His favorite ritual, to go to the library and read as the sun rose, was thus spoiled, and he descended the stairs to see to the guests.

The servants had already lit the fire and begun to make breakfast for the morning. Damianus and Lumina were already up, sitting together and drinking some watered-down mulled wine. Justinius accepted a cup himself and was soon joined by Lavinia. The four people from completely different cultures, considered enemies if particularities were to be observed, chatted amiably together and considered what the previous night’s events could mean. Horatius had taken everything in with his usual calm countenance and studied the body in the orchard, where it still lay. Lumina and Justinius had explained the whole encounter in detail and, since there was nothing else to be done, they had retired for the night, but not before setting guards to watch the perimeters of the villa.

Justinius now stood before the door to the library and took a deep breath, letting it out slowly. He was unsure what his father wanted to discuss but hoped it would include what had happened last night. Perhaps he knew more than he had let on. Justinius knocked and a voice called out, “Enter.”

He opened the door to find his father standing by the table strewn with scrolls and sheets bound in leather. Justinius had neglected to clean it the day before, he had been so busy with the harvest festival preparations. His father scanned a papyrus in his hand before turning to face Justinius. “You are still teaching Lavinia Aequendar, are you not?”

Or we could just ignore what happened. “Good morning,” said Justinius, sitting down. His father simply nodded and continued to stare. “I still teach it to her, per your instructions. Though, I call it old Aquillan which, in all honesty, is not that far off the mark. You would think our records would tell us something about the origins of our language. I’ll bet you a denarius we learned much more from the Aequendar than we’d like to admit.”

“But her lessons continue?”

“As I said, they do. Though why you want me to teach her that language which I study out of pure fancy and love of history is beyond me. What use she will make of it is lost to me.”

“You said it yourself,” said Horatius. “It is old Aquillan in style. To know your roots is never a bad thing.”

“I suppose so. But you didn’t just call me to discuss her continuing education which, I might add, I have been teaching diligently since you abandoned her here five years ago.”

Horatius turned to him, an eyebrow raised. “I did not abandon her. She needed to get out of Aquilla. That city is no place for a young woman to grow up.”

“I quite agree,” said Justinius. “She has been safe from its bad influence here. That does not mean you didn’t abandon her as you hardly came to see her at all. It’s been two years since your last visit.”

“Circumstances have kept me occupied.”

“Oh, I understand full well. The life of a senator must be quite busy, dealing with corruption and trying to grasp a piece of it yourself.”

His father picked up another scroll and looked at it, ignoring the accusation. “My major concern presently is that you did your duty and taught your sister what she needs: a rigorous education in the classics, language, etiquette, and Cumultin philosophy.”

“I have taught her to the best of my ability,” said Justinius, crossing his arms. “And now that she has been trained, you would take her back.”

“It is time,” said Horatius. “She must take her place as part of our family in Aquilla. Soon, she must marry for an alliance.”

“Our family…” scoffed Justinius before he could stop himself. He hesitated but didn’t see any reaction on his father’s face. Emboldened, he continued. “I don’t recall being included in this loving family. Neither is Paulus for that matter. I didn’t think you wanted rebellious, potentially magical children or half-sons in your family. Isn’t that why you sent me to isolation in this villa?”

Horatius did react to this. He turned on Justinius, his face turning red with anger. “I put you here for your safety. Your brother is another matter entirely which I will not discuss.”

Justinius fell silent as his father visibly calmed himself. “Besides, we are speaking of your sister, Lavinia. She must be made ready to accompany me to Aquilla by tomorrow evening. We leave the morning after.”

Justinius deflated like unused bellows. His chest sank in and he slumped in his seat. “Then the time has come. You have found her a suitor, I assume. Tell me he isn’t old…or fat. I suppose you don’t care if he is gentle or not.”

“I have not found a suitor,” stated Horatius. “There is no need for dramatics. She will be introduced among the society there and, perhaps in time, I will find a proper suitor that will benefit our family…and her.”

Justinius gave a forced smile at the term “our family” being used again. “I am not sure you would know what is best for her. You hardly know her at all.”

“Perhaps not,” said Horatius, “But you do.”

“A lot of good that does me, for I shall be stuck here as I have been for most of my life. I shall be alone again…” The full implication suddenly hit Justinius and he felt his face drain of blood, his color paling further. He was going to be alone again, just as he had been since he was ten years old.

Horatius gave a sideways glance, “Loneliness seems to have made you more dramatic.”

Justinius could not stop the withering look that slipped out before he restrained himself. “Forgive me, father.”

“It doesn’t matter,” he replied. “After all, you will be accompanying her to the capital as well.”

Justinius nearly fell from his seat, such was his astonishment. He bolted to his feet and clutched the table for support. “W…what?!”

“You heard well enough. Before I elaborate, permit me a question of my own. How does our political system work?”

Justinius stared at him, confused. “I’m sorry…”

“Tell me how our system works. I would be sure that you understand how our government runs.”

“I have kept up my studies, father. Why do you wish to know?” asked Justinius.

His father raised an eyebrow and continued staring at him. “I will not ask again.”

Justinius shook his head. “Very well, I shall comply. I hope you don’t mind if I don’t recite it in a textbook format and add some flavor.”

A nod was the only affirmation he got. Justinius collected his thoughts before reciting.

“Our government is split into three different branches. All these groups are combined into a single unit, the council, in which they all struggle to work together, quite unsuccessfully in my opinion. These groups are the Senate, the Consuls, and the Courts. The Senate is the most important and largest, dealing with matters of lawmaking, what the country needs most or must deal with, and so on. The Consuls deal with matters of the military, enact the laws made by the Senate and must agree with the Senate on matters of state. This happens…rarely. I might be safe in saying that the Senate in its all-knowing ridiculousness is split into three sub-factions vying for control which is splitting our republic.”

“And who are these factions in the Senate?”

“Well…the Senate is split between one extreme, the Populace, who supposedly stands for the people, and the Lords on the opposite end who stand for the upper class. The middle is the moderates…and true to form no one likes those who work toward compromise.”

“And thus,” broke in Horatius, “They hamstring the system as a whole and our country suffers for it. Very good. I am glad you kept up despite your isolation.”

“Just as you ordered,” said Justinius.

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“Orders may be easily undercut or ignored, especially when a careful eye is not kept. I have seen it happen with countless sons in other families.” He sighed wearily and muttered in a barely audible tone, “And I thought my generation was bad.”

Justinius raised his eyebrow. “Your generation did have a civil war.”

“And that wasn’t even the bad I was talking about,” said Horatius. “But that is beside the point. I want to ensure you understand our government. Do you know the current situation in Aquilla?”

“Besides the usual political refuse, not really,” said Justinius. “I just assume it is more of the same.”

“It is,” said his father, moving toward the open door to the balcony, “And it isn’t. The situation has begun to spiral into something much direr of late.” He paused, staring at something outside and, as Justinius shifted his position, he could see out the window that Lavinia was leading Damianus and Lumina between the grapevines. Horatius turned a sideways glance at him. “Do you know why those two are traveling with me?”

“I had wondered,” said Justinius. “Carxandrians on Aquillan land seems like a bad idea.”

“Their family is part Aquillan as well,” said Horatius. “Their names should give it away, very Aquillan in nature, as is their gens name, Humilius. They have one foot in both worlds which allows them to travel with more freedom than other diplomats could.”

“So, they are diplomats?”

“Of a sort. Damianus Humilius is on a mission to establish peace talks with Aquilla and end this lingering conflict once and for all.”

“That seems like a long stretch,” said Justinius, staring at the pair. “I was under the impression that certain senators still ended their speeches with a call for Carxandrian blood and their annihilation.”

“They are still there.” Horatius sighed again, his fatigue evident. “Yet, he may have a slight chance as Aquilla is currently on the verge of submerging into deeper problems…and these problems trouble me much more.”

Justinius jumped at the topic. “You refer to that creature we saw last night and the war going on up north? I assumed it wasn’t a problem until last night...”

Horatius raised a hand, silencing him. “I do not know what that was nor do I care much for their war up north. They are a barbaric people who mimic civilized society till it suits them to put it aside for personal gain.”

“You just described our people!” scoffed Justinius. His father’s gaze flicked to him but he stuttered forward, determined to speak. “That thing...last night that attacked Lumina and me...it was not natural.”

“Of course, it wasn’t! It was magic! It doesn’t surprise me that the savages up north are tinkering with such ancient and dangerous practices. But for my part, I had always assumed them to be false…”

“Does this look false?” Justinius removed the gem from his pocket and showed it to his father. “I found this on the creature...it seemed desperate to keep a hold of it.”

His father recoiled at the sight. Justinius had never seen him look frightened but he could only assume that was the expression on his face. “You should get rid of that thing! Who knows what has been mined or created in the lands beyond the Spicati Mountains.”

Justinius stared at him. “But...you know what it is...don’t you.”

Horatius shook his head. “I do not. I have only ever seen such a thing once, and that was enough. Long ago in the civil war. Let those days be bygones and let us focus on the troubles at hand rather than the strange machinations of northern barbarians. I would suggest burying it or destroying it for your good.”

“What could be worse than magic and monsters from the north?” asked Justinius. “Are we nearing economic collapse or on the verge of another civil war? Was the last one not good enough?”

Horatius shook his head. “The remnants of the last one aren’t over. In those days, general Barontius Cantorius, who was much loved by the people, led a revolt against the Senate of Aquilla. He was convinced the government was in a state of corruption beyond repair and it needed cleansing. He was also convinced that the only way to do it was through the use of old magic, hence the one time I saw such a crystal. Suffice it to say he was called a madman. We believed he wanted to be king, not reform the republic. He took on the role of Dictator, an uncommon but legal practice in times of crisis. But there was always a time limit. He declared it indefinitely. Sixteen years later and here we are…the republic he called corrupt on the verge of collapse.”

“What is happening?” asked Justinius, sitting down and gesturing for his father to sit as well. He was looking particularly pale.

Horatius sat at the other side of the table, knitting his fingers together, his mouth pursed in a thin frown. “The council of Aquilla is nearly bankrupt, yes. Worse still, mismanagement throughout the empire sees a populace on the verge of revolt. They demand citizenship and the benefits that come with it but the council of Aquilla cannot come to a decision on what to do. Instead, they tax the non-citizens still while they debate endlessly…and their taxes have begun to increase. The rising number of homeless families, their land stripped away by countless wars, and the rich snapping it up for their plantations, has led to the state being forced to house and feed thousands of people in the city of Aquilla. The city is not only declining in care but rampant crime is common. Order cannot be maintained in a city that is overpopulated and filled with veterans who are just as willing to turn their battle skills for a criminal gang.”

“Is that all?” asked Justinius as his father paused. “Rising rebellion, crime rates, and poverty? It is a wonder we are still here.”

“There is more,” his father continued. “The senate and the administration are so divided, not to mention the courts, that almost nothing is being achieved to fix the problems facing us. There are a number of solutions…some ludicrous, some practical, some more damaging than the problem itself, and we are deadlocked for an answer. Even if we could find one that would work, there is no hope of convincing all sides to agree. They could see the usefulness of a solution and still refuse to agree out of political games to win full control of the senate or administration.”

“What of the populace?” said Justinius. “Surely they wouldn’t just sit in poverty and wait. Why hasn’t a revolt happened before like it did in times of old?”

“The populace is becoming more useless than even the politicians I am afraid. They have turned to crime but, even with those who haven’t, they are made passive and lax.”

“How so?”

“Because we make them so,” said Horatius, emotion finally evident, anger. “We politicians agree to give them food, homes, entertainment…anything to keep them happy and unwilling to revolt or change their “comfortable” lives. I am not saying they live in comfort or wealth…but to be essentially housed, paid, and fed to sit around and entertain themselves has made them soft. You will see this nowhere better than among the young nobility. I doubt there is one in a hundred of them that could be considered a hardworking and competent man.”

He glanced out the window, seeing the farmers working in their distant fields. “When I return here I am reminded of the potential of our people. Yet most noble gens would look on them as nothing but dumb-minded chattel, uneducated, unbathed, and useful only as a means to an end.”

“In essence, slaves,” stated Justinius. “I understand this well enough, father. What can be done?”

Horatius eyed his son up and down and said, “I consolidate power to ensure that I can make changes for the better. I need solid heads in place within the Senate who will vote on my proposals. I am moving to vote you into a position in the Senate as a member of the lords.”

Justinius’ mouth fell open again. Incoherent sounds came out of him as he stammered and stuttered through several different beginnings and failed each time. His father watched him passively, neither amused nor angry. “You…cannot be serious!” Justinius finally spit out.

“I am completely serious.”

“You would throw your half-breed son…”

“Half-gen,” stated his father, sternly.

Justinius paused a mocking smile crossing his face. “Same thing. Do you think any of those senators would accept me with any seriousness into their council?”

“We do not need them to accept you. The party will vote you in on my say and that is all that is required.”

Justinius’ eyes widened and he drew in a breath and let it escape in an imperceptible sigh. “Ah…I see what this is. I am to be just a puppet.”

His father did not respond immediately, his gaze fixed as he kept every emotion hidden. “Our republic is on the verge of social and political collapse because of corruption and games from within. I have no choice. If I am to fix it then I must have a hand stacked in my favor.”

Justinius shook his head, his emotions flying from anger to fear to bitterness to dismay. He couldn’t decide what was to be done…what he could even do. “I…and if I refuse?”

Horatius stood, looking down at his son. His superiority seemed much more obvious from this new angle. Justinius stared up at his stern face and he added, stuttering slightly, “I cannot vote against my conscience.”

“I am not asking you to do that,” said Horatius.

“But…you said-”

“I hope that you will see, when you are there in the capital, that my decisions are the right thing to vote for.”

Justinius felt his legs weaken and he was glad he was sitting. “Will it be so obvious? I don’t think anything could be further from the truth in these times.”

“Perhaps. But I have no doubt you will see in time.”

Justinius struggled to find the proper words as a question rose from the confusing mess of thoughts within. “But why me? Why not a follower of yours?”

Horatius’ stern face seemed to grow slightly more relaxed as he responded, “I need my family there. It is time I stopped ignoring you to focus solely on the republic. It is time I brought my family into the arena to stand with me. If our family is to continue in its good work when I am gone, it needs all of its members.”

“All?” jumped in Justinius. “Even Paulus?”

Horatius’ face darkened once again and he turned away. “I cannot bring him back.”

“Why not? He was and is the best of us, isn’t he?”

“He is too dangerous to bring back.”

“Too dangerous? How can he be too dangerous? He rebelled against you once when he joined Barontius and I know the council will look upon your recall of him with ill favor but, still, you seem to feel they would follow you despite bringing me into the Senate. Would they not do the same if you brought him back?”

“It is not the political danger I worry about,” said Horatius, “It is another kind-”

“Do you mean his magic? Surely you don’t hold to that. He was just the most gifted warrior Aquilla had seen in over a century, not magical like others said. That cannot be what worries you…”

“We are done discussing this,” said Horatius. “My reasons are my own. The family must work together without him.”

Justinius fell silent and looked away from his father. It took him a moment to calm down enough to respond. “Very well. If I am to join the Senate as a puppet and Lavinia is to be auctioned off to the highest bidder…then it shall be as you say.”

“If you are going to be dramatic, at least put more effort into it.”

Justinius killed the frown on his face before it emerged and replaced it with a strained smile. He turned back to his father. “Alright then. When do we leave?”