"Sire," the woman addressed Florianus without an ounce of fear in her voice. But at the same time, he sensed frustration. "Just listen to me, I have not poisoned them, I haven't done anything wrong, and if you kill me, you'd be killing an innocent. There is no justification, but I know you all are just liars and hypocrites."

"Then what is this for?" he asked, lifting the bag.

"For worshipping the Goddess! Easter is coming, and there's a festival to prepare, and we have daily devotions to do. We start today; I need to prepare it for my sisters."

"This is known to cause poisoning and death," Florianus declared, raising his voice.

"Yes, but it also lets people see the spirits."

"Why did you have it? And don't you see the current state of these two soldiers? Whether you use it for your formula or not, you have used it against these two men who are tasked with guarding your security."

Florianus frowned, looking at the woman from her feet up. He thought he could use a death like that to remind the Gadalians that no opposition would be tolerated. He could make an example out of her.

"They were not poisoned by me, they might have eaten bad food. Sometimes it's the ticks that bring this disease."

"You are lying," Florianus said, approaching her, his gaze meeting her brown eyes unflinchingly. "These two soldiers trusted you. This is deserving of death."

"Ah, who are you to speak of trust?" the woman yelled hysterically. "Oh, how we trusted you and you killed the men of this tribe."

"Keep pretending you did not know about their plans to attack us," Florianus said. "I know I cannot trust you, and yet, I have been patient with you long enough."

"Tell me, sire, is there any logic in me trying to poison these men? It's impossible."

"You want to kill soldiers, don't you?"

"No, sire, I swear I have not done anything."

"Is it because of your daughter? She died of hunger in the forest."

The woman's expression became sombrer again, she tensed her fists.

"Just wait and see, my daughter is not dead," she muttered through clenched teeth.

"What did you say?" Florianus narrowed his eyes.

"Irema is not dead."

"Oh, so have you talked to her?" Florianus scoffed.

"I know one day she will return."

Florianus waved his hand back to slap her, and did, the woman turned her face, but her body did not move. She looked straight at him.

Florianus continued, "Accused of attempts against the life of a soldier, seditious tendencies, and threats. You, like every other woman here, hate this Empire. You, however, deserve to be punished, so no one else acts on their hate."

He turned his back on her and walked towards the marble eagle.

It was time to show them,; he knew it was burning in their souls.

Then, he heard rushed hurried footsteps onat the front door. He turned and saw a man in a yellow tunic. The man was Itruschian, and he knew him very well, but the tunic he wore had been made by Gadalian hands, in their style, but adapted into an Itruschian garment. The short man stood defiantly, his black curly hair towering over his head, his skin dark like the earth beneath, and his eyes wide and piercing.

Enjoying this book? Seek out the original to ensure the author gets credit.

"What is going on in here?" Cladius Duodecimus stepped inside, panting, as if he had run to get there.

"Cladius Duodecimus?" Florianus said, with his hands on thehis back and a frown on his face. "The question is, what are you doing here?"

"Rumours of an arrest," Cladius said, then, he turned towards the woman. "Mistress Zita, what is going on here?"

"Senator Cladius, I'm so glad you came," she said.

"Mistress Zita?" Florianus asked, raising an eyebrow.

"Florianus, what are you doing here.? What has this woman done?" Cladius asked.

"She attempted to poison two soldiers. She was caught with this venomous sprout in her home," she lifted the bag with two fingers.

"Is it true, Zita?" Cladius asked.

"Not at all, that sprout is used for many reasons, and both of you know that."

"Convenient, huh?" Florianus said. "But we have proof, these two men are deathly sick, and yet you act like nothing happened. But these deeds shall not go unpunished."

"What punishment do you have in mind?" Cladius said.

"Does it concern you, Cladius?" Florianus scoffed.

"Yes, it does, as the Commercial Delegate—"

"Cladius, this is a matter of provincial security, it has nothing to do with your post."

"But this woman is essential to this settlement, she works from dusk to dawn producing the clothes that we have managed to sell in the West, along with her few apprentices. You know how the demand is slowly increasing. I need her."

"Cladius," Florianus advanced and breathed in his face. Cladius did not flinch, but he was nervous, Florianus could tell. "The law is the law."

"But what law, Florianus? You are creating it on the spot."

"Martial law!" Florianus bellowed. "Now do not argue against me, for it is my responsibility to ensure the security of this settlement."

"No, Florianus, that is neither proper nor fitting of Imperial officers."

"Who are you to tell me what is fitting? She is not even a citizen!"

"She is a subject of the Empire and as such, she must be dealt with according to the law—with the actual law of the land, not just a whim. Besides, there is no proof."

"Fine," Florianus said, then turned his back on him. "Soldiers, bring her down and interrogate her."

"Interrogate?" Cladius protested. He was aware, as anyone would be, of what he meant by interrogation.

"Do not waste any time, soldiers. Get her to confess."

"I haven't done anything wrong!" Zita cried.

"Get her away from me!" Florianus snapped. "Take her out and punish her."

"Florianus, why are you doing that?" Cladius asked. "Don't you say you're against torture?"

"I shall punish the wicked. And you, defender of criminals?"

"Listen, Florianus, the only reason we are still here is because we are still bringing profit. A wagon full of gold is not enough to sustain a colony. We need production."

"You deal with production, I deal with law and order. I've had enough of this," Florianus put on his coat.

"That woman is innocent."

"We will soon see," he said, and walked out into the night.

***

Cladius returned to his newly-built villa. His Gadalian servants were waiting outside, hands up in their faces, expecting his words on what had just happened.

"Master Cladius," one of them, a young woman called Ydrina, who used to be an apprentice of Zita asked. "Did they let Mistress Zita go?"

Cladius had a wry expression. He stopped close to her and sighed. "She will not be executed yet, but they took her to be interrogated."

Ydrina covered her mouth.

Cladius shook his head, he pushed the wooden doors that lead into his room, clenching his teeth. He had no word or vote into what happened. At least, it was only one person thatwho had been taken to interrogation, but Zita was essential to his plans. She had been left to work and been provided with materials, and still had a few apprentices to work with. Now, she had to fill up production or else he would not have anything to sell.

He lay down in his bed, but did not manage to sleep. He had to make his plan come true. At that moment, Zita was probably being flogged. He tensed his fists until blood came out. He could not allow that cruelty to go on.

He had to get rid of Florianus. There was no space for both in that settlement. But for that, he had to become Governor.

If only he could win the favour of the Capital, of at least a handful of senators, he could have his way.

If he made enough money through the province, he knew he could even be named Governor and could easily buy favour in the senate and remove Florianus from his post. Florianus, was all talk. He would ramble for hours about how the world would be better if Gadalians were annihilated, but he had not killed a single one of them since he arrived. On the other hand, if Florianus himself or any of his supporters gained the upper hand among the senate in the Capital, he knew he was lost. The people on top played harder than either of them, as elimination was their favourite card.