The red flags of the Itruschian Empire rose again among battered ruins, fallen walls, and crushed pillars. The night sky brimmed under fiery lanterns encased in iron and glass, while icy rain poured over the makeshift roofs.
Sixty men gathered under a solid roof, guarded by fiery lanterns in golden frames, and the sound of the pouring rain resonated outside. Cladius stood in the front, next to a man with grey hair and a thin but muscular body. He was not wearing a senator’s toga, but a green vest beneath a red cape. An Imperial flag hung from the wall behind his back, the Golden Eagle, a symbol of unity and power that now seemed superficial and vain.
The men who had assembled sat back in orderly rows. Their appearance was noble, many of them sporting Eastern silk and bracelets of gold, rings adorned with rubies, and belts with silver rims. Most seemed to have taken a great deal of time and effort in reporting to the meeting.
Cladius frowned slightly and raised his right fist. “Hail to our great Empire! Hail to the Eagle of Jupiter!” he shouted, with his most effortful impersonation of military strength.
“Hail to the Eagle of Jupiter!” the attendants responded, except for an old man with a long grey beard.
Cladius took a deep breath and commenced his speech.
“Welcome, free men, citizens, and leaders of our great Empire! Today, we share our grief for the thousands we lost, among them fellow leaders, brothers, sisters, and friends. We extend salutations and eternal honor for the many killed by the demons that attacked us. And yet, we shall show the world that its queen, the Sacred Itruschian Empire, lives on and shall fight and be a lighthouse to the ship of the world, no matter how difficult the task and how dire the times.”
Cladius looked at the attendants, many glanced at him with respect, but he noticed others with crossed arms, defiant glances, and clenched teeth. He had met them sparsely and were not politicians but patricians related to the Imperial Family, the line of heirs that could be traced back to the founders of the city.
“Now, we would like to establish, along with you, a new senate, not quite a Senate, since we need the full support of the people, but a provisional one, a leadership council where we can share information and ideas. My colleague Adalbert, for now, the only other surviving member of the Senate, accompanies me today.
“So a man from beyond the southern sea and a barbarian,” muttered one of the patricians at the back. Cladius narrowed his eyes.
“Excuse me, who said that?” Cladius said, raising his hand.
The one responsible straightened on his seat, kept his defiant glance, and frowned.
“Indeed,” Kassius said. “And yet, this is what it’s left.”
A commercial delegate rose from the middle of the group, looking back toward the place where the comment had started. “Cladius Duodecimus is a good man, an excellent administrator, and a lover of this Empire, and so is Adalbert. These are good leaders, and if you don’t believe it, let them prove it to you with acts.”
“Now, enough of these comments,” Cladius said. “We must deal with the topics at hand.”
“We need the Empire to return to stability!” Julius, another patrician, rose from his seat at the back. “We failed the gods. Our Empire was not holy but bureaucratic; it followed the will of men and not of the gods.”
“What do you suggest?” Cladius said, resting one hand on the pulpit of stone.
“To search for the blood of the Emperors, the purest patrician blood, and elevate them to the Throne. The world is going to face dangerous events. We need to stay united. I beg of you, Senator Cladius, to investigate Imperial heirs and build a government as it should have been.”
“Why would we need an Emperor!” stated Humbertus Claris, chief of the city guard.
“An affront!” cried Evarius, a man of the oldest patrician families, with skin so pale it was almost transparent and a thin nose shaped like a drop of water. “Imperium is the foundation of this city.”
“Enough!” Adalbert stood up, next to Cladius. His accent was coarse and guttural. “Can you not see what’s at stake? Your women and children are hungry! We have received reports of the cities up north and to the west becoming hostile toward us. We have a problem of lack of drinking water, and yet you speak of royal families and blood?”
“Indeed, Adalbert,” Cladius said. “It’s necessary to cover those topics first. And let me know if you recognize this committee. I am not setting myself as a leader over us. Our voices are all the same, and stone me if I want to usurp power. I would like to address the first topic at hand. So, let me start: We have had a voluntary system of donations for the families in need, but unfortunately, it is impossible to distribute to most families.”
“There are priorities,” one of the patricians interrupted.
“What do you mean, sir?” Cladius asked.
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“There will not be enough food. You should deliver the basic food according to rank. Those of noble birth should have it first.”
“We are now talking about how to get food to everybody,” Cladius said. “Some people are not able to provide for themselves. If your grain stowage bunker was destroyed, put it on a list.”
“Everybody, even slaves?” asked another.
“We are trying to feed everyone,” Cladius clarified. “We will need each and every capable hand against what’s coming. You saw it. So, on that accord, I would like to propose Adalbert’s idea for a weekly fast that will pay for a community meal in each part of the city.”
“We eating with the slaves and libertae?” Julius almost fell off his chair.
“Yes, what is wrong with that?” Cladius asked.
Evarius looked at his companions, his mouth turned in an expression of disgust, glancing at them as if the suggestion was obviously disgusting.”And we have another problem,” Cladius continued. “You have heard the rumors, and we shall discuss all the information available on the subject. The giants we fought, in a strange and unknown way, have gathered support in the villages. We have to reorganize the defenses of the city. The North Wall has to be reconstructed immediately.”
A man stood at the back of the room.
“You, black man, you are guiding this assembly like a dictatorship. Who selected you as dictator?”
“Me?” Cladius touched his own chest. “No, I am just moderating this discussion. Whoever wants to talk may do so.”
“And who are you?” the man asked. “Who is the barbarian next to you?”
“We are senators, selected by the People of Itruschia.”
“You are fools who are attempting to ensnare us and want the power for yourselves. What is your claim to power aside from bureaucracy and deceit? For it has been deceit that brought you to the senate. You are obviously not an Itruschian of the noblest birth, you do not belong to these people.”
“My blood is not of your concern,” Cladius said.
“We here are descendants of the gods, and you two are children of foreign slaves,” the man stood up, pointing at them with a finger of scorn.
“Kings or slaves, what is the difference? It is our deeds and actions that have brought us where we are,” Adalbert said.
“I shall not be part of this travesty!” the man rose from the seat and turned his back.
“That was the emperor’s cousin,” Adalbert whispered in his ear.
Julius got up.
“Come to me when you have an orderly plan,” he said before walking out.
Cladius narrowed his eyes. Those men had grown apart from their subjects, even of the free citizens of Itruschia.
“We are loyal to the Senate!” said the chief of the guard, raising his head. “You two hold the power of the Senate, and we shall follow you.”
“Aye,” repeated a few others, mostly smaller patricians and public servants. “Hail the Senate! Senate and people of Itruschia.”
“We should be more careful, Cladius,” Adalbert said, as the last of the attendees departed through the damp main street.
“What do you mean?” Cladius raised an eyebrow. “It’s been fruitful. We know who is willing to help the people. Those are the people who are fit to rule—the ones who are ready to serve our Empire, not hold the power and wealth for themselves.”
“Those men who oppose you will not remain with their arms crossed while we reorganize their city.” Adalbert sighed. “You are a threat to their power.”
Cladius took a deep breath.
“What do you mean?”
“I mean you should be careful. Surround yourself with people who can defend you. I can provide you with some of my men—they are loyal and strong. The Praetorian Guard selects men from my mother’s tribe.”
“Well,” Cladius ran a hand through his curly hair. “What can I say? I think I don’t need it.”
“Where are you living?”
“In the communal place, but don’t worry about me, Adalbert. The people around me are kind.””It’s a bad idea. Come live at my place. Be careful,” Adalbert pointed a finger at him. “These people are not to be trusted. They would do anything for power. They are ready to kill.”
“Me? Move to your place?” Cladius sighed. It had been stressful for him to move, and it had taken him days. He shook his head. “Listen, Adalbert, my daughter has already made friends. It would be difficult for her, besides, it would take a whole lot of time.”
“Are you joking, Cladius? It’s easy to get someone from the building to make an attempt on your life for a couple of gold coins.”
“I never paid for security, and I never had any problems, Adalbert.”
“You never experienced a serious crisis. Now you better be careful. Very careful.”
Cladius took a deep breath. He had never felt fear. He knew nothing of fighting nor self-defense, but he believed in the goodwill of the Itruschian people.
“Things are going to change,” Adalbert said. “It’s already worse than when the barbarians invaded. Be prepared.”
“I will think about it.”
Suddenly, they heard soft steps around the door. They both looked at the door, and Adalbert grasped the handle of his sword.
The man who came through the door was of average size. His head was completely bald, almost shining with the reflecting light. His eyes were deep and green, and his clothes were like nothing he had ever seen. His robe was yellowish, almost golden, with wide shoulder pads and rhombus patterns of different shades. His face sported a sparkling white smile.
The man did not look threatening, and Adalbert lowered his hand.
“Good evening,” the man muttered. His voice was deep and rich.
“Who are you?” Adalbert asked.
“A wanderer.”
“And how did you get past the guards?” Adalbert shook his head.
“They were glad to receive my gifts.”
Cladius narrowed his eyes. He felt as if he had seen the man before.
“You must worry not, I am just here to offer my treasures of knowledge and peace.”
“What treasures?” Adalbert asked, frowning and clenching his teeth in disgust.
“The gift of power and life unending.”
“I beg your pardon?” Cladius asked.
“What you have heard, the power not to die, the power to live forever.”
“Let’s go, Cladius, another snake oil salesman,” Adalbert said.
“Wait,” Cladius said to his colleague, then looked back at the strange man. “Tell us who you are,” Cladius said.
“I have been called by many names,” the man said, extending his hand and grasping Cladius’ forearm. Cladius blinked in surprise and felt as if the weight of the stranger’s hand multiplied, capable of pulling him down with a flick of the wrist. He felt strangely weak, as if he could die in that very moment. He opened his eyes wide. The man spoke again, revealing perfectly white teeth. “I just need you to swear allegiance to me and my Master and your undying service.”
Cladius sighed and tried to pull his hand away.
“You lost your family, Senator Cladius. Your poor wife Lukrezia, your children. Oh, my child, I pity you.”Cladius felt a shiver run down his spine. He felt dizzy and breathed rapidly. The man’s green eyes pierced him as if delving into his soul.
“Who are you?” Cladius asked.
“A man of power. Now, swear your allegiance or prepare to be condemned.”