MILESIA
The Emperor shifted restlessly, it had been another long day of complaints, laborious updates and trivial discussion in the throne room. He desired nothing more than to retire for the evening. With what little daylight remained perhaps he could still yet have a chance to get outside for a quick gallop, the best cure for a troubled mind.
“The Estimable Consul Albina from the land of Aileann shores”, the herald’s obnoxiously booming voice announced the last of the day’s petitioners.
Aileann, though the name was familiar he could not place it, leaning to his right he found his Aide de camp already at his ear, sensing as he always did the imminent query.
“A curious island to the westernmost part of the Empire and the newest addition to our lands if my sources prove accurate.”
“Ah Aileann yes, Gardal’s home.” the Emperor waved the Consul forward. A land of considerable supposed value and home to the people the Druaidíi. If Gardal told true there were to be some rather useful technology and weaponry to be gained for the Wars ahead.
“Consul Albina, the Court and I welcome you, pray tell what news from the land of Aileann.”
The Consul bowed deeply, “Your imperial Majesty, Aileann has been taken and none now remain to oppose us, the local men have been brought to heel and a puppet ruler now leads in your name.”
“I am most glad to hear such news. And those people, the Druaidíi, I believe they were the subject of our plans were they not?”
“They were Lord, they however did not deem an alliance nor treaty a suitable offer and chose instead to resist.”
The Emperor raised his brows, “Resist? They were few and far between I seem to recall, did they have some aid we had not foreseen?”
The Consul paused paused open mouthed for just a moment, “They were few yes and they did have some aid,” the Consul chose his words carefully as if every one were a precarious piece of a puzzle, “the aid was not unforeseen but was unexpected in its arrival. However the home of their people is now ours and their remaining few members lie scattered without their leader.”
“Lie scattered? So they escaped? How so?”
The Consul shifted uncomfortably, “They charged your Imperial Majesty, under a false pretence they came at us and fled deep into the forest.”
The Emperor sat back in his throne.
“Your eminence, they refused to any offer of peace or co-operation, they were hell bent on continuing a pointless war.”
The Emperor grimaced, “Yes, yes I know how Druaidíi can be Consul do not doubt that. I am well aware of their stubbornness and cursed pride.”
And also their ferocity and skill, a pity we could not get them on side, the Emperor thought, though he was not surprised at their rebuttal.
“We have the resources and now we have the men of Aileann to call upon, that is another boon for our Great Empire. I thank you Consul, your information has been most appreciated. You are to rest and wait on my further instructions, it may be that you are needed in Aileann soon so see to it that you are ready when called upon.”
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The Emperor stood and signalled to the Herald to announce an end to proceedings, any other matters could wait until tomorrow, he had heard too much already today. With his aide in tow he began to make his way to the Royal Chambers. Dismissing the guards he closed the Great oaken doors firmly behind him as they entered. Grabbing two cups the Emperor filled both from the ever present jug of Beaufair wine, a slightly bitter taste to some but a personal favourite of his.
He raised his cup in toast, “To another gem in the glorious crown of the Empire, I hope our friend was right about all this, we need the technology he promised, a few more of those Druaidíi warriors would have been nice too, though these things take time.”
Aultius raised his cup matching the sarcastic expression upon the Emperor’s face, “They do indeed, it took us 30 years before we finally got the Delvaniers to agree to fight for us, now however they are amongst our most fierce.”
Aultius swirled his wine in front of him, “Aileann would appear to have been a worthy acquisition. My sources tell me it is a most fertile land, I am sure its grain and food will be a welcome addition to our stores. Also due in no small part to the native Druaidíi it seems to be a land full of trees and forestry, we’ll need any new legions properly armed and the oak trees of Aileann are famed for creating the world’s finest shields.”
The Emperor played with the numerous maps laid out upon the table, “And just how much did this acquisition cost us?”
Aultius shrugged, “We are still calculating, we did manage through some clever maneuvers and some ambitious insiders of the former King, one King Breogan I believe, to avoid another war with the local men and aside from a few minor skirmishes the men of Aileann seem content with vassalisation just now. Once the taxes and law are more rigorously introduced we will see just how content they truly are.”
The Emperor nodded, “Indeed, nothing like a little tax to stoke one’s patriotism, men who before were willing to sell out their own mother begin shouting on about blood and history at the very mention of it.”
Aultius smiled, “Indeed, in any case though there is much yet to be fully disclosed we do however have the rather intriguing details of our capture of the Druaidíi’s home city.”
The Emperor raised a brow, “Intriguing? Not often something intrigues you Aultius.”
“No,” the Aide smiled, “not so often no. Yet this report certainly did. In the ensuing battles by all accounts we lost some 3000 men of our own along with 5000 of the local men.”
“8000 men? My Gods? How could we have lost so many? Druaidíi or not that is beyond careless? Who led this campaign for us?”
Aultius took a small sip of wine, his face twisted at the bitter taste, “One General Maximo. He died in a charge as the Druaidíi fled from the siege, or so I am told.”
“Luckily for him.”
“Very.”
The Emperor fixed his attention on one particular document, A Map of the Eastern Empire, and began to trace its outline.
“To a rather more pressing matter, what have your people seen or heard from the Border, have we any further indications of their plans?”
“Much the same as before, they continue to build and ready their forces but there have been no signs of impending attack or march that can be seen. Though I have lost many spies to unknown disappearances so what we know must be taken with such limits as of now.”
The Emperor scratched his chin thoughtfully, “Remember no risks, no spy can be allowed to be captured, not alive. I will not risk breaking this fragile truce, whatever they have planned, and they do have something planned, the more time we have to prepare ourselves the better.”
The sudden crash as the doors rushed open ended their conversation, the Emperor jumped to his feet, sword in hand. He relaxed however as soon as he saw the uninvited visitor, if only a little.
With a face like thunder he stood some 7ft off the ground, well-built and muscular yet despite his considerable stature, it was his eyes that were always the first thing he noticed, my most valuable warrior and most troubling subject. The Emperor sat back down, he didn’t look, he didn’t have to, he felt the emerald green eyes burning into him regardless.