Chapter XI - Do we love each other?

Year 568, Agrícola Estate

"Tinio Auspex."

"Leafar Agricola."

Both men looked at each other as they gave each other's forearms a squeeze; a way to find out if a dagger was hidden in their sleeves.

Behind them, their wives: Auspex Clodi Merga and Agrícola Amariana Larius.

According to custom, the women were to take their husbands' surnames, placing them before their names, as a way of identifying the family to which they belonged.

"I am pleased that you have accepted my proposal, Mr. Auspex," he looked sideways at his wife. "You are saving us from total poverty."

The couple bowed their heads in sorrow.

"Four hundred thousand dares seems to me too little for the prodigy of a son he has; good education, manners, knowledge and intelligence."

Her graceful tone reassured them.

"That which seems little to you, is for us the key to the solution of many of our problems."

Leafar raised his head, still grieved that he had married his son to obtain the marriage dowry with which he could pay the debts that had been generated by the mismanagement of their coffers.

"If you need anything, please do not hesitate to ask."

"What more could I ask for besides providing my daughter with such a prudent husband!," he curled his spine until he was close to his. "Besides, I want to endow my only son, through my daughters, with a legio of brothers-in-law, important, capable and sensible, who can help him in his corsus honorum," after having brought a smile to Leafar's face, he straightened his body and turned towards the carriage in which he had come. "Ivette, come here!"

Out of the vehicle stepped a beauty with sparkling purple eyes, as she tied her beautiful lilac-hued gray hair in a ponytail.

The gorgeous white gown, accompanied by brown straps on her shoulders, made her purity evident.

Now with her feet on the ground, she approached the group.

"He introduced my beloved daughter, Ivette," the young woman, delighted to meet her future husband's family, curtsied.

"And I," Leafar turned to the façade of his house, finding with his gaze a man standing leaning against one of the walls, contemplating the scene with his arms crossed, "may I present my son, Arcadio."

Ruins of the III Camp erected by Lino Victorinus

Third week of the first month of 576

"So this was a camp?"

"Yes, basileus Arcadio."

With his grayish eyes, moistened, he observed the ruins of what had been the site, eight years ago, of one of the worst things a legio could suffer; treason.

The two were walking guarded by ten soldiers armed to the teeth, they were already close to the place where the meeting would be.

'I don't know how I agreed to come here.' thought the one in gray as he clenched his eyes and fists tightly.

The Senate, with a war on both fronts, was not willing to have to deal with the daros to the south of the region.

Therefore, Arcadius was entrusted with the task of achieving pax with those barbarians, provided he contributed something.

With the mission on his shoulders, and, with the advice of benevolent and prudent men like Cneo Nobilior, Arcadio traveled to Hamlia, where he was warmly received by the inhabitants.

Arrived barely and at a light walk, he went to Fortimbrio to speak. Saying to him thus:

"Monsignor Hario, I need to engage pax with Argantonio. But I have a problem, and that is that I do not understand his language. Nor do I know how to find this man. And I was told that here, in Hamlia, there was someone capable of helping me."

He was taken to the village monastery, where he was introduced to the man with gray eyes.

Who, in unverifiable ways, had learned to speak the language of the daros. He even knew how to contact them.

However, at first he was opposed to the idea, and it was not until, after constant entreaties from his wife and adopted daughter, that he agreed.

"Sun giamò chi."

The soldiers raised their swords as they heard, in the only tent standing, the thick voice of Argantonio, warning of the arrival of the Imperials to those, they know not how many, who accompanied him.

"Calm down," the one in gray raised his hand, they were to put away their weapons.

His men obeyed without hesitation.

They swallowed saliva, advanced, took a deep breath, and, with a cautious step, crossed the entrance of the tent.

"Sun rivà tard," Argantonio uttered, complaining of his tardiness, standing in the midst of two stout men, who looked at the newcomers defiantly.

"Se dispias signur," the gray-haired one apologized.

He moved his body aside for Arcadio to pass.

"Chestu òmm vœur parlà cun ti," he told him of Agricola's intentions to chat with him.

"Che parla alura," he ordered him to start talking.

He did not like the detours that the arkonians made before addressing the main point to be made.

The gray-haired man turned his gaze towards Arcadio, indicating that he could now begin to speak.

"Bu-but you won't understand me....," he looked at the long-haired man with a tremor in his eyes.

He was in front of one of the architects of the many and bloodiest massacres that took place during the tribal wars.

"Although he feels more comfortable when we speak to him in his language, he can understand ours, but not howl it, so he speaks."

The tension faded a little when he heard this way of referring to Argantonio's inability to understand his language.

Somewhat calmer, and with a calm tone, he began:

"I would like us to sign a pax, if only for a while, until the problems in the Empire are resolved."

"Cossa ne dan in cambi?," Argantonio was direct, he wanted to know what he and those close to him would gain.

 It was translated, and Arcadio, listening to him, felt like a stone prevented him from swallowing saliva.

"We will give them gold, lots of gold."

No sooner had he heard those words than the three daros burst out laughing.

The basileus looked at his translator out of the corner of his eye, asking for an explanation of what was happening.

"They're not going to accept it," he said, chuckling.

He returned his gaze to the front, an idea crossed his mind, however, he wasn't sure he had the power to carry it out.

Still, he tried:

"Ask me anything you want, I will give it to you!"

The men fell silent, their eyes focused on Arcadio's figure.

It was the opportunity they had been waiting for for many years.

"Donca... Insema a l'or, vœrem che la noster tribù l'è federata al Imper, dand tüt la citadinanza."

The translator turned, wide-eyed toward Arcadio, and in a trembling voice, spoke:

"Apa-Apart from the gold... they want their tribe to be federated to the Imperium, and citizenship to be given to all daros.

Arcado was equally, and even more surprised than he was.

He could no longer turn back.

He had to, at least for once, make decisions without being driven by fear of the consequences.

"All right, but in return they will provide us with troops and military support."

"G'ho no nissun prublema cun chest," he agreed, he had no problem with such lenient demands compared to what he was asking for.

He was the winner. So, without hesitation, he extended his hand, giving him to understand that he was willing to sign the pax.

Arcadio thought to himself that not having a pax would be cheaper, but it was too late to regret it.

And he didn't want to imagine what would happen if he told his that he no longer wanted to make a deal.

Trembling, he shook his hand.

…

"Are you sure the Senate will accept?"

The farewell was silent, as was the walk to the carriage.

Once there, the gray-eyed man asked that question, fearful of the consequences they could face if Arcadio did not fulfill his part.

"They told me to do what was necessary to achieve the pax with the daros... I will go and tell them what we agreed. Abide by it or not, and, the result of their actions, will be faced by them, not by me."

They climbed into the driver's seat; the soldiers, in the part where they brought the gold chests, which had already been left for the use of the daros.

At the moment of fastening the rope, he was stopped by the grip of Arcadius, who looked at him with drooping eyes. He looked tired.

"Something wrong, basileus Arcadio?"

"Just... I thank you for the favor you have done me today. I will repay you well, Druso Lupus."

Lupus nodded at his words, returned his gaze to the front.

"I think I can also help you in another way, basileus Arcadio. Let me tell you something."