Subjugation (2)
I abandoned the plan to first persuade the public and the Senate. The backlash was too fierce; it seemed better to treat the barbarians' residence within our borders as a fait accompli and force everyone to accept reality.
But it's going to be damn noisy.
I smacked my lips.
Still, the work had to be done.
I had just picked up my quill to start writing on the parchment when Rikius burst in from outside.
"Your Excellency! A courier from the Northern Army has arrived. He insists on seeing you right now."
"Without reporting to His Majesty first?"
I sensed something ominous in his words. For routine matters, they'd go through the emperor, but in emergencies, protocol could be skipped.
I had the courier enter the room.
"Arhan of the 16th Legion, Your Excellency."
The courier knelt on one knee as he spoke.
"Did the legion commander send you?"
"Yes, Your Excellency."
"For anything short of a crisis, you'd report to the governor first. Bringing the dispatch straight to me—what the hell is going on?"
Instead of answering, the courier held out the parchment. Rikius took it and passed it to me.
I took the parchment and skimmed it, my eyes widening.
"This..."
A chill ran down my spine.
A massive blizzard, the likes of which hadn't hit the north in a decade, had dumped down.
Snow protected the horses' hooves, making barbarian military maneuvers far easier. And with that much snow, rivers froze solid.
Places barbarians couldn't cross before would now become invasion routes.
I crumpled the parchment in my fist.
"Rikius!"
"Yes, Your Excellency."
"I'm going to His Majesty. Assemble the Praetorian Legion commanders and summon Riktus."
"Understood."
I jumped up, grabbing my cloak.
I arrived at the palace just past noon.
Imperial officials worked from six in the morning till noon, then took leisure time, so the palace was fairly quiet.
I dashed down the echoing corridors to the emperor's audience chamber.
"Your Majesty!"
I flung open the doors, calling for him.
But the emperor wasn't there.
"Where is His Majesty?"
I asked the lone Praetorian Guard standing watch.
"His Majesty is still in his bedchambers."
"There was supposed to be the regular morning briefing today."
I asked, puzzled. The emperor was a figurehead, but he was still the head of state. Formally at the empire's pinnacle, receiving reports from officials was only natural.
The daily morning briefing was one such ritual.
"His Majesty postponed it, saying he was unwell."
"Hmm."
I hardened my expression.
The emperor can't show weakness like illness—not in his position.
I left the guard to his duties and whirled away, cloak billowing.
Heading to the inner palace and the emperor's bedchambers, I passed the female slaves and attendants common in great noble houses. I pushed past them straight to his bedroom.
One slave blocked my path.
"Your Excellency, you cannot see His Majesty now."
"There's an emergency for the empire. Out of my way."
She hesitated, then bowed low.
"Even so, it's not possible, Your Excellency."
"I'm the Praetorian Prefect! I must see His Majesty now!"
As I raised my voice, more slaves rushed over and prostrated themselves before me.
"Please wait just a moment."
"Move."
I shoved them aside by force.
They were sturdy slaves, but none dared touch me. A lowly slave laying hands on the Praetorian Prefect would face charges of sacrilege.
They dithered helplessly before retreating.
At the emperor's bedroom door, I bellowed.
"Your Majesty! It's Praetorian Prefect Ain. I have an urgent matter to report and have come at once."
An awkward voice replied from within.
"C-can't we talk later?"
"No, Your Majesty. This concerns the empire's security."
"Please..."
I bit my lip for a moment.
"Your Majesty, this is time-sensitive. Forgive my impertinence."
I pushed open the bedroom door.
Creeeak.
The young emperor hurriedly pulled the covers over himself as the door opened.
Amid the scent of incense, I caught a strange night-bloom fragrance.
Has His Majesty taken a female slave to bed?
No wonder he was embarrassed.
I knelt at the threshold.
"Your Majesty, please dress at once and come out. The empire's affairs await you."
"A-alright. Just a moment."
The emperor shoved the covers aside and swung his feet off the bed. A glimpse of pale bare skin flashed between the sheets.
The boy emperor I'd seen as a child bedding a woman—it felt odd.
As the emperor dressed, a woman's arm emerged briefly. The ring on her finger looked strangely familiar. That ring...
The imperial seal. No way?
My heart sank.
Had the emperor committed incest with his sister?
Incestuous marriages were common in royal houses. But Alexius couldn't afford such a scandal.
For his position and the empire's future, he needed to marry into a great noble house.
I bowed my head, pretending not to notice.
Once the emperor donned his toga, I rose and withdrew from the bedroom.
Alexius soon followed.
His expression was sour, dragged from bed against his will. I gave a wry smile and stated my business.
"Your Majesty, an urgent report came from the Northern Army today. A massive snowfall."
"Snowfall—what's the problem with that?"
"Normally, tribes we wouldn't worry about can now invade imperial territory."
"But I thought your legions had subjugated the barbarians several times already. Isn't that right?"
"Yes. But those border tribes aren't all there are. The Sartia and Goti tribes remain our headaches."
"So what do you expect me to do?"
I crossed my arm over my chest in salute.
"A personal expedition from Your Majesty is needed."
His eyes widened at my response.
"M-me? Lead an expedition?"
"Yes. If Your Majesty appears at the frontier while the barbarians eye opportunities, they'll never dare raid the empire. And the troops will be grateful for Your Majesty's personal attention to the borders."
"But—"
As he hesitated, I drove the point home.
"Your Majesty, this isn't a choice. If the barbarians stir the borders again and the north grows chaotic, Shapur might move. Then we'd face a war whose outcome the empire couldn't guarantee. Can Your Majesty bear that?"
Gulp.
He swallowed dryly.
"This is also for Your Majesty's reign. For the sake of your rule and the empire's peace, please decide."
I bowed my head. Alexius chewed his lip before speaking.
"Alright. I'll follow the general's will."
"Thank you, Your Majesty."
"Prepare for the expedition by tomorrow."
"Understood."
I paid my respects and hurried from the palace.
The 'incest' between the emperor and his sister nagged at me, but satisfaction at securing his expedition overshadowed it.
Taking the emperor and Praetorian Legion to the border would naturally resolve the barbarian resettlement issue.
With the emperor at the frontier, frame it as 'subjugating' the barbarians and resettling them inside. The outcome—barbarians entering our lands—remains the same, but formally, the people and Senate could accept it.
I didn't expect to solve it this way, but at least one worry's off my chest. Since we're at it, might as well conquer the Sartia and Goti too.
With the emperor committed, I resolved to handle those two tribes as well.
The empire's finances were ruined, but we had enough for one expedition. We lacked troops, not funds for a month's war. If we settled it within that limit...
First, request auxiliaries from the Dein tribe.
The Dein were blood enemies over Britannia, but also trade partners. Privately, my wife Erenia was daughter to their king, Orestes.
And pull in all hostile tribes north of the Drvina River who hate the Sartia and Goti. Offer them southern farmland, and they'll join eagerly. That gets us at least 20,000 barbarians.
Adding allied tribes' forces would bring the barbarian army near 30,000 total.
We could gather more if desperate, but then the empire couldn't control them.
Plus 10,000 legionaries drafted from border legions, the Praetorians, and Atillca Legion—another 20,000.
Total: 50,000.
Fifty thousand!
A colossal host. In imperial northern history, such armies were rare.
Just assembling it would make barbarians hold their breath, watching the empire warily.
Sartia and Goti?
They'd think first of fleeing beyond the Black Forest.
Victory was certain.
The question was whether we could root them out completely—that would measure success.
This time, I'd pacify the northern frontier for good, I vowed.
Trumpets blared as red silk carpeted the palace forecourt. Before the emperor's expedition, the Praetorians performed ceremonial honors, kneeling in ranks on either side of the entrance. The young emperor slowly walked toward his carriage, passing them.
Princess Euresia walked at his side.
He clutched his sister's hand tightly. To outsiders, they looked like close siblings—but after yesterday, I saw it differently.
They look like lovers.
I gave a bitter smile.
I worried he'd grant her the title of Augusta, the dignified one. That would make her effectively empress, mistress of the palace. With her entrenched, what noble house would offer a daughter to the emperor?
I hoped he wouldn't act so foolishly.
As the imperial party reached the carriage, I bowed.
"Your Majesty, please board."
He nodded and stepped forward.
But instead of mounting, he grabbed his sister's waist and hoisted her into the carriage.
I stared, dumbfounded.
"Your Majesty. Are you taking Her Highness to the battlefield?"
"I asked him to."
Princess Euresia spoke from inside the carriage.
I frowned deeply.
"Your Highness, we're heading to the frontier. There are no facilities for women. No proper baths, perfumes, or warm beds."
"I know."
She replied coldly.
The emperor glanced at me nervously and scrambled aboard.
What now?
I was at a loss.
Forcing her off would undermine imperial dignity. Bringing a woman—his sister, no less—to the frontier would draw ugly gossip.
Rikius approached.
"Your Excellency. What do we do?"
I eyed the carriage, then nodded.
"It's His Majesty's will. No helping it. We'll escort her."
"Yes."
"And Riktus."
"Yes, Commander."
He saluted across his chest.
"The capital's yours while I'm gone."
"Leave it to me."
I clapped his shoulder, then glanced at the senators and consuls gathered to see us off. No one looked likely to cause trouble in my absence.
Satisfied, I swung onto my horse.
(To be continued)