The Monster of the Drvina (1)
Baccus didn't show his face until a full ten days after we'd entered the capital. In the meantime, he'd sent three messengers, suspicious that the Praetorian Guard might be luring him in with lies. Pathetic.
But an emperor was still an emperor.
I watched the old, incompetent Baccus ride into the square like a triumphant general amid the jeers of the citizens. The senators had prepared boys and girls to scatter flowers along the emperor's path.
I watched until he approached the Senate House, then descended the steps with the senators and knelt.
"Governor Ain of Bellgorod pledges his loyalty and seeks an audience with His Imperial Majesty."
I delivered the prepared words, then pressed my arm to my chest.
Consul Marius knelt as well and paid his respects to the emperor. Baccus looked at us and halted.
His face was that of an elegantly aged nobleman, belying his reputation for incompetence. He dismissed the boys and girls surrounding him like a screen and regarded Marius and me.
"Consul Marius. Governor Ain of Bellgorod. I've heard of the great feats you've accomplished for the empire. You slaughtered those traitors who committed unspeakable crimes and made an example of them, yes?"
"Yes, Your Majesty."
Marius replied loudly.
"Splendid. Splendid! You've done what I should have."
The emperor laughed and placed his hands on our shoulders.
"It was only what we owed as eagles of the empire."
"Yet there are many disloyal who don't see it that way. Rise. Come inside."
The emperor passed between us as he spoke.
"Thank you."
Marius and I stood, and the senators swarmed around the emperor like ants. He tolerated them with a bored expression as he ascended the steps.
I watched the scene, then followed the emperor up the stairs.
Inside the Senate House, hundreds of seats arranged in a semicircle and towering vertical columns came into view. This was the world of those who ruled the empire: the Senate.
For a man like me, born on the frontier and destined for the provinces, stepping into this place felt a bit awkward.
As I hesitated at the entrance, Marius clapped my back.
"What are you dawdling for? Come on in."
I let Marius lead me inside and sat me in an empty senator's seat.
The Senate had a full complement of 600 members, but with illness keeping some away and others posted abroad on duties, it was rare to see even half in attendance. Even at this momentous gathering for the emperor's return, plenty of seats stood vacant.
We sat and listened to the emperor's lengthy address. The empire's turmoil stemmed from a lack of loyalty to it, everyone chasing their own greed.
Surprisingly, that's what the emperor said—even though he himself sat at the pinnacle of that corruption.
Perhaps because of it, a few senators smirked coldly. As the speech neared its end, the emperor turned his gaze to us.
"Consul Marius."
"Yes, Your Majesty."
"I owe you a great debt for suppressing this rebellion. Is there anything you desire in particular?"
"If Your Majesty will grant it, I wish to end my term as consul here and take a seat in the Senate this year."
The emperor laughed at Marius's reply.
"That's no great request. So be it. But that's too modest—I'll grant you 3,000 slaves as well."
"I thank Your Majesty for this grace."
Marius rose from his seat and bowed his head.
The emperor's gaze shifted to me next.
"Governor Ain. You too earned great merit in quelling this rebellion. You've already proven yourself in the empire's defense, more than deserving of reward. What do you desire?"
"I need funds and troops for border defense, Your Majesty."
I answered without hesitation.
The emperor looked baffled by my response.
"I was speaking of a personal reward for your merits."
"I want a secure tomorrow for my men and the empire. If Your Majesty insists on rewarding me, then let it be the money and troops to make that possible."
"Money and troops, eh? You're an odd one. Very well. For money, I'll grant 10,000 solitus from my private coffers. That should cover most needs. But troops take time to form. Even this time, rushing a legion's assembly caused all the trouble, didn't it? Can't be done right away."
The emperor expressed his reluctance.
"If forming legions in the heartland is difficult, then permit me to raise them in the provinces."
"Legions in the provinces?"
"Yes, Your Majesty."
I replied firmly.
The emperor pondered for a moment. Granting the right to form legions was tantamount to handing terrifying power to a frontier field commander.
The empire didn't rotate legion commanders every term for nothing. A commander with strong influence over his legion could become a grave threat in times of crisis.
I stared at the emperor's mouth, hoping for a positive response.
After much deliberation, he finally spoke.
"Very well. Have it your way. I permit Bellgorod to maintain two legions."
"Thank you, Your Majesty."
I allowed a relieved expression to show; we'd cleared a major hurdle. If I'd been emperor, I wouldn't have approved creating legions so lightly, but Baccus did.
It meant he trusted the loyalty I'd shown the empire so far. Or perhaps showing distrust even to the loyal like me would discourage future loyalty. Either way.
Things had gone well.
Rebellion crushed, and the support I needed for border defense secured.
I couldn't wait to return to Bellgorod and share the good news with my comrades.
But departure proved harder than expected. Right after the triumph, I'd exchanged greetings with the senators, but once the emperor entered the capital, overt dinner invitations poured in. I'd held back before his return to avoid suspicions of coveting the throne, but now there was no need for such caution.
The senators' constant invitations left me in a bind. I wanted to ignore them all and leave, but their power was too great for that.
I didn't care much about advancement, but crossing them would make life hard for the frontier troops.
I racked my brains over it.
If only I could just leave. But I can't ignore these bastards.
In the end, I decided to meet only Senator Tersio, the power broker of the Senate. He led the largest faction, so accepting his invitation might satisfy the others and clear the deck.
Once I'd sorted the invitations, I suddenly remembered I'd overlooked Heigirt.
That bastard was a wolf forever eyeing the empire. It unnerved me that the monster had stayed silent even through two civil wars.
Did he lack the strength to challenge the empire yet? Or was he solidifying his base before moving?
Either way, the mere thought sent chills down my spine.
Last time, he'd appeared under Anpianus's banner as a mere barbarian chieftain. This time, he'd come as a commander who'd solidified his position against imperial forces. I needed to reinforce the frontier legions as quickly as possible.
I stayed up all night planning what to do upon returning to Bellgorod.
The next day, I rode in the palanquin Tersio had sent to his mansion. Among the capital's elite, it was customary to send a four-slave palanquin, so there was no need for a horse. Of course, riding a sluggish palanquin for a distance I could cover quickly on horseback was frustrating.
Still, unlike riding, it gave me time to look around, which was nice. I soothed my impatience by taking in the capital's sights.
A city of a million souls was a marvel to me, born and raised on the frontier, every corner revealing wonders.
The three-to-five-story tenements where citizens lived were prime examples. I couldn't fathom ordinary folk dwelling in such towering structures.
And the fountains everywhere. Rare even one in a small town, yet here they dotted every street.
Baths for thousands at once, a grand arena for tens of thousands, endless shopping districts. The capital was a complete world unto itself.
I felt it was the pinnacle of the world the empire had built—the civilization we had to protect.
The palanquin passed the markets and began climbing a massive hill. This was one of the seven hills where the empire had begun as a cluster of city-states.
Naturally, those living here were no ordinary folk. At minimum, they hailed from families that had produced senators, consuls, governors. Some had even birthed emperors.
Gazing at the grand mansions lining the hill, I truly grasped the wealth and glory the empire's power holders enjoyed.
Nearing the hilltop, the palanquin stopped before an imposing mansion. I stepped out and took in the sight.
Impressive.
The estate dwarfed even provincial governors' residences. Twenty massive columns like temple pillars fronted the facade.
Dozens of precious glass windows hinted at unimaginable riches.
I circled the dizzyingly grand mansion from afar, then walked the impeccably manicured gardens. Passing through, beautiful female slaves greeted me. I donned the toga they offered and entered.
"Thank you for accepting my invitation, Governor."
Guided by a slave into the reception room, I found Senator Tersio, my host.
For a senator, he was young—in his mid-forties, with a healthy glow. Tall and handsome, with a fine voice; he must be popular with women.
But one thing grated: his eyes. The same greedy glint I'd seen in Heigirt's sons. To put it bluntly, the eyes of a wolf.
I shook Tersio's hand.
"No need for thanks. It's an honor to be invited."
We exchanged formalities, and I sat where Tersio indicated.
Though invited for dinner, that held little real meaning. He'd summoned me to talk, not to eat.
I sampled the water pipe he offered and grimaced. This luxury, rare on the frontier, felt alien and unfamiliar.
Noticing my expression, Tersio had a slave remove it and bring a drink. Only after sipping the iced beverage did the bitter aftertaste fade.
"Haha, I shouldn't have offered you the pipe. I wanted to treat an esteemed guest properly, but it was a bother."
"Not at all. Living on the frontier, I'm just unaccustomed to fine things."
"Glad you see it that way. You're heading back to Bellgorod right away?"
"Border defense can't wait."
"I agree—it's quite urgent."
Tersio nodded as if in full accord. Formal words, perhaps, but gratitude welled up that a member of the empire's rulers grasped the gravity.
Seizing the moment, I added a few words.
"You can't feel it from the heartland, but the frontiers are precarious. Bellgorod's better off, but other military provinces haven't fully subdued the barbarians. And Heigirt, the threat to the empire, remains at large."
"We haven't forgotten him. How could we, after he invaded as far as the northern heartlands?"
"That's why I hope the empire's center pays more heed to the frontiers. No matter how well legions fight, without rear support, they'll crumble."
"I'll raise it in the Senate often. But senators and even His Majesty show little interest in frontier matters."
"So it seems."
"Which is why I have something to discuss with you, Governor."
"Please, speak."
"Soon, once the Praetorian Guard is reorganized, His Majesty will appoint a new prefect. The Senate plans to offer an opinion then—if you'd lend us your name."
"Me meddling in the Praetorian prefect appointment? That seems off."
Tersio gave a wry smile at my question.
"It may look that way, but this is crucial. The three prefects His Majesty chose on his own already caused the empire massive harm before vanishing. Two fell in defeat, one to his own men's blades. For the Senate's part, we want someone reliable for the empire's stability."
I realized what Tersio and the Senate desired. Having nearly become the Guard's puppets, they lacked standing to challenge the emperor directly.
So they aimed to intervene in his picks by borrowing the names of Marius and me, heroes of the rebellion's suppression.
Cleverly carving up the emperor's power.
The thought crossed my mind, but Baccus's appointments were indeed unreliable. Creper and Sixtus weren't incompetents, yet they'd failed all the same. Reasons aside.
But was this man truly acting for the empire in asking to borrow my name?
I fell silent, deep in thought.
Sensing my hesitation, Tersio added,
"If you help, the Senate and my house will provide 5,000 solitus and 2,000 slaves. We seek the right man for the empire, nothing more. With the heartland secure, you can focus on the frontiers without worry, no?"
He cast a serpentine temptation.
Money and men. The emperor's grant is generous, but adding this would greatly bolster frontier defense. What to do?
After wrestling with it, I nodded. My loyalty to the emperor was ultimately for the empire. If it secured what I needed for defense—for my men, comrades, my world—I was prepared to bite even a poisoned apple.
"I'll go along with your proposal, Senator."
"Excellent."
Tersio smiled and extended his hand. I met his burning gaze and clasped it.
Tersio's hand was ice-cold.
(To be continued)