NOVEL NEXT Chapter 10: Chapter VII - Is it serious?
Circe, Oriens
New Years Eve 576
"I thank you very much for your hospitality, praefectus Cneo, you are doing us a great favor."
Those around them were astonished to see how the Basileus, the figurehead of the Empire, bowed to someone inferior.
"Ple-Please, my lord, don't do that. The honor is all mine," he nodded repeatedly, with a slight tremor in his face, touching his shoulder.
"No other praefectus would receive us." he pointed to the soldiers. "Imagine that! They came to ask me for more than a million darios in exchange for lodging."
Having taken his legions, Arcadio led them in orderly fashion towards the western part of the Empire, on the road to Afriki.
Supplies were running low, diseases broke out, some of the soldiers began to speak ill of him behind his back.
So he tried to seek help from the cities in his path, which, for unknown reasons, refused to give him any.
It was not until they reached Circe, a city in the southwest of the Empire -militarized because of its proximity to the tribes-, where its praefectus, Cneo Nobilior, gave them hospitality.
"Apparently you have not yet been bribed by the Senate."
He stared at the ground, realizing that the senators, in order to damage his image, wanted to sabotage him as they had done with Philipart.
"Why do you think they expelled the Nobilior from the Senate?"
His words aroused Arcadio's curiosity.
"We are not to work in a dirty way. We are servants of the Nintu and fanatics of honesty, lose care, my lord. Besides," he smiled, "you came at the perfect time. We can all welcome the new year together."
Arcadio looked up, and noticing the sincerity in Cneo's words, he agreed.
"And to show him that I don't play games!" Nobilior broke away from the Basileus, stretching his arms high in the air, making his way to the center of the circle formed by the crowd. "Here in front of everyone! I, Cneo Nobilior, praefectus of Circe! I announce to you that I will deliver to you a complete legio and the necessary supplies to nourish all your soldiers!"
"Long live Cneo!" Shouted the villagers in a huddle, people who rushed to the center, raising cups of wine, dancing and playing instruments.
The people rose in euphoria, celebrating the arrival of the Basileus and the benevolence of the praefectus.
"I am indebted to you, Cneo Nobilior," once again, Arcadio bowed to him, in respect and gratitude.
"Don't wo-worry, I do it with all my he-heart. Right now I'll go and see to some things to hand over to you the II Lenger. With its full five thousand five hundred soldiers, as a legio should be composed."
His eyes widened as he heard the last words, his jaw trembled, and as if he had a stone in his throat, swallowing saliva became difficult.
"Te-Tell me, how many soldiers should a legio be composed of?"
Cneo twisted his head and frowned in confusion at her question.
"By five thousand five hundred, my lord, why?"
He fell to his knees, a lost look forming on his face.
"Crásico, the man who was to deliver three legions to me, took advantage of my lack of information, and gave them to me incomplete!" He bent down, repeatedly pounding the ground. "Each has only three thousand six hundred men!"
His outrage stopped the people's excitement.
"My lord," Cneo knelt before him. "Do not be overwhelmed, we will help you replenish your legions with the levies of this city and soldiers in reserve."
His face brightened, and calmer, he looked up.
"Are you serio...?"
"Basileus Arcadio!" A messenger, interrupting him, appeared from the crowd.
The attention of all present was directed to the newcomer.
"Wh-what's the matter?" Arcadio took a deep breath to disperse what little tension he still had left.
"It's about Magister Philipart, my lord."
Another word was not enough for him to stand up, approach the messenger, grab him by the shoulders, and ask him to speak.
His hands were trembling, now, eager for new information about his good friend.
"Magister Philipart..." He swallowed his breath, took a deep breath, and bowed his head. "He has just declared himself in rebellion against the Senate!"
//End of Volume I//