Nintu: The Masters of Destiny and the Salvation of the Empire

Curia Nat, Raecum, Oriens

Penultimate month of 575

Upon Arcadius, standing in the center of the room, lay the gazes of the hundred men who made up the Senate.

To his surprise, and a rare thing to see, all the senators had attended the meeting, paying meticulous attention to the speaker's movements and words of welcome.

"Enough," With his palm raised, senator Adino Lenas spoke in a loud voice. "Leave the cordialities for another time, and get to the reason why you called this meeting."

 Most displeased, they agreed with those words, muttering among themselves, jeering at the Basileus.

"If you wish," Arcadio sighed. None of those present had a shred of respect for him. "I come to ask your approval for an expedition south of the Nilus River."

His words echoed off the high marble walls. The serious expressions lingered for a moment. Until, little by little, among themselves, they began to shuffle what was said. 

[Let's do as with Philipart.] Said one of them, remembering how they blamed the aforementioned for the failure of the expedition to Arachia.

 [And if his expedition turns out to be victorious?] Asked one of them in view of the possibility of victory and increase of popularity of the Basileus.

Something that would be detrimental to the senators and their ambitions.

"I want to be the sole military leader of the expedition!" Without asking permission to speak, Arcadio sentenced.

The senators rose from their seats in a huff, booing him outright.

How is it possible that the image of the Empire, his puppet, wants to have total control of some armies?

Without even giving him a pass to give his arguments, he had already been denied.

'You forced me.'

"Guards!"

At Arcadio's shout, the doors of the room were abruptly opened.

Immediately, more than forty soldiers armed to the teeth rushed in, surrounding the senators' seats, wielding their swords tightly.

"Are you going to let me finish speaking?!"

They gulped at the sudden actions Arcadio was taking. They never believed he would be able to use force, so they fearfully resumed their seats.

"If I want to have control of the troops, it is for nothing other than to ensure the successful extraction of the riches of that region!"

Some of the senators, the most ambitious, opened their eyes wide at the idea of increasing their wealth.

"Wealth?" Asked one in a low voice.

"That's right, everything you can dream of! A variety of minerals, fruits in abundance and vast fertile lands!"

His words invaded the greedy heads of the senators.

"And how do we know what you tell us is true?" Tricostus Ebucius, a skeptic, spoke with a raised hand.

Those around him, with the same thought as him, supported him, doubting the words of the Basileus.

"Do you really think I just spend my time being the pretty face of the empire?" With a sarcastic tone he pronounced, laughter from some of the senators was heard. "I worked hard to get this information, which will give us the opportunity to make our empire the most powerful empire that has ever existed. And so, in the not so distant future, we will be able to face the viceroyalty!"

The men applauded at his excited speech.

They had forgotten the possibility of invading those they call: those of the crossing of the passage.

"For the recovery of the Nintu!" In order to generate even more benevolence from the senators, he shouted.

They followed him with fervor, applauding him.

However, Arcadio, in his heart, knew that the worst thing they could do was to make an invasion of those at the crossroads.

The Empire was not in a good situation.

"Your answer makes no sense! Be clearer! Why do you want to be the only one to lead the expedition?!" The emotion disappeared at the question of Augusio Cepion, another skeptic.

They regained their composure, and supported the man's question.

Arcadio did not let himself be frightened, and answered calmly.

"I do not trust the military leaders. If they already have the support of the legions, imagine when they have complete control of that abundant region! How pitiful would be the future of our Holy Empire!" He knew that, in a way, he was contradicting himself, yet he hoped to convince them with his eloquence.

The senators were silent for a few moments, once again murmuring and shuffling among themselves at the speaker's words.

One of them, by name Cosirio Helva, stood up.

"Basileus Arcadio, I ask you to let us debate what you ask of us, so that we may make the best decision for the good of the Empire."

Arcadio, gritted his teeth, hesitating, and eventually agreeing in the face of an absolute denial. He turned around, and with a sign ordered his guards to withdraw with him.

He might well have forced the senators to accept what he demanded by force, however, he knew full well that Crásico, having a larger army, might retaliate against him.

The doors of the hall were closed, the senators settled into their seats. The most influential stood up, moving to the center of the atrium to repeat and evaluate the words of the Basileus.

Arcadio, no fool, ordered his guards to surround the doors of the hall and the entire Curia to prevent any messages or escapes.

"What now, my lord?" One of his men by the name of Caeso, who was standing next to him, looking around the building, asked him.

"We can only wait for my request to be approved," he said, praying to the Nintu in his heart, hoping that everything would go in his favor.

"And if they don't approve it?"

Arcadio raised his head wide-eyed at her question, and in a trembling voice replied:

"I'd ra-rather not think about that," drops of sweat slipped from his forehead at the thought of having to use force against the Senate to get his ideas validated. "Some tried, and ended up executed. I wouldn't want to be among them."

Those words confused Caeso. He did not understand what he was referring to.

"Forgive me," Sighing, he spoke, raising his eyes to the sky, contemplating the glow of the moon. "Ivi…"

Private house of the imperial family

Together with her maid, who stood at her side, attentive to her needs, she nursed her son, barely five weeks old. A brown-eyed, blonde-haired creature.

"No doubt the Nintu blessed you by bringing him healthy, my lady."

She, named Ivette, smiled at his comment. All the discomforts she suffered for nine months and the complicated delivery she had had did not matter to her. They had spent years trying to have children and finally they had succeeded, nothing could take away the happiness she felt.

The bedroom door opened, revealing a man with brown hair and brown eyes, who was staring at the woman on the bed.

The maid bowed and left the room, respecting her privacy, closing the door behind her.

"Arcadio," her purple eyes shone as she pronounced his name.

Gently, she hastened to lay the child, who had fallen asleep, on the floor.

And respectful, and at the same time fearful of the important decision that Arcadio had to make, she stepped aside.

He approached her at a slow pace, kneeling in front of the little one, analyzing him carefully.

After a few seconds, which for Ivette were eternal, he nodded his head. She picked him up carefully, and lifted him from the floor.

"Yes, this child is my son, who will bear my grandfather's name: Tarvel Agricola. And he is the one who, one day, will take my place as the head of this family."

That was the ritual by which the father did or did not recognize his son.

The woman could not oppose what was decided.

Arcadio stood up, and let the child rest in its cradle.

"It's a pity, I missed his birth. The situation in the Empire has kept me very busy," he let out a sigh, turning to his wife, giving her a smile. "It gives me great pleasure to see you, Ivi," he went to her, placing a kiss on her forehead.

Ivette couldn't help blushing and shedding a few tears. However, she was confused to see that Arcadio was now wearing a serious expression.

"What's wro-wrong?" Trembling, before Arcadio's heavy gaze, she asked.

He walked his eyes over Ivette's figure, his breathing tensed. She misunderstood him, giving him a mischievous smile.

"You just got here and you want to do it already?" he leaned back, pushing aside the blanket. "I've been missing you," in a hypnotic tone she said, pulling down her upper garment, exposing part of her breast.

Arcadio hurried to raise his hand to stop her.

"No, not now," he said. And he took a seat on the edge of the bed, looking her straight in the eyes. "I have something very important to tell you."

Ivette frowned, covering her chest, and, settling down on the bed so she could pay attention to him.

"I'm listening," with her eyes downcast at his seriousness, she agreed.

"You remember Philipart?" He received a nod. "I know you're still recovering from childbirth, but," he paused for a breath, "for your safety, you're going to live with his wife and him in the capital of Afriki," he turned his gaze away, not wanting to look at her face.

She felt a pang in her chest at hearing that.

She was aware of the tensions Arcadio had with the Senate. But the idea of being separated from him again did not please her at all.

"And you?"

Ivette stood behind him, hugging him affectionately around the waist, burying her face in his back.

"I have some unfinished business with the Senate. If all goes well, I'll be able to go to Afriki in no time.

Her heart, in a thousand pieces made, tears slipped from her cheeks, she clung to him even more.

She processed his every word, she wanted to understand.

"Why Afriki?"

Arcadio stood up roughly, taking quick steps to the door.

"I have to go. Pack everything you need, in a few days you will leave in a caravan," he glanced sideways at her. "Together with our son."