The three of them soon reached the gates and waited on line. The walls of Remus were by law smaller than those of Roma, though the city had also been recently fortified as well since the Remans had vowed to never again to be sacked or conquered. There were large crowds entering the city for the last day of free bread, wine, and games—Remus was about a quarter the size of Roma, but with its large temples, tenements, stadiums, and towers it was by all measure still a grand city. Make it bigger and better, it is the Roman way, Obran thought. Obran just hoped with so many visitors coming and going they wouldn't attract much attention and was happy to see a few gremlins on the line as well.
"Have either of you been to the gremlin quarter before?" Katrina said.
"No," Obran said.
"Me neither but I hope to see it," Erkin said.
"It started as one bar that a gremlin opened after the war and it kind of kept expanding. Now there are several inns, taverns, a gambling house, barbers, and a small market too. You should both go visit," Katrina said.
"We'll try," Obran said.
"Remus does have its charms, I guess that's why I stayed longer than I planned," Katrina said.
Since they were on foot they made it quickly to the gates. In older times goods and carts would be searched and taxes might be collected for the local government. But the King had prohibited entry fees and tariffs throughout the kingdom after the war, which had increased trade and movement throughout the kingdom.
When they reached the walls Obran's hands began to tremble again as memories of Remus flooded his mind. General Barca...stop it, don't think about it, don't think about him, Obran thought. He remembered that night when the Romans had retaken the city. How a century of gremlins had snuck in under the cover of darkness and sabotaged the gates to the city so they couldn't be closed. How the gremlins then put out and soaked all the torches and fires, making them useless, then in the darkness slipped by the guards to the officer's quarters and killed the Carthaginian generals and captains in their sleep. How they sabotaged equipment: cutting bow strings, breaking arrows, tearing saddles, taking apart catapults and ballistas, stealing swords, and warping armor. Some gremlins who had been hiding in the city for days then set fires in key locations. The Carthaginians were in disarray when the Romans and their allies attacked; it was an overwhelming victory. But Obran also remembered the remaining Carthaginians and their mercenaries—the ones who surrendered—being led away and never knowing what happened to them.
"Are you alright?" Erkin said.
Obran hid his hands under his cloak again.
"Yeah, just thinking," Obran said.
"Are the guards wary of gremlins here?" Obran asked Tori.
"No, most are fine, just behave and they will treat you well," Katrina said. "By the martyr, these lines get longer every day. I hope they do finally ban wagons during the day."
A guard approached Katrina. He was a young legionnaire and wore segmented armor.
"How is my favorite Celtic warrior princess doing?" the soldier said.
"Stop calling me that, Quintus; I was never a princess and hardly a warrior," Katrina said.
Celtic women were known to sometimes fight along their male counterparts and Obran wondered if Katrina had fought the Carthaginians or had her tribe joined them as others had.
"You're coming in early," Quintus said.
"There's a storm coming so I'm taking my flock back to the abbey," Katrina said.
"Good idea, follow me," Quintus said.
"C'mon," Katrina said to Erkin and Tomas; Corvus herded the sheep forward and the legionnaire led them to the head of the line.
"Will you go out and celebrate tonight? It's the last night of festivities," Quintus said.
"You know I don't drink and the monks have a strict curfew," Katrina said.
"C'mon...it's the same excuse as always but you could stay out all night, most people will tonight," Quintus said.
"And have no place to stay tomorrow night—no thanks," Katrina said.
"All right, all right, but remember you promised me some mutton when you butcher these sheep."
"And what will the rest of the guards think about that, Quintus?" Katrina said.
"They'll be jealous, let them; they all know you are my favorite girl."
"And how many maidens have you said that to Quintus?" Katrina said.
"Most weren't maidens but you know my heart belongs to you," Quintus said.
"Such sweet but pretty lies...like those of all you Romans," Katrina said.
"I suppose only your monks know the truth?" Quintus said.
"It's the truth we can all learn Quintus," Katrina said.
Quintus eyed Erkin and Obran who barely stood over Katrina's sheep.
"You herding gremlins now too?" Quintus said.
"Be nice. I met them on the road. You know a shepherd can get lonely out there," Katrina said.
"You should give up that racket and become a proper Roman wife," Quintus said.
"I'll think about it—if I ever meet a proper Roman," Katrina said.
"I haven't seen either of you before. You two are here for the celebrations?"
"Uhm..yeah...sir," Obran said.
"Okay, stay out of trouble and you'll be welcome," Quintus said.
"Yes sir," Obran said.
"Of course sir," Erkin added.
Obran felt a small drop of rain on his hand as thunder rattled in the distance.
"Go on ahead, all of you. Katrina I'll be off in the evening if you want to meet in the forum, near the statue of Remus," Quintus said.
"I can't promise you anything. You know the monks are a bit strict during Roman holidays."
"I'm starting to hate those monks of yours," Quintus said.
"Then you'll have to hate me too," Katrina said.
"How could I hate someone so beautiful," Quintus said.
Jeez, is this how all humans flirt, Obran thought? Am I supposed to speak that way to Tori too? I wouldn't know how...
They entered the city just as the rain started.245Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdtdIMmptKn
245Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcCcvHpNsDW
