“No,” Tori cried out as she stood up.
All the guests who had previously been staring at Obran now turned their eyes to the young princess. Tori looked around—clearly embarrassed and Gaius tried to grab her hand but she pulled back and stepped away from the table, quickly leaving the ballroom. Gaius looked at his father, who nodded at his son, and quickly went after Tori.
“It appears the princess seems to be quite concerned for my son’s safety,” the King said as the crowd sighed.
Any rumor of a romance between them would now surely be considered fact.
“Young gremlin, we admire your courage but we’ll leave the rest of the duels for the Colosseum this weekend,” the King said.
Luckily for Obran at that moment the cake was wheeled out and his outburst was quickly forgotten by the gluttonous guests. The guests clapped as the crown chef—who was dressed all in white—walked beside his creation: a three layered cake with a large golden eagle as a decorative centerpiece.
“Apicius you’ve outdone yourself again. Did you find the ninth eagle on your journeys and not tell us,” the King said.
“If that were the case, your highness, I would expect a triumph,” Apicius answered.
The cake was placed in front of the King.
“Nothing too exotic I hope, Apicius? Not everyone has your evolved tastes,” the King said.
“Of course your highness. I aim to please all,” Apicius said.
The King stood and ceremonially cut into the cake as the guests cheered; servants then began to serve the cake to everyone present.
“I’ve never seen the King up close before,” Tomas said. “He looks good for his age.”
“Does he know that you and Tori are friends?” Erkin asked.
“He knows,” Obran said. “His son knows too.”
“Hmm…” Erkin said.
“Zico, make sure you get a big piece,” Mara said.
“Yes dear,” Zico said. “Obran, that’s the head chef Apicius, the man who wrote ‘1001 Recipes from Around the World’.”
“Yeah, I figured,” Obran said. “He looks younger than I imagined.”
Apicius was a slim man with long dark hair who looked to be in his early thirties. He had a roguish appearance and seemed the type to travel the world to learn—or some might say steal—recipes, from giants, elves, dwarves, and halflings.
“You should go talk to him, introduce yourself,” Mara said.
“Okay,” Zico said.
They all tried the cake and Obran was impressed once again. After a few minutes Tori came back to the party, sitting and sharing a piece of cake with Gaius. She even presented the King the eagle centerpiece.
“Is she mad at me?” Obran wondered.
Obran wasn’t sure why he volunteered to fight Gaius, only that he wanted to whack him on the head, even if it was just with a wooden sword. Maybe it was the liquor. It doesn’t matter, he thought.
“More ale please,” Obran said to a servant.
A short time later the King got up and started to say his farewells to some of his guests and he retired soon thereafter; most of the foreign delegations soon left. The elves and gremlins left too but the dwarves kept drinking and eating and even started to sing songs in their own guttural language. With the King gone things got a bit more rowdy. Most guests took off their masks and nearly everyone was soon drunk off wine or ale. Obran even saw some humans throw up and then, as if nothing happened, they continued to eat and drink—probably planning to continue until the mock games and horse races the next day.
“Zico, let’s go introduce ourselves to Apicius now,” Mara said.
“Yes, dear,” Zico said.
“And take off that silly beard now. The King has retired,” Mara said.
Zico walked towards the crown chef with Mara sitting on his shoulder. From where Obran sat they appeared to hit it off, or Apicius was just enchanted by Mara. Obran wanted to go talk to Tori but she seemed busy with Gaius and was still being approached constantly by other guests. She said she’d come over. Fine, if that is what she wants; we'll wait, he thought.
“You okay bro,” Erkin asked.
Erkin had taken his mask off too and hadn’t drank as much as the rest of them.
“Yeah,” Obrand said.
“Did those elves notice you or any of us?” Erkin said.
“No and I kept an eye on them all night,” Obran said.
The elves even ignored him when he had volunteered to fight Gaius.
“You weren't just staring at Tori?” Erkin said.
“Don’t start with me now please,” Obran said.
“I’m sorry bro but you couldn’t think it would go on forever. Look at the world she lives in,” Erkin said.
Was his brother drunk or jealous? Obran didn’t understand why he’d say such a thing.
“You still have all of us,” Tomas said. “Whatever you need just let us know and I’m sure Zico and Mara feel the same way.”
Obran didn't want any of them to feel sorry for him.
“Thanks and maybe you’re right, bro. I should just enjoy myself and not stress about her,” Obran said, taking a large gulp of ale.
But Erkin and Tomas were staring behind him. She snuck up on me again didn’t she, Obran thought. Obran turned and Tori was standing behind him, dressed in white like a statue of a goddess.
“Hi guys. Sorry I couldn’t come say hello earlier but it’s been quite a night and I couldn’t skip out on my duties, being the only Carthaginian here,” Tori said.
“It’s okay; we are just happy to be here, great party,” Tomas said. "You look beautiful by the way."
"You don't look so bad yourself Mr. Wizard," Tori teased as Tomas blushed.
“It has been great, thanks for letting us come,” Erkin added.
"I'm just glad I could see some friendly faces," Tori said.
“Yes it’s been great but I couldn’t imagine having to do this all the time,” Obran said.
“You’re right. A quiet evening with friends would be better. I’d choose that anytime if I had a choice,” Tori said to Obran.
“I’d like to think we all still have a choice,” Obran said.
“Like your choice to fight tonight?” Tori said.
“I had my duty too,” Obran said.
“Whatever…”
At that moment a praetorian guard came up to Tori.
“The King requests you two join him,” the praetorian said motioning to Obran as well.
“So much for choice,” Erkin said.
Tori and Obran both looked confused.
“Yes, thank you. Of course.” Tori said to the guard. “C’mon Obran. I’ll see you two later. Say hi to Mara and Zico for me.”
Tomas and Erkin uttered a farewell as Obran quickly drank a glass of water, hoping he wasn’t too drunk, but he imagined everyone was at least a bit inebriated. Tori and Obran walked silently behind the praetorian. What could the king want with me, Obran wondered? They were led down several corridors and finally to a meeting room, which was guarded by two more praetorians both dressed in purple. One opened the door. Inside the King sat at the head of a large table: his two sons, Gaius and Drusus, as well as the two consuls, Collatinus and young Lucius, and the two gremlin senators were there as well. There was a pause when they entered, but Drusus, the king’s eldest son kept speaking after his father nodded at him to continue. The praetorian pointed several empty chairs against the wall and Obran and and Tori sat down.
“As I was saying father, the people seemed satisfied with the mock gladiatorial games but I still don’t see why we can’t use condemned prisoners or captured orcs instead,” Drusus said.
The elder son didn't look much like his brother Gaius. He had a angular face and a slight beard like someone who had been outside the comforts of the city.
“Then maybe a king will be tempted to condemn as many citizens as he can to satisfy the people’s thirst for blood. Or the people will rise up and condemn their leaders to the gladiator pits to be eaten by orcs. No my son, the games have been brought to an end, that has been settled,” the King said. “We must now be a model to other kingdoms and not just emulate them.”
“Yes father,” Drusus said.
Should I be hearing this, Obran thought.
He glanced at Tori who also looked surprised.
“Speaking of the people, sire,” Collatinus said. “Our preferred candidate for Tribune of the People has failed to amass much support. It looks like Gracchus will win the election with the help of Cato and the republicans.”
“‘Tribune of the people.’ How could you have allowed that to happen, Collatinus? Father, he will have veto power over your decrees,” Drusus said.
“And he will be sacrosanct as well,” his brother Gaius added.
“Had we lost the plebeians during the war my sons, all of us would not be sitting here. I’m sorry Drusus but I fear these republican and plebeian demands for a republic is something you will have to navigate during your reign,” the King said. “Very well, when the elections are over we’ll deal with Gracchus and Cato. I will have enough to worry about with the Greeks, Minoans, and those bloody elves this week.”
“The Troyans won’t be happy you didn’t mention them by name, Collatinus,” Lucius the young consul said.
“We are aware of that, young Lucius, but it was necessary,” the King interjected. “But enough I didn’t invite our new gremlin senators, Girkus and Vax, to discuss the condition of the world. Tell them about the campaign in the north Drusus and I want Obran to hear about it as well.”
What did I get myself into, Obran thought? Girkus and Vax had both nodded hello at Obran when he entered. They were older gremlins, too old to have fought in the war, but Girkus was clearly the elder. Obran recognized Vax from the northern lands—a rich gremlin who dealt and traded heavily with gnomes and humans, and had even bought and sold slaves once.
“General Sextus, my uh…beloved cousin and his legion had been following the plan set out by us: to bait the orcs to come out and attack us in the open, but he only had limited success,” Drusus said. “The dwarves of course wanted a more direct approach and Sextus and in his drive for glory eventually complied.”
“Your cousin's temperament and predilections are well known to us,” the King said. “Collatinus, why hasn’t general Armenus arrived?”
“I believe he’s too drunk, sire,” Collatinus said.
“He probably wouldn’t remember anything we agreed to anyway,” Drusus said.
“Lucius, can you go check his condition,” the King said to the young consul. “Take a guard with you.”
“Yes, your highness,” Lucius said.
But as he stood another dwarf was let in and the King motioned for them to sit at the table.
“Romans, this is Hakar, second in command to Armenus. He will have to sit in and bring his general up to speed later,” the King said. “Drusus go ahead.”
“Senators, the fighting underground has been grim and pitiless and has so far failed to clear the halls. Now I plan to lead the second legion to reinforce Sextus, if he is still even alive. We have some new ideas to draw the orcs out or cripple them but we could use your help,” Drusus said to the gremlin senators. “Fighting in the dark, stealth, and sabotage is what your race excels in. If we could eliminate the goblin king or some of their leaders the orcs would panic and flee the mountains, or may even turn on themselves. It is their way.”
“Your highness our treaty clearly stipulates gremlins would not be mandated to fight in any offensive wars, with Roma’s borders being set at the end of the war—no further than the northern alps and all of Italia to the south, no further,” senator Girkus said.
“The Dwarven Mountains senator, Armenus insists we call them by their proper name,” Hakar interjected.
“Of course, as soon as you win,” Girkus said.
Hakar looked annoyed by the gremlin’s words.
“Drusus, continue please,” the King said.
“Senator, these orcs from the mountains have raided northern cities for centuries and they have often raided gremlin lands as well if I’m not mistaken,” Drusus said.
“Sire, it’s not just about the treaty. I don’t think many gremlins would want to fight alongside dwarves,” Vax, the other gremlin senator said.
“You should be so lucky,” Hakar said.
“They would be in the auxiliary units—same as in the war—and will be attached to my legions. Armenus will not give orders to any gremlin under Roman command,” Drusus said.
“Senators, I’ve also negotiated for a higher share of the treasures so any gremlin citizen will get the same share as the legionnaires in this conflict,” Collatinus said. “Not an easy feat mind you.”
“Well…we are citizens aren’t we,” Girkus said.
“They will not fight for riches, Collatinus,” the King said. “But that is why I invited young Obran here. I assume everyone here knows his record. I wanted to ask you, Obran: what will it take for you or your fellow veterans to fight in this war against the orcs?”279Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPLsiX3oeOc
