Chapter 6

Gaul

Lucilla tried not to let her annoyance and exhaustion show as she listened to the representatives from Italia.

It had been a busy few weeks, even busier once Ky, whom she missed desperately, had left the week before. Worse, she knew this was just the beginning, and she was not likely to see him again for a long time. The last war had been mostly fought at, or at least near, home. Compared to this new one, even Carthage would be considered close. Ky had sent along the reports of clashes in Greece and Sarmatia, which they hoped would be the edge of the incursion into Europe, as Ky sometimes called the continent.

If the war went well, they would likely have to fight even further away, to the Far East, that is, by Sophus’s estimate, putting Anatolia as the halfway point, very far away indeed.

Which meant Ky would be a world away from her for years to come. At least she had Titus, whom she longed to get back to. Thankfully, that separation would not be nearly as long. While she would have wanted to return home as soon as the summit ended and Ky headed for Germania, it was her duty to stay. At least for a time. With this many representatives and leaders from nearly every major polity in the known world, it would be foolish of her not to take the opportunity to meet with each, both individually and in groups, to strengthen relationships that were strong and hopefully build on the weaker ones, hoping to turn them around and gain their support for the alliance.

It looked like it might be working with Greece, who was still frustratingly segmented and stubborn but who had to take reports of attacks on their Anatolian colonies seriously. None had committed yet, but they had begun to ask about the possibility of alliance support in their defense, which was a step forward.

The Ptolemies, however, were maddening. A dozen meetings, all ending exactly as they’d begun with no progress. They seemed to be born with the ability, or inability, to commit to anything. They demurred, obfuscated, hedged, and delayed every time. They were unfailingly polite about it, always thanking Britannia for helping free them from Carthaginian rule, but words of thanks were about as far as their gratitude seemed to carry.

“I’m not sure I understand what you mean when you say close,” Lucilla said, keeping her face neutral.

“I apologize for my lack of specificity, your Majesty. Unfortunately, this is an area that is hard to quantify,” the lead negotiator said, a man from Rome whom Ramirus and Medb said was one of the wealthiest men on the peninsula.

“Try.”

“All of the major tribes on the peninsula and northern Italia are in agreement with the unification your government has set up.”

“I hear a ‘but’ coming,” Lucilla said.

“Sadly, you do. But the tribes in Sardinia are proving to be a challenge. They are resistant to the idea of unification and want Italia to distance itself from Britannia specifically and the Western Alliance as a whole.”

“Did they give reasoning for their disagreement? Surely, they stand to benefit from your unification. Considering their island status and that the alliance controls most of the shipping in the Middle Sea, they stand to gain more than the tribes on the peninsula itself.”

“Some, but none that were believable.”

“Do what you can, but if they refuse to join, Italia can still function and prosper without them. What’s important now is that we move quickly. The peace we’ve enjoyed is ending, and war is on the horizon once more.”

“I heard your speech, but it sounded as if we still did not know how that would end.”

“Things are moving fast. The easterners have attacked Greek colonies in Anatolia and villages in Sarmatia. The war we warned of is here.”

The representatives looked at each other, worried. “Your Majesty, in the event of an eastern attack on Italia, can we expect military support from Britannia?”

They could read a map. If the easterners attacked through Greece, then Italia would be their next target should the Greeks fall. And the Italians saw the Greeks turning down help from the alliance.

“Britannia will do what it can to help its allies, but our primary focus must be on the members of the western alliance. Once Italia is unified and joins the alliance, you will be able to participate in that defense and gain the protections it offers.”

“But what if we are attacked before unification is complete?”

“Then you must rally your people and defend yourselves as best you can. Britannia will provide what assistance we can spare, but our resources will be stretched thin. The sooner you unify and join the alliance, the sooner you will have access to the full might of our combined forces.”

“We understand the urgency, Your Majesty,” the lead negotiator said. “We will do our best to address the Sardinian issue and send envoys as soon as possible.”

“See that you do. With the war starting, Britannia will be pulling most of our security forces out of Italia in the coming weeks.”

“But, given our proximity to Greece...”

“I am aware of how concerning that is, but you must also understand our position. We are spread thin, and our forces are needed elsewhere. The war is here, and we must respond to defend the alliance we have built.”

“But if Greece falls, we will be next. Surely you can spare some troops to secure our eastern border?”

“I cannot make any promises. Our commanders are still assessing the situation and determining where our forces are most needed. But I will discuss it with them and see what can be done.”

The representatives looked at each other, clearly unsatisfied with her response.

“Your Majesty, we are grateful for all Britannia has done for us, but we need more assurances.”

“Then you have work in front of you. I know this is difficult to accept, and I promise you it is also difficult for me to say. I have pushed for Italian independence and unification since the end of the war and have tried to give your people every opportunity to reach those goals, but my obligations must come first. I will be returning to Britannia shortly. In the meantime, I urge you to resolve the issue with Sardinia and send envoys to join the alliance. Time is running out.”

None of the men were happy with her answers, but at least they finally seemed to understand the urgency of the situation.

Devnum

“I don’t care what you have to do; get it done,” Medb said to the man dressed in riding clothes, wearing no identifying marks or rank.

Before the man could respond, there was a knock on the door and one of the praetorians stuck his head in the door.

“I said we were not to be disturbed,” Medb snapped.

“I understand, my lady,” the guard said. “But the Praetorian Daelith is here. He says he needs to see you as soon as possible, and that it’s a personal matter between the two of you.”

Medb ran through dozens of names in her head, and Daelith, which sounded Caledonian to her ear, was not one she knew.

“Go out the side,” Medb told the man in riding clothes, pointing to a small door in the side of her office. “And don’t come back until you have something for me.”

The man grimaced but nodded and left. Medb then waved to the guard, who opened the door and let the stranger in.

“I don’t know you,” Medb said pointedly once the door was closed.

“No, my lady. I am sorry for the deception. I was sent by Tribune Claudius, who asked me to stop and see you, and to keep my meeting with you quiet. It seemed like the best way to explain my meeting with you.”

Claudius she did know, at least by name. He’d been a low-level praetorian who had exemplified himself several times during and after the war, and rose through the ranks rapidly following the war. She’d never met him, but knew he was one of the Empress’s favorites.

“I see. I assume he sent you with a message then.”

“No, my lady. He thought it best that I not write it down, as ... if it became known, it could cause problems in some parts of the Empire.”

“I see. And what is this urgent message?”

“The centurion is concerned. He’s seeing a significant growth in unrest in Carthage itself and the region as a whole, as well as a growth of criminal organizations, who seem to have an uncanny ability to always avoid his patrols or raids.”

“We knew it would be a problem, and security is a praetorian concern. What does he want me to do about it?”

“It’s not the security problems themselves, my lady, but what seems to be driving them. Claudius is concerned about the decisions being made by Governor Eoghan, who seems to be making not only the wrong decisions, but decisions that are making the situation progressively worse.”

Medb frowned. She knew Eoghan, a former Ulaid senator, and one who was uncomfortably close with Senator Fiacha, the exiled traitor. She’d never found anything that suggested Eoghan had been involved with Fiacha, but their closeness had always made Medb uncomfortable.

“In what way?”

“He’s favoring some factions over others, and is too friendly, turning a blind eye to elements that we believe are fronts for criminal organizations in the city, while taking harsh measures against others with similar connections. It is the favored groups that we have had trouble catching in their actions, always managing to avoid us. We don’t want to blame the governor or his agents directly, or at least not openly, but the coincidence has not gone unnoticed. Beyond that, the favoritism he has shown has caused the factions getting harsher treatment to scale up violence to counter their opponents. The city has become a powder barrel.”

Medb leaned back, crossing her arms, thinking. Daelith began to shift from foot to foot, uncomfortable with her focus on him as she processed the information.

“Anything else?” she finally asked.

“No, my lady. That’s all I was told to relay. Tribune Claudius wanted you to be aware of the situation, given your ... history.”

She crooked an eyebrow at him but did not comment. The statement could be considered either an insult or just an acknowledgment of her history with her countrymen.

“Thank you for bringing this to my attention. You’re dismissed.”

The man bowed and hurried out. For several minutes, Medb didn’t move. She stared at the closed door, thinking. By all accounts, Claudius was a good soldier, not easily spooked and calm under pressure, which meant that it was less likely he was overestimating the problem. Medb, however, wasn’t a fan of trusting the judgment of others, no matter how unflappable they might be.

While there had always been concerns about Eoghan’s friends, he himself had never been much involved in any scandals. This was, in fact, the first. She’d seen the reports the governor had been sending back, and they told a very different story than what Claudius reported. By Eoghan’s telling, Carthage was progressing well and would be able to make a smooth transition toward self-governance in the next year or two.

What spoke to her more than the message itself was the fact that Claudius had seen a need to send it through unofficial channels; through a friend.

Wrapping her knuckles on the desk, she stood up and headed for the door, ignoring the guards who snapped to attention and fell in behind her as she left her office.

Lucilla had just returned from her trip, and Medb found her in her private study, writing out documents, probably for Hortensius or one of the other inventors. The Empress was intelligent, no doubt, but the level of detail and advanced knowledge needed for those instructions, from what Medb had seen, was well beyond what she had ever shown. At least in Medb’s presence.

For a moment, Medb’s eyes went over the technical specifications. Ky was something she couldn’t understand. He was otherworldly, and she’d witnessed him perform feats no mortal could. Lucilla, on the other hand, was very much mortal. She’d heard the explanation, that Ky had explained it to her and she was simply writing down what she was told, but Medb wasn’t convinced of that. Medb stayed silent for a beat too long, and Lucilla raised an eyebrow.

Medb pushed her thoughts away. It was a mystery she’d love to solve, but not one she needed to deal with today.

“Yes?” Lucilla said.

“We have a problem,” Medb said. “Claudius, the man you put in charge of the praetorians in Carthage, sent a message to me through back channels, describing concerns he has with the security of the region. Concerns that directly contradict a wide number of the governor’s reports.

“Can I see his message?”

“He chose to send it with a close friend, apparently not wanting to commit it to paper.”

Lucilla frowned, and Medb could see the Empress mirroring her own thoughts. As much as she’d hated the idea of bowing to another ruler, after the loss of her kingdom, she appreciated that if she had to that it was ultimately to someone like Lucilla. She’d met few people quick enough to pick up on the intricacies like the Empress did.

If Medb had to serve another, at least it was one worthy of that service.

“That is troubling,” Lucilla said. “If Claudius says it is so, I’m inclined to believe it. Which do you think it is, then? Incompetence or treason?”

“It’s hard to know, this far removed. It could easily be either, but that isn’t the issue. He has connections with factions inside the Empire that you will need as the war heats up. We can’t just take action based on the suspicions of a praetorian, no matter how trusted.”

“I agree. I also get the sense you came here with more than just concerns. You don’t need to prime me, as Ky says. Just tell me what you have to say.”

“Send Cormac. He outranks Eoghan in Ulaid society. He can apply pressure without removing Eoghan outright, and any evidence he provides will be enough to cow the factions in Ulaid that support Eoghan.”

“An excellent suggestion, since it provides a reason to send you with him,” Lucilla said.

“Your Majesty, I have many things here...”

“I have no doubt,” Lucilla said, cutting her off. “This isn’t a punishment, Medb, but an appreciation of your abilities. I know you’re having difficulty getting information on the easterners, leaving you and Ramirus at something of a standstill. Carthage, on the other hand, could cause us issues. Cormac is a good man and he’s become a fine diplomat with an active military mind, but subtlety is not one of his attributes. If there is a problem, it will have to be handled carefully. Also, if Claudius had been able to secure any solid evidence, he would have made the report to me. He sent it to you because he knew how weak his position was. This needs the touch of someone like you. I also want you in the region, as there are concerns with Italian unification, which I might need you to look into. It would give me peace of mind if you were nearby.”

“I see,” Medb said, inclining her head in tacit surrender to the Empress’s position.

“I’ll send orders to Cormac today and inform Eoghan that the prince is coming to inspect the good work he’s been doing, and as part of a reevaluation of our force dispersion in preparation for the coming war. As always, I trust your judgment to do what is needed, but contact me should you need any additional support.”

Medb didn’t answer, simply bowed at the waist before turning and leaving the Empress behind.

Far Eastern Germania

Ky crouched behind a fallen tree, his eyes fixed on the small Germanic town below. The early morning mist still clung to the ground, providing additional cover for the Fifth Legion as they advanced silently through the forest. He watched it both through the drone flying high above and using his advanced vision, focusing on the foreign soldiers moving through the town, herding villagers into a central building.