SL Part 7 - A Change of Tides

[Kamenwati]

A Change of Tides

"Soon the rains will come to wash away the blood...
The empire walls crumble into dusts and the trees retake the land...
And when all is said and done,
the past will only be a mere footprint in the sand, soon to be washed away."

Kamenwati, now the Tamazgha Ambassador to Carnia, resided within the manor of the Lady of Lycia… his room next to hers. In private, was a life within a life. They shared, loved, and danced together.

Publically, it was politics as usual; though many would guess or suppose to their relationship, but none would inquire upon the man with the curved sword at his hip; for none knew nothing about him, but the fact of a great warrior.

Secundus, the Emperor of Carnia, was the only man to be receiving reports of his Varangian Guard in the deserts of the Tamazgha. Several cohorts were roving the desert, conquering, instead of relieving, the people of the Tamazgha…

Power was an illusion… and Secundus knew whilst Abu Said Uthmann was in power, he dare not move against the man… but now that the Tamazgha was free, he could instill his own reign… if nothing else to stir up bad blood between the various peoples to make them weaker than his own Carnia..

((Note: this situation between the Tamazgha and Carnia is similar to President Tito of former Yugoslavia… when he was president, he held the country together thru brute force… defying the USSR and USA both… and after he died, the country imploded… dividing into Bosnia-Herzegovina, Croatia, Kosovo, Serbia, and Macedonia… all eventually at war with one another… for more info, see the history books.))

The Varangian Guard was a powerful force in their style of war… but in the desert, life was different… wars were fought differently…

In the battle of Fez, the Guard was effective… in the desert, their deaths in battle are nothing upon the wind… Even their shields and armour are swallowed by the sand storms.

It was people like Alai Karzi… and the Aswad that truly ruled the Tamazgha… Secundus would see this in his reports… the more soldiers he would send to the desert, the smaller the force at home became… the higher the death rolls in the desert were.

Now other countries, countries foreign to the desert, desired to claim the rich and fertile lands of Carnia as their own… They were pulling their own emissaries from the troubled former Roman territory.

Kam spent most of his time with Briseis… and still she had not confessed her ordeal. And upon this day, one of Lady of Lycia’s allies in the Senate brought word... and communiqués stolen from Emperor Secundus’ quarters… All this would inform her of current situations in the desert… Situations that would be the downfall of Carnia… and the exchange of power in the desert…

[Kamenwati]

Custom dictated quite plainly an unmarried woman could not spend the night with another man, usually in Carnia; such occurrences were quite common and many would decide to turn a blind eye, but not for the Lady of Lycia, who had come from myth and shadow. None had ever heard of the daughter of Adonis Cassus as he had only had four sons. Two grown, one all most to manhood standards of fifteen and a young son but then, no one questioned it, once it had been laid in hand by the Emperor himself that Briseis was now Lady of Lycia, the forgotten and hidden daughter of its former Lord of Lycia.

Many would be left wondering if this woman, so likeness to the Helen of Troy of old, was a reincarnation of such a woman. Would she be one, men would fight battles over simply for her beauty, for it seemed her beauty was in question as to turn the head of the Emperor and send its men against the very allies they had held for so long.

Questions rose in whispers that soon died with the delight of victory. So much so the Ambassador was welcomed when he touched its soil and eyes were turned away when the Lady of Lycia went to his lodgings and did not emerge until dusk. Such eyes could be turned for a time but not for long, and for this, Briseis would not sacrifice tradition even for love, especially for love for she wanted Kam to be accepted; accepted and heard when he spoke. For somehow Briseis found it a whisper in her heart and soul that it was important he be both politically and socially accepted, not for their sake, but of the peoples.

It was early in the day when message arrived to him, at his lodging, that she had requested to the Emperor in allowing him to sit upon a council meeting and had been met with agreement. He was to come after breakfast and not to be late. The paper bearing a faint mark of her lips pressed in a kiss and her signature below. When the appointed time had come, she was waiting for him outside the halls of the council chamber wearing the signature white toga robe with a single red side, the long ends of the toga draped so over her arm. The servant leading him with gesture and Briseis would smile as she turned her body around to face him and dipped her head in greeting.

"Welcome Ambassador" She hummed but those striking sapphire eyes that seemed to forever pierce through his soul spoke so much of missing him.

He bowed deep, his hand swaying from his left to his chin and rolling away as was the custom of the Tamazgha people… “Salam walaykoom…” and she relied back to him matching his greeting in his own language… “Walaykoom Salam…” and he smiled.

"The council will collect in a minute and proceedings will begin. I doubt you will get much out of it. It’s been the same for days, talk of the land, of harvesting and of dwindling resources. Each Lord of the counties making argument to their cause in furthering their lands."

Here she paused to turn to lead him into the chamber itself, a massive circular room which had two spilt rows of marble seating for the council members and a marble dais in the middle, one smaller slab sitting upon a larger one, a chair resting on top for the Emperor to sit as head. The room designed so that a voice could carry with little need to raise it above normal talking level.

Now her voice dropped to a whisper so that it would not carry about the room as the council members all turned to stare "You must not speak unless you are spoken to by the Emperor himself, even if one of the Lords addresses you, you must look to the Emperor for approval to voice, it has been charged upon me to explain this to you, that you are now a guest of the Emperor of Carnia, your things are being moved to a room in the palace, but that you are a guest and even as Royal advisor and Tamazgha Ambassador to Carnia and the Gaelic Nations, you are not a council member. Proper respect will be given, but until alliances are so settled between our Emperor and the Amir in treaty, you are simply a guest, allowed privilege most do not get."

Dark brown eyes sparkled as she talked. The difference between them publically and privately was like night and day. Publically, they had to portray the business-like repertoire of political advocates, and at night, in the confines of one domicile or the other, they were passionate lovers… And now, he just nodded in acknowledgement of her instructions.

Her head lifted, her eyes sweeping the room. "My Lords, may I present the Royal advisor and the Tamazgha Ambassador of Carnia and the Gaelic Nations, Kamenwati." Her hand gestured and she dipped her head at the Lords of the counties and then Kam before gesturing her hand outward to a place that had been assigned for him to sit in on the proceedings.

He bowed deep, his hand swaying from his left to his chin and rolling away as was the custom of the Tamazgha people… “Salam walaykoom…” he said to all, then rose to full height and waited.

"Emperor Secundus Augustus" A guard calling out. The company turned, murmuring falling silence as the Emperor appeared at the chamber doors garbed the same as all the council members, the laurel wreath upon his head the only standing that he was in charge. His hands rose, the draping's wrapped around an arm sliding down as he saluted the company. "Sit" He commanded before walking to the dais and his waiting chair but all who were standing waited till the Emperor sat until taking their own chairs.

The proceedings were indeed tedious. Talk of the crops that were being tended but low supplies for what proved to be one of the harshest winters Carnia would ever see. Each Lord taking turn to voice his opinion on the matters of state, the recent war, the return of the men and the obvious hardships families of the fallen would receive. It was then Secundus would surprise them all, stopping the Lord of Martius in his speech with a raise of his hand and the man fell to his seat. "I have no doubt my Lords, that these will be troubling times for our island. We cannot rush the Gods, they alone hold our fate within their grasps and it is not like them to reveal destiny and course before its appointed time. Things will change, things... have changed. For now all we can do is bide our time. "

He gave pause before continuing. "For now, I am appointing the Lady of Lycia Ab Aeterno (from the everlasting) in honor of the fallen and to head council over efforts that such families will not be forgotten and lost. Taxes will be raised in effort to fill an account of such a name so it can be divided amongst the families for food, clothing, even the money itself. Lady of Lycia, I will appoint you one of my own personal councilmen to help in the task, and purchase some slaves, if it so pleases you, so they may see the tasks at hand done. For now, let our council adjourn and prepare for the banquet in celebration of our recent victory with the Tamazgha. Wherein the coming days, my Lords will see you returned to your homes as you see fit and our council will convene again when the Gods deem it right and proper. Speaking of the Tamazgha; Ambassador, is there anything you wish to add before this council? Food for thought over the men for next time we meet..."

Briseis sat stunned into silence, not that she had not been silent throughout the proceedings but now she had been given the job to oversee the families of the fallen. Did this mean she would have to spend more time in the city when all she wanted to do was retire to her father’s villa, well now her villa? She was drawn out of her thoughts at the Emperor attention on Kamenwati and she waited in silence for what, if anything he had to say on the proceedings or in general.

Kamenwati sat when allowed… and he listened to all the proceedings. He saw how Secundus controlled the Senate… like the Caesars before the Roman senate. He would push the hair from his face as he stole a glance at Briseis… To his culture the Carnians were mere pagans, worshipping many gods… when Allah was the true God. But Kamenwati was of open mind… he was not the supremist many of his brethren were. Things had changed… Things were changing still… and unbeknownst to them all, more was to change… better or worse was yet to be seen.

When Secundus spoke about Bri, Kam looked at Bri… he could see her surprise… Could this be a high position? He knew not what they spoke, but he was proud of her… and he offered her a husbandly smile. His attention was brought back to the Emperor with him mentioning the Tamazgha.

Kam rose… and bowed. “Thank you MiLord Emperor… It is good being in Carnia… such a beautiful place… But my Amir has sent word, that the Tamazgha is in turmoil once more.” He paused and raised his hands to quiet the senate. “Quiet please… I have more…” he spoke to the senate… “Beside warlords of the former Amir Uthmann waging war against former bandits ravaging our countryside… there is fact that Carnian phalanxes have built a fort near Tangiers, at the Strait… and one near Tunis… to control the Tunisian coast…” This information brought about a flurry of conversations and accusations. Arguments ensued… Kamenwati looked to the Emperor, then to Bri and back… “The Amir requests that the Carnian elite Varangian Guard be pulled back to Carnia…”

Kam had not blamed anyone but using the Varangian Guard meant that approval could only come from Secundus himself… yet the Senate continued to argue the use of such forces in the desert. Kam was alone in this… Bri had no clue what the Amir sent with Kam… Was he a lone stranger in a hostile land? Meanwhile, Kam just sat down… listened and watched.

Briseis’ face again was a mixture of surprise and confusion at what Kam had revealed. The council roared around her, some calling Kam a liar, tossing their arms at him, others asking the meaning of such a thing that they had previously been unaware of. Briseis herself stayed in her seat while most rose to shout, her hands folded in her lap as her attention turned from Kam to the Emperor again.

Secundus hands rose to hush and quiet his men into their seats again. For all outward appearances, he seemed neither surprised nor upset by this news and the barest of smiles on his lips spoke of no guilt of the actions nor that he was owning up to them.

Kam looked to Briseis with an apologetic glance. He took the time to whisper to her whilst the Emperor quieted the crowd. Leaning to her, he spoke softly in his native language… “My dear, I apologize for the revelation… do not feel, or assume, that I do not trust you, but I required your face to be as it is… surprised and confused… to establish the fact that I do not tell you all that is… I do not wish to give Secundus an upper hand by controlling you to hinder what is to be… So prepare yourself…trust him not… regardless of what transpires now… or later.”

"My Lords" His voice rumbled. "My Lords, please." His hands ushered the men into their seats. "Ambassador, naturally, were I aware of such a thing, I could have had such men pull out as soon as the battle was over. You have my word I will look into the matter. Men often abdicate from their stations, berserk as it was for a higher cause; one of greed, of money. For now, I ask the council not to worry over the issue. Let us adjourn for the day, enjoy the banquet tonight and tomorrow, return to your lands, for they must be in much need of your tending."

Kam’s attention refocused upon the Emperor. “Yes MiLord…” he bowed his head and spoke aloud. But silently in his mind, he thought… “You lying son of a goat…” his mind was racing… the Emperor spoke words that fact proved otherwise. And the man had just proved him right by excommunicating him from Carnia… for what, speaking the words of his Amir… and his own mind? He had seen the phalanxes… saw the battles… and watched the fortifications being built.

As the gathering began to rise, the shuffling of robe and body moving, Secundus rose and waved Kamenwati towards him. "A moment of your time Ambassador..." He rumbled. Most of the council stopped to look but Secundus waved them on before waving Kamenwati to follow after him. "Do not worry, Lady of Lycia, I will return the Ambassador to you thus..." Secundus offered the pausing woman a smile before leading Kamenwati out a different set of doors from the council chamber to a small hall that lead to a private room. One of Secundus many rooms of sanctuary from the castle and people of Carnia. A slave preparing the room with food and drink saw the Emperor and dropped to her knees, her palms laid flat on the ground and her head bowed. "Rise" Secundus commanded off her and then dipped low to a set of cushions on the ground for lounging. "Join me, Ambassador." He offered and took a goblet of wine from the slave who then turned to Kamenwati, her head bowed low as she offered a goblet of wine to him as well.

Kam was hesitant to say the least… he could very well go with the Emperor… and disappear… forever. He suffered under Abu Said Uthmann… and knew treachery first hand. His hand touched the hidden dagger under the robes… It was not a sword, but at least he was armed. As he walked with the Emperor, he watched the slave… only to glance to the Emperor with a wave of his hand. “Thank you MiLord… but alas, I do not partake in spirits.” Secundus did not know whether it was true or not… but Kam did not trust the man at all…

"Quite a display for our first meeting. I hope it is a situation we will not revisit. Perhaps we should have spoken first before I allowed you into the council chamber. I realize the mistake now. I hope not to revisit it again. Now that we are alone, I wish to hear your thoughts, what is it you wish to accomplish here? What is it your Amir wishes to accomplish here? I can tell you with as much certainty as within my breast where my heart beats, the old alliances are dead, as they should be. The empire my father built is destroyed, the structure he laid down crumbling, now is a time for our generation.”

“MiLord, if I erred, I do humbly apologize… I presumed this was the best way to obtain action, instead of politics… to save you time and effort in convincing your Senate to babble on for days… weeks… I thought you controlled your Senate better.” Kam settled into the pillows beside the Emperor, retaining access to the dagger, should he require it. His brown eyes narrowed as he looked at Secundus. “My most high Sovereign, the IbnTumart and the al-Jama'a al-'Ashara… ummm, excuse me, the most High Council of Ten… simply desire peace… as is Allah’s wish for all his people… We, the people of the Tamazgha have our own demons to bear, we do not require Carnia’s… All the Amir, and the Council, desire is the Carnian soldiers to depart as was agreed upon in the agreement of support offered by you to free the Tamazgha…” he had placed the Emperor in an awkward place. The Emperor and the Senate had signed a document offering Carnian troops to assist in overthrowing Uthmann, and that document had stated, the Carnians would be removed two months after a new regime was instituted… For over a year now, the troops still remain.

“Do you wish to build a life here amongst our people? Perhaps even offer a free life away from the horrors your own land as seen to some of your own people? It would be welcomed to them." He paused, Secundus was a smart individual, he rarely said or did anything without knowing where his actions would take him. His father had taught him well, he showed no signs of anything but good intention, and for the most part it was but Secundus did have some of his father’s traits, yet Secundus saw them not as a bad thing, his father had thought to small, wanting to seek to reunite the ways of Ancient Rome. He was thinking bigger, thanks to the Lady Briseis, Secundus sought the world.

Kam tilted his head slightly as the Emperor asked the question. Oh, the man is intelligent, and Kam had no intention of being the lesser minded. “My life is the Tamazgha… born, bled, and… If Allah wishes it… to die there.” He canted his head back straight… “Does MiLord feel that my world contains horrors? What makes you think that some of my people desire to live as Carnians… Romans… We do not wish to repeat history to fall under Roman thumbs… to be enslaved… No Roman… nor Carnian shall rule over the Tamazgha…” His voice was soft, political… yet unyieldingly straightforward.

"You wish to marry the Lady Briseis? You recognize of course that in doing so she will remain in her position, it will not make you Lord of Lycia in anything but name and that you will still be required to perform your duties of Ambassador? I assume she is all right with this and that you may be called back to converse with the Amir at times. I must admit, I am not indisposed of the union between the both of you; children would of course be a problem. How do your people handle such a thing?"

Kam shifted, but his brown eyes never left Secundus. “Yes, by the grace of Allah, I would marry Briesis…” he chuckled softly… “A title from marriage, I do not require MiLord… I am quite content… and as Ambassador, if you allow me to remain in Carnia, then I shall perform my position as required…” Uh oh, that tilted head again. “MiLord Secundus… Should the Lady Briseis and I marry, and have children… that tis an area, by the grace of Allah, that politics should not be concerned.” The man was treading on dangerous ground… Kam would kill for Bri… enough said…

Secundus shrugged his shoulder and waved his hand as if to wave off the question. "I am not questioning your intentions with her but I have to wonder, if you know a union between the two of you will more than likely not produce children of your own, that you do not wish a union for the sake of power. You understand, I am merely looking out for the well being of the Lady of Lycia, I have known her a long time, know that her birth was not completely noble but am willing to overlook it, this country of ours needs thinking of hers, and yours in order to see our future ensured and our survival unquestionable."

Looking out for the Lady of Lycia? Right! More like looking out for any threats toward him. Kam’s thoughts were more along that line… Yet outwardly, he displayed no emotion, nor movement regarding it. “I assure you MiLord Secundus, my motives toward Bri… the Lady of Lycia is most honorable…” he did not respond to Secundus’ future remark. The only motion Kam did, was to move an errant strand of hair from his face.

He stopped again, this time taking a large swallow of wine into his mouth as he would let the Ambassador have the floor. He asked questions to get his answers, to get a better working of a person. To, in a way, know their mind as well as they did. Secundus in many ways resembled a good man, and in many ways he was, he did not see his deeds as wrong, he was merely trying to build a future for his people and the world meant a good future for his people. If he had to use people to get to the end means of his plans, well, he would make sure there were none the wiser and if so, well he would do with them what his father had done to the previous Lord of Lycia. For now though, Kamenwati and Briseis had their purposes and Secundus asked questions, to better gauge how they could help him meet his goal.

“Before the throne of the Almighty, man will be judged not by his acts but by his intentions. For God alone reads our hearts.” Mohandas Gandhi

Kam looks to Secundus… and speaks in a sort of prophetic way… “As the climate that the Tamazgha have is entirely their own and different from anyone else’s, and their river has a nature quite different from other rivers, so, in fact, the most of what they have made their habits and their customs are the exact opposite of others. Our two cultures exist, side-by-side, but they seldom truly mix in any meaningful fashion. It was possible for a Tamazghan to Hellenize, Romanize, or even Carnianize, but the process would be rather formidable, since it essentially required abandoning our native culture almost totally. To a great extent in the past it has been true of foreigners entering the Tamazgha who has wished to adopt the Tamazghan way of life.”

Certainly one of the most telling indicators in this matter was the prevalence of intermarriage. Intermarriage was even more common out in the countryside and among the military where there was not as much of a wealth and status difference between the Tamazgha and Greeks or Romans. In all fairness, it should be pointed out that in almost every case the documentation shows a Greek or Roman man marrying a Tamazghan woman and seldom a Tamazghan man marrying a Greek or Roman woman. The law seems to have been that the children inherited their ethnic identification through the father. A Greek woman marrying Tamazghan man would probably be losing her status, or marrying down. However, in the end run, Tamazghan culture always seemed more tolerant in its outlook than the Greek or Roman. After what Secundus said, he wondered if Briseis felt she was marrying down.

"Hell is full of good intentions or desires."

The Tamazgha did not fare well under the Hellenistic rule of a millennia ago… and even less so under the Roman… and Kamenwati, knowing what lengths the Carnian Emperor, and his predecessors, went thru to appear as Roman as possible, doubted that the Tamazgha would fare any better with Carnia… He found it odd that Carnia, who suffered under Roman rule, would now seek to become what Rome was once…

He knew Secundus was prodding… attempting to learn Kam’s mind… a way to find the Berber, or the Tamzghan, mindset. Kam was smarter than that… he would just smile as he looked at Secundus, his mind drifting to a safer, and better place… to Briseis.

[Kamenwati]

Secundus fingers dipped into a bowl of nuts and leisurely he popped a few into his mouth and chewed thoughtfully as he listened to the Ambassador. Kamenwati was indeed a smart man, Secundus could see this but unwittingly, he was also by not revealing too much, giving Secundus rise to formulate a plan the Ambassador would never see coming. Not even this son of a dog would ruin his plans. The plans he so wrongly twisted from the Lady of Lycia words. In a world were a woman ruled only the household and never politics, it was easy to twist the ideas of women to suit men, to suit them enough to say it was their own. Lifting up from the cushions, he moved to the balcony just to the right of the cushions making a circle to the railing and then back into the room again.

His mind was a clever working, gears grinding and turning the words of the Ambassador in his head over and over. Secundus gave a wave of his hand. "I did not mean to say your lands would come under roman thumb again. Carnia itself is no longer under the thumb of Rome. Why do we live this way then? To honor Rome, because it’s in our blood, as the desert of your lands is in yours. I have no desires to return Carnia to Rome, nor the old Roman ways, it is my desire in time we will become our own nation in this vast world were many are in their own right becoming their own and just as other lands are, form alliances, yours and mine as well as the former Skye that the Lady of Lycia had in former residence." He paused a moment if to make a sucking noise to clear his mouth of the residue of nuts. "I promise you, to look into the matter of Carnian soldiers still habiting in Tamazgha. For now I ask of your patience, as I do all my people, as we transition into a new age for Carnia. For now, return to the Lady of Lycia, I am sure she is missing your company and I shall see you both tonight"

Secundus waved a hand to the doors as he crossed the floor to another set of doors at the opposite side of the room were servants waited to open the doors for him and he disappeared within.

Kam’s brown eyes never left the Carnian Emperor as he spoke. He just sat cross-legged on the pillows, his hands clasped together in his lap. He did not trust the man beyond eyesight… and as the Emperor spoke of investigating the troops on Tamazgha soil, Kam just nodded in acknowledgement. Upon the Emperor’s urging him to return to his wife, he rose and bowed when the man turned and departed.

He would leave the Emperor’s quarters and walk thru the corridors of the palace… Pausing as the doors to the Council Chambers opened. Stepping behind a large column, he hid himself from view…. And listened.

Meanwhile, as the council left the chamber of council rooms. Briseis paused to watch Kam disappear down the hall with the Emperor only to turn to the Lords of the council again as they moved down the adjoining hall. The conversation was jumbled, each trying to give their opinions on the matters that had been handled or rather not handled in the chamber. Some even spoke of what Kam had revealed and how the Emperor had taken it. For a time Briseis was silent listening to each taking his turn on the matter.

"The Emperor expects us all just to wait, the people in my county cannot wait. Our county is poverty stricken while the rest of you lounge in luxury that even me and wife cannot enjoy!" Manius hissed and the men uproared their discontent with the statement.

Briseis opened her mouth to speak and then shut it, seeing as she would not get a word in edgewise and she was not a woman to push her way in no matter how much time passed, she was still a passive little flower.

"You have something to say, Lady of Lycia?" Octavius asked as he took her hand to help her down into a cushion in the gardens that the council stopped in.

The men gathering around her made her face flush as eyes turned on her with Octavius help to get her into the conversation were some of the men felt that no woman even the Empress belonged, politics. Briseis head tilted sending the wavy golden locks sliding off her shoulder to swing against the air. "Well, I..." She stopped to gather herself and then continued. "I myself am in quite disbelief that the Emperor would willing know of troops left on Tamazgha soil, especially since the treaty stated Carnia would only assist and then remove themselves from the land. I also find it heart heavy that the Emperor simply wishes us to sit back and let things take their course. It has been my experience, in life and not only living on Carnia soil but with the world that should you wish production and change, you must act and not see what comes our way. With that being said, I am not dwelling on what was said but the course of action we should take. Forgive me, being a woman I know little of politics and have never tried to pretend to know of it but must we sit idly by and wait for the Emperor to improve our stands of life? True, we need the Emperor blessing and knowledge to form alliances, such workings will always be in his hands but we are not infants, we can improve our standards without his approval or help." Her own hands folded demurely in her lap as she stopped to cast her gaze about the men.

As the council members walked thru the halls, Kam slid around the column as they passed, keeping himself from their sight. Stealthiness was vital; even here in the urban jungle.

It was then the men began to talk again, jumbled words mixing together that she was unsure which comment fit with which person.

"You said it yourself Lady, you know nothing of politics, therefore you should leave it to men to attend to. I shall hear no more of this. I have things to attend to, better things then the flapping of a woman's tongue" Titus spoke and in a flurry of his red robes, he stood and journeyed off. Cyrus Villius and Cicero Pocius murmuring their agreements followed after him.

Hearing the man’s words, Kam grit his teeth together, his brown hand moved to the dagger hilt beneath robes. In his heart, he would cut out the man’s tongue for talking about Briseis in that manner. The hidden man would angle his head just so, and he burned to memory, who those wretched few were… If Kam had his way, he would use a thousand years of Berber torture as reason to invade this land, and kill every roman blooded Carnian that ever crossed Briseis or her family. Usually mild mannered, the Egyptian-born Berber, tolerated no misuse or abuse of his beloved Briseis.

The comments of her being a woman and not knowing anything made Briseis cheeks flush more scarlet than before, but would she raise a word to defend herself. Of course not. Octavius, a true friend and former master stayed along with Brutus, Manius and Julius who were still looking at her as their mixed conversation came to a close.

When she did not speak. Octavius helped it along. "What would you suggest, lady?"

Briseis mouth twisted, edging up and downward again in a faltering smile. It amazed her in some ways, how different these men were from Kam. They stayed out of curiosity to what she said, not of real interest. It perhaps amused them to hear the views of a woman but Briseis had to wonder, apart from Octavius, if they agreed with Titus. "Well, if you would not mind my suggestions, My lord Brutus, you have seen Agora grow and prosper through the years, as your kin have done ages before you. Agora is a beautiful city, the best in all the land and people not of our lands and even of our lands, marvel at the beauty and prosperity of the city. You know the city as well as the people, it is with your guidance that the people have learned how to make the city one of the best. You could lend your services to the other villages of Carnia, why must we have but one grand city, would it not benefit us and the people to have many?"

Briseis was not flattering lightly, she never said anything she did not mean. Her attention turned from Brutus who seemed shocked at first and then contemplating on what she said as her attention turned to the remaining council members and Lords of their counties. "My lord Manius, Martius is very well known for its fishing capabilities but even in Agora, the ship building stands second to that of your own county. Why not expand from fishing, for what is worthwhile of a ship but to travel rather than scale the coast for fish? We make many fine things, your county could serve as a means of import of other countries, fine materials as well as exporting our own." Manius, his own chubby face flushed with the compliment and he to lapsed into a silence of contemplation. "Why also should our lands only be used for one resource, Lycia and Genoa for wool, Thracia and Pontus for farming. We should combine our efforts, mass produce in all our counties, of course rotating soil and land so it does not become over worked or over used, to improve our standings all around."

Octavius looked like a proud father who was giving his daughter away in a fine marriage. Pride was written in spades across his face, even the wrinkles around his mouths and eyes seemed to disappear in the way his face lit up.

"I shall....think on it" Brutus commented and then turned as he was summoned from a servant that the Emperor wished to see him. He gave a nod of his head to the remaining council members and then bowed to Briseis before swiftly turning and exiting the gardens.

"I too, shall think on it, it is a fine idea. I put no stalk in the talk of men in the simpleton of women. If you do not mind, I wish to run this by my own wife. She is of a like mind of yours and I admit freely, I often consult her on matters of Martius. May I also have your permission to write you when we part tomorrow, in that if my wife agrees, we may consult on this further?" Manius finally asked with the conversations dying away.

Briseis offered Manius a radiant smile. It had always been a gracious man concerned only on the welfare of people and his admitting that he consulted his wife on matters that other men would sneer on in consulting a woman, warmed her further to the man. "Of Course my Lord, you may do both as you wish."

Manius now seemed like a giddy schoolboy and he struggled to lift his weight off the cushions offering more than one bow to Briseis before he too waddled off down the hall in his excitement. Julius who was silent this whole time, offered his own bow to the lady before following after his over excited friend.

He listened from his hiding place… and when Bri and those men moved, so did he. He was far enough away to not be seen, nor heard, but close enough to strike death-wielding blows if need be. He had known all along Bri was an intelligent woman… far exceeding any he knew… but now was proof that she could stand amongst men and best them in discussions of rule and politics…. And business it seems.

Octavius and Briseis were now alone besides Mathayus who stayed far enough away to be a part of the conversation and yet not, still a slave. Lifting off the cushions first before offering a hand to lift her up. "Your father would be proud of you Briseis, as I am of you. How far you have come so fast but I worry of you, I want you to keep Mathayus close." He sighed and shook his head. "There is so much I wish I could tell you, so much still you don't understand, but right now it is too dangerous. It seems though they you have support, mine of course, and Manius; Julius is always quiet but he would not stick around if your views had not been interesting and appealing, so I think you can count his support in; Brutus is undecided I can tell, his loyalty has always been to the Emperor, it is not a decision he will come to lightly."

Briseis took his hand and pulled herself up off the cushions as the two began to walk the halls again. She wanted to know what he meant, why he looked so sad when he said there was much he meant to tell her, much she did not understand but he was indeed right, these were not the halls in which secrets and untold truths needed to be revealed. "My Lord Octavius, be careful with what you say, you should as if the land is dividing between the Emperor and myself. That is treason. I have no wish to overthrow the Emperor, despite what Kam has said though I am not disputing it, I have to believe the Emperor is a better man than his father and that he will bring light to our lives where they have so long been in darkness... In many things, we can overcome on our own but in this, we must do even as the Emperor says and wait to see what happens."

She let out a sigh and shook her head. "I don't know what will happen nor what will be, only that destiny and fate guides us all and I am willing to follow it, though my courage is little." She paused, pulling on Octavius’ arm to stop him. "I must attend the duties the Emperor set out for me, the families of the fallen are in need and I will see them taken care of, but I cannot stomach the slave markets. It breaks my heart to even think of it but the Emperor is right, I need assistance, will you go in my stead? I trust your judgment as much as I trust my husband’s."

Octavius raised her hand from his arm to kiss her knuckles then place her fingers again around his arm. "Hush little Bri, I meant no disrespect and you know I would not use you in illness as others would. I did not mean to upset you. Do not doubt your courage, it is stronger then you realize." In this moment, he could see the golden wreath of power on her head and knew she would never abuse it.

The truth was, this was his ultimate goal, though the secret he carried was enough to damn his soul to treason and endanger her life even though it was not her fault she bore blood close to the crown and though he knew not the mind nor heart of her husband, he could rely that Briseis heart was pure and those uncanny striking blue eyes of hers could indeed see into souls, so in this he could trust Briseis had found a good man to stand beside her.

He paused when she did and let out a laugh though it was not one against her, he understood her feelings, likely it would not be looked upon well for a woman to appear in the slave markets. "I will go with haste. Besides, you have a banquet to prepare for. I shall see and your husband thus." He raised her hand again to kiss her knuckles and then swept down the hall leaving Briseis alone with Mathayus, her darkened shadow in the background.

[Admin ACI]

Now that all the men, save Mathayus, had departed, Kam looked around, then revealed himself to her. Stepping from a large alcove, concealed by the large pillar, Kam was smiling. “I should say m’lady… yu did quite well with those roman-blooded idiots… swine who cannot see the wolf coming after it howled…” And at her surprise to find him so close, he just winked and smiled wickedly.

Briseis let out a gasp, her body nearly jumping a foot off the ground as Kam revealed himself to her. Her hand went to her chest as she let out a sigh and then laughed, the corners of her mouth curling into a grin as the golden earrings within her ears still swayed with the jump of her body.

Mathayus it seemed, had been startled too. His massive tree trunk like arms had come up in protection of Briseis who stood but a step behind him. Briseis hand came to the man’s arm to ease him out of his protection as she came around him to meet Kam there in the silent corridor where they were very much alone except for the lumbering mass of her protector.

"You scared me" She hummed, as if he had not seen her little jump into the air. Her head lowered, a foot or so shorter than him, her forehead rested against his chin as her hand lay against his chest. Beneath cloth, flesh and bone she felt his heart beating out a soothing rhythm that she was always comforted with. After a moment’s pause to feel that comforting beat of his heart to still the rapid one of her own, her head lifted so her gaze could capture his face. "You heard all of that, I presume." Pale cheeks flushed scarlet as she freely let her arms wind about him. Mathayus was their shield, should they be suddenly surprised by company, but they would not be disturbed here.

Kamenwati gave Bri a wicked smirk, though not meaning to scare her, her jump made him chuckle. Nodding to Mathayus… “You are a good protector… protect well, what I love most…”And at her presumptuous comment, he simply nodded. “Everything…”

For a moment she let the world go silent. She let the world pause to enjoy a moment with him before pulling herself back to the present and giving a shake of her head to what he said. "Do you detest my countrymen so? Would you think ill of me if I said such of your own? Twas how they were raised, I can not fault them what they parents have instilled in them, likewise what was instilled on their parents. Our roman blood has long been mingled out of the old Roman Blood. Do you forget I am of roman blood? or am partially so. Perhaps in the near future, Carnia will stop thinking as Romans had and become a nation of its own, much like Skye has."

Ever cautious of his surroundings, a glance hither and thither, he listened intently to her, though it might not appear so. “ALL your countrymen, no… some, yes…” He paused and looked at her. “Are we too optimistic about our countries? Are they too ignorant to see opportunity for the sun of prosperity rising… and the moon of greed setting? Still many, on both sides, live for war… for greed… If we only had a leader such as those in Skye… but even they shed bloodshed in a civil war.”

She unwound herself from his embrace and gracefully and dignified took his arm like a proper noblewoman should, with a gentle press of her fingers to the curve of his arm, she urged him to walk with her as Mathayus fell in behind them, close enough for protection and yet far enough away to afford privacy. "How did your meeting with the Emperor go?" She asked casting glances about the halls as they wandered them. "You dislike him, I can tell that much without you even saying it. You do not trust me, and I know you have asked me to trust you. In all honesty I do, how can I not? But can you understand that it torments me so, wanting to trust wholly my husband as is my duty as wife, and happily so, with trying to trust my Emperor as a noblewoman and council member should?"

He looks at her… “You, I trust inexplicably… your Emperor…”he shook his heads and paused. “That man is no different than Abu Said Uthmann, except he wears garb of the roman culture… I did not know his Father… nor do I know him… but I know his KIND… I would rather lay with cobras… at least I know how to handle them…” He canted his head… “Hear his words, but trust him not…” he grit his teeth. “You would be safer in the Tamazgha… there we only worry about bandits… and the remaining Carnian phalanxes…” he offered her a smirk.

Again she shook her head "We always knew the road we would take would be walked by the both of us, dividing at times only to reunite once more, I walk with you on all paths though it may never be completely side by side, in that you may trust that you would not lead my astray, you must always believe. I want to believe the Emperor is a better man than his father was, or can be a better man then he was and yet feel like a witch that visions plague me of a divided nation."

Lips pressed together in silence as they passed a group of slaves tending to things needing to be done for the banquet that night. "I cannot distance myself from the Emperor, nor follow a path of treason against him until physical evidence is in front of me so that such a fight that will indeed divide the nation and pit brother against brother and fathers against son, is justified though bloodshed and death can never be justified and it will come to such if such evidence is ever presented." Again her lips went tight, they were nearing the large atrium that was the center of the palace and thus more servants and slaves were about. "We cannot talk of such things now, to be overheard by the wrong sort would be our undoing, though you have heard undoubtedly we have the support of some of the council members if we should both be used ill, we have defense but not without evidence that our actions are not treason but protection of the people and their welfare."

His warm calloused hands would rest upon bare arms… his deep brown eyes would flicker back and forth as he looked upon her. “My heart… my love… let us find the swiftest horse… and ride for the docks, and take the fastest ship back home…” It was his heart speaking and not his mind… he worried about her in this place… Had she not suffered enough under Abu Said? Yet, she was willing to have not only her body abused, but her family name as well… Kam could see nothing past the Emperor’s guards killing her people; and it angered him. Still, he could order a thousand ships to sail to Carnia… and end this man’s reign of terror. But… he said nothing… nor allowed her to see his concerns or inner thoughts. He just nodded to her as she spoke of discussing it later.

She would talk no more of the subject and stopped in their leisurely walk of the corridors to turn towards him. A smile pulled against her lips as her head tilted back to take in the sight of him. "What do you plan to wear this evening?" She asked and then without knowing the answer began to pull him along with her. "Come, the banquet is not but a few hours away and I have an idea, you should be comfortable tonight amongst the proverbial wolves, but you must look the part you now hold Ambassador."

Ah yes, a change of subject… and he smiled, the white teeth shining between dark skin. “Wear?” he smirked… “Maybe nothing, so all the ladies may enjoy a real man… or yet even better, to save us from the wolves, a full robe to hide a sword?” and he winked at her… Uh oh, smartass time again… Kam smirked as he looked at her. “As Ambassador? Shall I dress as my people see me, or as your Emperor sees me?”

She gave him a flash of those striking blue eyes that sparkled in silent laughter though the matter was not funny. "I for once will be the wife who marvels at the women who look longingly on her husband rather than the wife who catches others men's eye with want."

He canted his head… “A good choice woman… it is high time that you be the wife… who enjoys her husband… For I am the husband who enjoys his wife anywhere…” swatting her ass.

She was not ignoring him, not ignoring his wish to go home but the truth was... She wasn't sure where home was. Skye had always been an odd place for her, slavery was not something overly present in those lands, and yet she had never felt more in shackles even though the people had been ever kind to her. The Tamazgha had been a complete nightmare, she had not only been a slave, she had been used sexual and daily for that matter. The thought alone made her pale cheeks flush with the memory as well as that of the miscarriage she still did not tell him about. Carnia had always been home, it was where she had been born, it was where she had lived content as a slave.

She let out a little squeak as he swatted her behind but returned the grin he gave her. "If you dressed as the Emperor see's you, I fear it would be unpleasant for the both of us." It was as plain as she would ever be, her nature was never to be unkind even to the most evil of people. "I have no doubts if you wore nothing, the women would be all aflutter, it is said the women of the court often seek companionship of men not of the country for the thrill of the conquest" She retorted, she could be a smart ass too, but oh how sweetly the words poured from her lips when she said such things, it was comical and strangely endearing.

“The Thrill of conquest?” he remarked. “I would be a conquest?” he offered her a smirk… “Would it not be they, who would be the conquest? I do not see Carnians with harems…” he teased.

From the atrium, she brought him back to the room she had been given at the palace. There was a private bath there and though she could not bath him, she watched through a thin curtain of white as servants used scented oils of sandalwood and rosemary rubbed liberal over his skin and then scrapped the oil along with dirt and grime from his skin using a Strigil.

When they had finished, she was waiting with a pair of black slacks and a long tunic top embroidered with golden thread in curving detail. The clothing was more situated of his own home than of the roman style Toga; she thought him better suited in a style of his homeland. There was a robe of Black that went over the top and bottom flowing long over his arms with only a single bottom in the front to close it at the waist. For this, she sent the servants from the room to do it herself, even though it wasn't proper yet.

He felt odd having male servants scrub his body… and as he turned in the water to allow them his back, he caught her peering thru the sheer curtains… He stood up revealing himself fully to her, simply pretending to allow the males to scrub his legs. He longed for the female servants of his homeland… What was with these Carnians, were they so prude? Or did they just enjoy a perverted choice of slave selection?

He would move slowly and seductively before her hidden presence… which could have been the reason she chose to dress him. And as he donned the robe… he continued his slow, deliberate movements, highly pleased to give her a show. Her choice of colors suited him, but colors matter little to him right now…

"My love..." She spoke as she dressed him. "I did not mean to hush you so from your heart’s desire in the atrium, but I feared what would have been taken from our words of such things. We are in the palace of the Emperor where our allies are few and in-between. You know I would follow you to the ends of the Earth, if it was your wish to seek that far for our home. As it is, I am not certain where home is, that is, I feel my heart more in need here, that fate has brought us and kept us here thus far means something neither of us can understand. You needed to free your people, and in turn, so must I."

He nodded… “No need to apologize m’dear… you have your reasons… and I accept that… besides, you know more about here than I… it is odd to me about many things.”

She settled the robe over his shoulders and lay her hands against his chest. "If I felt fate needed us elsewhere, I would go, but I am certain Allah means for us to be here. There is something we are to do here; of what I am not certain yet, but our place for the time being is here. I know you worry for me, it is as dangerous for me here as it was in the Tamazgha with the Amir, and yet I survived in the knowledge you would come for me. Now with you here, to stand beside me, how can Allah see I will be touched by anything other than by grace and change for the good of us both and the people of Carnia?" She pressed upon her toes so she could lift up to kiss his lips. "I have to dress now."

He listened to her, nodding when appropriate… And with a kiss, and a smirk… he allowed her to go prepare herself. And he, would take his place upon the pillows, his eyes piercing the sheer curtains, just as she did…