The emperor reluctantly followed Rome back to the study, where Sicilia was waiting for them. He had drawn up an extra chair and had opened up the chest that sat near the side of the desk. The emperor and Rome seated themselves, then Rome dismissed Sicilia from the room.

Rome decided to ease into the conversation, although he was (well, had been) a militaristic nation, his leaders had managed to teach him tact.

"So, how is Byzantium? I have not had news from him in quite a while."

"Well enough, he sends a salve and tells you not to worry, he is doing fine."

"How has he taken the death of Constantine? I know he was very fond of him."

"Rather well all things told, he has decided to honor his first dominum much like you did."

"Ita vero?"

"He has named his capital Constantinople in Constantine's honor,"

"It is only proper that he follow tradition,"

"Perhaps so, ah, have you heard that Graecia is dead?"

"mineme!"

"Ita vero, Byzantium wrote that when he came into her room one morning he found lying dead. He is taking care of her child though, poor, sickly thing that it is."

"eheu, it seems like all us old nations are dying, I myself feel a bit weak now, soon only Germania will be left."

"Don't say such things, you are the grandest of nations, the barbarians have never humbled you."

"But there you are wrong, he has."

The emperor looked pale. "He has?"

"Yes, did your rhetor fail to teach you anything?"

"My rhetor was a very great man!"

"I'm sure" Rome said, an unmasked note of skepticism in his voice.

"sed, I am an old man. Perhaps you could help trigger my memory?"

"Very well. In three hundred sixty six ab urbe condita, the Senones under Brennus captured the city of Rome,"

"And?" replied the emperor, now intrigued.

"I was looted and forced to pay large amounts of gold, losing is not cheap,"

"et vae victis"

"Exactly. I have no intention of letting that had again, now tell me about this threat the northern generals perceive," Rome finished, ever so slightly pleased with himself for maneuvering the conversation so.

The emperor saw he was trapped. "The generals think that the Germanic tribes are planning an invasion, the generals say that they think the Romans are weak and indulgent. But why should e trust the words of those generals?"

"They are our watchmen,"

"And quis custodiet ipsos custodes?"

"So your rhetor taught you Juvenal but not history?"

"Do not insult my rhetor, he was a good and wise man," The emperor stood up in a brief show of anger.

"Most certainly," Rome said, applying a sickly sweet coat of politeness to his voice.

"And my question still lacks an answer," the emperor rebuffed.

"Then I will give it one,"

"Please do," the emperor growled through gritted teeth.

"I will,"

"What?"

"I will go and see what this threat is, it is a long time since I have had a campaign and I wish to see the remains of my empire,"

"And what about me? My hold on power here will weaken without you."

"Britannia will help you with that,"

"How?"

"Simple, invite your enemies over here for dinner and tell Britannia to cook for you. They will be extremely ill before the meal is over, half of them will die within a week,"

"You teach your slaves the art of poison and give them access to the vile herbs?"

"Britannia needs neither instruction nor poison," And with that enigmatic phrase, Rome turned around and marched out of the room calling:

"Sicilia, gather my traveling gear, we are going on a campaign!"

Sicilia smiled to himself as he saw the emperor's look of amazement,

"As you wish, my lord"

Latin Glossary

salve: hello, greeting

dominum: master

ita vero: yes

Graecia: Greece

mineme: no

eheu: alas

rhetor: teacher

sed: but

ab urbe condita: from the founding of the city

et vae victis: and woe to the conquered

quis custodiet ipsos custodes: who watches the watchmen

in tablino: in the study

Thank again for reading, the next update is going to be a bit later in all likelihood, expect on Monday or so.