I'd not seen Rome in three weeks. I had to go see him now though because a problem had arisen for him. That problem isn't exactly a real problem, just a flaw in his master plan of getting Gilbert back. I walked into Rome's office to see him chasing his kids all over the big room.
"I'm a going to get you! I'm a going to make you a Roman and you a will like it!" He said, clearly having a game with his kids. They squealed and ran faster before they tripped. The littlest one started tearing up and Rome snatched them from the floor. "Oh don't a cry, my bambinos. It's okay. Roma is a here." He cooed. It reminded me of when I would play with Gilbert.
"Hey Rome!" I called to him. He looked over at me.
"Ah~ I knew a you would a return! My a friend Germania! How are a you? Still a being a barbarian?" I sneered at him. He was too busy beaming with joy to notice.
"I am not a barbarian and nor am I a savage. I came here to point out a major flaw in your master plan of-…" I can't say it in front of those kids. Rome noticed my dilemma and set his kids on their feet.
"I will a be right a back. You two can a play to your a heart's content. Romano, that means play nice if you play with your brother." He gave them both a kiss on the cheek before turning around and heading toward me and out of his office. "Follow a me, Germania." He said, looking at his kids. I understood. He didn't want to chance being overheard. We walked into his kitchen and he grabbed two of his wine, handing one to me. "Thank you." I replied, opening the bottle.
"So a what master plan has a flaw Germania?"
"The one to get Gilbert back. You told me you sent word of this to some knights?"
"Si! Yes I a did and I know they a got it because Naevius is a back."
"How exactly do you plan on them bringing him back?"
"Because they were a told he was a kidnapped and I a gave a description of your bambino."
"You didn't see them, Naevius did. Those men could be anywhere out there. It would take as much as both our armies to find that group of nomads in only three months!"
"I never a thought about a that." He said thoughtfully. "What do you a think we should a do?"
"Leave Gilbert to those men you idiot!" I demanded. "There was a reason I gave him away!"
"That reason was a stupid! You could have a given to a me! But no! You had to a go and a put this in your own a hands!"
"He is my child! I decide what happens to the brat!" Rome gasped.
"He is a not a brat!" I put my hand to my face, groaning.
"He's still mine to decide what to do with!"
"You a don't even a sound like you a miss him!" He accused of me.
"If I didn't care, would I have even gave him away!" I shouted at him. Of course I care about the kid! I miss him dearly. I miss him every day but what is done is done and it cannot be undone! "What is done is done and it cannot be undone!"
"You are a savage!" He shouted, seeming to be upset. "I should a have my a guards beat some a sense into a you!"
"No need. I will be leaving now. I came and told you what I needed to say. I do not think a group of stupid knights would care so much about one single child as to send out their whole army." I turned around and headed back towards my home. I felt him throw his wine at me.
"You are a stupid man! Gilbert a loved a you!" He yelled at me. "I'm going back to a my bambinos! You monster with no love in his heart!" I'd upset him. I didn't care.
…
I was holding a huge slab of meat to my mouth as I nibbled on it. There were men around me and a few of them were playing with my toys, trying to get me to play with them. I was beginning to like the way they treated me. They would buy me anything I wanted.
Something in me called me a traitor for liking them and for not missing… something. I know there was someone or something that my heart told me was missing. I just couldn't put my finger on it or them. I wish I could remember.
I just wish I could figure out what clan these people came from. …Which one is my family? Which one of these men are my father? None of them look that familiar. Maybe that's what is missing. I dropped the meat and walked over to all my toys that were scattered close by.
"Yay!" One of the men cheered. I looked at him.
"Where is my daddy?" I asked. He frowned and picked me up. I was being hugged by him. I hugged back, not knowing what else to do. A minute later he picked up a wooden horse and started playing with it. I giggled and snatched it before playing with it myself.
A few hours later we were on the move again. I was playing with a lot of my toys. A few of the younger looking men had made a blanket and had put me with my toys on top. All four corners were held up by those same men. They'd thought past my constant complaining about moving around so often. "Don't worry. Some day we'll have a home and then we won't have to move so much." One of the men said comfortingly when I looked up at him quizzically.
I nodded, smiling, and picked up some of my toys and started to play again. A few hours later we had stopped to have lunch, which lasted for thirty minutes before we headed off again. After lunch, one of them had picked me up and had me take a nap… I wasn't tired but I couldn't resist his egging me on.