Alecto sat with Arthur in the great hall that contained the round table Horton had told him about. He found it truly grand even if they were sitting a little away from the table. It seemed the table was for more important guests or more important matters. Arthur was explaining how the other knights had come to Britain from the home in Sarmatia and why they were so eager to return. He felt shame that his country had caused so much pain and unhappiness for generations. He was proud for the men who had fulfilled the oaths of their forefathers, men who could have garnered their forces against the Romans as easily as they fought for them. These were courageous men of great valor and he would be sure to tell Rome their story. Maybe then they could put a stop to the insanity that had taken hold of the Empire. He just hoped the Empire could hold together long enough for him to make a difference. More likely, he would suffer the same fate as Pelagius. Either way, he would do what was right. He owed that much to the men who risked their lives for his.

Jols came to the hall and told Alecto that his mother was looking for him. He said his goodbyes to Arthur and went with Jols to the dining hall where his mother was waiting. He sat down where his mother had a plate waiting. He really wasn't hungry, he ate hard bread and cheese with Arthur only a short time before, but he knew his mother. If he didn't eat, she would fuss over him until he did. Sometimes you have to pick your battles. As he was eating he was thinking of the things he would tell the Pope. He would not trust anyone else to do it for him. Especially not Germanius. He had never trusted the man and he trusted him less now. The Pope did not think the same way the other Roman leaders did. He just was not always at the forefront of all that went on in his world. He spent most of his time studying and trying to interpret the writings he was always reading. Because he was so detached from the actual goings on of the city, he sometimes didn't see the signs the others tried to hide from him.

His advisors only told him what the political leaders wished him to know. If he had the whole truth he would make the necessary changes. Alecto was sure of it. Just as he was sure that there would be men who tried to stop him if they had any idea what he would be telling. That was why he and Arthur had held secret counsel. Bishop Germanius had been given no inkling that they were even speaking to each other. It had required pulling Horton into their confidence. But Horton posed no problem. He had proven that even he was disgusted by the politics of
Rome and that he despised the bishop as much as Arthur's men did. Things would work themselves out. Now he just had to keep his mother out of the plan. She would worry too much about his safety. If the bishop noticed his mother's anxiety over his comings and goings, he would figure that something was amiss. He was greedy and conniving but he was far from stupid.

Alecto took a moment to look at his mother. She seemed preoccupied and somewhat sad. Some would think she was still grieving for her dead husband. Not Alecto. He knew the truth of their life on the northern estate. He had seen how his mother had been taking care of Arthur's knight. For the first time in a long while he had seen his mother have purpose. He had seen the way they looked when one thought the other not looking. His mother wasn't old yet and if his father had been the kind of man he once thought him to be, his mother could have been very happy. But you can't make someone who you want them to be.

Alecto was about to ask his mother what was wrong when it hit him. She had taken a liking to the big man with the gentle nature! Pondering this realization only reinforced his belief that the man was decent. His mother had seen too much to ever get caught up in a relationship with someone who wasn't. When they had been riding in the wagon, Alecto had noticed how gentle Dagonet had been with Lucan. Only a man who was secure in who he was and how his life was could be that way with a total stranger. 'I only hope she isn't just reacting to someone who has shown her kindness after so many years of mistreatment', he thought.

"Mother, I've noticed that you and Arthur's man, Dagonet, have been spending quite a bit of time together. Is he going to be all right? Or is he still in need of your nursing?" He watched his mother's reaction to his words. Even at the young age of 15 he saw more than people thought he did. He knew his father had hurt his mother on more than one occasion and that he had brought other women to his bed when he thought no one would know. His mother had never let on to him that she was unhappy, but through the bruises, he had seen the signs of tears shed late at night. Her eyes had been red and puffy on more than one morning across the table from him. She deserved happiness and he really liked what he had observed of the man who had risked his life to the save the others. He was an honorable man who needed someone to appreciate him the way his mother would.

Fulcinia tried to find words to belie his questions, but truthfully there were none. Dagonet was well enough to take care of himself now. She just wanted to spend as much time as she could with him before they went in opposite directions. "Yes, my son, he will be fine. We just spend time talking about the differences in our lives. I have never met someone so different from our civilization before and I enjoy learning new things." She hoped that was enough to satisfy his curiosity. But from the look on his face it only spurred him onward. "Of course, I forget how cloistered you've been." His tone was a little sarcastic which only caused Fulcinia to blush more than before.

"Why, Alecto, do you interrogate me on this? Do you think me doing things to dishonor your father's memory?" She snapped, letting her anger come to the surface. Alecto did not acknowledge her anger. He just looked into her eyes for a moment longer before replying. "No Mother, I would never worry about my father's honor. How could I when he had none? I worry about you. I have seen more than you realize and I think it time you worried about yourself and stopped being the martyr. There is no need anymore. No one will think less of you and no one could think less of Father." With that, he took another bite of his stew, wiped his mouth and stood up. "Thank you for the meal. I need to rest now. We have a long journey in front of us or at least I do." He paused for a moment, then, turning toward his mother, he took her shoulders in his hands and looked into her face. "If you would rather stay with Dagonet, I would not disapprove. He seems to be a fine man. He could make you forget your past pains and you, I think, could do the same for him." Letting her go, he turned to leave the room. As he reached the doorway, she heard him say without turning around. "Think on what we've discussed. Rome is not the place for you. You have had enough of Rome, I think." Then he left without waiting for her response.

Fulcinia sat down at the table thinking about what Alecto had said. To her he was still her young son, as he probably always would be. She was surprised just how much he had matured almost as surprised at that as she was that he could do so without her noticing before now. Maybe he didn't need her as much as she thought. Or maybe she was hoping it was so. Then she could pursue her own life instead of taking care of others' lives. She had always felt responsible for the lives of the people her husband had ruined. But now that her son had shown his true nature, she finally felt she didn't have to carry the whole weight herself. Smiling to herself, she got up and carried Alecto's dirty dishes to the cook. Hoping that Dagonet was still not well enough to be in his bed, she went in search of the man she now knew she could fall in love with.