Jedediah POV

Chapter 23: The strange explanation

Even though I felt so relieved that the loins and the giants were gone, Octavius didn't look relieved at all. I didn't know that Roman friend of Octavius that well, but even I could see he wasn't happy about the fact that Octavius refused to look at him.

"Could you finally explain to me what's going on here?" Agrippa asked to Octavius. He spoke calm, but you could also see the anger in his eyes. It's something Octavius masters too.

"Agrippa listen," Octavius started, but he didn't continue. Agrippa waited and didn't say a word, just like Jacob and I.

"I am listening," Agrippa said after a while, but Octavius only sighed one time and didn't speak. "You're not saying anything, because I already know, isn't it?" Agrippa said still calm. "You made some appointments I know nothing about with that cowboy. You worked together with him and concealed it for the Senate and all your friends, included me."

Octavius and I looked at each other for a second. After that I looked at Jacob, who looked astonished and shocked back to me.

"A secret alliance," I said out loud and suddenly Jacob turned his head away from me.

"A secret alliance?" Agrippa repeated my words. "And how about the war? What are we fighting for exactly?"

"We're still in war with each other, Agrippa," Octavius said. "I still want to rule over his land, so the Roman Empire will grow. Nothing changed about that."

"For how long does this alliance exist?" Agrippa asked totally mixed-up inside.

"22 years," Octavius answered honestly. I could see how Jacob cringed a little because of the new information. He didn't feel like smiling that time, more like crying.

"Why?" Agrippa asked, who definitely didn't have his best time too.

"We only did it because of the giants," Octavius tried to explain. "We only worked together against the giants, so we had a chance to fight back."

"That's not what I mean, Octavius," Agrippa continued, but now he spoke softer. "I meant: why didn't you tell me anything?" For a moment there was a silence, but because Octavius didn't reply again, Agrippa continued. "It was mine idea, you remember? It was you who called Jedediah an unworthy cowboy. It was you who wished to make Jedediah as his personal slave. More than once you told me you just wanted to crucify that terrible barbarian."

It wasn't really a surprise to hear all this, but it still hurt to know how much Octavius hated me. Honestly, without any doubt I would've put Octavius in my pillory, but I never wished him dead.

"I know what I said, but right now I'm ashamed of my words," Octavius said and like he could read my mind he looked sorry at me. I nodded one time to let him know it was all right. Why should you make a problem about something happened so many years ago.

"Honestly, I don't really care how you think about him now or back then," Agrippa continued. "Why didn't you tell me about this alliance? You even kept silent when I asked you what was going on between you and him? Did you really forget I suggested the plan to work together with the cowboys to fight against the giants with them." "And how about you," Agrippa suddenly said to Jacob. "Why don't you say something? Your leader also lied 22 years to you."

Jacob wended his head off the ground and looked at the angry Roman before him.

"I trust Jedediah that he knows what he does," Jacob answered and finally the boy looked at me again. "I'm sure he has good reasons for not telling me." Jacob smiled to me again, but I still could see the sadness in his eyes.

For a moment Agrippa looked amazed at Jacob, but then wended to Octavius again. "Unlike him I want to know the reason," was the only thing Agrippa said. Octavius kept silent and looked down.

"You should've told him years ago, Octavius," I said and saw how Octavius looked up to stare at the ground again. Agrippa looked astonished at me, but he waited patiently.

"I was scared I would end up like my father," Octavius finally confessed.

"Julius Caesar?" Agrippa asked surprised and Octavius nodded one time. It was obvious Agrippa really didn't know what was going on, but then his eyes grew wide with shock. "You were afraid I wanted to assassinate you," Agrippa said and again Octavius nodded a few times. "How would I ever be able to do so?" the man continued shocked. "You are my leader. You are my general. You are my best friend! How would I ever be able to kill you? If I did I would be nothing more than a wandering traitor."

Again Octavius said nothing. I never saw Octavius with such so few words before. Normally he knew exactly what to say and I truly felt sorry for him.

"To be honest, I kinda think it's a strange explanation, Octavius," Agrippa said, but his voice sounded different. Agrippa walked towards Octavius and putted his hand on Octavius's shoulder. "But that's fine with me." The two Romans looked at each other, smiled for a moment and embraced each other after that.

"Romans are such weird creatures," I told Jacob. "They yelling at each other and a few minutes later they're hugging." Agrippa let go of Octavius and looked angry at me.

"There is one more thing you need to know," Octavius said quickly before Agrippa could do anything. "Jedediah isn't that bad as you would thing at the beginning. If you start to know him you'll see he is actually a good man."

I didn't want to show how much the little compliment meant to me, so I quickly looked at Jacob. He was the only one who felt uneasy here now.

"But should we leave this place now?" Jacob asked when he saw I looked at him. "I can't say I feel save out here. What if the giants come back?"

"Or the lions," Octavius filled in and I was glad Octavius replied so normal.

But Jacob shook his head. "I don't think we should fear the lions."

"What do you mean: we shouldn't fear the lions?" Agrippa asked, definitely not so nice to Jacob.

"Well," Jacob continued. "They are just like us. I don't believe they are hunting at the giants to eat them. That last lioness just smelled at me and walked away again. She didn't want to eat me. If it really was about food, why didn't they just grab the zebra's who ran beside them? No, I think they are just like us. They are angry at the giants, because they lock them up every night. They attacking the giants, not because they are hungry or aggressive, but because they are angry. We shouldn't fear them, but we should stay at the same side, against the giants. It is just like the cowboys and the Romans. We shouldn't fight against each other, but we should work and fight together against the giants. That's how we all win."

Wow, pretty long chapter... :S But I know, it's not my best chapter and I'm sorry for that. Well, I hope you still enjoyed reading it! Till next week. :D