**I'm running out of ideas...this one might be the second to the last chapter for this story with an ending and an epilogue to connect it all together. Or this'll be the first chapter in a long time for a VERY LONG time after this...I just might finish this one after all...**
The Return to Sarmatia 10
As they gathered in a circle, in the center of the village to eat their noonday meal well within the protections of the carriages and the Knights of the Dragon Order, Babai, Ama, Tyze, Aorgi, and Malana sat down and Babai told their children very seriously, "We didn't want to interrupt your training, but early this morning we got a letter from the commander of the fort Ri'Carpathia that he and a group of Romans will be here soon to discuss amending the original deal our ancestors made with Rome nearly two hundred years ago."
Ama added, "We are hoping to reduce the terms of service for our sons, but we are not sure about the rules and regulations..."
Tyze continued hopefully, "We were wondering if you, Lords of Britain and once servants to Rome, would be willing to help us negotiate."
Malana snorted and said bitterly, "Like they have ever cared for our sons before. Why should they now?"
Tyze sneered at her and said, "Well, some of us are hoping to change things for the better and not just sit there like an embittered old biddy."
Malana jumped to her feet in rage.
"How dare you! How dare you call me an embittered old biddy!! I'm five years younger than you!"
As she reached over to grab Tristran's mother's cloak, Galahad nabbed her wrists within his hands and yanked her down as Gawain yelled, "Lay off! At least she cares for HER sons! You've lost three sons to the Empire's enemies, and you've yet to cry for their deaths!"
Malana glared at her eldest son by her second husband, the late king of the Wolf Tribe, and growled out, "He died doing his duty to Rome, if Rome doesn't care for them, why should I?"
The elders of Sarmatia sitting in their circle gasped in shock. They couldn't believe what their fellow tribal leader just said. While it was well rumored to be true between them all that Malana was cold-hearted towards her children and very frigid in her leadership ventures, each and every time they had met for their quarterly sessions, Malana was warm and seemingly devoted to her children.
To see this side of her, her seemingly true side, stunned them.
The sons of Sarmatia were the life of their tribes. Without their survival, the Sarmatians would be no more. If they could manage to reduce their sons' oath of service, their people stood a much better chance of surviving to see the new century.
Galahad and Gawain closed their eyes in pain. With tears gathering in their eyes, they gripped their wives tightly to them and prayed that the tears of depression would not fall.
At least not in front of their mother and her equally cold hearted sons and daughters. Enys and Alma softly cooed into their ears as Lancelot and Tristran had to ground their fists into the soft fields on which they sat on to keep from pummeling the older woman to death.
The brother of the Wolf had known that their mother cared nothing for them; even before they returned to Sarmatia, but there always remained that tiny little drop of hope that somewhere deep inside her that she once loved them. Even a smidgen of a bit to mourn their deaths, but it was a fool's hope. Their mother cared for nothing but herself and the things she could get from others...
...more importantly, what her children could give her with 'abundant matches' of her, personal choosing.
Gowan and Rugon just blinked at each other and their half-brothers as they took an involuntary step back in shock.
They, too, knew of their mother's chilly ways, when dealing with others, but she had never come right out and declared such hatred to the world. While they took advantage of her generosity as their mother, they 'supposedly' knew of her devoted heart to them as her sons.
This woman wasn't the woman who sat with them every evening for meals and spoke warmly of their wives, children, and future.
This wasn't the woman who broke her bread in half, in quarters, in eights just to make sure that each and every one of her grandchild got a bit to eat that night.
This embittered woman before them wasn't the mother who tucked them in at night as children; nor the woman who kissed their scrapes.
This woman wasn't the woman who watched over her grandchildren with a soft smile; yet laughed as they pushed and shoved and fell into freezing streams.
This wasn't the woman who taught her daughters to fight with a sunny proud smile, nor was she the same woman who eagerly planned for Lancelot's return home with Agrimpasa many moons ago.
So, who was this woman who bore their mother's face? Yes, their mother was cold, but only to those not of her family, or their enemies. Neither one knew what to believe. So, for now, they ignored the past two minutes, and retook their positions flanking either side of their mother's back.
Was this the woman Gawain and Galahad knew and one of the reasons they never returned to there tribe?
They shared a glance as Gawain retorted, "Donnoz was killed battling the Woads and protecting me! Yet you shed no tear! You letter wasn't even tear splattered!"
Malana snorted and said with a dismissive wave of her hand, "My only priority was to birth enough sons to outlive Rome's rule. Out of ten children, seven were male, and of that seven four remain...I did my duty to both Donkir and Beucan, now it's MY turn to earn MY wealth through theirs and YOUR duties."
Ama stood up, placed herself in between Malana and the Knights and said, "You, Malana, are no queen; and if I have any say so, you WILL BE removed as Queen when the other tribes gather for the quarterly sessions."
Malana pushed herself up, place her face in Ama's, and said dangerously, "As if you have any power Ama...you are nothing but a trophy wife to Babai...you always have been. I know more about our people's politics than you could ever imagine."
Lancelot had, had enough; it was bad enough that Rome was coming, but Malana's egotistic ways were cutting into their planning time.
This, he would not allow.
He spared a glance at Tristran, and was proud to see his scouting friend on his feet and nearly behind Malana, Rugon, and Gowan before any of them realized it.
As Tristran placed a knife at both her sons' backs, Lancelot cut in dryly, "You know, we have not been so far removed from the ways of Sarmatia that we cannot make ourselves be heard. You have ten seconds to sit back down or lose two more sons, Queen Malana."
The mother of ten froze at her once prospective son-n-law's words. She twisted her head around and saw the panther inscribed daggers close to a fatal part of her sons' bodies.
Gowan and Rugon were pleading with her to take a step back, and she sourly realized she could do nothing less, less the Coyote Tribe lose two possible heirs.
As she stepped back and sat down dourly, Emogen started, "Now, do any of you know of the original's words?"
Tyze asked, "What do you mean?"
Emogen smiled in understanding as she asked again, "What do you know of the original words of the first agreement with Rome? That way we can see about rewording it whenever that commander arrives."
Babai eyed Malana in contempt as he returned his attentions to the woman his eldest son loved with all his heart, "Well, all that's been said is that our ancestors vowed to serve the Empire for fifteen years as Knights."
Gowan put in, "It was up to the Empire to decide where and with whom we serve with."
Galahad nodded and said as a messenger on horseback appeared over the highest hillcrest to the east, "Well, then we'll have to see why this commander has been given leave to change the oaths. It could be an advantage towards Sarmatia or it could end up making the oath even worse."
Lancelot stood up in alarm as the horns blared announcing a messenger from the Kingdom of Britannia.
"Who goes there!!" shouted a Knight.
"I am Rowen, personal messenger of King Arthur Pendragon of Camelot and Britain! I bare a message for Marquis Lancelot Shieldguard Lyon of the House of Lyon and the other Knights of the Round Table!!!"
Lancelot called back as loudly as he could, "Come forth Rowen! I am here!"
As the horsemen got closer, Tristran asked slowly in disbelief, "What happened? For this to get to us so fast, Arthur had to have sent in only a day or two after we left Britain's shores...?"