Chapter 09: A Dinner with the Messalas
Send the soldiers to fetch the Messala healer.
At once, milord.
Hmm. Throw him some gold to silence him.
Ah, that small delay cost us a chance to investigate the source of the plagues. What a waste.
Our relations with Quintus family are stronger than ever, milord. It is not a complete loss.
Yes. Leave me now to my thoughts.
A season pass, and Hadrian reappears in Septimus' dreams...
Hmm. A magical forge...interesting.
Milord, pardon me for the interruption, but our spies network have uncovered a possible conspiracy within the Messala family.
Speak softly. The walls have ears.
You are sure of this?
Yes. I suggest we investigate this plot further when you attend the annual celebration in the Messala estate.
Very well. Let us be on our way.
Pompeius Messala, the head of the family, greets you in his elaborates robes. You remark how long his eyes linger on one of your escorts, a beautiful woman. Livius Messala is a much manlier figure. To your surprise you realize that he also has a younger brother, Vibius.
This could complicate the succession...
I'm not going to hold back. Sulla Victus!
He is a worthy rival, but finally you win the game. You hear admiring muttering from the direction of the Quintus and Caracalla guests, but the Messalas don't look particularly glad that you have beaten their champion. Vibius Messala admires your skills with the bow and he wants you to teach him how to shoot. You are about to begin when his father interrupts the conversation.
My son is going to be general, not a foot soldier. He's leaving for a garrison at the Wall in the morning.
(Good luck leading your men with mere words in battle.)
Milord, perhaps it's time...
Let's investigate the well.
You don't see anyone in the courtyard, but a brief inspection reveals that the well is empty and the carved stones form crude steps. You climb down and find a tunnel that leads to a gate. Beyond the gate you see a bare hall and hear gladiators talking.
Should we warn Pompeius?
No. It's time to pay his son a visit.
Let's see what's on his desk.
You find some letters; nothing suspicious. Then you a whiff of an odour that reminds you of invisible ink. You hold the letters up to the light, and now you can read the secret message that proves he has had some secret dealings with a general. You take the letter.
You cannot outfox me. Now...let's check the chest.
The chest is filled with personal keepsakes. Simple jewellery, an almost empty perfume bottle, things that make you think of a middle-aged noblewoman. Oddly, there is also a simple knife that stands out from the rest of the items, but you cannot see its significance. You hear a soft whistling from outside. It must be your soldier in the courtyard, and it means that someone is coming. You quickly leave the room.
I've the evidence. Time to return to the play before they noticed me missing.
Dinner is server later that night. It is a true feast, with such delicacies as wild boar in honey, and you also drink much of the treasured, rare wine from the south of Britannia. You witness an exciting debate concerning mythology between high ranking Severus official and two Senators of the Quintus family.
(Picking either side would result in pissing off one. Best to find a middle ground. Hostility from meaningless debates should be avoided.) Clearly Hercules is a demigod. When he died, his mortal shell went to the otherworld, while his divine essence took his place among the gods.
They all laugh, so you must've found an appropriate answer that suits everyone. And it even helped you strengthen your political ties to these familes.
Just as planned.
Sir, shall we warn Pompeius?
No, we'll meet his son. Let's give that fat slob the scare of his life.
Because your idea is foolish and will lead to death. I have a better idea.
My plan is perfect.
Gladiators, really? Even if they manage to get past the bodyguards and kill your father, such things are impossible to conceal. Your glory would be very short-lived.
And what do you suggest I do, Septimus?
Please, call me Shep. Your father is well-protected here in the villa, but I can make him leave the estates. If I persuade him to go with your younger brother to the wall, you can deal with them both, out in the wilds. You can blame the tragedy on the savages.
Livius ponders this, then nods.
Let's dance, loco.
Alright. Everything is set for the grand finale. But who will lead the Messala in the end?
The Father, the Eldest, or the Youngest?
The choice...is yours.