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Full Circle 6 of 8
Celedon (celedon1@AIRMAIL.NET)Sun, 10 Jun 2001 23:49:04 -0500
Chapter 6=20 Often, both Greyson and Darius worked long into the night as the torches = flared and sputtered, throwing long shadows upon the walls. They = covertly set up a network of spies to keep them informed of news on = Alaric as well as any other pressing matter that they would need to know = of while they were away.=20 The discussions often were intense and heated between them especially if = Methos was in the room. Greyson was becoming more jealous of him as he = saw his father actually listening to him and instigating things that he = suggested such as the woman chosen to keep them informed about Alaric's = doings. It made him uneasy to know that this upstart was still a slave, = yet he handled himself as if he ran the place as he manipulated things = left and right to his own liking.=20 He lifted his goblet to his lips, his knuckles white with anger as he = gripped it tightly, following the slave his father seemed to favor now = with his eyes as Methos pointed out things that still needed to be done = before their departure. Whispering to himself, he vowed, "Someday, you = won't be around him and then it will be just you and I. We'll see just = who loses his head then..."=20 Methos pointed out a place upon the crude map he had drawn, and Greyson = heard his voice carry in the air. "...Constantine is their general on = their Egyptian front to the south. He is smart, capable and disciplined, = as are his troops. Ever since that fiasco with that Egyptian queen and = Caesar, Rome has had to make up for a lot but the governor has become = more Egyptian than Roman and sometimes forgets who he works for."=20 "Is he a threat?" Darius said as he leaned on both his outstretched arms = while looking over the situation that lay out before him. He swiveled = his head, looked at Greyson, and motioned him over.=20 "Why do you stay so distant? This involves you; I expect you to be a = part of it. Come closer, my son."=20 Both Greyson and Methos exchanged hostile looks that Darius didn't fail = to notice. Then Greyson approached one hand to his dagger that he wore = in his belt. "Father, this is old news! Why worry about him when he = isn't even going to be close to Rome?"=20 "Because," Methos replied, eyeing Greyson steadily, "he could possibly = be recalled at any time." He turned his attention back to Darius. "Yes, = he could be a threat depending on the amount of soldiers he has access = to and the condition of the army."=20 Musing, Darius pulled at his beard, then turned and walked away, deep in = thought. So much to know and learn, so little time to do so. The discord = between his son and his slave threatened all their plans that had almost = reached completion. He couldn't afford it to threaten all he had dreams = for--or all that he wanted. A decision had to be made as to how to = handle it and made quickly. Pursing his lips, he turned back to Methos. = "You have never told me what you want in exchange for the information = you supply to me. What do you want me to grant you?"=20 Chuckling, Methos' eyes crinkled as his mouth raised into a wry smile. = "Isn't it obvious? My freedom."=20 Darius looked at him for a few moments, then looked at Greyson. "If I = grant you this, will you ride away?"=20 Greyson held his breath as he waited for the answer. He was hoping = against hope that his father would release the slave now so that he = could leave and he himself could step back into his rightful place as = advisor and chief lieutenant. He felt that his place had been usurped by = this war trophy, someone who he should have killed when he had had the = chance those few years ago.=20 Methos refused to answer directly but only smiled. "Why not find out by = granting me this?"=20 Darius chuckled, then got serious again. "Very well. You may have your = freedom--once Rome and everything beyond is mine."=20 __________________________________________________=20 The Roman Emperor, Theodonius, was a Christian who devotedly went about = in religious zeal destroying all objects and temples of pagan worship = throughout the Empire including the famed Seraphinum at Alexandria after = his accession to the throne. No spot that had any trace of a pagan = identity was safe from his zeal; many sacred places were lost to = eternity in his want to Christianize the empire in the name of the = carpenter from Judea. This then was the man whom Darius was to be a = general for--and Darius was most assuredly, pagan.=20 Outside of Rome=20 Darius pulled the horsehair reins so that his horse came about to survey = the vast Visigoth and Goth army that lay before him. His heart swelled = with pride as he looked at them, knowing that they would die for him if = asked and more if necessary. He nodded to himself then glanced at = Greyson who rode on his right side.=20 Greyson half smiled as he looked at his father; this was a day to be = remembered! Rome lay ahead of them within the fabled seven hills--so = close, yet so far. Time would have to pass before it was ripe for = plucking its' riches. But all that would come to pass soon enough; time = was on their side as well as a well placed spy network already at work = and had been prior to their leaving their homes in the Balkans.=20 Darius raised his sword over his head; instantly the soldiers quieted = and listened to what they could catch on the air of what their leader = was saying. "My army!" he shouted and it bounced off the landscape = around them. "Ahead lies Rome, behind you your new homeland. We assemble = here today to show what we are to Rome, and what we can be!"=20 A roar went up from the army; the air filled with the thunderous din of = thousands of swords being beat against wooden and brass-studded shields = in approval of Darius' words.=20 He looked from one end of the ranks all the way to his calvary as the = din continued without abating. Yes, he thought, these were his men--let = Alaric try to take them away. Raising his sword again he went on after = the ranks had quieted again. "Let us show mighty Rome what true men are; = let us show mighty Rome that we are not afraid to die; let us show = mighty Rome that we are what haunts their dreams at night for we are the = Goths, we are the Visigoths--" He raised his voice even louder. "And we = have arrived!"=20