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Chapter 4 of my book.....enjoy!
CHAPTER FOUR
THE WEAKNESS OF SMALL MEN As Titus and Remar sat, talking with ease, in the sunny atrium within the safety of the palace walls, the Senate was in session; in the great circular building situated in the heart of the city on the edge of the forum. The massive Senate building was formally the Imperial palace during the long reign of Tiberius the great, Messalina’s celebrated father who ruled in the third age of Ionia. The main complex was destroyed in the wars that followed and only the great, circular keep remained standing. With the construction of the present day palace in the aftermath of the wars, Messalina decreed that the Senate should make it their new home, and gave it to them with promises of aid to rebuild it. A gift the senate happily accepted, as the previous Senate buildings too, lay in smoking ruins and were irreparable in their dilapidation. The exterior of the structure was intricately carved about with epic scenes of Ionia’s history, with great arcing windows set around its domed roof to give warm light to its shadowy hall. Around its girth was a narrow, manicured garden that meandered its way lazily in a circle, planted with beautiful trees that sported thick blooms of yellow and orange. It was an elegant little oasis in the brick and marble of the sprawling city. Two guards dressed in Imperial armour flanked its only entrance atop a narrow marble stair, protectors of the peace. It was an honoured place of commerce and had been the heart of the Free Worlds for over a thousand years. Ionian children would loiter by the doors on their way to their daily lessons, in anticipation of hearing the workings of the great men inside, with hopes of enrolling in the Senate themselves one day to serve their beloved world. Senator Sian drummed his large fingers restlessly on the quilted armrest of his soft, reclining chair, as his transport descended smoothly through the skyline of the surrounding dwellings. He was no longer a young man, far from it in fact, and his temper tended to be a little short these days, and today was no different; he was extremely late for today’s session; and he hated tardiness in others so he was loath to be late himself. The aging Senator had spent the early morning entertaining the son of an old friend. Sian often grew weary of the ramblings of the young, and inexperienced, only this time had been different in a way that had amused him greatly. The young lad who was called Crassus after his grandfather, was to be initiated into the noble ranks of the Senate, and had sought out the wisdom of his father’s oldest of friends. He had greeted the young man warmly, and had been impressed with the enthusiasm to which he regarded his upcoming entry. He had an air of authority that is so rare in the young and reckless. Senator Sian had answered Crassus’s numerous questions with the ease of one who knew the innermost traditions of the Senate as surely as he knew his own name and age. In his younger days when he was still a face that drew the admiration from those painted women in the court of his homeland, Sian would have considered pursuing the beautiful Crassus and taking him as a lover. The young man had the raven hair of his father and the narrow, hard body that only comes with the energy of youth. The early morning sunlight framed the lad beautifully as he reclined on a couch and drank from a goblet, held in his slender, tanned hand. It had been many years since the old Senator had found himself aroused by any young man or woman, and was mildly surprised to find the gentle, erotic warmth that spread through his groin that he had almost forgotten in his greying years. Crassus had noticed the intent gaze of the older Senator and had met it unflinchingly with a coy smile. When he had left he had laid a hand on Sian’s firm arm and given him his great dark eyes, far more than politeness allowed. An interesting appointment, but one that had made him extremely late! Senator Sian had been elected in his youth, to be the noble representative in the United Senate Of The Free Worlds, for his distant home of Malor Prime. In those days his cranial ridges at the rear of his head were sharp and defined and his hair was still strong and black, not the thinning grey it had become over the many years. He had relished the position he had been given, with the energy and vigour of the young. He had become a fierce debater in all issues proposed, and became a true lion of the Senate. A trusted and valued member who strived to uphold the ideals and purpose of those hallowed halls. Marriage had never come to the Senator, nor had the gift of children, a factor that enabled him to devote his life in service of the Union Of The Free Worlds. Long ago he had great aspirations of one day becoming Consul, a position of greatest honour, to become the voice of the people; to lead the Senate grandly into the next era as the Fourth age grew to a quiet end. Now he was tired of living amongst these damn immortals, with their eternal youth, and energy, what did they know about stiff joints, and aching backs? What did they know of tiredness and greying hair? “Yes you old fool, time to give it all up now, and pass it over to someone younger and fitter.” He thought as the door to his sleek transport was lowered with a hiss. He walked briskly down the gangway, past his personal guards and ascended the narrow stair to the tall glass doors. His mind was busy with choices of to who he would pass his torch. Was there any who he could fully trust to represent his world as nobly as he? Trust came guardedly with the old Senator, and it was not something he gave freely when offensive and greedy people like Consul Scipio were elevated to the highest office through the intimidation of lesser men. “Good morning Senator,” said the deep, voiced guard as he bowed his head. “Has the session yet begun?” Replied Sian briskly, in his own, deep-throated rumble. He raised his heavy brows wryly as he heard the response. “I am afraid so sir,” the guard answered, “Consul Scipio took the rostrum over half an hour ago, he seemed in a fine mood, disrespectful I’d say sir given the circumstances. When are you going to take his place and give us a respectable Consul?” “That is not your place to ask!” Sian growled irritably. The soldier mumbled his apology and stood to attention. He swore quietly as he placed his palm on the small circular plate aside the door and ignored the soldier’s following question. The glass doors opened with an electronic hum as he passed through and down the slim passage into the expanse of the meeting hall. The senate hall interior was as circular as the exterior, and tewnty rows of pale stone seats ran semi-circular along its walls, tiered to the lofty heights. Every seat was occupied with representatives of all the free worlds in a multitude of colour and sound. The higher seats were filled with the junior ranks of the Senate who were not permitted to speak in session whilst they were under instruction. Under the strict guidance of their mentors, these young men and woman would spend years just sitting and listening to Senate business. They would read the histories and study the laws until finally, when they were deemed ready they would be initiated into the Senate by the current Consul, and would begin their years of service to the Free Worlds. The lower the seats got, the more they were filled with more experienced Senate members who had served for some years, and were the solid backbone of the organisation. They worked tirelessly for the good of the people and it was generally their majority that carried those all, important votes and motions. The lowest seats were the seats of honour, reserved for the veterans of the Senate who had devoted a lifetime of work, and it was these men, who handled the fate of the alliance on a daily basis as if it was no chore at all. The men and women who occupied these seats suffered no fools and were not forgiving to mistakes, they were a breed of hardened and seasoned debators, they devoted their lives to service the union, and they guarded the sanctity of the Senate fiercly. The air itself buzzed with the whisperings of all seated, like the sound of gently running water. Senator Sian smiled briefly at the energetic workings. It will be difficult laying all this aside. He would miss the endless debates and feeling of unity. Maybe he should leave it a little while longer, maybe a year or two. At the far end of the hall stood a slightly raised dais, a simple affair made of white marble, atop which sat the consul for this term on a low scrolling bench, Senator Scipio! He was addressing the Senators with his practised orators voice. He was impassioned with his speech and gesticulated grandly as one performing at the theatre. Some of the elder Senators had been lulled into a light sleep in the balmy warmth, though others listened intently with shock at his words. Consul Scipio paused in his speech as he noticed Sian crossing hurriedly over marble floor, and move through the seated senators to take his seat in the first tier next to his friend, reserved for the more senior members. “How nice of you to join us Senator Sian,” he said loudly, his electronically magnified voice dripping with sarcasm and ill concealed contempt. He was in a sickly, good mood this morning as he planned the discredit of the monarchy with his morning’s proposal. Many bribes had exchanged hands in the days before and he was certain of the outcome. “Apologies for my tardiness consul, a prior appointment overran.” He replied taking his seat next to a wiry man in a brown tunic and powdery white hair. “What is today’s first business my friend?” He asked leaning over to his friend Senator Manoch, the thin representative from Caer’sheal. Manoch was another of the political heavyweights and had been a friend to Sian for nearly thirty years. “He is opposing the movement to deify Messalina,” Manoch replied distastefully. “The ignorant fool would have her forgotten as a pauper that has died in the street!” “He is opposing it?” hissed Sian as Scipio continued on with his speech. This was dire! If Scipio passed a motion in opposition, to the deification of a member of the monarchy, then the senate would have gained a strategic foothold, in the ruling of Ionia! This was something the powerful Consul had long solicited from afar. The majority of senate members themselves, truly believed in, and worked constantly to maintain the unity their worlds had found. It had become a way of life for many of them. They protected it fiercely. Unfortunately though, in recent years, they had broken into factions and allowed themselves to be browbeaten by charismatic men like Scipio, who only worked for popularity and personal gain. Given the chance he would adorn the crown of Ionia himself, only his abject respect and fear for the late Empress had suppressed his ambitions. “He will be overruled my friend, no matter how many great houses and clans he has bribed. Ionia and the Senate have more love for Messalina, than they ever will for him.” Senator Manoch said quietly while watching Scipio with disdain stamping his weathered and lined face. “So in sum my fellow Senators… “ Scipio concluded his speech to the quiet gathering. “I believe that to canonise our beloved Empress would set an unreachable standard for her son, the Prince Titus to fulfil, and would incite anger from those gods we already hold so dear to our hearts!” As he finished, several of the Senators rose angrily, waiting to be acknowledged amongst the outraged shouts and jeers. Even the most junior of Senators in the uppermost seats began to shout in anger. The Consul looked round smugly as he motioned to a nervouse looking man in a green cloak who stood in the third row. “The house recognises Tural, the noble representative of Pyrall,” said Scipio with a barely concealed smile. This man was obviously one of Scipio’s supporters, and Senator Manoch could see that immediately. “That’s right worm,” snarled Senator Sian harshly. “Allow your clients to speak your case before rational and decent people can even stand.” “I wonder how much he has been paid?” Asked Senator Manoch quietly so that none might hear. Eager ears were always ready to listen and denounce their fellow Senators at will to further their own small careers. The standing senator cleared his throat nervously, wiping a slender, webbed hand across his perspiring forehead as he waited for the whispering to stop. His large amber eyes blinked furiously with two sets of eyelids as he began. “I speak in agreement with Senator Scipio, to deify the late… “ His speech was instantly lost in the furious shouts and jeers of the angry Senators as they raged a barrage of abuse at him from all directions of the hall. “THE HOUSE CALLS FOR SILENCE IMMEDIATLEY!” Scipio roared at this outburst. He waited patiently, firing smouldering glances about the room as the noise abated. “You may continue,” he said inclining his head to the Pyrallian representative, who smiled in return as one sharing secret. “As, I was saying,” he continued tentatively “To deify our late Empress would be blasphemous to our own Parthenon of gods. I propose to build a monument in her honour and to declare this day a day of mourning for the years to come, any other such action would offend our Empress’ modest soul.” As he finished Sian rose, and waited patiently, to be quietly acknowledged as he felt Manoch bristle at his side. He placed a calming hand upon his friend’s shoulder as he waited. “The house acknowledges Sian of Malor Prime!” Scipio rumbled guardedly as he regarded the formidable Senator from across the floor. Sian’s face became grave as he began to speak. “I for one. Have never, been so ashamed, to be associated with this governing body!” He paused a moment, his baleful eyes sweeping the silent gathering before continuing furiously. “Were you not all in attendance at the funeral yesterday with tears in your eyes? Do you not all come from worlds that know peace and unity because of her vision? Do you not all owe her allegiance in life… and in death for her services to the unity of the free worlds?” He paused again as his words echoed off the silent walls before he pointed an outstretched arm in the direction of the wordlessly, fuming Scipio. The Consul matched his stare with a staggering glare of his own. “Did you… Senator Scipio, Consul of this Senate, not deliver a heartfelt eulogy from the forum? Declaring her as a divine presence? Does she not deserve to take her place amongst the immortal gods, who she served so reverently? She saved our worlds from genocide, she brought about an era of love, if, the people wish to pray to her for guidance and advice then I say, why not? I propose fellow senators, that on this day, Messalina, former Empress of Ionia, instigator of peace, take her place, a place she has earned I tell you, in the celestial palace of the heavens, where she will be welcomed with open arms amongst her equals!” At these words the hall became a thunder of cheers, stamping feet and applause. Senator Sian smiled grimly as he took his seat. Bribe or no bribe, the house would not deny his request this day. “IF ORDER IS NOT MAINTAINED IN THE HOUSE, I SHALL ADJOURN!” Bellowed Scipio once more as the noise abated. He glared around the hall, breathing in great laboured breaths. He was livid, he would make them pay, those whom had taken his gold and defied him in his own Senate house. Fear made for a powerful bedfellow and he would not forget their faces. “As loath as I am, to pass this motion,” he continued, his face scarlet in its rage. “I shall put it to the vote. All those in favour of deifying the Empress Messalina, to build a temple to her and to appoint priests to worship her, please stand.” Manoch and Sian exchanged a conspiratorial smile, clearly enjoying themselves, as they watched over two thirds of the majority stand proud. This battle of wills had been won. Scipio was defeated. With barely concealed anger Scipio announced. “As of this day forth, the Empress Messalina shall now be known to the known worlds, as it is declared by order of the senate, as the Divine Metheral. A temple to her shall be erected immediately, priests shall be chosen from the temple collages, and her divinity announced to the nation, this turn of business is closed” Another great cheer circulated the hall as the senators seated themselves and waited on the next matter of discussion. “Good speech my friend, I am proud of you,” said Senator Manoch gripping his friends arm tightly. ”Though I have no doubt in my mind that he will still manage to play a good hand with the masses. He will get to announce the divinity of Ionia’s most revered ruler” “Let him have it, his term is nearly at an end.” Sian replied with a frown. The rest of the matters for that working day were passed and voted on uneventfully, and without mishap, until the final debate of the day was announced when the suns were low in the afternoon sky. It was Senator Manoch’s turn to speak and present his request and he did so in his hoarse, wheezy voice. His listeners were still fired up from the previous discussion and were eager to voice their opinions again. “Senators, as you know, the civil wars of Silonia have ended in the victory of the republican party after many years.” He paused a moment enjoying the pleased murmurings of the crowd, a few of the younger Senators even applauded softly. “As I hope you will all agree, the victory of the republicans was greatly aided by the forces and medical assistance sent by Lord Seral of the cloud city, Mithrania. Without his aid, and that of his son, the noble Lord Remar, Silonia would have fallen into the hands of the dictator Undruin. It is a simple matter that I please ask that we vote in favour of awarding special honours to Lord Seral for outstanding services to the Unity Of Free Worlds!” “All in favour please stand!” said Scipio sullenly as if bored. It had long been known of Scipio’s distrust towards the winged folk of that realm. They were staunch supporters of Messalina and would be just so, of the Prince Titus. This vote would sting the aged consul on a personal level. Two defeats in the same session would incite the anger of Scipio greatly, and there would be consequences. Of that he would be certain. All in the hall stood in unison as a single body showing their favour to Scipio’s disgust. “Motion carried, we will discuss its execution at the next session.” Scipio muttered through clenched teeth, his face distorted by rage. “Senate business is finished until three days from today, good evening.” He continued as he collected his papers, and strode off along the hall amidst the mocking glances of the older Senators. So senate business for that day ended, and the congregation began moving along to warm homes and waiting meals. Senators Sian and Manoch walked slowly together, accepting congratulations on their victorious votes, from various different Senators and factions, silently enjoying the sight of Scipio stalking lividly from the hall. “I hope you will join me and my family for dinner tonight old friend, I believe we have much to discuss,” said Senator Manoch as he draped his sky blue travelling cloak across his thin shoulders and gave Sian a knowing wink that he happily returned. “It would be my pleasure,” he replied taking leave from his friend, and strolling off along the narrow passage that led to the open doors. “Now that is a man destined for greatness, there are not many lions left in the senate these days, they are timid like lambs,” mused Manoch as he looked on after his old friend and signalled to his guards to escort him to his waiting transport . “Hmm… a long bath and massage I think,” he thought fondly to himself, completely unaware, of the many sets of concealed eyes watching him leave. Moving swift as shadows, waiting in silence, until such a time he would become bare of his guards! |
Garden of Midnight Lillies
~ Table of Contents ~
HELL HATH NO FURY LIKE A WOMAN WHO CRAVES POWER!
The Esquline Hill Messalina Valeria Cornelius Sulla Marius Caesar A preview chapter from my book Claudia Julia Livia "aka" Livilla Germanicus and Agrippina the Elder Cicero Minesium Gaius Caesar aka Caligula Boudicca The Titans Octavia Minor and Antonia Minor Octavian/Augustus no title Welcome message First page |
