IL SIGNUM

The Little Village

Chapter 8,

The Little Village 

Dusk crept upon the horizon as the small comfortable village came into view. The neatly arranged buildings made of straw, stone and wood brought a very homely feeling to Maximus. He was now able to hear the laughing of the little children playing in the fields. As the duo trotted by the humble farmers would either give them a welcoming nod or show emotions of despair for the blood soaked party.

The smell of baked bread made its way to Maximus's nostrils as he smiled at the thought of eating fresh food. Dante seemed to be a known figure in the village as shown by the young boys running towards them shouting his name. He jumped off his horse and pulled them into a deep embrace. "Zio Dante!" the child squealed as Dante threw him over his shoulders. He walked while holding the reigns of his horse and surrounded by children to the village.

Maximus followed close behind taking in the breath-taking scenery. The village was full of life, women in the streets with urns on their heads. There were hearty laughs coming from a small group of elderly men feeding a fire. Children ran into the cobbled path with curiosity for the travellers. A man in traditional gaulish attire walked towards them with a smile chiselled into his rough war torn face. His proud platted white beard covered a rugged grey scar running down his cheek.

A steel horned helmed topped his features showing the sign of a veteran of war. However his large rounded stomach gave hints of a man who loves his food a bit too much. It was quite a funny sight to see such a man of high rank have to hobble down the streets in his tight tunic.

"Fellow traveller and my dear friend Dante welcome to our small humble village of Bryten. I am chieftain Vorix the profound and may I have the honor of knowing to whom I honour my presence to Mr Roman?"

"I am Maximus, a runaway Roman in search of the truth!" The smile on Vorix's face doubled in size as the words left Maximus's mouth. "Quite a quest if I do not say so myself, who is it you are trying to escape from in your past life" Maximus followed the chieftain into his large hut while continuing the conversation. "My father was a guard in the villa of General Titus. He was forced to train me into following his footsteps. I decided to escape the tyrannical control of the master to live a life free of the lies of Rome." Maximus had never lied before in his life. Though the feeling was unwelcome to his personality it was important for him to leave his past behind.

The chieftain nodded his head and signalled Maximus to take a seat opposite the fire pit. The cold winters meant that the fires had to continuously be lit throughout the day and fed regularly. "Any refugee of the Roman rule is welcome in my quiet village" he used a poker to prod a log in the fire. "Is the rule of the Romans here fair?" The hard expression written on the chief's face suddenly made the room cold despite the roaring fire.

"When one bully leaves another is always put In his stead. There was a warlord name Jaxix the Cunning; he would make us pay protection money every week. People would go missing day and night without trace. Our women were no longer safe to walk the streets and our children feared they would not life till the age of manhood. Soon the Romans arrived, Legion of the ninth in their full glory. They managed to capture Jaxix and he met his death by a swift Gladiator in the coliseum. His men were all killed and the romans took control over our village. They agreed to leave our council in power as long as we paid taxes and abided to the Roman laws." The innocence in Maximus's brain was crushed with a wave of reality, these people were suffering." The Romans are bigger bullies then Jaxix and like to have their fun by having really high taxes that we are struggling to cope with."

Dante sat in the corner nodding his head to the rhythm of the chieftain's speech. Vengeance burned in his eyes as he twitched his dagger in his hand. "Dante my friend how is your father?" Dante looked at Maximus and then turned to Vorix. "I might as well tell you the truth, my father is dead Vorix." A sudden gasp escaped the veteran's broken lips. "Tell me, how did he come to his end?" Dante leaned forward exposing the dry tear forming in the light.

"It was the Romans; the tax collectors had dried up all the coin left in my village. We had to result to hiding our valuables in fear for them being taken. Anyway, on the last visit, the tax collector doubled the sum and demanded it all in coin immediately or the army would be called to kill off our village. My father struck the man in anger and killed him on the spot. I went out hunting a week later only to return to a bloodbath and the burning remains of my home and family."

Dante was shaking in the gloomy light and staring into the dancing flames. So this is the truth, Maximus thought. My Empire is not the dream it likes us to believe it to be. Behind our backs they kill, rape and plunder then accuse the Gauls of such actions. Maximus felt disappointment in his heart for his people. No! He thought, they were no longer his kind anymore! He would help these poor people till his final breath.

"Hey Dante! Is there any way we can join a resistance against the Roman rule?" Maximus barked with newfound determination. He nodded "I was o my way to join them myself before our little encounter in the woods" He smiled through his angered features. "I think it is time to right the wrong done by this vile empire. I am willing to join you against a sorry excuse of an empire!"