A Legend's Tale Season 2

Part 9 - Imperium

In the Capital, order is restored after the revolt of last night. The city watch has taken over the Arena and almost all of the gladiators are either dead or captured. The bells have stopped ringing and hundreds of curious citizens arrive at the scene. Several help the wounded soldiers of the city watch and the Arena guard. Willard walks inside of the Arena on the fighting grounds and sees how many dead bodies are being piled up by the guards. One of his sergeants informs him that 246 dead have been counted. All the gladiators of the west wing are dead, a couple of dozen remained in their cells during the night. Willard tries to listen to all of this but is still processing the situation. He has never before seen an act of violence of this scale. He could have been killed himself but he chose to stay outside of the Arena. Did that make him clever or a coward? He still isn't too sure about that. He eventually thanks the sergeant as he exits the Arena, jumps on his horse and rides for the city hall. There is a lot of chaos in the streets but it's being contained by his men, even some of the queen's soldiers are spotted here and there while trying to keep order. Willard is shaking over his entire body. He feels like he's about to face the execution squad. It was all his responsibility...and hundreds died. He enters the great hall where Anthea, Lucille, Norman, Gregory, Joseph and several others all stand at the end. Willard fears for their reactions but he tries to shed some good light by telling them that order has been restored and that nearly all of the gladiators are dead or captured. Lucille and Norman are very relieved and thank Willard for his service. Anthea on the other hand is furious. The great oasis of the world is what they call it and it nearly fell overnight. Lucille believes that that's an exaggeration. All the fighting was contained inside the Arena. Anthea shakes her head and tells Lucille that it was pure luck. If they would have managed to get out of the Arena, do they really think the fighting would have stopped there? Gladiators are sentenced criminals. Norman stands up for Lucille and tries to reason with Anthea. The situation was kept under control. Many lives were lost but none of them died for nothing. The brave men and women from the Capital gave their lives for making sure the city remains safe. Anthea comments that her own men and women also made sure of that. Lucille smiles and tells her that she's grateful... especially the fact that Anthea's soldiers present were so eager to help that they forgot to put on their armor. Anthea doesn't respond do that. Instead she corrects Lucille by saying that it was thanks to one of her soldiers that the gladiator who started the rebellion was captured. Anthea knows very well what she has to say to Joyce and Julian but she'll be damned if she didn't stand up for them in front of Lucille.

The briefing goes on for quite a while. Julian and Joyce sit in one of the rooms for queen Anthea's personnel. The room is guarded by numerous guards inside and out. Julian and Joyce both look at each other. They managed to spend half an evening together...and now they realize that they have all thrown it away because of that. Joyce even fears that they will be send to the Arena themselves but Julian tries to calm her down. However queen Anthea might be to others, she never forgets what her allies have done for them. Eventually, Anthea enters the room and orders the guards to leave. Once they are alone, she looks at Julian and Joyce with disappointment. She walks around for a bit and looks outside of the window to the Arena in the distance. Julian eventually stands up and tells Anthea that he dragged Joyce into this, it was all his idea and he will take responsibility for everything. Anthea silences him however and tells him that she knows how often Julian likes to give his famous speeches but now it's her time to talk. She cuts to the chase as she always does. She's very disappointed in both of them. If they would have been swords for hire she would expect nothing less, if they would be common soldiers she would grant them freedom of the night...but they are the royal guard of the Ancient. That title means something. They all know how the general people here, especially the ones like Lucille, look down at the Ancient and they just gave all of them more reason to do so...but they also prevented a rebellion from becoming a city spread catastrophe. They could have run off back to the city hall but instead they both did what was right. So she can't punish them for disobedience yet she can't reward them for courage. Julian and Joyce remain quiet. They almost want to hold each other's hand but they know better than to do that. Anthea eventually dismisses Joyce but Julian needs to stay. Hesitantly, Joyce leaves before looking back at Julian very quickly. Once she is out of the room, Anthea asks Julian how long this thing between them has been going on. Julian doesn't really know what to say but eventually decides that there's no bother to hide it now. He eventually tells her that they have been having a secret relationship for three years now. Anthea is surprised by this, she almost feels like praising them for their skill of hiding it all. Yet she can't really reward treason does she? Anthea laughs. As the queen, she can change infrastructure on a huge scale, she can make tribes and enemies fall, she can make every man a hero or a villain whenever she chooses...yet she can't change human nature. Julian tells her that she can also change the law. Anthea looks at him, he knows she can't and won't do that. A position as high as the royal guard must choose duty over love. Julian already prepares for the worst and tells her that he's willing to endure whatever she deems necessary. Anthea tells him that she ought to strip both of them of their ranks and put them to work as builders at the fortress...but she knows Julian and Joyce have been faithful during their years of service. They have proved themselves good and loyal friends of the Ancient. People often view others as villains because of one bad action and choose to instantly forget all the good things they did. She is not one of those people. Julian now looks hopeful. Anthea tells him however that she will not allow them to see each other again during these times. Instead, he will remain here once she and the rest of her convoy head back to the fortress. Julian did not see that coming at all. He can't believe what he's hearing. Why would he stay here? Is he being banished? Anthea calms him down and tells him that he's still at her service. He will act like her spy. She doesn't trust Lucille and those around her with the lives of the people here. Something is not right here, anyone could sense that. She needs someone to stay here to represent the queen in the Late, as a sign of the good relation between the mayor and the queen...but in reality he will find out what lies beneath this city, he will uncover the truth about Lucille. He will send a bird every fortnight or so with an update on the situation. Julian needs to time to process this but he knows he can't refuse. He must stay loyal to the queen no matter what. He eventually complies and asks what will happen to Joyce. Anthea says that Joyce will come with her to the fortress...and resume her duty as royal guard of the queen. Julian is incredibly relieved after hearing that. Anthea sees a smile on his face but remains serious herself. Before she leaves, Julian asks her if he can say goodbye to Joyce before they leave again. Anthea tells him that he will have to be quick then, before leaving him.