The Fashionable Dacian

[Quietus]

The Fashionable Dacian: continued...

The Dacian’s horse took a step forward. His new presence illuminated the area. Every soldier gazed at their vaunted enemy. Scyrulus began narrating.

“It was twenty long years ago” his real voice, garrulous and warrior-like, “I was a general at the outskirts of the Dacian nation. That year, Brutii had reinstated their quest for Roman expansion. They attacked our settlements and sold our brethren to slavery. Then, they claimed our land as their own.

The Roman armies were led by an ambitious general named Amulius the Brave. I would say he truly relished making a name for himself. He has the makings of a Brutii heir-to-the throne”. The Dacian looked around at the faces of the invaders and added:

“We peaceful Dacians had no choice but to protect our own borders and sanctity! Amulius was brave indeed, but we were the better fighters. Twice we have met their main forces and twice we have driven them back! Amulius. He, did not take his great defeats lightly, for their leader, Tiberius Brutus was frail and it is hurting his chances of being selected heir. Amulius was desperate for a solution.

He had penchance for spies & assassins and had sent a pack of these ignoble seekers to find our desolated hideaways. But fortune was not on their side. For every time they get close, our own secret Shadows took them out! Who knew this land more than their true masters and shepherds! Now, Amulius was not to be denied. The cunning ones always have other plans!

The Gauls. They had long been our friend and ally against the Germans and against the Romans. For years, the Julii clan had been slowly absorbing their lands and cities. Amulius knew this. With devious insight, he speedily arranged a secret pact with the compromising Gallic chieftains. Amulius agreed to use his spies to alert the Gauls of the Julii’s plans, while the Gauls would betray us of our hidden sanctuaries. Amulius must have been proud of himself, he knew he was hitting two birds with one stone. This agreement will stunt the Julii expansion while aiding his personal quest for roman glory.

And I was the first target. While returning home from one of my long scouting missions with my top Shadows – assessing enemy movements - we were evilly greeted with a wrenching panorama of death and devastation. The whole city was massacred. My soldiers, my brethren and my wife were all killed, while the camps burn and reduced to scorched ashes. I was bathed in searing pain and hate.

Outside the gate was a letter, addressed to myself, Scyrulus.

THEY had taken my young son. And Amulius, the scoundrel, wishes to obtain my cooperation in rooting out the Dacian armies hidden in blankets of forests and hills.” The Dacian paused a bit and took a heavy breath.

“But Amulius was mistaken!” Scyrulus defiantly proclaimed, “for he underestimated Scyrulus! I can match his cunning and more!!

The strenght and conviction of his voice nearly shook the spell-bound audience.

"I ordered my Shadows to alert our High Chief, his armies and his deputies of the wicked plot, for I had my own mission.

The following day, I headed for the city of Larissa, the former Macedonian city, and home of Amulius. To appease the Macedonian citizens, Amulius held weekly Gladiatorial games and races. Thus, I took the guise of a Velite Gladiator and gained a safe passage. At night, I scoured the city for my son yet he was nowhere to be discovered.

There was one only place I hadn’t sought.

Amulius’ mansion was formidable in security. But, I realized that confronting Amulius himself was the only taske left to be done. Working in darkness is second in nature to a Dacian. I have hunted in the dim forests all of my life. Taking out guards under the shadows, numerous as they are, were as simple as snaring deer.

One by one, they fell by my knife, for I, Scyrulus was once one of the fearsome Shadows. Finally, I snuck inside the chamber with intention and anticipationto catch Amulius unaware. Dashed! The room was evidently empy of life!

Until I have noticed a crib. In it was a baby, but It was not of my being but of Amulius’: his son. Amulius’ wife died while giving birth to their only son and he was the only memory left by his beloved half. I gently took away his son and quickly escaped by the sewers. I made haste for time was against me. I’m deep inside Roman territory with my horse – that I’ve hidden beside a nearby brook – as my only escape.

At the break of the morning, I was galloping back for a long trek home. I’ve failed in my goal but gained an unlikely, but powerful bargaining tool and position. I looked back at Larissa from the hills. I could distinctly see groups of Equites flying out the gates while the trumpets aggressively blare. I have no doubt that the distinctive knife that I’ve left behind – one carrying my family seal – will be making its way to Amulius in no time.

A month later after my triumphant escape, I’ve received a message from one my Shadows. Amulius wanted an exchange.” Scyrulus paused and stroked his beard with his left hand, while his right still brandish a sword. He then declared as-a-matter-of-fact:

“A simple man would have agreed but as I have said before, a cunning man always has another plan!”

The Roman soldiers quizzically buzzed amongst themselves, while Oppius felt uncomfortable and uneasy the whole time. Oppius knew he was the only son of Amulius!

To be continued….