A figure laid on a bed made out of fine wood. Wild patterns danced on its surface, expertly carved by a master of his craft. Beautiful red bedding laid on top. In it a still man. Only his chest moved slightly up and down.

The windows of the room were shut. Red curtain kept the starlight at bay. The door closed from within with an iron bolt.

The first light of the day peeked over the horizon. Starting the process of switching from starry sky to clear sky.

As the first light of the day manifested, Alaric's blood-red eyes opened.

He continued to lay on his bed. His chest gently rising and sinking. The only difference this time were the eyes starring at the ceiling. They lacked focus, almost like he was in a trance.

A minute passed, then two, then three and then four.

His body began slightly to twitch. First his legs, afterwards the arms, the torso and in the end the head. His breathing speed up.

His chest stopped moving for a moment. Eerie silence filled the room. Alaric exhaled loudly through his mouth. His eyes snapped to focus on a point in the darkness.

He slowly rose up and moved to the window. The curtains opened and Alaric looked outside at the horizon. His eyes fixed the fading image of the moon. A few minutes passed until the naked man deemed it time to put something on.

He pulled a dark red robe over his shoulders.

A candle made out of red wax was pulled out of a cabinet. Placed on his nightstand.

Alaric's hand moved to the wick.

"Igni", Alaric simultaneously snapped his fingers as he chanted. The candle shed light on his pale face.

His other hand reached to pull out a pouch from the furniture in front of him. He sprinkled the powder stored inside it over the open flame. The flame nearly extinguished before it took on a blue colour.

Alaric's palms moved to his eyes. His right pulled the left eyelid down, his left pulled the right down. Then the hands switched sides and covered both of the closed eyes.

"I pray to Selena for good fortune and a fruitful day", Alaric repeated with rehearsed ease.

Fingers put out the flame. Powder and candle were returned to their places.

The bolt was moved. The door opened. Alaric stepped out of the room.

To his right stood a hairy woman. Two tattoos of a wolf-head covered her cheeks. A pile of clothing balanced on her outstretched hands.

"We have readied the clothes of the day. Robes for religious wear and a fine tunica for after the temple visit", she offered the pile to Alaric. He took them and began to dress. Handing the robe over to the man standing on his left.

Alaric finished changing clothes and descendent the stairs. The man followed him and he in turn was followed by the woman.

"The cooks prepared western lizard-deer for breakfast. Rare, as you prefer", the man informed. His skin was yellow and wrinkled like a badly folded blanket. Though his most protruding feature were the sewn up eyes. His disability to see didn't show as he followed Alaric and updated him on the state of the mansion, followed by the schedule for the day.

"Anything else I should be informed of?", Alaric inquired.

"There has also been a letter sent from your sister", the yellow-skinned manservant added.

Alaric stilled. The first expression of the day formed on his face. A smile that was quickly replaced by a stern expression. He turned around. "Are you sure Iratus?"

"Yes Dracula", Iratus confirmed.

"Where is the letter?"

"In your study. Upper-left drawer."

"Luna bring the letter to me. Now", Alaric ordered and the woman following them moved to obey.

Alaric entered the dining hall. His promised breakfast was served the moment he sat down. Iratus continued to stay next to him as he ate. It didn't take long for Luna to arrive. Letter firmly grasped in her hand.

Luna placed the piece of paper onto Alaric's outstretched hand. He cleaned his mouth and remaining hand with a white tissue. Then the letter was opened and Alaric began to read.

The handwriting was messy. The grammar was not much better. It was about what you would expect from a seven-year-old girl. Alaric managed to ignore those errors and concentrated on whatever his sister wanted to share with him.

Alaric Dracula,

I don't remember you much. I was too small when we first met. The servants never speak about you, father does so rarely and mother is always locking herself up in her room. I don't like it here. Nobody treats me like family. Father is never satisfied. I get hit if I fail to please.

Father has also spoken about a ritual. I have to drink funny drinks and eat strange cubes. They make me feel lightheaded and at ease. They help with forgetting and ignoring. I love them.

Hope to see you soon

Lenora

The knife pierced the meat and porcelain plate. Embedding itself into the fine wood of the table. Iratus head turned to the noise. Luna looked down on the marble tiles.

A string of insults and curses followed accompanied by repeated stabbing of the table-wood. All ended when the knife snapped in two. Giving in to the pressure it was exposed to.

"Luna clean the table. I have lost my appetite", Alaric said. The maid moved to collect the food and the fragmented pieces of the plate. No word was spoken until she left.

"Something the matter Dracula? Should I do something?", Iratus asked. His head turned to Alaric's general direction, unsure of the exact position.

"Yes. Yes", Alaric answered. Iratus' head rearranged with the help of Alaric's voice. "Ready my guards. It is time to correct old mistakes."

Iratus nodded after a short pause and left the room as well.

Alaric continued to sit at the table. Running his hand over the damaged parts of the table. Trying to pull out the embedded metal piece. Then he stood up and left the mansion.

It didn't take long for him to reach the temple where Lucius stayed. The guards didn't interfere with his passing and soon he found the prince eating breakfast in a temple hall.

I spotted Alaric when he entered the hall. Not stopping the process of devouring the freshly baked bread. Made from our own fields, milled in our mills and baked in Roma.

Something was different about Alaric. His gait had an unusual urgency, his posture resembled a ready fighter and his expressionless face was replaced by one of worry. It was rare to see him like this. In fact, it was the first time I saw him like that. There really was seldom a moment he lost his cool or focus.

He came to a stop next to my table. I was preparing a response in my head. The witty welcome I had thought of when he entered seemed hardly fitting. Instead, I waited for him to break the silence.

"I need to leave for a while. It shouldn't take long, maybe a week or two", Alaric said. Red eyes starring into my blue ones.

I sighed. His absence would mean more work for me. But he was my friend. My best friend. Whatever it was, if it was important enough for him then it was important to me as well. "Understood. Is there anything I can do to aide?"

Alaric continued to stare for a moment. "Twenty of your personal guard would certainly help."

"Take them. Good luck with whatever you plan to do."

"Thank you."

And with that, he left the temple. Not long after news reached that he left the city. Heading south. I wondered what this was about.

My pondering stopped after a few minutes. He will tell me when he returns. Firstly let's focus on the temple ritual I had to attend.

Finishing my breakfast was followed by donning a religious toga. It was white and the only features distinguishing it from my normal ones were the symbols on it. Bows, arrows, a sun and a lyre. All things associated with the god Apollo.

We had organized a small team of my best bodyguards. Six of them, led by Cycnus himself. The minotaur wore, like all of the people accompanying us, a toga with symbols of the god. It looked quite interesting to see him in such clothes.

"The toga fits you. I could mistake you for a Roman senator", I jested. The reply was a grumbling and angry stares at my back.

The journey to the temple itself was quite uneventful. People glanced our way, but nothing else occurred.

The temple had a statue of Apollo in front of it. The arms and nose were missing. His lyre laid in front of the statue. Broken off as well.

A group of priests were waiting for me. An elderly woman approached flanked by two young priestesses. Not much older than my sisters. Clothed in revealing togas, their skins marked with symbols of their god.

"Lucius Vespasianus. Apollo is smiling upon you", the head priestess exclaimed. She gave a proper deep bow.

I inclined my head slightly. "In that case, I am thankful for the favour of arts' guardian."

The priestess smiled. Then her gaze moved to my guards. "No weapons."

I gestured for them to drop their weapons. All that remained were the armour and an iron rod.

The priestess frowned at them but chose wisely to not comment on the rods. "Please follow me inside. We have to prepare for the sacrifice."

We were led inside the temple. To its right side was a white bull. A group of priests were painting symbols on his skin. An ornamented cloth lay next to the animal. The priestess noticed my glance.

"We have to prepare a proper sacrifice if the prince himself attends the ritual don't we?", she remarked. I smiled politely in response.

We came to a stop soon after.

"My helpers will assist to prepare you for the sacrifice. Your guards will need preparation themselves. I could send them to other priests if you wish to speed up preparing", the woman said.

"How insightful. It will be enough if your helpers prepare them alongside myself", I answered.

"If you wish it, it shall be done."

We were led to a room and entered. The head priestess soon left to prepare for the ritual. The small girls started to paint the exposed skin and faces of me and my guards. Mostly symbols of Apollo but there were a few of Zeus as well. Most noticeable the lighting on my cheek.

One of the girls was doing Cycnus at the moment. She had to get a stool, failing to reach is face even when the minotaur sat on a stool. He smiled at her difficulties to reach him.

"How is life in the temple?", I asked the girl drawing on my left arm.

"It is good. We get food, beds and learn a lot", she answered happily.

"What do you learn?", I inquired.

"First how to read and write. Then we learned how to be proper priestesses."

"Oh, and what is a proper one?"

"We spread faith and guide the people. For only when the people follow the gods' wills can we achieve happiness and a good future. The infidels await eternal suffering."

My resolve to not involve the church in any education project hardened. The conviction in the young girl's voice shocked me. She would do nearly anything as long as she thinks it is her god's will.

"What about non-humans, do they visit the temple often?"

At that the girl paused. Biting her lower lip. Maybe a little push…

"Answer."

"They do, though few in numbers. Many of them fail to see the glory and superiority of the Olympians", she answered, trailing off.

"And did you try to convince them? Did you do anything to them?"

"Yes. We always try to right the wrongs of the lost ones. We don't force anybody. Faith must come from within one-selves."

This conversation continued as we got prepared. The girl soon caught on and started to answer more elusively. Though I still got plenty of information from her.

The temples were trying to recruit follower from the migrants. Few actually switched their beliefs. They targeted children because it's easier to convert them, which was concerning to hear. But in the end, the temples were no problem, nor an enemy.

I could work with this. They provide places for worship and keep out of politics and in return, I will send gifts from time to time or attend rituals. I could approve of such an agreement. I should also plan to make a place for temples of other religions in Roma. Their believers will likely demand such in the future. Couldn't fault them for it.

As the preparations finished my brainstorming reached an end as well. A limited partnership with the temples was profitable. Though I would keep an eye on their activities. They could always become a potential ally or enemy in the game of politics.

We were lead outside in our robes and our skin painted with symbols. The bull now stood on a marble platform in the centre of the temple. Ropes stopped him from moving himself, though the animal itself looked relaxed. Small canals on the surface formed a picture of Apollo. The canals had four ends, each in one of the corners.

The priestess was talking to the gathered crowd. They were rather sizeable. I wonder how many came for the ritual and how many came because I was attending the ritual.

The priestess finished her speech and turned to me. "And now the prince himself will sacrifice the bull for the mighty god Apollo. May a special bond develop between our pious ruler and Apollo."

A dagger was handed to me. I slowly moved to the bull. The mass watched me with mixed expressions. My guards took position to the left and right of the platform.

I put one hand on the back of the bull. The other, holding the knife was placed below its neck. I sliced the throat open, blood began to flow down, filling out the small canals. A red picture on the white marble began to take form. The bull tried to escape his fate. His restrains stopped him from moving.

When the canals on the platform were full, four basins next to the corners began to fill. The priests began to sing poems and the people started to join in. I myself joined soon after. It was hard to describe, but singing in a temple and in a group felt interesting.

It took half an hour for the bull to bleed out. The basins were half full. The poems had stopped and the head priestess started to preach again. This continued for another hour. Then the people slowly began to leave. Starting their workday. The priest began the process of cleaning the marble and removing the bull carcass. It will be brought to the nearest butcher for processing.

"Did Apollo manage to recruit a new follower", the head-priestess asked with a smile.

"Hardly a follower. Though I have to admit the ritual was rather … inspiring. Certainly a unique experience", I half-lied. She seemed please with this answer.

"The gods are always happy to take the able under their wings", she added.

"I will remember that."

We had a short conversation about the gods and the daily activities of this and other temples. All seemed to be within the boundaries of what we could accept. I hope this visit showed the other temples, that they can work with me instead of against me.

We left the temple and headed home. Again nothing happened except some people glaring at us. The rest of the day was spent organizing the council meeting for tomorrow. Without Alaric's assistance, it took me till after sunset to finish.

The outcome of the gathering will decide how our response to the new war in the west would look like. I couldn't wait to start it.

Two mounted men cladded in legionary clothing were following the road connecting Napule and Roma.

The horses trotted and their packages were clinking in tact with their movements. Each horse was carrying a crossbow with bolts, a bow with arrows, a sling with stones, a gladius with a shield and a pilum. Furthermore, two thick cases hang over the behind of both horses.

"Excited to see our cousin?", Remus asked.

"Not really. I would have preferred to lead the legion north myself", Romulus answered with a sigh. "Alas, father said Lucius needed our impeccable insight sooner rather than later."

"Don't you mean my impeccable insight?"

"I stand corrected. My impeccable insight."

The laugh of both brothers filled the earthen path.

"At least our future looks bright. We are the best candidates for future legates of new legions", Remus added.

"Indeed. Maybe even first and second general of the duchy when father and uncle vacate the positions."

"You think father will ever lay down his gladius?"

"Not until he deems Solana's death avenged", Romulus said. Their smiles vanished.

"I sometimes wonder how things would change with her still alive", Remus said.

"I do as well", Romulus agreed.

The brothers continued on in silence. People overtook them or passed by. Nobody recognized them. Most thought they were simple legionaries or mercenaries. Common sightings around these parts.

Fields of grain and green pastures began to pop up to their sides. Peasants working on the fields with hired hands from Roma. The city itself started to appear on the horizon.

"I am starting to see a pattern in these fields. Did I miss something?", Romulus asked.

"A new cultivation method. The rest of the duchy is changing over to it as well. We are not the first country to implement it. I think at least. House Triton were the ones to drive it forward", Remus explained.

"How do you know that?"

"Because while you were busy recovering, I was reading reports and accompanied father to meetings."

"It seems I have to do quite some catching up."

"That you do. But first, let's help our cousin with the legions and with the unrest uncle spoke about."

"Unrest?", Romulus inquired.

"A small matter. I already have an idea on how to straighten out unruly subjects."

"Do share that."

The brothers spoke with each other until they reached the city in the middle of the night. Getting entrance into the forum because a few of the guards there knew their faces. And a seal from the house removed any last doubts of their identities.