Per Aspera

Lucrezia Iunia Bruta; Somewhere; Somewhen; Ready to continue her oaths

I had seen bigger villas than the area of this…agglomerate.

My family’s own villa, the one my family had since the time of the Prideful, had been bigger, and we were the symbol of humbleness and tradition.

There were maybe eighteen houses, making a semi-circle around their own temple, on two floors most of them, similar in design to the Peregrino’s one.

They were sturdy, yes, and sturdier than those in the Suburra, much sturdier.

Crassus had much to answer for his sins, and if the gods were just, he was already answering to them.

If the Persians had not been enemies of the Urbe they should have gotten crowns for their service to the citizenship.

Said that, it was still…humble.

Far too humble, even for one coming from the Urbe itself.

While some may sing praises about the bucolic lifestyle of our forefathers, there was a reason the Urbe needed to change to survive the Germanic invasion.

What was most interesting about this forgotten hole nested in mountains, something that would be strange in a colony, let alone this kind of settlement, was the presence of both nani and viri, working together.

The smithy, a nano with a red beard, had a viro apprentice, tall but lanky, while a vira matron gave to a nana something that looked like a mixture of apples and honey, inside a glass jar, closed well, something like a Graecus conditum paradoxum, while the children of both people ran behind a ball, laughing merrily and shouting about fair and unfair..

That was strange, but somewhat heartening, above all when all worked for the same goal.

Then we became visible, and the work stopped.

They all turned towards us, or more precisely, towards me, the children pointing, the parents wary.

Wary, surprised and a tad awed, if what I had seen from soldiers serving under the wannabe Tyrant was of any example.

Something that I disliked being, citizens of the Urbe may be better, but they weren’t worthy of worship, or any awe outside of their merits.

Only people such as the wannabe Tyrants, as much as I had looked up on him for his surety, wanted that, and they were both sinful in front of the gods, and in error in front of mortals.

Then an old nano, with a cane made of metal and a long white beard, flanked by the nana with the strange magic and her own cane, walked towards us, behind them another nano by the long beard, red as fire, and eyes of a blue that reminded me of the sea, and the huntress nana, who I had seen a lot around the Peregrino’s house, her green eyes shining like esmeralds.

So they were the chiefs of this hamlet? Or rather, the ones people turned towards when they needed guidance.

Interesting.

“Sael Alfar;” He started, and the healer turned sharply towards him, a brow risen up: “We of this hamlet greet you finally, after young Victor has finally done his work, at least enough for you to move, noble one.” he started, putting his right hand on his heart and bowing slightly.

I…didn’t know how to follow, so I simply did our own greeting, an informal one:

“Salve, master of this hamlet, may your descendants follow your steps, and honour you for your actions.”

Damn.

Too informal.

The nano in front of me was gracious, though, and I saw his eyes curve upward, like my grandfather’s did.

It was the only way to see if he was or wasn’t displeased, or pleased, by something.

“Young Victor, does our guest need something other than time for her other injuries? Winter is, as you know, coming, so I would, as you have probably already said to her due to your…own situation, advise against traveling when her injuries are healed. The roads are treacherous already, with snow they are simply a good way to die.”

The nano said those words like he was talking about today’s weather, shadowed by the clouds above us.

He had my respect.

“The Peregrino has already said that I should wait until the better season before venturing out, to see if I can make sure to keep my oaths. I accept the wisdom, and will follow it.”

The old nano regarded me for a moment, then his eyes turned towards the nana beside him, an almost amused whisper coming out of his mouth, like wind flowing through mountains’peaks: “I do see it, dear.rock.”

Then, turning back towards me, he opened wide his arms and shouted, loud and clear despite his age: “Then I welcome you here, guest! While you will be with young Victor for your convalescence, you will find a seat at our table, and a roof above your head until spring comes here.”

The people of this hamlet all shouted, and for a moment it was like being back in the legion.

My hand went to the handle of my sword, of my family’s xiphos.

Too many sounds together, too much vibration.

I restrained myself, but I could see the old nano’s eyes tracking my hand, widening slightly and hardening, while his hands clenched around the cane, but not in the way the nana did when she used her magic.

But the action he did, above all how much out of line I was, made me restrain my hand, biting through my lip and clenching it until the nails drew blood.

The old warrior, because he was one who fought with steel and blood, relaxed after these actions of mine and, while keeping his left hand on the metal cane, he tended his right one to me, in trust.

I hesitated for but a second, but I didn’t wish to dishonour myself a second time that day, so I clasped it.

He had a strong grip, strong enough for me to feel it, along with callouses that were strange for a farmer.

This one definitely had training, and was expert, in fighting with weapons. I did not know which, but I would find out.

I would train if I had to wait here, after all.