Livia Metella Calabria — EP28 Journal

Dawn attempts to steal a march on us all. I've spoken with your newly appointed advisor at great length, and I feel I am as prepared as our scant time allows to send the oldest man in Juramentum on to his ambassadorial duties. I am assigning the most field capable and loyal of the Scrivenous guild to accompany him, A whip sharp man named Scribonius. He has assisted me quite a bit already, this Scribonius. With Catryn's unwelcome departure, he would have fast become my second if we were not effectively at war. Finally, there is an intrepid traveling merchant by the name of Decius Secundus, who happens to know some measure of valperi. Verily, Quaelithorn smiles down upon us for such a man to have appeared at this juncture. I do not enjoy the prospect of inveigling poor Wella Dushine into missing yet another awakening by sending her up into the northern expanse and search of allies. And I know Evander burns to be by Jason's side every moment of the day. However, I will impel both of them to act in our service and in defense of the dream. The dream. Blessed Thorn. It's become like some manner of bedtime story, A thing to whisper to Jerm as I lay him down at night with the old lion so far away, and our illustrious Grandame long in the endless sleep. It feels so hard to keep a mere idea held fast in these dark days. Forgive me, dearest. I should not have written the above, and having written it, surely should have scratched it out. Yet I am weak, and I will let it remain, adding to your already crushing burden. In your absence, the responsibility of the city falls upon my quite unwomanly worn shoulders. I am forced to contemplate the hideous reality that the man I love more than anything in this world may not return from his uncertain journey against that most dismal of outcomes. I wanted you to know my intent. I believe I shall succeed in persuading our antagonist to shifting the meeting location somewhat north, most central to both parties. Assuming this three days should suffice to see our delegation there in a timely manner by the time we are due. I will gamble that Griffin is largely recovered. Barring any further folly, I believe I can drag him into this affair. He is surprisingly nostalgic, and he has decided I remind him of yet another deceased person from his past. How many does he have? Sergeant Yulia can also come roughly equal to Merick in the old power, along with several others. I'll make my way there. Ever aware of the possibility of Leptis Regium treachery, I have grappled at length with what points we can accede to them and what would functionally make us no longer recognizable as ourselves. I have reluctantly come to the conclusion that are no good answers. Not a one. My heart catches in my throat to write this next sentence. In a world where I never see thee again, Twin, everything changes. I know the overweening Magistrate Major of Leptis Regium badly desires to have me wed his son in hopes of breeding his family's way into the ranks of the patricians. I will assent to this on the condition that the son comes to live in Juramentum. I will further tell them that if they attempt to force me from our home, I will open my veins. And. And the only patrician woman in the entire region willing to marry down will be forever out of the Magistrate's grasp. As to the legality of the secret of the word, I will greatly expand the ranks of the Scriveners Guild and retroactively make every person currently inside Juramentum's Pomerium who possesses it a member. There are not so many of them that this would be impossible, even for the women. It may shock them, yes, but after all, the guild itself was founded by the second wife of Gratis Magnus they will scream. But it is undeniable. There is an all important precedent. And finally, the worst of all the issues. Slavery. I have looked everywhere, spoken with everyone, and found no elegant, clever solution. No path forward that isn't awful. Ergo, in the world where Juramentum has lost its protector, this is all I can offer. The buying and selling of human and Kithgi flesh will be forbidden within the walls of the city. But the state of slavery will no longer end when a person reaches our home. I reluctantly point to the precedent that we set by not manumitting the remarkable Indra Star Step the moment she set foot on our shores. Obviously, she's as much a slave as I am. Yet the laws of the empire would see no difference. It makes me physically ill to contemplate such a betrayal of our grandame's sweeping vision. Yet surely it is superior to our annihilation. Surely our beloved Kithgi will never accept this. Many will no doubt leave. And the ones that do will never forgive us. Nor should they. We will be hypocrites and cowards, bending the knee to a superior force. I will be wed to a man who is steeped in a slaver's tradition. And it will no doubt be a silent war between the two of us. I will be expected to produce heirs. Little patrician heirs for him and for his father. Perhaps they will kill me after I have served my purpose in their eyes. Perhaps I will prevail in the end. Come back to me unto thy home, in loving submission I remain. Livia Metella Calabria.