Out of Exile - Chapter 3
The flap door of the tent opened, and a large Syverenian man armed with an axe walked through. His broad shoulders and enormous stature caused him to stoop as he stood. “Sir, you have a visitor,” he said, addressing Antipatros.
Antipatros stood up, wrapped himself in his fur cloak, and gave a simple nod to his guard.
In walked a young Doiketian man with a peasant chiton. His dark skin, shoulder length black hair, and sandals betrayed his feeble disguise. He knelt, but his expression was not as one who believed he was of lower status than Antipatros.
“Rise, do not kneel to me. I am aware of who you are and your standing in the council, Patarios. Why is it that you have come to visit me?”
An overly warm smile crept across Patarios’ face as he stood. He was very pleased to hear that he was known beyond his small village. “I have come to interview you, and see if our values align. I believe that we could be useful to one another, if you are willing to fraternize with a nobleman. I assume your noble heritage still has some sway over your spirit.”
“I am not one for idle talk. Nor am I one for any sort of flattery. Let me drive straight to my own point. Are you on the side of liberty, or are you here to sway me against freeing the serfs?” Antipatros’ face did not change one iota while he spoke. This unnerved his guest.
“I have been on the path of granting our serfs more and more liberties through means of our local council. I have found that there has been little resistance, save for appearances sake in the Regional Council Terripanos itself. All who are of that level are old enough to remember the civil war. They remember well what happened to those, like your own father, who were cast out into the outer darkness, or cut down on the spot.
“However, those of...”
“Get to your point. You are avoiding my question. Will you free the serfs and provide them representation? Will you allow them to become citizens?”
“Yes, yes. As I was saying...”
“No need. If the answer is yes, then we are friends. I do not need to listen to one who enjoys the sound of his own voice. I will call upon your service as needed. Likewise, you may call upon mine,” said Antipatros and then he paused.
Antipatros drew the short sword form the scabbard fastened to his left thigh. He held it in his hands, feeling its weight. Feeling its balance. He gripped it as if for battle, held it, looked deep into Patarios’ eyes, then sheathed it once more. The panic on Patarios’ face told him all he needed to know about what kind of man he was.
Swallowing his nervousness, and recomposing himself, Patarios addressed Antipatros one last time. “It is my belief that the weak and scared men of our nation will be afraid seeing an army composed of Syverenians and Doiketians alike marching through their heartland. This will provide a sense of crisis among the commoners and serfs. For, if they do not believe that the nobles have the strength to defend them, they will begin to ask for arms themselves. Fear alone may sway the votes at all levels of the councils. The only thing the nobles fear more than armed serfs are Syverenians at their doors.”
“You waste even more words with stating what I already know. This has been my strategy all along. Have you not seen that on our march, most villages free their serfs without a fight? And those serfs who are freed join our ranks? Half the army that I now command are former serfs who have been promised freedom. Unless you can provide me with means to hasten these results, I am afraid that you have wasted my time, as well as your own.” This curt statement struck a fatal blow to Patarios’ ego.
Softening himself, Antipatros continued, “I am not saying that your service is not needed. I am letting you know that taking needless risks of exposing your own motives is dangerous to all who surround you. Now go, sway your council. Do what is necessary to reach the hearts of the Regional Council, but leave the violence to me. It is better for the violence to be from without than from within.”
With that, Antipatros gestured to his guard to see Patarios out of their camp. Before the flap closed, Antipatros, in the Syverenian tongue, said, “Make sure he is not seen returning from our camp. We need his people to continue trusting him.”
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