Poor Mandubracius could not see why thepeople were reacting as they did, and without asking forpermission, I walked back around the table again, but when I stoodbefore Mandubracius, it was Tincommius who was most affected, hiseyes shining with tears. Very deliberately, and very gently, Ireached out and took Mandubracius’ right hand, and while he wasclearly surprised, he did not pull away.
I turned his hand so his palm was up,then I gently laid the hilt of the Prefect’s gladius in his hand, saying as I did so, “TellMandubracius that this is the gladius that was carried by mygreat-grandfather, who would become one of Rome’s most renownedwarriors. He turned the blade sideways because,” I cannot say thiswas divinely inspired, but I like to think that perhaps the Prefecthad a hand in it, “he did not want to kill a brave man who was notyet ready to face someone like him.” I glanced over my shoulder andindicated Cogidubnus with my head as I said to Ivomagus, “Tell yourbrother that as well. That like my great-grandfather TitusPomponius Pullus,” I made sure to emphasize his name, “I have nodesire to kill anyone simply for being courageous enough to standagainst me.”
There is no way for me to know whether ornot Ivomagus realized that I was not speaking in general terms andwas talking of what was about to happen, but judging from thereaction, he did relay my words exactly as I said them.
Turning back to Mandubracius, Icontinued, “That giant Roman was my great-grandfather, and you arenow holding the very gladiusthat he used to spare your life.”
This was when Mandubracius burst into tears,his right hand curling around the hilt as he used his left hand,much like Cogidubnus, to run his fingertips along the blade, and Inoticed his fingers actually tracing the whorls of the pattern thatis one reason the blade is so distinctive. It was another lesson inhow highly developed other senses become, because when I closed myeyes and tried it later, I could not feel anything, whileMandubracius did. I cannot say there was not a dry eye in the hall,but there were quiet sobs, and when I scanned the room, I saw thateven the eyes of the Parisii men were shining from the torchesplaced on every column. The only reason my eyes were dry wasbecause I was thinking of what was coming, but it was a very movingmoment.
“Pullus,” Tincommius spoke for thefirst time, and as might be expected, the tears made shiny tracksdown into his beard. “Thank you,” he said, in Latin, and although Iknew he had just exhausted his knowledge of my tongue, save forcalling me a cunnus and a fewother things, I understood and respected the solemnity of thismoment.
“Mandubracius,” I spoke loudly,counting on Ivomagus to translate, “is a great man, and I amhonored to have met him. And,” I paused long enough for Ivomagus totranslate, “I am certain that my great-grandfather, Titus PomponiusPullus,” I made sure to repeat his name, “will be happy to meetwith Mandubracius of the Parisii in the afterlife. Where,” now Igrinned broadly so that all could see it, “they will get drunk andtalk of the great battles they fought.”
I knew when Ivomagus got to my laststatement, because the relative silence was shattered, and whilethe Parisii men leapt to their feet to roar their approval, Igently took the gladius fromMandubracius’ hand, as I realized with a bit of surprise that I wasbeing completely sincere.
The gods know that I was profoundly moved byMandubracius’ appearance, and one glance at Alex assured me that Iwas not alone, but it was getting late, and I knew the time wasrapidly approaching. Tincommius had escorted Mandubracius, not outof the hall, but to the table where Tincommius and Esselt weresitting over in the row next to the wall to the right of our table.I decided it would be politic to at least appear to imbibe moremead, and thankfully, both Cogidubnus and Ivomagus were clearlyunder the influence, their laughter becoming more raucous, and Ilost count of the number of times Cogidubnus clapped me on the backin appreciation of something I said. Honestly, I cannot reallyremember what we were talking about; the most difficult part for mewas ensuring that my observation of how much Berdic was drinkingwas not obvious.
Finally, after what I was certain was twofull watches, Cogidubnus gave me the opening I needed, whenIvomagus told me, “My brother says that he’s glad that his wifeisn’t here for this.”
“Where is she?”
“Back in Danum,” Ivomagus saidcarelessly, then he gave me a drunken grin. “I cannot say I blamehim, Gnaeus. Cartimandua is a lovely woman, but,” he made a face,“she does not like gatherings like this.”
“One thing that we Romans have seen,”I tried to sound casual, “is how Gauls and Germans treat theirwomen. They,” I shook my head as if it was a tragedy, whilesilently offering plea for forgiveness from my mother, “let theirwomen do things that we would never allow. Is that the samehere?”
To my intense disappointment, Ivomagus didnot take the bait.
Shrugging, he said only, “I do not know howthe men of Gaul and Germania treat their women. But,” he waved hiscup at the attendees, “I know that there are tribes here who do notvalue their women as much as the Parisii.”
“I’ve heard,” I maintained my casualtone, trying to impart that I was talking more out of boredom andbecause of the mead than any real curiosity, “that you don’t forcewomen to marry if they don’t choose to.”
Now, it had been Ivomagus who had told methis, but I was counting on his inebriation, hoping that he wouldnot recall this.
And he did not seem to, because he shrugged.“That is our custom.” He gave me a drunken grin. “After all,Gnaeus, who wants to try and bed an angry woman?”
I laughed, only partially feigned, but thenI asked, “What reason could a woman use, then? How could she getout of marrying someone she didn’t want to marry?”
He frowned, but thank the gods not for thereason I thought, because he was actually thinking about it.
“If he is proven to be unfaithfulbefore their
