Private No One Mourns the Wicked (Garuda)

[Javed Gautama]

A military genius?

Most of the military "heroes" that he'd met had the faintest shadow of brilliance that set them apart from the drooling knuckle draggers that found themselves in the legions. Of course, it gave them the forward momentum to get them into the public discourse, but even the Praetorian were filled with the daft and dull witted that seemed all so common among the Imperial Elite.

Javed held his wine glass, a twisted scowl on his face that was completely hidden by the mask that he wore. The jovial disposition of the mask often conflicted with his natural state these days, but it made pretenses easier to upkeep.

Kalinus should meet him in the parlor soon, and then he would have to truly don the guise that he so often wore. It felt like an old cloak, comfortable but irritating in its familiarity. While this meeting could be important, he had little faith that it would be. He had so often been disappointed by those that found themselves in positions of power.

He carefully swirled the vintage, his eyes fixed on the empty space. One step at a time, he'd achieve his goals.

 

[Kalinus Setra]

White were the robes that trailed behind the head of Clan Setra. His proud headdress, tall above the golden trim that framed his bronze face. His expression set as it so often was. Hard and unamused.

Were he any other man, might be that he would ponder how it was he had made it so far in this world. So far in the empire, that he, a common legionnaire, would find himself within the halls of the famed clan Gautama.

Were he any other man, might be that he would be smiling. A cocksure grin crooked upon the corner of his lip. A twinkle in his eye.

He was not those men.

"Senator Gautama," the Praetor anounced himself as he stepped into the frame of the archway, the trumpetvines sprawled about the stone, bared buds that had yet to bloom into their fleshy red fruits. "To be invited to sup wine in your estate," he gave the masked man the slightest bow courtesy demanded. "You do me honor,"