The news of the discovered killed messenger did not take long to reach everywhere. No guesses were made, the murder was immediately linked to the increasing bandits lurking in the forests and travel roads. The assumption of the incident not an act of betrayal was further supported by the finding of a letter to a Roman battalion on the west front, and since it was not stolen the matter was attributed to thievery, erasing the fact of another letter was sent as well to Germanous. The soldiers guarding the city's walls were increased, and extra patrols roamed the streets to convince the people who grasped the opportunity to criticize their young governor. An emergency session for the counselors was even declared to calm the protesting voices and discuss the current situation and the safety of the province.
The governor arrived at the session prior to any of the senators to prove his concern and commitment though in reality wishing to hear no more criticism about his lack of responsibility and weak grasp on the situation.
Once the seats in the city hall were filled, soldiers stood by the doors and the beginning of the session was announced by the first counselor Laurentius.
"Having the emperor's messenger killed on his way to our town is not just an offence to us, but to the entire empire as well!"
The session was started with the statement of an indignant counselor followed by approval humming throughout the hall from the rest.
"Is not it first an offence to the soldier who got himself easily killed by bandits?"
The governor muttered under his breaths, watching as the counselors went on expressing their discontent about the lacking measures to stop the dissemination of bandits and outlaws. Complaining without offering any solutions, the governor finally spoke:
"We all know these facts, my lords. It is to find a solution to counter this problem that we have been called here for today?"
The blond said as if it was the clearest of things. And naturally, his slighting to the counselors was answered with contempt stares but he kept talking confidently:
"We have reinforced the guards within and out of the town's borders .We have also sent scouts to investigate the nearby forests, but they have found no gangs or suspicious gatherings. I believe this proves that they are not the horde we are picturing them to be, they might be mere individuals scattered here and there, mere pathetic outlaws."
"Are you saying we have been afraid of nothing?"
An old senator protested, and the governor calmly responded:
"Yes."
The senators did not seem satisfied with the governor's degrading remark, but since they were true they remained silent until another voice rose humbling the young blonde.
"Being unable to extract a small group of desperate men, that is the true offense!"
The majority sided with the supporting voice, and the old question resurfaced again; what's the solution?
"Lure them out!"
"We need something really big to lure all of them out and then strike and obliterate them!"
A large side of the assembly nodded in agreement but others protested:
"Idiot, you want us to risk precious properties?"
"Did we not just agree that they were few in numbers and no threat to us?"
The assembly split into two halves, and arguing voices grew louder and louder. Laurentius, seeing the governor was actually enjoying the breaking chaos and had no intention to stop the meaningless quarreling, cleared his throat to order silence but a louder voice proceeded him:
"If we were to fix the problem, shouldn't we look into its roots first?"
The man who said this did not step forward and show himself, and suddenly Laurentius preferred to keep silent recognizing the voice. The counselors seemed to agree and stopped shouting.
"The root of this? It is the extravagance of some people and the misery of others, as in every theft case. What is there to look into?!"
The governor replied with a lace of mockery as if he was addressing a group of children, teaching them of right and wrong. Although his point was valid. He was willing to go on , proclaiming how their mistreatment of the lower classes and their slaves never ceased to cause troubles but he was wise enough not to do so. His previous short comment had already accumulated the counselors' dissatisfaction.
"Maybe this is true, but what about the incompetence of the supposed governor?"
Now, with this bolder declaration, the voice who suggested looking for root of the problem stepped forward. For some reason, the blonde's face turned white, anticipating the upcoming threat.
"But I don't blame you Germanous. Your father has entrusted you with a heavy load that your youthful years are not ready to handle yet."
Laurentius immediately recognized the speaking man, he was one of Sabina's appointed counselors.
"Actually, I have a letter here from the emperor regarding the current state of our province…"
And this was Sabina's doing as well.
A letter, imprinted with the royal seal, emerged from that man's cloak. The remaining counselors impatiently demanded to hear what the letter said. Germanous, ashen in his seat was taken by the surprise. Finding the message to the west front, he never suspected the messenger was carrying another letter, the letter he feared, the letter he was bent of destroying when falling to his hands but now the letter was stolen by the worst possible rival ever; his own cousin Sabina.
"Why were this letter sent to you? A letter sent for this province sake, should be delivered to the province governor!"
Germanous used his authoritative tone to question the man, indirectly accusing him of theft and lying but the latter, confident in his position and the support he was backed up with cleared up:
"Since the letter concerns the province's succession, it is addressed to all the people of this place not the governor alone, and therefore the emperor had chosen to send it to a trusted member of these people, Lady Sabina whom in return chose me to read it to this assembly and the public."
As if hearing the sentence of his own execution, the governor's face turned paler than snow yet his sublime expression refused to melt. Of course, there was no refusal to this request, unless he wanted to prove everyone's theories about his inheritance right.
"Notify the people to gather at the gates of this hall.
Germanous casually ordered one of the soldiers with all the confidence and nonchalance he could muster though his concerns were not concealed from anyone.
Laurentius glanced at the young blond nervously tapping his fingers on his knee while forging a calm smile in the face of to the counselors chaotic dreadful interpretation of the letter's content. Laurentius himself, however, wasn't fussing over the matter. Not because he knew of Sabina's, his nephew, plan but because things had to come down to this. Neglecting advice and acting rashly and with responsibility, the blond couldn't wish to enjoy his power for long; his fears were obvious to Laurentius. They both could tell already of the letter's contents. The black – haired counselor kept looking at the petrified blond, who was gazing at hall's door guarded by two soldiers looking like a kid contemplating running away, the way he stood controlling his shaking and pulling at his robes. Laurentius averted his gaze away in sympathy when the blond was too anxious he pulled a single golden hair from his scalp, eyes fixated on the door's guards.
Half an hour later, the people assembled eager to catch the latest news. By the time they took to gather, rumors and guesses had already spread and been believed.
The following events quickly flew, Sabina's representative unfolded the letter and recited its content. Everyone carefully listened to the proposed name of the new governor in case the current true governor Marcus, Germanous' father, was dead.
Indeed, Germanous wasn't the assigned governor nor was he an impostor. Though taking all the honors and prestige of this title he was a mere temporary substitution. His father, or the actual governor, had suddenly fallen gravely ill. His sole son proclaimed his father had entrusted him with the province's affairs and he started running things since then, about a year and a half ago and no one could complain since the real governor, the one people loved, was still alive, presumably. Presumably was added to describe the Marcus debated livelihood because he had never been seen since the announcement of his temporally retirement, while recovering from a rare infectious disease and while the emperor loved and trusted the father, someone was turning him against the son. This one was none other than his arch enemy Sabina as Germanous believed with utmost certainty. However, this letter did not aim to simply remove him from power, its true purpose was to expose him as a murderer and this presumption was his enemies' mistake.
After finishing reading the letter, all eyes stared coldly at the young blonde receiving, opposite to their expectations, a victorious smile from the latter. Seeing that confident visage, the proposed man to succeed Marcus, another one of Sabina's men, did not dare to show his face.
"This letter is of no need now as my father and your respected governor lives till today."
Germanous declared but the assembly wasn't convinced.
"Prove this. Since Governor Marcus had entrusted matters to you we have not seen him or heard of him once!"
"This is right! We want to see the governor and talk to him!"
Voices rose again in demand, and Germanous couldn't but oblige them.
"Of course, you will all see the governor. Just fix a date."
The blonde responded in the most natural tone, as if nothing posed a threat to him, This act alone was the first step in defeating his enemies.
"Now!"
"Sure, the faster the better."
"He is a sick man. Should we notify him first? We are civilized people, are we not? Where are your manners, esteemed counselors?"
The demand aiming to disgrace Germanous died away at this reasoning as if devoured by the strangely colored irises that glittered with menacing power. However, the future governor, the man who was to replace ailing Marcus if the latter was dead, did not fall to this trick and ignited the counselors' desires again so he would not lose precious time, and gift it to the stalling son.
"We only want to see him! Graceful Marcus will not object to the emperor's order! I say we go now!"
Curiosity consumed the split chamber once more and they majority sided with the governor to be, declaring that they will be on their way now regardless of Germanous wishes, as his authority is temporarily suspended.
"Today, I expect all of you to hail your governor Marcus and heed his words!"
Although they were expecting the blond to crumble, he commented silencing them with his cool gestures. He opened his mouth to add something but the group of counselors immediately left, stating they will hear no more, but see with their very eyes and sat off to the hot springs near the city where the governor was recovering and getting treatment.