Rome Must Perish

The wife gently stroked her son's head, who was her third child. The previous two had died young; in the past, she would give him anything he wanted. But at this moment, she gently said, "Don't blame your father; he's just too happy!"

Uncle Siris opened the door, and the person knocking was the disabled young man who previously questioned in the square, "Will the Nix Soldiers hand over those unwilling to join the Nix Tribe to the Aldeans as slaves?"

"Uncle Siris, I have something to ask you." The young man spoke quietly while cautiously observing the room.

"Miritus, don't worry, there's no one else in my house, come in." Siris said, stepping aside.

The young man named Miritus quickly walked in.

Siris closed the door and led him into the house: "Sit down and speak slowly."

"No, I'll just say a few words, standing is fine."

"As you wish."

"Uncle, I think what you said that day was right, and since I'm injured and not very mobile, I want... I want... I want—" The young man hesitated for a while before finally squeezing out a sentence: "I want to temporarily join the Nix Tribe..."

"Hmm." Siris nodded slightly, indicating he had heard.

The young man seemed a little anxious and quickly explained, "I don't... I don't really want to surrender to the Nix people, just want to wait until our tribal alliance drives the Nix people away, then I'll rejoin... rejoin—"

"I understand; you're just in a difficult situation." Siris's response eased the young man's tension, and he immediately thanked him, saying, "Thank you, Uncle! I'll leave now!"

"Alright."

After the yard door closed, the wife came over and softly asked, "Is that really what Miritus thinks?"

"Who knows." Siris smiled, "At least I think he didn't make the wrong choice."

"What choice should we make then?"

Siris looked at his wife, just about to answer when the door knocked again.

"Looks like we're going to have many visitors today." Siris sighed and went to open the door.

This time it was an old man knocking, a relative of the tribal leader, Kricus, with a careful and cautious expression similar to the young man before.

Once inside, he immediately changed demeanor, starting to angrily complain, "Siris, you've seen, right? These Nix people are so crafty and ruthless! The two Clan Leaders Icarus and Pisias were killed by them in public, and they didn't even do it themselves, they forced the tribesmen to kill them both!

If they dare to kill the Clan Leader, wouldn't it be easier to kill us! Don't be fooled by their sweet words now, it's all lies! As soon as we left the square, they seized the main house and drove my sister and her family out. She's crying in my house right now!

We can't stay here any longer, or the Nix people will take our houses and possessions, even our lives won't be safe... Siris, lead the way, tonight we'll escape, head east to the land of the Brochi, and return later with the rescue forces of the tribal alliance to defeat these damned Nix people! Alright, I've said enough, you get ready, and I'll contact others!"

Kricus finished speaking, turned around and was about to leave.

"Hold on!" Siris called out to him with a stern expression, "You go if you want, but don't involve me!"

"You're not leaving?!" Kricus looked at him in surprise, "You are our tribe's renowned warrior, having killed so many Skodisqi people, everyone in the tribe respects you. And now, at this moment, you want to stay, do you want to... join the Nix?!"

"What about it? Can't I?" Siris replied coolly.

"Traitor!" Kricus's expression changed instantly, shouting with anger, "The leader values you so much, and yet... It seems others were right; you're just a Skodisqi brat, truly unreliable—"

"Shut up!" Siris's eyes glared fiercely, his face full of hostility as he shouted loudly, "One more word from you and I'll twist your head off, believe it or not!"

Kricus was so scared that he held his breath, not daring to move.

"The leader values me?!" Siris snorted coldly, "That bastard Icarus oppressed me so much, why did he never stop him!—Get out of here! Don't let me see you again!"

Siris watched coldly as the other stumbled out of the yard, a pair of hands embraced him from behind.

"I'm fine." Siris's expression returned to normal, softly reassuring his wife, "Looks like today our house will be quite lively. Just in case, go bring the long spear from under the bed and place it in the corner."

As Siris expected, from day to dusk, people kept visiting his home. He changed his previous approach; upon meeting, he first stated his desire to join the Nix Tribe. If the visitors agreed, they could talk more; if not, they were shown the door without further discussion. If someone refused to leave and started cursing, he would pick up the long spear and chase them away without a word...

That night, to prevent any grudges, Siris lay in bed with the long spear by his side, listening carefully for sounds outside the yard. He didn't sleep well all night.

At dawn, he finally took a short nap, then got up to have breakfast.

"Attention everyone! Those who want to join the Nix Tribe can now register at the main house! Please note, you must go as a family!..." Shouts came from outside, it was the fellow tribesman who had already joined the Nix, speaking yesterday in the square.

"It's time for us to leave." Siris said to his wife. His wife nodded.

The family of three washed up again, got dressed neatly, and opened the door.

On the road to the main house, there were already a few scattered people. They exchanged brief conversations when meeting: "Are you taking your family to the main house?"

"Yes, to the main house. What about you?"

"Me too."

...

It was evident that everyone was a bit nervous, and they walked rather slowly.

But Siris had no such concerns. He led his wife and child quickly, reaching the main house in no time.

Several tribespeople were already standing at the main house entrance, and nearby were a dozen fully armed Nix Soldiers maintaining order.

"Are you here to register for the tribe?" A Nix Soldier asked in Illyrian Language.

"Yes." Siris replied.

"Are these your family members?"

"Yes."

"Stand here and wait. When it's your turn, we'll call you in."

"Alright." Siris stood with his family at the end of the line.

The tribesman in front turned around, it was Milucus: "Uncle Siris, your family is here too!"

"Ah." Siris responded.

Milucus leaned closer, whispering mysteriously, "Do you know, last night I saw several groups secretly leaving our tribe, trying to escape!"

"Is that so?"

"You know, my house is at the east end of the village. I couldn't sleep last night, and in the middle of the night, I heard cows and donkeys outside, so I got curious and got up to check. Luckily, there was moonlight last night, and from my wooden fence, I saw a group of people driving several carriages past my house. Guess who they were?!"

"Who?"

"The leader's family, and Kricus's family... about ten people."

"Did they get away?" Siris asked, seemingly nonchalant.

"The Nix people had already set an ambush at the intersection, I didn't even notice. They stopped them, scared them stiff on the ground, but the Nix people didn't kill them, they drove them away instead..." Miritus's words carried a hint of disappointment.

"The Nix people were quite merciful?" Siris was surprised.

"But the Nix people forcibly took their carriages and belongings. I think, without help on the road, they might find it hard to safely escape east." Milucus said, almost gloatingly: "Later, I saw two more groups trying to leave our tribe, they were all stopped by the Nix people, among them the family of your Clan Leader, treated just like the others..."

Siris raised an eyebrow and rarely teased, "Looks like you made the right choice."

"Of course!" Milucus was a bit proud, "If I were as foolish as them, I might have starved to death on the runaway road. In fact, those Nix soldiers noticed me last night, guess what, they allowed me to sweep up all the wheat scattered on the ground and take it home, over 10 pounds!—"

"Hey, stop chatting, it's your turn to go in!" A Nix Soldier came over, patting Milucus on the shoulder.

So, Milucus quickly led his wife into the main house's courtyard.

After a while, he came out with his wife, Siris still didn't have a chance to ask him what was happening inside before being urged by a soldier to go in.

In the center of the courtyard were three wooden tables arranged side by side, each seated by three people: a middle-aged man and two young men.

"Please... sit." The middle-aged man pointed to the wooden stool opposite the table, his tone a bit strange but his friendliness was evident.

Siris sat beside the middle wooden table as directed. A young man seated at his side picked up a thin, flexible, grayish-white cloth-like object from the table and prepared to write with an ink-dipped pen.

The young man facing him looked at him and asked in fluent Pannoni Language seriously, "Do you want to join the Nix Tribe?"

"Yes."

"Is it voluntary?"

"Voluntary."

"What's your name?"

"Siris."