As the sun was rising in the east, Aelius Decimus Maximus, exiled Praetorian and General of Rome got out of his field bed, washed his face in the crystal clear water brought to him in a washboard by his loyal steward Cicero.

'Thanks, Cicero'- general stated - 'Prepare the horses while I dress up. Put the saddle with silver inlays on Argento.'

When the servant left, Maximus took the few small figurines out of a small wooden chest. The figurines were in fact small statues of Roman divinities. Right next to the fireplace, surrounded by the thick darkness of the tent, he prayed to the Gods for the upcoming day.

They started their 5 milles journey towards the village of C. not long after General put on his armor and helmet. He looked strong and powerful on the back of his gray horse, Argento - silver saddle was trully an amazing masterpiece of some forgotten blacksmith from Spain.
The path was stony and perilous, leading them through hills covered in thick pine forest. On the west, to the right of them, they could see the Adriatic sea, in all its blue beauty. The day promised to be hot - as the sun rose, warmness swept over the land and golden light painted the tops of the trees.
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As they approached the gates of the village (there were 10 horsemen following the General), Maximus ordered his company to stop. They heard sounds that could only belong to another group of horsemen. Few moments after, as they predicted, another 10 ]men on horseback appeared out of the forrest, and headed towards them. Through the chocking vail of dust, Maximus saw the face of Senator Marcus Aurelius, famous politician and speaker.

Marcus Aurelius was camped by the sea, some 10 milles away, and was marching for almost 3 hours through rough terrain to meet with the General. These two fine men were chosen by the leaders of the Exiled to represent them on the following negotiation with the heads of the Usurper's regime.

They shoke hands and, with serious, almost grim faces, joined up and as one company headed cautiously inside the village.

The village itself was abandoned - due to the cruel civil war that tore apart Roman state, the villagers either fled to the safety of the nearby mountains, or were slaugtered by one of the opposing sides. Buildings layed in ruins, houses were burnt, fountain was dry. But, the village agora was, more or less, saved. It was there, on the stone paved center of the village, that Marcus Aurelius and Maximus saw again the Usurper's face, and the faces that stood next to her when that awfull chain of events bursted.

Ildico was not so sure of herself, General saw it very well in her eyes - after the rebellion of the Exiled Senators, she started losing regions, one by one, to the hands of the Loyalists; what was more perilous - she started losing followers. Rome was a ruin now, and its strength couldn't be compared to the one it had before Ildico treacherously took the throne.

General and Senator dismounted and headed, closely followed by their men, towards the gathering in front of them. It was agreed that this village, as a neutral zone, be chosen for the conference. All agents present will be considered "sacrosanct", every affront against this diplomatic immunity will be "washed away with blood" in the best Roman Republican tradition. Both sides agreed to this, and although there was a danger of Ildico doing something irracional, Maximus and Marcus Aurelius still decided to come.

After the traditional greetengs amongst enemies were conducted, Maximus was first to speak.

QUOTE:
In the name of the Gods almighty, that look upon us from the heavens, I, Aelius Decimus Maximus, exiled General and Praetorian of Rome, call upon thee, Ildico, whom we call the Usurper, to state your peace proposal here, in front of these fine men. When I, and Senator Marcus Aurelius hear it, we will tell you what is the will of the People.