Sorry for such a long break in posting everyone. I kind of had to go to jail for ten days, which made it really hard to post things on the internet. However, I'm now able to resume with posting, which I'm sure you're all exceedingly happy to know. And because I missed out on posting, I'm going to make the rest of this chapter two posts, instead of just one. Enjoy some rhetoric. (Oh, and let me continue to complain about how hard it is to find artwork of La Tene Celts.
The diplomat made a slight bow and continued with his nonsensical gesticulation, “Brennus, the Aigaid people have great clout and strength both, and they have taken it upon themselves to protect the Molosseisian colonies just to the south of your peoples, for fear that a more perfidious and ill-intended nations otherwise would wish to subvert them away from truth and justice. We are knowing that you have trade and interaction with these peoples, and wish to inform you that we have only their best interest in our hearts and minds, that it is our rightful claim to their cities and their colonists, and beseech you no interference.”
Teyrna could feel her husband draw in a deep breath and then let it loose, the audible air escaping his nose and mouth. He reiterated with a sterner tone, “First I must say again that Brennus means king.” He stood up and her hand slowly fell off of his shoulder back to her side as he continued, his voice booming, “True it is then, that the strong do what they can, while the weak suffer what they must.” He shook his head slightly before continuing, “As Vergobret, as the elected official of the Aevergos, I must make my opinion known. I trust that the gods will give fortune to the Molosseisians, for they are standing for what is just against what is not.”
“Brennus, I—” the ambassador began.
Cadeyrn didn’t give him the chance to even start a sentence, bellowing out with fire in his belly and his voice, “Call me king again and I shall be your king; lord and commander of your very life and being! You have nothing more to say here!” He breathed in deeply through his nose and exhaled out of his mouth before continuing in a more somber tone, “The envoy has spoken. I have spoken. What say you, chieftains of the Aevergos?”
The first to respond was Galchobar, one of the high chieftains who had held his position the longest, carrying a more hunched posture and a great long white beard. His wisdom was such that all listened when he spoke, even as his voice was softer with a hint of trembling due to his age, “You are very quick to accuse Vergobret, but the wise man does not make decisions in a moment, but thinks them over a great people of time. It is always best to think on all sides of an argument, and then thereafter choose which is best among many. You speak of the evil that these southerners will bring, how the cause of our neighbours is just, but are not they both of the same people? Are they not of the same blood? You speak for the gods, but we all know that we cannot know what it is that the gods know and think. If we were to sacrifice and man to send a message to our ancestors, that is the only way!” He paused briefly before finishing his argument, “I only beseech you all that we cannot make decisions so rashly, that we must appeal to reason, not passion when it comes to matters of state that may have great influence on our very livelihood.”
Next to speak was Lugobelenus, a high chieftain who was of moderate age and long, wild hair, devoting himself to the religious arts, divining the wills of the gods. Even his name came from the deity Lugos. He slowly and methodically brought up his argument, “It is true that man cannot understand the will of the gods, or the fate that has been woven for both gods and men. I can only advise against speaking on their behalf, or even invoking them for such as you have, so brazenly. How are we to know that relations with the Aigaids shall be any different than how it should be now? I only suggest prudence, that we act in a manner which is just, rather than what is expedient.”
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