SECTION ONE

TIRO OF THE OPTIMATES

The Optimates Ordinatius were a gypsy-like elfin band that weren't welcome in the towns and other places where humans dwelled.

But that was OK.

They didn't care to associate with humans, either. It wasn't that they had any animosity toward the humans it was simply a matter of them finding the human race as a whole, too course and too often, rude and crass.

They had a permanent settlement in the Scottish highlands near the place of their origin, the Clay Pits of Consummo, but whenever evil surfaced and began to intimidate the existence of man, the Optimates loaded their small wagons and a caravan was off to locate and eradicate the source of the evil energy.

The humans thought the elfin people were too different to feel comfortable around.

Fear of the unknown had most humans feeling the elfin peoples were bent on some heinous activity or another. They approached the elves as if they were evil sorcerers or witch doctors rather than the meek ordered people they were.

You would think the elves were about to cast an evil spell from the way humans reacted to their presence. They even referred to them as spell-casters.

Yet no more harmless people had ever existed.

Harmless, at least, unless you were a servant of evil.

Their purpose was to thwart evil in ways the supreme powers were restrained from using. They fought these forces of evil 'in the trenches', serving both man and the Creator, or Conditor in their language, to prevent the evil deeds of those who served the Prince of Darkness.

They were limited in what they could do, for nothing was to interfere with the free-agency man had been created with. The Conditor had made this clear in the mandates the Optimates worked within.

Their battles could only involve the evil hoards and man must, never, ever be involved. That was the mandate they were required to operate under, or at least the interpretation of it provided by the ancient scholars of their order.

It was all contained in a set of ordinances, entitled the Scitus of Numen they had been given in the beginning when their order was established. As a result of these mandates and ordinances, life in the Optimates order was rather rigidly structured, with training directed toward teaching young elves how to make decisions quickly and with decisiveness. And how to temper decisions that turned out to be in error with supplemental actions to achieve the outcome the original decision had been intended to produce.

CHAPTER TWO

Profuturus Pronepus of the Optimates Ordinatius people felt a cold chill descend on his shoulders as he sat at his fire pit in the camp of his people. The chill and other feelings he was experiencing tonight were greater than any he had ever felt in all his years, and had nothing to do with the Scottish weather.

The sense of growing evil in this region had forced a council with the Causidicus and the Majores Natu, and the decision had been made to move closer to the source of the evil energy.

Now they were apparently only a few leagues away from the source. When the tribe had passed through the small dell the tribe's wagons now formed an encampment in, Profuturus had felt the close proximity. Yet the feelings he was getting tonight were so much stronger than any he had felt before.

Even as a young proeliator when he had fought the forces of evil up close and personal, he hadn't felt anything as intense. No other Optimate appeared to have his sense of the evil presence except for Tiro Prospera of Casus and Cuius. That lad seemed to have great skill at discerning the evil energy.

Yet, he was young and showed no restraint. His ability to weigh the circumstances and act according to the mandates of the Scitus had not yet been developed. Or so it would seem from the actions of the lad.

Profuturus was old and wise, well beyond the age the Optimates called sapientia. If accurate records had been kept his age would easily have been shown to be approaching his fifth century.

He was the Praesagium of the tribe, a kind of Holy Man, noted for his animadverto, or the ability to see things as yet unrevealed to the cognitive senses. A feeling the hmans word refer to as psychic ability.

He could feel the evil planning that was taking place in the dark places of the earth. He summoned the young men of the tribe to him, the group known as the proeliators.

"There is a move about to release the dark forces and create 'Tempus Temporis Seditio', the time of great chaos. You must scout the countryside and see what you can discover.

Remember the mandates of the elders and only observe. Do not interfere. Report back to me in a feowertyne niht, the results of the triburo."

The young men quickly dispersed and gathered their ornamentum and set off for their duties.

They didn't need to ask for an explanation or what their duties would and wouldn't allow them to do. The Scitus they operated under were a part of their culture and had been taught them since birth.

They knew they could not actively interfere with what man was doing or attempting to do. Even if that meant man was placing himself in danger. Even in times of immeneo perclitus serius or imminewnt dire danger, under the mandates of the Iuvensco Scitus they were restrained to allow man to endure his own undoing.

Casus Prospera knew these directions well. He had served the Optimates 'battle in the trenches' for two centuries. He didn't like being restrained in his duties, but he knew his actions and inactions were governed by a code as old as time itself. His dedication and skill had seen him rise to third in the ascendancy of the Proeliators.

He was also a gifted orator, prized when someone needed an advocate for a cause or tribunal. He could break an argument or discussion down to succinct salient points making it easy for even the simplest mind to get around and assimilate to conclusion.

CHAPTER THREE

Tiro the son of Casus would accompany him on this triburo. Casus was proud of his son and knew he would be a great proeliator of the Optimates once he matured. He could even be the Praesagium or the Causidicus, if he learned the Scitus and devoted himself to the calx of the Ordinatius.

Casus uxor was of the Regius Legio so Tiro was eligible to be Praesagium or even Causidicus, or if he chose to remain single or his chosen uxor were to die, a member of the Majores Natu.

Like any father, Casus wanted great things for his progagus. He helped the lad put together his first ornamentum. Once assembled these packs were maintained at the ready so the proeliator could immediately go to their task as directed by the Praesagium or the Causidicus, only needing to replenish the food, alo and cuppedia, in the packs.

Tiro was excited. He had completed the studies required of a young man before he could go on the triburo, but had not been allowed to accompany his father until now. Only allowed to perform as a cautor, a necessary stepping-stone for all young men. Participating in his first triburo meant Tiro now would start the final course of instruction to become a proeliator.

Tiro longed to be a great proeliator.

The cautor weren't allowed to leave the encampment, and were a guard force of sorts. They gained no special privilege in the tribe. In fact, they weren't allowed to marry out of the cautor caste unless a proeliator uxor was viduata. Then it was a great honor to marry and perhaps elevate ones position in the Ordinatius.

His wife's exalted position, as a widow of a deceased proeliator, or vidyata in their language, could elevate the man from cautor, to posthabeo and perhaps proeliator if he had the requisite instruction and demonstrated the necessary skills. If he remained a cautor and took an uxor from the class of cautor children, his children could only rise to cautor.

Otherwise they could only marry the progagus of other cautor. This usually meant Cautor didn’t marry, as by design, the Optimates tended toward a heavy percentage of male children.

Warriors were what the Conditor needed when he created the Optimates and so he had designed their bodies to produce more male than female offspring. The ratio was roughly 2 to 1. This meant half the cautors would likely never marry unless they caught the fancy of an uxor who was viduata. Actually the number was higher than half, because proeliators were allowed to marry outside their caste and could select Cautor children for the liberalis courtship that led to cubile or marriage. This left slim pickings for those confined to the ranks of cautor.

Cautor class Optimates were in short supply, so all Proeliators went through a period, as young men, of Cautor. Besides there were skills they could gain while serving as Cautor, which would aid in their instruction when they became posthabeo, a position of Proeliator-in-training.

CHAPTER FOUR

No woman held a higher position in the tribe than uxor whose husband had died in battle and who had become a widow or viduata. Even the proeliator, who decided who they would marry, were not held in as high regard.

Throughout the society of the Optimates, a couple, with the proeliator skills of the man combined with the effeminatus of his uxor, was considered a formidable team and well rounded in any of the challenges life might present.

The uxor provided the grounding necessary for the proeliators aggressiveness and intellect.

The women weren't considered mindless anchors either. The effeminatus, which was so prized by their society, after all was an intellectual part of a woman's persona. So the intellectualism of the effeminatus was a key ingredient to the rounding a couple displayed.

In reality this put a lot of pressure on the uxors, for if their maritus did something unsavory in tribal opinion, the uxor usually ‘took a lot of the heat' with society feeling she had failed in some way to motivate the man. A smart uxor did what she could to assume a rather integral part in a newly created cubile relationship, for young men were known for letting their bravado get in the way of common sense.

This was a good thing in some ways, for it created a deep bond between an uxor and her maritus if successful. With dissolution of the cubile all but impossible in Optimate society, creating a comfortable strong bond with one's marital partner became essential to long-term happiness in life.

CHAPTER FIVE

Tiro was ready to advance to proeliator.

He had stumbled a bit as a cautor and had been held back briefly. The Majores Natu had decided, Tiro was a good potential proeliator, in their last council, and the Causidicus really had no option other than to release the restrictions to advancement he had imposed on the boy. The Praesagium acting as his Altor at the appeal council before the Majores Natu had been all the weight the Natu had needed to override the judgment of the Causidicus.

Then Tiro had continued to serve as a cautor awaiting the next triburo.

Now it was here and once he had gone on this first triburo, he no longer had to serve as a cautor and would spend his days in training learning the wily ways of the proeliator. He could also start to consider a wife. He wouldn't be allowed to marry until the next aula, and then only if he went through monstro and won his medius of the legio proeliatorum, that designated him a worthy warrior of the tribe, a full-fledged proeliator with all the rights and privileges accorded that title, and an adult male.

Yet, he would be allowed to visit his sweetheart in a courting like ritual, called liberalis. This established his priority with the young woman he selected, while he awaited his monstro.

Tiro just knew, he would do well in his training, and this triburo would seal his fate to gain the award at the next aula. He had been on pens and needles that the puella he desired would still be available with a fresh crop of proeliators achieving monstro and gaining their medius of the legio at the last aula. She had been passed by all though and Tiro still had a chance to make her his uxor.

Tiro knew from his animadverto he would get through the setback as a cautor ok, and be allowed to become a proeliator, but he couldn't see through his animadverto if he would get to live in cubile with his beloved puella. The subject was too close and emotional to be seen clearly.

Her name was Vegrandus and she was by far the most attractive puella in the tribe, at least to Tiro anyway. It would have broken both their hearts if one of the newer proeliator that had gone through monstro had chosen her. It would have been difficult for her to turn down the gesture without loosing position in the tribe.

She was a diminutive girl, small and petite even by Optimate norms. Her hair hung in shimmering waves about her face and shoulders and Tiro just loved to see it fly in the wind as they played together as progagus.

The burden of the mistake he had made as a cautor weighed heavy on Tiro's mind, for if Vegrandus was chosen by another to become their uxor, Tiro couldn't even make Vegrandus his uxor if she became a viduata.

It was considered a disgrace for a proeliator to marry the uxor of another proeliator after his death.

In Optimates society, that was considered de facto evidence you had coveted, concupisco, another's uxor, a grave sin in the complex society of the Optimates.

Besides the proeliator didn't have the choice in this matter, the choice went to the viduata. She too couldn't allow the disgrace of choosing a proeliator, for that was considered de facto evidence she had not been devoted to her maritus, again concupisco, and another grave sin in the Optimates culture. It even got more complicated than that.

If a bachelor proeliator were selected by a viduata, and accepted he would be disgraced further because the bachelor proeliators were apparently awaiting their sapientia and were hopeful of appointment to the Majores Natu. To accept the favor of a viduata would show a vacillation or wavering of purpose and that was never condoned in their society.

Tiro had little fear the older unmarried proeliator would suddenly feel an overwhelming urge to marry, though that was a possibility.

Usually when a young man went through monstro and received his medius of the legio, he immediately took an uxor. For to delay meant it could potentially be years before you could again gain prominence in the tribe. If you were an unmarried proeliator and attained the age of sapientia, you again gained a position that made you eligible to petition to become one of the Majores Natu.

The problems were two-fold though. First attainment of sapientia, or when one attained the age wisdom, was subjective, and second, there had to be vacancies arise in the Majores Natu. The second issue wasn’t a major concern, as there was no set size on the Majores council.

To remain unmarried more than a few months after your monstro meant you aspired to the Natu and if you married later it was at great loss of prestige, as it appeared you accepted you could never be a Majore, or worse yet you were unable to make a decision. The Majores Natu, though not a governing body, were a council of the old wise men of the tribe, the elders, whose wisdom was always sought on the weightier matters of significance to the Optimates, for they, along with the Praesagium, were considered the experts on the subject of the Scitus of Numen.

Though there were older bachelor proeliators who chose to defer taking an uxor, opting instead to study the craft of proeliator further before committing to a cubile.

Though not as desirable a pursuit as taking an uxor at monstro, it was an acceptable course in Optimate society. If this was what you decided to do you declared your status as philologus. Then after you completed whatever course of study you desired, you could take an uxor without loosing face in the tribe. Fortunately for Tiro and Vegrandus, there were no philologus-declared proeliators, at present.

CHAPTER SIX

The Causidicus, who was the overall leader of the tribe, always sought the Natu’s council and concurrence. To do otherwise could result in postulo and removal from the position of leadership in the tribe. The Optimates though stressing quick decisive decisions and positions on matters, when it came to tribal safety, embraced the idea 'two heads were better than one'.

Once thoroughly explored, then a decision could and should be made, decisively.

The decision was then the sole prerogative of the Causidicus. However, if the decision turned out to be the wrong one, the fact he sought the council of the elders before proceeding, granted him de facto immunity from postulo, with concession granted for his having the wisdom to explore alternative points of view.

It didn’t preclude postulo, but helped to fend it off.

This was almost a contradiction to the ideals they sought for individual endeavors and decisions in life, but it was considered the best course of action for the overall well being of the tribe.

In the long and fabled history of the Optimates, it had proven an effective means for balancing the power structures that existed within the tribe.

There was only one leader and he had absolute power in all matters relating to tribal security, movement, and day-to-day matters. He in actual function was more like a magistrate than a chief, yet he was under a restraint of obligation to seek the wisdom of the elders, though not obligated to follow their direction. He must be married and as with most positions in their society, had to be from the ranks of the proeliators. Usually, he was appointed from the top of the order of ascension of the proeliators.

This included the ruling body of the Proeliators, their concilium, and the top five men on the list of ascension.

In all the time of their existence, the line of Causidicus leaders had been great and worthy Optimates, though as is true in all of life, some were better leaders than others.

This methodology of approach to weighty matters was effective, for no greater disgrace could exist than to rise to greatness as the Causidicus or other position and then face postulo for a decision gone wrong.

The rigidity in which life existed in the Optimates Ordinatius had purpose. It was designed to teach you to make decisions quickly and commit to a course of action and stick to it. These were attributes that were considered important to the Optimates. As an order of divinely directed elves, their powers of reason and deduction were extraordinary, and it showed weakness of mind and purpose in life if you vacillated from one

decision to another tact or course of action. The Postpono Scitus spoke directly to 'making worthy decisions quickly', then following a course of action to see the result of the decision manifested in the best possible way. This Scitus appeared to indicate your first choice of actions was usually the best and need only be tempered with supplemental actions if the first choice started to go awry.

CHAPTER SEVEN

Trio felt certain he was destined for greatness, and once the triburo was behind him he could start to make progress in that regard. As he and Casus prepared his ornamentum, he spoke of his excitement to his father

"Sator is life in the extrinsecus, as bold and exciting as the fabulo say." Tiro was bursting with his enthusiasm. Not only was this his first Triburo and the start of the journey that would take him to manhood, officially, and allow him the have his beloved Vegrandus as his uxor, it was also the first time he was allowed to talk of the things beyond the small Optimates encampment other than in fables and stories. Only Proeliators were allowed to discuss among themselves the things they witnessed beyond the camp.

The only exception to this rule was a proeliator could discuss, and in fact was encouraged to discuss, anything and everything with his uxor.
Just as the Causidicus was expected to consult with the Majores Natu, a proeliator was expected to seek the council of his uxor. This was seen as important for several reasons, not the least of which, the proeliator got the effeminatus view and grounding, considered important in its own right, and this type of open dialogue between a man and his wife prevented any barriers to intimacy forming.

The effeminatus was considered of such importance, an Uxor Natu, was convened when weighty matters were being considered. The Effero, or Uxor of the Praesagium convened the council and presided over it at the behest of her maritus. Then the weighty matters would be considered and the Relatus of the Uxor Natu would deliver the result of their deliberations to the Causidicus who received the report in the presence of the Majore Natu, convened for that purpose. This way the effeminatus was given the proper weight it was due and there was no chance of the report being altered or ignored if the Causidicus didn't agree with the findings.

These two precepts spoke to the importance the Optimates gave the effeminatus and the checks and balances built into their leadership structure.

With both the Majores Natu and the Causidicus receiving the report of the Relatus of the Uxor Natu, simultaneously, neither could discount its import completely.

The fact the conclusions of the Uxor Natu were presented to the Causidicus before the Majores Natu wasn’t because of some concern of deliberate deception on the part of the Causidicus, for absolute honesty was expected in the Ordinatius.

To be caught in a deceptive practice was as grievous a sin as concupisco. With the Optimates ability at reasoning, and the animadverto of the Praesagium and others in the tribe, to get away with being deceptive was next to impossible. So total honesty was usually practiced.

Though the women of the Optimates really had no 'direct' say in the functions of their society, they weren't 'second-class citizens' as the Bardus, or stupidity, of the humans relegated the position of their women to. This was exhibited in the importance the Optimates placed on the effeminatus.

The actual decisions were the sole prerogative of the men, for the Optimate society felt a man was better prepared to understand the strengths and weaknesses of his abilities and those of his comrades, but every decision and matter was thoroughly discussed with the Uxors of the tribe and all decisions were 'tempered' with the effeminatus or, female perspective. Many were the fabulo that spoke of great women within their society, as well. The Effero and the uxor of the Causidicus, the Ma Dame, were women who were especially held in high regard, as it was strongly felt within the society, their maritus would not have risen to greatness if the power of their effeminatus hadn't aided in propelling them to greatness.

Young novitiates like Tiro were allowed proeliator privilege as soon as they were cleared for their first triburo, and all privileges of the proeliator except marriage. They were considered posthabeo to full fledged proeliator, but it was assumed all would go through monstro and get their Medius of the Legio, so they were started to be accorded privilege that position would gain for them. This also served as a motivation of the posthabeo proeliator-candidate.

Allowed to pursue liberalis it was felt would motivate the young posthabeo and provide him with at least a taste of the effeminatus and help ground him and get him over the hurdle of the proeliator training and achieve his monstro.

Tiro had no reservation asking for input in front of his Genetrix, since she was privy to the detail Casus had encountered in his past triburo.

It was his mother who first spoke in response to the excitement-generated question Tiro had just asked.

"Tiro, you mustn't look to this as adventure. You must see it as duty imposed by the Scitus, and the obligation that carries, should serve to sober your mind to the tasks before you. Remember your mendum as a cautor was born of excitement you failed to control."

Cuius, the uxor of Casus and Genetrix to Tiro, could be rather critical of the boy. This was primarily done out of love and a desire to see her progagus succeed just as Casus did. The fact she was of the Regius Legio, or the Royal order of Optimates, gave Tiro certain opportunities other young proeliators didn't have. Casus was third from the top in the ascendancy among the Proeliators and that added leverage to Tiro's chances to rise to position in the Optimates.

Yet, the pusio still had to prove his worthiness in service to the tribe and Scitus.

In the beginning, the order had had a monarchy style of leadership, but over time that had evolved into a democracy, of sorts. The significant difference was to be eligible to be the Causidicus, or Praesagium you had to have come from one of several family lines in the Optimates, that formed a kind of caste system.

That too was gradually phasing out, and it appeared future generations would have absolute equality in the selection process that was employed when a new leader or council member was needed.

CHAPTER EIGHT

At least his mother had used the mild form to reference his stumble as a cautor. She could have called it a nefas or even a peccamen identifying it on the order of a grievous error or even a sin. Yet, she called it a mendum, which was more like a blemish or slip up.

"Let the boy get excited my uxor. This is his first triburo." Casus mildly scolded.

"Soon enough he will see the sobering reality of the extrinsecus and the Bardus of the human people. That should sober him to the tasks we are given by the Scitus."

"Sator, surely the Bardus of the human people can't be as bad as it appears in the fabulo, if they are able to succeed as the fabulo says they have." Tiro had his doubts the humans could actually display such stupidity or Bardus as they called it, when their inventions and the devices they conceive are so magnificent. Or at the very least seemed magnificent when told through the fabulo and those few advancements the Causidicus and the Majores Natu allowed to come into their society.

"Tiro, my young pusio, as the events of the triburo will show you, the humans are an intelligent iubeo, but the way they choose to use this intelligence is opprobrium as they pursue their voro and Quemad modum."

Tiro was astounded to hear his Sator speak of the humans in such vile terms. The fabulo spoke of these things but stopped short of referring to the human endeavors as 'disgraceful pursuits motivated by greed and lust', as his father had just characterized them.

Such language, though not forbidden by Scitus or in Optimate society, was discouraged, and Tiro was shocked to hear his Sator speak in this manner, especially in the presence of his Genetrix.

Cuius though had heard Casus speak in this manner before. She took no offense to the language he used. It was a part of the close relationship she shared with her maritus. The love between the two was deep and steeped in intimacy, so there was nothing Casus kept from her.

When he returned from Triburo, he would sit and discuss his observations with her in great detail. He had often referred to the humans in these vile terms. Cuius felt the same way toward them, but she, of course, would never use these terms, even just to repeat them to her maritus.

Such language was not appropriate for a Domna, even with her husband.

Tiro wisely changed the subject and went back to the task of filling out his ornamentum.

In just a short while the ornamentum was complete, and Casus and Tiro set out on the triburo. It was all Tiro could do to contain his excitement.

As the two left, the usual exchange of affection from Casus to his uxor occurred, with her beseeching him to be cautious. Cuius knew the dangers that lay ahead from the many lengthy discussions the two had had after previous triburo. And though the proeliators were going out to fight the evil recondo on behalf of the humans, it was the humans that posed the greatest dangers to the diminutive elves. Though small in size they were fierce warriors against the evil entities of the world. Yet, they were all but helpless with humans. The skills the proeliators used against evil were not physical strength or the like. And these were the tactics employed by the humans when they came in contact with Optimate elves.

After the exchange occurred between Cuius and her maritus, she turned to her progagus to exchange similar gestures.

Tiro was so excited his exchange with his Genetrix was perfunctory and almost rude. Cuius worried her young son was going to get himself in trouble from his over-stimulation by the event.

She quietly hoped something significant would happen to sober the boy without it being so significant as to put him in harms way. She ignored the lack of decorum in his response to her and merely cautioned both of them to be careful with the traditional phrase the Optimates used when the proeliators were going out to perform the triburo.

"The protection of the Deus be upon you and return safely from your service to the Scitus." A tear had formed in the eyes of Cuius, but not from fear. It was the reality and the experience all mothers feel when their children begin to come of age and begin to leave the 'nest'.

CHAPTER NINE

That triburo went without event and Tiro learned of the extrinsecus. He started to quickly see the Bardus of the human first hand and it had a sobering effect upon him, but just being in the presence of his father was sobering enough. A posthabeo proeliator always took his first triburo with his Sator.

Tiro kept feeling a presence, through his animadverto, and tried to get his Sator to head in a certain direction. Casus advised Tiro though, that the territory they were supposed to explore on this triburo didn't include the area he wanted to deviate to.

They returned from the triburo with nothing to report. Nothing noteworthy had been discovered by any of the proeliators on this triburo.

Tiro began the studies a posthabeo must go through to receive his monstro and gain the medius of legio proeliatorum. He also started his liberalis with Vegrandus.

This established his priority with the puella.

Another posthabeo couldn't approach her now, though a full-fledged proeliator could compete for her hand. Usually though this didn't happen.

Although they weren't officially betrothed, they had indicated intent in that regard. For another at this late point in the course of events to try to insinuate themselves into the scenario almost constituted a covetousness, or concupisco, a serious offence in Optimate society.

In Optimate society if Vegrandus hadn't had her attentions sought by another proeliator before now, it was seeing her in a different light now that she was receiving the attentions of the posthabeo or proeliator she was in liberalis with, and therefore the new suitor coveted the personality her current suitor brought out in her. So that was all but considered coveting another's puella, or concupisco.

Of course, if Vegrandus or another puella in this position were to discover she was mistaken in her feelings for the suitor, or the suitor decided he was mistaken in his feelings of the puella he was courting, a braking off of the liberalis could be declared. This was done publicly in the center of camp so all could see a future suitor wasn't coveting another's puella, as the puella in liberalis was free from the implied commitment that liberalis carried with it, just as the declaring of the liberalis was public so a young couple wasn’t seen as being risqué as they sought moments alone together. It also declared the puella ‘off-limits’ to other proeliators and posthabeo would-be suitors.

So Tiro was relieved when he was finally able to declare his and Vegrandus liberalis. For now nothing could stop their cubile except one or the other of them ending the liberalis or Tiro failing to achieve and go through monstro.

He went through his studies like a man possessed. His second triburo was again unremarkable. Tiro went on the second triburo alone, which was customary. He exercised uncommon restraint by not leaving his assigned 'patrol territory' to go to the area he had tried to get Casus to go on his first triburo. For he still felt the draw of his animadverto to the area he had unsuccessfully persuaded his father to go with him to.

Perhaps the setback of his nefas as a cautor was still fresh enough in his mind to restrain him, or just perhaps he realized the loss of prestige would not be his alone if he were to violate a Sanctum dictum as before. Or just perhaps he was bent on monstro so he and Vegrandus could be cubile. This strongly characterized the grounding effect of the effeminatus the Optimates encouraged, for it was likely his liberalis to Vegrandus more than any other retraining factor that kept Tiro in his patrol territory. He certainly wasn’t opposed to going against certain mandates in his pursuit of those with evil intent. He would demonstrate this freely in the days and weeks ahead.

Whatever the reason, when his animadverto started calling for him to go to the place it was telling him about he ignored it and concentrated on the skills this triburo was designed to instill.

The power of patient observation, the ability to observe for hours undetected at the comings and goings and to identify any thing that might lead to the discovery of an evil plot in progress.

After this triburo, the aula came and he went through monstro. Now as a full-fledged proeliator, he had some say in what area he was assigned in the triburo. Posthabeo rarely were assigned an area where their judgment might come into play. Even under the direction of their Sator, a full-fledged proeliator, on the first triburo the area they patrolled was usually benign and an area where young proeliators in training can observe human interactions in great detail. For if their Sator got heavily involved in a situation they couldn't preclude the posthabeo getting in over his head.

Areas where humans were busily going about their routine were not usually likely to produce significant contact, if any at all, with the evil recondo, they sought. Except during 'Tempus Temporis Seditio', the recondo was usually operating quietly in the background, and mostly during the hours of darkness.

This also gave young posthabeo Optimates the chance to learn to separate the ‘wheat from the chafe’ so to speak, and learn how to discern significant activity from the Bardus displays by the humans.

Two days after the Aula, Tiro and Vegrandus went to matrimonium. Casus and Cuius gave them a wagon and promised a permanent dwelling when they returned to their ancestral home, while Vegrandus Sator and Genetrix, gave them furnishings and a team of equus. They were set and within a few days you would have thought they had been cubile for years.

Tiro and Vegrandus both liked doing the things that made a house, or wagon in their case, a home. Then the time for the next triburo came, and though as a newlywed, Tiro could ask for an exemption for the first thirty lumen of their cubile, he discussed it with Vegrandus and they both felt he needed to try to get assigned the area his animadverto was indicating he should explore and investigate. He got the area he wanted and taking his ornamentum set out on the third triburo of his young life as a proeliator.

CHAPTER TEN

Tiro the full-fledged Optimate Proeliator, sat hunkered in the brush thicket watching the comings and goings of the group of caves in the craggy hillside to his front. He had been watching these caves for over a week now and his bag of ornamentum was running low.

He would soon need to head for home to at least replenish his stock of cuppedia and alo. The Optimates were small creatures, being elfin, and as science has revealed the smaller the creature the higher the metabolic rate. Optimates therefore couldn't go long without Alo, without risking death.

Not to mention he was a newlywed and would like to get back home to his beloved uxor, Vegrandus, if for only a brief stay, but the duties outlined in the Scitus of Numen, directed that he stay as long as he could endure the extrinsecus. Besides he was certain he was about to make a great discovery in this one cave in particular.

He had come across this cave complex on this third triburo, since promotion to posthabeo from cautor. His animadverto or 'psychic instinct' had directed him to this place. So once he gained position as full-fledged proeliator he had requested this 'patrol' area, an option he didn't have as posthabeo.

His first triburo had of course been under the supervision of his Sator. Then after returning to camp, he began the rather intensive training a posthabeo must complete before being considered for their monstro where they become full-fledged medius of the legio Proeliators.

The proeliators were warriors, though their duties rarely ever required they do physical battle. Theirs was a battle of deception, observing and gaining knowledge. Then once all was known, the Majores Natu and Causidicus, the tribal council of elders and the tribal leader, respectively, would have to decide what course of action to take.

The Praesagium, or holy man, would likely be involved in case the leaders needed to difuro with the Deus.

Once a course of action had been decided, the Proeliator Council would put together a plan of attack. One of the council was like a field General called the Imperator. He alone was responsible for putting together an instrueo praejudico, or plan of battle, for any actual fighting that were to occur. After creating the instrueo praejudico, the proeliator council would review it and decide on its workability and assign proeliators to an iugum procinctu, or battle team, that would carry out the plan of the instrueo praejudico.

Tiro hadn't seen anything during his observations, but he knew something was going on here. He could feel it. His animadverto was not yet fully developed, but the feelings he got were usually intense.

Tiro considered that perhaps his animadverto was fully developed, and he just wasn't used to it enough yet to discern the feelings he received regularly now. He had been aware of his Animadverto all his life, but largely ignored it as confusing, but at pubesco it had gotten to the point it couldn't be ignored.

Whether he was getting false impressions, or just didn't understand what the impressions he was getting were, as his wanderings during the previous triburo took him through the countryside he seemed drawn to this location.

The only things he had seen so far were the comings and goings of a young human girl, and an occasional animal scurrying about in the relative protection between the two outcroppings of crags where the cave's entrance was located and well hidden.

From what he had learned in his studies of the Scitus, this was dangerous, for if the young girl were virgin, and at the age Tiro estimated her to be, this was likely, all manner of problems could occur.

The animals of course were of no consequence, or in any danger from the Optimate proeliator. He wouldn't harm them, for that was outside the realm of acceptability among the Optimates.

To harm any of God's creatures was consecro to the Optimates. Certainly, they were meat eaters, but their meat was raised by them for that purpose and butchered under specific and controlled conditions.

To kill a rabbit, deer, or squirrel, like these Tiro was seeing, would never happen, though a proeliator could accomplish it with ease.

The humans did it, but no Optimate would ever even consider it. It was just another example of the human's Bardus, which Optimates were at a loss to understand. Each animal had a purpose in the overall scheme of the Conditor, if you decimated one variety another was allowed to get out of hand. Maintaining the balance of creation was the purpose of the Optimates existence. This was made clear in the Scitus of Numen, and the first thing a proeliator in training learned. These lessons started even before a young man became a cautor, the first step to adulthood and the first rung on the ladder of ascension to proeliator.
CHAPTER ELEVEN

The Optimates were a divinely created order, placed on earth by the Conditor, and whose very existence was to maintain balance between the evil in the world and the good of the Conditor.

A lot of what the human's did was beyond understanding and certainly not condoned by the Optimates.

This got a bit extreme at points, with the leadership of the Ordinatius, not allowing human inventions and other things, with rare exception, into the daily lives of the Optimates.

One of the principals young proeliators, like Tiro, had to learn was to ignore the things, that might produce decadence in the tribe, they saw when they were on the triburo. This lesson was extremely important, because a proeliator's duties brought them in contact with every facet of the human world.

A proeliator would see things that might aid the existence of the Optimates, but they were restrained from bringing these things or observations they made back to the tribe.

Occasionally, though it was rare, an Argumentosus Triburo would be conducted to observe the advancement of human existence.

Normally, the triburos conducted were Expiscor Triburos whose purpose was defined as seeking out sources of evil.

These other Argumentosus Triburos were rare, as the Optimates believed the Conditor provided all the Optimates needed. Anything else was concupisco, and anything of that nature was terrible sin in the society of the Optimates.

When the rare Argumentosus Triburo, or Trek of Observation, was conducted, the Proeliators would go out and observe the human's daily activities, for a specified period of time. Then they would return and an Amplitudo Concilium would be convened. All the proeliators would discuss their observations before the Majores Natu, the Causidicus, the Praesagium, and his uxor, the Effero, and the Relatus of the Uxor Natu.

At this meeting, it would be decided what things the human's had devised or invented, as observed by the proeliators, and a determination as to what the Conditor wouldn't object to existing in the Optimates lives, would be made. Then an iugum of Proeliators would return to where acceptable things had been observed and study these for a period of time, or retrieve a sampling of what they thought useful, and return to introduce them to Optimate society.

The Optimates had gotten the wheel in this manner. Going back in time, fire was likely introduced to Optimate society this way, as well.

These Amplitudo Concilium were considered highly important which is why all facets of the Optimates society were present. In some instances, a scripto of the fabulo was created in these meetings, and proeliators were made aware of any oddities that might cloud their judgment or bog down their observations with unnecessary detail on triburos. The uxor were present at these, as well, because the Optimates considered the effeminatus important to the function of Optimate society.

The only members not included were the progagus and the cautor. They learned of these observations and findings through the carefully crafted writings of the fabulo.

CHAPTER TWELVE

What Tiro was observing though wasn't some fantastic invention or great deed by the human's that might aid the daily lives of the Optimates. In actuality he really wasn't observing much of anything.

His observations had discovered nothing more than the comings and goings of the human puella. Most of what kept him here and on triburo longer than any other proeliator, likely, was his animadverto and the feelings that seemed to derive from that source at this location.

Tiro, as yet, couldn't really trust this 'psychic' ability, but he could certainly feel it. All Optimates had it and it was said the human's did too. Yet, just as the fabulo said of the human's, the Optimates had those in their society who felt the gift of the animadverto stronger than others.

Those who learned how to use this gift were soon exalted in the Optimate society with the best of the gifted proeliators rising to the position of Praesagium, if the vacancy came about during their lifetime and if the sitting Praesagium and his uxor had failed to have male progagus. It was felt the animadverto, the key consideration for Praesagium, would be strongest in the progagus of the Praesagium. The requirement the progagus that succeeded his Sator, as Praesagium be male was based in the fact the Praesagium must come from the ranks of the proeliators, and not in some sexist posturing by the Optimates. Though women weren’t actually ‘active’ participants in the day-to-day decisions within Optimate society, they were contributors in subtle ways.

Though women didn’t hold any leadership positions within their society, there influence was felt in other ways, for the effeminatus was a cherished and respected part of Optimate life.

Most leadership positions in Optimate society came from the requisite standing of the ranks of the proeliators, for if you hadn’t learned how to satisfy the service to the Scitus in that way, and experienced the extrinsecus first hand, you could not fill the role of leader of the Optimates effectively, it was felt.

The human's in their Bardus were known to use their animadverto to fuel their greed. Greed was an ugly thing to the Optimates and was a part of the concupisco group of grievous sin and called voro, when spoken of in the vilest of terms.

Tiro couldn't understand why someone would waste such a gift. Yet, he saw it on occasion as he went about his duties on the triburo. The Bardus of the human was rapidly becoming apparent to Tiro.

At first he couldn't understand why such a wondrous group, as they seemed to be in the fabulo, could be so bent on letting their Bardus destroy their way of life. The scripto of the fabulo made reference to it on occasion, but was under strict guidelines and the authors of these ancient fables weren't proeliators and were recording things second hand.

Besides, Optimates rarely spoke of anyone in a negative manner and never another Optimate, unless they were charged in official tribunus. If the origin of the saying 'if you don't have anything good to say, don't say anything at all' were truly known, it likely came from the Optimate Elves.

Tiro's mind contemplated these things as he sat observing. It was easy to think on other things and still maintain vigilance. The senses were just attuned to the environment around you and your mind went elsewhere. If the surroundings changed it was like an alarm was set off and you quickly came back to the reality of your observation point. At least it was for Tiro anyway. Most of the proeliators were able to do this, as the triburo required they sit for hours and days on end just watching things.

Like now, he had been deep in contemplation on the Bardus of the human when the young puella arrived as she did each day. Her entry into the area immediately to his front was like someone had walked up and slapped him up side of the head.

He now was keenly observing her as she tied her equus to a small tree and removed a basket from where it had been attached to the back of the riding adornment, and turned to go into the cave. This was normal activity for the puella. Though this was the first time she had brought the basket, everything else was routine.

She came each day, and stayed the entire span of time between oriens and occasus, never staying into the creparum though, which was a good thing. The Scitus taught the creparum was when the evil would be at its strongest. The puella always left before then.

Tiro had noted her arrival time had gotten earlier and earlier each day and her vultus had seemed to improve over the course of the last several days. This had seemed strange to Tiro, as he couldn't conceive of anything in the caves that would improve her spirits.

CHAPTER THIRTEEN

His observations had started on the last triburo, and after he returned to the Optimate camp, he quickly replenished his ornamentum and returned to this place to continue his observations.

Something just wasn't right here. He had fulfilled his obligation and patrol area and though still posthabeo at the time he was close enough to monstro, he had received permission to come to this place. Then the aula came and he was awarded his medius of the legio and he asked to be assigned here again, to continue his observations.

Tiro felt certain something was going on here.

At first, when Tiro had begun observing the goings on in this place, the puella would exit the cave each day as creparum approached and her face would be red and swollen as if she had spent the day in lacrimo.

Now though she left happy each day. Tiro couldn't understand why.

Unless she had encountered an evil entity and it had entrapped her in its web of deceit. With their Bardus fueled by their voro, humans were vulnerable to these things. This was made clear in the Scitus. It was also one of the reasons Optimates were successful, they too used deceit to gain the information they sought. The proeliators wiles were not used for evil, though.

Their skills were used to unbalance evil if it got too extreme.

Their skill was in a lot of ways greater than those of the evil ones. Yet, the Optimates and especially the proeliators were incapable of evil. When the Conditor created the Optimate Ordinatius he hadn't given them free agency in the same styling of the humans. Yes, Optimates had free will, but ingrained in them from creation was a propensity toward doing only good.

Where humans had free will, but a distinct propensity toward evil.

Fueled by lust and greed humans sought only the pleasures of life and seemed to care nothing for the pursuit of good, or for the disservice their pursuit of lust and greed often did to their fellow man, or so it seemed to Tiro. The fabulo told of how their Bardus, demonstrated in this way was how the evil forces capitalized on the 'Tempus Temporis Seditio', the time of temporary chaos the evil thrived in once they had ushered in the 'Aegis Pravus'.

Tiro's thoughts about the human's was, of course, a generality, and reflective of Tiro's brief and incomplete exposure to and understanding of the human's. He did have a fairly good understanding of their Bardus, though. He did see some human's who sought to be good to their fellow men, but these persons were rare. But then Tiro was only on his third excursion into the extrinsecus or outside world.

Their power and abilities was why the selection and training of the proeliators was so exacting, and why the societies leaders were so cautious of the introduction of influence from the extrinsecus. With the training and skills a proeliator was taught and developed, if he were to switch allegiances, not only would he be a great force for the powers of evil, and likely unbalance the delicate and fragile trade off, skewing the pendulum in the favor of the recondo, but the Optimates people themselves might well be in jeopardy.

Tiro was again deep in his own thoughts, after having been alerted when the puella arrived earlier, and now he was alerted again. Brought back to reality as the scene in front of him changed somehow.

He swept his gaze across the view in front of him to see if an animal moving through the area had caused his senses to alert. The equus stomping or switching its tail, as it stood tied to the tree wouldn't have alerted him. His senses were keen enough that only its leaving the area or moving several body lengths away from where it stood tethered would be enough to jar his presence of mind. No animals were present either. No, something else had alerted him.

His scan of the area stopped at the entrance to the cave. Yes, this was what had alerted his senses.

The young puella was standing just inside the entrance of the cave. Beside her stood a young pusio. This was odd to Tiro.

CHAPTER FOURTEEN

He had watched the entrance to the cave for nearly a feowertyne niht and had seen no one or, any thing for that matter, enter there except the puella. So either there was another entrance or the pusio occupied the cave.

These thoughts caused a reaction on the back of Tiro's neck, called tutamen. Like the hackles of a dog rising, an Optimate proeliator could expect certain reactions to his body to occur when evil presence registered in his mind or became apparent to one of his senses. Tiro was keenly aware of the goings on in front of him now and his mind wouldn't likely wander while his senses were so keenly attuned. He watched as the two exited the entrance of the cave and walked to the center of the small dell between the craggy promontories on either side.

The puella set the basket she had taken into the cave at her arrival on the ground and returned to the equus. There she untied a blanket from the riding adornment and spread it on the ground where the pusio stood by the basket. The puella wasn't what Tiro was concentrating on. The pusio now had his rapt attention.

They had moved closer to Tiro's hidden observation point and now the young proeliator's sense of smell had been activated. The unmistakable burnt smell of brimstone accompanied the lad.

The puella wouldn't have detected it. Its subtle nature was only discernable to the proeliators keen sense of smell or to another evil entity or perhaps an animal. Even then the pusio had had to move closer, before even Tiro could detect the unmistakable burnt odor. The smell of brimstone was distinct, so it wasn't as if the pusio had merely been sitting to close to a wood fire and had that smoky scent trapped in his clothing.

Now Tiro observed with keen awareness. His eyesight allowed him to see other things the puella would not notice.

As the pusio stood under the purifying rays of light, his skin seemed to acquire a sheen. Tiro knew from his studies as a cautor and posthabeo this was a protective change. A change the evil ones who could tolerate daylight underwent when they were exposed to the purifying rays of the sun.

Light was the only thing that could cleanse and purify and not it self become adulterated. This was taught in the Scitus and the evil couldn't tolerate the purifying rays of light as intense as those the sun produced.

Tiro also knew if he could tolerate the sun at all he was either an offspring of the great evil one or one who ranked high in the hierarchy that existed in the underworld. These things were all taught in the training a proeliator underwent in the first phases when he was training to be a cautor.

For even the cautors needed to know what to look for as they guarded the confines of the Optimates encampment. These important lessons were taught from the Scitus.

Besides the reaction that had occurred on the back of Tiro's neck was now so tight as to be almost painful. This further served to inform Tiro this pusio was evil.

Either this was a high-ranking evil persona or the forces of evil were positioned in such a way that a 'Missa Exculpatus' was set to occur and bring on 'Aegis Pravus'. Regular minions and the sprites in the evil recondo couldn't tolerate sunlight, or even the light the full moon reflected from the sun, except right before and during the 'Tempus Temporis Seditio'. Then all the creatures of the recondo, Satan’s Army, had the ability to protect themselves from the suns purifying rays. If exposed at any other time, they burst into flames and were gone. So this pusio was worthy of watching, and confirmed for Tiro his animadverto was right on track. This worried Tiro some, though.

First, a single proeliator, though a powerful warrior against the evil of the world, wasn't strong enough to take on one that ranked so highly in the evil hierarchy. Proeliators are taught as soon as they are posthabeo they should seek the help of an iugum of proeliators if they were to take on an evil this strongly placed.

Tiro knew of this further, because of his study of the evil ceremonies and the results of those ceremonies taught in the Scitus Arcanum Ritus Peior. These Arcanum Scitus weren't made available to a posthabeo until he was otherwise eligible for his Monstro, and even then a proeliator wasn’t required to study them, but could if they asked. The contents of the rituals of evil were considered too much for the feint of heart, and though the Optimates were taught from the Scitus beginning at an early age, this one Scitus was reserved as its name implied, in Arcanum, in secret.

So Tiro knew either an important place to the servants of evil was present in these caves and his animadverto was attuned because this was a place where evil came and went from the underworld, or a serious unbalancing between the forces of evil and those that opposed them was about to occur, or quite possibly both.

If an unbalancing were about to occur, it would have to be to the point where the evil recondo were all in place and only needed a virgin girl to conduct the 'Missa Exculpatus'or exculpatory Massm and then they would be free to roam the earth creating their havoc on all mankind at anytime of the day or night.

Of course the virgin girl would be sacrificed in the process, but she would achieve a kind of immortality. That wasn't actually an accurate term, because she wouldn't be a flesh and blood human any longer. More like a 'living dead' person. Never to rest as most dead do, but constantly roaming to pursue the lusty life of greed the humans sought to explore. Yet, as a dead being this was of limited fulfillment to the ‘undead’.

CHAPTER FIFTEEN

Tiro knew he should leave immediately and report back to the Praesagium what he was witnessing here. Yet, he also knew the pusio had no power in the light unless it was during the 'Tempus Temporis Seditio'. During these times of chaos, the evil powers of darkness had free roam, and the last time this had occurred a great plague had been set upon the humans.

Tiro felt certain the 'Tempus Temporis Seditio' hadn't yet arrived, or the pusio would be consumed with an 'evil blood lust' that would have him ravaging the puella and not in the amiable disposition he appeared in now. If what Tiro had studied in the Arcanum was understood correctly, this was all but uncontrollable to the evil at the time of the 'Aegis Pravus'. When this Age of Depravity started, terror was unleashed on the land. An orgy of killing, maiming, rape and lust took place at first. Then over time if the 'Tempus Temporis Seditio', or the Time of Evil Chaos, continued things quieted down.

Evil was still actively seeking ways to appease their lust for evil, to be sure, but as time sated the lust they hungered for when first released from their bonds of darkness, they slowed in their efforts and began to employ man to perpetrate evil on his fellow man. In these times, the recondo could rest as man did his dirty work for him. The recondo would sit back and reap the reward of the evil deeds.

Man’s evil toward man made them stronger just as the recondo’s evil deeds toward man made them stronger. Evil, after all, was still evil and fueled the power of the recondo.

Tiro decided to stay until occasus or until the puella departed, then leave to return to the Optimates encampment. The pusio presented no danger in the sunlight and he could perhaps learn something more if he observed the rest of the day. And the puella, likely virgin, might be set upon in a situation that could conceivable require Tiro’s intervention. These thoughts caused a churning sensation in the pit of Tiro’s belly, similar to what a human would experience as butterflies or an adrenaline rush.

What he saw and heard left him with great concern. Apparently this pusio was high in the ranks of the evil hierarchy, but probably wasn't an offspring of the great evil one.

Proeliators are taught 'vibratus iludaire' a method of vibrating their bodies so they are rendered invisible to all but the great evil one and his offspring.
This vibratus iludaire, or vibratory illusion, changes the refractive properties of their bodies so they neither absorb nor reflect light waves. The effect is to render them transparent. Even the evil offspring and the great evil one can't truly see them, but can hear the low frequency sound waves the vibration creates.

The frequency is beyond the hearing capabilities of humans and regular evil entities.

Fortunately for the proeliators, though some of the evil entities could hear this vibration, they couldn't tell how many proeliators were around.

The vibrations harmonized in such a way as to preclude determining anything other than the presence of the archrivals of the evil recondo.

The evil recondo knew of the proeliators and the Optimates just as the Optimates and proeliators knew of the evil recondo.

Proeliators are cautioned about using this ability, to vibrate to transparency, for too long at a stretch when they are taught how to use it. It requires a tremendous amount of energy and a proeliator can render himself ineffectual if he uses the ability too freely, or for a sustained period. Further, since their body no longer absorbed or reflected light, they received no warmth from the sun, and hypothermia could easily occur.

Though warm-blooded creatures, Optimates still warmed their bodies partially through the absorption of sunlight.

Tiro knew this and the concern he had from being at the extreme end of his ornamentum restrained him from using it for more than just a few minutes.

Then it was only a test.

A dangerous test, for a solo proeliator though, for just as it would render him invisible to all but the highest of evil beings, it would also alert these higher evil beings of his presence.

Tiro could remain motionless in the trees and brush that concealed him and observe, undetected by the puella and pusio a few metres away, but if the pusio were one of the offspring of the evil lord the vibratus iludaire in this close proximity to the creature, would reveal his presence immediately, even if it was as quiet as a single vibrating proeliator. Then if he used it for too long of a period and rendered himself unable to protect himself, the evil could subdue him.

The problem was exaggerated by the fact a proeliator really had no way of knowing when he had used the ability too long. That was another reason they were advised not to use it except in extreme circumstances and if at all possible, only when they were in the company of other proeliators.

Proeliators are repeatedly warned of the danger to the entire Optimate people if one of them should become a captive of evil. If rendered helpless because of over extending the vibratory illusion, or another of the myriad of deceptive skills they possessed, they were easy prey to even the weakest of the evil entities. Even the sprites and the other vaporous entities that never left the darkness could overcome a proeliator of he over extended himself.

For this reason, use of the technique was all but forbidden at night or in the dark places like the caves and cellars these type entities were confined to during normal times.

Tiro was young and ambitious though and ignored these admonishments as he sought the recognition that would bring him greatness among the Ordinatius. So a lot of his actions today were foolish.

If he were to over extend himself today, he didn't adequately consider the fact though virtually powerless in the sunlight, the evil pusio could overpower him easily if he was rendered helpless from over extension. Besides with his ornamentum all but depleted he risked not being able to sustain himself until he could return to the encampment, several leagues away.

Yet, his quest for glory forced him to risk it. A young man's ego-motivated actions were something the great magisters of the proeliator legio worried about as they instructed their posthabeo charges. He must have reached a state of 'provovolvere se' before a proeliator would be allowed to go through monstro.

The reaching of this state of self-denial was considered an important milestone in maturity and was one of the reasons why young Optimates weren't allowed to marry until they were full-fledge Medius of the Legio Proeliatarium. But Tiro wasn't there yet, though it wouldn't hurt him this day.

His having gone through monstro, a rite that signified a coming of age, was because of other qualities he possessed that were almost unique to the band of Optimates at this point in their existence. Though it had never been discussed with Tiro, he had friends in high places.

Foolishly he decided to proceed, and though it produced no harmful result on this occasion, it was duly noted. The fact he gained valuable information by doing so was of little consequence if the danger to himself and the Optimates were ever weighed against the value of what he learned.

He discovered this pusio was high ranking, though not an offspring. Either that or the 'Tempus Temporis Seditio' was close. If this were a more common evil entity it wouldn't be able to protect itself from the sun, otherwise. This all became clearer as the day progressed.

Tiro wisely assumed the illusionary vibration for only a brief moment. He didn't leave the thicket he was hidden in either. Just vibrated long enough to look for a reaction from the pusio.

None occurred.

Afterwards he was all but exhausted, but he need only sit on his haunches and listen. What he heard alarmed him.

The puella was apparently under the somnolentus, or mesmerizing stare, some evil entities possessed for you would have thought her a willing participant, to the point you could almost call her a co-conspirator, in the ideas, the young evil male, put forth to the young girl.

He was suggesting the girl participate in a ceremony or rite that he explained as being a sort of betrothal ceremony. Tiro recognized immediately the ceremony he described was similar to the 'Missa Exculpatus'. The puella seemed keen on the idea. This confirmed the entity was high ranking, for a power such as somnolentus wasn't given to the rank and file minions and sprites, and it appeared she was mesmerized by the pusio.

The good news was his ranking was why he could protect himself from the purifying rays of the sun and the dawning of 'Aegis Pravus' and 'Tempus Temporis Seditio' was perhaps not that close.

The two ate their food and participated in what resembled the liberalis or courting ritual in Optimate society.

The pusio held the puella in his arms as an Optimate would only do in familiarus, and they exchanged amplexus and basiatio. Then something happened Tiro was at a loss to understand.

The pusio attempted to slip his hand under the clothing the puella wore. As would be expected, she got angry. She put the things she had brought with her that day back on the equus and left.

Tiro couldn't understand why the pusio had made such a blatant and crass attempt at the girl. For a brief moment he thought perhaps the 'Aegis Pravus' might have passed and the time of the 'Tempus Temporis Seditio' was underway.

Otherwise how could the pusio attempt such a thing, yet not ravish the girl as would occur during the 'Aegis Pravus'?

The pusio tried to insist it had been an inadvertent thing, but the puella would hear none of it. She climbed on to the equus and galloped away in a huff.

After she left the pusio returned to the cave.

Tiro consumed the balance of the Alo in his ornamentum, in an attempt to recover from the effects of the vibratory illusion, and headed back to the Optimates encampment as occasus signaled the approach of the creparum.

This concludes part 1. Part 2 is coming as Tiro and the other Optimates begin to see the evil the recondo is about to unleash and set to try to avert it. Will instrueo praejudico be necessary and if so what part will Tiro play?

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