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The Odyssey: A Short Story

Decent Essays

It’s dangerous work yes, but it’s vital, and it does come with perks. Education can mean life or death in such an unpredictable world, and Father says that when everyone in the church is educated in such things as reading and counting, let alone the full breadth of a messenger’s training, then the church is better for it. I feel a large hand rest on my shoulder, and hear Father whisper into my ear. “Does it bring back any memories, Ari?” he asks. “Seeing the new ones. It seems like just yesterday you wouldn’t move unless Hanau was right there in front of you. I just wish this news was not coming to us, not now.” He flicks the tip of the quill in my hair like he always does. I turn and look up at him. Father’s face sends chills down my spine. …show more content…

Slavers had become more brazen in their takings, and now we know why. Slave markets always suffered when politics was unstable. They were boosting their take before profit suffered. Who would buy slaves when the Senate could not sign off on sales? This is why merchants are fleeing the city. Father’s right, the storm is already here, and it will grow even more with the arrival of Emperor Diocletian. One of the men catches my attention as he walks out of the council room. It’s Perta. I nod to Father, but he ignores me. Perta rarely comes to the church, so few times that I can count them on one hand. He stares at Father and walks straight towards us. “The people trust the Senate to do what best by them, and to keep peace in the city and its outlying territories,” says Perta. He puts his hand on Father’s shoulder, but Father shakes him off. “Peaceful people are people who pay taxes to run the Empire, without them, the Empire would suffer,” Perta says, his robes, slashed with purple marked his status as Senator. “Yes, and what will the Senate do now?” Father asks him. “Caught between a rock and a hard place? I know where you stood on that tax of his. You will stand by your principles, faced with treason?” He’s furious with Perta, and both men stare at each other, silent until Perta walks

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