“The Targanchi people, like our Cherusci kinfolk, fight for Rome, Rinka, as allies. We are part of the Empire now. That’s why I’m teaching you and your sisters to speak Latin. Only the people who take up arms against Rome, and resist Caesar’s laws are punished and enslaved.” He put his hand under her chin, lifting her face. “That’s why we’ll need strong leadership to protect the alliance.”
She stared into his eyes. “But the Romans don’t care if the Targanchi or any other Germanic tribes survive. They pay grain, salt and coins to the border raiders who want to enslave us all.”
He casually leaned back against the side of their dwelling. “Now, what do you know of border raiders?” he asked in a way intended to put her young mind at ease. He sounded as if they were only …show more content…
It was really terrible,” she confessed. “And these bad dreams return to me so that they take away my sleep and leave feeling scared and alone.”
“More like a nightmare, I would say from your questions.”
“I must sound like a foolish little girl,” she remarked. “But I can’t imagine losing you or my mother sisters my family in a raid.”
“You don’t sound foolish, Rinka; you’re concerns are understandable in these changing times,” he said, kindly; “but I’ll always be here to protect you, and your mother and sisters.”
“Do the Romans pay mercenaries to raid the tribes northeast of the Rhine?” She asked, bluntly.
Hrothgar appeared to ponder the question for a moment before answering. He held up his hand to show her the Roman ring that bore his mark. There was the etching of a war bird, and above it, the Latin letters RT were stamped in the gold. “The Romans do hire Germanic warriors, Rinka, but only to help keep the peace in our region. As you know, I fought for Caesar, as did many of our Targanchi and Cherusci kinfolk, not long ago.
“How could I forget? You left home with the Roman auxiliaries when I was twelve and Uncle Wandal tended to our
She stared into his eyes. “But the Romans don’t care if the Targanchi or any other Germanic tribes survive. They pay grain, salt and coins to the border raiders who want to enslave us all.”
He casually leaned back against the side of their dwelling. “Now, what do you know of border raiders?” he asked in a way intended to put her young mind at ease. He sounded as if they were only …show more content…
It was really terrible,” she confessed. “And these bad dreams return to me so that they take away my sleep and leave feeling scared and alone.”
“More like a nightmare, I would say from your questions.”
“I must sound like a foolish little girl,” she remarked. “But I can’t imagine losing you or my mother sisters my family in a raid.”
“You don’t sound foolish, Rinka; you’re concerns are understandable in these changing times,” he said, kindly; “but I’ll always be here to protect you, and your mother and sisters.”
“Do the Romans pay mercenaries to raid the tribes northeast of the Rhine?” She asked, bluntly.
Hrothgar appeared to ponder the question for a moment before answering. He held up his hand to show her the Roman ring that bore his mark. There was the etching of a war bird, and above it, the Latin letters RT were stamped in the gold. “The Romans do hire Germanic warriors, Rinka, but only to help keep the peace in our region. As you know, I fought for Caesar, as did many of our Targanchi and Cherusci kinfolk, not long ago.
“How could I forget? You left home with the Roman auxiliaries when I was twelve and Uncle Wandal tended to our