021

Life as Censor had been good to Gregor, and he was able to provide well for his family. But there were costs associated with the job. Being censor was often a solitary profession. While his lictors accompanied him on his business few in his employ or otherwise wanted to be a Censor's friend. On good terms with and friendly, but not friends. People had difficulty letting down their guard around the man who collected taxes for the Electorate.

Gregor now knew why Halar was the way he was, and why Gregor and his family were the sole beneficiaries to his estate: there was no one else. It made him happy to have met his wife before becoming Censor and he felt closer to his lictors because of the time he spent in the legion, but none would play cards with him.

The sound of shuffling feet to Gregor's left brought him out of his reverie.

"Censor?"

"Yes Antio?"

"Should you not get some rest? We have a great distance still to cover tommorrow."

"Did you know I covered this same distance twenty years ago, as a Legionnaire?"

"Of course I did. Of course I did." Gregor said with a laugh, his chin falling slightly into his chest. He looked up at Antio, the fire sending an orange glow across the front of his face, his eyes hidden in pockets of shadow. "How is young Paulinus? I understand the doctor said he had the croup a few days before he left."

"Aye, he seemed well before we left. This is the third time he's had it. I told my wife not to call the doctor and that it would go away on it's own in a few days, but she needs the doctor to look at her baby."

"I understand more then you think. When I was a lictor my son Brand was ill at least once a moon. Earache's for him." Gregor gestured at his ear with his left hand. "Lana insisted that we call the doctor every time the boy so much as touched his ears. I swear I thought those ears would bankrupt me."

Antio laughed. "It worked out though?"