if tarquin had been in velzna officially , he might have pressed to be allowed to observe - though rome would never have been given a voice on the council , he had just enough friends that it was achievable , even though he would have to grit his teeth when they made patronising comments about `` letting the barbarians see how a real government works '' , and `` teaching the romans about consensus , and gods know , they 're not much good at it '' .