“How gracious of you, Marcus Primus,” hereplied with thinly disguised sarcasm. “So apparently, we are nowbargaining for the lives of my people? If so, what is yourcounter-offer?”
Primus knew he was being mocked, but he hadlost the upper hand.
“We will accept a payment of five talents.”Primus tried to sound calm and cool.
The Serdi lifted an eyebrow as he rubbed hischin, appearing to think it over, except I was sure he was stilltoying with the Praetor.
“Why, that is a very generous offer,” hesaid. “But regretfully, I am afraid I must still say no. We simplydo not have that kind of money.”
“I did not say that the amount had to bepaid all at once,” Primus said quickly, and now the Thracian pausedin mid-turn, since he had been about to return back to the city yetagain.
“So what are the terms of payment?” theSerdi asked, and that was when I finally lost my temper.
“Oh, that's enough,” I snapped, kickingOcelus past Primus to pull up directly across from the Serdi.
I could hear Primus spluttering in outragebehind me, but I did not care. For his part, the Thracian lookedsurprised, yet I also saw a glimmer of amusement and perhapscaution in his eyes.
“And who is this giant Roman who apparentlyhas decided to take over this negotiation?” he asked lightly, whilehis comrades behind him edged closer, apparently fearing some sortof trick.
“I am Titus Pullus, Camp Prefect of the Armyof Pannonia,” I told the man.
I do not know who was more surprised whenhis eyes widened a bit and he said, “I have heard of you, TitusPullus. You are a renowned warrior of Rome.”
He inclined his head in a silent salute,while I tried not to act like a bumbling idiot. I knew I was wellknown within the Legions, and many ordinary Roman citizens werefamiliar with my name. However, this was the first time aforeigner, a barbarian at that, had ever said that my fame extendedpast Rome. It was a very queer feeling, yet I cannot say that itwas displeasing. Consequently, I was momentarily at a loss forwords.
“I’m a Legionary, not a warrior,” I finallymanaged to mumble, and he gave a small laugh.
“I stand corrected, and I did not mean it asan insult. Truly, your name is known to me, and to many of mypeople.”
“I am flattered. And who am Iaddressing?”
“I am Aristoxenus, chief of the Serdi,” hetold me, confirming my suspicions that he was a man of greatimportance.
“Since you know of me, then you know what Iam about.” I used this as an opportunity to regain my equilibrium,along with the initiative of the conversation, realizing now thathe had used this flattery precisely to throw me off.
I was facing a skilled adversary and despitenot knowing for sure, I suspected that he was as equally skilled ina real battle as he was with words.
“More importantly,” I continued, jerking mythumb over my shoulder, “you know what they’re about. And you knowwhat happens when men like that are set loose in a city likeyours.”
I was satisfied to see that I had succeededin rattling him, his eyes darting over my shoulder to take in thesight of the ranks of men, hard men all, waiting for the word to beunleashed to begin their work of destruction.
“You would lose men,” he pointed out, and Idid not bother to deny it.
“I know,” I replied. “We would, but you knowas well as I do that for every man we lose, their comrades willtake their loss out on the inhabitants of the city.” Aristoxenus’face hardened, and he opened his mouth, but before he could sayanything, I continued straight to the heart of what we were talkingabout. “And that means your women,” I hammered at him as if I werecrucifying him, and I suppose in some sense I was. “None of themwill escape being defiled, neither your grandmothers nor yourmaidens who have yet to experience their flow. You know what I amsaying is true.” I leaned forward, jabbing my finger at him like itwas a spear. “And you can stop it from happening.” I suddenlyrelaxed and sat back, giving him an elaborate shrug. “But, as yousaid, you don’t have the money to prevent all this from happening,so I suggest that you do whatever needs to be done to prepare yourpeople for what is about to happen. Pray to your gods, make yoursacrifices to Zalmoxis, or whatever it is that you do, becausenothing is going to stop this from happening.”
Now it was I who wheeled Ocelus about,passing Marcus Primus, who was still sitting there open-mouthedlike he was still unsure what had happened.
“Wait!” Aristoxenus called to me, and I gavePrimus a small smile.
“Praetor, I think the Thracian wants to talknow,” I said smugly. “And his name is Aristoxenus.”
This was how Serdica fell, for lack of abetter word. After all the marching, the fighting, and killing, wewere essentially paid five talents of gold by the Serdi to go away.Naturally, it did not come without complications; when Aristoxenusagreed to pay the five talents, Marcus Primus immediately tried toraise the amount back to ten talents. It took Masala to convincehim to revert back to the five talents, but the Praetor was clearlynot happy about it. This was the moment Masala chose to reveal ourdeception of Marcus Primus to him regarding Cleitos.
Chapter 3 Naissus
“There is some good news regarding money,”Masala began, and he clearly knew his man, since this made Primusinstantly brighten and straighten up in his curule chair.
“Oh? How so?” he asked, trying to keep thegreed from suffusing his expression, but failing miserably atit.
“It concerns those Medi captives we took.”Masala was speaking carefully, watching Primus’ face as heexplained. For his part, the Praetor just looked confused.
“The Medi?” he echoed, clearly not catchingMasala’s meaning for a moment. Then his face cleared.
“Ah, those gladiatorial candidates youbrought me.
