Looking up into the night, he began.
"It has been 861 years since the founding of Rome. Over time, Rome has proven ravenous in its thirst for expansion. Despite numerous setbacks, their resilience shone forth, and their territory spread far and wide, punctuated by numerous victories..."
He went silent for a while and looked down with a forlorn expression.
"Last year Dacia was taken—and I aided them."
Rainer eyed him suspiciously.
"This is your homeland, isn't it?"
Kotys took a shuddering breath and nodded.
"I am a Thracian—and so is my father who serves as clerk to the cohort... My mother died in the war."
He then shook his head and reined in his emotions.
"But this story is not about me." He pleaded, frown tense and eyes clouded.
"Sure..." Rainer drawled with a slightly awkward expression. "I wanted to know about Rome."
Kotys visibly relaxed at this and continued.
"The vast dominion of Roma, under the wise and vigorous leadership of Emperor Trajan, stretches from the misty isles of Britannia to the sun-dappled lands of Africa and the fabled realms of the East. Each province, with its own local customs, observes the edicts of Roma under its unyielding embrace of law, order, and enforced prosperity.
"This applies especially to the imperial provinces, whether the bustling urban centers of Hispania or the frontier outposts of Germania and Britannia, they were all brought under the Roman Empire's rigorous art of administration. Roads and aqueducts, masterful works of engineering, carry the lifeblood of commerce and communication across hundreds of leagues. In the Forum of Rome and the provincial agoras, merchants trade goods from the remotest corners of the empire: grains from Egypt, olives and fine wine from Gaul, exotic spices from the Orient, and myriad treasures from lands yet uncharted by many men..."
Rainer revealed an impressed smile.
"You speak well."
Kotys' lips curved slightly in a small smile, but it didn't reach his eyes.
"My father taught me. A benefit of the Roman educational system." He remarked with a sharpness barely discernible at the edges of his tone.
"Hmm."
Rainer glanced at him with an openly, thoughtful stare before looking away.
"Right!" He smacked his lips. "How about the reason why we find ourselves in this wilderness?"
Rainer smoothly changed the subject.
Kotys' face softened as he collected his thoughts.
"We are an elite auxiliary cohort attached to the legio—"
Kotys stopped and looked toward Rainer with a questioning gaze.
"Do you know what a legion is?"
Rainer nodded.
"Yes, go on! If there's something I don't understand, I'll ask!"
He informed, urging him on with a hand gesture.
Seeing this, Kotys sucked in a breath and went on.
"Our cohort is the Cohors I Milliaria Equitata Gemina Martia Victrix Tigris Fidelis attached to the Legion, Legio XIV Gemina Martia Victrix. We were originally assigned to secure the legion's flank on the journey toward the Mount of the Carpates.
"On the way here, we beat back various raids and engaged in several skirmishes against fierce rebel tribes. But we prevailed, in the process protecting the main road network; a crucial logistic route transporting gold from the Mount of Carpertes.
"However, on the way, Lord Praefect received an urgent message regarding a small Roman garrison fort captured by Dacian and Thracian rebels. Given that we were closest, we were assigned to quickly move in and take back the garrison.
"Oddly enough, Lord Praefect was instructed to allow no escape and leave no prisoners. But as you already know, this mission has seen certain setbacks." Kotys ended with a dissatisfied twitch of his lips.
Rainer nodded in understanding.
"So you need to take this garrison fort tomorrow; otherwise, this mysterious political figure won't be pleased when he arrives."
Kotys remained silent and Rainer scoffed.
"That old man's so desperate his willing to bet on a miracle."
He stated, looking away toward the sky. But then he thought of something and smirked to himself.
"He might as well have struck a goldmine..."
There was a brief moment of silence, when suddenly—
"Huup!"
Rainer kicked himself up to his feet and dusted himself under Kotys' cautious but curious stare.
Rainer smiled and reached for Kotys with a hand.
Kotys' brow furrowed slightly.
"What is it?"
Rainer rolled his eyes, smiling confidently.
"Give me your weapons, soldier. This miracle needs to build up some muscle memory before the morning."
Kotys became hesitant, however, before he could speak; Rainer's stomach growled like a tired bear.
Rainer winced and chuckled awkwardly in embarrassment.
"Right! Also return to camp and get me some grub before I fall unconscious again from starvation. I'm as hungry as a corpse!" He requested, caressing his stomach with a wan smile.
Kotys' mouth fell partly open, looking at Rainer with an astounded expression.
–––
In a dark tent lit by a sole terracotta lamb, Hoplite sat on a mat, a worry marring his expression as he hugged his knees.
Around him lay silhouettes stirring in the dim light. Servants and slaves; handlers of the men and baggages. Then came their whispers.
"He gave a denarius to the dead."
"The slave was his only friend."
"If he was worth it a daemon would never have possessed him."
Hoplite felt ice shards pierce his heart, a numb pain he hated, one that threatened to make him rage, make him lash out like a beast.
'I only want to be friends. I need no enemies.'
"He thinks himself special."
"He is not."
He grimaced, tightening his hold around himself.
'Please don't bully me.'
"How did he afford a denarius?"
"He pleasures the officers, of course."
"How shameful."
Tears swelled up in Hoplite's eyes and he bit hard into his tongue.
'Lies.'
"Look, he doesn't even try to defend himself."
"There is nothing to defend."
"Too bad that friend of his is gone. He would have defended him."
Hoplite froze, widening in realization.
'Please don't say it.'
"That was why he died."
"Truly, what was he thinking defending him from an officer. He was such a fool."
"A shame I cannot remember his name... I would have cursed him for almost bring down trouble on all of us!"
The tears flowed, pouring freely now.
Unable to take the lashing remarks anymore, he stood up and rushed out of the tent.
However, he clashed into someone upon exist.
Startled, he looked up to find Commius staring down at him with a fierce glint in his eyes.
He took a step back, crying with alarm in his eyes.
'Please don't hurt me.'
"I'm sorr—"
*Pah!*
A vicious slap sent him to the ground.
"A god? Fool of a slave!"
Commius snarled, approaching him as veins bulged on his head.
Terrified, Hoplite crawled back, a hand on his cheek.
"Forgi—"
"Don't think I am scared of that daemon, slave! He will die, I will kill him again!"
With that, Commius spat on him and continued on his way down the path.