"Praefect Kyriakos." A voice called out in a leveled, clear tone.
Alexios opened his eyes and glanced at an officer in his early thirties, standing faithfully by his side. His Cornicularis—a valued Adjutant and Chief Clerk of his cohort who assisted him in all administrative tasks.
He was a fair-skinned, blond-haired soldier with lively green eyes. And though, quite young for his position, he was personally scouted by Alexios and had long proven up to the task, satisfying Alexios' highly set expectations.
"What is it, Agricola?" Alexios inquired with a slight croak in his voice.
"The century of legionaries sent to hold the garrison fort has fully settled in."
Agricola respectfully informed before clearing his throat and leaning forward slightly.
"The second, third, and fourth centuries remain here idly, Praefect Kyriakos. I believe now we can go join the new first centurion, Centurio Vellocatus, who was ordered to lead the rest of our cohort onward yesterday in the escorting of Legio XIV Gemina Martia Victrix."
Alexios took a slow deep breath and stirred slightly in his large chieftain chair before glancing at the side doorway.
"What about the injured?" Alexios queried.
"Those lightly injured have gone ahead, the moderately injured can follow us out... At least, until we get to the city of Apulum. As for the others—they must remain."
He paused, face pinched in a sickened manner at certain memories.
"T-they won't be much use in battle anymore."
Alexios looked away with a soft sigh, eyes holding traces of regret.
Every soldier in his cohort was personally chosen by him. It was a special privilege he was accorded. One that allowed him to pick out the best available, satisfying the needs of his cohort.
Each loss was extremely costly, even more so now, that they must explore some strange land with terrible-looking creatures.
The officer glanced around and then back at Alexios.
"Is there something left to do here, Praefect?"
Alexios shook his head.
"No. But..."
He looked toward the side doorway again and paused briefly.
"Praefect?"
Alexios closed his eyes and sighed.
'It seems I must take him along on a stretcher and deal with him on the road—'
*Pat!* *Pat!*
The sound of approaching footsteps reverberated into the hall, and Alexios opened his eyes again to find Rainer coming in through the doorway he had been glancing at.
He looked gaunt and malnourished in his green tunic and calf-length trousers. Yet, his eyes gleamed with a fierce vigor; bright and angry, despite his smile, which curved a little too sharply.
"Old fox!"
Rainer casually called out with a hint of mirth, stopping in the middle of the hall.
Their eyes met and the hall became charged with tension.
"Long time no see."
Agricola frowned at the disrespect, but Alexios merely watched, giving away nothing in his expression.
Rainer smacked his lips and looked down with an amused, considering smirk before glancing up at him again.
"You know what, Old man? I had a dream about you while I was unconscious."
Alexios raised a brow at this.
"...What was it about?"
Rainer nodded slightly and narrated.
"We were in a jungle or forest, of sorts. Not really sure, you know how dreams are... I held you in my arms, because—you were bleeding like crazy! Don't know how it happened, or why. But you sang something to me. You kept chanting these words, 'Green! Green! My eyes are green, my heart is green, my blood is green.' Over and over again. Shockingly enough, when I looked down again you truly bled green. A flowing green goo which the lush vegetation greedily drank up like one big, leafy sponge!"
Rainer chuckled at the end, shaking his head with a darkly amused smile as he looked up at him.
"Funny story, eh?"
"Preposterous!"
Agricola yelled, his expression darkening to a dangerous degree as his grip on his gladius tightened.
"Do you imply that our Great Lord Praefect would be felled!?"
"Implying? No." Rainer scoffed, looking at the officer like he was crazy. "It's no implication handsome, it's prophecy."
Agricola was lost for words. Seeing this, Rainer elaborated a little.
"For one such as I, my dreams are a rarity, and when I do dream, they carry a certain weight... Well, most of the time."
He shrugged noncommittally and glanced at Alexios.
"Whatever the case may be, your Prefect here, seems to have an unpleasant future ahead of him."
Agricola's expression morphed into a worried frown and he glanced at Alexios. However, Alexios absently gazed away, looking out a window in consideration of the dream.
Seeing this, Rainer awkwardly pinched his nose, sniffed, and drew his attention back.
"That aside, old man. I heard a governor came by... I hope you honored our deal?"
He questioned, stern eyes fixed on him, all prior mirth in his expression diminished.
"I was granted manumission, right?"
In the Roman Empire, slaves could only be formally freed by a magistrate, a governor, or the emperor. The master could not do this unilaterally.
While on record, Rainer was a private slave owned by the Prefect. If he indeed met a Provincial governor who heard of his feats in battle, his manumission would be granted as long as the master was willing. This was not even taking into account the claim of divine heritage, absurd as it may sound.
Alexios looked at him and straightened in his seat.
"No."
The simple word struck like a gavel to the heart, and Rainer's eyes became hooded.
"Why?"
Alexios leaned forward, placing his palms together.
"You were a statuliber."
"And?"
Rainer looked up at him with an expression of confusion and fury.
"I fulfilled the condition. I gave you the chieftain's head!"
He all but growled out the yell, and the soldiers all around tensed, many gulping.
"True."
Alexios nodded.
"You gave me the chieftain's head and put down his daemonized form, both spectacular feats... However, you were not first on the wall." He stated, leaning back again with a regretful sigh.
At this moment, Commius walked in through the back door, behind the Prefect. He was garbed in a simple, long grey tunic with sandals, and a third of his face was wrapped in bandages, along with most of his limbs.
Although he looked heavily injured, he moved with apparent ease.
When he spotted Rainer below, he revealed a mocking smile.
A fierce glint flashed across Rainer's eyes and he took a heavy step forward with a murderous look in his eyes.
Rainer seemed about to charge toward him.
At once, Agricola hastily signalled to the soldiers all over the hall, and immediately, six soldiers ran before the Prefect, enacting a defensive posture with their shields locked and spears pointed toward Rainer.
Every other soldier in the hall took cautious steps forward to surround him in a loose, but lethal circle, weapons drawn.
Rainer stopped, looked around and gritted his teeth, turning to Alexios.
"I was pulled down! Pulled down by that piece of shit—"
Alexios raised a hand to halt his insults.
"So I have heard, but the fact remains... I could indeed punish Commius for this, but his rank outweighs that of a—mere slave. The cohort would not be pleased with such a crass decision."
Then he gestured toward Commius with an arm, glancing at him with an impressed look in his eyes.
"Furthermore, for his extreme act of valor: braving boiling oil to claim the wall held by the rebels—He has been promoted from the rank of Optio of the first century, to the rank of Centurion of the second century. When the governor heard of this, he was so pleased that he awarded him the Corona Muralis! One of Rome's most prestigious military awards!"
Hearing all this, Rainer's expression increasingly became ugly, as Commius' shitty grin grew broader.
"Before you now stands the second centurion of my esteemed cohort! Commander of the second century, Centurio Commius of the Atrebates!"
*Bang!*
The soldiers simultaneously slammed the buttom of the shields against the floor.
"Hail!"
Rainer trembled with rage as Commius blissfully looked down upon him with lips twisted in barely restrained scorn.