We arrived at the gates of the city soon after the army marched in the morning. We were greeted with even more cheers and glory from the citizens, as we walked through the streets of the great city. The men raised their hands in salute and their gladius proudly, the perfect image of a victorious march. The standard bearers, raised their golden eagles high, displaying the pride of each cohort in the Legion.
The army walked until we reached the center of the plaza in front of the temple of Jupiter, where the Emperor awaited our arrival to honor us for our efforts. Crowds surrounded us, in the circular plaza, an entire ocean of citizens, rich and peasants alike, and the Emperor and the senate standing atop the steps of the temple.
The Praetors stepped out into the front of the Legion and knelt to honor and respect the power of the Emperor, then we followed their example, and soon the crowd knelt altogether and silence covered the plaza.
"Praise the Gods, for our swift and decisive victory over our enemies' ' the Emperor began. "Our disciplined and mighty army has triumphed in our campaign against the Greeks."
He raised his hands, to portray an almighty image. "In our conquest of the known world, all shall be united under the Empire!" cheers erupted back as the citizens chanted for great "Rome!" and the great Emperor. The soldiers stood on their feet and saluted the emperor. It was indeed a great triumph, and with great triumph comes a fine welcome.
----
The Emperor honored the Praetors for their Valor and cunning in executing the offense, as well as each cohort in their bravery and unity against the enemy. Shortly after the welcoming ceremony, the army marched towards the barracks near the edge of the city, a group of large tents in an open field. Each tent, red and gold, being able to house near fifty to a hundred soldiers. My men were housed in the tent marked XXII, tent twenty two. I had Marcus lead the men into the tent as I was called between the centurions, under the main tent at the center of the barracks.
Many of the centurions were aged and old men, especially the ones who led the first few cohorts. Obviously the younger soldiers would be those of the last few centurions, no more than a young man with merely 10 years of service at best. They all sat down in a half circle, I took my seat in one of the seats in the far left. One of the aged centurions stood up and faced the rest.
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"The emperor has praised our efforts against the Greeks, so much so that he decided to award us and the men for it." he said formally. "Especially those who have proven themselves, exceptionally on the battlefield." He put his eyes on me and the men cheered.
"For your tremendous efforts, the Emperor found it fitting that you get a personal servant from the slaves taken from Corinth." As he finished, four soldiers brought in three Greek women, battered and bruised from head to toe, my stomach turned but I endured, and kept composed. "Take your pick, Pamphilus." He said with a devious smirk on his face, the other men laughed and were entertained by the situation, while the women were trembling and terrified.
I stood up and observed the three women brought in the middle of the semi-circle. Two were on the verge of tears, it was hard to see their faces, but it was obvious that they had been used by the men, perhaps even by the centurions themselves. One, however, was more composed than the others. Similar to the two, she had messy brown hair, her bruises covered her features, a scar on her lip, her eye was black, and her cheeks had faint hand marks on both sides. Her hands were in even worse shape than the others, having dried blood on the tips of her fingers and bruise marks from rope even darker than the others. She must have been fighting back, the fool.
I must have had a disgusted look on my face, as they quivered when I approached and inspected them. "Whom among you speaks the native tongue?" I said firmly and authoritatively.
The two quivering looked up at me in intervals, seemingly to check if I would hit them for not answering, but they did not respond. The heavily bruised girl stayed composed, even slowing her trembling. It seemed that was her response to my question. I walked towards her slowly and gazed down at her.
"Do you understand me?" I kept my gaze on her, as I waited for her to respond. No answer, but she raised her head slowly, and her hair fell back to reveal her eyes. It would have been bright green if it were not for the dried tears and the redness around her eyes. As her eyes met mine, it was not fear I saw, nor was it mere anger. Behind those eyes, was pure hatred covered in a dead and blank facade. Her weak expression hid hatred born from the depths of the underworld, and it was directed at me. Although she did not answer, I knew she understood me and refused to speak to spite me.
This woman would most surely meet an early death at the hands of any other officer, let alone the nobles. "She will do." I said, keeping my eyes on her, and her eyes on me. The men cheered and laughed enthusiastically, but all my attention was on the woman.
"Our brother has made his choice, the other two shall be free to be used by the entire Legion!" I did my best to drown out the contrast of laughter from the men, and the crying of the women. It did not do me well, as I was only able to focus on both intently. The soldiers took the two women, and the centurion standing walked to me. "Enjoy your prize, brother." he said with a big smile on his face. If it were at all possible for the hatred in one's eyes to bear searing endlessly, I have seen it, and I have earned it.