Fic: The Dead Can Live (part 7 of 14)
Marcus quickly caught Esca’s arm as he took a step forward towards the slave and held him back. It would not do to upset Placidus when the man had allowed them to see his slave even if he had used the meeting as an excuse to goad Marcus with his thinly veiled insult about the two of them being inseparable. Esca turned towards him sharply but where Marcus had expected a scowl or even an angry word or two, the expression on Esca’s face took him by surprise. Esca looked stricken and it took a moment for Marcus to understand why.
“He is known to you?” he asked but Esca was speechless as he turned his gaze back to the slave who was now staring incredulously back at him.
“What a happy reunion,” Placidus said and when Marcus glanced across at him, he saw behind the smile on the tribune’s face. It was not a smile of kindness or care but a satisfied smirk as if he had planned this very moment for his own amusement. “Your freedman may embrace my slave if it pleases him.”
Marcus could not hold onto Esca as the smaller man surged forward and threw his arms around the slave who embraced him in return. His eyes steadfastly refused to leave them both as they clung to each other and his heart lurched at the sight before him. Unexpected passion rose within Marcus and he yearned to hold Esca in his arms again and breathe in his scent, to kiss him and strip away his clothing, to rut against him and find release. Concerned that his body might physically betray him, Marcus tried to focus his attention on something else and noticed that Placidus was watching him closely, still smirking.
“Take the slave away,” Placidus instructed the soldier at the doorway. “That is enough.”
“No!” Esca cried out, his arms still locked firmly around the slave whose eyes flew wildly between Placidus and Marcus, unable to comprehend the situation. “Give us more time. Let me speak with him.”
“I have allowed you to see him, as I promised,” Placidus said, “but I cannot have the two of you conspiring together in your own tongue while your patron and I stand here oblivious to your plotting.” He laughed. “He is my slave, after all. Now, I think our business is concluded and I am very busy. I am pleased I could be of service to you Aquila and I bid you a good day.”
They had clearly been dismissed. Esca and the slave tried to hold on to each other, babbling words in their own language but the soldier forced them apart and grabbed the slave roughly, dragging him away and eventually out of sight. The sentry who had accompanied them to Placidus when they had first arrived appeared again to escort them out and Marcus had to manhandle a now silent Esca outside into the weak afternoon sun as he tried hard to make sense of things. Esca had never talked much of his life before he was taken in battle and sold into slavery but this Brigantes owned by Placidus had elicited a response in him that Marcus had not anticipated. Could the man be one of his brothers? If he was merely a friend, surely Esca would not have reacted in such a way. He was still as mute as a man whose tongue had been cut out as Marcus took him firmly by the shoulders and tried to shake him back to awareness.
“Esca. Esca!” Grey eyes stared upwards but looked straight through him. “Who was that slave?”
Esca’s mouth worked as if he were trying to speak but the words would not take form. Marcus looked around them, conscious of prying eyes and sharp ears. They could not do this here with the citizens of Calleva passing by and taking notice so he took Esca’s arm and hurried them both back to Uncle Aquila’s villa.
@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@
Esca’s head was spinning with every emotion known to him, all of them clamouring to be heard. He felt nauseous still and had to breathe deeply so he did not spill his guts on the tiled floor as he sat with Marcus in the atrium.
“His name is Trenus,” he said. “I have known him since I was a child barely old enough to stand.”
“He was your friend.”
“He was more to me than a friend.” He met Marcus’ eyes and held his gaze. “When our people rose up and fought the Romans I thought he had died and part of me died with him. I felt his loss as keenly as the loss of my family. I mourned him but I took comfort from knowing that he had fallen in battle, a brave warrior to the end and thus would have passed into the realm of our forefathers as a hero, to walk for all eternity amongst those who had gone before. To see him today and to know that all this time he has been a slave….”
Esca could not finish and he held his head in his hands, steadying himself and willing away the angry tears that threatened to spill from his eyes.
“I am sorry, Esca.”
“Are you?” he accused, rage burning brightly within him. “You have no idea what it is to know that he has suffered as I have when I thought him free of pain and misery.”
“You are upset, of course you are.”
Marcus’ tone was gentle and kindly but Esca did not want his sympathy and he cut him off before the man could continue.
“Trenus and I,” he said, “we knew we would have to part in order to marry and produce fine, strong sons who would become spears in later life, it was expected of us but unlike you Marcus, he did not simply toss me aside. He did not make promises to me that he did not keep. He was true to me, he loved me as I loved him.”
“If you had to give each other up,” Marcus asked, “can you not then understand why I must leave you and find a wife?”
“You could have told me why! Instead you let me think you had tired of me, that you no longer loved me.” The more he said, the louder Esca’s voice became until he was almost shouting. “Yes, I may have understood if you had explained your reasons when you returned from Calleva that time but you did not. You pushed me away. You mended my broken heart only to shatter it into a thousand pieces once more!”
Nothing further was said for a while, only the sounds of daily life in the villa filling the silence that shrouded them until Marcus spoke.
“Is it enough that you have seen Trenus and know he is alive?”
“No.” Esca shook his head. “I will not leave him to such a fate, not if I can do anything to put an end to it.”
“What will you do?”
All the way back to the villa, Esca had strived to think of a means by which Trenus could be freed. He knew little of the ways of Roman law regarding the freeing of slaves but he knew enough about men like Placidus to tell him that Trenus would be a slave for the rest of his life if the tribune remained as his master. There was therefore only one solution he could think of.
“You can buy him,” he said to Marcus. “Make the tribune an offer and buy him so he can be freed.”
“That is not how these things are done, Esca.”
“Do it for me, Marcus! If I ever meant anything to you, buy him and give him his freedom. Please.” Esca would beg, he would cry, he would manipulate, he would resort to violence to persuade Marcus to help obtain freedom for Trenus if he had to. “He should not be enslaved.”
“Placidus may not agree to sell him, Esca. Even if he does, to purchase a slave with the sole purpose of freeing him - people will talk at such an action.”
“Who cares if they do! You put too much stock in the opinions of others.” Esca hadn’t thought about the implication of his last words before he spoke them but a shadow passed across Marcus’ eyes and he saw an opportunity to twist the dagger a little more. “It works well enough for Manlius and since his household is of such interest to you, why should you not copy him?”
Marcus hung his head like a child who had been scolded and Esca wondered why the intended sting of his words brought him no pleasure.
“If I ask Placidus to sell him,” Marcus said, “will I see you smile once more?”
He looked as sorrowful as Esca had ever seen him and suddenly Esca was overcome with fatigue like he had not felt since they were running for their lives in the wilds of the Highlands. He shook his head and rubbed his hands over his face.
“I have seen such strength within you,” he said, his voice barely more than a whisper for it was all he could manage. “Why could you not have used that strength to rise above gossip and rules that should not have applied to us?”
Marcus reached out and placed his hand lightly against Esca’s arm. Perhaps it was a gesture of regret or a silent request for reassurance but Esca could offer him no comfort and he pulled gently away. Marcus made no attempt to touch him again.
“If we do not have enough money to purchase Trenus then I shall ask my uncle,” he said. “Perhaps he can also be persuaded to use his influence with the legate to encourage Placidus to sell if the man is unwilling. One way or another Esca, your friend will have his freedom.”
@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@
Marcus paced in his chamber long after the rest of the household had retired for the night. He thought about Esca, about everything that he had allowed to happen between them. He thought about the slave, Trenus, and condemned himself for the jealousy he felt at hearing that Esca had loved before. Had he really been so naïve to think that Esca had been an innocent when he had been captured? He had been a man, a warrior, old enough to fight and therefore old enough to love.
As he had done so often lately, Marcus cursed himself for a fool, for having hoped that Esca had loved only him. When had he become so selfish? Like a child who did not want a toy until someone else tried to take it from him, it had taken the sight of Esca in someone else’s arms to make him fully feel the consequences of his actions. In his heart he dearly wished he could undo all that had been done but no matter how he regarded the current situation, it seemed that such a path was no longer open to him.
Esca wanted his friend’s freedom. If Marcus was to follow his plan to marry then how could he deny Esca this? He owed him.
If he was to follow his plan. If.
No, he had to have the courage of his convictions. He would call on Placidus uninvited and force a meeting to discuss the slave. He would do everything in his power to bring about Trenus’ freedom for Esca and then all three of them would return to the farm and Marcus would court Lucilia. Whatever happened thereafter was in the hands of the gods and Marcus prayed that they would be merciful.
@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@
“Another visit so soon? I am indeed honoured that a man I have such respect for has seen fit to grace me with his presence once more.”
The smile on Placidus’ face did not reach his dark eyes and Marcus felt disconcerted by the tribune’s words which sounded false and mocking coming from his mouth.
“I feel that I did not have the opportunity to conclude my business with you yesterday,” he advised, “and I have a proposal for you.”
“A proposal?” Placidus mused. “You have my ear.”
There was nothing to be gained from skirting around the issue so Marcus waded straight in. “Will you sell the slave?”
A sharp bark of something approaching laughter escaped Placidus as his eyes widened and his brows shot up his high forehead.
“You never fail to astound me, my friend,” he said. “First, you come here asking to see a slave that I possess and now you return to ask if I will sell him. You do seem to favour the Brigantes, don’t you. Are you so desperate to have them that you must propose private sales rather than simply attend the auctions like any other man? Tell me Marcus, what is it that draws you to them?”
Marcus ignored the questions.
“We have need of help on the farm,” he replied, saying the first thing that entered his head. “Since your slave is known to Esca already, I thought he would make a most excellent addition to my household.”
“They do make wonderful slaves, don’t they? One feels such a sense of achievement when managing to make them obey orders. It’s like gaining control of a wolf.”
“Will you sell him?” Marcus asked again, forcefully this time. “Yes or no?”
“You have forgotten your manners, Aquila,” Placidus snapped. “This is my property we speak of and you have no right to come here and demand answers from me. Keep a civil tongue in your head or you may inspire me to send him so far away from here that you will never find him again. How would you explain that to your freedman?”
“This has nothing to do with Esca.”
“Do not take me for a fool. He wants his friend and you want to please him. Tell me, are the rumours I hear true or are they just filthy slander?”
“You may draw your own conclusion,” Marcus bit out. “I find that your opinion does not interest me.”
Again, that sly smile spread across Placidus’ face and he chuckled, his anger forgotten. “Perhaps I will sell him,” he said after a moment. “You look surprised.”
Marcus had no doubt that he did as he considered that he had never faced a more unpredictable foe. He did not know Placidus well but surely there must be some ulterior motive to the man’s easy acquiescence.
“I had expected you to decline outright,” he said and he had never spoken truer words.
“How fortunate for you then that I find I do not want the Brigantes after all. Of course I have no wish to sell him for less than I paid but if you are unable to meet the price and effect a private sale then I am sure I can send him to the markets and find a buyer there.”
“Name your price.”
“My, my, you are in a hurry. Have you no wish to inspect him? I may wish to sell him because he is diseased or sickly or otherwise undesirable.”
“Name your price.” Marcus repeated each word slowly and distinctly.
Placidus shrugged his shoulders. “Two thousand and five hundred sesterces.”
Marcus swallowed hard but kept his expression steady so Placidus would not see his discomfort. That was almost all the money he had, everything that he had wanted to keep for the farm, for the future he had planned with Esca. That future was gone, he remembered. What use was that money to him now? If he married Lucilia, she would bring a large dowry with her. Still, he had to haggle a little for he did not want to look as weak and desperate as he felt.
“Fifteen hundred,” he said.
“Do not insult me and provoke my displeasure, Aquila. Remember, I am in possession of something you want. Twenty two hundred.”
“Eighteen hundred,” Marcus offered.
Placidus sighed. “This bores me. I will accept two thousand sesterces for him and not a single sestertius less.”
“Your price is acceptable to me.”
“Splendid. It is fortunate, is it not, that of all the slaves I could have purchased, I happened upon one who is known to your Esca.” Placidus picked up a scroll from the desk and unrolled it. “In another coincidence - surely the gods must have been guiding my hand - I have already had the magistrate draw up a document detailing the terms of the slave’s sale. All it requires is the mark of his new master.”
Marcus had faced the Seal people, he had faced the Dumnonii at Isca Dumnoniorum but here with Placidus, he felt like a fly caught in a spider’s web. The man had meant for this to happen. He had known somehow of Esca’s link to Trenus and he had planned this, knowing that Esca and therefore Marcus himself would come calling. He had even anticipated their offer to purchase. The man truly would make a politician to rival any that could be found in the Senate in Rome!
“You knew I’d come,” Marcus said, struggling to keep control of his anger.
“I counted on it.”
“What is your game?” Marcus asked, standing up to his full height, instinctively deploying the stance of a soldier facing down an enemy.
“Game? There is no game.” Placidus looked shocked, then grinned at him lasciviously. “Tell me, do you intend to bed both of them?”
“How dare you!”
“Or perhaps Esca will run away with him. You will need to be careful, Marcus lest you find yourself working that farm of yours alone.”
Marcus gritted his teeth and told himself not to rise to the bait, resisting the urge to place his hands around Placidus’ neck and squeeze the life out of him. Placidus waved the document in front of him and Marcus snatched it, reading the single sheet of papyrus with a feeling of foreboding but he had already broken too many promises to Esca. He could not return to the villa and tell Esca that he had failed him once more so he took the document to the desk and made his mark upon it. Placidus approached, standing close beside him and when Marcus looked up his ingratiating smile was gone, replaced by a look of pure scorn.
“Let us see how loyal your little Brigantes whore is to you now,” Placidus whispered, his voice low and as menacing as he could make it. He took the sheet of papyrus and rolled it into a scroll as the two of them stared hard at each other, Marcus so angry he almost shook with it. “Too late for you to change your mind,” he continued in a louder voice, “unless you want to hear rumours that you do not honour your deals alongside the rumours of your unnatural ways.”
“If the opportunity ever presents itself,” Marcus growled, “I will see you grovel at my feet and beg for mercy.”
Placidus snorted, his nostrils flaring. “I will have your new slave delivered to you at your uncle’s villa as soon as you arrange for the fee to be paid to me. Do enjoy him, Aquila. I shall be interested to hear how things fare for you.”
Marcus could not bear to spend a moment longer in the man’s presence. Despite the twinge in his leg from his muscles being so tense for so long, he stormed out as fast as he could, knocking against the sentry at the doorway and not bothering to stop to apologise.
“He is known to you?” he asked but Esca was speechless as he turned his gaze back to the slave who was now staring incredulously back at him.
“What a happy reunion,” Placidus said and when Marcus glanced across at him, he saw behind the smile on the tribune’s face. It was not a smile of kindness or care but a satisfied smirk as if he had planned this very moment for his own amusement. “Your freedman may embrace my slave if it pleases him.”
Marcus could not hold onto Esca as the smaller man surged forward and threw his arms around the slave who embraced him in return. His eyes steadfastly refused to leave them both as they clung to each other and his heart lurched at the sight before him. Unexpected passion rose within Marcus and he yearned to hold Esca in his arms again and breathe in his scent, to kiss him and strip away his clothing, to rut against him and find release. Concerned that his body might physically betray him, Marcus tried to focus his attention on something else and noticed that Placidus was watching him closely, still smirking.
“Take the slave away,” Placidus instructed the soldier at the doorway. “That is enough.”
“No!” Esca cried out, his arms still locked firmly around the slave whose eyes flew wildly between Placidus and Marcus, unable to comprehend the situation. “Give us more time. Let me speak with him.”
“I have allowed you to see him, as I promised,” Placidus said, “but I cannot have the two of you conspiring together in your own tongue while your patron and I stand here oblivious to your plotting.” He laughed. “He is my slave, after all. Now, I think our business is concluded and I am very busy. I am pleased I could be of service to you Aquila and I bid you a good day.”
They had clearly been dismissed. Esca and the slave tried to hold on to each other, babbling words in their own language but the soldier forced them apart and grabbed the slave roughly, dragging him away and eventually out of sight. The sentry who had accompanied them to Placidus when they had first arrived appeared again to escort them out and Marcus had to manhandle a now silent Esca outside into the weak afternoon sun as he tried hard to make sense of things. Esca had never talked much of his life before he was taken in battle and sold into slavery but this Brigantes owned by Placidus had elicited a response in him that Marcus had not anticipated. Could the man be one of his brothers? If he was merely a friend, surely Esca would not have reacted in such a way. He was still as mute as a man whose tongue had been cut out as Marcus took him firmly by the shoulders and tried to shake him back to awareness.
“Esca. Esca!” Grey eyes stared upwards but looked straight through him. “Who was that slave?”
Esca’s mouth worked as if he were trying to speak but the words would not take form. Marcus looked around them, conscious of prying eyes and sharp ears. They could not do this here with the citizens of Calleva passing by and taking notice so he took Esca’s arm and hurried them both back to Uncle Aquila’s villa.
@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@
Esca’s head was spinning with every emotion known to him, all of them clamouring to be heard. He felt nauseous still and had to breathe deeply so he did not spill his guts on the tiled floor as he sat with Marcus in the atrium.
“His name is Trenus,” he said. “I have known him since I was a child barely old enough to stand.”
“He was your friend.”
“He was more to me than a friend.” He met Marcus’ eyes and held his gaze. “When our people rose up and fought the Romans I thought he had died and part of me died with him. I felt his loss as keenly as the loss of my family. I mourned him but I took comfort from knowing that he had fallen in battle, a brave warrior to the end and thus would have passed into the realm of our forefathers as a hero, to walk for all eternity amongst those who had gone before. To see him today and to know that all this time he has been a slave….”
Esca could not finish and he held his head in his hands, steadying himself and willing away the angry tears that threatened to spill from his eyes.
“I am sorry, Esca.”
“Are you?” he accused, rage burning brightly within him. “You have no idea what it is to know that he has suffered as I have when I thought him free of pain and misery.”
“You are upset, of course you are.”
Marcus’ tone was gentle and kindly but Esca did not want his sympathy and he cut him off before the man could continue.
“Trenus and I,” he said, “we knew we would have to part in order to marry and produce fine, strong sons who would become spears in later life, it was expected of us but unlike you Marcus, he did not simply toss me aside. He did not make promises to me that he did not keep. He was true to me, he loved me as I loved him.”
“If you had to give each other up,” Marcus asked, “can you not then understand why I must leave you and find a wife?”
“You could have told me why! Instead you let me think you had tired of me, that you no longer loved me.” The more he said, the louder Esca’s voice became until he was almost shouting. “Yes, I may have understood if you had explained your reasons when you returned from Calleva that time but you did not. You pushed me away. You mended my broken heart only to shatter it into a thousand pieces once more!”
Nothing further was said for a while, only the sounds of daily life in the villa filling the silence that shrouded them until Marcus spoke.
“Is it enough that you have seen Trenus and know he is alive?”
“No.” Esca shook his head. “I will not leave him to such a fate, not if I can do anything to put an end to it.”
“What will you do?”
All the way back to the villa, Esca had strived to think of a means by which Trenus could be freed. He knew little of the ways of Roman law regarding the freeing of slaves but he knew enough about men like Placidus to tell him that Trenus would be a slave for the rest of his life if the tribune remained as his master. There was therefore only one solution he could think of.
“You can buy him,” he said to Marcus. “Make the tribune an offer and buy him so he can be freed.”
“That is not how these things are done, Esca.”
“Do it for me, Marcus! If I ever meant anything to you, buy him and give him his freedom. Please.” Esca would beg, he would cry, he would manipulate, he would resort to violence to persuade Marcus to help obtain freedom for Trenus if he had to. “He should not be enslaved.”
“Placidus may not agree to sell him, Esca. Even if he does, to purchase a slave with the sole purpose of freeing him - people will talk at such an action.”
“Who cares if they do! You put too much stock in the opinions of others.” Esca hadn’t thought about the implication of his last words before he spoke them but a shadow passed across Marcus’ eyes and he saw an opportunity to twist the dagger a little more. “It works well enough for Manlius and since his household is of such interest to you, why should you not copy him?”
Marcus hung his head like a child who had been scolded and Esca wondered why the intended sting of his words brought him no pleasure.
“If I ask Placidus to sell him,” Marcus said, “will I see you smile once more?”
He looked as sorrowful as Esca had ever seen him and suddenly Esca was overcome with fatigue like he had not felt since they were running for their lives in the wilds of the Highlands. He shook his head and rubbed his hands over his face.
“I have seen such strength within you,” he said, his voice barely more than a whisper for it was all he could manage. “Why could you not have used that strength to rise above gossip and rules that should not have applied to us?”
Marcus reached out and placed his hand lightly against Esca’s arm. Perhaps it was a gesture of regret or a silent request for reassurance but Esca could offer him no comfort and he pulled gently away. Marcus made no attempt to touch him again.
“If we do not have enough money to purchase Trenus then I shall ask my uncle,” he said. “Perhaps he can also be persuaded to use his influence with the legate to encourage Placidus to sell if the man is unwilling. One way or another Esca, your friend will have his freedom.”
@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@
Marcus paced in his chamber long after the rest of the household had retired for the night. He thought about Esca, about everything that he had allowed to happen between them. He thought about the slave, Trenus, and condemned himself for the jealousy he felt at hearing that Esca had loved before. Had he really been so naïve to think that Esca had been an innocent when he had been captured? He had been a man, a warrior, old enough to fight and therefore old enough to love.
As he had done so often lately, Marcus cursed himself for a fool, for having hoped that Esca had loved only him. When had he become so selfish? Like a child who did not want a toy until someone else tried to take it from him, it had taken the sight of Esca in someone else’s arms to make him fully feel the consequences of his actions. In his heart he dearly wished he could undo all that had been done but no matter how he regarded the current situation, it seemed that such a path was no longer open to him.
Esca wanted his friend’s freedom. If Marcus was to follow his plan to marry then how could he deny Esca this? He owed him.
If he was to follow his plan. If.
No, he had to have the courage of his convictions. He would call on Placidus uninvited and force a meeting to discuss the slave. He would do everything in his power to bring about Trenus’ freedom for Esca and then all three of them would return to the farm and Marcus would court Lucilia. Whatever happened thereafter was in the hands of the gods and Marcus prayed that they would be merciful.
@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@
“Another visit so soon? I am indeed honoured that a man I have such respect for has seen fit to grace me with his presence once more.”
The smile on Placidus’ face did not reach his dark eyes and Marcus felt disconcerted by the tribune’s words which sounded false and mocking coming from his mouth.
“I feel that I did not have the opportunity to conclude my business with you yesterday,” he advised, “and I have a proposal for you.”
“A proposal?” Placidus mused. “You have my ear.”
There was nothing to be gained from skirting around the issue so Marcus waded straight in. “Will you sell the slave?”
A sharp bark of something approaching laughter escaped Placidus as his eyes widened and his brows shot up his high forehead.
“You never fail to astound me, my friend,” he said. “First, you come here asking to see a slave that I possess and now you return to ask if I will sell him. You do seem to favour the Brigantes, don’t you. Are you so desperate to have them that you must propose private sales rather than simply attend the auctions like any other man? Tell me Marcus, what is it that draws you to them?”
Marcus ignored the questions.
“We have need of help on the farm,” he replied, saying the first thing that entered his head. “Since your slave is known to Esca already, I thought he would make a most excellent addition to my household.”
“They do make wonderful slaves, don’t they? One feels such a sense of achievement when managing to make them obey orders. It’s like gaining control of a wolf.”
“Will you sell him?” Marcus asked again, forcefully this time. “Yes or no?”
“You have forgotten your manners, Aquila,” Placidus snapped. “This is my property we speak of and you have no right to come here and demand answers from me. Keep a civil tongue in your head or you may inspire me to send him so far away from here that you will never find him again. How would you explain that to your freedman?”
“This has nothing to do with Esca.”
“Do not take me for a fool. He wants his friend and you want to please him. Tell me, are the rumours I hear true or are they just filthy slander?”
“You may draw your own conclusion,” Marcus bit out. “I find that your opinion does not interest me.”
Again, that sly smile spread across Placidus’ face and he chuckled, his anger forgotten. “Perhaps I will sell him,” he said after a moment. “You look surprised.”
Marcus had no doubt that he did as he considered that he had never faced a more unpredictable foe. He did not know Placidus well but surely there must be some ulterior motive to the man’s easy acquiescence.
“I had expected you to decline outright,” he said and he had never spoken truer words.
“How fortunate for you then that I find I do not want the Brigantes after all. Of course I have no wish to sell him for less than I paid but if you are unable to meet the price and effect a private sale then I am sure I can send him to the markets and find a buyer there.”
“Name your price.”
“My, my, you are in a hurry. Have you no wish to inspect him? I may wish to sell him because he is diseased or sickly or otherwise undesirable.”
“Name your price.” Marcus repeated each word slowly and distinctly.
Placidus shrugged his shoulders. “Two thousand and five hundred sesterces.”
Marcus swallowed hard but kept his expression steady so Placidus would not see his discomfort. That was almost all the money he had, everything that he had wanted to keep for the farm, for the future he had planned with Esca. That future was gone, he remembered. What use was that money to him now? If he married Lucilia, she would bring a large dowry with her. Still, he had to haggle a little for he did not want to look as weak and desperate as he felt.
“Fifteen hundred,” he said.
“Do not insult me and provoke my displeasure, Aquila. Remember, I am in possession of something you want. Twenty two hundred.”
“Eighteen hundred,” Marcus offered.
Placidus sighed. “This bores me. I will accept two thousand sesterces for him and not a single sestertius less.”
“Your price is acceptable to me.”
“Splendid. It is fortunate, is it not, that of all the slaves I could have purchased, I happened upon one who is known to your Esca.” Placidus picked up a scroll from the desk and unrolled it. “In another coincidence - surely the gods must have been guiding my hand - I have already had the magistrate draw up a document detailing the terms of the slave’s sale. All it requires is the mark of his new master.”
Marcus had faced the Seal people, he had faced the Dumnonii at Isca Dumnoniorum but here with Placidus, he felt like a fly caught in a spider’s web. The man had meant for this to happen. He had known somehow of Esca’s link to Trenus and he had planned this, knowing that Esca and therefore Marcus himself would come calling. He had even anticipated their offer to purchase. The man truly would make a politician to rival any that could be found in the Senate in Rome!
“You knew I’d come,” Marcus said, struggling to keep control of his anger.
“I counted on it.”
“What is your game?” Marcus asked, standing up to his full height, instinctively deploying the stance of a soldier facing down an enemy.
“Game? There is no game.” Placidus looked shocked, then grinned at him lasciviously. “Tell me, do you intend to bed both of them?”
“How dare you!”
“Or perhaps Esca will run away with him. You will need to be careful, Marcus lest you find yourself working that farm of yours alone.”
Marcus gritted his teeth and told himself not to rise to the bait, resisting the urge to place his hands around Placidus’ neck and squeeze the life out of him. Placidus waved the document in front of him and Marcus snatched it, reading the single sheet of papyrus with a feeling of foreboding but he had already broken too many promises to Esca. He could not return to the villa and tell Esca that he had failed him once more so he took the document to the desk and made his mark upon it. Placidus approached, standing close beside him and when Marcus looked up his ingratiating smile was gone, replaced by a look of pure scorn.
“Let us see how loyal your little Brigantes whore is to you now,” Placidus whispered, his voice low and as menacing as he could make it. He took the sheet of papyrus and rolled it into a scroll as the two of them stared hard at each other, Marcus so angry he almost shook with it. “Too late for you to change your mind,” he continued in a louder voice, “unless you want to hear rumours that you do not honour your deals alongside the rumours of your unnatural ways.”
“If the opportunity ever presents itself,” Marcus growled, “I will see you grovel at my feet and beg for mercy.”
Placidus snorted, his nostrils flaring. “I will have your new slave delivered to you at your uncle’s villa as soon as you arrange for the fee to be paid to me. Do enjoy him, Aquila. I shall be interested to hear how things fare for you.”
Marcus could not bear to spend a moment longer in the man’s presence. Despite the twinge in his leg from his muscles being so tense for so long, he stormed out as fast as he could, knocking against the sentry at the doorway and not bothering to stop to apologise.