Theseis Demascus Pevious's Story

The mighty sound of his legions march crashed in Theseis's ears. To him it was more beautiful than any music man could make "we're making good time gentlemen" he shouted steering his horse so he could view his soldiers march. He stopped before catching on a group of soldiers lagging behind "pick up the pace soldiers we have little time to spare and if you would like to suck the golden tit of your lives you can go home in dishonor!" he shouted over the sound of the march. The men quickly started to speed up "no Tribune!" "I can't hear you!!!" He said looking down at them "no Tribune!!!" he smiled "keep up the pace and will stop soon." He rode to the front of his legion, these men would follow their leader into hell itself if he asked them to and he would fall upon the sword for his men as well. Then he saw one of his scouts running back, possibly with news from the republic. He halted the march issuing orders to the centurions to stop the legionaries. The men went row to row single file to make sure no one was left behind during the march. Theseis looked down at the young scout, who could only be fourteen maybe fifteen "what news do you bring scout?" He asked looking down at him.

"A city northwest of here, it would make a good place to camp for the next week while restocking on supplies sir..." the scout said looking up at the general awaiting his decision on the matter.

"File in soldier... we're half way there" He spurred his horse and reared it to see his army awaiting command "forward" he roared and like a machine they were off again. A few hours latter the city saw the army approaching, one hundred thousand men strong, a jewel of the roman war machine. "We make camp outside the city, I'm sure they would not mind the protection, pitch tents and once your done, you may go to the city and enjoy yourselves... but if I hear one sound of discord their will be problems." He then left his soldiers to their own devices while he quietly tied his horse and moved into the city, not even bothering to change out of his worn blood stained armor. The general wryly sat down on a public bench wondering what to do next.

Theseis watched the swirling crowds of people as they passed by, when something caught his attention. A man started yelling at a young slave in the market and then smacked the boy across the face. He stood up and walked quickly towards the trader. The crowd gathered around the stage placing price on the slaves they found that they wanted.

The general turned to face the trader, his battle armor gleaming bright under the noon day sun. Theseis was easy to pick out of the crowd, and unlike those around him, he stood a taller than any man in that square, for he was a massive man of war.

He began to rummage through his purse counting his funds before looking at the trader "what do you want for the boy....." he said pointing up at Lykos looking at the man with a small glance.

The Trader looked up, his face falling for a moment. Damn, this guy was big. Not wanting to risk a confrontation, he grinned and motioned to the slave.

"3 copper bits for a man of war." He tried to sound as confident as he could.

Lykos, on the other hand, glared up defiantly at the armored man. He knew how to behave, sure, but he never made it easy on his new masters. He needed to push the limits and see just how much he could get away with. He would have kept the glare, but his cheek started to hurt from where he had been reprimanded.

Theseis looked at the man calmly and looked at the boy before back at the trader "before I buy... I must know.... what kind of experience does this boy have" He said looking at the Lykos with a small glance "I am a very wealthy man and my wife needs a new servant boy to help around the house and stables of my estate." He looked over Lykos " he isn't happy about this is he...."

Theseis looked Lykos dead in the eye before looking back at the man "so if you or the boy would like to begin, what skills does he have." Theseis looked at Lykos "you may put your input at anytime" he said before turning and waiting for an answer to his question, his real motives hidden from both boy and trader.

The Trade rsmiled, rubbing his hands together.

"I know not what he can do personally," He started, shoving the boy forward. "But I have heard he is decent when it comes to animals." His eyes glanced to the boy, glintly darkly. "He was even used as a pleasure doll by the masters guests from time to time."

Lykos blushed furiously, glaring at the Trader, but he kept his mouth shut, biting his lower lip.

"He works well with a knife as well, if that skill would ever be needed."

The Trader smiled, rubbing his hands together.

"I know not what he can do personally," He started, shoving the boy forward. "But I have heard he is decent when it comes to animals." His eyes glanced to the boy, glintly darkly. "He was even used as a pleasure doll by the masters guests from time to time."

Lykos blushed furiously, glaring at the Trader, but he kept his mouth shut, biting his lower lip.

"He works well with a knife as well, if that skill would ever be needed."

Theseis nodded slightly and pretend to think about these fact but then turned to face Lykos "what say you boy, does the man speak truth about these talents of yours?" he asked looking at him ever so slightly from under his helmet. He then turned and looked at the trader and back to the boy waiting for Lykos's answer quietly.

"what say you boy, does the man speak truth about these talents of yours?"

Lykos looked up, his face still a bright red. Looking between the two men, he tugged slightly at the rope.

"Yes..." He huffed, gently shrugging his shoulders. "I tended horses, I know my way around a blade as way as I do the body of a man." He grumbled the last few words, taking all of his restraint to just not wiggle his way free and bold down the street.

Lykos looked up, his face still a bright red. Looking between the two men, he tugged slightly at the rope.

"Yes..." He huffed, gently shrugging his shoulders. "I tended horses, I know my way around a blade as way as I do the body of a man." He grumbled the last few words, taking all of his restraint to just not wiggle his way free and bold down the street.

Theseis nodded slowly "you have yourself a deal slaver, three coins as promised" Theseis pressed the money into the mans hand and pulled him close "if I see you hit another person like that again, you will have no further use of your genitals" he said calmly in a low wispier. With that Theseis grabed the boy by the shoulder and lead him down the street towards the entrance of the city and back towards were his soldiers were camped after they were out of sight he pulled the boy into a back ally and cutting his bonds with his gladus.

The soldier looked him over "Are you hurt?" he asked quietly looking at the boy calmly.

As he was lead away, Lykos grinned at the look of pure terror that graced the Traders face.

Theseis grabed the boy by the shoulder and lead him down the street towards the entrance of the city and back towards were his soldiers were camped after they were out of sight he pulled the boy into a back ally and cutting his bonds with his gladus.

As they walked back towards the camp, his eyes never left his new master. The bind were cut, and Lykos was given the opportunity to rub and crack his wrists. He eyed the blades for a moment, restraining himself from grabbing them.

The soldier looked him over "Are you hurt?" he asked quietly looking at the boy calmly.

"I'm fine." He growled, crossing his arms over his chest. "So what are you gonna do with me?" He asked, locking his blue eyes with the taller mans.

"I'm fine." He growled, crossing his arms over his chest. "So what are you gonna do with me?" He asked, locking his blue eyes with the taller mans.

Theseis looked at him "aah perceptive...good... I will give you to choices, you can't leave and take this sack of coins" He said pulling out a bundle of cloth and opened, reveling a large sum inside. "Or you can join the ranks of the 3rd legion, though I must warn you both paths are filled with danger." He pause letting his words sink in "the first one, you can take the money and I will release you into the city, but if you are caught by the city guard or your friendly slaver friend you would be persecuted, maybe thrown in the arena or executed on the spot or sold to another owner who would have you whipped to the bone for your transgressions."

Theseis turned to Lykos "or you may join the legion and train as a soldier for Rome with as a free man, you will earn pay and be feed daily and most importantly will never have to deal with the treat of slavery again, but you will be expected to go through the hardships of your companions and be loyal to your cause to the gates of Hades and beyond and must deal with what your brothers in arms deal with every day, and you must be willing to give your life for your legion, if you chose this path you will be a legionare.... but either way, the choice is yours." He said simply

The young lad thought over the choices, weighing each one carefully. Leaning back against the wall, he looked up to the man.

"You're right." He huffed slightly, giving a light shrug. "I can't go back." Running a hand through his auburn locks, he motioned over his body. "But can you honestly tell me I would make a soldier." Looking down, he nudged a pebble with his foot. "All I am fit for is what I told you, sir. I tend horses, men, and knives."

He quickly brought a hand up, wiping a few tears that were threatening to fall. He wasn't going to cry in front of this man. Not a soldier. Yes, he was ashamed, but slave blood ran through his veins and it had been the only life he had known. Combat just seemed out of his reach. But, if he refused, he would have no where else to go. He would be cast from the city he had grown up in, and thrown into the world.

"But I have no choice... I'm yours."

The young lad thought over the choices, weighing each one carefully. Leaning back against the wall, he looked up to the man.

"You're right." He huffed slightly, giving a light shrug. "I can't go back." Running a hand through his auburn locks, he motioned over his body. "But can you honestly tell me I would make a soldier." Looking down, he nudged a pebble with his foot. "All I am fit for is what I told you, sir. I tend horses, men, and knives."

He quickly brought a hand up, wiping a few tears that were threatening to fall. He wasn't going to cry in front of this man. Not a soldier. Yes, he was ashamed, but slave blood ran through his veins and it had been the only life he had known. Combat just seemed out of his reach. But, if he refused, he would have no where else to go. He would be cast from the city he had grown up in, and thrown into the world.

"But I have no choice... I'm yours."

Theseis keeled down looking at Lykos before uttering something to him "nascuntur plurima, pauca sunt" he said quietly putting his hand on the boy shoulder before putting a hand on his shoulder "come their is much to show you." He lead Lykos into camp pointing out all of the places the he'd need to know, showing him the forge as well as the stables and his sleeping quarters before turning to him "you have your free time to get settled in.... I'm going to the market to get supplies" He said simply before heading off towards the square

(nascuntur plurima, pauca sunt means many are born, few are made)

Theseis looked around the market square eyeing the many exotic fruits before turning and find Lyko's muttering to himself stumbling through the market. He smiled before buying a fruit and heading over to Lyko's smiling a little. He had an idea of what happened but would keep quiet on the matter "So are we done already." He smirked before tossing the boy the piece of exotic fruit.

"Barely begun, sir." Lykos quipped back, tossing the piece of fruit with an almost expert hand. "But I guess this is the price one pays for a tent over their head and some clothes, eh?" A light smile graced his features as he looked up to his Master, taking a bite out of the fruit. It was sweet, almost too sweet. Shivering at the taste, Lykos licked his lips, a bit of the juice dribbling down his chin.