The guests at the House of Ezekias discuss an important visitor's arrival and the brothers Dixus have an illuminating confrontation.

Notes:
Tribune: any of various military and public officials in ancient Rome

Praetor: ancient Roman magistrate dealing with legal issues

Legatus Legionis: leader of the entire Legion, usually a senator

Primus Pilus: literally "First File"; commanding centurion of the first cohort & senior centurion of the entire Legion. Service in this position also allowed entry into the Equestrian class upon retirement.

Roman mile = .915 modern miles


Carola slid into her chair at the table, late for morning meal, earning her a silent reprimand from both her father and aunt. She had followed the slave bringing a rolled scroll to the master of the House, realizing this must be why the trumpets had sounded earlier. Today they were dining al fresco on one of the larger balconies, the weather having turned cooler in the mornings making it pleasant, with fresh breezes carrying the salt scent of the sea from several miles away.

"News from Rome!" Ezekias said, unrolling the dispatch that had just arrived with the courier. He quickly perused the document and frowned, letting it curl back up before raising his eyes to the gathered group.

"Is it bad news, Ezekias?" Deanna asked in concern, putting down her cup of tea.

Ezekias seemed to need to consider her question before responding.

"Surprising news." he replied, "We are to be honored with the presence of a representative of the Senate for the opening of the arena at Pompeii."

"A representative?' Regulus asked conversationally. "A Praetor? A Tribune?"

"No. A Legate...one who was born in Pompeii, earned fame as a Legionary commander by greatly increasing our territories in Pontus and who now returns in glory..." Ezekiel recounted.

Merlonius stiffened, his scowl growing deeper with each word. Deanna and Regulus also looked worried.

"A son of Pompeii who has risen so high brings blessings on occasion." said Batiatus, an up and coming Lanista from near Capua, visiting on a buying trip.

"Tell me, Regulus, did you ever have occasion to meet Legate Sejanus Neganus, Commander of the Legion of Blood?" Merlonius asked, looking off the balcony to the men and horses training in the yard. After a long pause he looked back at the others and grimaced. "I see by the look on your faces that you have." Merlonius said, his voice sour.

Regulus nodded unhappily. He had known him in Rome where they'd been schoolfellows, but definitely not friends. His previous encounters with Neganus, which he had shared with his wife, had been extremely unpleasant.

"Neganus is not a man who takes defeat well." Regulus intoned. "When I knew him in school, he was almost fanatical about winning, whether in debate or physical contest."

"He has only grown more so with time." Merlonius nodded.

"And how do you know him, Merlonius?" Batiatus asked, curious.

"He was my Legatus Legionis... in Pontus." Merlonius said, his jaw tight. "I was Primus Pilus of the first cohort."

Carola was surprised. She knew that Darolus' brother had served in the Legion, but had no idea he had risen to such a prominent position there.

"The decimated Legion..." Ezekiel said, shaking his head in sympathy.

Everyone knew the story of the harshest of punishments meted out by Neganus to his command after a humiliating defeat early in the conflict. Ten percent of the Roman soldiers were beaten to death by their fellow soldiers wielding clubs to atone for the loss of the battle.

"He had every tenth man... killed..." Carola said with soft horror, for the first time feeling something more than distrust for Darolus' brother. As Primus Pilus he was the leader of the most honored cohort in the Legion, the elite soldiers, and first among the Centurions of the other cohorts. He would have felt responsible for whatever failure had caused the imposition of the decimation; he had to give the order to strike down his own men.

"To insure those who survived would never make same mistakes again." Merlonius nodded.

"That has always seemed like a waste of good manpower to me." Ezekias said sagely, shaking his head in disgust.

"We are of one mind." Merlonius agreed, his voice tight with controlled anger. "They were honorable men who deserved a better fate... a better death..."

"I'm... I'm sorry for your losses." Carola said with great sympathy, causing Merlonius to glare at her suspiciously. She met his eyes and when he saw she was sincere he looked briefly confused before nodding in acknowledgement of the sentiment.

"Did the dispatch say how soon we are to welcome the Legate?" Regulus asked, trying to draw the conversation away from the sad topic. The man was going to arrive, despite the lack of enthusiasm his visit engendered.

Ezekias unrolled the scroll and continued reading.

"It was sent from Rome two weeks ago and relayed through Pompeii yesterday." he told them, "It gives his route as stopping in Alexandria first to—oh my—this is most unfortunate..."

"What?" Regulus asked.

"It seems that he planned to break his journey at your ludus, Regulus. He mentions that you went to school together and since he is in market for gladiators to represent him in upcoming games he thought he would patronize your establishment."

"Doctore Micha has permission to bargain when I am not present." Regulus said with confidence, "I trust her judgment implicitly. She knows which are for sale and which are to be held in reserve."

Carola found herself wondering which group Dixus' friend Aaronus fell into. She'd have to tell him the news tonight when she saw him.

"Then his intention was to come here to buy horses." Ezekias continued, "If he left Rome two weeks ago and stayed at least overnight in Alexandria, he should be here today or tomorrow."

"Today?" Carol gasped, if he came today she might not be able to sneak out tonight, not with all of the extra soldiers and slaves that would be sure to accompany them! Then realizing that all eyes had turned to her, she swallowed and blundered on, "but that's such short notice—chambers must be prepared—a banquet arranged, so many things—"

"Thoughts worthy of a Domina to be." Ezekias said with an approving twinkle in his eye. "I assure you dear girl, my people are more than up to the task." he smiled reassuringly, but then stood, "Apologies, I shall need to meet with Kitchens and House to make ready for our distinguished visitor."

"Of course." Deanna said, giving Carola an approving smile and inclining her head in agreement, "Let us know if we may be of any help."

"Gratitude, madam." Ezekias said and bowed before he swept out of the room.

"I must return to my duties as well." Merlonius announced, also rising, "I have a Latfundia to rebuild." he turned to Carola and took her hand in his, raising it to his lips to brush a kiss to her palm, "One that is also in great need of a worthy Domina."

Carola let the flush of anger in her cheeks be taken as a shy blush, keeping her head down to keep her tongue silent.


The girl was taking too long to win. Merlonius grumbled to himself as he made his way to the stable block to retrieve his horse. The House slave at the door had been put out when he'd refused to wait and have the animal tacked up and brought to him, but Merlonius preferred to do it himself, a remnant of his years in the military.

He didn't trust anyone else to correctly prepare his mount... well, he had once, but Legate Sejanus Neganus had taken that away from him with one brutal command. He could still see the stoic acceptance on his steward's face, hear his hoarse intoning of the ritual words, "I give my life for the glory of Rome," before he watched Hector be beaten to death. Fucking Rome. No amount of innocent blood would ever appease the cold unfeeling state with minions like Neganus to do its bidding.

With the Legate's arrival imminent he needed to have Carola's father's lands and coin all but secured before he could continue to extract his revenge. He could just force the issue by taking her against her will and letting them be discovered in flagrante delicto, but despite what she thought of him, he wasn't a rapist. What he needed was leverage, something to sway her to choose him, and as he walked into the barn, he thought he knew exactly how to get it.

Dixus looked up from trimming the big horse's feet to see what had caused Ajax to give a shuddering breath and move side to side uneasily. Setting down the hoof he was holding carefully he stood up and patted the stallion's neck soothingly.

"That's a fine animal." Merlonius said in a friendly tone as he looked Ajax over.

Dixus frowned, gripping the curved hoof knife in his hand like a weapon, but kept his silence.

"From Andalucía, if I have my wits about me." Merlonius continued, staring at both Dixus and the horse. "A fine piece of horse flesh indeed. What is he called?"

His eyes narrowed, Dixus knew better than to open his mouth. His brother was probably just looking for a chance to abuse him further.

"You may speak, slave." Merlonius said with mocking graciousness, but when Darolus still didn't respond, he stepped closer, his lips to the younger man's ear, "I wish to break words with my brother."

At that surprising statement, Dixus' took a step back and gave an incredulous look. His brother had disavowed their relationship the second he'd set foot in Regulus' ludus, going through with what he had called his "ridiculous plan."

Gritting his teeth, Dixus ignored the request and went back to grooming his horse, leaning into its side and making a clucking noise to get him to lift his foot.

Merlonius crossed his arms and watched in silence as Dixus completed his task. When he finished and stood he froze and Merle grinned, exchanging a look, both of them hearing the chatter of girlish voices outside the stable door.

"I don't care what Father says, I want to go riding today!" Carola said stubbornly.

"And he wants you to rest in preparation for arrival of Legate—and besides that Dominus Ezekias is too busy with preparations to go with you. It wouldn't do if you came upon his party unescorted as they came from Alexandria!" Andrea scolded, in what appeared to be a losing argument.

"Fine! I'll ask Doctore Viride to assign me an escort." Carola said, and then added slyly, "Perhaps one of the men in training needs to breeze his mount along the beach. Maybe that big one—Ajax?"

At that Andrea and she both laughed, but whatever they said next was lost as they moved further away to find the Doctore.

"So it's Ajax. He's a fine stallion" Merlonius grinned in satisfaction, but he was looking at Dixus bare chest and muscular arms, not at the horse. "The girl knows her beasts—looks like he could go all day—or all night..."

Dixus stiffened only slightly, but enough for his brother to know he'd hit his mark.

"Is her pussy as sweet as the rest of her?" Merlonius asked in a low mocking growl, licking his lips lasciviously. "I can't wait to find out."

Dixus had his brother shoved against the stall wall with the lethal sharp edge of the hoof knife at his neck before he even took time to think about it.

"Let me guess, touch her and I die? Gods save me from young fools in love." Merlonius sighed with a chuckle, but then his voice took on a totally serious tone of caring admonishment. "You've ruined your life for this girl, little brother, and if you get her with child by fucking her behind her father's back, you'll take her down with you."

The complete change of Merlonius' demeanor bewildered Dixus and he shoved him back again.

"Why are you acting like you give a shit about either one of us?" he blurted, "I'm a slave and she's a woman, both of us property to be bought and sold."

"Maybe I'm thinking of buying you as a wedding gift for her." Merlonius mocked, "You know I'm always happy to share."

"Asshole." Dixus spat, shoving him back again, angry at the reminder that was his brother, the very one who had shown him the ropes in Rome, seeing that he was invited to all the best house parties, and that they had indeed shared more than one lover while in attendance.

But never someone that either of them truly cared about.

"Apologies. I know how much you love her. Truly." Merlonius said, all pretense of teasing gone.

"What do you want from me?" Dixus searched his brother's face.

"I need your help." Merle said, again surprising Dixus with the intense seriousness of the request.

"Help? From a slave?" Dixus grunted.

"Help from my brother."

"Why would you need my help? From where I'm living, you have everything." Dixus said bitterly. His brother had exactly what he needed to bring suit for Carola and he had nothing.

"I don't have her. She will never marry me despite what her father says because she's in love with you."

"Then you should eliminate me and be done with it." Dixus said, "Or simply bide your time. Callicus is sure I'll die in the arena so you will only have to wait until after the dedication."

"If you die you know she'll follow you to Hades... And I need her alive to move forward with my plans."

The idea that if he died Carola would take her own life shocked Darolus until he realized that he would do the same, after he killed whoever had harmed her. With a grudging grunt he released Merlonius and took a step back.

"I assume it is her lands and coin that drive your need?" he asked, raising his hand to his mouth and chewing on the already raw looking cuticle of his thumb.

"She is a pretty little piece with what I imagine is a most lickable landica, but you are welcome to it and her." Merle said matter of factly, rubbing his throat, and then lifting his hand to examine it, searching for any evidence that Dixus had cut him. "All I need is the power and rank the acquisition of her estates will afford me."

"You want me to convince her to marry you."

"Yes. And after it is done, I will buy out your contract from Ezekias."

"You really are buying me as a wedding gift for her?" Dixus gave a reluctant snort of a laugh at the absurdity of the idea.

"Can you think of one better?"Merlonius shrugged, "At the end of the contract if the two of you have provided me with an heir for the House of Dixus, I will consider the bargain fulfilled and grant you both your freedom."

"An heir?"

"I cannot get a woman with child." Merlonius admitted, tight lipped, but shame showed in his usually cool blue eyes. "A wound in Pontus. I rise, but no seed finds its mark." According to the many Medicus he'd consulted, the sword's shallow slice had damaged the connection between his testicles and cock, scar tissue blocking sperm but not seminal fluid. He still had function, but had lost fertility. Something he had tested with a veritable harem of young healthy fertile slaves who had previously easily conceived and borne.

"Why now? Why couldn't you have come to me with this before I signed my life away?"

"I had just as much nothing as you back then—I needed to regain our holdings from that fat bastard Edgelus before I could move." Merlonius told him, his voice dripping with contempt when he said his supposed friend's name.

"I never could understand why you befriended that mingo drinker."

"He was but a means to an end, little brother." Merlonius smirked.

"As am I, and Carol." Darolus accused, "What are you really after, brother? Without knowing your end game, how can I believe you will keep your side of the bargain? That you won't just eliminate us as I assume you did your so-called friend?"

"My end game is having power over a man who thinks nothing of casually snuffing out a child's life for the sake of balancing his own business ledgers, a man who revels in torture and corrupting the innocent, a commander who put a hundred of my honorable fighting men to the fustuarium because he lost one fucking square mile of territory..."

"Legatus Sejanus Neganus." Dixus breathed, astounded, forgetting himself and putting his hand on his brother's arm. "You were part of the Legion of Blood? Why did I not know this?"

"Because I was trying to protect my baby brother from the stench of death I carried." Merlonius replied with a grimace, turning his arm so he was gripping Darolus' arm just as tightly in a formal greeting between soldiers. "Neganus is coming here, possibly as soon as today. I need the betrothal in place before then, brother. Will you help me?"

"I will need to talk to her... alone..." Dixus said, finding it hard to believe he was actually considering this insane idea.

"I will speak to Doctore Viride; I think your girl was correct: Ajax could use a good run along the beach." Merlonius said with a calculating grin. "And I'll see to it that her Curio are kept occupied."

"She may not wish to accept bargain." Dixus cautioned.

"She will when she realizes she has no other choice if she wishes you to live." Merlonius said, and then his tone turned mocking again, walking over and taking hold of Ajax's halter to look in the horse's eye, "You are shit as a Sagittarius, little brother; I've yet to see you fire one arrow to target while riding this beast..."

And then smirking, he turned on his heel and headed back out the stable door.


Decimation was a real thing: "Under such a sentence, a body of troops would be divided into sections of 10 men. One soldier from each group would be chosen at random, usually through a lottery. The unlucky infantryman would then to be beaten to death by his comrades. The sentences were carried out immediately regardless of the victim's rank, reputation or even involvement in the transgression in question. The fatal blows were typically with clubs — a practice the Romans called fustuarium."

"In 71 BCE, the legendary Marcus Licinius Crassus famously ordered part of his legion decimated after it failed to subdue the outlaw Spartacus and his rebel army." /2014/02/26/no-safety-in-numbers-a-brief-history-of-decimation/

Negan fits in kind of perfectly with ancient Rome, doesn't he?

How do we feel about Merlonius now? Should Darolus trust him? Will he be able to keep his promises?

Thanks for reading, following & favoriting! Special shout out to fangirl8494, CLADD & hopelesslydevotedsvu for all their encouragement on every chapter of this one. I appreciate hearing from you more than I can say.