Chapter 15 An ex Titan wants to bargain

Sam's POV

I gradually came to, only to discover I was barefoot, gagged and tied up. I pretended to still be out cold, as I tried to make sense of my situation. I remembered jumping the two Greeks on the road, and getting into a fight way out of our league. From there things got fuzzy. I figured after the Greeks finished us off I had been dragged to their camp. Probably to be tortured for information. The room was quiet so I opened my eyes to see I was alone, their arrogance was unreal. And the stories were right these people were barbarians, this billing was falling down around their ears and it looked like they had done nothing to fix it. I struggled with my bonds but however had bound me did a good job. I tried to yell for my captors to come out of hiding, but the gag kept me from enunciating. I tried again, only to get the same result, garbled noise from me with nothing but silence to greet it. Presuming I was completely alone I went back to work on my bonds. I struggled, eyes shut tight. Finally I gave up, there was no way I could get out. Opening my eyes I jumped so hard my head hit the wall hard. I hadn't heard anyone coming, yet standing over me was a tall, intimidating figure. A long sword was strapped to his waist, and a thick white scar ran from just under the right eye to his jaw. His eyes were cold, with no sign of mercy in them. His face was unreadable as he reached for his sword. My heart felt like it was about to beat out of my chest. He pulled the long sword and swiped at me faster than I could have hoped to react, his blade nothing more than a bler of two toned light. The rag that held my gag in place dropped onto my shoulder as the man replaced his weapon with equal speed. I sat stunned, my thoughts were sluggish with terror. I wondered how sharp that sword was for me to have not yet felt pain. My captor allowed a smile to play across the left side of his face. A cold mirthless smile which distorted that wicked scar and chilled me to the bone. After a few seconds I came to the conclusion that he hadn't cut me. Which was astounding considering the speed with which he moved. Regaining my composure I spat the socks at his feet.

"Release me at once!" I demand.

The man raised an eyebrow,

"Or what?"

His voice was calm but cared an edge of danger.

"Or you'll regret the day you were born!"

"Terrifying. Now who are you, and why should I care?"

Hopping to inspire fear in my captor I said,

"I am Sam Lamarcus. Legacy of Mars, former member of the second Cohort, loyal soldier of Rome, and its rightful Praetor Octavian."

"Never heard of you, and I'm not in the habit of fearing people I've never heard of."

"You should fear me."

"Oh why is that?"

I hesitated for a second too long, so Luke continued.

"Because unless you have an army there is no hope for you. Your comrades are all dead."

I swallowed, deciding a bluff was my best bet.

"As a matter of fact I do have an army, and it will probably be here within the hour."

"Ha, good try but not good enough. Now I want some information and you're going to give it to me, no questions asked."

"Who are you anyway? I probably haven't heard of you either. So why should I tell you anything?"

I was hoping my comment would rile him the same way he had done to me. Also I wanted to know what I was up against. Unfortunately it didn't work.

"You're probably right, you wouldn't know who I am. Which means it doesn't matter, except that I'm the one who's armed and not tied up. Now, get one thing straight, I ask the questions, not you."

My heart raised, I knew I was walking on thin ice but I challenged him again anyway.

"Why should I tell you what you want?"

A cold, heartless expression slid across his face as he got very close to mine.

"Because I'm willing to strike a bargain you can't refuse."