<div style="color:black;font: 10pt arial;">
<div style="font-family:arial,helvetica;font-size:10pt;color:black">
<div id="yiv7471622459">
<div style="color:black;font:10pt arial;">
<div><font size="4">More of the Garum scene. I find the idea of eating garum disgusting. The horrors done to slaves angering. <br>
</font></div>
<div><font size="4"><br>
</font></div>
<div><font size="4">Chris</font></div>
<div><font size="4">The Lurking Fox<br>
</font></div>
<div><font size="4"><br>
</font></div>
<div><font size="4"><br>
</font></div>
<div><font size="4"><br>
</font></div>
<div><font size="4">*******************<br>
</font></div>
<div><br>
</div>
<div>
<div class="yiv7471622459MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height:normal;"><span style="font-size:16.0pt;font-family:New serif;"> </span></div>
<div class="yiv7471622459MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height:normal;"><span style="font-size:16.0pt;font-family:New serif;"><span style=""> </span>For protection Bitt noted about a half dozen
guards dressed and armed like the sentry at the gate. All seemed equally bored
and just ignored the legionnaires.</span></div>
<div class="yiv7471622459MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height:normal;"><span style="font-size:16.0pt;font-family:New serif;"> </span></div>
<div class="yiv7471622459MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height:normal;"><span style="font-size:16.0pt;font-family:New serif;"><span style=""> </span>The slaves themselves were energetically
avoiding the legionnaires. Always managing to put a tank between them and the soldiers.</span></div>
<div class="yiv7471622459MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height:normal;"><span style="font-size:16.0pt;font-family:New serif;"> </span></div>
<div class="yiv7471622459MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height:normal;"><span style="font-size:16.0pt;font-family:New serif;"><span style=""> </span>The supervisor was of no help at all. He
stood off with folded arms and scowled at the Legionnaires. Saying not a word.</span></div>
<div class="yiv7471622459MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height:normal;"><span style="font-size:16.0pt;font-family:New serif;"> </span></div>
<div class="yiv7471622459MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height:normal;"><span style="font-size:16.0pt;font-family:New serif;"><span style=""> </span>Eteiwi took a small jug out of his pack and
handed it to Vinius. The decanus went over to Gallio and offered him a drink.</span></div>
<div class="yiv7471622459MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height:normal;"><span style="font-size:16.0pt;font-family:New serif;"> </span></div>
<div class="yiv7471622459MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height:normal;"><span style="font-size:16.0pt;font-family:New serif;"><span style=""> </span>The ermine took the jug and sniffed the open
top for a moment. Then he took a long drink. “I don’t need any of you coming
here and spying on me,” the ermine snarled instead of a thank you.</span></div>
<div class="yiv7471622459MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height:normal;"><span style="font-size:16.0pt;font-family:New serif;"> </span></div>
<div class="yiv7471622459MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height:normal;"><span style="font-size:16.0pt;font-family:New serif;"><span style=""> </span>“We don’t want to be here,” your master;
Gavrus asked us to come,” Vinius responded.</span></div>
<div class="yiv7471622459MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height:normal;"><span style="font-size:16.0pt;font-family:New serif;"> </span></div>
<div class="yiv7471622459MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height:normal;"><span style="font-size:16.0pt;font-family:New serif;"><span style=""> </span>“What does he know?” The ermine responded.
“He comes here for a day or two each month and complains that I’m spending too
much money.”</span></div>
<div class="yiv7471622459MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height:normal;"><span style="font-size:16.0pt;font-family:New serif;"> </span></div>
<div class="yiv7471622459MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height:normal;"><span style="font-size:16.0pt;font-family:New serif;"><span style=""> </span>Vinius looked around. “Spending too much
money on what?” He asked incredulously.</span></div>
<div class="yiv7471622459MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height:normal;"><span style="font-size:16.0pt;font-family:New serif;"> </span></div>
<div class="yiv7471622459MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height:normal;"><span style="font-size:16.0pt;font-family:New serif;"><span style=""> </span>Gallio shook his head. “Trade with the
capitol is down. Gavrus is worried he will have to sell one of his palaces and
not overeat so much.”</span></div>
<div class="yiv7471622459MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height:normal;"><span style="font-size:16.0pt;font-family:New serif;"> </span></div>
<div class="yiv7471622459MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height:normal;"><span style="font-size:16.0pt;font-family:New serif;"><span style=""> </span>“Instead of just garum why not do wine?”
Vinius suggested. “Everyone else around us are growing grapes for wine.”</span></div>
<div class="yiv7471622459MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height:normal;"><span style="font-size:16.0pt;font-family:New serif;"> </span></div>
<div class="yiv7471622459MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height:normal;"><span style="font-size:16.0pt;font-family:New serif;"><span style=""> </span>The ermine shook his head. “I don’t need
some legionnaire telling me what to do. I know how to run this place.”</span></div>
<div class="yiv7471622459MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height:normal;"><span style="font-size:16.0pt;font-family:New serif;"> </span></div>
<div class="yiv7471622459MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height:normal;"><span style="font-size:16.0pt;font-family:New serif;"><span style=""> </span>Vinius shook his head. “If we keep having to
come back here it’s clear you don’t know how to run this place.”</span></div>
<div class="yiv7471622459MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height:normal;"><span style="font-size:16.0pt;font-family:New serif;"> </span></div>
<div class="yiv7471622459MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height:normal;"><span style="font-size:16.0pt;font-family:New serif;"><span style=""> </span>These slaves are worthless,” the supervisor
snapped. “I have to keep at them to get any work from them at all.”</span></div>
<div class="yiv7471622459MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height:normal;"><b><span style="font-size:16.0pt;font-family:New serif;"> </span></b></div>
<div class="yiv7471622459MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height:normal;"><span style="font-size:16.0pt;font-family:New serif;"><span style=""> </span>“If you treated your people better perhaps
there wouldn’t be any problems,” the hound commented.</span></div>
<div class="yiv7471622459MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height:normal;"><span style="font-size:16.0pt;font-family:New serif;"> </span></div>
<div class="yiv7471622459MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height:normal;"><span style="font-size:16.0pt;font-family:New serif;"><span style=""> </span>Gallio snarled at the legionnaire.</span></div>
<div class="yiv7471622459MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height:normal;"><span style="font-size:16.0pt;font-family:New serif;"> </span></div>
<div class="yiv7471622459MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height:normal;"><span style="font-size:16.0pt;font-family:New serif;"><span style=""> </span>Nearby the rest of the legionnaires watched
the two but were interested in trying to find a spot that stank less. With
little success.</span></div>
<div class="yiv7471622459MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height:normal;"><span style="font-size:16.0pt;font-family:New serif;"> </span></div>
<div class="yiv7471622459MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height:normal;"><span style="font-size:16.0pt;font-family:New serif;"><span style=""> </span>“So,” Bitt asked slowly. “How many times
have you been down here before?”</span></div>
<div class="yiv7471622459MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height:normal;"><span style="font-size:16.0pt;font-family:New serif;"> </span></div>
<div class="yiv7471622459MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height:normal;"><span style="font-size:16.0pt;font-family:New serif;"><span style=""> </span>“Us or the legion as a whole?”<span style=""> </span>The hyena asked. “We’ve only been here twice
before. Thankfully. But the legion seems to come here every few weeks.”</span></div>
<div class="yiv7471622459MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height:normal;"><span style="font-size:16.0pt;font-family:New serif;"> </span></div>
<div class="yiv7471622459MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height:normal;"><span style="font-size:16.0pt;font-family:New serif;"><span style=""> </span>“Why?” The fox asked.</span></div>
<div class="yiv7471622459MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height:normal;"><span style="font-size:16.0pt;font-family:New serif;"> </span></div>
<div class="yiv7471622459MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height:normal;"><span style="font-size:16.0pt;font-family:New serif;"><span style=""> </span>“The owner is a supporter of the governor,” Decebalus
explained. “And he complains to the governor and the governor tells the Legatus
to satisfy him.”</span></div>
<div class="yiv7471622459MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height:normal;"><span style="font-size:16.0pt;font-family:New serif;"> </span></div>
<div class="yiv7471622459MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height:normal;"><span style="font-size:16.0pt;font-family:New serif;"><span style=""> </span>“And we get stuck in the stench,” Bitt
muttered.</span></div>
<div class="yiv7471622459MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height:normal;"><span style="font-size:16.0pt;font-family:New serif;"> </span></div>
<div class="yiv7471622459MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height:normal;"><span style="font-size:16.0pt;font-family:New serif;"><span style=""> </span>Tossius laughed. “You don’t see the governor
coming out in this smell? He’s back in his palace sipping wine.”</span></div>
<div class="yiv7471622459MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height:normal;"><span style="font-size:16.0pt;font-family:New serif;"> </span></div>
<div class="yiv7471622459MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height:normal;"><span style="font-size:16.0pt;font-family:New serif;"><span style=""> </span>“And eating something weird dipped in
garum,” Sabinus added.</span></div>
<div class="yiv7471622459MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height:normal;"><span style="font-size:16.0pt;font-family:New serif;"> </span></div>
<div class="yiv7471622459MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height:normal;"><span style="font-size:16.0pt;font-family:New serif;"><span style=""> </span>Vinius left the ermine and came over to the
legionnaires.</span></div>
<div class="yiv7471622459MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height:normal;"><span style="font-size:16.0pt;font-family:New serif;"> </span></div>
<div class="yiv7471622459MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height:normal;"><span style="font-size:16.0pt;font-family:New serif;"><span style=""> </span>“How did it go?” Bitt asked Vinius.</span></div>
<div class="yiv7471622459MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height:normal;"><span style="font-size:16.0pt;font-family:New serif;"> </span></div>
<div class="yiv7471622459MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height:normal;"><span style="font-size:16.0pt;font-family:New serif;"><span style=""> </span>“As expected,” the hound answered. “Rude as
usual.”</span></div>
<div class="yiv7471622459MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height:normal;"><span style="font-size:16.0pt;font-family:New serif;"> </span></div>
<div class="yiv7471622459MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height:normal;"><span style="font-size:16.0pt;font-family:New serif;"><span style=""> </span>The fox looked at one of the workers who was
laboriously stirring one of the tanks with a long wooden rake. “Who would do
such work?”</span></div>
<div class="yiv7471622459MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height:normal;"><span style="font-size:16.0pt;font-family:New serif;"> </span></div>
<div class="yiv7471622459MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height:normal;"><span style="font-size:16.0pt;font-family:New serif;"><span style=""> </span>“They’re slaves Bitt,” he responded. “They
have no choice.”</span></div>
<div class="yiv7471622459MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height:normal;"><span style="font-size:16.0pt;font-family:New serif;"> </span></div>
<div class="yiv7471622459MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height:normal;"><span style="font-size:16.0pt;font-family:New serif;"><span style=""> </span>Bitt turned and looked at Vinius with a gaze
of anger and determination that was so strong the hound shivered. “There is
always a choice,” the fox growled. “Better to die honorable than live like
that. Slavery should be banned.”</span></div>
<div class="yiv7471622459MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height:normal;"><span style="font-size:16.0pt;font-family:New serif;"> </span></div>
<div class="yiv7471622459MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height:normal;"><span style="font-size:16.0pt;font-family:New serif;"><span style=""> </span>“Slavery is an important part of the empire.
The empire would collapse if there were no more slaves,” the hyena countered.</span></div>
<div class="yiv7471622459MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height:normal;"><span style="font-size:16.0pt;font-family:New serif;"> </span></div>
<div class="yiv7471622459MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height:normal;"><span style="font-size:16.0pt;font-family:New serif;"><span style=""> </span>“No,” the fox responded with a hard shake of
the head. “No. We don’t have slaves at all back home.”</span></div>
<div class="yiv7471622459MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height:normal;"><span style="font-size:16.0pt;font-family:New serif;"> </span></div>
<div class="yiv7471622459MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height:normal;"><span style="font-size:16.0pt;font-family:New serif;"><span style=""> </span>“None at all?” Vinius asked, surprised.</span></div>
<div class="yiv7471622459MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height:normal;"><span style="font-size:16.0pt;font-family:New serif;"> </span></div>
<div class="yiv7471622459MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height:normal;"><span style="font-size:16.0pt;font-family:New serif;"><span style=""> </span>“None,” the fox responded and repeated.</span></div>
<div class="yiv7471622459MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height:normal;"><span style="font-size:16.0pt;font-family:New serif;"> </span></div>
<div class="yiv7471622459MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height:normal;"><span style="font-size:16.0pt;font-family:New serif;"><span style=""> </span>“How does your society do without slaves?”
The hyena asked,</span></div>
<div class="yiv7471622459MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height:normal;"><span style="font-size:16.0pt;font-family:New serif;"> </span></div>
<div class="yiv7471622459MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height:normal;"><span style="font-size:16.0pt;font-family:New serif;"><span style=""> </span>“Quite well,” the fox responded. “And we
don’t need to have legionnaires watching over the workers. And we certainly
don’t eat rotten fish guts.”</span></div>
<div class="yiv7471622459MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height:normal;"><span style="font-size:16.0pt;font-family:New serif;"> </span></div>
<div class="yiv7471622459MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height:normal;"><span style="font-size:16.0pt;font-family:New serif;"><span style=""> </span>“I like your people already!”</span></div>
<div class="yiv7471622459MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height:normal;"><span style="font-size:16.0pt;font-family:New serif;"> </span></div>
<div class="yiv7471622459MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height:normal;"><span style="font-size:16.0pt;font-family:New serif;"> </span></div>
<div class="yiv7471622459MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height:normal;"><span style="font-size:16.0pt;font-family:New serif;">*****************</span></div>
<div class="yiv7471622459MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height:normal;"><span style="font-size:16.0pt;font-family:New serif;"> </span></div>
<div class="yiv7471622459MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height:normal;"><span style="font-size:16.0pt;font-family:New serif;"> </span></div>
<div class="yiv7471622459MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height:normal;"><span style="font-size:16.0pt;font-family:New serif;"><span style=""> </span>When the tribune returned, he found the
contubernium waiting for him outside the gate and upwind. The smell was
marginally less horrid there.</span></div>
<div class="yiv7471622459MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height:normal;"><span style="font-size:16.0pt;font-family:New serif;"> </span></div>
<div class="yiv7471622459MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height:normal;"><span style="font-size:16.0pt;font-family:New serif;"><span style=""> </span>“What did you see?” the Tribune asked.</span></div>
<div class="yiv7471622459MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height:normal;"><span style="font-size:16.0pt;font-family:New serif;"> </span></div>
<div class="yiv7471622459MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height:normal;"><span style="font-size:16.0pt;font-family:New serif;"><span style=""> </span>“I see that If he treated his people better
he wouldn’t have these problems,” Bitt growled.</span></div>
<div class="yiv7471622459MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height:normal;"><span style="font-size:16.0pt;font-family:New serif;"> </span></div>
<div class="yiv7471622459MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height:normal;"><span style="font-size:16.0pt;font-family:New serif;"><span style=""> </span>“Bitt,” the decanus ordered. “Keep quiet.”</span></div>
<div class="yiv7471622459MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height:normal;"><span style="font-size:16.0pt;font-family:New serif;"> </span></div>
<div class="yiv7471622459MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height:normal;"><span style="font-size:16.0pt;font-family:New serif;"><span style=""> </span>“Let him speak,” the tribune ordered.</span></div>
<div class="yiv7471622459MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height:normal;"><span style="font-size:16.0pt;font-family:New serif;"> </span></div>
<div class="yiv7471622459MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height:normal;"><span style="font-size:16.0pt;font-family:New serif;"><span style=""> </span>“There are no raiders or bandits,” the fox
explained. “No one in his right mind would strike here with this horrible
stench. You wait till the garum is being carried in some caravan. When it’s on
some lonely stretch of road.”</span></div>
<div class="yiv7471622459MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height:normal;"><span style="font-size:16.0pt;font-family:New serif;"> </span></div>
<div class="yiv7471622459MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height:normal;"><span style="font-size:16.0pt;font-family:New serif;"><span style=""> </span>“If not bandits,” the buck asked. “Then
who?”</span></div>
<div class="yiv7471622459MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height:normal;"><span style="font-size:16.0pt;font-family:New serif;"> </span></div>
<div class="yiv7471622459MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height:normal;"><span style="font-size:16.0pt;font-family:New serif;"><span style=""> </span>Bitt didn’t answer at first but simply
turned and looked back at the tanks. Three of the slaves were looking at them
for a moment. Then they went back to work. Making an extra effort to ignore the
legionnaires. “If you treated a Legionnaire like that they would mutiny.”</span></div>
<div class="yiv7471622459MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height:normal;"><span style="font-size:16.0pt;font-family:New serif;"> </span></div>
<div class="yiv7471622459MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height:normal;"><span style="font-size:16.0pt;font-family:New serif;"><span style=""> </span>“They’re not Legionnaires,” the legate
countered.</span></div>
<div class="yiv7471622459MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height:normal;"><span style="font-size:16.0pt;font-family:New serif;"> </span></div>
<div class="yiv7471622459MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height:normal;"><span style="font-size:16.0pt;font-family:New serif;"><span style=""> </span>“But they are still people,” Bitt answered.</span></div>
<div class="yiv7471622459MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height:normal;"><span style="font-size:16.0pt;font-family:New serif;"> </span></div>
<div class="yiv7471622459MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height:normal;"><span style="font-size:16.0pt;font-family:New serif;"><span style=""> </span>“Not to him,” Vinius answered and pointed up
the slope to the manor.</span></div>
<div class="yiv7471622459MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height:normal;"><span style="font-size:16.0pt;font-family:New serif;"> </span></div>
<div class="yiv7471622459MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height:normal;"><span style="font-size:16.0pt;font-family:New serif;"><span style=""> </span>“He’s a fool,” the fox snapped. “My parents
taught me that you can tell how good a leader is by how he treats the people he
leads.”</span></div>
<div class="yiv7471622459MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height:normal;"><span style="font-size:16.0pt;font-family:New serif;"> </span></div>
<div class="yiv7471622459MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height:normal;"><span style="font-size:16.0pt;font-family:New serif;"><span style=""> </span>The tribune laughed. “Words of wisdom to
live by. That are lost on him. I want you to patrol the area. For the next two
days. Make a show of it. Be sure everyone knows you are around. That should
quiet things down.”</span></div>
<div class="yiv7471622459MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height:normal;"><span style="font-size:16.0pt;font-family:New serif;"> </span></div>
<div class="yiv7471622459MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height:normal;"><span style="font-size:16.0pt;font-family:New serif;"><span style=""> </span>“For a while,” Vinius added.</span></div>
<div class="yiv7471622459MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height:normal;"><span style="font-size:16.0pt;font-family:New serif;"> </span></div>
<div class="yiv7471622459MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height:normal;"><span style="font-size:16.0pt;font-family:New serif;"><span style=""> </span>Bitt nodded his head. “Eventually they will
start rebelling again and we will have to come back. Again and again.”</span></div>
<div class="yiv7471622459MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height:normal;"><span style="font-size:16.0pt;font-family:New serif;"> </span></div>
<div class="yiv7471622459MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height:normal;"><span style="font-size:16.0pt;font-family:New serif;"><span style=""> </span>“I will speak with the Legio Legatus and
explain what is really going on,” the legate explained.</span></div>
<div class="yiv7471622459MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height:normal;"><span style="font-size:16.0pt;font-family:New serif;"> </span></div>
<div class="yiv7471622459MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height:normal;"><span style="font-size:16.0pt;font-family:New serif;"> </span></div>
<div class="yiv7471622459MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height:normal;"><span style="font-size:16.0pt;font-family:New serif;">*****************</span></div>
<div class="yiv7471622459MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height:normal;"><span style="font-size:16.0pt;font-family:New serif;"> </span></div>
</div>
<div style="font-family:arial, helvetica;font-size:10pt;color:black;">
<div id="yiv7471622459">
<div style="color:black;font:10pt arial;"></div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>