and not become the spoils of war. Septimus, as many of the other commanders under Belisarius who expected to make their fortune in the aftermath, was not exactly thrilled with the edict. On the other hand, any Vandal and his property, which included his family, could be taken without censure. Rumors of a great treasure, taken during the sacking of Rome and supposedly hidden by the Vandal king drove the soldiers into a frenzy as they ruthlessly sacked the city.
A few citizens protested. Belisarius impaled the head of one such wealthy landowner in front of the townspeople and the protests immediately abated. I looted treasure from an abandoned house before searching for Septimus. With my leash held tightly in his hand, he had no fears that I would try to escape.
It didn’t take long to find him. A group of his soldiers were pillaging a wealthy Vandal household near the king’s palace. The noble’s house stood several stories. As soon as I entered, I knew I found the right place. I tightened the leather strap of the baldric across my chest. The gold, which I wrested away from another soldier, sat heavily inside its pouch. A cohort of soldiers, about sixty, ransacked the spacious house. In the front room, a few feasted on fresh fruit without a glance toward the body of an old woman, possibly a nursemaid, lying on the floor. She was naked, her legs splayed wide, and her stomach was mutilated from the repeated stabs of a sword. Bending down, I drew together her tattered clothes, managing to cover just a bit of her.
“Is she to your liking, Vane?” a brawny soldier, Sergius, said from just inside a hallway. His eyes showed no emotion as he watched me. It helped not to have any in these times. He held a tankard of ale in one hand and an axe in another.
I stated the obvious. “She’s dead.”
He shrugged. “She’s still warm.”
I hid my distaste, standing up. “Where is he?”
Sergius’s lips curved up. It was not a good sign. “The Vandals have been living like fat pigs. He found much more upstairs.”
Not wanting to waste any more time on Septimus’s lackey and oft times lover, I headed upstairs. Sergius put a hand on my chest and stopped me before I could pass him. “He protects you, young centurion. You are property and therefore valuable, but if you suddenly weren’t, my men and I would enjoy taming a wild one such as you.”
Before he could blink, I had my sword at his throat. I may have been a frail boy in comparison to him, but they all knew I had yet to lose a fight. Despite the reediness of my voice, I said forcefully, “Watch yourself, Sergius. You know he won’t allow anyone else but him to touch me. He shares you. Not me.”
His hardened eyes flared with jealousy, revealing the depth of feeling he had for Septimus. I only suspected their trysts, so inside, I crowed. Now I had the upper hand. My lips curled into a sneer. He didn’t resist when I shrugged his hand off me. I added silkily, “Besides, I doubt you would have the… stamina to hold me.”
Surprise and a spark of lust lit in Sergius’s eyes.
I smiled. I’d learned quickly to play with the enemy. Sometimes I even enjoyed it.
Sergius’s rage was unveiled as he spat, “He’ll tire of you soon, once you’re all used up.”
Careful to keep my sword up, I took a step to move past him. “Or you are.”
“We understand each other.” Sergius smirked. “I would give it a few minutes before you interrupt him. He’s busy.”
A knot twisted in my belly at his words as I hurried through the house. Beaten servants, the lucky ones, cowered in various corners of the house, trying to hide from the carousing soldiers. I found Septimus in the largest bedchamber. He’d taken off his white plumed helmet, revealing a pretty face topped by black hair, sprinkled with strands of grey. A golden breastplate over a white tunic protected his lean chest. Steel greaves and armor covered surprisingly strong legs, including the knees. His sword was tucked into his belt. Its blade was dirty with blood. In his hand, he casually held a curved knife.
Septimus was standing over a canopied bed. Against my better judgment, I went into the room. A woman in fine clothes sat on the bed. She was bound and gagged. The top of her gown had been torn to reveal a