Holding the wrist of his brother in arms, he got up and laughed while exchanging tips and pleasantries with his good friend whom he dueled with more often than anyone else. It was good training and they both benefited from it.

With his spear over his shoulder and his shield strapped to his arm, he began to loosen his armor and a slave took his shield and carried his things while they made their way back to his home in Alexandria. There he cleansed the blood and sweat from his body, during such a servant arrived to give him his daily report on the happenings and upgrades of his village in the island province of Polis.

He closed his eyes and tilted his head back, tossing the parchment across the room, waving his hand dismissively at the servant to leave him.

"I grow tired of building my village for a silent puppet who seems to care only for the number of slaves in his palace, and that cow that runs my province is no better. Does she do anything besides ask for more materials?" The servant had left and he was alone, but he continued his rant to himself.

"And what does she do with them? If I complain, would she be bothered to punish me? Surely it would take too much effort to pull herself away from the honorless slaves? And that damned Emperor who can't be bothered for much of anything, that damned Roman puppet who dares to call himself a leader of this Kingdom!"

He pounded a fist on the stone and opened his eyes to stare at the sun through the window until it blinded him. His life had value, he owned property and managed the lives of others; he was not a slave. So he got up and went to his bedroom. Clothed, he took his family necklace of gold and threw it into the fire.

"I will not be a slave. I will not give any more gold or materials to these ... ", he grumbled and called for his servant.

"Ready my things, we are leaving Alexandria immediately."

The servant bowed and questioned, "Returning to Polis, sir?"

"No ... never again. Let them learn to feed themselves, if they must. Just prepare to leave and if anyone asks, tell them we are going home.", and, "We're going west, I'll tell you when we get there. Do as I command."

And so he left.