Herald of Steel

Casting his eyes off Remus, Alexander turned his attention to another man, who seemed to have taken the wrong medicine today.

It was time he had a talk with him.

"Theocles, I wanted to talk about our supplies situation. Cambyses tells me it's really dire." Alexander said, approaching the bearded man.

"Ah, Alexander, I wanted to get your advice on that as well. She is right, we are in a bit of a pinch. Let us go discuss this somewhere quieter." Theocles enthusiastically gestured to follow.

​ Many might find a freeman being so cordial to a mere slave surprising.

But this was not a unique case for Alexander only.

Because, unlike the pitiless, racist, extremist of the American south where slavery was determined by the color of your skin, here slavery had no barriers.

Race, sex, religion and even social status held no say if you could or could not become a slave.

One could become a slave by being in debt, being captured as a prisoner of war, being conquered, or because of committing a crime.

If one's luck wasn't good, even the sons and daughters of nobles could become slaves.

And because of this potentiality, though punishing and beating a disobedient slave was considered normal, society as a whole tended to look down upon anyone who would kill slaves without any reason.

Of course, a slave master could legally beat a disobedient slave to death in public just as well as he could do it to a fully obedient one.

But this was the social equivalent of putting your feet up on the table during a dinner party or wearing a bikini to a wedding.

Technically legal, but you won't be making any friends this way.

And in this age of strict social hierarchy, one's social standing meant a lot.

Much, much more than it does in modern times.

One's business, social contacts, friends, and even access to good food and drinks all depended on your social status.

And thus, most people who made it there were careful to toe the line and not stray far for fear of being turned into a pariah.

As most slaves looked like them, though they had no legal rights, they could surprisingly set up shop, earn money, hold official posts and even be tutors for their master's children.

A slave could give his own opinions and even argue with his masters over things such as business, work, investments, etc.

And most of the time, if their masters were reasonable, would take heed of their judgment because many times a slave would know more about a particular topic than them.

Some slaves were even paid wages by their masters and could buy back their freedom.

And, it was common to see rich masters free slaves in their wills, almost the equivalent of modern-day charity donations.

As such, though not legally seen as humans, society viewed them as one.

It was just that society didn't believe all humans deserved the same rights.

Hence it was not at all strange for Theocles to Alexander treat amiably, who was far from being ordinary.

Invited to get away from curious ears, Alexander agreed, "Then please lead the way.".

Soon, under the curious gazes of the crowd, who stayed behind to witness the battle about to occur at the foot of the valley, the duo made their way toward the middle of the camp.

"How long do you think this group will last?" Alexander offhandedly asked as he followed Theocles meandering through the tents.

"If Nestoras doesn't die soon, then not long. Most likely this campaign will be our last." Theocles ominously predicted.

"Hmmm," Came the silent hum of agreement from Alexander.

He too shared Theocles's view.

A leader who charges into battle alone, against the advice of all his phalanx captains, with less than a hundred people following him was of no sound mind to lead anyone.

In his mind, Alexander, who has skeptical about the existence of god, silently prayed for Nestoras to not return alive today.

The rest of the walk passed in silence, as the duo at last reached the place Theocles was leading them to, his tent.

"Tal, Sal, did you finish helping Cambyses?" Theocles asked the two standing guards as he approached them.

"Yes, we helped mistress carry everything she asked for. She's at the medical camp now." Tal answered nodding his head.

"Good, good, great job." Theocles exaggeratedly praised. "Now, I am sure both of you are tired today. Return to your quarters and I shall call you when I require it." He said.

The slaves looked at each a bit confused at this order, and then Sal suggested, "But, sir your tent will be left unguarded. Let at least one of us stay."

"Go, now!" Suddenly Theocles's amicable tone turned fierce as he commanded the slaves to leave.

Hearing the hard tone, the two slaves quickly lowered their heads, turned around and left for the communal slave quarters, leaving the two men out of any prying ears.

"Please, kindly enter." Theocles softly invited Alexander to follow him inside the tent.

And after they entered, he pointed to a chair and gestured, "Please sit here and make yourself comfortable."

"I will stand. Your attitude is making me sick." Came Alexander's freezing reply."

"Hehe, I just want to know I am on your side." Theocles wasn't at all bothered by the rude answer.

Even he would be on guard if someone he didn't get along with suddenly started getting all chummy.

"Right…." Came the slow drawn reply.

"You are right to be suspicious. I can even guess what you are thinking, 'What's he plotting?', 'Did someone put him up to this to get my trust?', 'What's his angle?' Well, let me explain." Theocles said, spreading out his arms.

"This ought to be good." Alexander thought, as he silently stared at the man.

"To make a long answer short, it's because you are the only realistic choice," Theocles revealed.

Then he started to explain in excruciating detail his entire reason, "You see me siding with you was not an impromptu decision. As a matter of fact, I decided to mend our bridges after long and careful deliberation." He revealed.

"I will admit I didn't pay a lot of attention to you at first. All those new things you showed in your childhood, I chalked it up as you being a bona fide boy genius or that sage story you made up. It was only after Nestoras replaced Constans with Menes as second in command did I vaguely started getting a sense of your ambition. Tsk, tsk, so low yet so ambitious, you are." Theocles said in a surprisingly praising tone.

Sensing the tone of his voice and knowing the various powerplays inside the group, Alexander had an inkling where Theocles was going, and so decided to open up a bit.

He revealed with a crafty grin, "Nestoras was my absolute master and had complete control over me in my first eight years. I had to be very obedient and carefully toe the line. But with my talent revealing itself, Nestoras began to appreciate me more and more. He began to slowly trust me more and more and even let me indulge in some of my fancier whims. All to keep the golden goose laying good, large, golden eggs."

This golden egg was a euphemism for all his innovations, from food to tactics to medical skills.

He then raised his fist and said, "But using this trust, over time I managed to manipulate him more and more to my way. My magnum opus till now is the Menes-Constans thing that you pointed out. I simply hinted to him that if Constans remained second in command, it may be hard for his son Octavius to smoothly take over and he bought it hook, line and sinker.

"I then pointed him to the only viable candidate who could go toe to toe with Constans here- Menes and Nestoras looked at the black giant with love in his eyes. After all, Menes had little reputation in the group, had the low status of a former slave and his previous master was Octavius. A perfect subservient second in command in Nestoras's eyes, who would not only not challenge Octavius but could even help and protect him, as he did before… heh."

That little 'heh' he said at the end with a disdainful smirk carried almost an infinitude of mockery towards his master.

Because it was after that did Alexander suddenly seem to gain wings and now, protected by Menes, his demure towards Nestoras began to rapidly change.

He started to do things his way, in ways that benefitted him, regardless of his master's wishes.

Menes too changed from the dumb, loyal giant they all thought of him he was.

He left Nestoras and Octavius's faction soon, finding his own faction with Alexader and the two began to openly consolidate their position in the soldiers' hearts at an astronomical pace.

And because of Nestoras and Constans's rivalry, who were more focused on each other than Alexander and Menes, the two youngsters could grow and flourish to this day.