The foot was covered with the battered corpses of the barbarians, the blood had dried up, solidified on the straw sandals of the warriors, the thick smell of blood was disgusting, and exhaustion was written on the face of every Roman soldier, but no one could leave the position, for this was the last of all, and after Appis led the remaining four hundred legionary infantry to the high ground, the Britons surrounded it. Pen ~ fun ~ pavilion www.biquge.info

Yes, it was again surrounded by water, and the Britons, unable to break through the Roman line of defense, wanted to surround it, and when the Roman soldiers above were weakened and dead of hunger and lack of water, they rushed up and killed the hundreds of Roman infantry who were dying.

In such an environment, Appis couldn't help but think of Spartak in history, when the gladiator leader led the rebel army to flee to Vesuvius, he probably encountered quite a situation, the enemy surrounded the high ground on all sides, and his men were exhausted and wounded. It's just that history is history, Spartak finally relied on a few vines to successfully break through, and at the moment, there is nothing on this high ground, even the turf is so sparse, the only thing the army can count on is that after Dennis breaks out, he can tell the nearest Roman army the information, so that they can rush to support and relieve the siege.

"They say we won't survive three days, we don't have food and water, is that true?"

Emma asked, sitting under a large tree, depressed.

Her eyes were still so clear, like a child who had not yet been involved in the world, that in such a treacherous environment, Appis felt a pang of relief when he saw her.

For a moment, Appis felt that he was too cunning to let these inexperienced slaves stand on the periphery, blocking the guns for the legion and serving as cannon fodder for the legion, while many of them were still fantasizing about the freedom promised to them by the centurion after a successful breakout. However, Apis does not have this power at all, and Apis can only give Emma freedom alone, because she belongs to her own booty.

"Who's talking?"

Appis looked at Emma's delicate but tired face and couldn't help but reach out to wipe the blood from her face. And the deep wound on her shoulder, where she had been slashed by the Britons during the breakout during the night. At this moment, there was not even a bandage, and the blood flowed out and naturally coagulated at the wound, so that the wound stopped bleeding.

Appis even thought to himself that if he went out this time, he would return his freedom to this little girl. If she wants to stay with her, she will keep it, and if she doesn't want to, let her go. But only if you can break through this time......

"They, your soldiers, your men."

Emma replied as simply and directly as ever, but of course she kept her voice down, because not far away was the resting place of the Roman soldiers.

"Yes, we only carry enough food and water to last for three days, and even enough water for two days. Emma, tell me, do you hate me? If we go out this time, I will give you back the freedom that belongs to you, will you still be willing to stay on my side? Or is it going back to your tribe? ”

In a desperate situation, it is always easy for people to give up their so-called identity and status, comfort each other, and communicate with sincerity. Apis sat cross-legged in front of Emma and asked with some emotion.

"I don't know. Like you said, even if I return to the tribe, they won't accept me anymore. All of this is caused by your despicable people! Before, I was expecting you to release me, but now, I don't know what I am going to do if I leave you. Apass, you may not be the same. I don't hate you, but you're a Roman. I'm conflicted. ”

In the face of Appis's sincere treatment, Emma also seems to have spoken her inner thoughts. Well, it should be the inner thought, Germanic women are not as sophisticated as Roman women, they are still an almost primitive race, they like to speak and do things straight. And Emma is so old, and she has never experienced such a thing as the dispute between elders and patriarchs, so what she said was naturally serious, simple, and unprocessed.

And what Emma said is also somewhat in line with the situation. Ever since Apis brought her out of the pile of the dead, she has been a child without a home, a barbarian girl, taken captive by the Romans, and has no face to go back, her people will think that she has been defiled by the Romans, plus, the Black Forest is long, and Emma alone can't find a way back, even if she goes back, the tribe will not accept it, plus the family is already dead, and there is no point in going back. Thinking about it this way, Appis suddenly felt that the girl in front of him was not a little more pitiful than himself.

"You don't have to be contradictory. Maybe you really should forget about the past. Also, from today onwards, you are no longer my slave, you are free. You can choose to stay with me, and I can guarantee that you will not starve and freeze for the rest of your life, or, if you choose to leave me, I can write a letter to you to leave Rome. You can enter Gaul, enter Spain, or enter Greece. But I don't think it's going to be better than staying with me. ”

Appis suddenly relented, causing Emma to look at the "master" in front of her in surprise.

Emma bowed her head and fell silent, the sun not shining on her face. Like a wounded kitten, curled up in its own corner. This posture, this expression, suddenly reminded Abys of a person, a woman so similar to her - Octavia. The aristocratic girl who was far away in Rome. In a way, they are all so similar that they can't choose their own fate, Octavia was born into a noble family and was born with a fate that is not in her own hands, and Emma has lost everything she should have after her own relatives were killed by the Romans.

"I want to go out, I don't want to go back with you and see the Romans in my eyes. I hate them. ”

Emma pondered for a moment before slowly looking up and answering. With tears of resentment in her eyes, the sun was shining with some sadness, like a melancholy minuet.

"Well, you can have your own choice."

As he spoke, Apis took out a small piece of papyrus from his bosom, a writing instrument that was considered a luxury in those days, and Apis scribbled a few lines of Latin on the paper, and then stamped it with his own seal.

It is proof of Emma's freedom.

However, no one knows how much value this document has at this moment, at this moment, now. For beneath the heights were the dense crowds of Britons, who were scattered like wild beasts, and perhaps in two days' time, all the Roman soldiers here would be killed by the lack of food and water.