Servivs's Ascent
Several months after Servivs arrived in Gnatia, Lvcivs Cornelivs Scipio, a respected legatus, assumed his position as acting provincial dictator of Kalabria, with his office based in a Tarentine noble's mansion, which he had generously donated to Roma as penance for supplying food for Phyrros's elephants and an entire regiment of cavalry.
Servivs knew this because he had come to Tarentum only a week after the provincial dictator's arrival, just in time to see the public scourging of said noble. Lvcivs had stepped onto the platform and said something about it serving as a warning to those who would defy Roma.
As the crowd dispersed and the natives got back to their business, Servivs followed Lvcivs and his entourage at a discrete distance, stopping once to laugh out loud at the nearest man and exclaim in fluent Doric Greek, "Greetings, friend! So, what did you want to meet me here for?" when a bodyguard turned to study him for several seconds. After the bodyguard lost interest, he left the dumbfounded Tarentine behind and continued stalking the Romans.
As they approached the mansion, Servivs took to hiding in alleyways and behind streetcorners, until finally he saw Lvcivs entering a large building, two of his guards assuming their positions outside the entrance. After waiting in the shrubbery for an hour, he took a deep breath and stepped onto the main path, taking care to make it appear as if he were coming down the road. Striding right up to the guards, who exchanged a quick glance, he said in Latin "Out of my way, you cretins! I must speak with Senator and Legatus Scipio, Provincial Dictator of Kalabria immediately!"
One of the guards raised a bushy eyebrow while giving the other a sidelong glance. The other nodded curtly, and opened the door for Servivs. Brushing past them in a huff, he entered the mansion. He almost stopped to admire the exquisite busts and frescoes in the main hall, but checked himself and continued on, nearly blundering into Lvcivs himself, who turned his head slightly in an attempt to avoid the terrible smell emanating from the man in front of him.
Turning to the guards, a look of distaste marring his handsome features, he merely said "Care to explain?" His face settled into an impenetrable mask as the soldier explained, "He said that he had to speak with you immediately." The other guard chimed in "Should we throw this beggar, or even worse, deserter, into the cellar?"
Servivs turned on the guards furiously, grating "Now see here, you son of a Greek whore, I am here on order of the Senate!" As he said this, Lvcivs's eyes widened in surprise, but he quickly assumed his neutral gaze once again when Servivs turned and continued "I am to be this province's treasurer; I am to serve as an aid to the distinguished provincial dictator and to facilitate the proper administration of tax and trade revenue in the region, so that Roma may be strengthened. Hail the Senate and people of Roma!"
Lvcivs finally broke his facade with a smirk: "So tell me, where is your Senatorial decree? Surely you were given the proper papers?"
And Servivs immediately knew that his pre-made excuse would not work on this man; he was clearly not a fool. He decided to try his luck anyway, as he had nothing to lose.
"Alas, I was mugged by a dirty Samnite while travelling through the mountains. He stole all my denarii, my horse, and the sack containing my papers! I had to obtain new clothes on the way, and as you can see, they were of poor quality" he said, pointing at his stained and torn tunic.
"I see", Lvcivs murmured, "but tell me this - why were you sneaking around in the street earlier today, speaking in Greek? And it's strange that, after spending so much time in rags, you didn't approach me immediately and make yourself known."
Servivs tried to swallow, but he could not remember how.
"Also, I am not the provincial dictator, per se - I am the ACTING provincial dictator. Or were you not informed of that back in Roma?"
Silence.
"So, the way I see it, at least 25 lashes with the scourge and a lifetime of slavery is what you currently face. Unless you can give me a good reason to let you go free for lying and impersonating a Roman official? No? Then goodbye. Guards, you have my orders." He turned and walked back down the hall.
As one of the guards made to grab Servivs by the shoulder, he said "Wait", and, encouraged by Lvcivs stopping, began to make his plea: "I have a thorough knowledge of mathematics. I was taught by a student of Aristotle. So, I can be your...unofficial adjutant. Test me in any way you deem fit, and if I do not meet your standards, then you can just have me executed. What have you got to lose?"
Lvcivs, a skilled bureaucrat and mathematician himself, turned to face Servivs, who looked back into his eyes unwaveringly.
"Send this man up to my quarters in an hour. But, have him bathe first."
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