Junianus shook his head. "I fear that our Martinus' mind has become unhinged by disaster."
Fritharik snorted. "That just shows you don't know him. He gets that way when he's planning something. Just wait. He'll have a devilish clever scheme for upsetting the Greeks yet."
Junianus put his head in the door. "Some more messages, my lord."
"What are they?"
"Bloody John is halfway to Salerno. The natives are welcoming him. Belisarius reports he has defeated a large force of Franks."
"Come here, Junianus. Would you two boys mind stepping out for a minute? Now, Junianus, you're a native of Lucania, aren't you?"
"Yes, my lord."
"You were a serf, weren't you?"
"Well . . . uh . . . my lord . . . you see—" The husky young man suddenly looked fearful.
"Don't worry; I wouldn't let you be dragged back to your landlord's estate for anything."