<strong>Dominus restrains the Pict and answers the question</strong><br/><br/><div class="floatright">(http://i1221.photobucket.com/albums/dd468/sybakrys/Amplus/article-1057070-050F37D70000044D-98_468x465.jpg)</div>With the Pict still in position, with her back to him, he pulled her to the front of the cage and in one swift movement wrapped the collar around her neck and fastened it. When satisfied that is was not too tight, he took the chain in his hand and pulled it hard so that the Pict was tight to the bars. He was no softy and little reminders like this would serve to remind her of this.<br/><br/>Putting his foot on the chain to keep it steady, with his free hands he put the gag on her. This would be tight however, as he did not want her to bit anyone. This wild creature from the north. He found the tasks that he had just performed to be a lot easier than he thought originally. What had the Medicus given her?<br/><br/>When he suggested that she was almost ready, Manius nodded and remarked ”You know I think she is, Autolycus." He released the chain and watched as the Pict fell forwards into the cage.<br/><br/>Just as he was about to use the key, it came. The how and the why. The question that Manius had dreaded for many years and the words would come from Autolycus. ‘So, how does a Roman born and raised learn to speak what's probably the most barbaric language of them all?’<br/><br/>He took a deep breath and put the key away. He turned himself around and sat down on the ground. As he told Autolycus most of what he thought, it seemed only fair to answer him. “I would not say learnt more than acquired. I forget his name now and most likely it was a given name anyway. So that fact I wont be too concerned with, if I were you.” He sighed before continuing as the memories that he was digging up were clearly painful. “It was when I was a slave after I lost my command. During the several years working on the docks I befriended him. He was always finding trouble or trouble would find him. I think I probably saved his life hundreds of times. Anyway, I digress.” He paused for a moment and gave the Medicus a smile. He eyes were sad but he thought a smile would hide that. “So when I was bought by the local Praetor, he came with me. Due to unforeseen circumstances, he and I were eventually trained to be Gladiators and to my sadness we were in the end pitted against one another. In which I had to kill him otherwise I would have died too. It was not my finest hour I can tell you, but the motto ‘kill or be killed’ has run through my veins for many years before and continues till this day.” He then fell silent and dipped his head.<br/>