“She swore lies on Zalmoxis’ name.”
“She’s just a runaway slave. She’s afraid. Now, I know that this is your show and I know that you’re only doing your job, a great job, but I need you to know this: I’m the one who hired you to lead the way and I’m not leaving anyone behind me like this. Slave or not. And that is my final word… All kinds of unexpected things can happen on the road, Dardanos, this is just one of them. So, can I trust you to do your job just as well with my decision to take her along, or not?”
“Cotiso, listen to me… There’s something odd about her. She smells of danger.”
“Now you’re letting your imagination run too far.”
“And what are you planning to do? Find her Master?”
“If he can be found, yes. If not, then a runaway slave with no Master to claim her belongs to the one who finds her. That is you. I’ll give you two silvers for her right now and if her Master shows up later then I’ll settle things with him. Now, yes or no?”
“You’re making a big mistake.”
“Dardanos, please. Yes or no?”
Dardanos didn’t seem convinced; he struggled for a decision for a while. “Three silvers.”