A cry for help

"My Lord Legate! A moment of your time! I beg you!"

Titus paused and looked back at the sound of a woman's voice urgently shouting. Not so much at the words or the tone, but at the flawless Latin that was used. Flawless Latin with the accent of Rome.

His eyes quickly found the woman standing amid the captives, her hands stretched out to him in appeal. At a glance she looked little different than the others; bedraggled and grimed and dressed in rough clothes.

"Please my Lord! Hear me! I beg you!"

Curious, Titus gestured to bring the woman forward and stood waiting as she was led to him. As she got closer he could see she was of different stock than these Celts. Her hair was black, her cheekbones higher, and there was something about the eyes and face that spoke of Rome. And beneath the dirt and unwashed hair she was not without beauty.

"Say what you will," he commanded.

"Thank you my Lord," she said with a bow. "I am a captive of these barbarians, taken when they raided a town. My guards were slain and I was captured and **** to serve that rebel sow." She made a brief gesture towards Agrona.

"And?" Titus asked, raising an eyebrow. The woman drew herself more erect.

"And I am Sestia Penna, niece of the Governor of Narbonensis, and the betrothed of Senator Quintus Dio. Thank you for my rescue, and kindly remove my bonds."