Adelbeorn accepted the wine with thanks, and resolved to buy the next round himself--it was the least he could do for this man who had prevented him from being crushed under the wheels of that mad charioteer after all! As he took in the appearance of his saviour, he found the man hard to place; the clothes were fine enough, as was the man's demeanor--but he felt there was more to this man than met the eye.

"Business...I deal in exotic goods--mostly from the northern regions of the Empire."

Felix Valerius raised an eyebrow. "You mean things like that indigestible swill called 'beer'...or perhaps those stretched-out bronzes the celts produce?"

Adelbeorn laughed. "I tell you straight--the stuff you've heard of as 'beer' is awful--but you haven't really tasted the genuine article! I make most of my money in less bulky items...amber from the foam of the Suebian Sea, whale-ivory and unicorn horn, fine furs never seen in the South--and some jewellery in silver and gold..."

Felix nodded...such items were in and out of fashion in a few years, but it sounded like this Adelbeorn dealt more in the basic items to produce goods--and there was always money in that! He said as much to this new friend. "Your name--that is unheard of for a Roman, despite the Terentius bit?"

Again, the blondish man laughed...and signalled for another jug of wine. "Your best this time, and some food! Yes, it is--my grandfather was a legionary in Germania, and he married a native girl from one of the wild tribes outside the Agri Decumates...I can speak latin, greek, several of the germanii dialects, and even a bit of Aramaic--enough to get laid, at any rate!"

The waiter brought another jug of wine, and a tray containing sausages, a loaf of bread and some honeyed cakes. After the two had made a good start on the meal, it was the german's turn to ask questions.

"So, you came here to find someone? Perhaps I've seen them? And what do you do that pays the bills?"

Adelbeorn had a suspicion that this search of Felix' wasn't entirely out of kindness...he'd bet anything the man found things for money! He belched slightly and waited for his new friend to satisfy his curiosity in turn.