Awaiting orders in the command tent, a pair of junior legates prepare for the entrance of Marcus Lepidus.

Legate 1: So the hope to set up negotiations with Graphix failed. Pity.

Legate 2: Yes, it is a shame the message was not clearly received. The chieftain will hate us all the more now. Still, after killing all the Romans and Latins, men women and children in Parma and Placentia, it would serve him right if we did kill his family outright. And what of those poor Gallic messengers!

Legate 1: You mean the trio Hear no Evil, Speak no Evil and their buddy… Smell no Evil?

Legate 2: Yeah! Those guys! ::shiver:: Barbarians are so crude. Always removing body parts. It’s sick I tell you!

Legate 1: Did you hear about the man that had his arms and legs cut off by a barbarian who was tossed into the sea?

Legate 2: ::scratching his head:: That’s horrible! I didn’t hear that! What was his name?

Legate 1: Bob.

Legate 2: ::with a blank look on his face:: Never heard of him. Is that a Greek name?

Legate 1: You idiot! Never mind!

Lepidus enters the tent.

Lepidus: Leave it to a barbarian to not understand subtleties. Let’s try again. Have the ugly harpy Nvidia see her boy one last time so that she can attest to his good care and then have her escorted back to Graphix. The message this time will simply be, “Vortigern is being held safely out of harm’s way until such time that a peaceful resolution is reached regarding the Roman province Cisalpina.” If Graphix wishes to negotiate with us, he’ll find a way to send the Praetor a message. Of course, Earwax and Robix will surly be privy to Nvidia’s return and will keep an ever more watchful eye on him. They may even connect the dots and understand the intent of the original message. If nothing else comes of it, and if Graphix loves his boy as much as he purports to, there will be suspicion and a growing mistrust between the Gallic leaders. In the meantime, have the returning messengers tell us… errrrr, point on a map for us the location of the enemy camp.