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When they returned to caeon to attend to the wounded archer He also instructed his cook toheroes wanted Such were the appetites of Tiro Casca and Roscius that the cook was as verily exhausted as Oppius by the end of the feast Before he could eat however the centurion delivered his report to his commander on the success of his mission

"I am indebted to you Lucius You have served Caesar and Rome in a way that is above and beyond the call of duty In the past few days you have completed a ed It&039;s only fair then that I reward you and the Briton with the equivalent wage of a cohort for the past few days Please do not insultmy offer Leave the curse of pride to Caesar," the General announced, finishing off a piece of correspondence whilst talking

"Can I accept on behalf of e to send any payment back ho years"

After the debriefing Caesar ordered the centurion to eat, rest and return that evening for a light supper

Before returning to his tent however Oppius visited Teucer, as resting in bed after his surgery Despite all they had shared over the past few days - or because of it - the conversation between the two comrades was a little stilted Finally, after one of many pauses, Oppius announced,

"If you like I can petition Caesar for you should you wish to remain here Your tribe needs a chieftain"

But the Briton shook his head, in a mixture of sadness and relief

"I&039; to have to sufferleft for me here, not even an eain Now get so the archer on the shoulder

"You should give yourself the sah you&039;ve been out all night with Roscius, drinking"

"I will I&039; exhausted that I won&039;t even need to read soan to druain and both men briefly looked up, rolled their eyes and smiled wistfully