Chapter Nine
Taming the Blond Barbarian
In Bernesium it is said the people still talk of my triumphant return. A glorious day it was, with banners flying, crowds cheering, slaves marching in bondage and, trailing behind me, the fairest captive of them all, a magnificent blond barbarian, trussed up and swinging from a pole. When we were yet a day out of town, I had my men prepare Helva for my triumphal entry. She was made to lie face down on the ground; her arms were pulled back, and her legs bent at the knees so that wrists might be bound to her ankles, one loop of rawhide binding all four limbs together. This method of tying her up, pulled her body back till it was lightly bowed. Now a long, smooth, wooden pole was passed under her bound wrists and ankles; a soldier at each end hoisted
