The infant was sold to the noble senator from Thrace for 500 Denarius. Rhesus wouldn't baulk at staking prized asset on little investments in a bid to eventually make fortunes off such investment. It was his principle of accumulating wealth and, of course, he had been a success at it, amassing a pool of wealth, riches, bounties, and a large coffle of slaves and gladiators.
The house of Rhesus Decimus was renowned for its glamour and explicit grandeur amidst the city of Burgas in Thrace. The fame identified with the Decimus Family was even sustained by its gang of gladiators who had proven themselves masters of the art in the arena. From Magna to Pompeii, down to Pula and to the magnificent Colosseum and Olympia in Rome, gladiators from the house of Decimus had hit the best of arenas, taken the beasts of the arena games to the cleaners and brought glories upon glories to Rhesus and his family. The Arena games were one of Rhesus Decimus's ways of relaxing and the aristocrat could boast having accrued a whooping twenty percentage of his wealth from the Arena games.
More to Rhesus's pool of wealth was his charming wife, Artemis. Artemis was not only charming but also influential and respected amongst the Thracian women in Burgas, thanks to the singular fact that she was the daughter of an elder statesman, Rabon Ostracon. Rabon was a general and elder statesman of the Thracian political set up. He was known for his dedicated involvement in the state affairs and his never-flinching footing during the times of crises. He had achieved both military and political successes over time and his reputable image as a loyal statesman was unquestionable and had earned him a place in hearts of the consuls as one of the best statesmen and retired generals whose relevance still mattered in the Thracian political setup. His only daughter, Artemis, was said to be a special gift from the goddess--which inspired her name, Artemis. However, Rabon was not the type of man to subscribe quite much to the mythical powers of the gods. As a matter of fact, he believed in infinite knowledge and he would usually deploy philosophical approach to matters of human concerns. He was a pagan for all he cared, but his daughter's name had been said to be pronounced by his wife, Julia who was a fervent faithful of goddess Artemis.
Rabon was a staunch admirer of political intelligence and military heroism and he deemed the military men who staked their lifetime fighting for the state, either by fine and witty rhetorics in the Parliaments or by martial skills on the battlefield, as the best men on earth. His philosophical outlook had favoured Rhesus Decimus, a young political gem whose name was fast rising in the state's Parliament, thanks to his witty outspokenness, eloquence, energy and sheer intelligent displays. Rhesus's aptitude to amass wealth by unusual entrepreneurial acumen was another charming quality which had endeared him to Rabon. The young senator had struck quite a friendship with the respected elder statesman and the duo had wined and dined together on numerous occasions, strengthening their bond as friends. Their bond was even strengthened further when Rabon handed her priceless Jewel Artemis to the young, charming, Rhesus in marriage. Rhesus had been married to Artemis for six years without issue or a child of their own to boast of; thus, he deemed it a blessing to have an infant cross his path, thanks to clemency shown by Dragan to an infant who had been doomed for death.
Rhesus brought bounties back home from his trip to the Balkan Peninsula and one of such bounties was the gift of a baby to his wife, Artemis. At first, Artemis was averse to the idea of adopting a child. Like her mother Julia, she was an ardent faithful of her goddess and a staunch believer in her daily rituals and solemn sacrifice to goddess Hera. Her hope for a child was infinite and she still bore the same energy and fire as she had carried from the start of her union with Rhesus. With pretty much convincing from Rhesus, Artemis threw her door open and took up responsibility of the child in a sheer act of faith, believing the gods might beam their fertile smile upon her.
''What shall we call this little one?'' She asked, cradling the baby in her arms facing Rhesus who stood before her admiring her appearance with a baby in arms.
Rhesus spared a mild smile at his wife and tilted his head sideways in sheer admiration of the scene that played before him. He beckoned one of his servants over to serve a cup of wine.
Receiving the cup of red wine, Rhesus made a slight frown, looking at his wife as though to have a serious chat, ''what name have you in mind, my lady?''
Rhesus took the moment to examine his wife's silence as she looked admiringly into the innocent eyes of the baby who was wrapped in a new cotton fabric within Artemis's arms.
Rhesus prompted her wife further, teasing her with a smile to follow, ''Perhaps the gods have a special name in mind for the little one?''
Artemis could only react with a brief smile as she looked cursorily at her husband and her beaming eyes fell back on the baby.
Looking up calmly, she said, ''Alcides. The baby shall be called Alcides.''
Rhesus frowned thoughtfully and froze his cup-holding hand in the middle of the air just below his chest. He arched his eyebrow in the affirmative and replied, ''what a name! A god-given name. So be it, then. Alcides!''
''Yes,'' said Artemis smiling and fixing his gaze on Rhesus's face, ''because the gods have brought me strength at a time before they grant me a fruit of my own.''
Rhesus observed the emotional outburst that was brewing within his wife. She could see that her face was clouded with tears poised to burst forth as soon as she made mention of a fruit of her own. Instantly, he ordered the maid to take the care of the baby from Artemis's arms.
''Take the baby to the chamber, Melissa,'' said Rhesus ordering one of his female servants to remove the child from Artemis's arms, ''and put him to sleep. He needs rest.''
Rhesus drew closer to Artemis and wrapped his arms around her in a bid to kill whatever emotional pain that dared to burst forth.
''The gods have reasons for everything, don't they?'' Rhesus whispered to Artemis, his body pressing against her breasts in a moment of emotional solace. ''Cry not, my lady. it's not the time for this. Let's merry at the coming of a child who shall be a core part of this house and serve the house of Decimus with unwaivering layalty. Cry not, my lady.''
Rhesus's words were enough to kill his wife's brewing emotional outburst. He ordered another of his servants to serve two cups of wine in a bid to drink toast to the moment.
''The gods are with the house of Decimus,'' he assured his wife again fixing his gaze on her hers down to her lips as the gulped down their wine. ''The gods are with us, my love.''
With a wave of the hand, Rhesus dismissed his servants from the chamber as he was now left with his wife alone. He held her still with his arms suspending tightly around her waist and his body pressing closely against her breasts than ever. He looked admiringly at her full round lips and planted a long-drawn kiss. Of course, Artemis was equal to the spur of the moment as she gave in to the pressure from Rhesus. The heat between the duo had no doubt about their wants and desires, as they dived in deep into their romantic whims, sating each other's sexual impulses. They shared the fun of the moment and killed the sorrow with wanting and desires. With faith, they rode each other into the land of possibilities expecting the gods to consent to their will. It was one of their many sexual adventures; however, the duo felt different this time. It was as though they were new to each other as they explored even deeper. Perhaps the moment had been sustained by the arrival of their newly adopted child. His presence seemed to have brought a new lease of belief and faith that they could produce a fruit of their own.
Whether or not the gods would consent to their will, that was totally beyond them. If wealth could lure the gods' decision, Rhesus would not tarry to bribe his way out and influence such decision. He had it all--everything. He was immensely blessed with power, influence and wealth in Thrace and his influence was far-reaching amongst the neighboring kingdoms. But as it seemed, the gods were probably proving that they were gods who had it all, and this was at the expense of Rhesus and his wife, Artemis.