To New Friends

"Stop, guards! That is our family slave, where are you taking him?" Asked the middle aged man while sweating profusely. His chunky hand held a dirty handkerchief, which he brought up to his forehead to wipe his tiredness away.

The two guards stopped, and looked at the appearance of the two individuals with alertness. "This is your slave, you say?" Asked the taller guard while trying to assess them.

"Just bought, too! Paid him two thousand denarii!" Responded the man with a hint of indignation while spraying saliva everywhere.

Surprised by the price, the two guards were taken aback. "What is your name?" The taller guard asked, suspicious about the man's words. He knew that the price of a male slave would hardly reach past five hundred denarii, and that a slave would usually be sold naked, and never in as good a condition as Daniel was.