The woman Varinia remained stoically mute as the appointed torturer finished his task of fixing her neck to the post. We were all silent as he reached for the top of her garment. The mask the executioner wears, to command fear in those who he must put to death, and to hide his identity from those who might want to inflict revenge on him as representative of the state, could not hide the look in his eyes as he glanced at the shoulder of the woman before him.

He too was following his orders, just as I was, even if his were, in my regard, a most difficult and ungrateful task. Nevertheless, bound by his duty to Octavian and to the Empire, he proceeded to pull the woman's garment down.

The Thracian woman did not react as her back was exposed to the gaze of the crowd. She showed her natural pride even at that moment of humiliation for any woman of any status in society.

Thracians have shown time and again to be a proud people and the Thracians as a people have always resisted outside influence. But the warlike tribes of Thrace at this period in time are scattered and without unity. The two major tribes known to us, the Bessi, who came into conflict with Gaius Octavius but later became more loyal, and the Sapaei, ruled now by Rhescuporis, who managed to side with the losers every time with Pompey against Cesear, and Brutus and Cassius against Antony and Octavian.

Nonetheless, the old fox, Rhescuporis survived, and it could be him that is behind the plot. It is to him that the blame will go of this woman's torment. If only she would reveal the leaders behind the plot, her crucifixion would be a fast one. I'm here to insure that she will not be put to death without revealing the names of the plotters, publicly.

Some peoples in Thrace, however, made alliances with Rome. The Deneletae had long been faithful allies when wantonly attacked by L.Calpurnius Piso Caesoninus, and Cicero called Radocentus, chief of the Bessi, a faithful ally, although hitherto they had been troublesome in the past.

But it could be that the weakened power of Rome, by the fault of our own ambitious rulers and their divisions, are causing those loyal to us to re-evaluate their stand. We have noticed that the fame of the unfortunate Spartacus has reached beyond the enclaves of his band of supporters and has given hope to many of our enemies who now believe that we can be pushed back.

In this most important time, when the future of the Imperial power is at stake, the woman Varinia holds such a key. She must be made to reveal who amongst the Thracian tribes is preparing this plot.

I stood before the woman, as the executioner reached for his whip, and I was as close to her face as any man has ever been. I was not distracted by the softness and graciousness of her skin, nor by her moist lips. But I was impressed by the indifference of her eyes that remained closed, not even curious of the man in front of her nor of his voice.

I insisted once more that she should tell me the names of the Thracian's behind her, those who would suffer her fate as cruelly as her and I promised her a quick end to satisfy the law and the need of making an example to the rest of the people. She remained silent so I had the grievous task of giving the signal to commence the execution.

The executioner took the whip and walked to the woman who stood held against the post by the metal brace around her neck, her feet firmly planted on the ground, her body pressed against the rough wood.

I had no doubt that with time, mercifully not long, she would give away the names of those who were behind the rebellion. We live in critical times indeed, where betrayal is hiding under every rock, inside every home. We had seen in a short time how even our most trusted heroes were driven to ambitious rages that weakened the Empire and our resolve to rule.

We need to go to extremes to stop any attempts to bring down our great Empire. And even one person, such as Spartacus or this, his granddaughter, have the power to wreak havoc if let alone to their devices. We must teach the lesson that no matter who you are and what you are, we are ready to deal with you in ways that will eliminate any wish to stop the onslaught of history.