The power of Narses' voice bore through the traumatized Uliaris as he was anguishing over the little girl laying down beside what remained of her slain parents. The frantic remains of the mob being slaughtered engulfed the girl and Uliaris lost sight of her. Narses bellowed again, "Uliaris get Hypatius and yourself down from the Kathisma! We can take him into custody now!" With force and speed Uliaris and his prisoners, Hypatius and the guard who was knocked out cold, were down the rope ladders and taken into custody except for the guard he was beheaded for his treason even at the protest of Uliaris. Uliaris wondered now what would become of his family.
Narses then continued with his orders, "You are needed to gather up the remaining senators. You may select your team from the guard units under my command. After completing this task you may rejoin Belisarius. Are we clear?" Uliaris stood speechless and profoundly upset over the execution of the guard, and Narses grabbed his sword arm firmly snapping Uliaris out of his state and Uliaris blinked his eyes firmly and when they opened Narses spoke calmly and compassionately to Uliaris, "He would have lived had he been truthful Uliaris. I remember many of my men under my command. He deserted during the riots and stood accused of violently murdering at least one family. That ring on his finger was from the father of the murdered family. I knew him rather well, and how important that ring was to him and his family. He cut the mans ring finger off to get that ring and it was never sold on the streets. I thought you needed to know and be reminded that things are not always as they seem. Do you understand?"
Uliaris looked at Narses in the eye with his respect for him as well as his baring all restored and replied, "Yes commander! Apologies..."
"No need Uliaris now accomplish your new assignment!"
Uliaris nodded and as he was headed back near the Kathisma to survey the remaining mob fighting for their survival, he was grabbed by a great leathery arm and spun around whilst drawing his sword. As the surprised warrior spun round his blade but was parried by an equally great warrior. "Andreas what are you doing!..," said the very confused Uliaris. The walls of his entranced state began to fade away as Andreas grabbed him shaking him firmly to snap him out of his state. Uliaris dropped his sword as it crashed on the floor of the garden he was coming back to the light of reality and visibly embarrassed at what he must have been doing during his traumatic episode. "I'm alright Andreas! Let go of me!"
"You are not alright my friend! You were at Nika and about to take my head until I blocked your blow. You were not with us Uliaris!"
"I know Andreas I have not thought about..." abruptly they were interrupted by Aelia, "We have to leave now! I just received a message that an old friend of mine has been questioned about you two and was hurt rather badly. He wants us to come to him because he has something for us beyond the incident, but we must hurry!"
Andreas replied, "Gather our gear because Uliaris is not fit..." Uliaris cut Andreas off abruptly and speaking sarcastically, "Speak for yourself you big ox! Now hand me my gear...please!"
Andreas roared into action grabbing their gear while Aelia was shaking her head and quipped, "I can see the level of maturity just sank a few notches. Come on we don't have all night!"