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companions had been killed by his own people.
    ‘And Pastor?’
    ‘His heart gave out when he heard he might have to face you.’
    ‘He struck me as being a fool, perhaps he was not.’ Looking past Stephanus, Flavius now gazed on the line of Goths. ‘These men do not have to die, perhaps that would be better coming from you than me.’
    ‘What can I offer them, General?’
    ‘Life, no more. I have no desire to fight them twice, therefore they will, if they disarm, be put aboard a ship for Sicily.’
    ‘And slavery?’
    ‘Or they can serve as mercenaries on the eastern frontier of the empire. As I said, life – and if they decline, Stephanus, I bid you look to your own safety and get inside your Senate House, for if fighting breaks out it is never a respecter of persons, however honourable they may be.’
    The exchange Stephanus undertook was out of earshot of Flavius or any of his comitatus , men whom he suspected were hoping the Goths would refuse to surrender. Their comrades were spilling blood and lining their purse; they too would want that they should have the chance to do likewise. Stephanus obviously had to use persuasion, nothing happening for what seemed an age, until finally, with a clatter of metal on stone, spears and swords were discarded, the Neapolitan notable retracing his steps as Flavius gave his commands.
    ‘Solomon, keep the cordon I have set up in place. A party to take the Goths as prisoners, the rest may relieve those who came here for safety of what valuables they carry, that to be shared out equally.’ He then addressed Stephanus again, now standing before him, his face ashen. ‘I require you to take me to the city treasury.’
    That lay in a separate building, also once a pagan temple and still guarded by Neapolitan troops, who were quickly disarmed. There Flavius was greeted with the sight of large coffers, which once openedwere full of gold and silver coin, so much that it was beyond human ability to carry them any distance. A sturdy cart was ordered up so they could be transported back to his encampment, escorted by Photius, to be given into the care of Procopius.
    Such booty would help Solomon to feed the army on its march to Rome and there was more. As well as coin, the sheer quantity of gold and valuables was staggering, evidence of a trading city that had long accumulated wealth, and these too would be removed, the most precious shipped to Constantinople to adorn Justinian’s palace and to underline the success of his army.
    The sack of Naples was diminishing as his men tired of their depredations or felt they had taken from the city as much as it would give up, so Flavius sent his own personal troops fanning out to clear the streets of the residue and get the victors out of the city and back to their camp, a messy task that took until well after noon, this while what remained of the council that had defied him was assembled.
    That the remaining notables would plead with him Flavius knew. They would ask for the restoration of their treasury and that what had been stolen from the citizens should be returned – both, and they would suspect this, a waste of breath. Yet he also knew he must throw them some crumb of comfort, for an utterly destitute Naples would look for means of redress and he could only leave a small garrison to hold it.
    ‘I shall give an order that the women and children taken to be sold into slavery be returned to you but you must forfeit your wealth. Let the lesson be sent ahead that any city willing to resist Flavius Belisarius and his army will pay a high price for their arrogance.’
    ‘Excellence,’ Stephanus pleaded to a restraining hand.
    ‘The port will once more be open. Resume your trade, repair your losses and understand that from this day on you owe allegiance tothe Emperor Justinian. I will leave behind me as well as soldiers the officials necessary to assess what dues you must pay to Constantinople, for the protection of the Eastern Empire will