This story is set in the Roman Empire, and therefore, obviously it is not true. If you're not meant nor allowed to be here - and you know who you are - skedaddle!
I started out to write a stroke story, and somewhere along the line discovered I liked creative writing. Therefore, what started out as a stroke story with scant plot, became a short story with some - but not a lot - of sex in it. If you're looking to get off by page 2, probably this story's not for you. If you tend to the less-explicit-but-more-erotic side, then this story might just be for you.
THREE PIECES OF GOLD ~ a short story by R. Cameron Reece Part 2
chapter five
The second day at Agda's was a continuation of the first. Gio worked on mentha oil extraction. By dinnertime he was more-or-less proficient. Just when Agda declared him a success, and they were cleaning up their day's work, Aelius appeared, and they ate dinner together.
Lying on their mats again that night, Aelius continued his story. "I spent the first night, after the soldiers took me away, in the cell under the barracks. The building was so close to the seashore that water seeped through the walls, and puddles were strewn about the floor. It was cold, dark and dank. Not nearly so much so as my spirits, however. I was overcome with despair. Not only was I still grieving over the death of my father, and seething with fury at the man who caused it, I now felt I was a let-down to my family who would have to bear the shame of seeing one of theirs hanging on a cross. Never had I felt so hopeless, or so alone, there, with only the rats to keep me company. Strangely, the thought of my imminent death was left in the dust of these events, careening like a chariot out of control.
"I suppose I slept; I must have dozed fitfully, at least. Then the sun came up at last, not that I could see it down there in the bowels of the earth. Rather, I sensed a lessening of darkness around me, if that makes any sense. I was hungry and thirsty; I had not eaten since early the night before. I prayed to Virtus to help me endure the trials the last few days my life would bring me.
"Shortly thereafter, I heard the clump, clump of descending foot falls on the stairs, and the clink of a sword bump-bump-bumping against the narrow stairwell that signaled a soldier's arrival. My heart sank even lower, if that were possible, when he came into view. I was hoping for some wine and bread, which he did not have. Instead, he spoke to me in a gruff accented voice. It was evident he was not from Ravenna, or anywhere nearby. "Come with me," he barked. "The governor wishes to see you."
"So soon", I thought. "The beginning of the end is coming so soon." You know what crucifixion is, Gio, but have you actually seen a man die that way? The horror stretches on into the next day, sometimes. Finally, when he has no strength to push his body up so he can steal a breath, no strength to fight against the agony of putting all his weight on nailed, torn feet, he chokes to death." Aelius was quiet for a moment.
"It occurred to me to wonder how they assembled the witnesses for my audience with the governor so soon the next day.
"Three soldiers escorted me to the residence of the governor, hands bound behind my back, and feet shackled so that I could take only short steps. Suddenly, I was thankful that it was but daybreak. The cocks had only started their daily proclamations and there were few witnesses to my humiliating journey through town.
"At the governor's residence, I was herded into his public receiving chambers. The soldiers stood guard at the door. After several minutes, Commodus, the governor entered. He was not alone, however. Behind him was Lucanus, a local slave trader. I recognized him, as just the year before, he had come to my boatyard and had commissioned a boat. Trading and transporting slaves is apparently a very lucrative business; Lucanus was very well off. I had only a second to question the implications of the second man's presence before Commodus spoke.
" "It appears someone has an interest in you, Boat Builder," he said. "More specifically, an interest in you alive. It is very fortunate for you that a fisherman came forward last night, with a story of things he saw out on the waters concerning a man named Hadrienus. And since some stroke of misfortune leaves poor Hadrienus unable to refute his story, I'm inclined to believe him." Even in my despair, his sense of irony and humour were not lost on me. Lucanus guffawed at this remark until a sharp look from Commodus silenced him.
" "Still, you did kill a man, and as such, you cannot go unpunished. Lucanus has offered Roma three pieces of gold for you. That, along with saving the executioner's fee is very appealing to me. You are now his property."
"With that, he turned on his heal and strode from the room. My knees buckled, and I found that the room was spinning. My mind, too, was reeling with this sudden turn of events. In the space of several heartbeats, I had gone from a man doomed to crucifixion to a man given a second chance at life.
"I regarded my saviour with mixed emotions. Yes, I had been snatched from a fate of cruel suffering and humiliation climaxing in death, but to what end? It is one thing to be a poor, illiterate expatrius, in a foreign land, with no means of support save a master's generosity, it was quite another to be an educated, successful, free man, and have the mantle of slavery thrust upon me! Was it worse to be in a chariot careening out of control, or to abandon it, only to find myself in the pathway of the horse behind me?
"Time for philosophising was short, however, as Lucanus addressed me. "You are lucky the gods of chance saw me at port, Boat Builder." He paused, clearly expecting me to verbalize my gratitude. I gave an obligatory grunt. If Lucanus was aware of its lack of sincerity, he didn't let on. He continued, "I have a plan in mind for you. You are destined to make you debut in Roma."
"What could Lucanus mean, debut in Roma? Criminals and troublesome slaves only did one thing in the public eye, and that was mortal combat on the arena'd, sandy floor of an amphitheatre. A knife of cold stabbed me in the chest. What did I, a gentle ship builder, know of the ways of a gladiator? Had I been rescued from the teeth of a lion only to be fed to a tiger?"
It took Giovanni a second to remember what a lion was. Then it came to him. Those were the ferocious beasts with coats the colour of tanned leather, that were more often than not, responsible for the demise of many a gladiator. But what was this other ... tager? ... tiger? He guessed it must be a similar animal, but it was unknown to him. Of course, Lee, being the successful combatant that he was, probably had opportunity to see many a ferocious beast beyond the realm of Gio's imagination.
Giovanni started from his daydreaming. Aelius had not stopped talking, and now he had missed some of the story!
" " ... Roma, however," Lucanus said to me. "I have a contract that will take me to Mesopotamia, first. You can cut your fighter's teeth in some of the circii there. The quality of warriors is less there; you'll have a better chance of surviving while you hone your skills."
" "I ... I'm ... I'm no fighter," I mumbled.
"Lucanus gave another of those big, belly laughs. "And I suppose old Hadrienus died from a chicken bone, stuck in his throat." I found his sense of humour crude. Clearly, he had been a witness to so much violence and death in his life, they no longer had an impact on him.
" "I've got a feeling about you, Boat Builder. You'll do fine. You'd better, at least. A man of your strength and stature can make me a lot of money. Who knows? If you're really good, and survive enough contests, you may even earn your freedom back," Lucanus said.
"I did not have a lot of hope of that last bit ever coming true. Indeed, I was not so much a fool as to not recognize a carrot dangling in front of a stubborn ass to bribe it's compliance when I saw it. Still, 'choice' was a word for me that could now only be used in my memories. "It will be as you wish master," I acquiesced; the final word bitter on my tongue like some medicinal drink."
Giovanni found it hard to imagine Aelius, his epitome of strength, bowing in subservience to any man. He had wanted to ask Lee questions several times throughout he master's narrative, but held back for fear of breaking the seemingly magic spell Lee's story-telling had woven, a reverie that continued to exist even once Aelius had been silent for some moments.
"Ahh, but that's enough for tonight. I have a difficult day of training tomorrow, and you, lots of learning."
Giovanni wanted to disagree, but could not. He never imagined using his brain could be so tiring. Many a night, after working long hours of physically difficult labour in his father's shop, he'd lie awake at night, still filled with energy. Not so this night, after the fierce concentration at Agda's shop all day. The thought of a repeat of last night's explorations was exciting, and made his member swell slightly. However, the desire for rest was yet more powerful, and his eyes closed in sleep.
chapter six
Inside Agda's quarters the fire glowed in the pit. Sweat beaded on Giovanni's forehead, trickled down the bridge of his nose and hung there, suspended halfway between being stuck there and falling. With an impatient swipe of the back of his hand, he flicked it off; his forehead furrowed in concentration.
Today he was making a tea; boiling pine needles, olive tree leaves, and nettles - or trying to, that is. This was his fourth attempt. It was a long, slow process, and his first three tires ended in dismal failure. Each ingredient of the tincture had to be present in precise amounts and there just seemed to be no pleasing Agda this day.
"You're goal is a tea that will relieve pain and body aches, not one that will induce diarrhea, Gio," she stated sharply.
"Pay attention to how much nettle you're using!" she said after the second attempt.
"You boil that any more, you'll have a good pot of glue on your hands," she criticised after the third attempt.
"You're distracted, today, boy."
Giovanni hated it when Agda called him boy. She had a way of making him feel like a child when she thought he was not measuring up to his potential. But she was right. He was distracted today. The weather had grown steadily hotter every day this week, until even outside in the shade, it was unbearable. Why they had to be doing something that only added to the heat was beyond Gio. This work was too much like his former days in his father's bakery for his liking. However, his lot was not to question "why", so with a huge sigh of resignation, he tossed the contents of the pot into the pit, the fire hissing its objections. He started his fourth attempt, his irritability added to his determination. It was nearly time for dinner and for Lee to arrive. He would get it right this time; he would not have his entire day be counted as failure!
As if thinking of Aelius, alone, was power enough to summon the man, at that very moment he walked through the doorway. Gio acknowledged him with a mumble, but did not make eye contact. Not even Lee's arrival was going to jeopardize the tea this time. The alarm in Agda's voice, however, was cause for him to look up from his work.
"Aelius, amicus!" she cried. By the power of Jupiter, what happened to you?"
Gio could see now the cause of her concern. Lee was in a lot of pain; his movements slow and stiff. The way he clutched his right side with his left arm pointed to the source of his discomfort.
"I will be OK," Lee protested feebly. "I just took a blow on my side from a mace swung by a man who was faster than me. I just need some of one of your miracle teas to dull the pain." Each word he spoke seemed to require great effort. Gio wondered how he made it to Agda's in his state, even thought the distance was short.
"Felicitas be praised. That's just what Gio is making today. Gio!" she turned to the boy. "Is that batch not ready yet?! And did you do everything right this time?" She did not wait for Giovanni's answer. Instead, she strode over to the fire, dipped a wooden ladle into the simmering pot, and dished up the ladle full. She wafted some of the steaming contents under her nose and declared, "It'll do." She poured some of the dark murky liquid into a cup, and added a chunk of bees' honeycomb.
"Drink this slowly, Aelius," she ordered. "It won't take long before you'll notice its effects. My young apprentice here, seems to have produced a remarkably potent batch. It may be hard on an empty stomach though, so don't drink more than half that cup before we sup. Why you put yourself through all this donkey dung the gods only know," she scolded him. One look at her face, however, showed genuine fondness and concern for her patient.
"You will have your work cut out for you tonight, Gio," she turned her attention to the teen. "I will be sending some salve with you. You will need to rub it into every place on his body this crazy fool has abused. I hate to imagine all the colours he's apt to be tomorrow.
"When are you going to give this nonsense up, anyway?!" she scolded, her attention once again on Aelius. "I bet you didn't get yourself busted up on a regular basis building boats. You know, you can only press your luck with Felicitas so far. Goddesses are fickle like that." Even as she was scolding him, her hands were busy preparing the salve. "Crazy fool, jus' crazy," she muttered under breath. "Gonna get himself killed one of these days. Now get up to this table, both of you; dinner is ready."
They ate dinner more-or-less in silence. Aelius seemed not to have the energy for conversation, though whether it was from pain, or an effect of the tea, Giovanni did not know. Giovanni, himself, was silent, worrying about his master. Further, he did not know Agda well enough yet, to decide if her outburst was borne out of anger or out of concern for Lee's health. Whatever the source, he thought it prudent to do as little as possible that might cause her to focus her attention on him. Today's work hadn't been exactly a glowing success, after all.
Later, Aelius was lying on his back as Giovanni carefully massaged the soothing salve into his ribs. "I won't break, you know," Aelius encouraged the boy. "Rub it in thoroughly. It may hurt a little now, but I'll be thankful for it tomorrow."
Gio continued his ministrations, doing his utmost to inflict as little pain as possible. Yesterday, he would have jumped at the chance to rub his hands all over his master's body. It had not occurred to him, however, that it might happen under these conditions. His concern for his master's comfort nearly drove thoughts of a baser nature from his mind.
Nearly, but not quite.
It was then that he noticed in the flickering light of the lantern - Lee had lit one tonight for Gio to better see to work - a nasty welt, running along Lee's pelvis, red and angry in appearance. He dipped his hand in the pot of salve and started to work on this area. Aelius winced in pain, but insisted Gio continue.
"No, no. Keep on," he said. "It just stings some, at first, where the skin's broken."
Giovanni started to massage again. Concerned or not, he could not help but notice the proximity of his hands to his master's pisello. It appeared to Gio that the effect of his touch was not lost on Aelius either. He could not be sure, but his master's manhood looked a little more swollen than it had only a few moments before. Gio wondered if his eyes might not be playing tricks on him. Even as he pondered this, it was evident that indeed, Lee's organ was getting hard. Gio could feel his mouth getting dry.
While the sight excited him to no end, he was unsure of what to do. It was a completely different thing to steal a touch while his master slept, than when he was awake, fully aware of what was going on. The compulsion that drove him on two nights ago wholly deserted him now.
"Ahh, meby-MAYbe you should roll over now, and I-I'll do your back," he stammered.
Aelius regarded the form kneeling next to him intently, without speaking. It was only for several heartbeats, but Gio began to squirm. What was going through his master's mind? Finally Lee spoke.
"I wasn't exactly sleeping the night before last, you know," he said quietly. I know what went on under the covers."
Giovanni froze. His heart skipped a beat. His hands were suddenly clammy with a cold sweat; a sharp contrast to his face which burned with an intensity even the lantern could not rival. What was Lee going to do with him? Why hadn't he stopped him that night, if he truly was awake? Why hadn't he stopped himself? Why did Lee wait 'til now to say anything? His fear showed on his face.
"I'm so sorry, Master, Aelius, sir, I was wrong, I got carried way, I don't know what came over me, I wasn't thinking, it was stupid of me, sir, like a child." Gio's words tumbled out one over the other. A big tear rolled down his cheek making a shiny trail, glistening in the lamplight of the lantern.
"Relax Gio," Aelius reassured him. "I'm not angry. And where did this 'sir', and 'master', and 'Aelius' come from? I thought we put those to rest days ago."
Giovanni's head was bowed. He felt too ashamed to make eye contact. Maybe his father was right - those times he'd called Gio worthless, when he'd failed to meet his pater's expectations.
Lee spoke softly, "Gio?" Gio did not move, his eyes rooted on the mat. Again, this time more persistent, "Gio. Look at me." Almost imperceptibly, Gio inclined his head and glanced from under his brow at his master's face. "You know I told you that my choosing you was no accident, or not something done without any reasoning. I knew from the moment I first laid eyes on you in the dim light of your father's shop that you were special. My heart could barely stand to wait until the agreed-upon day of my return to get you again. But I didn't want a slave, or someone to pleasure me out of a sense of obligation or duty. I needed to be absolutely certain that your actions were coming from a place in your heart, not from my power over you. Do you see?" Aelius's voice was earnest. "My heart was bursting with joy after the other night. My loins certainly didn't object to your treatments, either," he said, winking at Gio. Gio blushed.
"I have never been so distracted by the idea of anybody before. That man today was not more skillful than I am, nor was he likely any faster. I was just too busy thinking about the best thing that's happened to me in a long time; I was thinking about you!"
Aelius reached up his hand and caressed Giovanni's cheek. The teen suddenly felt flushed, and this time, not from shame nor embarrassment. "Come here, my little amicus," said Aelius, gently pulling him toward him.
A starburst of light danced in Giovanni's mind as their lips made contact. The pleasures he had experienced two nights prior, paled in comparison. His heart fluttered. Adrenaline coursed through his veins, making his heart beat wildly. His manhood engorged with blood until his erection was almost painful. This was the phoenix of sensations. Aelius's tongue came out and gently but firmly, parted Gio's lips, darting in and out against the teen's own tongue.
The superlative of his pleasurable sensations redefined itself yet again. Gio caught his breath in a sharp intake of air, millions of tiny points of light spangling his eyes, and came, ejaculating his hot boy seed all over Lee's chest. Completely spent, he collapsed on his mentor's chest, his arms curled around Lee possessively.
"Uh, Gio?" Aelius winced at the boys added weight on his abused body.
"Yes? Oh, OH! I'm sorry, Lee!" Gio cried out, and scrambled off Aelius's chest when realization hit him.
"It's OK, Gio. I'm just a little tender that's all. Once you finish rubbing that salve, and I drink some more of Agda's tea, I'll be fine. Mind you, it appears that now there are two kinds of cream to be massaged into my chest," he said, mischievous smile back on his face. Gio blushed again at his teasing. With love and tenderness in each stroke, Giovanni dutifully finished tending to Aelius's sore, battered body.
As good as his word, after another mug of the bitter analgesic tea, by the skill of his mouth alone, Aelius took Gio to paradise again. His second orgasm was even more powerful than the first a short while before. Satisfied, with a contentment he had never known before, Gio spooned in his lover's arms.
Aelius started the thread of his past again, unbidden. "To someone whose home had been, for the most of his life, in a village of 700 people, Roma was overwhelming. The sights, the sounds; people shouting to one another, vendors hawking their wares, each one trying to outdo the competition next to him, the bleats and lows of animals. The crowds. Even in my time in Mesopotamia, there was nothing to rival this place. You think nothing of it, having been born to it. To me, it was something out of a fantastical dream - nay - nightmare.
"We arrived in the heat of the summer. Roma is definitely hotter than my coastal homeland. Here, not a whisper of a breeze attempts to move the heavy, sticky air. Further, I had spent many a day at sea to get here, with omnipresent ocean winds to cool us. The total effect was to make me feel ill.
"Lucanus anchored his ship at the mouth of the Travere. It was still seaworthy without needing a single day's repair throughout our journeys." There was pride in Aelius's voice. "He gave his sailors shore-leave for three months, and he and I made for the area around Palatino.
"The days of Ludi Apollinares would soon arrive, and Lucanus was counting on there being endless celebrations around and nearby the Circo Maximo, the Colloseo, and the Forum Romanum. With two week's practice, he figured I ought to be in shape, and familiar enough with the Colloseo to take on anything it had to offer.
"I had become more confident after my battles in Mesopotamia. Still, entering into combat, knowing full well that death is possible - even probable - eats a certain hole in one's stomach. Further, the amphitheatres in Mesopotamia, while grand on their own terms, were nothing compared to the scale of things in Roma.
"During Ludi Apollinares that year, there were gladiator battles every day, sometimes even more than one a day. I managed to get through the first three days with my life intact. As if that weren't miraculous enough itself, I also managed to do it nearly unscathed. Had I been badly injured, I would not have been able to return as I did, day after day. By the fourth day, the gamers were doing a brisk business, placing odds on my life. It seems I had established a reputation for myself as unbeatable. Lucanus made a considerable sum of gold from my skill and luck.
"It was the final day of the festival, and all the celebrations were coming to a raucous finale. It was rumoured that the Emperor Domiziano was sponsoring this battle at the Flavian, and that no expense would be spared. All the people of any importance would be there to witness the spectacle. The word on the street was that the warriors could be expected to meet some of those savage beasts that came from afar. Up to that point, I had never seen a lion. I was scared to the point of retching, that morning.
"Lucanus reassured me of his faith in me. Since our arrival in Roma, and my success in the circle, he had been treating me like some salt mine sultan, which I suppose in one way, I was. However, beneath the thin veneer of his kindness was greed, pure and simple. So long as I was winning contests and filling his purse with gold, nothing ranked more important.
"We were making our way to the amphitheatre, following the path of the fifth aqueduct. I wasn't really paying attention to my surroundings; I was too preoccupied, preparing myself mentally for what I was convinced would be my last morning before death. It was different, yet strangely the same as that night long ago in Ravenna. We were approaching a busy crossroads, and I was snapped out of my reverie by a terrible fracas just ahead. There were sounds of marketers' stalls being smashed, copper pots banging and clanging as they were knocked from their display, shouts and screams, both of anger from the shopkeepers and of fear from others.
"I dashed to the intersection to see what the cause of all the commotion was. There, bearing down on my path, careening wildly out of control, was a chariot. Something had spooked the horses and now all four, crazed and wide-eyed with fear, were stampeding amok.
"Lions I didn't know, horses I did. I started running ahead of, but in the same direction, as them. Just as the lead horse on the right overtook me, its head level with me, I reached over and grabbed its harness, and pulled down with all my might, careful myself, not to stop, lest I be trampled. Even a panicked animal will not run itself into the ground. Several strides later, they slowed and came to a halt. Everything that had been so cacophonous only moments before, suddenly was silent. The only sounds audible came from the animals; the heaving breaths of the horses, and the squawking of indignant foul whose cages had been overturned in the fray.
"I turned my head to see if the occupants of the chariot were unharmed. It didn't appear that there was anyone in it. Then I noticed fingers, locked in a death grip over the edge of the chariot. I made my way around the four horses - fine pure white horses, I noticed, with pearls braided into their tails - to the back to the chariot to see the owner of the fingers.
"The sight that met my eyes was one that I would have never imagined in a thousand years. The chariot was occupied by a beautiful, young woman, not much older than you are now. Her raiment was of a very fine quality, and was snowy white, except for a big swath of dirt that was obviously a result of the impromptu race. More dust flecked her cute, upturned nose. She was in so much shock that when I helped her up, I had to pry her fingers loose from the chariot.
"In all the excitement, I guess I didn't stop to consider what the scene before me implied. A woman alone in a chariot - well, it turns out that she hadn't been alone after all. Her aid was knocked off when the horses went berserk - and that chariot of the finest quality, pulled by four matching white horses, and said lady in fine white garments.
"I glanced over at Lucanus, who by now had arrived in the intersection. If possible, he was even paler than the poor damsel. Evidently, he saw the scene for what it was and it did not bode well for him.
" "Are you injured, miss?" I asked her.
"She stared at me blankly for a full second, and then seemed to give herself a little shake. "No, I'm fine, though I fear for Mira," she said finally. Her voice was like music, the first bird's song after a long storm. It was my turn to now look puzzled. "Oh," she continued. "You wouldn't know Mira; of course not. She is my aide, and I'm afraid she is lying hurt somewhere, a few blocks back. She was knocked off the chariot when the horses spooked."
"By this time order had started to descend once again on the area, and someone was dispatched to find Mira. The young lass looked directly at me and said, "My name is Tryphaena, from the Temple of Vesta."
"My heart faltered in its rhythm. To touch a Vestal Virgin uninvited was sure death. I immediately fell down on one knee. "My lady, please forgive me for being so impertinent. I - I didn't realize ..." I stammered.
"I was treated to her laughter. "You hardly have any cause for apology, sir. If it weren't for you, I'd still be careening through the streets of Roma, leaving disgruntled chickens in my wake. Please, stand up. You've more than earned the right to forego ceremony. What is the name of my gallant saviour, if I may ask?" she said to me.
" "I'm - My name is Aelius, my lady, originally of Ravenna, but now I belong to this man." I gestured toward Lucanus, a few steps away, his countenance clouded with a heavy scowl.
" "Well, not anymore, you don't," she said to me brightly.
" "I beg your pardon," I said to her. Maybe it was the shock of her recent escapade. She was clearly mistaken if she thought Lucanus would give up such a gold mine as me, just because I'd acted in a heroic manner.
" "It is within my power to set any man free, from any enslavement," she said. "And you, Aelius of Ravenna, have certainly earned your freedom today." She turned to address Lucanus. "Give me his papers, please. I assume you are in possession of them? And tell me the price you paid for this fine, brave man, and you will be reimbursed." I could hear the subtle change in her voice, haughtiness matching her station.
"Lucanus protested, "This is highly irregular, ma'am."
" "Highly irregular maybe, but not unheard of," she countered. "And you will address me with the proper respect, slaver," her voice was still musical, but suddenly took on a tone that brooked no argument. "It's either that, or I send for the temple soldiers to cart someone off who had the gall to protest my privileges," the music was now ominous.
" "That w-won't be necessary, my lady," said Lucanus, now on one knee. "It will be exactly as you suggested," he said, as he fumbled in his purse for my papers, handing them to her with head bowed in subservience.
" "Thank you, good sir," she said. I couldn't believe I was actually seeing what happened next. She gave the papers a quick perusal to verify their authenticity, and then tore them up before my very eyes! It was my turn to steady myself on the chariot. Just like that, I was free! "Come by the temple tomorrow for your gold, sir," she said and then turned her back on Lucanus. "You", she said, looking at me with a twinkle in her eye, "climb on here and drive me back to find Mira, and then you can have your freedom." She laughed merrily.
"We found Mira, who, by the way, had nothing more than a bad bump on her head. Tryphaena introduced her aide and me. We helped Mira back into the chariot. Tryphaena turned to me and asked, "Where were you going, or what were your plans before Fortuna made our paths to cross, Aelius?"
" "We were making our way to the Colloseum, my lady," I answered her. "There is to be a grand gladiatorial spectacle there today."
" "Yes, I know. What a coincidence. That is where we, too, are headed. You must accompany us then," she said. "And call me Tryphaena; I insist."
" "But I -"
" "No buts. There will be plenty of room to sit with us. Besides," her eyes lit up with mischief, "when else will you ever get to see a gladiator contest from the second row? Why, any closer than that, and you might as well be in the fight itself."
"The second row, Gio! Can you believe it?! When would I get the chance, indeed?!" Aelius snorted.
""Well, there is that," I conceded. "But I wasn't exactly going to be a spectator, today."
"A shrewd frown creased her youthful face. "'Exactly then, what were you going for?" she asked me.
"I am due to fight, today. Lucanus makes - made - his money from my fighting prowess," I told her.
" "Goodness," she exclaimed. "We can't have you gain your freedom, and then perchance be killed all in the same day. Why, there's even going to be lions, today. Nequaquam. Absolutely no fighting for you, today. Today, you are my guest."
"And so it was. On that one day long ago in Ravenna, my freedom had been taken away in less time than it takes to bake a foccacia. And on the day I met Tryphaena, my liberty was born again at the same accelerated pace.
The fans expecting to see me fight that day were disappointed, especially those who had paid the gamers gold to wager on me. Lucanus was furious. For him, it was like watching a salt-laden vessel sink to the bottom of the sea, without him being able to do anything about it. I, however, was ecstatic. There was not going to be any lions tasting my blood that day!
"That seems as good a place as any to stop, Gio. Besides, we both have had long days. Sleep well, my friend," Aelius murmured in his ear. The regular rhythm of Gio's chest, rising and falling, told him that he already was.
More to come yet! Your comments and constructive criticisms are welcome at caninkor@sasktel.net, the address listed above.