***
The two Romans were given a guided tour of the palace by the women who had gathered around them. The women had introduced themselves one by one, giving their names in soft seductive voices and smiling beguilingly in a slightly shy way. Then they had glided away to allow the next to step forward. Junius decided that they must have been sisters; as they all had the same lithe build and sinuous way of moving, with bright obsidian eyes, sleek dark hair, and pale skin which was unusual amongst the people of the region. The physical features of their faces were different though, and each one of them was breathtakingly beautiful in her own unique way.
Junius thought that they would most certainly have a bright future and be very welcomed in Rome especially amongst the ruling class who loved the new and exotic. In fact, he decided they were rather a distraction as they journeyed around the palace. He wanted to look at the huge opulent rooms with their exquisite murals and tapestries, but his eyes kept being drawn to the women and the tantalising glimpses of those gorgeous bodies beneath the diaphanous fabric, which became almost see-through in the torchlight that illuminated the place.
They were shown the great hall, then the receiving room, and each chamber was more magnificent than the last, displaying wealth and prosperity on a scale that Junius had never seen before. The sequence ended with the throne room, which was made entirely of gold and caused the other lavish chambers to pale into insignificance. Junius knew that there was nothing like it or ever had been anything like this in Rome. Even Nero’s Domus Aurea, his Golden House, which at the time had been seen as the height of self-indulged decadence, would seem provincial in comparison to the wealth and splendour on display here.
Junius stood in wonder as his eyes took in the grandeur of the place, whilst next to him Marius had been open-mouthed as he’d looked up at the intricately carved and jewel-studied ceiling. But even then the women had distracted Junius; their very presence impossible to ignore. They were softly spoken, so he had to lean in to hear what they said in their exotically accented Latin and when he did, the fragrance of the perfumed oil they wore sent his senses reeling. It had been almost six weeks since they’d left Susa on this assignment, and that had been the last time he’d lain with a woman and he was feeling every single of one those days right now.
The girls divided themselves between the two Romans and two of them linked arms with him so that they were constantly moving against him and inadvertently leaning into him as they moved. Marius was similarly accompanied and Junius wondered if his friend was equally distracted. It would be worse for him: Marius had a woman and family back in Antioch that he adored.
The women seemed oblivious to his discomfort and continued their tour, leaving the magnificent room and moving to an impressive library full of scrolls and parchment all neatly rolled and stored on wooden shelves. Here they were told that tomorrow whilst the Kin slept they were to have full access to all their maps and charts. He exchanged smiles with Marius at that, as it would make their task so much easier. But he could see that Marius was even more disconcerted about the proximity of the women than he was. His friend was clearly uncomfortable and showing it. Finally the girls seemed to realise and so they dropped his arms and walked beside him instead.
After the library they were led up some marble stairs and shown their rooms, which were side by side and they saw with satisfaction that their weapons and belongings had already been taken and stored in them.
“Would you like refreshments?” one of the women asked quietly.
“Yes, please. And if you have it, water so we can wash. We’ve been out in the desert for weeks and not had a chance to bathe,” Junius replied, glancing at Marius who nodded in agreement.
The girl smiled. “We will have water brought to your rooms. In the meantime let us return to the great hall and have some refreshments, then you can wash before the main feast and the entertainments begin.”
“That sounds agreeable,” Marius put in. “I’m rather hungry and the offer of any food that isn’t army rations is too good to refuse.”
The women laughed and led the way back down the stairs. Marius was walking by himself now and he hung back waiting for Junius, who to his relief had lost his escort, though they followed behind.
“I could like this place,” Marius told him, grinning.
Junius agreed. “I’m thinking that tomorrow we should send a message to the General back in Susa to come here and begin negotiations for a treaty with these people.”
“Good idea. The Kin, or whatever they call themselves, obviously have a lot of money and therefore influence. Trajan needs as many allies as he can, if he’s to keep the land east of the Euphrates.”
Junius nodded, agreeing with Marius’s assessment of the political situation. Then a thought struck him. “You know the treasure here could explain why we’ve heard all those stories about cities of the dead and places not to visit. They obviously didn’t want strangers coming along and seeing all this wealth and trying to take it for themselves. It’s a good defence mechanism…”
Junius was cut short by a cry from behind him. They turned and saw that one of the women had fallen on the stairs and was lying on her back looking shocked. Junius immediately raced back up and crouched down by her side as her friend spoke to her.
“Are you hurt?” he asked.
The girl was quiet for a moment then shook her head. “Only my ankle.”
“Try moving it… gently though,” Junius advised. The other woman said something then stood up and dashed down the stairs; the injured girl nodded at her then waggled her foot and only winced slightly.
“I think it’s swelling a little. Do you mind if I touch it?” Junius asked.
She nodded and gave a slight gasp as he felt for any broken bones.
“Sorry, I didn’t mean for that to be painful. I don’t think anything’s broken.”
“Can I do anything to help?” Marius asked from the lower stairs.
“Please can you find a couch for me to rest on down in the great hall?”
Marius nodded and made his way down the stairs, leaving Junius and the girl together.
“I’ll carry you down,” he told her.
“Oh no, you don’t have to, simply help me to my feet and I can manage.”
“I don’t think so,” he replied and bent down and quickly picked the unresisting girl up in his arms. She slung her arm around his neck and when he was happy that she was secure he carefully made his way down the wide staircase.
Marius was standing next to an empty couch to the side of the hall, which was filled with chatting Kin who were lying on other couches or on rich rugs scattered with cushions. Junius made his way over to him, increasingly conscious of the girl in his arms and the effect she was having on his senses. He’d be glad to put her down, but then thinking again maybe he wouldn’t.
He laid her down on the rich material then stood back and asked if she needed anything else. She smiled shyly up at him.
“There is wine over there. Could you get some please?”
Before Junius could reply Marius cut in. “I’ll get it,” he said and disappeared off across the hall.
“Please sit with me,” she said and reached over to pat the cushion at the end of the couch.
Junius smiled and sat awkwardly down where she’d indicated.
“My name is Belinda. What should I call you, Roman?”
Junius turned to look at her. “Marius calls me Junius and that’s good enough for me.”
She looked puzzled “Do you have another name then?”
He smiled. “We Romans are greedy; we have three, sometimes four names. Private and public ones. Junius is a shortened version of my public name.”
“May I know your private name? Or do you reserve that for the special people in your life?”
At that point Marius came back holding an amphora of wine and three cups. They waited quietly as he poured two of them, then Belinda stopped him.
“Not for me.
I don’t like wine,” she said.
“Can I get you something else then?” Marius asked, wondering what had possessed her to ask for the drink.
“No, I’m fine, but you both please drink.”
Junius took the cup, raised his eyebrow in bemusement at Marius and took a sip. Marius joined him, then they both looked down appreciatively at the wine.
“This is good,” Marius declared, somewhat taken aback.
Junius nodded and downed his cup, then reached out to pour more. Marius finished his at the same time, so Junius poured more for both of them.
“Beats stale water,” Marius said, grinning.
Moments later, a servant arrived carrying a tray that held a selection of hot meat, cheeses and freshly baked bread. Another servant, brought a table and placed it between the two Romans. Strangely, both servants were covered in fabric from head to toe.
“Please help yourselves,” Belinda told them. They didn’t need to be told twice, and both men helped themselves to the thinly sliced chunks of meat, which they discovered was soft and succulent lamb.
The food was delicious and flavoured with strange spices that Junius had never tasted before, but which enhanced the flavour perfectly. Satisfied, he sat back and washed his fingers in a bowl of clean water that had been brought over as they had eaten. There was also a clean cloth to dry his hands upon.
“I hope our food was agreeable to you. The main feast is later tonight, but that meal should tide you over,” Belinda said.
“That was more than enough, and it was lovely, thank you. I’ve never tasted meat done that way before.”
She smiled. “It is also the furthest east you’ve ever been, I think.”
He agreed. “Yes, it is. You’re not eating. Are you saving your appetite?”
Belinda smiled again at him. “Yes, I will feast later tonight.” She concentrated for a moment and Junius wondered what she was doing, then he realised that she was wiggling her foot.
“Does it hurt?” he asked.
“No, not now and I think the swelling has gone down a little. Will you see for me?”
Junius got up from his seat and carefully felt the slender ankle of the young woman. Her skin was soft and smooth and for a moment he was sorely tempted to explore just a little higher, but he controlled the urge and looked back at her. “The swelling’s gone. The rest’s done it good. It might be all right for you to walk on it soon.”
“I’ll try and get you some more wine,” she suggested, smiling at them both.
Marius nodded. “Be careful, you don’t want to rush things.”
Junius helped her get to her feet then, then she waved him away and limped over to the other side of the hall.
Junius watched her whilst Marius sat back and sighed contentedly.
“I think we should stay a few days, don’t you?”
Junius wasn’t listening; he was more concerned about Belinda. “What? Oh yes. Definitely. And we’ll look in the library.”
Marius studied him for a moment then stood. “I’m getting the distinct impression that it would be easier if I left. Am I right, my friend?”
Junius heard what he said and looked up and grinned. “Your instinct is, as always, faultless.”
Marius nodded. “I thought as much. I think I’ll miss this feast, the food and wine has made me realise just how tired I am. I’ll meet you tomorrow in the library? Or shall I come to your room?”
Junius considered for a moment. “The library, in case I’m not alone.”
“That’s never worried you before.”
Junius shrugged. “It might cause offence here. We’re not in Rome now.”
Marius nodded. “True, they might not like another man entering a chamber whilst a woman is in there. I’ll see you in the library whenever you finally wake,” Marius told him, grinning, then strolled across the hall and was soon swallowed up in the dim light.
Junius was left watching the people around him who all seemed to be lounging in small groups and talking quietly amongst themselves. He couldn’t understand their language, but they had the manner and assurance of people unaccustomed to hard work and used to being obeyed. It was something he was familiar with and for a moment he imagined that he was back in Rome amid the idle rich and hangers-on at the Emperor’s court.
The leader of the Kin, Isher-Dan, strode into the hall and surveyed the scene. He caught sight of Junius and began to make his way over, but before he was midway, Belinda hobbled back and put another amphora of wine down on the table next to him. Junius thanked her and watched as she settled herself back onto the couch. When he glanced back into the hall, Isher–Dan had disappeared.
“This wine is different. I hope you like it,” Belinda said as she poured a small amount into his cup. Smiling anxiously she handed it to Junius for him to try.
Cautiously he took a sip and let the fluid roll around his mouth. He smiled and swallowed. “It’s good. Very good.” He held out the cup for her to fill, which she did. Despite all his understanding of courtly etiquette, Junius swallowed the wine too quickly to fully appreciate the exotic spices and when it was finished he held out the cup for more.
“You like it then? Better than the other?”
He nodded. “It’s very different, but I like the taste. It’s not too strong either.”
Belinda shifted her position next to him so she could lift her leg up on to Marius’s couch, but it meant that her body was now pressed up against him with her scent wafting deliciously and tantalising around him.
She reached out suddenly, took his left hand and gently turned it over, running her cool fingers over the calluses that had formed on the soft flesh of his fingers and palms from the hours spent training and handling weapons.
“Soldier’s hands,” she said quietly. “Strong and powerful. But I think you prefer to protect and defend. Am I right?”
She looked up and met his eyes. Junius’s mouth felt dry so he had to swallow before answering. “I have taken an oath to do that, yes,” he replied trying hard to keep control of himself in this hall packed with people. Belinda continued to stroke his hand, trailing her fingers back and forth as she continued to meet his gaze. Suddenly she slid her fingers between his and then squeezed gently.
“Come with me, Junius.” She stood gracefully and waited for him to follow.
“Where to?” he asked.
She smiled. “Away from all these others. Somewhere we can be alone, just you and me. I would like that, and I think you would as well.”
Junius grinned at her. “Yes, I’d like that very much,” he replied as he got to his feet and allowed her to lead him through the hall and up the marble stairs.