Chapter 3
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“Livia, allow me to throw a party in your honour, to celebrate your return to Pompeii.” Livia's mother, Aemilia asked her as they sat for their evening meal. The servants brought the food to them of fine plates and dishes and Livia's view of her mother was cut off for a brief few seconds by the arrival of a large terracotta jug filled with water. These few seconds were enough for Livia to roll her eyes, sigh heavily and regain her composure, smiling sweetly at her mother sitting at the other end of the table.998Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTEMMcFrOaw
“Mother,” She began good-naturedly. “You will throw a party for anything, I do not need nor want a celebration in my honour.”998Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ90An5efTJD
“Tonight's party I know will put me in the mood for another. I was thinking two days from now?”998Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBZVdYGrVzE
“Two days? Mother, have you had this planned already?” Livia asked, laughing slightly.998Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJrvsWF4OzR
“I may have already put a few wheels in motion... but dear, most of the city does yet know you have returned home. What a way to tell them!”
Livia rolled her eyes once more. Her father laughed.998Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡy9wuYZ9qEC
“Perhaps we should focus on tonight's event before we go rushing into others.” He reasoned. “Both of you, finish eating quickly and get ready. Otherwise we won't get there before the next full moon.”998Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYg5evX4bqB
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The party itself was being held at a grand house at the opposite side of town. It had a magnificent sea view, and large columns painted a bright red. Mosaic tiles lined the floor and a sweet aroma of flowers and honey drifted out from the double doors at the front of the house. Large brass bowls on either side of the doors held small fires and there was a wide staircase consisting of six steps to climb before reaching the doorway. Men on the door monitored those who entered, making sure that none of the poorer citizens of the town got in without an invitation.998Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡumNzlf8R24
Inside, Livia's senses were barraged. Music came from one corner, where a band with a harp and a lyre played sweet music. The scent of honey continued inside, but was now mixed with something else – cinnamon, perhaps? Or maybe sage? The various scents of women's perfumes changed as she entered each room, and as she did, a glass of some sort of alcohol was pressed into her hands. Everywhere she looked women were laughing loudly, their heads thrown back in a caricature of amusement whilst their husbands eyes wandered and focussed on the young girl dancing in the centre of the room. She appeared to be some sort of belly dancer – definitely foreign and almost certainly a slave that had been hired out for the evening. She was exotic and her dancing style was one that many of the guests had never seen before. Livia could only guess how much their hosts had paid for her.
From across the revellers, Livia spotted Ariadne. Behind her stood a tall man, a man she had never seen before. Ah, thought Livia, Ariadne's betrothed. He looked perhaps thirty-four. He was young then, for a senator, as the minimum age was thirty. He was probably a relation of the emperor, or was very high in his favour. Ariadne had done remarkably well for herself, considering she was a girl from Pompeii and not from Rome. The women in the capital would be furious.998Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ72grNIomHU
“Livia! I was beginning to wonder when you would make it! This is Maxentius.”998Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOVKtYYDyj2
The man smiled, he seemed good-natured enough.998Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDuwZP7zS6H
“Max, this is Livia. We've been friends since we were children.” Ariadne said proudly. Maxentius smiled and shook her hand.998Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSmswe6ID9R
“I am pleased to meet you, I have heard a lot about you. I trust Ariadne has told you our news?”998Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvbK5YjkfyV
“Of course she has!” Livia said. “I could not be happier for the two of you.”998Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDXELybiLLp
Maxentius smiled pleasantly.
“I must take my leave of you, I regret. If I am not mistaken, I see over there a politician from Rome and we have much business to discuss.” He said, placing a hand on Ariadne's shoulder as a sign of farewell. “Livia, it was nice to have met you. I am sure I shall see you again soon.”998Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0tPiuJ43Zp
As he left, Ariadne smiled at Livia like an excited child.998Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4wSF7JOKEb
“Isn't he lovely? He's so kind and polite!”998Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2zKZvaJN1r
“Ariadne, I really think you've hit gold!” Livia exclaimed, laughing as she did so.998Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlFFcHJ86dD
“Now, we must find you a man. I cannot bear to have no one to share all my stories of married life with. It would be selfish for you to remain unmarried.” She teased, taking a sip of her drink. “Maybe that gladiator from the arena, you certainly liked him.”998Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡavrcpsfDJq
Livia smiled, and hit her friend on the arm playfully.998Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIHAcWqgchb
“He was nice to look at, I cannot deny that. Do you want to admit that to my father? He would have us both stoned!”998Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡm2utIo9oFh
“He would not go that far... perhaps he would just disown you and exile you to the country.” Ariadne joked. “At least he would not have to pay a hefty dowry. I'm sure a gladiator would be pleased with a small dowry.”
Livia decided against arguing and simply laughed along with her friend, tipping back her glass and draining every last drop.
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“Tell me Marcus, will I ever see you with a smile upon those lips of yours?” Caius lamented mockingly as he took his place next to Marcus in the dining room.998Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMUAqalZiuC
“Ah, Caius. You should have been a poet.”998Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYk1uWPNbAw
“What good are poets?”998Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxCGgdBahXS
“I hear they provide a certain degree of entertainment when they are placed in the arena with a lion.”
Caius roared with laughter.998Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡObuflrzPuT
“My friend, I have never known such a cynic as you! Now, I hear Tetraites has a commission for this party in the city tonight.” He raised his eyebrows suggestively. Marcus shook his head.998Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyUeCjNlqNG
“Caius, what makes you think I want to fight at a private party for the entertainment of those above me?”998Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡji7kecIfhc
“Because you're a gladiator, whose entire profession is based on fighting for the entertainment of those above you. Besides, the women at these things pay quite a bit to see a gladiator fight. We could make a fair bit of money.”998Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYWCBn1KXBY
“Tetraites won't allow it. I'm too new, barely even trained. I can throw a punch, but you know how weak I am when it comes to fighting with spears.”998Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFbcdV8K28q
“Spears? Who said anything about spears? Most of these things are specific requests for hand to hand combat, so your argument is invalid. Also, Tetraites has a bit of a soft spot for me, being his best fighter and all.”998Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmOODhS0rJt
“Careful Caius, if you carry on there won't be room in all of Pompeii to hold your ego.”998Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFm9yxn3lm3
Caius rolled his eyes. Then his tone turned serious.998Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡg7mnfQWtXl
“Look, you want experience and you want to gain the support of the people. What better way to do that than at a private party? If they see you now, when you enter that arena in a few weeks, they will recognise you. You won't be just another foreigner, you will be 'that guy that fought at that party in August'.”998Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEBO3LVL7fg
Marcus could not fault his argument. He had a point. And so, he reluctantly agreed. Caius rose from his bench and, with Marcus in tow, headed immediately for Tetraites' office.
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“Honestly, I was going to send Agrippa and Augustus. Tell me, Caius, why should I send you?”998Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsV5in1Wftr
“I'm your best fighter, for one.”998Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWxEfN3SdMI
“Exactly. Is it selfish for me to want to save my best fighter for the arena?” Tetraites sighed heavily before giving in. “Fine, fine! They have asked for the fight to be held at midnight. Go eat and get your armour on.” He waved his hand as a way of dismissal and Marcus smiled as a way of thanks.998Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTxRQQZBajF
“I don't know why I let you talk me into these things, Caius.”
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~
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The host of the party tapped on a glass as a way of bringing the crowd's attention to the centre of the room. The crowd fell silent and the host and his wife smiled graciously.998Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJ19CedY5HS
“Guests, we thank you most heartily for attending our small get together.”998Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡF8FBJfL5tJ
At the mention of the word small, Livia looked around the room incredulously. If this was small, what was large?!998Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvBayS1GmpW
“We have seen the dancers, but now we would like to introduce to you the highlight of this evenings entertainment. By the generosity of the gladiator trainer Tetraites, we have here tonight two of Pompeii's gladiators fresh from the training ground.”998Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5gSX0lHWfy
The host indicated with his arm to the door, where two men stood in shadow. One of them was, of course, Marcus. Livia was shocked to discover this, though Ariadne could not mask the smirk on her face. She glanced at Livia, a teasing twinkle in her eyes. She could not wait to use this to her advantage. Hundreds of mocking statements presented themselves in her mind, and as Livia looked on in her disbelief, Ariadne giggled to herself as she ran through the ones that would irritate her friend the most in her mind.998Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOEo7AT5Jp7
The two men took to the floor. They wrestled each other, though it was clear that the aim of tonight's game was not to kill, simply to win. The two appeared to be friends, Livia remarked. Did gladiators have friends? Surely it was pointless when one was likely to have to kill them one day. Livia shook this thought off and her eyes remained fixed on the fighting. They were remarkably swift and sure footed. Livia noticed in particular that Marcus, who had fallen in the arena earlier that day, was a worthy opponent. He had shown none of the weakness that he had in the arena.998Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡS0n6uC14SF
“Perhaps he is stronger in this area of combat.” Ariadne whispered, almost reading Livia's thoughts.998Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8qCV0IDuMT
“He is certainly performing better than in the arena.” Livia whispered back.998Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7azIdmAr0X
The fight lasted a good half an hour, before the host of the party announced them both the winner. Their arms were held in the air and the small crowd in attendance at the party cheered, raising their glasses in honour of their beloved sport.
As the gladiators were leaving through a door at the rear of the house, Livia found herself sneaking off to follow them. Ariadne looked up from her glass and saw nothing but the trail of Livia's pale dress disappearing round the corner of the door. Without any further hesitation, Ariadne followed suit.
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“Well Marcus, how was your first house-fight?” Caius smirked as they changed quickly in a back room.998Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVRsgs2k9O1
“I do believe I was nearly a match for you, good friend.” Marcus smiled as he pulled off his leather fighting gear and pulled on a soft cotton tunic.998Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxw6Uzjy3P3
Caius punched his friend on the shoulder mockingly, stuffing his own leather into a sack and throwing it over his back. At a disapproving look from Marcus, he laughed.998Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6wcEY0zW4s
“I've had this same leather for years, forgive me if I want a reason to ask Tetraites for a new one!”998Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡf1sSvaqfYr
“He won't oblige, surely!” Marcus asked. He could not imagine that Tetraites was that kind to his gladiators – leather did not come too cheaply.998Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3Her6OyJNW
“He will to me! You forget, I'm his favourite.” Caius said smugly.998Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡETHLKAxllJ
Livia stood concealed in the doorway. She watched the gladiators with a strong fascination and felt the remarkable urge to speak to them. Before she could, however, she was spotted.998Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡASuC5wta14
“My lady, have you lost your way?” Caius asked, straightening up.998Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡU4IkVOquwC
“I...Yes, I have. I was looking for the kitchens. I was feeling rather hungry and I'm afraid there is no more fish on the platters they are handing out.” She said, hoping that at least they did not think she had been spying on them.998Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxiX1va2UBc
“I am sorry I cannot aid you, my lady. For I am as new to this house as you must be, it's many corridors and hallways confuse me.” Caius said, smiling kindly.998Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbDFNTgjuKx
“I thank you anyway. And I would wish to congratulate you on your performance tonight. It was exceptional.”998Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIlTgNoghVQ
“Thanks to you!” Caius answered. Marcus smiled. Caius bid Livia a good night and left to take both his sack and Marcus' outside.998Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIuPxVEkOwS
“My name is Livia.” She said, stepping out of the door frame and into the room lit by soft candles burning in crevices around the room.998Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdaGW3jw1zb
“It is a pleasure to meet you, Livia.” Marcus said. “I am Marcus.” He said. He heard Caius calling his name from outside and smiled apologetically.998Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIUcESVpWEL
“Good night, my lady.” He said, kissing her hand and stealing away into the night.
