Page 38 of Enslaved
Diana was pleased with Kell. He was showing his admiration for her by calling her lady. She felt lucky to have him for her ally because he had earned the general’s complete trust. She must do the same. She had discovered that it gave her pleasure when she saw Magnus’ dark eyes light with amusement. Men loved to laugh. She must try her best to entertain him.
By the balls of Jupiter,thought Petrius as he stood before his sweating legionaries, watching the drama between his brother and his exquisite slave play out,no wonder my brother enjoys Aquae Sulis!With a villa of slaves such as the golden-haired female to do his bidding, to obey his every command, to satisfy his every craving, what man wouldn’t be content? His brother had kept his female slaves well hidden last night at dinner. No wonder Marcus had not needed the services of the fornice. A slave girl aroused far more lust in a man than a prostitute, and this particular slave girl was exceptionally beautiful.Whether Marcus knows it or not, he will entertain me again at dinner. And this time it will be share and share alike, brother!
As the sun blazed down, the heat became almost oppressive. The general knew how much the men sweated beneath their armor and iron helmets. He divided the field into quadrants to practice various offensive and defensive skills. One group practiced with the seven-foot pilums or javelins. He designated half the group as attackers, the other half as targets. Before now their javelin practice had been limited to hitting wooden butts. The human targets became immediately drenched with sweat, from fear now, rather than heat.
Marcus Magnus moved on to the next quadrant. “Remove your armor,” he commanded. Every man was eager to relieve himself of the heavy bronze breastplate, cuirass, and iron helmet until the general issued his next order. “Half of you buckle on your pugio, the other half your gladius. You will fight each other without the protection of armor. You will be amazed how quickly your defensive skills become honed.”
He ordered half of the third quadrant to strip naked and practice their wrestling skills. “The wild tribes to the west fight naked. You had better get used to it. They are more vulnerable to your weapons, of course, but they move like greased lightning. Those still wearing armor will discover just how much it impedes you and slows you down when your enemy is totally free of all encumbrance.”
The men of the fourth quadrant were issued weapons they had never used before. Long swords called spatha, usually given only to cavalrymen, and bows and arrows were distributed by mule-drawn carts. Then Marcus Magnus and the two Celtic tribesmen gave them a lesson in archery followed by a demonstration in the correct use of the spatha. Straw dummies were set up at the far end of the quadrant.
“First, you will learn to put an arrow through the center of every head, then you will learn to sever each head from its body with one slash of the spatha.”
Marcus knew that by the time the legionaries left the field they would be dog-tired. He glanced at the western sky and saw thunderheads gathering in the distance. If the storm was heavy enough to swell the river and make it rage, tomorrow might be a good time to give them their swimming lesson. If not, they could practice mounting and dismounting from high-speed war chariots.
Marcus was impatient for the light to fade from the sky, though he did not allow it to show. The anticipation of his evening with Diana set up a heavy pulsebeat that made his blood throb. He was careful to mask his mounting excitement and his towering impatience before the Roman soldiers he trained. They deserved his total attention. His pride would not allow him to give them half-measures when it came to survival tactics. With an iron control, he put all thoughts of his beautiful female slave aside, until he could give her his complete and undivided appreciation.
When they arrived home, Diana followed Kell into the kitchens. Both males and females were employed in preparing the evening meal, working at long scrubbed tables beneath copper utensils that hung from beams.
“Why are you here?” Kell asked sternly.
“I want to make sure everything is perfect for him.”
“Do I not do that every day of my life?” he asked withhauteur.“You need rest; take it while you may.”
Diana blushed prettily. It had indeed been a long day, but she felt so alive, so filled with a mixture of apprehension and excitement, that she knew she could not lie down and sleep.
“It is so hot in here. Go out into the peristyle, the garden. It will fill you with tranquillity. Just stay out of the master’s private bathing pool; slaves are not allowed in it.”
The gardens were lush with scented flowers and lovely shade trees. As she strolled down its winding paths, she came upon small yew arbors with stone seats, sundials, and ornamental ponds. As well as oaks, there were towering walnut and chestnut trees and smaller, fruit-bearing trees of pear, quince, apricot, and damson. Red squirrels dashed about gathering acorns, crested kingfishers swooped over the ponds, while thrushes grubbed for insects beneath the flowering rhododendrons.
As she rounded a bend in the stone path, a pale aquamarine bathing pool stretched out before her. At the far end, water spouted from great stone dolphins, and when she drew closer, she saw that the pool had a border of jade mosaic water lilies and water hyacinths. A long wooden bathhouse stood on one side of the pool covered by climbing purple wisteria and ornamental grape vines. If Marcus Magnus had designed this oasis, she realized he must have a deep appreciation of the beauties of nature. Diana sat down on a carved stone bench and allowed the tranquillity of her surroundings to calm her.
An older woman in a plain linen toga came toward her carrying a cool drink. Diana smiled her thanks.
“I have decided to look after your needs, child.”
She was a motherly woman with a comfortable, rounded figure and graying hair. Diana felt guilty. How could she accept the services of a slave? “Thank you, but I can look after myself.”
“My name is Nola. I shall ease your way and you shall ease mine, if you accept me.”
“Please sit down, Nola. I cannot accept the services of a slave. It is against my beliefs.”
Nola beamed at her. “You are a Christian; I knew it! I shall mother you. Everyone needs mothering, even the great man himself. He is no more than a boy, really. His responsibilities make him stern and harsh. But sometimes in the evening he sheds his cares with his armor. I’ve seen him chase about with his dogs and play in the pool like a boy. He is lonely, though he does not even realize it. Will you assuage his loneliness?”
“I … I will try,” Diana said, realizing she had learned that he was vulnerable. It could be a powerful weapon. “How can you feel affection for him when he owns you?”
Nola laughed. “He freed me long ago. I stay from choice. Who else could keep him in line and protect him from the machinations of Kell?”
Aha, Kell and Nola are obviously adversaries. Perhaps I can use this to my own advantage.
When Diana tasted the drink, she was surprised. “This is cider. It’s good!”
“Romans drink wine incessantly. Some of it tastes no better than vinegar. Britons prefer cider.” Nola studied Diana’s face as she sipped her drink. “You have a most impetuous nature. It has been held in check for far too long. It is as if you have been sleeping, waiting for the moment when you could emerge from your cocoon, spread your beautiful wings, and fly. That moment is at hand.”
“How do you know these things?” Diana asked, recognizing the truth of her words.
“I know all—deep down in my bones. You are longing to throw off your clothes and splash in the bathing pool. Learn to indulge your desires, child. I will get you a towel to wrap up your pretty hair. I will hold your lovely stola and keep the slaves away from the pool while you refresh yourself.”
