They laughed and went to supervise the roadworks, the fall chill biting into their cloaks.
Foul weather had settled over Rome too, and they had to heat, the chill biting into the walls. They had bought a couple of low-class slaves to feed the fires and warm the baths, Sixtus still making sure they were well fed and cared for, even if Seraphina didn’t care at all.
Kyle’s back had healed, but scars remained, the already weakened skin struggling to heal. Seraphina avoided hitting him on the back, but he still got lashes everywhere else when her temper flared. Her belly had started growing, and she lived an ample social life to make sure that everybody knew she was pregnant. The emperor was delighted, of course, as well as the rest of the family, and she prayed every day to the gods to give her a son.
She read Marius’ letter by the fireplace; the flames crackling with a warm glow, a cruel smile on her face at the last lines.How are my slaves? Please let me know, Seraphina. Could you give the other letter to Kyle, please?She looked at the sealed letter addressed to the slave and threw it into the fire, just as she had done with the others. She then sat down to write her reply, not mentioning the slaves once.
Kyle held tight, thinking of Tertullia’s words, but Marius’ absence and lack of communication wore on him. Winter had settled, the weather bitter, and they stayed closed in as much as they could, Seraphina’s presence wearing at their nerves. She worried constantly about the child and Kyle had to go and fetch the doctor more than once, shivering in the cold streets.
Snow had blanketed the landscape and building the road was held up.Just our fucking luck...Marius held his wife’s letter in his hands, looking at the landscape. No news of his slaves again, nothing from Kyle... Maybe he had forgotten about him. After all, it had been months. Images of Lisandra’s body floated in his mind, the girl looking at Kyle... he clenched his fist, crumpling the letter...Why would he wait for me? He had been a whore after all... He was deeply fed up and frustrated, his jealousy eating at him.Maybe I should just fuck a camp whore...
The idea was tempting, but then there was a knock on his door and Clavius appeared, holding a letter. “Any news from Seraphina?”
Marius threw the crumpled letter to the floor. “Yes, of course.... meaningless shit... how she prays to the gods for a son, her parties, our parents...”
“I see... well, my wife has been to your house last week, and she has a few words for you.”
Marius’ eyes widened and Clavius handed him the letter. Marius read her lines, his vision blurring.
My dear Marius,
I know you’re dying to hear from your lovely boy, so allow me to fill you in, as I know that Seraphina has been sparse with giving you news of him. I met him last week at your wife’s little hen party and, as usual, he was his delightful self. He is doing better than expected, Marius, but your wife is a feisty creature, and she leads your household with an iron hand. She is also quite quick with her whip, but fear not. Your lovely pet told me he had had it worse before. Rest also assured that he is faithful to you, the poor little pup, despite the girls being all over him now that they’re locked up in this foul winter weather. I could not talk to him at length, but he misses you like crazy, of course, even more so that you’re not giving any news of yourself. Anyway, I hope this letter finds you well and my good husband is not getting on your nerves too much. I told your good boy I would write to you that he loves you still very much.
See you soon, Tertullia
Marius’ hands trembled, his emotions raging. “She’s beating them up...” He moaned, and the letter slipped from his hands. He had to sit down, feeling sick.He loves me still... he has not received news of him for months now... Faithful...“I have to throw up...”
Clavius clasped his shoulder. “Now, now... I hope you can survive some news?”
Marius sat in a daze, his mind racing, anger boiling up like freed lava. “Fuck that bitch!”
He hurled a chair through the room, almost breaking the window, and Clavius had to grab his shoulders. “Calm down? There's nothing you can do from here.”
He sighed, his voice faltering. “I want to go home...”
Clavius grinned. “Whine like the spoiled brat that you are, general, soon-to-be father?”
Marius’ shame washed over him, and he quieted, and went to stand at the window,his eyes on the landscape, watching the gentle snow fall endlessly.
Snow drifted down from the grey sky, the night slowly falling, and Kyle went to his room, drained by the day’s chores. They had to renovate a whole section of the house for the baby, get the birthing stool, the furniture, everything needed for giving birth, and then welcoming the little being...Marius’ child...He was vaguely curious to find out if Seraphina’s prayers had worked, and it was indeed a boy. In his culture, it didn’t matter. Women were also fierce warriors, but it seemed that Romans only had eyes for boys.
Kyle lay down, finally, feeling his joints and muscles ache, and he longed for the warmth of Marius’ body. He had not been back to their room, save for cleaning sometimes, and his thin blanket didn’t provide enough warmth. He curled up, wishing for sleep, when there was a knock on his door.
His voice was already thick with sleep. “Who is it? “
“Lis...”
He sighed. “Come in...”
She slipped inside, her eyes wide in the dark.
“What do you want, Lis?”
“Can I sleep with you?”
Kyle sat up, wide awake. “What? No!”
She pleaded, sitting down next to him. “Please, please, I’m so cold...”
