He explained to her about the various rooms, the female deflecting from her worrying about social scenarios to try and absorb as much of the information as possible. She felt over-whelmed at the options he provided her, eyes widening as she swallowed back the lump forming in her throat. He seemed to notice her discomfort, the man slowing down and simplifying things for her. Despite the long list of rooms and their different uses, it seemed to Valerie like the bathes were sequential in terms of how they were to be utilized. Meaning, that all she had to do was simply go from one place to the next and more than likely she would be fine.

She repeated this to herself over and over, returning to speak to him once more when he made mention of the 'assistants' present in the baths. "I'll ask for help from them, only if I really need it. It will also be done with respect that they deserve, even if it might seem strange to others. I won't make a scene of my treatment towards the unpaid servants your society keeps, but I refuse to treat them as lesser or other." Her mind was made up on that matter at least, her opinions and thoughts on the matter clear enough in comparison to her confusion over the bathes.

He went on, reassuring her of her position in this world, one of status and comfort. Nobilitas....I need to keep remembering that. I'm not just a simple scientist anymore. I need to start acting more...refined. Her thoughts chastised her internally, the girl nodding her head slowly to what he had said. "Honesty is the best policy they say. I'll just stick to some simplified and sugar-coated truths. That will be easier than lying through my teeth." They were soon heading off, the baths a short distance away. However, the rising heat of the day made the female warmer than she liked, dust from the road sticking to the dots of perspiration on her forehead as they arrived at the building. Valerie wiped at the sweat with the back of her hand, the girl noticing her inner hesitance to enter. However, she had little choice in the matter, forcing a smile in Kaeso's direction which looked more grim than pleasant. She entered inside, following behind a pair of woman similar in age to her which were gossiping away. One of them, a tall fair-skinned woman with black hair, gave her a small smile over her shoulder before throwing a coy expression Kaeso's way as she disappeared around the corner of the women's section.

Valerie gulped quietly, trying to follow them at a distance so as to not appear lost as they walked down a short corridor. They soon entered into a larger room though, one with small indents in the walls where some other bathers items were already stored. The pair who Valerie had followed stopped by two empty hollows, the raven-haired female contiually looking in Valerie's direction as they began unchanging with little inhibition. Valerie tried not to stare as she watched what they did, mimicking to her best effort in removing the toga while covering herself with her towel. She struggled with the pin on her toga though, getting flustered as she struggled to undo it in time to keep up with the other two. "Need help?" The voice was friendly and right behind her, Valerie turning with flaming cheeks to see the girl who had smiled before standing right beside her already wrapped in a towel. "Um, yes..." She mumbled out, sounding far more fragile than she would have liked. The girl approached, easily unclipping the piece holding the toga closed and handing Valerie a towel from nearby.

"I heard along the grapevine about your memory loss. I figured you wouldn't remember me and your lack of a normal cheery greeting means the rumors are true. Needless to say your look of a lost lamb only makes it more obvious. My name's Octavia, I live near to you...we used to play frequently in your garden before you, ah...disappeared. Are you here to get ready for tonight? " Valerie tried to breathe, wanting to cool down her red cheeks as she gave the girl a grateful smile. "Y-yes, I, ah..." She grit her teeth, remembering what Kaeso had said. You're Nobilitas. Act like it. Valerie set her shoulders, standing up straighter as she responded better. "I mean yes. A bit of a party to let everyone know I'm back." Her smile now was more genuine, causing one to reflect on Octavia's face. "Well we're all awfully excited about it! Hey, Cassia?" The other girl who she had been with nodded her head, placing her folded toga inside it's hollow. Octavia turned back to Valerie, looping her arms through Valerie's while the girl floundered to try and keep her towel in place. "Even if you don't remember everything, we'll be here to help! You might not remember me, but my mother would be horrified if I didn't try and help you settle back in!"

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It didn't take long for Valerie to settle, finding it easier to cope with the strange routines of the baths with the other two girls to help. While the first warm room was enjoyable, what Valerie truly looked forward to was the curls of steam coming from what Kaeso had said would be the hottest room of the bathes. When the three entered, Valerie had to stop herself from plunging straight into the warm waters which promised to help her remove the dirt that had been accumulating since arriving. A new development though made her stop, the sight of a girl with skin like fertile earth standing in the far corner, head tilted down to look at her toes. While the sight made Valerie pause, the other two quickly shed their towel and entered into the sunken pool of heated water. Their openess was something Valerie was still becoming accustomed too, and after a short moment in which she waited for when no one was looking, she too joined them.

"So, Valoria, what colour are you wearing tonight?" Cassia asked after dunking her head underwater, red hair straightening and sticking to her skull. Octavia followed suite, Valerie doing the same so she had time to think. She had mostly let the other two talk, okay with just sitting and listening. It seemed however that they had now turned their attention to her. Her voice was confident as she responded, saying simply "A dark green. I bought some new items yesterday specially for tonight." She caste a glance at the other nubian-looking female in her peripheral vision, who had not changed her stance since they had entered. Her answer made the two girls glance at each other in a knowing way. "What is it?" She asked, the pair giggling to each other. "Come on, tell me!" Valerie urged them. Octavia was the one to speak first, but not to her. "Hey, you! Get two more of you and then fetch some oils and stigils!" The girl from the corner, who Valerie assumed to be a slave, left wordlessly and without looking up from the ground. Cassia rolled her eyes, saying "They're getting useless, none offered any of us massages yet or oil application." Octavia nodded her head in agreement, not yet answering Valerie's inquiry as to the importance of the colour she was wearing. Valerie felt like grinding her teeth, suddenly nervous as to the implications of the fabric the merchant had chosen for her. "You were saying?" She urged them politely, Octavia floating on the surface and tilting her head back into the water before answering. "Oh nothing....it's just that that is Magnus' favourite colour." Cassia gave Valerie a sly wink, ducking under and popping up again while Valerie's head spun. She was thirsting for answers but the two seemed to be toying with her and stretching out the time taken to satiate her need for answers.

"Um...whose favourite colour?" She said patiently, trying not to let her worry seep into her voice. Octavia straightened, water flowing down her shoulders. "Oh right...your memory loss..." the girls broke off into another fit of giggles as Valerie's heart rate quickened. The pair eventually calmed again, the slave girl returning with two more females who were both carrying familiar coloured glass bottles and strange looking tools. "He's someone that you knew from before." Cassia said casually, shrugging her shoulders as they made their way back towards the stairs and climbed out again. Valerie followed after them, hungry for more information. There was more to this man than that simple answer and the wicked smile playing across Octavia's lips told her as much. The three wrapped their towels around them again, Valerie following as they sat down on nearby benches where steam was accumulating. The bathe 'assistants' approached, Valerie flinching away coyly at first while she watched the two new slaves begin pouring oil on Cassia and Octavia's skin. She tried to pry more information, asking in what she hoped was a non-chalant way, "Was he a friend, like you?" She allowed the nubian girl who had first been here to do the same to her with the oil, trying not to make a face at the strange feeling of the viscous fluid being rubbed into her skin. There was more giggles before she was given an answer, Octavia closing her eyes and sitting back in a relaxed pose as she answered. "Let's just say there was some unusual gossip as to his intentions towards you just before you left...gossip which will make his most certain appearance at your house tonight very interesting." The tone of her voice made Valerie's skin crawl, but Octavia's unspecific explanation told her that digging for more would be a fruitless effort. Clearly the two girl's were enjoying her lack of knowledge and Valerie refused to give them anymore satisfaction by begging for information. "Guess we'll just have to see how tonight plays out then..." She said casually, closing her eyes and trying to stop herself from grinning as she felt the two bristle slightly beside her when she didn't try and get them to talk more.

Looks like 'friends' around here aren't always the kind that one would expect. I'll need to keep my guard up and keep playing the games they wish to set out. The small victory she had won felt good, but Valerie knew she would need to keep on her toes if the small experience was any indicator as to how the party would be.

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Valerie exited the baths feeling refreshed. The treatments of oils that had been applied to her skin and semi-damp hair as well as the massage that Kaeso had suggested left her feeling strange but definitely improved compared to earlier. She was eager to speak to him, not only about her win in terms of how the girls had tried to toy with her but also in terms of the information she had learned about this 'Magnus'. He appeared to be waiting for her already, the sight of his damp hair making her think back to the first time he had used her shower back at her apartment. The memory was a fond one, helping the girl form a happy expression as she approached him. "Hello again, it would appear I survived. I also have some news to share..." she waited until they were walking back towards the villa before getting too detailed, the girl always keeping her voice low but giving him all the details she could about what the other females had shared with her. When she was done they were almost back, Valerie stopping under the tree they had talked under the day before. "What do you think?" She asked him, the warm breeze playing cooly across her still slightly-wet skin and hair and making the scented oils on them both waft around them.
 
Kaeso smiled, he had little doubts at all that the slaves within the baths would find the utmost pleasantness from her along with a calming patience. He had experienced that for himself in her care. He knew how a Centurion could be found by those unused to army life and its structure of daily routines and hardships. Equally, she was in that same positoon now dealing with the difference of social classes and the owneship of others. He respected she was disapproving of the practice but she seemed to understand it wasn't something that was going to change in his lifetime much less the next generation and that no two masters were the same.

"That, I think, they can manage, my Lady," he knew she would prefer her name but he was tenchically a rank below her and he had to be heard to be paying her due respect of her class when not in private. Neither of them needed the fiasco of him being reprimanded by some other upper class snob. He didn't think Valerie was ready just yet for affirming her own battle ground when it came to telling others off. At least not until she had more time to acclimatise. It certainly helped that she had a good grasp of Latin whereas his English was more than abyssmal in the little time he had begun learning it with the few words she had taught him.

He nodded, he had caught many a ranker trying to pull a fast one over him only to be caught out by the simplest snag that had unravelled all of their exaggerated tales. No, if you were going to lie, then it was best to lie as little as possible. The dust clung to them both and he knew he had grown a little to used to a British climate over the much hotter Italian one. It felt hotter than even Misenum in summer than he remembered and found himself looking forward to a good steam and a good soak. He, however, was also nervous. The baths were also notoriously the best place for learning the gossip of the city and it was also often a place for business transactions to be concluded and settled upon. Therefore, there would be a number that he might know or recognise or those who would look to share in gossip and in turn, receive it.

They reached the Baths, a large one that catered for both sexes and was decorated in the stonework with plenty of fish carvings. He caught her smile towards him and he felt more than what he saw her hesitancy. he gave her what he hoped was a reasuring smile knowing that outside of the gossips, there wasn't much else to the practice other than following each room as they came. He looked forward and saw the woman in front before she and her companion had turned the bend and he could only incline his head in response to her smile. He knew there had been little hiding what she was thinking but he was too stressed about other things to fully react to it, which was a little unlike him. It was here that his presence next to Valerie's parted and he hoped she would be all right once they met back together at the end of their stay here.

He soon followed suit with other men who had come for their daily bath, or sometimes weekly in terms of how many times a week they could afford it. It wasn't too expensive and rather than faffing with two accounts, he had paid both his and Valerie's on her account. He doubted neither her or Aquila would want him stinking through a dinner party. That just would not do. He had his clothing stored and he soon settled for the first room, allowing the heat of the room to steam out the gunk and grease in his skin. He lost himself to his own thoughts for quite some time, sat on one of many benches in the room, his palms pressing against the stone. It was some time before a presence disturbed his thoughts and he lifted his head as a man of a much thinner build than to himself looked down at him.

"Would you mind if I joined you?" The man's voice was smooth and one that carried an air of grace than kaeso had long lost even if he ever had it in the first place. The man was unknown to him, the face too groomed and well looked after to belong in the Legions. Or at least, if the man had... it had been in the equestrian or higher ranks where they rarely got their feet wet in the dirt.

"Knock yourself out," he replied, knowing there was plenty of space around for the man to have sat but as with all things, a need for socialising often won over a need to stay away from those beneath you. Kaeso would make no qualms about who or what he was. He knew he had a soldier's look about him so he wasn't going to pretend to be anything other than what he was. The man offered a smile that didn't quite reach all the way and inclined his head. The hawk nose only added to the bird-like gesture and Kaeso had a hard time keeping his amusement to himself.

"I couldn't help noticing the woman you were with when you entered. From what all the gossip mills I've run into, she's the returned daughter of good old Corvinus. Is that true?"

"Yes, the Lady is such," he replied, wondering what this man was getting at as he straightened his frame, "Recently returned from the shores of Britannia."

"That sounds a little like firsthand information, if you don't mind me saying...?" The man peered at him with a fishing look that Kaeso disliked but couldn't deny since he knew he and Valerie weren't exactly free from a certain man in the future. It was all very fucked up.

"I should think so. I was the one that got her safely back home," Marcellus put succinctly and honestly.

"Good, good..." the man eched, looking away for a moment before he looked back at the soldier next to him. "Forgive me, I had to be sure of who you were and who she was... People have this little irritating habit of talking far too much. Before you even have the time to realise it, a truth runs to a filthy nag of lies."

Kaeso peered at him suspiciously, his guard rising as he wondered as to the identity of the man sitting next to him, "I.... What are you getting at?" he asked bluntly and perhaps a little too bluntly he realised as he gauged the reactive expression.

"I come with regards to the Palace, Centurion," the man nodded and kaeso realised he must have be with the Imperial staff, one of many to aid in Claudius' dealings as Emperor. Question was whether this man was a Freedman or a true Roman but in either case he was outranked regardless of the fact that a Freedman was a social rank beneath his own.

"I see the administrative office wastes little time,"
"Indeed not... It is regrettable you were unable to return with the whole family. We will have a more formal meeting regarding the situation, Centurion. His excellency is most concerned and curious as to the whole thing. The clerk mentioned Corvinus wrote a letter?"
"Yes sir. In his own hand, and he gave me his signet ring as further authority to his wishes,"
"Good, we shall need to see it. Good man, we'll send a summons shortly."

The man rose and after a moment's hesitation gave Kaeso a pat on the shoulder. Before Kaeso could speak, the man had left in a small flurry of towel and the Centurion sighed, rubbing his face before he finished up with his steam and soaked in the baths for a good while before eventually following through with a massage that helped allieve a lot of the stress he had been building up over the last few months. The man's hands had left nothing out, kneading skin and removing any tight knot he could find. Refreshed, he soon got back into his clothes and awaited Valerie outside.

He thought heavily to the likelyhood of an Imperial summons and what that was likely to entail from him and perhaps from Valerie too. It was another situation in which she was going to be placed into the proverbial deep end. He shuddered slightly as a droplet of water ran down the middle of his neck and down his back and the movement caused him to catch sight of his friend and charge. He inclined his head towards her as was expected but the smile on his features was in the least genuine. He was glad to see she had made it out and she looked to be in one collective piece. Not melting to the floor with tears at least, he mused. He hated it when women cried, he always didn't know what to do when they did and it was just awkward.

"Oh? You're not the only one, it would appear," he nodded with a slight but albeit guarded smile. He was not looking forward to having to respond to the summons. No doubt Aquila would go about in one hell of a frenzy that not only ensured that Valerie was looking her best but quite possibly him too as a new representative of their house. It was all very daunting in prospects.

He let Valerie share infomation first as they walked back to the villa and he did so with his usual field and capacity for patient listening. By the time she was done, they were under a tree and he realised it it was the same one they had talked beneath before. He took a moment of silence and shifted the strap of his tunic on his shoulder slightly as he collected his thoughts on the matter. It was certainly troubling and given their ulterior motive in being here, it presented more questions.

"Not sure I like it," he answered eventually, growing distracted by the scents in the air. "I don't know how it works for your time," he began quietly, loud enough for her to hear but quiet enough still to make it difficult for anyone nearby to understand, "but a family will often wed their daughter or son for what merit their other house gets them. Wealth, social standing, reputation, all that. Love has very little place in the whole affair. Take the Houses of Caesar and Antony. Octavian Augustus married his sister to Mark Antony to show their houses had made peace, despite the fact it was all a farce." Kaeso wasn't sure how much of the ways of Romans Valerie understood so he had felt he had needed to explain what this Magnus could be after.

"If he's after the wealth of the family name, it's something you'll have to be wary about. Women are second in the marriage... all matters of the House would shift to him. He'd get the say where the money goes, you'd only get so far as dictating what you can wear and you'd maybe get an expense for womanly things. Aquila would properly answer that question better than I... I'm just a simple soldier," he replied.

"I would advise you keep your eyes and ears open and don't get wrapped up by any silken promises. If this Magnus is good with his tongue, e very well may try to spin a yarn. Those in politics know who to manipulate, quite often without you even realising they're doing it." He was sincere, he didn't want her to get hurt by other people's schemes and plots. Her 'return' was creating a stir and they were both in a drink if the exact truth was known. He didn't care that the greasy bastard who had sent them back to his time in the first place had a record of his so-called heroic deeds. For all he knew, they had been forged just to get him to be more compliant or agreeable. Even heroes could fall to exile, slavery or worse, death.

The realisation of her news made him forget his own titbit that he needed to tell her.
 
Kaeso seemed to muse over the information she had shared with him, remaining level-headed as he always was before eventually imparting his own feelings and thoughts on what she had told him. He took much a similar stance to the one she had taken towards the news, dubious as ever about the true intentions of the man that the ‘friends’ she had met spoke about. With his explanation on the reason for marriages within his time, her demeanor shrivelled up. While she had been excited before, proud of her victory in a game of politics and words, the enlightenment he brought only managed to worry her. “No. That’s not how it works in my time, at least with most people. We marry for the purpose of wanting to spend the rest of our lives with someone we care about….arranged marriages were…I mean will be…. frowned upon by most of my civilisation.

She ran her fingers through her drying hair, getting caught in the tangles and knots forming there. Becoming second to a man who had dominion over not only her things but her actual being sounded like a nightmare to her. Having known the privilege of being a ‘free’ woman in her own time somehow made the probable situation far worse in her mind. One she would avoid at all costs. “I don’t intend to talk to Aquila about it. I don’t need her words worming their way into my head. Besides, she seems to be at the heart of any talk that goes on around here. Everyone seems to know everyone else’s business and even if there is nothing to gossip about, then truths get twisted until there is something to talk about. Information and secrets seem to be a highly valuable currency in your time. What is your news, though? You said at the baths that you also had information to share?

Aquila appeared on the porch outside the villa a short distance away, hands on her hips as the old woman scanned the road and paths leading from it in search of her mistress. Valoria had been gone at the baths far longer than she expected and the hour for the gathering was growing near in terms of how long it would take to prepare the girl visually. She eventually spotted the pair under the same tree as the previous day, the woman groaning softly to herself. This centurion is going to make things around here interesting. Whether or not his presence will cause a ruckus tonight will be the Gods choice. “Valoria! We need to get started!” She shouted in their direction interrupting whatever explanation Kaeso had begun to give on his own news. When Valerie turned towards her, the woman waved her hands in a gesture indicating she should hurry back to the villa.

Back under the tree Valerie moaned at hearing her shout, visibly clenching her jaw and raking her hands over her scalp again. “This woman is like a rash on my side….tell me later, okay? If I keep her waiting she might just have a fit.” Valerie gave him one last smile, then turned and jogged back to the house. Upon her arrival Aquila tutted loudly, plucking at a damp strand of Valerie’s hair and saying, “You’ve been gone a while, look at your hair! Good thing I have some skill in detangling nests such as the one those slaves down at the baths have created in your curls! Hurry inside, we have much to do.” Valerie did as she was told, feeling a growing sense of dread at the upcoming event.

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Later that evening, when the sun had begun to set, Markus was kept busy setting up wooden tables covered with embroidered cloth, putting out trays of food, and scattering lounging sets and cushions in small parts of the atrium and courtyard. Flowers were hung in wreaths, scented oils were burned from small lamps and small candles were sent floating into the central water feature of the courtyard. By the time he was done, Aquila was finishing up with Valerie’s appearance.

It had taken many hours of brushing, fussing about with the folds of the tunic and application of what Valerie assumed was the roman equivalent of makeup. Kohl had been drawn along her eyes and perfumed oils placed onto every inch of skin exposed in the tunic. What had taken up most of the time was her hair, which Aquila had braided at the top to create a crown before carefully adding oils to her hair to accentuate the curls. After that she had carefully placed a small silver headpiece on Valerie’s head, one which was fixed to the braid using small metal clips and which was embedded with green stones much like those on the necklace she wore. Rings were placed on her fingers and the earrings she had purchased attached to her ears. Once complete, Aquila was giddy with excitement at seeing the final product. “You look fit to walk the halls of the palace my dear.” Valerie stood, surveying herself in the aged mirror.

She looked…different. As if she belonged in this era. It was as like she had stepped off the pages of a history book showing old roman murals, the female’s posture going from slumped to suddenly straighter and more confident. I look like I fit in. That will make tonight easier. She was finished at the perfect moment, with the sound of voices outside the house indicating the arrival of guests at any minute. Aquila gave Valerie one last beaming smile, like a proud mother hen, before darting out to get the tray of wine ready.

Valerie looked at her reflection once more, steeling herself for whatever might lay ahead, before leaving to find Kaeso waiting outside. He looked more refined than she had ever seen him thus far, standing squarely with the stance of a soldier who had fought many battles and won. He looked ready for another battle now, a fact that only made Valerie feel more at ease. “You look good. Are you ready? I’m nervous, but I feel like this is going to be fine.” She said in a whisper, the jewelry she wore creating a soft metallic jingling sound as she moved and catching the dull light. It announced her presence before he would even see her, the female moving from behind him to his side.

The first to arrive was the family of Octavia and Cassia, many more individuals she did not know flooding in like an unstoppable wave behind them. Valerie put her game face on: a neutral expression with the slightest, welcoming smile. She greeted each person in turn, taking the time to learn their names and commit it to memory, since she would not have the guise of her memory loss to fall back on if she met them in future. It helped to have many people arriving at once, it kept at bay any conversations she could have until everyone had finished arriving and allowed her time to settle down her nerves. The start of the evening seemed to be going off without a hitch, but good things don’t last forever.

A short time later, with most people having seemed to arrive, Valerie was soon pounced upon from the moment she left the threshold of the villa. Octavia’s voice sounded behind where she stood, Valerie busy taking a goblet of wine off from one of the tables. “Oh my, clearly your servant’s ability for the application of the cultus far exceeds mine. You look breathtaking!” Valerie forced a smile before spinning, taking a sip of wine before answering the girl. To her surprise, this time the wine was not diluted with water. “Thank you for the compliment, you look magnificent yourself –“ She was interrupted by the sound of a horses hooves beating against the dirt outside, the sound catching the attention of most of the guests who all turned their heads towards the villa’s entrance. The horses could be heard skidding to a halt as their hooves slid along the gravel, men’s grunts audible as they dismounted. Shortly after that, two people appeared: A rather round man leading at the front and a tall, athletically built but slightly lithe looking male a few centimeters shorter than Kaeso. The younger was dressed in a crisp white tunic with a red toga draped over his one shoulder in the style of a toga praetexta. Both men had an air of superiority about them, chins held high and similar in appearance except for the ones obviously thicker girth around his middle. The older of the two was clearly the father of the younger, the pair sharing tanned skinned, dark brown hair and yellow-green eyes.

Markus, who had been standing beside Kaeso and was about to offer him wine, bristled as he caught sight of their arrival. The trio sauntered in, bringing a cheer from some of the guests who rose to greet them before Valerie could even approach. Valerie quietly excused herself to welcome the newcomers. Octavia let her go, only giving a polite nod while a knowing smile spread across her face. On her way towards the men she heard shouts of congratulations, most of the men who had risen to greet the two giving the younger sharp pats on his shoulder or his back in some show of camaraderie. She caught the end of one of the man's ecstatic exclamations, his voice apparent above the mumble of the guests surrounding them. "- Fortuna is smiling on you this year Calamis! First your acquisition of the trade deal from Egypt and now your son being promoted to praetor's apprentice!" As Valerie approached the men dissipated slightly, allowing her to show the clearly revered men the respect she owed them as guests.

"Good evening, welcome to my home." Valerie said politely, giving a small curtsy and incline of her head when the masses had parted to allow her through. Many of the guests in the background whispered among themselves excitedly, the air inside the courtyard suddenly electric.
 
He read easily how she took to what he had told her and wished he could take it all back within the instant. She, for a moment in the least, looked less of herself than before and he disliked it immensely. However he knew he would do worse with keeping the truth from her. Valerie was his friend and one he had come to care for deeply. He did not wish her to be hurt and that meant she would have to be aware of the world she was in and the dangers that came with it. Kaeso, not for the first time since their arrival to his time period, wished he could send her back.

Kaeso nodded in reaction to the news that people in her time did indeed marry for love than wealth or climbing a social ladder. He admired it entirely. How freeing that must have been to be able to conduct the matters of the heart with so deep a choice? It was something rare in his time either through luck or happenstance. Love in his time was something to be earned and gained through time though love at first sight was not unheard of. He did not envy her position, a position she should never have come to bear.

Valerie spoke again and he listened attentively to her words as though she were a Legate or the Camp Prefect. He nodded, he could agree with her decision whole heartedly. Slaves and the common folk had wagging tongues that wouldn't know the meaning of secret infomation. A person who could keep a secret to the death was a rare breed. So absorbed was he by all that she had been saying and with what she had alluded to with this 'Magnus' fellow, he found himself caught off guard by her prompt.

"I, uh... Well, I too.." he was cut off as Aquila's voice broke and interupted their talk. He could curse the woman and his look of irritation at the discourse couldn't have been more plain. He was unused to being talked over much less by a slave but as things stood, in the city he was counted as a civilian and his rank meant little. It was one reason ebhind so many brawls caused ebtween Legionaries and civilians as rankers forgot themselves when a legion returned to the city.

Flushing his irritation from view, he glanced towards Aquila and then looked back to Valerie with a sigh that spoke of a wish that they had more time. "I shall do so," he promised and watched her move towards the house with a sinking feeling in his gut. Knowing the Imperial staff, he wouldn't be surprised if the summons came the very next day. The Centurion looked at the tree for a moment and patted the trunk, covering with its rough bark before he moved off himself. By virtue of being the noblewoman's saviour, he too had to look decent for tonight and he was less than well versed on how to look just that. The simple tunic, even though it was finely made and decorated, would befit his station well enough but he knew it would not stop the looks of disapproval.

He had spent most of what time he had to himself in the room afforded to him, sat perched upon the cot lost in thought as he went over the meeting again and again in his mind. His mind ran through potentials, his hand absently running up and down over his forearm, his skin catching lightly over old scars. When it came to getting changed, he felt stupid and wished he didn't have to attend but neither did he want to leave Valerie alone with the political wolves. He may not have much experience with high class dinner parties but he would be expected nonetheless and he would have to just manage all the same.

The tunic felt strange to one so used to living with a bare minimum in life and he took great care in putting it on not wishing to damage something that cost more than half his monthly wage. He felt hooribly naked. He found a spot for himself typically out of the way of the house staff and for their guests too and stood at ease. People would know his station so he saw little to no need to hide the fact. Who else was to retrieve a prisoner of war from a band of savage natives? For a moment he was allowed to keep his own thoughts before a jingling sound caught his attention before it was coupled with light treads. He turned his head and smiled as Valerie joined him. He could not help but look her over and appreciate how pretty she looked. She might not be of the time but she wore it well.

"You look beautiful," he nodded in returned whisper glad for it. The hyenas would come soon and only she would know the same feeling of the predicament it presented. "I find myself wishing I was back at Camulodundum against the natives..." he muttered back before he nodded, "But I'll survive." he was glad she was gaming for it, at least by words. Kaeso, meanwhile, was already vowing to drink as little as it was socially acceptable to get away with. Wits were needed just as much now as they were for a real battle of sword and shield.

People soon arrived and he recognised none of them, assuming them all to be from Corvinus' social circles and those of the returned daughter. He felt ever more like a fish out of water or rather that he had been yet again thrown into the deep end with the sharks. Exept he was likely to be safer with the sharks than with most of these people who plotted and schemed their way through the political ladders. He longed for the simple life of his Centurion days which in retrospect hadn't been all that long ago. He felt Markus approach him by the elbow and turned towards him before he noticed a distinct change in the man's demeanor. There was no mistaking a level of negativity or quiet aggression about the man and Kaeso turned his head, the wine forgotten, to view the two newcomers to the party.

He studied both men and found himself on the same level with markus' clear anxiety about the pair. Both were preened, clearly caring a great deal about their appearance and the impression upon others that it gave. There was nothing left to ruin about their hair, clothes or the way in which they held themselves. Kaeso gave a low snort hiding it with a large sip from what was left of his wine in his goblet. He was too accustomed to having to deal with such preenings shits that it left a nasty taste in his mouth.

"Ah! Thank you, my good lady. This week has certainly been miraculous, my lady Valeria both for my son as they say and more importantly with your fortituous return! You look beautiful, my dear. Radiant even! Doesn't she look so, son?" The man had barely given the younger man the time to answer but the younger jumped in easily with clear agreement. Kaeso disliked the look in which the male was giving Valerie, it was barely concealed where most might have missed it but he could see it clear as day.

"You must tell us all about your experiences, my lady. It's very good to have you return and bring life back into your home," Calamis continued steadily.

Kaeso glanced at Markus before gently nudging the man at the elbow and he spoke quietly just so that Markus would hear. He didn't doubt Markus wasn't already like to do so but he felt they were both on the same page, "Keep an eye on them two," he said, presenting his goblet ready to be filled in a fake pretext of getting Markus to fill it so that others would simply assume he was demanding a refill.
 
Valerie approached cautiously, although hid well her clear worry over what the fuss was about with the arrival of these two men in particular. Upon hearing the congratulations and remarks thrown their way however, it became clear to her why the party had suddenly picked up with incessant chattering and whispers. This must be the male that Octavia had spoken of earlier, there were no other men close enough to her age to elicit such excitement. Besides, it was well past the time the party would start and so Valerie assumed that they would be the last to arrive. Clearly they are the kind who like to make a grand entrance... she thought sarcastically, squelching the need to roll her eyes as she responded to the older of the two.

The look that the younger of the two men gave did not go completely unnoticed by her, Valerie well aware if his eyes raking over her entire body from head to toe. It was the same sort of look farmer might give when appraising livestock, she realized. She did not feel like a farmer though, more like a prized piece of cattle. Gulping quietly she tried not to let her facade slip, forcing herself to unclasp her hands which were being held tightly in front of her.

"I thank you for the compliment...ah...sir. I'm fully aware of the gossip flying around town of my memory loss and so I see no need to try and pretend that I am well acquainted with who you are. Would you be so kind as to introduce yourself to me once more?" Once he had proceeded to introduce himself, Magnus stepped forward and gave a deep bow before his father could steal his own introduction from him. Upon rising he took Valerie's hand, inclining his head towards her before saying "Good evening, Lady Valoria Corvinus. I am Magnus. We were close friends before your unfortunate departure....very close, I might even say. My father has made a good point though, we are eager to hear of your experiences. Maybe even to meet the ah, soldier that brought you back home." The way he phrased the term for Kaeso made it seem as if the word was difficult for him to say, Magnus' eyes not leaving her face as he spoke. He flashed her a dashing smile, showing off peculiarly white and straight teeth - a definite sign of his privileged upbringing.

In the background, Markus all too eagerly nodded his head. Without taking his eyes off of the trio he responded, the seething tone of his words making apparent his distrust of the men. "I was planning on it already, sir. They're wolf in sheep's clothing and the Valoria's memory loss makes her as vulnerable as a lamb. My watch will not waver as far as I can help it." The presentation of the goblet caused the male slave to momentarily cast his gaze away, filling up Kaeso's glass before he went off to continue with his duties of catering and keeping goblets full.

Back at the threshold where Valerie stood under inspection of the two men, Magnus roughly grabbed onto Markus' upper arm as he passed. In a flat, displeased voice which almost seemed reprimanding, he questioned Markus' attentiveness. "Your Domina's goblet is empty, slave." Valerie stiffened at his treatment of the man who had been nothing but kind to her, a reprimand of her own to be aimed at the aloof male sitting on the tip of her tongue. She knew she could say nothing though, not without getting unwanted attention at least. Markus kept his gaze to the ground but his jaw clenched, Valerie producing her cup so that he would not have to step far. Once it was filled, the purple-hued liquid swirling out the jug and pooling in the cup, she nodded her head gratefully. "Thank you very much, Markus." She hoped Markus would leave swiftly to be saved from any further reprimanding and he did, quickly swiveling on the balls of his feet and disappearing to another group nearby once she had given her gratitude.

Once that was complete Magnus and Calamis turned their full attention back on her, Markus as quickly forgotten as a squished bug. "Drink up! Relax! And tell us all about your time in Britannia. Details are everything when it comes to a good story and everyone I know is dying to ind out what it is you went through. I want to be the first to know!" Magnus indicated to a nearby couch and cushion collection which had been set up in the corner, placing a hand on the small of Valerie's back as he gently nudged her in that direction.

Valerie's heart began to beat faster her mind racing as she tried to grasp at details that didn't exist. Just remain calm. Only I was there. Whatever untruths I have to tell can be pointed out by no one except Kaeso....Kaeso! He can help! Valerie seated herself first, Magnus plonking himself down on the seat closest to hers as she looked up and caught Kaeso's attention to indicate he should join them.

While he neared Magnus glanced at her still full cup, saying with a teasing tone, "Something wrong? You still haven't touched your wine. Perhaps your servants have done a poor job of acquiring a good enough cultivar, I could always make a complaint and-" Valerie interjected, shaking her head and insisting he not do a thing by saying, "Oh! No! The wine is great, I have just been so distracted by conversation is all." She made a point of this by taking a large sip, still being careful to not let wine spill anywhere. The liquid was strong tasting and pungent, much stronger than the more refined wines she was used to in her time. However, she would proceed to drink it if it kept any negative attention from being drawn to Aquila or Markus.
 
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Kaeso was on high alert and he made sure he drank sparingly, even going as far to fake sipping at his wine. It might be watered down but even watered wine after a while could blur one's capacity for a clear head. This was not familiar ground for him at all and he had the added anxiety of watching over Valerie and hoping against hope he could keep her alive and safe in what was a very brutal and political world. He watched her with the two men almost avidly whilst trying to be subtle about the endeavour. It was not an easy task for someone who was used to shouting at his men in the thick of battle or through a training drill. Centurions made a life on being seen and heard.

He watched Magnus bow and noted it was purely for show. It was clear the man had only really come for one thing alone and it had very little to do with sincereity. Kaeso's natural dislike for the upper echons of the social classes only thickened. The fact that a imperial meeting loomed upon them as well did not add to his already troubled stomach. He heard himself being referred to and barely hid his snort, coughing slightly in a poor attempt to mask it before he looked to Markus. He nodded, "Good man," he said approvingly. Markus may be a slave but he suspected he would have also made a damned good legionary. The man had shown himself to be observant and useful along with other useful qualities for a ranker. He wondered, the man may even have been one at some point and if so, Kaeso wondered how he had found himself a slave of Corvinus' houseghold.

Shaking his head and feigning another sip, he watched Markus head to go past the three members of his interest and his face darkened as he noticed the exhange. He knew Valerie disliked the slavery that was so natural to the Roman world but there was little she could do about it. However, that never went to say masters couldn't trweat their slaves with respect and care. It was clear then that Magnus and Calamis were not kind masters. That spelt trouble. He could not quite explain the feeling as he watched Magnus touch her and he found he disliked it very much. Almost enough to act upon but he stilled himself. To do so would doom his ability to protect her. She was above his station and he had to remember his place just as much as she had to act the part of hers. Only if her life was threatened could he have the validity of acting.

Calamis followed allowing his son to talk and charm, sipping his wine as they moved for some more comfortable seating. The woman looked nervous and fidgety, no wonder he supposed, Britannia was a land filled with savages. They would soon be brought to heel and made to be civilised in the Roman way. She was also quiet, almost subservient which was not in a noblitas' nature to do so but without knowing what had happened to her, there could be explanations for that.

"I shall leave you in the company of my son for the moment, my dear Lady. There is someone here I have just recognised and need to speak with. I shan't be long," Calamis gave a bow of his head with a smile that spoke of more than he let on before he turned and swept for the other side of the room with a cry of greeting to another man in white robes with a stripe of purple signifying the man's status as a Senator.

Kaeso glanced and caught the gaze of Valerie and seeing she needed him, he nodded to her. He moved towards them. He glanced as he made sure to note where Markus and Aquila were. They were busy with serving and making sure there was still a good amount of food to eat. Kaeso made a detour, filling a plate with several small items which included stuffed dormouse and olives. He approached them and settled the plate next to Valerie before he bowed his head in deferrence to both of them and stood to attention. As much as he disliked the man, Markus was still a man of status and he knew that they were worth maiking as little of an enemy as was worth it. Equally he knew the man would know what Kaeso was just by one look at him and there was little use in hiding his position. Everyone knew a soldier had brought Valerie home.

"My Lady, Praetor,"
he said formally and stood uneasy as Magnus sat back, looking the newcomer over. Kaeso could see the barely hidden displeasure at the interuption. Kaeso could hardly care for what the man thought of him. he hadn't risen to the rank of Centurion purely because he had wanted people to like him after all. "My Lady, I've brought you something to eat, you still need to get your strength back," he continued, explaining why he had brought the platter of the small delicacies.

"Ah, so this must be the soldier who so valiantly brought you back to us! What was your name again?" had given Valerie but a moment to acknowledge Kaeso's deliverence before he had spoken with the effect of one only speaking to the man because he must, not because he had any genuine wish to. Kaeso found it rather insulting even if he had been entirely used to it.

"Centurion Kaeso Quintus Marcellus of the Second Augusta, sir," he replied dutifully and proudly. He might have been sent on what had been essentially a suicide mission as it so nearly turned out to be for him, but he had every right to be pride of the Legion he had been with for so many years.

"Second Augusta... Say, isn't that Vespasian's lot?"

Kaeso didn't like the tone and realised that this man and potentially that of his father were not those who liked the Legatus. "Yes sir, Legatus Vespasian is a good man, Sir. A very good commander," he replied severely wishing the man would drop the sickly sweet smile.

"Indeed," the Praetor's apprentice clearly hadn't agreed. "Well, do join us, Centurion. Your drink topped up, I hope?"

"Yes sir, thank you sir... and yes, I'm sufficient for the moment,"
"Good! Good, oh do sit. I don't like to be towered over," Markus gestured to a seat with the barest movement of a hand. Kaeso drew it closer, glancing at Valerie to ensure she was all right. The sooner that this party was over, the better.

"Now, do tell me the story, I simply cannot wait any longer to hear what has happened during all these years," Magnus returned his attention on Valerie with the air of one pretending that Kaeso was no longer present. Kaeso was used to this and kept to a neutral posture though with his glances to Valerie, he made sure that his expression was softer in reassurance that she was not alone and that she could depend on him.

(I am so, so, so sorry that this has taken so long. I didn't intend to leave it this late working out a response... things are a little hectic at home)
 
Kaeso made his way over to them, the man's presence beside her being a comfort alone. It was hard to ignore the prickly exchange between the soldier and upper class male, but Valerie knew it best to keep her mouth shut than draw any sort of attention on her views which conflicted that of the current Roman times. While they talked she picked at the plate of food Kaeso had brought with him, chewing with tenderness as her mind scrambled for ideas. Think Val, think! You need a story and a believable one at that. Something interesting enough to satiate him, but not too detailed that flaws and lies can be easily picked up...

The scraping of the chair against the floor drew her back to the present, the soldier lowering himself down nearby while Magnus turned his attention back to her. His yellow-green eyes seemed especially focused on her again, the food Valerie was chewing becoming a hard lump which hurt to swallow. She could feel Kaeso's careful gaze on her, a stark contrast to the penetrating glare Magnus was giving at her side, and thus providing some encouragement for her to speak. Forcing the food down, the female taking a swig of wine to help it along, she did her best to come up with a convincing false tale.

"I guess I can start in the beginning. My family....my father, mother and I....were seized in the night by a group of thugs. They covered our mouths with cloths soaked in poisons, forcing us into a black sleep before we could even scream. In the odd times I woke I remember we were travelling, once on a ship, twice by wagon and another time by mules. We had been slung over the back of the animals of course, tied and gagged with our heads covered by thin clothes so that...ah..."

Her nerves rose, throat drying quickly as she felt the lie making her tongue thick and clumsy. Buying herself some time she picked up her goblet, having another sip of wine. Her pace was slow as she brought the rim to her lips, sipping so carefully it was as if the liquid inside was as hot as lava. She recovered though, able to grasp onto more lies to spew out.

"I'm sorry, it's very hard to talk about." Her voice was glum, filled with obvious apprehension from the lie she was telling rather than because she was reliving gruesome memories. To anyone other than Kaeso, it would be hard to tell the truth of what really made her voice shake. Magnus leaned forward, took her hand, and with the other tipped her goblet back towards her mouth. "Drink a little more, it will make speaking easier. Reliving it will help you deal with what has come to pass. Is that not true, soldier? Do your men not get some relief from sharing their haunting images of battle?" Regardless of what Kaeso said, Valerie used the time to think of more things to say, taking another sip since Magnus was watching her intently even after posing a question to the other man.

Once Kaeso had answered she continued, trying to avoid looking into Magnus' eyes and instead looked down into her lap. Much of the room had fallen quieter than before, surrounding ears eagerly trying to pick up on what she had to say while feigning their own conversation. "We were eventually taken to Britannia. Where exactly I don't know. My family was kept in a dilapidated home, kept chained or roped together. We spent much of our time at first in a dark, locked room. My mother and I tried to keep our spirits lifted, passing the hours by singing or telling stories about life back home. After a few months we were allowed to leave, being given supervised visits to explore more and more of the home of one of the....the um,....barbarian leaders. " The use of the word made her flinch, but Valerie assumed the reaction would only add to the tale. "In exchange for this limited freedom, while still chained of course, we had to work. I learned to sharpen metal weapons, exercise horses, clean armour and cook. The many wives of the leader whose home we were in would often scold and mock me in the first few years. As I got better I learned how to keep out of their way and do as I'm told. We tried to escape a few times but were always caught. Each time they would punish us....at first it was just lashings, but as our attempts grew more frequent they turned to much...crueler methods."

Almost the entire room was quiet now, heads turned towards where the trio was seated as Valerie continued. She didn't notice the attention she had drawn, simply drawling on as much as she could to get to the end of the story they all thirsted for. Taking another sip of wine she continued, allowing the blood-tinted fluid to loosen her tensed muscles and lying tongue.

"They cut off my father's fingers. Blinded my mother's one eye. Kept me locked in a room for five days with no light, food or water. I think the only reason they kept letting us go is that they enjoyed torturing us when they got us back. Things only got worse when news came of Roman soldiers gathering forces nearby." Valerie turned to glance at Kaeso, her eyes wide and fearful of the erupting whispers she heard around her. She continued though, determined to get this over with.

"We were kept chained up again at that point. Any movement we had been allowed before stripped away. Constant guards, at least four. When updates came that the soldiers were closing in that tried to split us up. That was the last straw for my parents. They waited until the guards changed, then used the opportunity to break free one last time... their efforts worked, but not in the way they expected. I got hit over the head during the struggle. The ruckus my mother and father caused bought me enough time to flee into the woods where I ran into the Centurion and his group of men before falling unconscious from my head injury. He tended to my wounds while the others went in to try and retrieve my parents. Only one soldier made it back, gravely injured, but alive enough to tell us of my parents sacrifice to save me. He died a few hours later. The remaining barbarians fled while we waited in hiding. Once we were sure no one remained in the home, we searched it to confirm that my parents were dead..."

The story had oddly made her think of her brother. The soldier, who had disappeared behind enemy lines never to return home. The man in the sketchbook that Kaeso had seen not so long ago. She had never been granted the privilege of burying his body, the pain of that sprouting the tears that began flowing from her eyes. "We found them.... they had been lying together. They were with each other until the very end. My father's note and signet ring were hidden on him, the last gift I'll ever receive from him. After that, the Centurion brought me back to Roma. It was along the way that we discovered my memory loss, when we needed to make plans of where I was to recover and I realized that I could not remember much from the time before we were kidnapped. That has led us here...a place I would not be without my parents sacrifice and the skills of the Centurion who kept the barbarians that tried to track us down at bay."

Magnus seemed moved. He was utterly speechless, along with most of those who had been listening. How much of his reaction was simply a show or was actually genuine was unclear. After a few seconds of silence, the man suddenly leapt up, dropping to his knees and taking both her hands in his. "It is by the Gods graces that you had such loving parents willing to lay down their lives and a steady...ah... guardian to bring you home. I promise to assist you in whatever way possible to get your memories back, Lady Valoria." The surrounding women practically swooned at his subtly romantic gesture, Valerie instead just going bright red while her eyes widened. She struggled for words, mouth opening and closing like a frog before she eventually mumbled out, "Oh, well.... um.... my... my goblet is empty."

Magnus was at first surprised by her strange response, but he took it in his stride and grabbed her goblet from the nearby table. "I'll get it filled for you immediately. I'll be right back...." He left in a flutter of white and red, the party going back to its previous hum as the groups of people went back to their own conversations.
 
Kaeso did not envy Valerie's position at all. To tell a story and to try and tell it with a truth that was entirely fabricated for her could not have been easy. He certainly would not have been able to have come up with it on the spot and he felt guilty they hadn't thought to run through a story before the party. After all, it was a question that was very unlikely to go amiss. Curiosity was not something reserved for the mob. He was also feeling guilty that he was privately glad it wasn't him providing the answer to the question. Kaeso was something of a blunt object when it came to truths and was never that good at lying. The only reason he had managed this far was that their situation of being here wasn't entirely a lie. She had come from Britannia... just not the present one and she had been imprisoned for a short time.

He was wary, he knew just how precarious this moment was. If there was anything amiss about the story she was about to feed the preened shit they were sat with, then they would be up shit creek before he could bellow Second Augusta. Kaeso gave a silent prayer to Fortuna in the hopes she would grace Valerie's words. He knew his presence alone might help. They had grown closer and he was glad to have met her. She had a strength he respected and valued. As he listened to her speak and weave her tale of what had befelled her and her supposed family, his respect for her ability to act increased tenthfold. He supposed she had a great deal of recent experience to draw upon as he thought back over what had happened to both of them. He sipped his drink to distract himself from his thoughts.

Kaeso could hear the emotion in her inflections and he knew her well enough by now to realise they were far more real than the story she was trying to express. His heart went out to her even if it was adding weight to the story more than she might know. He glanced at Magnus and could see he was hanging to her every word and barely was sipping his own wine by comparison. The Centurion also didn't miss that those people nearest to them were eavesdropping as succinctly as they could. They failed horribly at it, half were openly glancing in Valerie's direction with curious expressions plastered to their faces.

Everyone loves a good story, he mused bitterly. He would have preferred this to be in private but given their previous captor's intructions and threats if they didn't, they weren't left with a great deal of choice. Kaeso was only too aware how much this was keeping them alive and free from a life of slavery or worse. After all, if one was to look at the books, his unit has perished at the hands of Caratacus' men with its Centurion unaccounted for. He could only imagine how that had gone down with the Camp Prefect and the Legatus. He would have been penned down as missing in action for a number of days before being finalised as desertion or missing presumed dead. If that was discovered now, then his number would be up and there would be little he could do about that. Unless a magistrate or the legion took pity and forced him into slavery instead, he would be killed. However, none of that fate mattered to him. His sole priority was returning Valerie's hospitality by doing all he could to keep her safe, alive and free.

He sipped at his wine once more or rather pretended to and glanced at Magnus when the Praetor's apprentice eventually gave him acknowledgement with a question. Kaeso didn't like how the question was thrown out, he could almost hear the line of that he must be agreed with. He lowered his goblet with a slight frown and he paused in his answer, stopping to scratch at his jawline before giving a small cough that belied his unease. He was not used to this social setting at all and his tunic, whilst simple, was still fancy enough to feel alien to him. "I suppose so, Sir, but the rankers are a superstitious lot. If they talk about it, it's usually when they've been in their cups and if they're of that disposition to talk," he shrugged with a blunt delivery but he may well have just explained that to a collective brick wall. The other gave no indication that Kaeso's words had made any inflection at all. Kaeso knew better than to assume the man had completely ignored him and refrained from the snort he might have otherwise produced. Such a sound would bring the house about his ears.

He looked back to Valerie and she continued the tale, which by was being listened to by practically everyone in the room. Even Markus and Aquila had paused in their bustling about their duties to their domina's guests. He scratched his jaw again trying to hide the need to grab Valerie and bolt out of the place quick as possible.

The Centurion listened feigning the air of one who had been there in Britannia, which was hardly a lie at all and as one who had been ordered to get her and her family back by order of the Emperior. Well, Imperial Palace in general was far more likely and that for him was a lie. Still, it was easier for him to pretend the order existed. Logistically, as he had thought it through, it would have made sense even to the Freedmen of the Palace to send already condemned men to follow the orders of a rescue. If he had failed his mission, he would either have been killed by the enemy in the attempt or he would have faced death for desertion had he returned. That was far easier to pretend than having to do what Valerie was pulling, and for those looking at them, he was giving every impression that he had been there and done his duty. After all, they were here, but there would be little to question about the whole truth behind it.

She spoke of torture and blood and his mouth gave to a thin line as he recalled several of the reports that had fed back to the Legion. The natives were rarely kind to their captives and the Druids, particularly those from the Lodge of the Dark Moon, were even worse. Imprisoning their captives in giant wicker men which they then burned alive was just one of the many ways one could die in Britannia. Kaeso had seen some horrible things done by those he had fought in his many years of fighting but those of Britannia took it to entirely different level. He rubbed his neck with the flat of his hand, he wished that sort of fate on no one. It was a horrible way to die, right next to drowning.

He frowned and then glanced back to find tears falling down her cheeks. Again, he wished ferevently that this party was over and that they were left alone. The story might be fake, but the tears were real enough. He wondered at why she was crying for a long moment before a memory of a face she had drawn flitted across his mind and he lowered his head sligtly, he hoped Magnus would not keep her for long. Not for the first time or last did he wish he and Valerie could just leave all of this behind. It was frustrating that their lives depended on the continued pretense of being the domina of the house and him being her guardian. The Father's note whoch he had been given and read still troubled him as to what it had alluded to.

The part about the soldier who had supposedly reported back to him before his death made him think of his subordinate and friend Renius. It was just the sort of act Renius would have pulled and the thin line Kaeso was currently wearing to his lips only deepened. In some ways, even though he had long accepted it all, he was still grieving the loss of his friend and his men. They had been bloody good soldiers and the story Valerie was providing offered a far more honorable way of death rather than the vicious way they had gone down. He was happy to give them that. Kaeso knew without so much as a doubt that Renius would have accepted that sort of mission in a heartbeat and whislt the others might not have been so keen, they were good with following his orders. He rubbed his face and returned his attention to Valerie.

Marcellus blinked as Magnus rose and knelt before her, taking her hands in one movement that left Kaeso convinced that it had been entirely for a show. Men of Magnus' breeding seldom were all that honest at least by the Centurion's experiences. There could well be some honest noblitas out there but Magnus wasn't giving him that impression. The man spoke and Kaeso could tell others around them were completely taken in by the whole act. Kaeso bit his lower lip at Valerie's response not trusting himself to hide his amusement and laughter, though his brow did rise a little in reaction. The response she gave was gold and he applauded her for it. It might not have been a proper response but given she was supposedly suffering memory loss and dealing with mourning her family , it was forgiveable. He'd knock the lights out of anyone who made comment about it.

He watched as Magnus rose, took her goblet and went off to refill her goblet. He hoped he took his time in doing so as he drew the stool he was sat on a smidge closer towards her. Lowering his frame towards her, his hand reaching out a little to catch her attention. He spoke quietly, quiet enough to not be overheard by those closest around them. "You holding up okay?" he asked gently, his epression filled with genuine concern on an otherwise rugged and somewhat scarred face. He wasn't exactly the most prettiest individual currently in the villa and he knew he stuck out like sore thumb. Soldiers rarely mixed with the higher classes unless they themselves were Equestrians or higher.

Kaeso glanced and saw Magnus pause in his return to her side to speak with his father, the older man turning with a nod. Kaeso looked back to Valerie awaiting her answer before he shifted the seat back to his original spot wondering how much longer that this party was likely to continue for. He sipped some of his wine, it would be a fine thing to get drunk here but it was wishful thinking. He might have to do that later, just to relieve the stress of everything. A shadow passed them and he looked up recognising the face of the Freedman he had conversed with back in the baths earlier that same day. The man was finely dressed, he may have been an Imperial Freedman, but they were notoriously wealthy and notoriously well connected regardless of the fact that in reality his social rank was below than of Kaeso's own.

"My Lady Valoria, Centurion Marcellus," Kaeso was thankful the man had thought to use his rank and name with none of the pained tones Magnus had used. It made him feel a little more human. "I hope you don't mind the intrusion upon your return party. Quite nicely done, I must say. You must compliment the staff for me. My name is Demosthenes, I come from the Palace as I am sure the Centurion has told you about. His excellency would like to see you in three day's time," he smiled glancing at the soldier in refence. Kaeso cursed, he must have gone straight back and reported and tasked with getting the summons out immediately. He was also annoyed he hadn't had the time to let Valerie know beforehand since being interupted by Aquila that morning. The man produced a small scrolled parchment that bore a seal that stopped it from unravelling and the seal of the Imperial household was unmistakeable. Kaeso doubted even Valerie could mistake that for anything else.

He blinked slightly as the scroll was held out towards him rather than Valerie and he reached to take it. "For your safe keeping. Do make sure neither of you are late," Kaeso could not have missed the warning for all the wine in Rome.

"We'll be there,"
"I look forward to the meeting." He smiled at Kaeso before he turned back to Valerie and smiled again for her. "You have my sincerest condolences for the loss of your family, dear Lady Valoria and I welcome your timely return."

The Freedman bowed before he left them to it and Kaeso sighed, rolling his shoulders that felt all too stiff. He turned the sealed parchment over in his hand, presumably their summons that would grant them entrance. "Uh, yeah... That was what I was trying to, um, tell you about before..." he rubbed a finger nervously against his temple. He was so out of his depth.
 
She felt like she could breathe again once Magnus was no longer within immediate proximity of her. The man had a strong presence to say the least and being near him left her feeling suffocated and under an ever watching eye. It wasn't the caring type of gaze either....the type of observant behavior a falcon would give it's prey. Luckily he had taken her request to heart, rising to go and fill her cup with more wine. It allowed Valerie the opportunity to drag in a breath after holding it from the moment she had sat down. Her recovery was interrupted gladly by Kaeso, the sight of his hand catching in her peripheral vision.

Answering his question as to how she was, the girl appeared to relax more with her shoulders slumping from where they had been held up tensely near her ears. "I'm alright. The spun tale just brought back memory of my brother. I never got to bury him...at least our 'Valoria' got to see the proof she wanted of her loved ones deaths. The dead Lord Corvinus and his family have been made out to be heroes - it's the least I could do after the way that villain who put us here used his death to his advantage." Her voice was hushed, only audible to Kaeso now that the noise of busy chatter and laughter had returned to the party.

Out of the corner of her eye she watched Magnus. It would be dangerous indeed if she spoke of things not of this time when he was in earshot. When the young man took the time to stop with his father she felt all too relieved, not eager at all to have him rejoin herself and Kaeso. The two men, easily recognized as related through their shared features, seemed to be in a world unto themselves when they quietly detached from the small group the father had been in. They whispered quietly, their backs turned in such a way that it made it hard for Valerie to read their lips from where she sat.

Her careful watching of the pair was interrupted when a shadow suddenly fell over her, Valerie turning back to forward-facing to find a stranger towering over her. He was finely dressed and seemingly harmless in his small stature, but Valerie couldn't help but sense some small wave of displeasure radiating from the Centurion. She found out why soon enough though, when the man addressed them and gave a purpose to his being there. She was still processing the information when he produced the scroll, which in turn was handed to Kaeso. It was difficult to miss the boldly coloured wax seal keeping the parchment rolled up, the girl's eyes widening in bewilderment.

Kaeso made a promise of their punctual arrival, Valerie still catching up on what had just happened when she realized he was expecting a response from her. "Oh....oh yes, we'll be there. Thank you for your visit and well wishes, I hope you enjoy the rest of your evening here." He left them alone again, alone as they could be in a room full of people at least.

Valerie turned to Kaeso as he explained about what he had been trying to say earlier. The girl hardly felt any annoyance, they had been interrupted after all and she had given him little chance to speak after babbling on about her experience at the baths. She leaned forward to inspect the seal more closely, running her fingers over the embossed wax as if to confirm that it was real. Gulping loudly she dismissed his statement with a shake of her head, saying, "No worries. We didn't have much time to speak with the preparations that needed to be made. We'll discuss more of it tomorrow -"

Magnus arrived out of nowhere, interrupting her when he smacked her full goblet back onto the table. Wine spilled over, dripping onto the wooden surface but he made no notice to it. Walking between them, causing Valerie and Kaeso to lean back so that he could get through, he plonked himself on the small space left between Valerie and the end of the seat next to which Kaeso had his stool. His presence, whether intentional or not, would be a barrier to anymore private conversation between them.

"I say, was that one of the Imperial servants? Must be with that attire. Quite unusual of him to just appear without an invitation, then again the authorities are probably just making sure that the mission to retrieve you was actually a success and not just rumors." Valerie couldn't help the irritation that crept into her at his return, the female needing to bite her tongue to keep from sighing loudly. Once seated, the man retrieved her now full goblet from where he had placed it on the table. Not so carefully he placed it back into her hands, looking at her intently with an instructional look as he sipped from his own goblet. Valerie got the hint, taking a barely-there sip under his watchful gaze and nod of approval.

Luckily for her, the answers he needed from her had been satiated by the story. What he needed now, as his father had so harshly reminded him moments ago, was information from Kaeso. Magnus was a master of manipulation and knew that by starting out with easy questions (posed as causal topics of curious conversation), he could draw out what he wished to know about the soldier.

"So, Centurion, it must have been quite terrifying to be all alone in Brittania, needing to guard a frail and helpless woman back to her homeland. How many savages did you face on your way back to Roma?" Magnus reclines back, seemingly making himself comfortable as he draped his arm over the back of the chair behind Valerie. The girl's shoulders slumped inwardly, worried as to how Kaeso was meant to answer a question on something which had never really happened. Sure, she had spun a wild tale, but giving exact numbers on something like 'savages' slain could be minor details that neither of them must forget if the topic was brought up again in the future. At her sudden action Magnuns cautioned a glance at her, eyes narrowing at her somewhat demure behaviour in the company of Kaeso who he viewed as beneath the two of them. Trying to avert his worries Valerie offered a small smile, sitting up straighter and taking a generous sip from the cup.

The gulp, much deeper than her initial sip, brought the taste of wine tanging much harsher on her tongue. This drink was stronger she realized, less diluted. Markus and Aquila must have been serving the more saturated of the wine-filled jugs....or, more likely, Magnus had managed to source some undiluted wine of his own accord. With his superior ranking, neither Aquila nor Markus would have been able to argue with his request for something stronger. Valerie almost gagged at the taste, but caught herself just in time as she gulped down the sound instead.
 
He was happier without the patrician there to be in their way although Kaeso knew it would not last. If this Magnus was intent on uniting the two houses then there could be little they could do about that. However, if the father's note was anything to go by... that could change yet again. It left him in a state flux in which he was was entirely alien to. Everything about the current situation and dress was alien to him and it was in his own time. He would naturally step up if he had to, he could not leave her to such a fate and he hoped that Magnus would not come further between them. He liked her and respected her well enough now to call her friend and he felt protective of her. She had no one in his world aside from him.

Kaeso watched her shoulders dropped and realised just how much tension she must be feeling. They were both easily in a great deal of unease and stress right now, or so he could fathom. He listened to her and his brow knitted just slightly as spoke of her brother and the fact she had never gotten to see to his funeral was something he disliked intently. If the man was a good man and Kaeso suspected he was as a soldier then the man deserved to be buried with all the rights that came with it. To not be buried was something that did not sit well in Roman society. "I am sorry to hear that... He deserves the best, " he nodded, he might never have known or met her brother but if he were like her, then he beleived it. He smiled and nodded, given the true fate of the family, it was certainly was something that could ease their spirits a little.

The arrival of the imperial clerk had reinstigated his anxiety for the forthcoming meeting in three day's time. It wasn't a great deal of time to prepare for anything and he supposed he would be expected to arrive fully clad in his kit. A kit he would have to buy back from the Legion's quartermaster. That was not cheap to replace and would come out of his pay. He had some savings but it would be easier to have it deducted from his pay than from what he would need to retire on. It would be enough to let him sit out the rest of his days and drink without worry if he didn't die before then. The Centurion knew he would have to go and get that sorted tomorrow. It would be good to have his proper attire back. Seeing the Emperor in anything less as a Centurion would not be perceived well as someone who was supposed to have gone through the Underworld and back to get Corvinus' treasured daughter home.

He sighed softly and drank a much fuller sipful than he had been doing that whole evening thus far in that thought. He glanced towards her once the clerk had given her his condolences and bowed out of their presence. Kaeso looked down at the scroll as she touched it and he didn't try to stop her from doing so knowing that in an unknown setting, it was important to utlise what senses you had at your disposal. It provided a tangibility to the reality of the situation. He was about to respond when Magnus returned forcing them apart with a move that Kaeso easily read as intention and malicious. He longed for the simple life of soldiering once again in the few days they had been back in Rome. There was none of the political maneavuring. Magnus was now effectively inbetween them both. Another not so subtle reminder of Kaeso's station.

Kaeso gave a frown at the spillage of wine and it only added to his dislike of the man. The man was uncouth and everything an honest man shouldn't be. He sipped his wine to stop himself from making a comment which would land him squarely in the shit. That was the last thing either of them needed right now. They had to play this very carefully. Him even moreso given that he was but a soldier in a noblewoman's home. To others of her now adopted station, the act was purely a move of hospitality for services rendered and not something done out of any genuine friendship.

The Centurion's gaze was removed from the red depths of his drink and lifted to look at Magnus squarely in the eye with an expression that had indicated he did not appreciated the supposition of being afraid in a land in which he had been ruthlessly fighting in for the severel months before being yoinked from his timeline. Yes, he had felt fear just as every other man in the Legion felt when faced with an imminent threat of death. Any one of their numbers could be up in a day's fighting. However, the Legion taught you quickly to use that fear and thrust it back in the face of their enemies with their swords and shields. He knitted his brow in reply, lowering his goblet as he considered his response to the question.

He thought quickly, recalling what Hugo had told him of the Roma they were returning to when he had to follow through the time machine after they had thrown Valerie through. "At an estimate, including those at where they were holding the Lady Valeria hostage..." he paused, scratching his jaw with all the pretense of one being sure of his answer. He knew he had to answer the man's question despite the fact he would be lying to the man. His ability to lie effectively was poor, especially when compared with Valerie's tale. So, instead, he decided to keep to as much of the truth of the lay of the land as he could as he could remember them in terms of what he would have had to have gone through had the mission been real. He could not hope to have pinned at exact number and the question was asking more than it had said.

"The Lady and her family were being held north of Camulodunum. To put this into perspective for you Praetor, General Plautius aimed to meet Caratacus' forces on the field of battle at Camulodunum. Four legions against the might of Caratacus and his two brothers. That entails thousands of natives from the lands of three seperate tribes. The Second Augusta was one of those four legions. As far as I had been previously aware, we were to act as a distraction point before I received new orders. Orders that bid me and my century to get through enemy lines and rescue the Lady and her family. It was thought that with the distraction of Plautius' forces, they might not pay too much attention to us skirting round in the midst of battle. Especially with the elephants,"

Elephants were notoriously haphazard, too easily spooked and riled often doing more damage to their own forces more than they typically did to an enemy. Kaeso supposed it was a question of the extent of the animal's training. Hannibal had far more experience over Claudius' fancy of repetition. He paused as he noted the glances Magnus was giving Valerie and frowned slightly before he continued on, forcing himself to ignore her discomfort for the moment. As he did so, he noted a few around them were glancing towards him now, their curosity about the legions of Rome piqued.

"We waited for the battle to commence, moving alongside anotehr cohort that was to curve round into the enemy lines. The trees and the swampy land made it tough going but my century mostly made. Lost a few men along the way. We had to get past unnoticed for as long we could so we hid our helmets and we had taken the heavy furred cloaks from the natives we had killed before or along the way. The mud from the swamp helped as well," he nodded, it had been raining quite steadily as it usually was prone to in Britannia. The stick and squelch of mud was the bane of every single man in the infantry.

"The directions were sketchy and a little vague but we found the small village in which they were keeping the Lady Valeria and her family. We had been about to infiltrate the place as best as possible whilst the battle raged on nearby. They must have been getting quite close. I could hear the bellows of Centurion Macro amongst others of my rank. But yes, we were about to make our move when the Lady here found us instead. The order were clear in that one of us with the high rank had to try and return with the family if possible. My Optio... he..." Kaeso faultered uncharatistically as he thought of the man. The grief he had was evident. He cleared his throat, frowning before he carried on burying his grief once more as a good soldier should.

"My Optio lead the men in... he never returned and it was soon made clear that the effort of retrieving them was impossible. I heard the fighting and I know it was intense, hard fought for and they fought for the mission as if it were their own flesh and blood they were trying to retrieve." His mouth grew into a hard line, "Time passed, we were able to get into the village... it had been abandoned. It was clear at this point that Caratcus needed every man he had..." He hoped to Fortuna that was what had happened or their story of what happened would quickly be unravelled. It was clear this MAgnus was already suspicious.

"We afforded little time in staying there, and we returned to our side of the battle line. We encountered a couple of natives along the way but none that I couldn't deal with quickly," Kaeso held the other's gaze at this point, "Left my armour with the Quartermaster and we headed back to Rome as soon as the first ship could take us. The orders were followed," despite the cost, he added, but kept that half to himself. He had to hope Lady Fortuna would smile kindly upon him and lend weight to the beleivability of his words. He had lost his men and a good friend. As he peered back, he noted the other was eyeing him slightly. Perhaps he had said too much, too little or that Imperial Clerk was still causing him food for thought.
 
Valerie held her breath in anticipation of what Kaeso would answer the inquisitive apprentice praetor. Frail and helpless woman? Oh, if only he knew what woman would manage to do in the next few centuries. I myself probably hold the power to preventing most common colds that he would be more thank likely to fall prey to. I would love to see the look on his moronic face if he ever found out about the pants women get to wear in the near future or their roles as presidents. The thought helped Valerie relax more, the female suppressing a giggle by hiding her mouth behind the rim of her cup.

Kaeso spoke then of details which she could never have fathomed. Most of it was too detailed for him to have made up by chance, so Valerie knew that he must be drawing from some sort of personal experience. That's right....when we, I mean Hugo and Professor Luxe, sucked him up from the past he was in the midst of fighting the ancient Britons. With all the scars he possesses, I know that that battle was not his first. No Centurion gets that position without tasting battle many times over.

For Magnus, a man brought up within the confines of Rome in a state of luxury and privilege, the talks of battle were too realistic for his liking. He got nervous and uncomfortable, especially over the fact that much of the battle strategy and terminology that Kaeso mentioned he was unfamiliar with. He was born an upper class nobleman - while he could name almost every cultivar of wine, knew the latest fashions in the surrounding regions and when best to lay bets at the Colosseum, the art of battle and warfare were completely unknown territory. He smiled nonetheless, still knowledgeable in the art of remaining aloof and seeming as if he always had the upper hand in any conversation.

"Quite brutish, from the sounds of it. The Lady Valoria is clearly one of Fortuna's favourites to have been blessed with your....ah....group to be chosen to retrieve her. Still though, despite your bravery and valiant efforts, it must have been quite a shock for someone of your ah, ranking to be given such a risky mission. It would be interesting indeed to see the orders that were left to you...I know I would feel more at ease about the soul responsible for, well -" He paused here, looking to Valerie as he brushed a stray hair from her shoulders, "- for the lady's interests. She's been through so much as it is, perhaps it might be best if -"

Now it was Valerie that interrupted him. Things were beginning to escalate and she could feel the tension around them rising. People, once more, were paying attention. Vultures circling a dying animal. She wished to intervene, cut the conversation off before it headed in the direction she knew it was going. "I'm not feeling so well. Must be the wine, it's been so long since I've partaken. Perhaps I need some air?" There was a question in her last sentence, one which was baited for Magnus specifically. He took it like a fish to a hook, eagerly getting up off the couch and offering her his hand. "I'd be happy to assist you, Lady Valoria."

Valerie took his hand, getting to her feet while casting a split-second glance to Kaeso. She hoped the look told him everything she wished to say and more. Divert the conversations, get the party focused on something else.

Getting to her feet offered her a new surprise. She felt light-headed at the movement, an all-too-real feeling of being foggy-brained suddenly settling around her. How much wine have I drank? It was a serious question she asked herself, the female realizing she might have been a bit heavy-handed with her sips while under the pressuring gaze of the praetor in training.
 
The room was hushed and Kaeso realised he might have been a little too blunt with his words as he glanced round as faces looked back at him. Faces that ordinarily wouldn't be too prone to mixing company with a Centurion at all in most circumstances. He cleared his throat and took another sip of his wine, feeling most uncomfortable with the situation he was dealing with. He did not like it and he could curse Hugo for forcing this upon him. Still, he was here now and he would have to deal with it as best as he could. The soldier could not rely on anyone else to initate orders or keep Valerie safe from harm.

He peered back at the other man and it seemed he was one of few affected by the cold brutality of a soldier's world. How much of it was truth and how much of it was an act remained ambiguous but Kaeso was under no illusions that the Praetor's apprentice was hiding his true reactions. After all, playing the game was an art in itself in a politician's world. Magnus was a dangerous element, especially in the interest he was displaying towards Valerie and her house. Kaeso mulled over that thought a moment trying to remember everything his father had told him and that he had learned on the job in his thirty-two years of being alive. He realised in that moment that if her family was a good friend to the Emperor than it was up to him to decide the prospect of who to marry the daughter off to. Kaeso found himself wondering how much Corvinus liked Magnus as a prospect and wondered if that was a cause for the words in his letter to have been written in the way they were. He hoped the father to the real Valeria had been just as good at reading people as Kaeso had learned to be.

Kaeso kept his emotions solidly behind a wall and thus his dislike for Magnus touching her was kept hidden away. It was just about one of the few things in life he was able to hide or lie about since any man of rank had to view situations objectively without personal things like emotions getting in the way of their duty to their men and ultimately to the Legion and to Rome. He had learned that skill easily early on and he suspected it had been one quality that had led to his promotion to Optio all those years back. The fact he was able to read and write as well as any clerk could, thanks to his father and the greek teacher, had also aided his career. His father had made sure of that knowing that education meant the different between a life of note and a life of poverty as was the fate of many a Legionary.

The thought was sobering at best, his father could have easily been dropped into a life in the slums of the Subura but Fortuna had smiled and he had used his savings to buy into a livelihood that had supported him and his son.

His mind returned to the situation at hand as he thought over Magnus' words. He certainly wasn't going to divulge that sort of infomation freely especially when Magnus had his own avenues for discovering it for himself. Kaeso was not going to be that source of intelligence for the man. The Centurion kept a steady gaze with the other giving the appearance of listening whilst simultaneously keeping track of those around them. Magnus' father was still conversing wildly away with his friend or acquaintance, Kaeso wasn't sure who whilst others were off in two's and three's also gossiping away like it was old times. Kaeso could hardly miss the subvertive glances however and that left no illusions as to the subject of their conversations. It was quite likely that Valerie and himself were going to be the subject of topic for most conversations for some time. Kaeso idly tapped the side of his goblet, he supposed that in itself would keep Hugo happy in the far future. It hurt his head thinking about it.

His eyes shifted immediately to Valerie when she spoke above the words of Magnus. He was glad for the interuption in some ways and sad for it too since it had reverted Magnus' attention back to her. He watched as Magnus was instantly on the offer of assistance. Too eager, Magnus. Too eager, he mused to himself as he rose when they did, catching her glance as he did so. Whilst she had said nothing, he knew her well enough by now to know the feeling of her expression. He nodded slightly with acknowledgment whilst not having the wildest clue as to what subject he could possibly divert it to. All these people would want to know is more gossip about what had supposedly happened. There was no higher trade in social circles than the latest gossip. He gave her one in return. Be careful, be on your guard. He knew he didn't have to express it too much, the politician was not one who gave a good feeling and he hoped Valerie was feeling that about Magnus too.

Kaeso remained standing as he watched Magnus escort her towards the courtyard with a feeling in his gut that did not sit well with him. He wanted to throw the man out of the house along with everyone else here but he had no say at all. That was all on Valerie, so he had to stomach his sense of foreboding and deal with it as best as a soldier was able. He was also realising his own feelings towards Valerie, he had disliked the touches Magnus was making towards her. The hand to her lower back left Kaeso feeling sickened. Again, he had no say and that was irritating for him. Centurions were not allowed to marry unless they had dispensation to and typically that rule applied to everyone else below his rank. There were good reasons why this rule was in Roman law but it often went ignored the men's own legions. There was just nothing legal about the unions and thus if he were to marry without permission to, his wife or offspring would have no influence to his will even if he included them.

He sighed to himself as he watched the folds of Magnus' toga and Valerie's dress disappear around a corner and had been about to go and get his goblet replenished when he felt a presence join him. He turned and found three faces smiling back at him. Two women and a man who looked as if he only just got flushed out of puberty. The man might have just been unfortunate in that regard. He bowed his head slightly in what was the custom way of military men. He recognised one of them from the baths earlier that day, the very one who had thrown him a smile. He had been unsure why at the time but her succinct smile was a little more apparent in its intent now as she spoke.

"The man of the hour, in the flesh. You do clean up rather serperbly, my dear! Don't you think so, Cassia?"
"Remarkably so," the other woman agreed with no hesitation in her response, even going so far as to reach out and pull lightly on the tunic he was currently dressed in. A tunic he would never have thought to find himself wearing at all in his life before he had met Valerie. He looked between them a moment, feeling incredibly awkward and somewhat cornered. No doubt that was their intent in some ways as Cassia shifted towards his side and then signalled for their goblets to be refilled.

"Do you not recognise us from this morning?" Octavia grinned with a wide mouth, dimples forming at her cheeks, tucking a black strand of hair behind her ear. Kaeso noted then that she seemed to share features with the male and he reasoned they could be siblings.

"Forgive me. You, uh, caught me quite off guard, my Lady" in more ways than one and none of it usful, he mused, watching as his goblet was topped up. He gave Markus a meaningful glance towards the way Valerie and Magnus had gone before he smiled back at the two women, peering at the younger male.

"Quite the achievement, catching a Centurion off his guard," the younger man remarked and Kaeso lifted his brow slightly. So much for changing the subject and he supposed now that he was away from Valerie and Magnus, he was valueable for a source of gossip. Still, he had to amuse them. Whilst they might treat him as the 'man of the hour', they would equally remind him of his station should he not appease them. It was irritating but it couldn't be helped.

"A rare moment, but it can happen," he acknowledged with a small smile and an inclination of his head and this admittance brought a smile upon the male.

"You will have to forgive my brother, he does like to tease so," Octavia snickered before engaging the Centurion in fruther conversation, probing for more infomation in much in the way he had supposed they would. He answered dutifully whilst not divulging too much despite the worry going on his mind with how Valerie was getting on with Magnus.

Magnus, who had been to the house before to know its layout, lead the way to the courtyard at her side with all the attentiveness of one genuinely concerned. Naturally, he had other interests by getting involved with her again.

"Here we are, there is a bench here if you wish to sit down to catch your breath, dear Valeria. I can get the slave to get you some water, if you wish?" he gestured to the bench indactively and in meaning that she should sit rather than keep them both standing.
 
The room seemed to tilt a little, a steady hand gripping her elbow helping to stop the room from spinning altogether. Valerie could see Magnus leaning in close out of the corner of her eye, his steady gaze somehow making her feel more nauseated rather than better. In all honesty, she would rather crawl out of here by herself on all fours instead of getting Magnus' assistance. She had little choice in the matter though, offending him was not only going against the societal norms of the times, but it would be dangerous to offend someone who would only grow in power with time.

A praetor in training was a prestigious position indeed, one that could lead to even more authoritative roles if Magnus played his cards right. With a father like Calamys, willing to lie, bribe, steal and do just about anything to get the best for himself and his family she hardly doubted that Magnus would climb the rungs with great ease. Stepping on a few heads to get there seemed like something he would excel at.

Magnus' grip on her arm remained firm as he led her outside, the cool air grazing Valerie's exposed skin doing wonders for her foggy head. It was like a cold shoulder the morning after late nights out with friends, back in her early student days. It all seemed so long gone to her now....or perhaps too far ahead was a more accurate description. Thinking about the warping of past and present just proved to make her head throb a little, the female all to eager to take the seat that was offered to her by Magnus.

Valerie eased herself down with a sigh, closing her eyes and taking in a deep breath. She allowed herself to lean back a little, leaning against the wall of the villa which the bench had been placed in front of. It had been hard to miss the eagerness in Magnus' voice when she wished to go outside, nor had she been able to ignore the eyes like daggers that had followed them when they left. She could only imagine the conversations she had sprouted with the action, but there was little she could do about it now. Some minor gossip which would last a few minutes was worth avoiding any more interrogation on Kaeso. Magnus was deceptively manipulating in prying information out of people, a fact which made her all the more wary of her being alone with him.

She answered him quickly, not wanting to enforce any more interaction between him and Aquila or Markus. "No, no....water isn't necessary. Just some cool night air is all I need." Valerie breathed in deeply again, picking up the faint scent of flowers on the breeze. It was an odd sensation really, when the most she was used to smelling back in her time was rain, gasoline or smoke. She was thankful for the coolness as well, it was a reprieve from the heat which seemed to settle over everything during the day.

Magnus joined her on the small bench, leaning with his hands supporting him up. His arms brushed against hers, Valerie trying her best to not make it obvious as she moved her hands into her lap. The man seemed oblivious, instead smiling widely as he looked up and pointed out the scenery to her. "The moon is bright tonight, the goddess Selene must be celebrating your return as much as we are." He turned to look at her, giving her charming smile that made Valerie feel like stones were settling in her stomach. Something was off and she couldn't quite figure out what. "It was terrible, wandering what happened to you all these years. I must admit I thought of you almost everyday. Not even the distraction of the praetor apprenticeship could keep me from sparing a daily thought towards you." His words seemed genuine enough, whether it was because of the feelings Valerie was dreading he had for her or because of another hidden motive (which was just as likely) was unclear.

Valerie shifted uncomfortably, hoping her lack of a fawning response would simply come across as quaint shyness. Magnus became bolder, clearly encouraged by the red hue that donned her cheeks. Little did he know it was the nauseous feeling in her stomach causing the reaction rather than her succumbing to his wooing her. He leaned closer, close enough that Valerie couldn't move without falling straight off the bench. He moved to grip her knee lightly, making her throat go dry even as he leaned closer and whispered to her. "Having you back is miraculous. I swore that I would not waste time if I was ever blessed with your return. Had I acted sooner before you were taken, you might have been safely within my household and your kindapping could have been avoided. I will not make the same mistake this time."

Valerie was flush, struggling to breath all over again, but not from adoration but rather fear and discomfort at Magnus being so close and having his hand on her. She stood to leave, wanting to make some more distance between herself and him with how he kept invading into her personal space. He seemed to only take her moving as part of some game, rising with her but grasping her wrist so tightly she yelped lightly. A light but unexpected push from him had her standing back up against the wall roughly, Valerie's head knocking back against the wall and sending a pain spiking through her brain. Magnus closed in once more, breath hot and muggy against her skin as he whispered into her ear.

"You're even more beautiful than the day I last saw you. You've grown into a woman in the time you were gone and I've been wanting to do this since the moment I heard you were back...even more so from the moment I set eyes on you..." He shifted, forcefully planting his lips on hers.

*****************************************************************
Markus had been watching over Valoria from a tender age, instructed with guardianship over her visits into town and general activity around the grounds. She had become like a younger sister to him, more kind and gentle than others her age. Although none except Aquila were left alive to know it, Corvinus had chosen him owing to his brief time in the military and then as a performer in the arena after he fled battle dishonorably. Valoria's father had paid a generous price for his work as a slave rather than lion's bait, but it was a price he wanted to pay to keep his wife and daughter safe as he rose through the ranks. Power had the tendency to put a target on one's head. Too bad the one night Markus had been needed most, the night the family was captured, he had been away from the villa...something he had carried the guilt and shame of until the day Valoria had miraculously returned. He had seen it as a chance to redeem himself. For this reason, he was all too eager to do as Kaeso asked, taking the hint he dropped by peering towards the door. It was all the suggestion he had needed, considering that the slave had already seen his Lady and the mutt of a nobleman disappearing outside. Magnus had given him a bad feeling from the first time he had seen him fawning over Valoria a few months before her kidnapping. He would take any chance he could get to keep an eye on the returned girl.

Under the appearance that he was going to check on the level of Lady Valoria's and future Praetor's wine, he headed for the door they had left through after filling up the group's wine while Kaeso chatted to them. He peered round the corner just in time to see the rough manner that Magnus pushed the female up against the wall. Markus was perplexed by the the situation, forgetting the wine as the tray dropped from his hands and clattered to the floor. The noise of the clattering tray was barely audible above the din of the mostly tipsy guests, save for maybe the closest group to him which was the one Kaeso was part of. The man's hands balled to fists at his side, the slave fighting with his instincts to climb into Magnus with his fists on sight. His position stood in the way though - a violent act against a praetor's apprentice was liking signing his life away to a death in the arena. A death he knew from experience would be slow, painful and gruesomely spectated by thousands. Markus looked around in anger, catching the eye of Kaeso as his nose flared and eyes widened to the look of a man gone mad. Do something....do anything. Look at me, look! I cannot call the attention of the whole room, lest I wish to allow Magnus the opportunity to call even more gossip and scandal to my Lady's name! He knew if he opened his mouth he might shout the words, choosing to bite his tongue as he begged Kaeso to catch his attention.

He was desperate but his hands were tied, Aquila rushing over and tutting irritably while wiping up the spilled wine on the floor. No others in the room paid any attention to the toil of a lowly slave mopping up a spill caused by another.

.
 
Kaeso was distinctly ill at ease with having to somehow talk and entertain those higher than his own social ranking and was faux drinking from his goblet more often than not. He did not wished to addle his brain with drink when he had the most need from it right now. Drink could turn even the most highly strategic or socialable mind into the most usless within a short span of time. That was something he did not wish to subject himself to. Not when they were in the lion's den of political masterminds and cutthroats. So, he pretended and drank the tiniest of sips when he wanted to wet his throat to stop itself from drying out. He was also acutely aware how much closer Octavia was placing herself next to him as the conversation between the four of them progressed. He was unsure as to why he was such an interest to her. He understood he was interesting purely because of his part of the Lady Valeria's rescue but even then a woman of such noble standing would keep space between what was effectively one of the lower classes.

Kaeso could not deny either of the two women their beauty and if they had husbands, then he knew those men could count themselves fortunate in that court. He then backtracked on that thought as the woman laughed and placed a hand on his forearm. Perhaps her husband was old and withered or fat and boring. The marriage of houses cared little for the actual ages of those involved. Marriages of convenience were ever a thing.

"So, she just... turned up in the woods out of nowhere? You can't have been expecting that, surely? She ever was a gentile soul, a mouse of a girl, our friend Valoria,"

Kaeso, whilst he knew nothing of what the true Valeria would have done in such a situation as the one that Valerie and himself had described, knew Valerie and knew she had a warrior's heart in her own right. She was kinder and perhaps soft in her ways but she was soft where it counted. It was also entirely plausible in the scenario that if an opportunity presented itself, one would take it either by their own decision or at the behest of those insistant around them. He could not call Valerie a mouse, but rather a lioness who understood the importance of holding back and letting it out.

"With the battle that was afoot, my Lady, the opportunity could have easily been presented. If I may be as so bold, what would you have done if you were in Lady Valeria's position? Would you have passed such chance?" he replied, choosing his words carefully.

She laughed towards him and not for the first time clutched at his forearm, fingers feeling at muscle and sinew. It was clear Octavia was an adventurous soul that reached beyond her station as a refined noblewoman. It was also clear her brother was quite used to his sister's actions, the man gave her no level of reproach. Cassia too seemed entirely oblivious to the touches that would otherwise have been forbidden. Daring was also a word he could have used to have described her.

"She was not wrong to, I think I would have done the same,"

"We do hear a few tales about the natives of Britannia. And the druids... I've heard rumour of those as well. They say the legionaries fear them as if they were the gods of Rome themselves," Octavia's brother spoke, doing nothing to stop the woman at Kaeso's side. "My friend Septimes was telling me they would turn them into things, animals and such... It all seems rather whimiscal,"

Kaeso frowned, he never placed much stock into the superstitions of rankers. He had plenty himself even in his days as a standard legionary but he had been taught that whilst the gods were to be respected and worpshipped, he was to also look at the world with a level mind. He shook his head, "They are nothing but rumours. There is no truth in such transformations, sir. The druids of Britannia are just as normal and mortal as I am," he explained and took a small sip from his goblet as he regarded the other man. "They'll die as easily as the rest of them do."

What Kaeso left out was that the druids were equally as good as commanding the fear of their gods into their own kind as legionaries were with spreading their own superstitions. If there were druids present at a battle, then it could easily be expected of the native warriors to fight with an unearthly zeal. If one warrior had the heart and mind to under such encouragement, then the destruction to a legion was likely to be quite devastating. Kaeso had seen that for himself and such was the reputation of the Druids of the British Isles, it had lended aid to a mutiny before the legions had even manages to cross the channel. It was almost a political disaster for Claudius but it had been stamped out quickly and the blame given to those who would seek the Emperor's death in favour for a returned republic. Despite their deaths, Brutus and those who had been with him in bringing about the death of a tyrant still had support to this very day.

However, he also knew that if you could deal with the druids, then the warriors of Britannia were no match for the soldiers of Rome who were highly trainined in working together as a solid unit. Formations, teamwork and solid strategy could do more damage with less men than the thousands of warriors who all fought as singular operatives. Warriors could be a horde and outnumber them entirely but they had no cohesion. That was until Caratacus and his brothers took to doing what no other British tribesman had been able to do before that moment of time. Caratacus had thrown tribal disputes aside and united them collectively as one with him at the top. Kaeso had gained a feeling early on that conquering Britannia was not going to be as easy as Gaul or Germania, which in themselves had proven to be thorns in Roma's side.

"You sound very sure of it. I hope you are right. We could use such a victory right now," Octavian went on, as the brother was called. Kaeso had no doubt. Other Emperors had entertained the idea but the timing wasn't right. The last Emperor to have set foot on British shores had been Julius Caesar himself and even then he had been unable to do all that much with his aims to bring Britannia under the heel of Roma's influence before he had been forced to beat a retreat and return to deal with the situation back home. Claudius had played a wild card in going forth to conquer the strange lands of Britannia and the Centurion knew other lands could easily take advantage upon such ventures.

"I won't pretend to know much of politics, sir but I have faith in the Legions of Rome. They're good, solid men who have been trained in the art of war. I have faith and beleif in the commanders to know where best to strike," he spoke with belief despite knowing that one day Rome would fall and decay to never rise again. To know this was an arrow in his heart and gut. It felt so alive now but the knowledge clouded over it with a darkness he knew would always be there in the background. He put no heed to it knowing there was little he could do about it. He had learned that there would be still be many, many years before it's fall from now. Unless someone yanked him out of it again, he took solace he would be long past caring by that time. The thought reminded him again of Hugo and his words, which added to the sour feeling. He quickly shrugged that off.

Again he felt the hand of Octavia on his skin and whilst he could admit she was very attractive as a woman, he felt nothing in return for her. His mind was on Valerie and how she was fairing with the creep that was Magnus. The knowledge that he was alone with his friend sickened and worried him. The man was of some distinction but Kaeso knew his intentions could never be anything that was honestly noble. He would have to ask Markus more about the man later on, feeling the slave would know more which in turn could give him a way of dealing with the situation better.There was no more simple following orders now, he had to make and initiate his own whilst keeping within his station.

"What do you plan to do now that you've returned to Rome?" Cassia asked, sipping her drink afterwards.
"My duty is with Lady Valeria untill ordered otherwise, my Lady," Kaeso replied with genuine feeling but also guardedly, he knew Magnus had known or recognised the Imperial Freedman and had correctly surmised the subject of his presence at the party. There were so many questions left unanswered floating in the air with sharp points that could stab at them at any waiting moment.

There was a sudden noise that clanged harshly against a stone floor. Kaeso felt Octavia's hand tightened around seasoned muscle in reaction but Kaeso noted that hardly anyone else in the Villa had seen or heard the commotion. Kaeso's eyes swept the vicinity in a way that spoke to his training and his habits whenever he was anywhere he was not at relaxation. His eyes quickly fell upon Markus, the fallen tray and the spent wine with broken shards of glass. He could hear Aquila reacting to it with exasperation already as he caught the slave's eyes. Kaeso's gut feelings flared, the expression upon the man was akin to those he had been witness to several times on the faces of Legionaries, particularly the men who had served under him. There was a mix of anger, fear and urgency and all of it seemed directed at Kaeso in the space of a heartbeat.

Kaeso knew then that the man was close to breaking as he studied the man with all the depth of a Centurion's training for reacting to situations and observing those around him. Markus' expression alone looked as if he could commit murder in that short space of time and when coupled with the balled fists and the stiffness in the man's stance, it did not take much of a genius to realise the man was holding back. Why was he holding back and he suffered the question for a mere moment. He knew the answer instantly. Valerie. The man had known the woman, or rather the original, even before Kaeso had nevermind Kaeso's silent orders to keep a weathered eye on his friend.

The Centurion looked to see behind him quickly and noted there was movement for the doorway. A woman and her own personal body slave were headed for the exit. He searched his memory and recalled her to be the Lady Cecilia. He did not know and did not care if she was actually leaving the party but it would give him the amplest of excuses to intervene. He looked back at Markus and succinctly gave acknowledgement to the man. He smiled towards Octavia, Cassia and Octavian with that of apology.

"If you'll forgive me, Sir, Ladies, I have seen that Lady Cecilia is about to depart and the domina wished to speak with her before she left," he made his excuses much to their vocalised disappointment. He couldn't have helped it. If something was happening to Valerie and it was harming her, his duty was to her first and foremost. He knew he could not live with himself if anything bad happened to her. This was not her world and it ws dangerous, especially for a woman such as she was now. The sight of Markus and the knowledge that Magnus was alone with Valerie left every bad situation out there in the book open to Centurion Marcellus. He strode away towards the courtyard following their unseen steps.

He turned the corner and his mouth set to a thin, hard line of anger that soon reflected Markus'. Magnus was kissing Valerie and he could see within a heartbeat that it was not reciprocated. Her body language was actively trying to avoid Magnus whilst being unable to and Magnus was just the opposite. It reminded him of Shane back in the lab, with his hands on Valerie's arms with a grip that held no love within them. Valerie, to Magnus, was just property, a rung in the ladder. He took a moment to breathe, to school his own features back into the calm, collected mind of a Centurion of Rome and a guest of the house. He needed it purely to stop himself from wrenching Magnus off of her. Whilst he had more freedom to have done that to Shane when the man had grabbed her with accusation of her moving his notebook, he could not do that here. Not without putting him and Valerie in jeopardy. It was an odd feeling that he now so sorely wished that he and Valerie were back in her time.

He approached them and stopped within three feet of them. Close enough to help Valerie feel safe again, with any luck, but far enough to afford Magnus his due respect of his station in society. He cleared his throat to indicate his presence whilst he decided to adopt a stance of being at attention as opposed to being at ease knowing that Magnus would not appreciate the interuption by one he would deem beneath him. The sound was enough to make the Praetor's apprentice stop what he was doing., looking at Kaeso with a glare that was more than capable of curdling milk on the spot.

"My apologies for the interuption, my Lady but Lady Cecilia wishes to speak with you before she departs for the night," he informed them plainly, hoping that Valerie would see it for the lifeline it was and that Magnus would afford the social curtesy. Whislt Kaeso was not the most informed on the scoial functions of the elite, he did know that it was within a Domina's right to see her guests off before they departed the house. It was a form of social etiquette even those of much plainer standing adhered to and afforded. The knowledge it seemed was shared by Magnus when the man stepped back from Valerie, though Kaeso saw the clear reluctance to do so. Kaeso met the man's gaze and he did not back down from the glare thrown his way. What hope did a patrician who clearly had no experience in the military have in trying to intimidate a battle hardened Centurion? There were other ways Magnus could turn to in putting Kaeso in his place, and KAeso knew it, but facing him head on in this way was a form of social suicide. It didn't take Magnus long to drop his eye contact before he feigned a smile of acceptance towards Valerie.

"Do not let me keep you, my Lady Valoria. It has been quite the evening, I'm sure all your guests would agree," Kaeso kept his gaze on the man, angry and frustrated that this vile creature would be as so bold to make his moves already and within the walls of Valerie's home too. He knew Valerie knew him well enough to read into his body language to guess at what he was thinking or feeling and he fervently hoped she would just accept the lifeline despite the fact he had made it up from one fleeting glance and knowledge of a name. He knew his duty, he had to keep her safe and alive. That was all that mattered and even though Markus did not comprehened the whole truth, he was glad the man trusted him enough to have gained his attention to this.

"Markus will show you to her if you do not recall who Lady Cecilia is, my Lady," he added, bowing his head with defference to Valerie.
 
(Sorry for the late response, been busy studying)

Valerie was frozen, revulsion filling her from the tips of her fingers down to her toes. The man, who had so blatantly and forcefully placed his unwanted affections on her, represented everything she despised in a male counterpart. He was arrogant, selfish, cruel, willing to work off the hard efforts of anyone around him to move forward. He had been handed everything, worked for nothing, and cruised through life without a single care in the world. His sole motivation for wanting anything to do with her was the status she represented. Not only that, but she could hardly respect anyone who viewed woman as a trophy to be grasped like a vice and then paraded around like an inanimate object. His treatment of Markus, Aquila and most importantly, Kaeso, had told her everything she needed to know about him. His cold lips felt like wet slugs against hers and it took everything in her not to swing her already balled fists so that they connected with his jaw.

A presence arrived nearby, helping to still her rapidly beating heart and unclench her tight fists. She peered to the corner of her eye, almost breaking out into tears at the hulking figure of Kaeso standing to attention. When he cleared his throat Magnus disconnected his face from hers, moving away to a distance which, although better, still left Valerie feeling trapped by his arm on the wall beside her. Taking the opportunity she shifted, sliding herself out from her position huddled against the wall, increasing the space between herself and the pig of a man. Kaeso spoke, saying something about a guest who she knew nothing about wanting to speak with her. Valerie did not recall such a request being made at all during the night, her face momentarily contorting into an expression of confusion before clearing. This was a gift horse she would not be looking in the mouth of. Nodding her head feverishly she cleared her own throat, feeling giddy at the thought of breaking away from the interaction with the apprenticing Praetor.

"I think the assistance from Markus would be greatly appreciated. Thank you for alerting me before she left Ka-....ah, Centurion." She nodded her head once towards Kaeso, her body language soft and filled with all the gratitude she could muster without any spoken words. When she turned to Magnus she seemed to switch, suddenly growing tense and giving the curtest of nods towards Magnus. "Apologies for needing to leave. Enjoy the rest of your evening though." She did not even hint at seeing him again at a later time. It might have seemed rude, but with the undeniable shaking she was trying to hide in her hands, Valerie could not bring herself to speak such a lie - seeing him again was on the bottom of her 'to do' list.

Magnus placed his hands on his hips, lifting his chin defiantly in Kaeso's direction after dropping his gaze, although his eyes held all the submission needed. "No worries, my lady. I think I shall go check on my steeds any way. Make sure your slaves have hitched them properly." He felt flustered by the interaction, worried about the inferiority he felt towards someone of a lower station than him for the first time in his life. No one had ever made him dwindle his gaze before as Kaeso had. No one. He needed some time to cool off and recollect his demeanor to what it was, before letting anyone else see how the soldier had made him feel.

She walked away, perhaps too quickly, back into her villa. Markus was waiting there, despite having no intentions of leading her to the Lady Cecilia. All it took was one look to his Lady Valoria's downcast eyes and hunched shoulders to know she needed time to recuperate. That scoundrel. If I had it my way, it would be me and him alone with nothing but our fists. I would bet he'd be on the floor within seconds begging for mercy. After all the trauma she's been through in Britannia, she's probably uncomfortable with having anything so forceful happen to her.

Valerie looked down, seeing her fingers shaking under her gaze. The sudden violation she felt and repulsion at herself for having allowed the kiss to happen, left a bitter taste in her mouth.

Markus placed a single hand on her shoulder, making her flinch and pull away at the fright of it. "My Lady - I understand you might want to be alone right now, but it would make for a great chatter among your guests if the hostess suddenly disappeared. I would suggest a plate of food perhaps? Something to keep your, um, hands busy..." He looked down, ever worried about his position interfering with his intention of helping her. Markus was willing to risk some backlash from his Domina if it meant getting her to see some truth in her current state. She responded in a way that surprised him though.

"Th-thank you, Markus. That seems like a good idea. I'll get to it..."

She floated away, seeming somewhat lost in her own home to Markus as she picked up a plate and absentmindedly filled it with items from the food display. She seemed to care very little about what was actually dished up, her mind preoccupied on other things. Markus shook his head irritably, picking up a nearby tray of wine and went about continuing his duties. However, even more than before, he made sure to glance a couple of gazes Valoria's way.

Back at the food table, Valerie had to squelch the need to roll her eyes when she heard Octavia's voice behind her. "You disappeared for a bit there with Magnus - is Rome's favorite couple official yet or is he still just playing games? I hope he knows that you won't be young forever..." Putting on a smile and straightening her posture Valerie turned, building up her stony, untouchable facade again. Valerie gave a coy smile, shrugging her shoulders nonchalantly before answering. "He's ever the charmer, isn't he? I guess he's just taking things easy considering my memory loss." Octavia giggled, approaching closer with her brother and Cassia on her heels. The image made Valerie think of a Roman myth - the three-headed dog Cerberus, a beast which guarded the gates of hell. My own personal trio of monsters to keep me on my toes in this hellish world. If they're Cerberus, then what does that make Magnus? What other monsters am I bound to meet?

The trio got closer, Octavian offering his hand. "I don't think we've met - not since after your little disappearing act anyway. I'm Octavian, Octavia's brother." Valerie shook the offered greeting, easily seeing the resemblance between them.

Ever keeping the attention on her, Octavia leaned in closer and whispered in a high-pitch tone under her breath, "Your little 'hero' is even nicer than I thought. Cleans up well too, for a military man. If I hadn't known, I might have guessed he was a gladiator at first glance." Valerie didn't like the lilt in her voice as she fawned over Kaeso - especially her referring to him as a gladiator. The female, with her knowledge of the present from her time in the future, knew all too well the sort of going-ons that noblewoman would have with such men from the arena. For a reason unknown to her, her stomach tightened at the thought of Octavia and Kaeso having such a relationship. Grinding her teeth she forced herself to banish the image from her mind before answering.

"He's quite polite, yes. Courageous and brave too, considering all he's been through."

Octavia giggled again, the sound making Valerie's flesh crawl. "He's made for an excellent addition to spice up things around here. I was starting to get bored until you....and him...returned." She moved, linking arms with Valerie and using her free hand to pluck an olive from her plate. She popped it into her mouth, speaking as she chewed. "Tell me what you know about him?"

The inquisition on Kaeso made Valerie's face heat, although with something other than embarrassment. She was infuriated, but why she did not know. It was just a simple conversation wasn't it - just girl wanting to know more about the man who had supposedly saved her from a horde of 'barbarians'. With a sudden epiphany Valerie realized why: She was jealous...worried about the thought of Octavia in some way wanting to wrangle Kaeso away. Valerie's heat only increased, making her cheeks turn a slight red hue. Shoving the feeling aside she cleared her throat, shrugging her shoulders casually. "Why talk about him when you can tell me all the gossip I've missed while away?"

It was all the invite Octavia needed, her need to be the all-knowing central hub of information over-riding her newly formed lust. The girl went off, beginning to sprout event after event, using names so quickly Valerie found it hard to even stay focused. Cassia and Octavian were all too eager to drop any any information where possible, trying to seize the opportunity for attention whenever possible. It was a good distraction and way to pass time, the hours until the rest of the party finished and eventually left finally arriving.
 
Kaeso knew he had not made a friend in Magnus but there was little helping that. Nothing would stop him from betraying his promise to Valerie to keep her safe from those who would seek to harm or use her. If he had to watch out for Magnus and his minions, he would have to settle for that. It was one less thing she could worry about even though he strongly suspected today wasn't going to be the last he was going to see of the vile creature stood before him. Kaeso wanted to knock sense into the man but to do so would be to sign his own death warrant. So he kept to his stance. It was the safer and wiser option right now. It was not easy having to stand and watch Valerie trying to deal with what had occured. There was nothing more he wished than to hold her and to say it would be all right. However, to do so now would only embarass them both and he knew that he could not protect her from everything. Some she would have to fend off for herself.

Her response seemed to take an eternity but he was glad when she eventually grasped at the straw he was giving her despite the fact it held no grain of truth behind it. It would give her the moment of freedom to get away from the arrogant patrician and find a moment to get herself back to a place where she could face the world around her a little better. She spoke to him with acknowledgement and he bowed his head in return as he read her body language. Whilst he gave no outward changes in his facial expression to tip Magnus off, he hoped she would read the answering smile in his eyes. He hoped she would know him well enough in their friendship, as short as it had been thus far, to know a smile.

"No problem at all, my Lady," he replied before he peered back towards the other man as Valerie gave words to him before she turned and left the two of them alone. Kaeso remained where he was whilst Magnus regarded him with a gesture of his skull that left the Centurion inwardly giggling. He maintained his stoic composure however. He might have to show respect to this pup pretending he was a man but he was not going to give his ground. Not when the both of them knew that Magnus had overstepped the mark. Not because the man didn't have grounds to vie for her interest as any other Roman of the same social standing might do but because he had forced his affections on her.

Something Kaeso would never have done.

Centurion read the submissive in the man's reply and only inclined his head before Magnus left him to stand in the courtyard alone, peering at the spot where Valerie had been moments before. He would have to keep a wary eye out from now on. He had made an enemy in the other and young boys, often blinded by arrogance or having felt slighted by one who was of a lower standing, were prone to actions too rash and irreversible. Just like he had to do with all his men who served under him, he had read the man in his body language easily enough to know the man might reach out and place his name out for a bounty for a fitting reward. He could only hope the man would see to reason and not take the manner in which Kaeso had handled it too personally for that to be a likelihood.

The man remained standing there for a full blown minute as he processed it all, his hands balling into fists with fingertips that flexed into the calloused skin of his palms. Only the gods knew what she was feeling and he felt ashamed she had to experience the depravity of other men. She was a good, honest and honourable woman and he knew then she could freely ask him to do anything and he would do it. He had made his promise to her and he would abide by it to the best of his ability. It was not a feeling he was entirely used to experiencing within himself. The legion had been his life, his family, and yet when he questioned whether he could give it up to ensure her safety, he already knew that answer. It was perplexing and he was uncertain on how to deal with that. He was walking further out upon uncharted ground.

He closed his eyes a moment and steadied himself, taking a deep breath and letting it out slowly. His hands released their tension and he opened his eyes again. He wished this party would end soon. He needed to learn more about Magnus and he knew Markus and Aquila were likely the best two to ask for that information. He frowned slightly, glancing back towards the main villa where Valerie and her guests were enjoying themselves. Perhaps not Aquila. Not yet. Kaeso was reminded of how ill the woman had taken to him the first day of their arrival with the letter and story they had supplied. He sensed the woman did not trust him but could not refuse her domina's instruction for him to remain as a guest or a person of influence. It would just be Markus to ask then and whilst Kaeso was unsure of the man's background, though he would place a bet the man had been a ranker himself, he knew he shared Kaeso's wish to keep Valerie safe from harm. The recent moment had proven that to the Centurion.

With a heavy sigh of reluctance and an itch to be in the familar military tunic he was usually prone to wearing, he turned back to head inside. It was still mostly full of guests as his eyes searched through them all. He recognised Magnus' father still chatting fervently away with his acquaintance. He wondered just how much Magnus' feigned affections were on the part of the boy and how much was on the part of the father. It was no secret that the patriarch of the family household moved their sons into position as they might do in a game of Latrunculi. It made Kaeso suspicious and knew then they would definitely have to keep an eye out for danger lurking in the shadows. If the son made comment about Kaeso to his father, the father would undoubtlessly see it as a slight to his family name in some way or at least feel the Centurion standing in the way of his endeavours. Kaeso could only hope to assume the man would deem it unneccesary since Valerie and himself were in two seperate classes. He felt he might be getting paranoid but a little paranoia had kept him breathing.

He continued his sweep of the inside of the room and was relieved when he saw Valerie at the buffet table filling a plate with food. He worried for her, especially when he noticed Octavia, her brother and Cassia weaving their way over to her in the fashion of cats sidling up to people when they wished for attention. It was almost uncanny. Kaeso remained out of the way, hoping no one would come to talk with him and they seemed far more interested in Valerie than they did in him. He remember what Hugo told him then about being renowned. Kaeso still didn't believe that to be true, he was just a Centurion of Vespasian's beloved Seconda Augusta. Nothing remotely special in his view. The man couild have retrieved a written ovation about anyone. He shook his head slightly before he glanced at where Aquila was, busying herself with filling people's wine or ferrying trays of small foodstuffs around. He then saw Markus and didn't fail to note the frequent glances the man made to where his domina stood. Kaeso smiled slightly, good, Valeria could use all the friends they could make in this world. Happening to catch the man's gaze, he smiled and waved the man over, keeping his vantage point on Valerie and the other guests.

"Think you and I need a proper talk when it's not so busy later on, but good work just now," he knew the man would not be seeking praise for the task. It was clear the man was not looking for it but Kaeso still beleived in applauding it not for the praise itself but for the measure of trust he was conveying towards the other. Markus nodded, his brow furrowing slightly as Kaeso helped himself to a goblet of wine with no real intention of drinking from it. A mere ruse.

"I know it's not my place to say so, master, but he doesn't bode my domina well," Markus kept to a low voice, quite lost in the din of the mix of conversations the flitted in the air around them as he kept the tray level and in reach. Kaeso nodded in return then, neither the father or the son boded well for any of them. There wasn't little denying the man the sentiment.

"Don't worry, lad. I understand you perfectly. I'll find you later, all right?" he didn't so much as look at Markus but he felt the nod of acquiesence nonetheless before the other moved away to serve others in the room with the usual ferreting behavious typical of slaves and the indentured. Kaeso pretended to sip and mingle for much of the rest of the party and was mightily glad when the time came for them to leave and return the villa to the usual levels of silence Kaeso had become accustomed to in the last two days. Paying little heed to the time, he sought Valerie out once he was sure there was no one else around.

He looked at her with a relaxed open stance that spoke little to nothing of his military standing. That wasn't really what was needed right now, he was sure. He wanted to be sure she was all right, that she knew he was there for her, that she would not need to worry. Not with two people now to watch out for the demons that were sure to be lurking already.

"You all right?" he asked softly, eyes gently looking towards her with an open expression of calm reassurance. He did not wish to worry her with his own anxieties about what had happened and his dealing with it in his action of granting her an escape from the vile cretin before.
 
Once the party was over, Markus and Aquila had begun the task of cleaning up. Toting items back and forth between the main atrium and the kitchen, things began to clear away slowly. Valerie helped whenever no one was looking, stacking up trays with food items or rearranging cushions and chairs. Eventually, things were just about cleared away and Aquila excused herself to get some much needed rest. Just as she turned to leave Valerie stopped her, gently grasping at her wrist. "Thank you for all your help tonight Aquila, this wouldn't have been possible without your help." The compliment was sincere and soft spoken, the older woman giving Valerie a gentle smile before inclining her head and leaving. The thanks had not been something she was expecting, but it was appreciated nonetheless.

Valerie was exhausted, sitting down on the border of the fountain in the middle of the main atrium. This was where Kaeso found her, the female fiddling with the earrings in her ears before carefully taking them out of her earlobes. She gave him a half-hearted smile where she sat, feeling too dead on her feet to even think of standing. Beginning the task of taking out the pins from her hair she responded, placing the small metal clips on the fountain wall next to her.

"I'm managing. How fine I am will be determined after some sleep and some discussion over what happened tonight." Now that she was almost alone with just Kaeso around, the deafening silence in the house was welcoming. The simple interaction between just herself and Kaeso was what she had been seeking all night long. If it had been up to her, she could have done away with the party altogether. Finally freeing her hair of the last pin, the extravagant array of braids and hair pieces came loose. Her curls tumbled out, Valerie feeling more herself as she gently pried the braids out and kneaded some of the tension she had been holding in her shoulders all night. Letting out a sigh she spoke again, inclining her head to the spot next to her if he wished to sit.

"We have a lot we need to discuss. I'll start off by giving you all the thanks I can muster for helping me out earlier tonight. Magnus is a bit, ah, dominating to say the least. I think we can both agree that although his interest is obvious, his intentions behind the interest is not. He's up to something - if I had one guess I would say he longs for the union of two powerful houses, with which he'll gain access to any of the inheritance that I cannot access without a male leading the household. I may be the only Corvinus left, but I'm still a woman." She leaned over the fountain edge, using the hem of her tunic as a cloth to dip into the cool water. Gently, she wiped away at her eyes and mouth to remove the khol staining her skin and the dye used to darken her lips. She cared little for keeping the excellence of her outfit after Octavia's remark on how much Magnus must have liked it.

"Then there's the issue of a summoning to the emperor. I can't lie and say I'm not worried. I have little clue as to what need there is for us both to visit the imperial authorities. It sounds like more pompous acting will need to be done - it just never ends." She wiped at her eyes, stifling a yawn before blinking tiredly. While he answered she couldn't help but be distracted by another matter. Something else was on her mind, a topic which brought a faint redness to her cheeks as she contemplated whether it was even important enough to bring up. Toiling with the idea of speaking about it for a few seconds, she eventually just blurted it out before she could over-think it.

"Octavia has, um....shown some interest in you." Cheeks darkening, she hurriedly added more to the statement, seeing in hindsight how it could be misconstrued. "I mean, not that it has anything to do with me. She doesn't pose a threat a far as I can tell, just ah - just a mild infatuation. You can make your own decisions on the matter. I just thought you would want to know." She lowered her head, rubbing at her neck nervously. Valerie stood, suddenly uncomfortable with having brought it up at all. To Kaeso, the information probably seemed insignificant when comparing all the other worries they had. For a reason unbeknownst to Valerie, it was something which had stood out in the evening of events.

Valerie gathered all the items she had removed into her hands, clearing her throat and nodding her head towards him. "Perhaps some sleep would be best before we discuss anymore. It has been a busy night." She paused where she stood in front of him, frozen for a few seconds. Leaning forward she gave him a quick hug, each of her arms going around him briefly before she released him. "Thank you again for earlier. To say you were a saviour would be understated." She hurried off, going into her room.

The heat was still on her cheeks even as she dumped her various accessories onto a nearby table, de-knotting her hair with deft fingers before she threw on a much simpler tunic. Climbing into bed offered little relief though, Valerie's mind circling wildly over what had occurred that night before she eventually passed out.
 
Kaeso was mightily relieved when the last guest had left and it was just Valerie and himself with the servants to the household. The place was a mess and he helped where he was able, mostly ensuring that nothing was amiss in the stableyard and that no one had left anything behind. It was a technique used sometimes as an escuse to return to a place that Kaeso was familiar with. He was also making sure the house itself was secure and there were no stowawards. After today, it was the last thing they needed and he wanted it to be safe if only for his peace of mind.

He would leave talking with Markus until tomorrow. Both Aquila and Markus had earned their right for sleep and he had no doubts that was what they planned to do once their chores permitted it of them to do so. He did not want to keep Markus up all night with his line of inquiries when the man had more than deserved some rest. They all had. He sighed softly as he moved through the place, an expert eye looking for anything untoward or amiss but there was nothing out of the ordinary to grab at his attention. The place was safe and secure.

Concerned eyes rested upon Valerie before he had set his question and he knew she was more tired than she was letting on. In retrospect, they all were. He was tired from having to watch his every word with the finest of tooth combs with the added worry of what was going to occur at the Imperial meeting in three days time. He would see if he couldn't steal Markus away tomorrow under a pretext of helping him with his armour. It would offer him a moment for them to find somewhere a little more descreet before he asked his questions.

He let himself relax more at this point, the squared stiffness to his shoulders that he had maintained all throughout the party lowered, his chest now not quite so puffed out and he breathed a little easier. He was no less concerned but at least for the moment, he did not have to worry extensively about the consequences of his words or his actions. He wasn't entirely convinced but he knew she was a woman of her own courage and strength. He had seen her put men in their place as if it was natural to her. He nodded, sleep and time to process was a very wise notion and he could not disagree with her words at all as he watched her undo her hair. The site stirred the same feelings he didn't quite know how to process again and he took a moment to surppress them once more. Now was not the time. He had to keep watch, to keep her safe and watch out for the danger that lurked in a world that she was completely alien to. He took her cue and sat down, his back slouched and his legs loosely holding themselves upwards as he rested his palms on the coolness of the marble base.

Kaeso looked to her with an expression that was open as she spoke again in the tune of gratitude and on her thoughts on Magnus. He nodded, his expression tightening a little as he thought over Magnus and the consequences that would stem from today. Again, he agreed with her wholeheartedly. That man and likely his father were up to no good and it spelled trouble that Kaeso could not entirely hope to realise the extent of it all. In a cold sense of logic, it would make some sense if Magnus offered the union of two houses on the level of wealth. With no one earning the coin and perhaps only a minute stipend from any pension her supposed father might have left in state, Valerie and the household were in a precarious position. Marrying to a wealthier house would prevent any loss of position and access to those funds. Kaeso felt that might be what some, perhaps including that of Aquila, were hoping for. He also knew that since she was now the last surviving member of the Corvinus clan, she was at its head and was able to refuse any such offer even it meant it would leave her without an income. It turned scenarios in his mind as he considered her words.

The man let her continue knowing it was one of few times she could be free to be herself in thought and mind whilst it was quiet and the servants busy with other chores to spend time listening in. It was a luxury to be able to so free and Kaeso too, though admittedly he was allowed it moreso, understood the confines of social and formal situations. As a Centurion, he was under a lot more pressure than those that served under him and his Optio. Countless piles of paperwork, drills, training, orders that he could not necessarily share until certain times... He lead a more restricted lifestyle by comparison to rankers.

She spoke of her concerns about the same concerns he had with this summons they would have to obey. To not obey would not only be unthinkable but a treacherous move. One wrong sentence from either of them and their story would unravel like a thread teased away from the sheet. They would have to brave it however and he hoped nothing was going to affect them too much. It was an empty hope. He shifted and raised a hand to rub once side of his face. "From what I understand from the orders issued, it came from the Emperor. Or at least from someone in his Imperial staff. So, I can assume that the family, your family, was friendly or close to him. The Corvinuii would have to have been of high standing to have warranted the Imperial palace to have issued such orders... So that answers as for why we're summoned... "

He sighed softly, "But I can't tell you what they are likely to discuss other than to talk about what happened. So, I'm afraid so, Valerie. I wish it were not so... You've been through enough," he was sorry that she had to undergo what she had. Not just today but the last few weeks. In comparison, her world had been turned inside out to a mucher greater extent than his own. He wouldn't have found it easy but he would have managed living in her world soon enough. He peered down at the floor in his thoughts and worries. The summons filled him with a level of dread he was not entirely prone to or accustomed to feeling.

So deep was his thinking that what she said next caught him off guard and he lifted his head in a sudden movement, eyes wide with momentary confusion and incomprehension as to what she was talking about. "Eh? What?" Valerie seemed flustered, speaking more as if to clarify and comprehension dawned upon his rugged features as she explained her meaning. "Oh..." A suggestion of infatuation certainly explained why Octavia had been steadily inching closer to him the more they had talked and making constant touches that hadn't really been called for. Kaeso hadn't really put much stock behind it but it made him uneasy. With their social standing, he was out of their leagues. "Thank you... I don't think she's a threat either. Guess their gossip channels have been... dry or dull... I suppose. Must be it," he shrugged, he certainly had no interest in the woman in question. It seemed inconsequential at this point. He put it out of mind, the meeting and Magnus were of a greater concern to him right now.

She moved and he watched her before he smiled and nodded in return. "I shan't protest the idea of some sleep," he agreed and before he had a chance to rise to his feet, her felt her arms hug round his bulk. To his own surprise, he hugged back with no hesitancy before she pulled back. "You're most welcome, Valerie," he breathed back in reply and watched her make her leave knowing he would do so again without question. This was not a world she knew and he felt bound to protect her from the dangers that thrived here. He rubbed his face, listening to the sound of the water for a moment before he ambled off to where his assigned cot was waiting for him. It was a soldier's quirk to be able to find sleep even through a troubled mind since, especially with a war on, they never knew when the next chance was to be had to get sleep. After a count of five, he was filling the room with his habitual snoring.

The morning rose and he was up with the dawn despite the late hour they had eventually gone to bed at. He stretched, washed, changed into the standard tunic he had and spent some time perched on the side of his bed to think before moving to leave his room only to bump into Markus. "Oh, sorry lad," he nodded before he looked the slave over. It didn't seem Markus had much of in the way of decent rest and Kaeso knew then the man worried about the same reasons he and Valerie were. After all, if Valerie was forced to merge houses, Magnus could have her old staff removed and replaced with those loyal to him alone. Kaeso hoped that would not be the case.

The man paused and nodded with acceptance of the apology that in reality wasn't really expected.

"Think Aquila will let me borrow you for today? I plan to get my armour replaced and could use your help with it," he knew he could just wear it back and Markus seemed to know that too from his expression before Kaeso caught the subtle shift of understanding the Centurion's meaning in asking the question. Kaeso also didn't really wish to bring attention to himself by wearing it just yet and didn't plan to do so, thus an extra hand in carrying it back would be useful. "Wouldn't do to appear before a royal summons incorrectly dressed after all," he muttered.

"I'm sure she could spare me for a while, master. Breakfast will soon be served... I'll let her know you have need of me," Markus replied before he bowed his head formerly and he beat a retreat for the kitchens. Kaeso watched him for a moment before he headed for the main space in which they had breakfast in before.
 
(I wrote an 8 hour exam today, feeling completely knackered. Thus, if there are any really bad errors please just ignore them :/)

The dawn brought with it an uneasy awakening for Valerie. She groaned as the brightness of the rising sun burned her closed eyelids, the girl rolling over to try and go back to sleep. It was of little use though, her dreams had already vanished into whatever space they hid once wakefulness was even slightly obtained. With a sigh she dragged herself up to sit on the edge of her cot, toes only just able to touch the ground while her legs dangled over the edge. After giving herself a series of mental pep-talks she eventually forced herself onto her feet, beginning the day by changing into a clean tunic and washing her face and feet.

After exiting from her room she found her way down towards the room for breakfast, finding that Kaeso was already present there. Seeing him back in the clothes he was more comfortable in made her smile, the female easing herself down onto a nearby cushion as Aquila began bringing in numerous platters.

It was in a moment she was out that Valerie gave Kaeso a small but cheeky smile, whispering, "I miss coffee. A lot. Morning's aren't the same without it. I wonder how Roman's don't spend most of their time in some stage of drunkenness." She picked at the grapes, olives and dolmades and breads left over from the previous night's activities.

Once Aquila had left them to eat, Valerie grew a bit braver in the topic of conversation she opted to discuss. "I was thinking a lot about what happened with Magnus last night. It was hard not to when his actions kept me up and away from a fulfilling sleep. I don't know how to ease him off without making him suspicious. I've gathered from his behavior and words from Octavia that Valor....ah, I was quite taken with him before my kidnapping. Supposedly, he had been planning the move he pulled last night from before my disappearance and he saw my return as an opportunity to not make the same mistake. I wish he had had a change of heart in our time apart because I was very close to gutting him with a hairpin last night."

She sipped from the watered wine, barely drinking enough to do more than wet her throat. The taste was not doing any wonders for the mild headache she had after drinking the less watered-down wine from the night before. Valerie longed for the wonders of modern medicine, but knew the best chances she had were trying to locate a local apothecary who sold herbs or natural remedies for such things.

The arrival of Markus soon after Kaeso's response caught Valerie's eyes, the female turning and holding up a plate of sliced up fruit towards him. "We're not going to be able to finish all of this. There's so much leftover from the social event last night, please inform Aquila that you and her are welcome to anything that is left."

Markus sheepishly took the plate, confused by the show of kindness, but remembering the message he came to deliver nonetheless. "Ah, thank you....my Lady. Master, Aquila has informed me that I am free to be of service to you once breakfast has been cleared. Whatever you need of me I will available for." He inclined his head. staring strangely at the food in his hands as he turned and left to walk out the room.

Valerie noticed his strange response, the female's face painted with worry as she turned to Kaeso and imposed on him a question. "H-have I done something wrong to him? He seems....different, after last night. Was offering him the leftovers the wrong thing to do? It just seems like a such a waste to leave it when there's so much still available."

********************************************
It wasn't long until breakfast was over and Markus was eagerly waiting for Kaeso on the front porch of the villa. He bounded over to Kaeso when he arrived, bouncing slightly on the balls of his feet. This venture is getting me out of helping Aquila weed the garden. That seems like a golden opportunity if I ever saw one. However - why does he need help with his armor in the first place? He doesn't seem ashamed of his militaru background, that much was clear last night? Perhaps he wishes to discuss more about the Domina and what she was like before her disappearance and memory loss...

Some of his excitement faded, his energy dulling and his face becoming grim as a new thought entered his mind. Perhaps instead he wishes to discuss my actions last night. It was too presumptuous of me to interfere with the apprentice Praetor's affections on Valoria. Maybe the Centurion wishes to speak sternly to me on the matter. Thoughts kept jumbling around in his head as he eventually caught up to Kaeso, falling in step beside him but remaining silent.
 
(oof. Get yourself a cuppa, you've earned it after that! <3)

He turned when he heard movement and smiled warmly when he saw her approach the space in which they had their breakfast. He enjoyed the quiet and was glad it was just them and the servants as opposed to how it had been last night where he could not hope to be himself. It was peaceful and somewhere off he could hear a horse whinnying and other sounds that heralded a city waking and starting their day. The Centurion sat down after she did. They might be alone but even with the likes of Aquila and Markus, he had to keep the facade between them to avoid any undue questions that would unthread everything. He was sure Aquila was suspicious enough about him already by virtue of being a guest at the house.

Kaeso grinned in return, "Well, our wine is usually watered down, so I guess that helps." He rolled a shoulder already not looking forward to an argument with a Quartermaster. They were either useless, firm or annoyingly stingy. "Have to admit... Wouldn't mind using that shower thing again," her shower had felt amazing and he wondered if it could somehow be replicated in his time. He supposed he would have to wait till he had his own place to call home before then. He began helping himself to the food left by Aquila, and was hungry enough to get through a fair amount but he knew there was quite a lot to go round.

He glanced towards her and listened as he chewed around an olive and considered her words as she told them. There was little chance of Magnus leaving her alone and he disliked that notion intensely. He didn't like the preening shit any more than Valerie did and he would have liked to have seen him gutted in the way she had proposed. It was a very amusing image in the least. "Well, it's my experience, and don't hit me, that a woman's mind changes frequently," he offered softly with a smile. "A passing fancy at best. Who knows, maybe the original woman was taking him for a ride instead of him taking her for one. Some women do. Either way, it's a woman's prerogative to change her mind," he nodded.

Marcellus glanced as Markus came to join them and smiled when the man seemed a little taken aback to be offered the plate with the added bonus of being able to share in the bounty. It wasn't something all owners extended but he knew a fair few allowed their slaves a few perks. If only to prevent any revolts, mutinies or disobedient behaviors. The soldier smiled approvingly before he found the man looking directly at him before speaking. Kaeso nodded, "That's good, tell her I thank her. I shouldn't be too long,"

The man left and Kaeso found himself pressed with another question of worry or concern. He had to keep reminding himself that even though she looked the part already, she was still not of his world to understand the nuances of certain actions.

"Not every day your domina lets you eat from the same plate, but it was not a wrong thing to have done by any means. They're people too, and a little reward goes a long way. I don't know how common it was for the original family to have done so they might just not be used to such reward," he rubbed his jaw lightly.

"If it hadn't been for him, I wouldn't have been made aware of what Magnus was up to. I had asked him to keep an eye and he was keen to. You're his domina... I get the feeling he's been with a the family for quite some time and thus protective of you. Maybe he's just as worried about it all."

"I have to go and get my armour replaced, " he said as he glanced towards Markus' retreating back in explanation. "Doubt the Emperor will like to see me in just this thing," he smiled back at her before popping another olive into his mouth. He quite liked olives.

++++++++++++++

With breakfast over and his belly full of food, he made his way to the front entrance where sure enough Markus was waiting for him. As his eyes surveyed the man, he could have sworn the man was excited about something or other. Kaeso was unsure what but maybe the man was just happy to get out of the house. He nodded with acknowledgement, "Shouldn't take too long but that might be my wishful thinking more than anything else."

He began to lead the way to the barracks stationed with Rome. Whislt it might not take them too long, it was still a decent walk to get there but Kaeso didn't mind. He was used to marching and he kept to a marching pace that Markus seemed to be able to have no problem in maintaining the pace

"I want to thank you again for last night, but it's clear to me you would have done regardless of orders. You're very protective of her," he spoke, wanting to get into conversation with the man. He wanted to understand Markus further, to know him better mostly to gauge how far he could trust the other and whether the man really did have Valerie's interests at heart despite the fact that she was not the Valorie Markus would have originally known.

The other man suddenly seemed unkeen to answer and the Centurion read the expression that flitted across the man's face. Kaeso had pegged him for having served at some stage in his life, the man's actions and ability to hold back nevermind the other signs Kaeso had instinctively read upon. However, the man had lived the life of a slave long enough to fear the dangers that came with such a life. Kaeso sighed, that would not be useful to him or to Valerie.

"You're not in trouble, Markus. So relax, just wanted to ask some questions, get to know you better. I've got her this far but you and I both know just how much more dangerous Rome can be than the barbaric shores I saved her from. I do not plan in failing my orders to return her safe and sound. I'm not about to let a jumped up patrician's son ruin that endeavour," he explained, looking towards the man as they walked hoping against hope he was still on the books.
 
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