Christopher Buckner - Swords of Rome

“Well said, centurion,” Julia broke the silence as she raised her cup to him, which was soon followed by Paullus and a number of other guests; Varro wasn’t among them.

Gaius remained silent during their acclaim, taking a deep breath as he looked at Julia, who smiled at him. He knew it was time for him to make his departure. He wasn’t sure if he could stomach the night much longer.

Gaius cleared his throat as he stood to his feet. “Unfortunately Senator, I’m afraid that I must take my leave before the hour grows too late. My men have a great deal to do before the week is over.”

Varro stood to his feet, managing a false smile as he nodded respectfully,” Thank you for coming, Centurion.” Gaius noted the small hint of annoyance in Varro address. He took no offense to it. He needed this night to be over with. “And thank you for the wonderful evening, and the insightful conversation.

Antony stood from his chair, deciding to walk Gaius to the exit as Varro’ guests’ quickly found new topics to explore, as the room once again filled with conversation.

As Antony escorted Gaius out to the courtyard, he suddenly erupted into laughter.

Gaius too joined his friend, even though he tried his best to hold back his enjoyment of the moment.

“I did not mean to offend.”

“Please, it was wonderful. Do not let those old goats bring you down. You spoke your mind, as you should have. My father surrounds himself with puppets that don’t think for themselves, all but Fabius and Paullus, I must say.”

Paullus , Gaius thought to himself, still trying to figure the man out.

Antony placed both his hands down onto Gaius’ shoulder; his smile beaming as he stood before his friend.

“Honestly, it does my heart wonders to see you well, my dear brother. I have enjoyed this reunion, and await our next gathering.”

“As I,” Gaius replied honestly. It was hard for him to think about why his fears had taken hold of him so strongly. Antony, while older than the boy he remembered, was still young and carefree — untainted with the burdens that weigh most Roman men down.

“Perhaps in a week’s time, if you aren’t too busy soldiering, we can explore the city and its many wondrous treats that were forbidden to us in our youth.”

“I would enjoy that very much. However, you will have to pay; I'm only a poor soldier, after all,” Gaius joked, which brought about more laughter shared between the two friends.

“I shall bring my purse and make certain that it is filled with plenty of coin.” Antony hugged Gaius one last time before he turned and headed back into the house. A moment later, Gaius watched as Julia stepped out from the doorway and stood on the patio.

It was colder outside than it had been when Gaius first arrived, so Julia was wrapped in a fur cloak that draped well past her feet.

Antony gazed up at his sister with joyful eyes. “You be gentle with our boy now,” he smirked. She only grinned before he left her alone.

“Are you leaving so suddenly, without saying good-bye to me?” Julia asked as she walked carefully down the steps, before moving towards Gaius, who stood, taking in every detail of her as she neared him.

“I wouldn’t think of it. I was hoping we would get the chance to speak tonight, just the two of us,” Gaius answered.

“Oh really? Was there anything, in particular, you desired to talk about?” Her stare was alluring, nearly overpowering Gaius, who had to hold back with every fiber of his being not to reach out and grab her, wanting with all his heart to taste her seductive lips.

“I…” his mind drew a blank. He had had countless conversations with her in his mind over the past ten years. There, within the recesses of his thoughts, he was in control, without fear and able to formulate the words of poets to describe his longing for her, and how her presence gave him strength to carry on when he felt most alone. However, Julia stepped within inches of Gaius, placing the tip of her index finger against his lips, forcing him to remain silent as she stared deeply into his eyes. She did not break from her probe, seemly looking through him, searching for something that wasn’t on the surface, but still within Gaius.

“What is it?” Gaius broke the awkward silence as he touched Julia’s hand, feeling her soft skin against his rough fingers as he pulled her reach away from his face.

“Nothing,” she mussed with a wide grin. “I am merely looking for that boy I knew — the one that vowed to protect me with his body and heart.” She beamed — her touch, presence and voice leaching into Gaius that he was without thought or words — awestruck by this woman as if the goddess Athena had come from the heavens and stood before him now.

Gaius swallowed. “Am I so different now?” he asked nervously as he rested his hand over hers.

“No,” she smiled. “And yes. Nevertheless, you are he. I knew it the moment I saw you — those same eyes that shine the goodness of your heart that I’ve longed to see once again.”

“I’m pleased that I haven’t disappointed you,” Gaius replied, barely able to form a cohesive thought.

“I, on the other hand, must be quite different. I imagine you pictured me astray — fat, with hideous skin and matted hair,” she giggled.

“At times, perhaps I might have imagined that fiction. However, you are nothing that I could have dreamt.” She stared at him with curious eyes as Gaius took a deep breath. “You are beyond any beauty I’ve ever seen — a goddess statue made real,” Gaius caressed her cheek, memorizing her every feature.

Julia blushed, noticeable even in the cold. She then eagerly took his hand and pulled him over towards the stables, “Come with me. I want to show you something.”

“What is it?” he asked as he followed without hesitation.

“ Hush , you shall see in due time.”

Julia signaled for one of her slaves to bring two horses over to her and Gaius.

He noticed, a boy no more than twelve years old escorted two horses to them that the animals were already prepared for riding. It seemed to him that she had planned this encounter, when she could escape her father’s party and be alone with him without fear of interruption.

Gaius ran his hand over the horse he was given, feeling the soft hairs of the animal’s mane between his fingers. It was an expensive horse, and elegant, not the bulky steeds that were drafted in the legions.

Taking the reins, Gaius pulled himself up onto the horse’s back, quickly easing into a comfortable sitting position. He was surprised the animal did not voice any discomfort. It felt odd for him to not be on Apollo.

Julia mounted her horse with the assistance of a slave. As she positioned her thighs over the mare’s back, she glanced over towards Gaius, who rode next to her, both waiting as the gates were swung open.

“It can be dangerous for a lady to ride this late at night,” Gaius commented as he kept a few paces behind her, knowing that she would be leading him through the city, and to whatever destination she had in mind for the two.

“Then it is a good thing I have my protector with me. Do try to keep up, soldier,” she smiled before kicking her horse, which reared back slightly before bursting into a full gallop and rounding the corner once outside the gate.

Gaius spurred his horse forward, and as he took raced down the paved streets, their two animals hoof echoing through the night as Julia led Gaius towards the western gate. Where she was taking him, he did not care. He was lost in the moment.

The empty abyss of the hollow doorway loomed before Gaius, who feared to move forward as he rested several feet from the entranceway to his boyhood house. The home, if it could be called that was barely standing. Most of the roof had caved in, and part of the west wall had fallen, scattering bricks over the weeds and waist-high grass that’d grown between the foundations; the only life came from a cluster of roosting birds that had nested between the broken beams.