Simo fanned himself with his hand. Though the sun had set, it was humid and warm.
‘We’ve got all the luggage upstairs, though, sir – very convenient what with the stables so close.’
‘Good choice, this place,’ said Cassius, holding up his glass. ‘Wine’s decent too.’
Simo glanced at the letters. In times past, Cassius reckoned he would have asked about them but the attendant was clearly wary of taking a risk with his master these days. Cassius didn’t regret what had happened; he felt it had been justified. But he wanted no more reminders of Arabia. He wanted things the way they were.
‘I read them properly at last.’
Simo turned to him, ready to listen. It seemed like an age since they’d last discussed each other’s families.
‘Father seems very excited about the Cyrenaica affair. He’s had senators and magistrates coming up to him, asking how I tracked down the man who killed Memor.’
‘He must be very proud, sir.’
‘And rather surprised, I should imagine. I didn’t tell him about it.’ Cassius moved the jug towards Simo. ‘I don’t really tell them all that much.’
‘To spare their feelings, sir?’ The attendant poured himself a little wine.
‘My mother’s, especially. Mine too, in a way. I find I can’t write it down. Just all seems too much. I suppose if I saw them face to face I might be able to speak of it.’
‘You must be due some leave, sir. Do you never think of a brief trip home?’
‘I couldn’t do it, Simo. Once there, I don’t think I could bring myself to leave.’
The Gaul brushed his thick black hair away from his eyes.
‘You need a proper haircut. We’ll start your allowance up again. Take your first month’s from what we have.’
‘Thank you, sir. How is your father?’
‘Some trouble with his eyes – he seems to think he’s going blind in one of them. But his estates are earning well; his other concerns too. My eldest sister has had her second child, after another miscarriage. A boy. Father’s very happy about that, of course.’
‘And your mother, sir?’
‘She wrote of day-to-day things: the family, the house. Asking if I’m eating properly, if I have enough clothes, can she send me anything.’
Simo smiled.
‘There was such an excess of trivialities that she clearly could not say what she really wished to. I don’t know what she imagined I did before but I would guess this talk of Cyrenaica has reached her. I suppose she must be very worried. She wrote that the great gods were watching over me; she wrote it three times, actually.’
‘Would you like me to take out your figurines, sir? We could display them in the room if we’re to be here a while.’
‘Yes, do that.’
Cassius looked out at the sea again. ‘Sometimes I wish I had carvings of my family instead. I have forgotten their faces, Simo.’ He turned back to the Gaul. ‘The Christian “kingdom”; your place of happiness – where everyone you love can be found and all is well?’
‘Sir?’
‘Mine is close, just across the water. And only two years away. Do you think I’ll get there?’
‘You deserve to, sir. I know that.’
With his usual immaculate timing, Indavara arrived just as dinner was being served: grilled bream with lemon, followed by apricots in syrup.
‘Nice place, this,’ said the bodyguard as he plundered the remains of Cassius’s dessert. A slimy apricot slipped out of his hand and dropped into the bread basket.
Cassius shook his head as he watched Indavara pluck it out and slurp it down. He gestured at the basket. ‘You’d better check that again – I think you missed a few crumbs.’
‘My first master could eat a lot,’ said Simo. ‘His sons too. But nothing compared to you.’
‘I take that as a compliment,’ said Indavara.
Cassius reflected on how their relationship had changed. Initially, Simo had insisted on calling Indavara ‘sir’ but neither Cassius nor the bodyguard had liked that. They now spent so much time together that they behaved very much like equals, even though one was a freedman, one a slave.
‘What’s better in life than food?’ said Indavara, wiping his mouth with his hand.
Cassius picked up a napkin and threw it at him.
Indavara ignored it. ‘Well, maybe one thing.’
Simo looked away. He disliked vulgar talk and Indavara usually didn’t mention such things around him, but he was on to his third mug of wine. It was a continual source of amusement to Cassius that the teak-tough bodyguard could consume so much food yet remained a lightweight drinker. He was an amusing drunk, at least.
‘See the maids?’ said Cassius, nodding towards the inn. ‘Sisters, you know.’
‘Yes. Pretty, eh? Simo, you’re thirty-three this year, aren’t you?’
‘Yes.’
‘Ever think about getting married?’
Cassius had often wondered about that. ‘What’s the Church’s view?’
Though visibly squirming, Simo answered. ‘The Church puts great value on marriage and a stable family.’
‘More members for the Faith,’ said Cassius.
‘So you want a wife?’ asked Indavara.
‘Perhaps. I am mainly concerned with my studies for now.’
‘You do like women, though?’ said the bodyguard. ‘It’s just I never hear you-’
‘Simo likes women,’ said Cassius. ‘Though he hides it far better than you or I. He likes larger women.’
Indavara cupped his hands in front of his chest. ‘You mean-’
Cassius sniggered. ‘Exactly, though he’s hardly alone in that.’
The Gaul started piling up their plates.
‘Sorry, Simo,’ said Cassius. ‘We don’t mean any harm. Indavara, it’s the Christians’ way to deny themselves the baser pleasures of life. They believe a greater happiness awaits. The likes of you and I and most right-thinking people know we need to grab what we can from the here and now. Speaking of which.’
One of the maids came on to the terrace, sandals slapping on the stone. ‘All done here, gentlemen?’
She was a tall girl with a mass of curly black hair tied up high. Her summer tunic was cut above the knee, showing a pair of strong but shapely legs. And though the tunic had a high collar, there was no hiding the impressive dimensions of her breasts.
The girl thanked Simo as he passed her the plates. When she leant over to take the bread basket, Indavara pinched her bottom.
She gave a little squeal then waved the basket at him. ‘Cheeky.’
‘You’re drunker than I thought,’ said Cassius.
‘Just grabbing what I can from the here and now.’
Simo sighed.
‘Any more customers in there?’ Cassius asked.
‘No, sir,’ said the maid.
‘And the other girl’s your sister, correct?’
‘Yes, sir.’
‘Why don’t the two of you come and join us for a drink later?’
‘Master Neokles wouldn’t like that, sir.’
‘Is he still here?’
‘No, sir. He’s gone to his friend’s house for the evening.’
‘So he wouldn’t know?’
‘We’ve still got to tidy the kitchen, sir.’
‘But you could come along after?’
The girl was biting her lip.
‘What’s your name?’
‘Kitra, sir.’
‘You don’t have to call me sir. I’m Cassius. Kitra – that’s Aramaic. If I’m not mistaken it means crown.’ He looked her up and down. ‘And by Jupiter, you are worthy of one.’
Even in the dim lamplight, the blush was obvious.
‘You and your sister will join us, won’t you? I hate to go to bed disappointed.’
Kitra smiled coyly then hurried away, almost dropping the plates on her way up the steps.
Cassius looked at Indavara and winked.
‘Every bloody time. I don’t know how you do it.’
‘A lifetime of practice. Listen, most serving girls are local – take a bit of time to learn the meanings of the names and off you go.’
‘May I be excused, sir? I must prepare your bed.’
‘Of course, Simo.’
As the Gaul left, Cassius pointed at Indavara. ‘Best start thinking what you’re going to say when they come. You need to work on your technique. I’m going to keep quiet.’