The Barbarian's Mistress (11 page)

With her brother, the
re had been no emotion at all, just cold, cruel actions. He hadn’t even kissed Ninia. He’d stripped her bare, twisted her around until her back faced him. Then he’d taken her hips in his hands and driven his hard member into her body so violently that she screamed in agony, and struggled to get free. How many times he’d thrust into her she didn’t know. But after what seemed forever, when Ninia had stopped fighting, and was simply whimpering, unable to hold herself up, he gave one exultant cry and finished. Then he’d pulled out, wiped himself off on her torn tunic and pulled his clothes into place. With a smug nod in Anniana’s direction, he’d strutted away, leaving her to hold her sobbing friend, and try to comfort her.

Vali’s passion was as far from Publius’ rape as two actions could be. And yet he seemed to think they were the same. He seemed to hate himself for what he’d been doing to her. But whatever he wanted to take from her, she knew she’d begun to want to give.

Maybe that was wrong. Her virginity belonged to her husband. That was a lesson she’d been taught long ago. And though she didn’t completely understand the definition of virginity, she felt that Vali would have taken hers, if he’d continued.

As Vali strode through the moonlit alleys of Neopolis he prayed that he’d come upon a thief or cut throat so he could take out his fury on someone other than himself. Of course, in his haste, he’d come out barefoot and unarmed. What would his chances be against an armed assailant in this moment? Good, very good. His blood was up, and he was more than ready to kill. And six months in the gladiator’s ludus had honed his skills and his body. No weapon would make another man his equal.

But there was no one on the streets but wagoners delivering to the shops around the town. It was the only time wagons were permitted within the walled precincts, and even small places like this maintained the Roman dictates.

What was she thinking to encourage him that way? Hadn’t she learned her lesson? Her naiveté infuriated him. She expected him to be a gentleman, to hold her and kiss her like a gentleman, and go no further. Even when she realised her mistake as he thrust into her mouth, she didn’t back down. He had felt the moment when she’d begun to relax and respond. It had fed his desire like kindling to a fire.

What was she thinking? Surely she knew that she would be worthless to her husband-to-be if he’d finished what he’d started. She knew her virginity was her most prized possession. It was what had protected her from her brother’s incestuous inclinations. If she had let him continue, her father’s well laid plans would have been for nothing.

It had taken everything in him to stop. He had wanted her so badly it hurt. There had been dreams for him too, before her nightmare woke him. Dreams of a willing Lara under him, kissing him with as much ardour as he kissed her. Dreams of entering the hot, wet core of her and feeling her clench around him, climaxing so powerfully she took him over with her.

It had been a mistake to sleep bare-chested beside her. What demon possessed him to do such a thing? Maybe it was knowing they had only this night, and he’d wanting to feel what it was like to  have her bear skin on his chest. He’d half expected they’d awake in the morning wrapped in each other’s arms as they had for the two previous nights. To feel that clean, silky hair against his bare skin, her breath on his damp skin, would have been pleasure unlike anything he’d known.

Shuddering with pent desire, he increased his pace, heading down toward the harbour. He had to keep it together. In a week’s time this would all be just a vague memory, and she would be safely married to her boring, little patrician. By all the gods, she deserved better than this Severus, with his fascination for sheep and grapes. How could he possibly realise the bounty he’d married? There were few like his little mistress. Few rivalled her beauty, few rivalled her intellect and learning, and none rivalled her character. But all that she was would be wasted on this country bumpkin, who would lust after her body, and sire children on her until her body gave out.

Her value would be to her children. She would be the perfect mother. Her loving heart would nurture her young until they became strong, happy adults. Like his mother had done
for him.

His memory threw up images of his mother, so beautiful when she smiled. And she smiled a lot, showering each of her children with her warmth and humour. It was because she taught him he was loved, that he was good and brave and strong, that he’d been able to venture out into the world before most. She had given him that gift of confidence, so he could follow his beloved father like a puppy, when other boys still clung to their mother’s skirts. In those early years he had never known what it was to fear, or
to be hungry, or to be anything but loved.

An
niana would be such a mother to her children. He broke into a fast run, the thought of her with another man’s child on her lap, driving him insane.

Suddenly
, he felt the ground shift beneath his feet, and he stumbled and fell. The cobblestones beneath his hands seemed to tip from side to side. Then, as quickly as the upheaval had started, it stopped, and the earth became stable again.

What had happened? Had he imagined the ground moving like the sea beneath him? Was it simply the residual sense of instability caused by being on a ship again?

He could hear dogs barking hysterically nearby. No, something had happened to scare those watch dogs. What if Anniana felt the tremor and ran out of the inn searching for him?

Scrambling to his feet he turned back up the hill, and began to run even faster than he had down it. He’d left her unprotected. What was he thinking? If the tremor didn’t drive her out into the night, some lusty male might have taken the opportunity to go to her. He’d left his sword on the bed, but she would hardly be able to lift it, no less use it against a rapist.

Damn him for his lack of foresight, for his randy urges that left her vulnerable. Damn him for not keeping her safe from everything, and most especially him.

When he reached the Inn he found the place was as quiet as he’d left it. Climbing the stairs, he open
ed the door to their upper room and saw her asleep in the moonlight.  Desire arced through him anew at the sight of her: long, pale hair strewn across the pillows like seaweed; face lifted to the moonlight; glistening tracks of dried tears down her cheeks.

This was all the time he had with her. This night. How could he have wasted any of it away from her? He removed his tunic and slid into the bed beside her. Still asleep, she moaned and snuggled in to him, resting her head on his shoulder. Tortured, he gritted his teeth and let her settle in. There would be no more sleep for him this night. This sweet agony was all that was left to him. In a few hours it would be dawn, and they’d be on their way to her husband-to-be. In a few hours, he would never see her again.

Reati, LAZIO

Ninia was jerked out of sleep by a dream so horrifying she had to lay still for several minutes drawing air into her lungs. The door between the chambers opened, and her master stood on the threshold.

‘What is it?’ he asked urgently.

‘A nightmare of fire and falling stones, of a mountain exploding, and Anniana running from it. She’s in danger, I know it.’

‘Go back to sleep Ninia. Your mistress is safe for the moment. There is nothing to fear. It was just a dream.’

He closed the door between their rooms, probably annoyed to have been woken by her cries. But what else could he expect, having a slave playing the daughter of a patrician. It was the most luxurious experience of Ninia’s life, and the most terrifying. Every moment she expected to be found out and somehow punished for her disguise. Every moment, she missed her sweet mistress more than life.

Her own demons were never far from her side. Images of Publius, his face ugly and sneering as he drove into her body, time and time again. Seeing Anni’s face, blank with ho
rror, close to breaking point, blaming herself for what she could not control.

That was the worst. Not the pain and violation, but that her sweet friend had watched it all. Had been forced to stand by and watch it all. And blame herself.

Where was she now? Who was looking after her? Who would save her from the exploding mountain she knew was a premonition of things to come?

Ninia settled down in her comfortable bed and tried to sleep. But her eyes would not stay closed, and when the interminable night was over, she watched the first light streak the sky outside her window. Another day … another long and endless day…

Chapter Nine

24 August 79 CE Neopolis, CAMPANIA

He roused her at first light, and they made their way to the harbour in silence. In the gloom, they boarded the already busy
Minerva
and found their spot from the day before. Vali arranged the horse blanket so that they would take up as little space as possible. Then he drew her down beside him and wrapped her in close to his side. Sleepily, she complied.

By the time the sun had risen over the mountains to the east, their ship was already cutting through the waves, the wind at their stern. The sails cracked overhead, and the sound filled him with joy. He drew his little mistress closer and savoured the moment.

‘Did you feel that tremor last night?’ It was the middle-aged busy body who had plagued them the day before. He considered ignoring her, acting as if he didn’t hear her voice over the wind and the waves. But she was just as likely to yell louder, if he didn’t respond, and that would disturb the sleeping girl in his arms.

‘Yes. But it seemed to have caused no damage.’

‘It was Vulcanus, our Inn Keeper said. It was his holiday a few days ago and few people honoured him, so he’s angry. The Inn Keeper said that there have been tremors for a week now. They’re frightened it might be as bad as it was twenty years ago when many of the towns close to Vesuvius were damaged, and the water supply was interrupted. They’ve only just finished the repairs all these years later.’

Anniana lifted her head and looked over at the woman. ‘Vulcanus? You think he was responsible for the damage?’

‘That’s what people are saying in the area. I’m glad we’re only calling in at Stabiea, and will be back out to sea as soon as we’ve taken on the goods from up river. I don’t envy you two staying on there. Far too dangerous, I’m thinkin’!’

‘Now Adriana, don’t scare the young people. Take no noti
ce of the gossip of Inn Keepers who have nothing better to do with their time but gossip,’ Petrius said calmly, placing a restraining hand on his wife’s arm.

‘I dreamed of him,’ Anniana whispered half to herself. ‘Last night he was in my nightmare.’

‘Who Vulcanus, Petrius or the Inn Keeper? ‘ Vali said lightly, trying to play down his own superstitious interest. It was never good to anger any of the gods, and this blacksmith god of the Romans dealt in fire.

‘Vulcanus. Or a huge blacksmith who could have been Vulcanus. I don’t remember much of it now, but there was burning snow and fire. I was trying to brush the snow away, but there was just more and more of it.’

‘There’s no such thing as burning snow. And no matter how frightening, a dream is just a dream.’ He wasn’t sure if he was reminding himself or her of these facts.

She nodded her head and snuggled in to his shoulder again. But he knew she was no longer sleepy. Her body felt as tense as a frightened mare’s. He stroked her arm in long, soothing strokes, and felt her slowly relax.

They had barely set sail and they were dropping the sheets again, allowing their forward motion to direct them into the docks at Stabiae, on the other side of the bay. Lara looked up at the town that sat majestically on the bluff above them. In the morning light it looked regal, set as it was against the backdrop of the towering mountain. The hills that curved around the river’s plain were lush, green and dotted with white villas. If she had ever wondered what a city dedicated to Venus would look like, this was it. Beautiful, luxurious, and sprawling.

They said their goodbyes to
the passengers and the ship’s master, and left the ship before the waiting slaves began to unload their cargo from the north. As they walked along the dock, Lara felt herself change back into Anniana. Her days as a liberti were over. It was time to take back her patrician’s mantle, with all its obligations.

‘I’ll ask around in the forum to see if anyone knows where Severus lives. It’s not a big town, and most locals would know of the patricians living nearby. Maybe not the visitors, but those who live here all year around
they’d know.’

Anniana nodded and forced herself to walk faster to keep up with Vali’s long strides. It was as if last night had never happened. He was his gentle, kind self
again, and his touch was that of a brother, not a lover. If she had been afraid things would be uncomfortable between them, she’d been wrong. A contrary part of her wished he’d at least acknowledged what had occurred. Behaving this way, made her wonder if she’d dreamed what had happened.

They entered the township through the Stabiae Gate and followed the steady stream of people along the wide road toward the centre of the town
. Then they took a left at the baths that led directly to the forum. Once there, Vali made quick work of finding out Severus’ location.

‘Are you hungry?’ he asked, as they made their way through the crowded marketplace.

‘A bit. I imagine you are.’

‘I’m always hungry. Look, there’s a food stand selling a bean stew. Want to try it? A change from what we’ve been eating for the last few days.’

She nodded her agreement and watched as he negotiated on the price for two large bowls of the stew. In a moment, he had agreed the price, handed over the money, and claimed two steaming bowls. Then they found a stone bench nearby and ate their breakfast. Anniana wanted to take as much time eating as she could because she’d suddenly realised that the longer it took to reach Severus the longer she had Vali.

But, no matter how she tried to draw it out, eventually Vali had finished his bowl, and what was left in hers – most of it, and they were ready to leave. She was very grateful that the gown Vali had bought her the day before made her presentable, and with her hair neatly, if not ornately arranged in a crown around her head, she looked as good as she could in the circumstances.

They returned to the road that had brought them into the town and continued along it to the Gate called Vesuvius. Once out of the walled township the crowds began to ease, but there were still a lot of travellers passing them.

Suddenly the road beneath them bucked and shuddered. People around them began to scream, flinging themselves to the ground. Vali gra
bbed her and pulled her down, cushioning her fall with his own body. Then he flipped them both so he was on top and shielded her from harm. The earth rumbled beneath them like thunder, horses screamed, and a donkey brayed in terror.

But as fast as it had started, the quaking land quieted. People climbed to their feet, brushed themselves down, and laughed nervously. Anniana was astounded.
Everyone, from slave to patrician, seemed to switch from terror to normalcy in a matter of moments. Only the farmers, whose products had been spilled from their wagons, seemed fazed by what had happened.

‘What was that?’ she asked Vali, as he helped her to her feet.

A nobleman pitched from his litter when his slaves lost their footing, answered her.

‘Nothing to fear, my dear. It is a regular occurrence in these parts. The Giants have heavy feet.’

‘Giants?’ Anniana felt a shiver run down her spine. She had read many stories of legendary creatures that dwelled in far flung places. Although she would not have considered Campania to be the edge of the world, the idea of real giants, not just big men like Vali, was most unsettling.

‘Hercules was said to have fought giants in these parts and buried them in Vesuvius. They clamber about in there, causing the land to shake. T
here, there, my dear,’ the patrician said with a laugh. ‘It is nonsense, of course. Just stories to frighten slaves and plebs.’ The man smiled with benign superiority, and clambered back into his litter. With a parting wave, he ordered his slaves to moved off up the hill.

‘These people seemed unmoved
by that tremor,’ Vali observed. ‘It doesn’t bode well.’

‘You think there really are giants in the mountain?’ She couldn’t stop herself asking, even if she sounded like a superstitious fool.

‘I don’t know about giants. But I’ve heard about such upheavals before. I knew an old slave who had lived most of his life on an island called Sicilia. There, a mountain called
Aetolia would erupt with furious devastation every generation or so. The land would shake like this as warning. Of course, that fool Seneca saw no connection between the mountain’s fury and the warning quakes.’

It didn’t surprise her that Vali had read Seneca. It was he who had
introduced her to many of the Empire’s greatest writers. And because of her interest, her father had been happy to buy in all the reading material she required.

They were moving again, but much slower now, as they made their way around overturned wagons and spilled produce.

‘Where is Severus’ estate?’

‘On Vesuvius, so I was told. We’ll start asking people, once we’re in the general area.’

By the time they located Severus’ estate Vali’s mood had begun to change. He was edgy and anxious, scanning his surroundings as if he expected a giant to jump out at them at any moment. As they walked up the long drive to the front of the sprawling villa, his back had become as straight as a pole.

Their arrival had not gone unnoticed. The front door had opened, and a tall, imposing slave walked out to greet them. He looked down his nose at them, and seemed ready to tell them to leave. Did they really look like vagrants?

‘This is Annia Bibuli, come from Rome for her marriage to your master,’ Vali spoke up confidently.

The slave’s expression changed quickly, and he smiled ingratiatingly at her. ‘Mistress, you were not expected for another week. Please come in, my master will be overjoyed to see you here safely, and so soon.’

Of course, they were early. Her father’s missive sent to Severus before they left would have said they were coming by land, not sea.

She
felt the soft touch of the falling flakes before she saw them. Anniana looked up in horror to see white smoke rising from the summit of the mountain above them, as a sprinkling of fine ash snowed down on them.

‘I’m frightened, Vali,’ she whispered, holding out her hand to let the soft flakes fall on her palm. ‘This was in my dream. Hot snow falling from the sky.’

‘Get inside. It might not last long.’

She did as he instructed, following the slave into the atrium
, with Vali close behind her. Inside, the
villa was filled with anxious, frightened slaves righting furniture and exclaiming over the damage the earlier earthquake had caused. While Anniana  was led into the tablinum, she heard the whispered concerns around her that Vulcan was angry and meant to punish them all again, just as he had seventeen years before.

The young man she remembered from the previous year was lounging on a couch as she entered the room. At the sight of her, he jumped to his feet and came to her side. His big grin was just as she remembered it.

‘My dear Anniana, I’m so pleased to see you. I received the mmmarriage contract several days ago and signed it with witnesses present. All that is required is for you to complete the ceremmm …ony in person. I thought it would be next week, but with you here now, we can have the ceremony later today, if that would please you.’

This barrage of information was delivered too fast for Anniana to take in. She felt terrified and exhausted, all at once. Vali, noticing her reaction, led her to a seat, and lowered her into it.

‘A cold drink,’ he demanded of the slave at their side.

The man hurried over to a tray on the table nearby and filled
a goblet with what looked like wine. He offered it to her. Anniana sipped at it gratefully.

‘Has it been a difficult time for you, mmmm… my dear? Have you travelled all ttt…that way alone, with a slave as your only protection?’ Severus sat at her side and took her hand. She had the strongest urge to pull it back.

‘Not a slave. My father gave Vali his freedom and citizenship for his part in this. He has cared for me well.’ She felt indignation for Severus’ derogatory tone. But why should it be so? Vali had been a slave just a few days ago.

‘Well, I am grateful that your father saw fit to entrust you to someone so capable. But it m
mmight be time for him to go. We have a lot to do before this afternoon.’

Anniana looked up in shock. ‘So soon? But I would like Vali to stay for the wedding.’

‘Not appropriate, mmmy dear. If anyone were to see this ‘citizen’ who accompanied you alone, they might question your… virtue. I would rather not have rummm …ours starting so soon into our marriage.’

‘My virtue?’ she squeaked, blushing at the inference. ‘My virtue is intact, and it is no one’s business but yours.’

‘Little mistress,’ interrupted Vali quickly. ‘Your husband is right. The less people know of our unconventional journey, the better for you. I will leave now. I think I’ll take ship for your father’s estate in Britannia. I wish you a long life and many beautiful children.’

‘But Vali…’

‘You are no longer Lara, you are Anniana again. Your father has risked everything to give you this chance at happiness. Take it. Goodbye.’

She watched him stride from the room, her emotions in chaos. How could he just leave like this? Severus was a stranger to her. This place was strange to h
er. And Vulcanus was angry and ready to make them pay for their lack of respect. She could feel it in the air around them. Would he leave her to her fate, unprotected?