We slept in my room in the tavern. Nicola was still asleep when I woke up. I got up, tiptoed to the small fireplace, threw the last remaining log onto the still glowing ember and crawled back into the warm bed. Lying there with her felt nice and made all the bad thoughts go away. She was soon awakened by the cracking of the burning wood and we made love. Her skin and her scent were exhilarating.
After, we went to the hygiene chambers that were down the hall. Under the downpours we once again surrendered to our lust. That could have turned into a very awkward situation if someone were to walk in on us, but luckily that didn’t happen. It was crazy, I couldn’t get enough of her! We got dressed in the room and then sat down on the bed.
“So now what?” she asked with contentment in her voice.
“I ought to go home. If my family knew I’m running about in the city they’d have me crucified.”
“How long are you on leave?”
“For seven days. Well, six now. And I have to write this silly report of our travels! Just what I need. To re-live the whole bloody experience.”
“Such short time,” she sighed.
“Everything flows,” I smiled and reassured her: “But I’m quite certain I’ll be stationed in Lux, so we’ll be able to see each other.”
I wanted to invite her to my house, but the thought of my father being there, all boastful, vain and idiotic changed my mind.
“What is it?” she asked as if she could read my mind.
“I’d invite you to my house, but my father is an idiot. It would be too embarrassing for me,” I answered sincerely with a faint of a smile. She liked my honesty. She hugged me and said:
“No worries, I’ll wait for you here. Take some days, be with your family, write your report, then come back to me.”
I kissed her and we went downstairs to eat breakfast, some eggs, cheese, olives and bread.
“Why don’t you go to your house?” I asked while finishing the plate.
“No. It reeks of death and misery. I’m done with it. I’ll probably sell it soon.”
“Do that before the war starts.”
“And when will that be?”
“It will take up to five years before it reaches us. Perhaps even sooner.”
“Well… Thank you for the business tip, pledge!” she laughed.
After we ate I packed my traveling bag, kissed her goodbye and left the tavern. It was a cold, but sunny day. I took my time and strolled through the streets and avenues of Lux. I thought of the trip and Julia and the upcoming war that I still hoped could be avoided.
The leafless trees in Marius’s yard seemed sad. They missed him as well. I knocked three times and waited for some time before the door opened. His father, a tall man with a big drinking belly, appeared before me. He wore thick black mustache and had a full head of hair, black and short. I saw Marius’s parents many times, but only then I realized he resembled neither his father, nor his mother.
“Antonius! You’re back!” he spread his arms and clumsily hugged me.
“I am,” I courteously smiled. “I have some letters from you, from Marius!” I said and jiggled with the bag in front of me.
“All the gods be praised! Well come in! How was the trip? All went well? I was worried, I was so worried!”
I handed him the bag with letters and lied:
“All went well… My apologies, I’d love to stay and chat, but I must be on my way. My family is waiting for me… It’s been a long time since I’ve been home.”
“Yes, yes, of course! Wait here for a moment, I’ll be right back,” he said and went inside. He then came back and handed me a wooden legionary. The details were impeccable.
“Here, a new design. Quite popular, I’m making a lot of money.”
“That’s good,” I again smiled, already tired from the conversation. “Thank you kindly!”
“Well, off you be! Your parents await!”
“Goodbye,” I smiled for the third time and headed back to the main road. After a short walk I was at my house. It felt odd being there. I felt like I stepped into the past and all that happened since I left was a wild daydream. I knocked on the door and hoped my father wasn’t home. My mother answered. She threw her arms around me and scolded me for knocking.
This story originates from Royal Road. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.
“It’s your home! You don’t have to knock!”
I laughed and we stepped into the kitchen. It was warm and pleasant, although a bit dark.
“So, where is everyone?” I asked.
“Ah, your brother is with Augusta down in Stelarium. And your father is away on business, like usual. So it’s just you and me! So how was it? Tell me everything.”
“That is the last thing I want to do.”
“Why? Doesn’t your mother deserve to know what her son was up to in the last three months? Only one letter! Shame on you!"
“Gods, you are so tiresome. Let me be! I just walked in and already you’re nagging me with this and that! I’m exhausted as it is.”
“Fine, fine… You always get upset so easily, you and your temper… Want to go to your room, lay down? Or best you get yourself cleaned up.”
“I already did that.”
“When?” she demanded to know.
“Yesterday, I rented a room in the city. We came late,” I distorted the truth. She then put a plate in front of me and sat down to watch me eat. She always did that and I found it insufferable. Let me eat in peace, why are you staring at me?! But I said nothing. I never did.
“How long are you on leave?”
“Seven days. Well, six now.”
“Only seven days! I hoped it would be longer. I have to let Aurelius know you arrived. We have a wedding to put on!”
“Oh, gods, do I have to be there? Such a hassle…”
“Does he have to be there, he asks?! He’s your brother, Antonius! What’s wrong with you!?”
“I know, I know, but I hate weddings. Such tedious business. I prefer funerals. Nobody bothers anybody at funerals, everyone’s quiet, they keep to themselves…”
“You’re my son, Antonius, and I love you, but you’re an odd duck. Wedding has to take place and you must be part of it. End of story. So, where’s Otho?”
“He fell in love, if you can imagine that. A nice girl. He’s thinking of leaving the Cohort.”
“Smart! But hasn’t he drunk the tea yet?” she asked in a way I knew she was asking if I had drunk the tea.
“Yes, he did. We all did.”
“Impatient youth! And now what?”
“His girl doesn’t mind.”
She shook her head in disapproval, but said nothing.
“I think I’ll go to my room now, rest a bit.”
“You go and do that. The fire is already lit, so you’ll be warm. I’ve been setting up the fireplace in your room every day now for the past two weeks. I didn’t want you to be cold when you arrive, all drained from the road.”
I hugged her and told her I missed her and loved her and she cried. I stayed with her for two days. We cooked, did the chores and talked. In the evenings I wrote the report for the Cohort. During the second day I finally told my mother about the expedition, of Porosia, Orcs, everything. She then worried, as always.
“Oh, what will the future bring,” she sighed more than once. By the second day, harsh to say, I’d had enough of her and decided I ought to go back to the city.
“So soon? But you haven’t even seen your brother! Nor your father! And I know you don’t like him, but he’s still your father.”
“I have to go back.”
“But why? You’re on leave still! Is it a girl?”
“Oh, mother. I’ll be back in two or three days, I promise, I just have to sort some things out. And as you know, I need my solitude.”
“So unlike your brother.”
I shrugged my shoulders, grabbed my traveling bag I’d packed the day before and hugged her goodbye. Again she cried and accompanied me almost to Marius’s house, despite me urging her to stay inside the warm house. After I left her behind, I almost ran to the city. At first I wanted to go straight to the tavern, to the warm bed and to Nicola. But then I thought of Antonia and how awkward it would feel to bump into her with Nicola by my side. So I decided I ought to go to the Dwarven embassy and visit her. The Dwarven embassy was located near the Cohort Temple. The building had huge doors and the front wall was painted with graffiti of Dwarves riding their Goldhorns. I opened the heavy doors, stepped in and found myself in a large marble chamber with many doors on the sides. One large stone staircase that led to the upper floor. A guard near the doors, a Dwarf, addressed me:
“Yes?”
“I’m searching for someone. Antonia Cicero?”
“Door number three. That one,” he pointed to the door on my left. I nodded, went to the door and knocked. Antonia answered and when she saw me she burst into laughter of joy. She hugged me tightly and invited me in. It was a small space filled with cabinets and papers. The only source of light was a rather large – when compared to the room – window.
“You’re so messy,” I jokingly scolded her, both of us knowing I could turn any room into chaos with my untidiness.
We sat down and she asked me all sorts of questions about the trip. I told her everything that happened while she listened, asking smart questions. I always enjoyed talking with her. By the end of the talk, she narrowed her eyes and stared at me.
“There’s something peculiar about you.”
“The story of my life!”
“Ha ha ha! Oh, Antonius. You joke around, but… Hm… Ah, I see it now. A girl, is it?”
I let my blushing do the answering for me, but otherwise kept quiet.
“That’s fine. We had what we had back at the camp and it was wonderful. But now, we’re both on different paths. It’s quite logical we’ll connect with other people along the way. Right?”
“Right,” I answered and facetiously saluted her, which made her laugh again.
“I’m happy you stopped by, Antonius, I really am.”
“I as well, Antonia. I’ll let you get back to work. I hope we’ll see each other soon.”
I stood up from my chair, as did she, and we hugged once more. I left the embassy and went to the tavern.