He sat on the edge of his bed, trying to understand what exactly had occurred. He looked over at the armor stand and just stared at the vestments. A set of vice-commander's armor and it was his. This was the first time he was able to just sit there by himself it was his first moment really alone since the battlefield, since all the killing, since all that death, since his sudden newfound fame. He wasn't prepared for all of this, for the way people were acting towards him now. He took his swordbelt and put it on. Time for a walk. No where in particular. He walked threw the streets and saw the parties going on everywhere. It seemed every neighborhood held people singing and all kinds of raucous sound. The sounds of joyous celebration. Everywhere he went people were recognizing him, not as a hero, just a victorious warrior home from conflict. His face was not well known, and he was thankful for that. He found himself in the city center, where the buildings of commerce and administration and all the political class gathered each day. This part of town was almost quiet at this hour. It was still, and peaceful. Markus liked it like this. He stopped where two roads met and looked around him. Not a soul as far as his eyes could detect. He let out a sigh and looked up at the stars. Standing here he remembered the moment in the tower, when he had prayed to Mars for strength and he had been granted it. He had survived that day with no injury to speak of when so many others had died. It could only have been the grace of the gods he was standing there at that moment. He lowered his gaze and as his view passed from the rooftops to the streets he noticed someone was standing right in front of him. It was a small figure certainly a woman, She was standing just there before him, she wore a long hood that covered her face.

“Hello there, and who..” Before he could finish she spoke.

“I am Liegh Poquette, a priestess of Venus.”

“Nice to meet you I am...” once more she interrupted him.

“You are Markus Verotis, vice-commander of the Imperial army, recently returned from a glorious victory gained by the Lord Mars.”

“ How did you?”

“I have been told a great many things about you Markus.”

“What to you want with me?” he asked becoming suspicious of this stranger who knew so much about him.

“I am to deliver a message to you” she pulled back her hood to reveal a stunning face, a vision of perfection, this was expected of those who had dedicated their lives to Venus, Her brilliant eyes seemed to sparkle with an almost unnatural light, her hair pulled back clear of her exquisite features. Markus was stunned for a moment and said nothing. Upon regaining his composure he began, “A message from..” again she interrupted him.

“My goddess of course.”

With those words Markus fell to one knee out, his respect for the gods was absolute after his recent successes.

“Rise Champion,” she spoke in an authoritative tone.

“Why would one such as me stand to hear the words of a goddess?”

“You are already a chosen Champion of Mars, and as such I would not that I would speak down to you.”

“As you say it priestess.”

“My goddess Venus has these words for you.” as she spoke this phrase her eyes seemed to shine even brighter than they had a moment before, her voice seemed to echo with itself with more power than her small frame seemed to possess. “ We have seen your affections for the one called Julliana Casius, pursue her if you will. Be warned that path holds for you great sorrow, unimaginable pain, but also joy and pride as you have yet to know.” as she finished her eyes faded back to their normal sheen, and her voice seemed once more her own.

“I have heard the words of the goddess, and will put thought to them.”

“Let her words not dissuade you from any course you have already chosen, your continued faith in the gods has granted you this warning. Almost the entirety of this city, and this Empire had fallen away from them, yet you stand strong in your faith.”

“Would you tell me please, priestess, what does the warning mean?”

“ I know not, I was not intended to know and neither are you. The gods hardly ever are clear in their words to us.”

“I thank you for delivering this message.”

“I was simply doing my duty, as you have done.” with that she turned and walked away. Disappearing almost as suddenly as she had appeared. He stood for a moment there in the middle of the street considering the words of the priestess. What could the goddess mean by sorrow, sorrow from what, and what pride could he possibly earn in the future to make him feel any more than he did now. He steeled himself in his decision he would weather any sorrow or pain, if the joy that was promised included Jullianna it would be worth it.

He regained his bearings and headed for the school, the one where he had trained, and the one that was also her home. As he made his way through the alleys and streets his mind was abuzz, why had the gods held so much interest in him, did they really care who he was involved with? If so just how many of them were invested in his future? Why was he so special or was it Jullianna that was so special for them to take notice? All these and more buzzed about his head like as many angry bees.

He arrived at the gate and looked inside and there she was, Jullianna with a training sword in hand. She was just standing there in front of one of the training dummies, he was breathing heavy.

“Ahhhhhh” she screamed then started attacking the dummy wildly, not so much attacking it as she would for practice but more as if she was trying to smash it to pieces. She was angry and was not afraid to show it for someone so restrained as she normally was she was out of control. She hadn't seen him yet she was on the far side and was facing away from the entrance. He quietly opened the gate and stepped inside. She hadn't realized he was watching her. She was muttering something to herself he couldn't quite hear what it was. She was still just wildly slashing at the dummy. With each strike the concussion of it was almost palpable in the air. What could make her this angry? He moved closer and closer until he could hear what she was muttering to her self in this rage.

“Damn that man, how could he do this to me? I know I told him to but he didn't have to go and do it. They are my friend, Why did I go and tell them to do it? And I just sat there like and idiot and watched. MARKUS she screamed, “Damn you Markus, why would you do it? Why? Why?” she sputtered out and even her sword strokes fell off. She fell to her knees and he heard what sounded very much like a sob. She covered her face with her arms, and fell further from her knees to her backside. Then he head jerked in his direction.

“YOU!!” she screamed, jumped to her feet and started closing the distance between them the sword raised over her head.

“Whoa, whoa” he exclaimed trying to calm her, “Just what do you plan to do with that?” She was getting closer and she was not showing any signs of stopping. She swung and he rolled on the sand under the strike quickly regaining his footing rushed to the rack and pulled a pair of swords loose.

“So you want to try this again.” he said a sneer in his voice. She however was not in a laughing mood, she was furious and at the same time seemed just barely keeping back tears at the same time. She turned to him and charged once again. Swinging before she even reached him. The first was an easy counter, she turned the blade to reflect off of his and back towards him, he trapped her blade between his.

“I have you this time.” he said the smile in his face echoing in his voice. She struggled with the one arm to free the trapped blade, he free arm found the handle of one of the swords on the rack behind him, she quickly pushed it in his direction, he sidestepped and used the jumble of trapped blades to stop the newest one to enter the fray. He released the blade and stepped back, regaining is stance and composure. She was the exact counterpoint she had no semblance of form or stance. She came at him swinging both blades wildly in a kind of arc over each of her shoulders. He quickly moved to block and the wooden blades she swung met his as if marble pillars. Retracting his right arm then striking back out not at her but at her blade. It flew free of her hand and tumbled across the sand. He had her at a disadvantage but she was in no mood for fair play. The blade in his left was still met with hers. She let his force fall through and trapped his arm between hers and her body and twisted the hand till the blade shook free. With that they both took a step back and readied themselves for the next volley. Her strikes were made quick by her anger, but the calm demeanor, allowed him to block them with ease.

“ Are you gonna to tell me what this is all about or are you just gonna keep trying to kill me?”

“The party damn you.”

“What do you mean, I did just what you wanted me to.”

“Yes, you did.”

“Then why are you mad at me?”

“Because you did it.”

“ I am not sure I understand I did what you wanted and now you are mad at me for it?”

“Yes I am damn you,” she said her angry and frustrated tone unchanged. “You did what you did with those girls, my friends, right there in front of me.”

“You instigated it”

He blows were still coming as strong and fast but he had gotten her talking at least. She hadn't calmed in the least and her frame of mind was making it easy for him to dodge or block every stroke.

“I know I did, and I know it isn't an unusual thing to see at a party. But why after all the time you were talking to me did you just jump at the chance to be with them?”

“You told me that I could, you made it a challenge, you even said it was ok before I started. I couldn't very well back down. You could have stopped it at any point why didn't you, Jullianna?”

“Because, Because,” and her sword stopped her arm fell limply to her side. “Because I wanted you to turn my offer down, I wanted you to say you only wanted me.” there was a rise in her tone and with it the tip of the blade. “But no you just played along and once I started it I couldn't very well call it off.” She came at him at him once again. He was stronger then when they last met and she was tired from smashing that dummy for some time. He pushed her back and back till she was pressed against the wall, she had nowhere to go.

“So you couldn't back and and neither could I” he said “Sounds like we are both stubborn and want our own way.” He looked at her and the fire in her eyes as she fought him with all her might. He looked at and how had her pinned against the wall, and started to laugh.

“By all the gods what are you laughing at?” she said as angry as ever with the confusion mixing into her voice.

“I remember a time not so long ago where we stood where we both stand now.” he let a chuckle escape again before gulping it down to gather his courage. “Things won't end the same this time as they did last time.” he pressed the crossed wooden blades to the point where her swordhand was pressed against her chest as she struggled. He leaned in pressing her more, She closed her eyes struggling under his strength. He leaned even further in.

His lips met her. Her eyes opened. Her eyes met his and she felt her swordarm weaken and his attack lessening in response. She kissed him back now, it was as if her lips had a mind of their own, she was furious at him still. She could feel her cheeks still flush red with anger at the nights events.

Markus held the kiss for a few seconds, in his mind it seemed like hours. He had imagined that moment before, he had seen it in his head but this was so much better, Her lips felt so soft against his and he could almost taste the fire that burned in her soul on those lips. As he pulled away he kept his eyes on her, she was frozen still her sword still held against her body as if he was still pressing it there. She blinked once then twice more and shook her head. Her eyes narrowed and she glared at him.

“How could you?” she stammered. She quickly raised the sword over her head and held it there as if preparing to strike. As the strike fell he dropped his sword and grabbed he wrist as it started to come down, he stepped in close to her and put his arm around her waist, pulling her at the hips toward him. She lost her balance and fell deeper into his grasp. He shoulders whipping like a bent reed to match her hips, till she was face to face with him, mere inches away. She released the sword and let it fall behind him as she grasped the back of his head and pulled herself up to his lips and was once again lost in his touch. She kept his lips pulled to hers as she released her rage and sadness as a series of short kisses on his lips and a deep kiss opening her lips more and more, again and again as if she was trying to pull the sweetness from his lips. She reached around with her other arm now and pulled his bod to hers. She could feel him now, closer than he had ever been before closer than she had let anyone get before. She wasn't thinking about that, she didn't care she wanted his embrace, she wanted him to be with her. He had seen her fight, he had seen her very soul as a warrior and still he wanted her, she knew he did.

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Markus felt her pulling his body to hers. She had accepted his touch she had showed her attraction back. They each grasped each other and gently released in waves that came and went, their arms like so many pythons binding the two bodies together. He stepped away from the wall taking her with him. As he moved she ceased the assault on his lips and smiled at him. He looked at her and smiled in return “How strange a creature is this to be so angry with me moments ago, and sobbing only a few before that, now here she stands smiling at me.” He placed his hands on her hips and spun her around and wrapped his arms around her. She leaned back into his chest and sighed.

“Your skill with the sword has improved since last time.” she said laughing a little to herself.

“You aren't half bad yourself.” he responded.

“You mean for a woman.” She said in a huff pointing out the perceived inequality of the genders natural skill.

“No, Jullianna, for anyone.” He said in as serious a tone as he could to try to convey his sincerity to her. “ You are better than any man I have ever come against.”

“Is that so?” she said trying to hide the pride that welled up.

“Yes it is Julliana”

He leaned in and began to hiss her neck. She leaned her head back against his chest. His hands began to roam over her body. He massaged her breast through her dress with one hand and the other one roamed around her stomach and legs moving gently from place to place with just the fingertips. She leaned back into him and he sunk down to the ground his back against the wall and she was seated on top of him. He continued to kiss her neck, her breathing quickened, he could feel her heartbeat as she leaned against him.

“We can't stay out here.” she whispered to him.

“Why not?”

“Someone will see us.” she said with concern in her voice.

“That didn't seem to bother you earlier tonight with your friends.”

She turned to face him angrily. “That isn't fair, and I am still mad at you about that.”

“Why? You told them to do that and they did it, was I supposed to turn them down?”

“Yes you were.”

“Why? You gave me the go ahead didn't you?”

“Argg.” she let out frustratedly, “Yes I did”

“So you told your friends it was ok and you told me it was ok and now you are mad that we did what you said?”

“Of course I am.”

“Why?”

“I just am.” she said as she crossed her arms. From the look on her face Markus could tell she wasn't quite sure herself.

“I think you are mad you didn't volunteer to be first.”

“NO” she shot back at him. “It is just … It is just.”

“Out with it woman, what was it?”

“The way you treated them, you were so gentle and caring you gave each of them what they wanted.”

“And you are mad because they like it?”

“Yes, No I don't know.”

“You are mad it wasn't you, aren't you?”

“Fine YES I AM!” she said sternly “Is that what you wanted to hear?”

“I wanted the truth, that is all I wanted.”

“Well now you have it, I am jealous that they had you before I did. They are my friends I don't care that they had you. We are all uncommitted adults. Just seeing how much they enjoyed it I just wanted it to be me.” she blurted out quickly. “I wanted you, I still want you” she admitted meekly.

“And what is stopping you?”

“Nothing, nothing at all.” she said as a smile spread across her face. She leaned in and started to kiss him deeply. She adjusted her weight and wrapped her legs around his waist. Suddenly his hands were all over her and hers were all over him. They pulled at each other's clothes. Almost instantly she was out of her dress and he was shirtless, once they were freed from their textile encomberments they both froze, each drinking in the sight of the other's naked body.

“You are the most beautiful thing I have ever laid my eyes on.” Markus whispered to her.

“ I like how you look as well, quite the body you have, I would expect nothing less of the “Hero of New Pompeii”” she said shyly, it was obvious how uncomfortable he was with that title.

Her long brown hair spilled over her shoulders and down her back, a few errant strands fell to the front. Markus sat there admiring her body, a set of plump breasts set well on her chest for their size. It would take Marus two hands to cover one completely. They were perky and tight despite their size. Her stomach was tight and well muscled with just a slight sign of a six pack peaking out. Leading down to a lovely set of hips, well defined muscles and soft flesh covered her wide hips. All of this running down to a set of long slender, shapely legs. She was a vision of beauty, What Markus imagined the Goddess Venus herself would look like in human form.

She looked at him with similar eyes, his broad shoulders, and large muscles evidenced his athletisim, He was the epitome of the warrior class after all. She mused to herself that every inch of him must have been covered in muscles. She smiled up at him then fell into his embrace. He smiled back down at her as he felt the warmth of her body touching his. Her nipples had become hard in the night air and he could feel them against his skin. She began to roll her shoulders, causing the friction of their flesh to increase the heat between them. Markus squeezed her firm buttock in his hand, with the first full grasp her breath came sharply.

“Uhhhh,” she let her breath escape with a small moan. She grit her teeth a little then hissed him and nibbled at his lips, taking small bites and pulling away. He leaned back and layed down as pulled her on top of his as he did, with the grip that he maintained on her hips. She pulled away from him so that she could pull the rest of his clothes off him. She rested back down on top of him and leaned forward so her breasts hung tantalizingly in front of his face. He obliged and began to kiss and suckle her breasts using his tongue to trace the outline of her nipple, first the left then the right. The same small moan escaped her lips as his lips and tongue continued at their work. Her whole body became almost hot to the touch. As if the fire of passion would spring forth in a live flame at any moment. He felt her mound begin to moisten as she rubbed it gently across is abs in response to his action. She undulated gently with the rhythm of his kisses and sucking. He continued with what he had been doing, He could feel her try to move away a little or shift her wight trying to let him know she was ready for more. He forced her anticipation and excitement to build until she wouldn't take it any more. She grabbed his shoulders and rolled him on top of her. Her legs spilled open and Markus began to rub her now exposed sex with his fingers. Gently as first then with more vigor. Her moan almost a constant tone now, She rocked her hips back and forth in time with his movements.

“You seem to know exactly what I want and you also seem to want to withhold it from me.”

“Yes I know,” he said with a sinister hint in his voice. He made no move to change his actions so in that moment she reached down to grab ahold of his manhood. With it now in her grasp, she tugged gently at it, growing to full length and girth. She pulled his head close and whispered in his ear.

“This is what I want.” He smiled down at her, and continued on without regard for what she said, still massaging her mound furiously. She stroked him gently, pulling on it gently trying to pull it towards her waiting opening, as you would guide a wild animal to water. He would let her pull him closer till the tip would reach the warmth and feel the slightest bit of wetness then would pull back away. Her huffing in frustration the whole time. She let him get away with it the first time and the second time and the third, after that she had had enough. The next time he let the tip reach her wanting snatch she quickly wrapped her legs behind his hips and pulled him to her. He had no leverage to fight such and action and as such plunged all the way inside her. She let out an exasperated gasp. He filled her completely and she as she did not let off with her legs keeping him inside her. He struggled for a moment to pull free of her that he could continue his play. She did not let up and he was only able to produce a small amount of moment as she pulled him into her. She was enjoying the feeling of him just being inside her, of the ultimate closeness that she felt to him at that moment. She loved the feeling of his body on top of her. His body was all that she felt. This was great and now she wanted more. With her arms she pushed against the ground until she forced Markus to his knees without separating their coupling. She let her legs go a little slack and used them to pull herself up and down and to grind herself against him. She was in ecstasy, the feeling of his body against hers. His chest against her breasts with each stroke her nipples rubbed against his chest. She kept her legs wrapped around his waist. She kept like this for a while while kissing him gently and grinding herself against him. She could feel her peak welling up inside her. The fire was burning and only seemed to be getting hotter. She was starting to go faster and harder. She kept taking longer and longer strokes before she would let her weight bring her crashing back down on his erection. She had a good rhythm going and began to gasp and moan. As each breath escaped her lips it came out as a slow rasp that became a sharp squeal of delight.

Markus did his best to maintain his composure the whole time keeping his thrusts in time with her movement. The more she felt the more he was enjoying it and not the sensation alone but the satisfaction one gets from a job done well. He could feel it in her movement and in the way her muscles tensed around him, she was starting to climb the ladder to her inevitable orgasm. He could feel her getting closer and when he was sure she was close enough. He grabbed her hips sharply with both hands and pryed her off of him. Placing her on the ground face down lifting her hips to him. As he lined himself up to take her once more, he held off. She was shaking slightly, her hips pulsing back and forth trying to find what had been taken away. She was heated, she had been almost there, she could feel it welling up inside. He had been do forceful when he had turned her over. She loved the display of strength. It made her want him even more than ever. Yet there he was withholding from her what she had so aggressively taken not that long before. She was trying to be subtle with him. Wiggling her hips and pressing them back against him. Still he withheld it.

“Tell me you want it.” Markus said in a husky tone, obviously aware of what it is she wanted.

“Markus” she said in an aggravated yet alluring tone.

“If you want it you are gonna have to tell me .”

“I want you inside me, Markus, I want your affections, I want to be had by you, My Powerful Warrior.”

And with that she received the reprieve from her yearnings. She felt whole again. And now he was the one putting in the aggression, with each stroke his body met hers with a smack. He leaned forward into her and grabbed a single breast in one hand and fondled it in his grasp as his motion continued uninterrupted. She loved being taken by him, like this she could feel his strength and his power and right now she could feel all of that focused on her. The grip of his hands on her hips pulling her to him with each thrust. The feeling was intoxicating, driving her even further into the depths of pleasure. She could feel the first small spats of orgasm ripple through her body. As they did her body tightened down on the thrusting member and she felt even stronger ever sensation as it worked its magic on her. Her whole body tightened and the muscles began to sputter. From a small moan to a half muffled scream as she orgasmed. Her arms collapsed under he, her cheek and shoulder rested in the sand as he continued his furious movement. Every inch of her felt like lightning was jumping from it. As the orgasm continued to pulse though through her.. Her breath became short and choppy as her body began to relax, a long relieved breath escaped and she collapsed on herself. Markus stopped and just held her as she recovered from all the exertion. As her senses faded back in from the shock and jolts that careened through her body. She could feel herself starting to recover, she turned ans smiled at Markus. She turned her whole body to face him while remaining on her hands and knees, a sly look apon her face. Her skin damp with sweat shimmered in the light of the moon. Her eyes shone bright by that same light, as she crawled toward him her shoulders and hips swaying like some jungle cat prowling her portion of the forest. She crawled till her face met his with a gentle kiss, he remained as he was on his knees this tigress of a woman before him, eyeing him. She reeled up and pressed him sharply on the shoulder and he fell back, she crawled over his body and once again her lips met his. A small growl escaped her lips as she was lost in the game she seemed to be playing. A little kiss and a small bite on his neck, she put her hands on his shoulders and pressed them down trapping him where he lie. She stared into his eyes and did not loose his gaze as she writhed her hips forward and back feeling for him underneath her. Her eyes opened wide as she was once again filled by him. Her pace was initially vigorous and her eyes once again filled with that fiery passion. Her back arched as she ground herself against him. Markus leaned forward to kiss her and she pressed his shoulders harder into the sand. She would have the power this time, she wanted to take him like ha had taken her. Harder and harder she rode him, when he raised a hand to grab her waist she quickly pushed it away and held him down once again, with even more certainty and force. She could tell he was getting closer. For all the resisting he was enjoying himself. He looked up at the woman on top of him her breasts bouncing gently with every time her body came to rest on his, her back arched and the whole time her eyes started down at him. Those eyes, a brilliant sapphire, shining in the light of the moon. She was gorgeous, Markus began to resist more pushing back on her and she stronger than before would press him into the sand. She breathed deeply leaning down growling in a low tone half muffled into a moan by her own pleasure, she moved in as if to hiss him and took ahold of his lip holding it in her teeth, she bit firmly but not enough to make him bleed and pulled away slowly letting out her subtle growl. Markus began to loose his thoughts and started to become lost in the passion of the moment. Following her every stroke with his body but every measure or attempt to gain control was met with force. She felt his body begin to tense under her and she knew he was almost there and she rode faster, grinding him into her with every stroke, he head flew back as she sat on top of him and she let out a excited scream as she felt him explode inside of her. All that he was was pouring into her and she loved every second of it. His body tensed and jerked under her. She had never been as happy or felt as whole as she was in that moment. She herself tensing in orgasm in time with him. As the spasms of their quivering bodies weakened she looked down at him. A grin spread across their faces as he sat up to kiss her. Her tongue met his and they seemed to dance around each other. They held the kiss for what seems to them as forever. She pulled away and he wrapped his arms around her as she leaned into his chest. He fell back and she rested beside him with her head on his arm, both of them just basking in the afterglow of recent events. She lay there listening to him breathe and he just held her in his arms. After a minute he she shifted out from under her and moved to go back to his clothes and gear. She let out a small huff of disappointment as he got up. It was dark and she couldn't see what he was doing.

Markus knew this was the moment that it need to be and he retrieved the small box from its strap on his belt and returned to where Julliana lay, as he walked back he once again admired her naked form, laying on the sand her head propped up on her arm she lay on her side trying to see what he was doing, as he moved back to her she lay back down. He sat down next to her and the carved box. Jullianna couldn't see what he had in his hands only the ornamentation and carving on the box. She felt the cold of metal against her skin. She looked down to see what he had placed gently between her breasts. The handle towards her chin and the scabbard resting between the mounds of flesh. Now she could see it glittering in the moonlight. Reaching down she picked it up that she could get a better look at it. Pulling it free of the scabbard she saw the workmanship of this weapon. Golden spirals inlayed into the blade and intricate carved gold in the hilt, in the handguard of eagle of New Pompeii surrounded by the interlocking circles characteristic of the O'Donovan Lands.

“It is very beautiful,” she said “A work of art without compromising its purpose. Did you find it in the unconquered lands?”

“No Jullianna, I did not find it. Or take it as a trophy, I had it made,... “ his voice trailed off. “For you” his voice jumped back up. “I know it isn't the traditional custom jewelry that the custom calls for. But for you I thought this a much better choice.”

Her eyes opened with surprise, “You mean? You can't mean.”

“Yes, Jullianna I want to marry you. This is my gift, my offer to you.”

She grasped it tightly in both hands and looked down at it. “Such a gift could only come from one who knows me. From one that knows my secrets and would have me still. I would that I would have such a man as my own.” she looked at him and with a tear in her eye and a smile on her face. The look in her eye of a woman who had made up her mind. “Yes I will be your wife, Markus Verotis.”