Pallas turned and shrugged perplexedly in answer to Hermokrates’ enquiring gaze while Titus dragged him along the narrow alley leading to the Triangular Forum. The Greek saw the old man rising laboriously and shuffling over to the shop to close it for day, before he was pulled around the corner and lost sight of his former guardian. The Roman deftly wound his way through the throng of people crowding the area around the market stalls, never loosening his grip around his beloved’s wrist, determined to reach his goal, whatever that was.

Pallas still felt dazed, his relief of finally having shared his darkest secrets with his lover mingling with the uneasy, yet strangely soothing feeling that things were taken out of his hands now. But all these emotions were dominated by elation – his friend had obviously not abandoned him, had still faith in him. Apart from feeling too ashamed to admit the extent of his poverty, he’d also acted selfishly when he’d made the short-sighted decision to keep the truth from Titus.

Though Titus most likely would never consider himself even particularly well-off, in Pallas’ eyes he was enormously rich. Of the few people he knew, the Roman was the only one who was able to live the leisurely life of a gentleman, free to spend his days as he pleased, living off the family fortune. Telling such a man he was about to choose a beggar as companion was surely enough to avert his interests – and Pallas had so wished to be with him! He’d never cared about Titus’ fortune, at least not in a sense that he’d regarded it as a possible way out of his poverty. Meek and shy as he was, the young Greek also possessed a strong sense of pride that forbade worming his way into anyone’s purse, by whatever means.

Instead he’d simply accepted the fact that the man he’d so utterly fallen in love with lived in an entirely different world, and he had simply hoped their worlds wouldn’t drift apart too soon. Though he still couldn’t comprehend why the sparkling Roman should feel drawn to him, let alone want or even desire him, Pallas had pushed these thoughts aside, for once giving in to the treacherous flames of hope and wonder.

Pallas had to struggle to keep pace with Titus, who’d adopted an even brisker pace as soon as they’d left the crowded forum behind, his long legs covering much more ground than the considerably smaller Greek’s did. By now Pallas knew where they were headed; he’d walked the way to Titus’ apartment many times during the last months, but never as fast as today.

When Titus was momentarily slowed down by the masses crowding the other forum, the Greek finally found time to contemplate the meaning of his lover’s ominous words to Hermokrates. He didn’t dare asking, the Roman seemed determined on something, already laying out the plans in his head while pacing through the town at this insane speed. “Affairs have called Pallas away.” Well, that much was obvious – Titus himself was the ‘affairs’. “We will re-open with a whole new outlook.” Apparently Titus planned to have the bookshop closed for a while – unthinkable! Had Titus not been listening? He needed the money! Having crossed the forum, the Roman picked up speed again and Pallas was forced to focus again on not colliding with too many people, feeling like a driverless chariot drawn by a racehorse, as his lover dragged him along the street.

Only when they had reached the inside of the Roman’s apartment did he loosen his grip around Pallas’ wrist. The Greek winced and furtively rubbed the spots where his lover’s fingers had cut the blood off, suppressing a moan as the feeling started to return with prickling pain. “Laris!” Titus shouted, and when nobody answered his summoning he steered Pallas into the main room before he went in search of his elusive slave. “We will re-open with a whole new outlook.” The Greek muttered to himself, still rubbing his wrist. Then it occurred to him in the same moment that the Roman entered the room, casually balancing two jugs and cups in his hands. Pallas spun around and stared at him wide-eyed.

“Titus, you said we would re-open the shop. WE?”