The Circus Maximus Murders!!! Chapter XII
Originally posted May 25, 2001
Author: Maria Marius [Reposted with permission]

Aelia was the first to break the silence. "Silva, nobody told me you were here. Have you been waiting long?"

"Long enough to see Ammodeus and his crew arrive. Who is he this time?"

"Oh, he appears to think he's Pompeius Magnus just back from subduing the pirates. Or so he would have us believe. I sometimes think that he feigns madness merely to alleviate his boredom."

Silva considered her theory. "Well, as a representative of that particular family, he certainly can't aspire to any political role. The emperor would personally lead him to the nearest hot bath and hand him a dagger."

Aelia smiled primly. "That joke isn't up to your usual standard."

"It's not a joke." He shrugged. "Although I suppose the emperor wouldn't really deal with the problem himself. He'd have your cousin's husband handle matters."

Aelia held her hand palm upward and shook her head. "My cousin is not very happy at the moment." Her expression plainly indicated that Cousin Maria was not the only unhappy woman in Rome. "I was just going upstairs." Aelia turned and then stopped, as if she intended to walk away but thought better of it. "Have you dined yet?"

"I'm very hungry." Aelia looked at him doubtfully. She knew quite well that he must have eaten when he went off duty for the day. "I did have a bite. But that was hours ago," he added hopefully.

Her tentative smile matched his slow grin. They would eat dinner together. It was a start.

Aelia surveyed the triclinium of her private apartment. The wall lamps remained unlit and the room was cast in the flickering shadows of a single oil lamp on the dining table. The repast that met her eye comprised a carefully chosen feast fit for an Epicure.

"I did not order all this. This is not what I asked for at all! I don't understand why they sent all these things." She plucked the lamp from the table and made for the wall sconce to light it, but Silva stopped her with a light touch on her arm.

"Dorigo knew I was here. I suspect he gave a few instructions of his own."

She turned a puzzled face to Silva. "Dorigo? Why would he care what I eat for dinner?"

"I think it's more a question of what WE eat for dinner." He pointed to the spiced oysters and smiled. "Somebody made sure there's honeyed ginger root. And look--pickled eel with boiled eggs!" He smiled. "Your favorite."

Aelia burst out laughing at the old joke. "Chicken with rosemary and coriander too. Heavens. Where's the pounded mandraka root?" She cocked her head and surveyed the room. "The lack of lighting is masterly."

Silva retrieved the lamp from Aelia and placed it on the table. "Dorigo is a man of unsuspected depths."

Still laughing, Aelia gestured for Silva to recline. She poured some white wine into a hammered pewter cup and gave it to him. "Falernian. Your favorite." She reclined beside him and the two began to eat in companionable silence. After awhile, she reached across Silva to pick up the wine flagon once more. The movement brought her mouth close to his cheek. The slow, sweet kiss that inexorably followed left them both breathless.

Silva cradled Aelia in his arms and smoothed the unruly curls that escaped her elaborately plaited coiffure. "You executed that maneuver very well."

She smiled at him. "How do you know it was a maneuver?"

"I've watched Salvia do the same thing."

"Yes, I showed her how. She was an apt pupil." Aelia's smile faded and she regarded him gravely. "Stay with me tonight?"

"You'd have trouble getting me to leave."

As Aelia rose on one elbow to blow out the flame of the table lamp, Silva touched the red coral carving of Fortuna that dangled between her breasts.

"You're wearing the amulet I gave you."

"Always. I never remove it."

Silva couldn't see Aelia's expression, but he could sense her contentment. The rising moon's light shining through the unshuttered window turned her skin pearlescent white as he slipped the silken tunica off her shoulder. She touched his cheek gently. "I've missed you, Silva," she whispered.

"I missed you too."

She pulled him into a warm embrace. "Then we should make up for the lost time." Silva's eager kiss demonstrated his agreement better than words ever could have done.

The fading moon cast ghostly shadows on Aelia as she retrieved her tunica and stola from the parian marble floor. Silva took the garments from her. "Don't get dressed yet. I like you as you are."

She laughed. "But I have a surprise for you and I want to get it!"

"Later." He draped her clothing over the table's edge and pulled her into his arms once more. Aelia curled her body against his, her dark hair spilling onto his chest in a silken wave. Silva breathed in the heady scent of attar of roses and musk as he embraced her tightly. They were silent for a long time, content to rest together and wait for the sun to rise.

Eventually he stirred. "I need to go soon."

"I know." She kissed his mouth before resting her head on his shoulder once again. "But you must have your ticket before you leave. It's for today."

He froze. "Ticket?"

"Yes. And I want to see your face when I tell you what it is!" She sat at his side, looking down into his hazel eyes. "Today marks the beginning of the Megalesian Games. I know that you must be planning on going already--but I have wonderful seats for the races. Consular quality! And unlike the arena games, we can sit together at the races!"

Aelia smiled happily, anticipating his pleasure. But he wasn't pleased at all. That was instantly apparent. "What's wrong, Silva? You want to attend the races, don't you?" Her brow puckered in a puzzled frown. "It's the first day." Her voice was almost plaintive.

"I have to work," he blurted. He stood and began to dress. "Of course I want to see the races. But I have to work. We'll go some other time. But I have a big case on right now." He looked away, unable to bear the bewildered hurt and disappointment he saw in her eyes.

Silva busied himself with his footgear and so he didn't notice the changes in her expression as she parsed his words. It was one thing to visit her discretely at the Sign of the Owl. Obviously, it was quite another thing to be seen with her at the Circus Maximus. Publicly associating with her was not good for his career. She knew it. And she wished desperately that she hadn't put him to the necessity of snubbing her.

When he looked at her again, Aelia had pulled her tunica over her head and was twisting her hair into a loose knot at the nape of her neck. She jabbed a single pin into the shining mass. "I understand what you're saying to me. There is no need to belabor the point." Her voice was as calm and melodic as ever, but her smile was gone, her expression shuttered. She walked swiftly to the door and opened it. "If you will excuse me, I have things that need my attention. Marthrax can escort you to the street."

She was gone before he could say another word to her.

© 2001 Maria Marius. All rights reserved.