Free Queen of the Night by Paul Doherty Page A

it, Claudia?'
    She walked across and stared up at the man she loved. 'I don't believe in anything, Murranus, I just believe that we must seize the day and enjoy life. Gods, temples, priests, offerings, what difference do they make?' She gestured towards Theodore, still kneeling on the steps. 'What do you think of him?'
    'An actor,' Murranus laughed, 'a man who always plays parts. He's definitely got a delicate stomach.'
    'I wonder,' Claudia answered, 'whether it's a delicate stomach or if he's nervous. I don't think our actor is the stuff heroes are made of.'
    She noticed how Sesothenes was now leaning over Theodore, listening as the actor whispered something. The priest nodded. A fresh incense boat was pushed on to the altar steps before him and Claudia groaned, but then Theodore bowed, rose to his feet and walked back towards them. He rubbed his stomach and smiled.
    'I feel much better now,' he said. 'Shall we go?'
    Claudia walked towards the door of the temple, then turned abruptly.
    'Theodore,' she said as she walked back, 'you've just given thanks to your lady goddess. Here, in her temple, tell me the truth! Did you see the face of one of those attackers?'
    'Oh yes!' Theodore's voice rose almost to a yelp. 'I tell you I did!'
    Walking out of the temple, Claudia stood on the steps and watched the makeshift stalls coming down. 'The day is nearly done,' she murmured. 'It's time to return to the mischief of the She Asses.'

Chapter 3
    Hic vivimus ambitiosa paupertate omnes.
    Here we all live in a state of pretentious poverty.
    Juvenal, Satires
     
    Antonia, daughter of Senator Carinus, squatted in the corner. Despite the blindfold, she'd learned where the cracked water jug stood, the bowl of dried bread and soft fruit as well as the latrine pot. The chain binding her was long enough to reach these, as well as allowing her to stand and walk. She had been blindfolded since she'd been captured, yet she was aware of people coming and going. She'd stretched up and found that the ceiling was high, hence the coolness; the walls were rough. One thing did terrify Antonia – she had regained her wits and desperately recalled what she'd heard about these abductions. All the other victims had survived, so she knew she wasn't going to be killed. What frightened her was not the future but the immediate, a deep suspicion that she was being very closely watched. She quickly realised that her captives owned mastiffs, powerful animals. She had brushed by one of them when she'd been brought here and heard their slobbering when they'd been fed. But there was something else: one of her captors was deeply interested in her. On occasion she'd heard his heavy breathing, then his hard hand had plunged down the loose tunic and roughly felt her breast, followed by a grunt of pleasure.
    Antonia backed into the corner and moaned softly. The man was back watching her now. She heard a sound and tried to move but a hard bristly cheek brushed hers,- the voice was coarse, the breath reeking of wine.
    'Don't shout or scream, Antonia.'
    She felt the cords of her tunic being loosened, and it was pulled away.
    'Don't scream,' the voice whispered, 'or you die. I'm just here for a little fun. Oh, what lovely breasts, ripe and full. Go on, Antonia, turn round.'
    She whimpered, shaking.
    'Turn around!'
    She felt the tip of a dagger against her throat. She turned round and felt the man press hard against her, gasping with pleasure. Another sound, a slight groan, someone choking; a warm liquid splashed the back of her legs. She whirled round, kicking with her legs, lips parted to scream but she could not. A hand seized her gently by the chin, and this time the voice was soft.
    'Antonia, don't be frightened. He shouldn't have done that, but now he is dead. I cut his throat!'
    A wet cloth was pushed into her hand.
    'Clean yourself, Antonia. Don't worry, your throat is safe as long as you do exactly what we say…'
     
    Once back at the She Asses tavern, Claudia locked