Free The Emperor's Silver: Agent of Rome 5 by Nick Brown Page A

go.’
    ‘May I be excused, sir? I must prepare your bed.’
    ‘Of course, Simo.’
    As the Gaul left, Cassius pointed at Indavara. ‘Best start thinking what you’re going to say when they come. You need to work on your technique. I’m going to keep quiet.’
    Indavara pointed at the wine jug. ‘Pass me that. Quick.’

    The girls took a long time to tidy up. By the time they meekly ventured out on to the terrace, Cassius’s three-mug rule was long forgotten, though he’d at least managed to limit Indavara’s intake. Much of the intervening period had been spent giving the bodyguard some hints and reminding him that women liked to talk, especially about themselves. Cassius knew from experience that lowly girls in particular appreciated a friendly ear and a pleasant respite from their labours.
    Kitra was clearly the more forward of the two. She came out with a fresh jug of wine and two mugs for her and her sister, who seemed reluctant to sit down or make eye contact with the men. As she clearly represented more of a challenge, Cassius stood up and took her hand.
    ‘And your name?’
    ‘Hanina,’ she said quietly.
    ‘Ah yes, it means gracious. Surely one so named will accept our friendly invitation.’
    A slight smile.
    ‘Please.’ Cassius sat down opposite Indavara. Hanina elegantly lifted her tunic as she sat beside him. Her curly black hair was identical to her sister’s but she had rather more delicate features and a slimmer figure. Cassius would have classed neither girl as pretty but they were both pleasant enough, especially with all that hair and that smooth, dark Syrian skin.
    Kitra was standing at the front of the terrace, peering up at the balcony of the house next door.
    ‘Come and join us,’ said Cassius.
    ‘I’m just checking that old mother Adelphe is in bed. She loves to tell tales on us to Master Neokles. We must be quiet.’
    Indavara began to look twitchy when Kitra sat beside him. As usual, he pressed down his hair over his disfigured left ear. Cassius had told him countless times that his other physical attributes more than compensated but he remained self-conscious about it. Kitra poured wine for herself and her sister and topped up the men’s mugs.
    ‘Thank you,’ said Indavara.
    ‘Kitchen all done, then?’ asked Cassius.
    ‘At last,’ said Kitra.
    ‘Is Neokles a good master, Hanina?’
    ‘Yes, sir.’
    ‘I told your sister, please call me Cassius.’ He gestured across the table. ‘And that is Indavara. Don’t let all the scars put you off, he’s just been in a few scraps.’
    Indavara looked down at his wine.
    ‘He was just telling me how much he enjoyed dinner,’ added Cassius.
    Kitra smiled.
    Cassius stretched out a leg and tapped Indavara with his foot.
    The bodyguard looked up at the girls. ‘I did. It was lovely, thank you.’
    ‘Hanina’s the real cook,’ said Kitra. ‘She did the bream.’
    ‘Very tasty it was too,’ said Cassius. He then waited for Indavara to weigh in.
    ‘It was,’ said the bodyguard after an awkward pause. ‘Very … lemony.’
    Cassius rolled his eyes. ‘Neokles is a lucky man. Personally I’d pay you girls just to brighten up the place.’
    Kitra smiled again. Cassius reckoned the two of them could have quite a bit of fun together but as she was the friendlier of the two sisters he would leave her for Indavara. He turned to Hanina.
    ‘Does Neokles give you much time off?’
    ‘About an hour in the afternoon, sir, yes. When there’s not so much to do.’
    ‘Cassius, please. And what do you do when you’re free?’
    Hanina looked at her sister. ‘Sometime we go to see our mother, sometimes we go to the temple.’
    ‘Ah, which temple’s that?’
    Cassius had never met a girl he couldn’t get talking and as Hanina began to warm up, the other two were left to make their own efforts. Cassius listened in.
    ‘Where are you from?’ asked Kitra.
    ‘Pietas Julia,’ said Indavara.
    ‘Where’s that?’
    ‘A long way