Emperor's Lion by Alex Gough

Author:Alex Gough [Gough, Alex]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Canelo
Published: 2022-06-15T00:00:00+00:00

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The domus of Tituria’s new adoptive family did not have quite the grandeur of her father’s palatial dwelling, though it was in the same district on the Esquiline. Nevertheless, it demonstrated clearly that the owner had more wealth than Silus could ever aspire to. The Greek statuary in the atrium certainly looked authentic and antique to his inexpert eye. The ancestral masks around the walls also spoke of a respectable lineage rather than some parvenu freedman who had made a fortune trading olives or slaves. And the ornamental carp in the impluvium that swam in lazy circles, mouths gaping in the hope that morsels would be tossed their way, suggested money to spare on luxuries.

Silus looked down at a particularly curious fish that was watching him. He bent over and mimicked it, making his mouth into an O and opening and closing it with popping sounds.

‘Am I interrupting?’

Silus spun round, already flushing with embarrassment, but before he could speak, Tituria had charged into him and wrapped her arms around him. Silus was not a short man, but Tituria had grown considerably since he had last seen her. The top of her head clunked painfully into his chin and he winced, but he kept a grip on her, hugging her tight for a long moment before putting his hands on her shoulders and taking a step back to get a good look at her.

‘Wow, look at the size of you.’ It had been a long time since he had last seen her. ‘How old are you now? Eleven?’

‘I had my twelfth birthday last month.’

Twelve. Of marriageable age, potentially. He hoped that she was given a chance to grow up before being given to a man. In his eyes she was still a child, little older than his daughter Sergia would have been, had she lived.

He swallowed. His eyes were becoming moist, and he found himself facing the sudden dilemma of wiping them, or risking the tears overflowing down his cheeks, making his emotions obvious in either case. He was saved by the yip-yip of an excitable little dog. A young female slave had entered the atrium with Issa in her arms. Her face was turned away, nose wrinkled in disgust at the remarkable smells emanating from the tiny pet. Issa wriggled, and she hastily put her down. Issa ran over to Silus and jumped up at him, her feet resting on the top of his shins. He reached down and picked her up and cuddled her, stroking her between the ears while she rubbed her head on him. She really did stink, from both ends. She was grey and her eyes were cloudy with cataracts. She had to be fifteen years old now, but she was still full of life and character.

‘She’s missed you,’ said Tituria.

‘I’ve missed her too,’ said Silus. ‘And you.’

Tituria smiled. ‘Good. Are you staying for dinner?’

‘Am I invited?’

‘I think that could be arranged.’

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