Sword of Rome by Constance O'Banyon

Author:Constance O'Banyon
Language: eng
Format: mobi
Tags: Romance, Fiction, Historical, General
ISBN: 9780843958225
Publisher: DP
Published: 2007-05-15T00:45:43+00:00

For reasons Quadatus did not understand, he was being solicited by two different factions of powerful men. Marc Antony was the more powerful of the two, but Cassius had his own merits. Quadatus smiled to himself, deciding to play the game from both ends—his loyalty would go with whichever side offered him the most. For the moment the dancing girl in his arms was smiling at him, her skin smelled of some exotic spice and his head was reeling.

Marcellus had returned, and he clapped his hands. “The entertainment is at an end. Leave us, ladies.”

There were moans of disappointment, and some of the men begged Marcellus to let the women stay. But he refused to relent.

“Did you invite me here only to have my greatest wish snatched away?” Antony asked, still playing his part.

“Maybe I just wanted to whet your appetite,” Marcellus replied with bared teeth.

“Do not let the fun end now,” his stepfather said, slurring his words. “It is yet hours before the sun rises.”

Marcellus felt revolted by his mother’s husband, but his voice was smooth when he said, “Queen Cleopatra herself told me I could have use of her dancers any time I wanted. If you would like, I will ask the queen if you can invite the Egyptian dancers to one of your gatherings.” Marcellus watched Quadatus carefully, noting the eagerness on the man’s face. “Would that please you, Stepfather?”

“I may be drunk, but the one thing I am not is a fool. Why would the queen of Egypt do such a favor for me?”

“She wouldn’t. She would do it for me.”

“And the reason …”

“Rome has not taken the queen to its heart. The truth of the matter is that she is trying to woo our senators. Her reasoning is if more people see and understand Egyptian customs, they might be more willing to accept her.”

Antony smiled at Marcellus, sending him a silent message of approval. “I couldn’t have said it better myself.”

Quadatus nodded. “I find that sound reasoning. If I were to have a banquet, say a week from now, would it be possible to have the dancers perform for me? I have been thinking of the little dancer in white—she is hard to forget. I would like to have her perform for my guests.”

“What do you think, Antony—could you ask the queen for a favor?” Marcellus queried, his anger smoldering just below the surface.

Antony smothered a laugh, thinking Marcellus was a quick thinker. “I shall speak to her myself on your stepfather’s behalf. I believe she may well agree.”

Quadatus’s eyes gleamed with expectation as he took another drink of wine, sloshing more on his already stained toga. “This is excellent wine.”

“It’s from my own vineyards,” Marcellus said, staring at Antony over the drunkard’s head. “I’ll send you a case.”

Quadatus’s eyes gleamed even more. His stepson had entertained him gloriously tonight, and one of the most influential men in Rome had befriended him. He glanced around the room at other important senators, men in Caesar’s camp.

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