A Mixture of Madness, Book II of The Bow of Heaven by Andrew Levkoff

?’”
    “Don’t mind him,” Livia said. “Alexander is a bit of a prude.”
    “That’s so sweet.” Sweet. Just the sort of compliment every man lays awake nights hoping to hear.
    “You needn’t worry,” lady Cornelia said with an impish smile. “It’s not like we were considering stealing any trade from the working girls. But occasionally, it is fun to watch, and to be watched. And don’t think I didn’t see, Livia.”
    “See what?”
    “That muscular beauty with the hairy chest in the game next to ours —he’s been eyeing you since we came onto the palaestra .”
    “You are sadly mistaken, my lady.”
    “You know it’s true. And I told you not to call me that.” I don’t know which was worse, Livia’s blush or my inability to keep my head from whipping around to spy out this rival. Why can’t I realize my mistakes before I make them? As I returned my gaze to the young domina , the heat began to rise in my own cheeks. Lady Cornelia was beaming up at me with a look that said, ‘I know all your secrets.’ “Besides,” she said aloud, “the Numa is perfectly safe.”
    “That’s just it, lady Cornelia. Today, the streets are not safe. I am on an urgent errand for my master, accompanied by several men-at-arms. I will see you both safely home.”
    “Nonsense. My man waits in the changing room. Livia’s never had a massage, and I mean to treat her. After which, I shall keep her company while she does some shopping.”
    “Go, Alexander. I’ve discovered an herbalist only a few streets away who carries waneb root. I promise, I will let you know the moment I am home safe and sound.”
    I hated leaving her, but what could I do? If I had found her alone, I could have ordered her to come with us. But now, in the presence of the patrician’s daughter, I was powerless. I bid them farewell and walked toward the rear of the balnea , skirting the empty pool. I found my own escorts standing in the hallway just outside the calidarium . Betto saw me approach and said, “There you are. Say, was that—”
    “No. It was not. Why aren’t you in the calidarium ?”
    “Two reasons,” Valens said as he and Malchus joined us. “One, it’s hot, and two, he’s not in there.”
    Malchus asked, “Weren’t you just talking to—”
    “No, he wasn’ t,” Betto said imperiously.
    Malchus shrugged. “The tribune is through the calidarium in the sweat room. But we didn’t go in.”
    “ It’s a small room. You can’t miss him.”
    I ignored Valens attempt at a joke which I did not comprehend and said, “All right. I’ll be out in a minute. Flavius, you come with me.”
    “Can’t we wait till he’s finished,” Betto whined.
    “I don’t know what you’re talking about, but no, there’s no time. Drusus, can you see if there’s a back way out of here? And Valens, you wait for us right here. By right here, I mean nowhere near the massage rooms. Is that clear?”
    “Can he talk to us like that?” Valens asked.
    The Mighty Malchus said, “He can if I say he can. Do what he says. If there’s trouble, then I’m senior legionary in command. Is that clear?”
    Betto said, “Better you than me.”
    We separated, and Betto and I crossed the calidarium . It was both hot and humid in this domed room, about twenty-five feet in diameter, its circular walls painted deep blue below the midpoint, rusty red above. To the left, steam rose from a sunken soaking tub in which two women lounged and perspired, eyes closed, backs against the edge, arms stretched along the rim in watery crucifixion. A cold water fountain bubbled in the center of the room to refresh those who required respite from the fires warming both floor and walls. From the heat radiating up through my thin sandals, my feet knew we must be very near the furnace room. To the right, a semi-circle of wooden benches hugged the wall, offering the only non-heated surface. Taking refuge there were two older men deep in conversation and one young woman,