Wolf Whistle

High, up on the Capitol, in the shadow of the mighty temples of Jupiter and Juno and behind the portico that links them, you will see, on the left, two wooden gates. This is the entrance to the deceptively spacious home of the aedile in charge of the forthcoming games. Long and narrow, it abuts the libraries, school and assembly hall that are an integral part of the temple complex and on most days the chant of monies, weights and measures from the classrooms and all the comings and goings that these establishments entailed tended to override the gentle hum of industry from within the aedile’s house. But not today. The Megalesian Games kicked off in less than three days and the run-up was proving a nightmare.

The aedile, had he hair left to pull out, would literally have had his hands full. ‘What do you mean, the sponsors won’t stretch to another two grand?’ he shrieked to his cowering minions. ‘How can five charioteers all go down with the fever at once? Where are my lions? By the gods, man, I ordered tubas, not cymbals!’

His reaction to the news that only half the scenery had been painted drowned even the honking from Juno’s sacred geese, so if you were a slave in this household and you had a quadran’s worth of sense, you’d steer clear of the master for a while. Zygia planned to do just that.

‘You’re still in bed,’ Severina shrieked, returning to the box of a room that they shared. ‘Zigs, he’ll go spare.’ Instead of throwing the covers aside, Zygia stretched lazily. ‘He won’t notice with that lot going on. It’ll be like three days holiday for us.’

‘For you, you mean.’ Severina wagged a long slim finger. ‘One of these times, you’ll push it too far, and don’t say you weren’t warned.’

Propped up on one elbow, the swarthy slave girl watched Severina run a comb through her hair. Such long, fair hair. When it caught the light, it was like a waterfall of molten gold cascading down her back. And such beautiful blue eyes, shining with life, and a complexion translucent with health. Zygia sighed. She sure was a stunner, was Sevvi.

The smell of baking filtered through from the kitchens below. Freshly baked rolls, pancakes and spicy, plump sausages. Pans clanked on the gridirons, there was stirring and scraping and chopping. She glanced round the tiny room. No artists, they’d made the most of it by sneaking in paint and covering the plaster in blues and purples and lavender and splashing out on a portrait or two. It was as close to home as either of them would ever get.

‘Relax, Sevvi, and come back to bed.’ Zygia snuggled lower under the covers.

Severina giggled then laid down her comb. ‘Are you sure we won’t get into trouble? He has a spiteful temper.’

‘All bark and no bite. You leave the master to me.’

‘Well, bunking off we might be, but…’ When Severina smiled, it was like the sun bursting through the rainclouds. ‘You’ve still got to get up, you lazy piglet.’

As she lunged for the counterpane, Zygia’s hand clamped over her wrist. ‘Excuse me. Did you say piglet?’ The blonde girl whipped away the sheets with her free hand. ‘Lazy fat piglet, if you prefer.’

‘Sevvi, that does it!’ Zygia jumped out of bed. ‘I’ll get you for that!’

She dived towards Severina, who squealed in delight. ‘Piglet, Ziglet, can’t catch me.’

Round and round the tiny room they darted and chased, over the bed, under it, screeching at the tops of their voices until finally Zygia brought down her quarry on the couch.

‘Gotcha.’

Severina lay on her back, panting. ‘Told you were lazy,’ she puffed. ‘I thought you’d never catch me.’

Zygia’s mouth closed over the blonde’s. ‘Liar,’ she whispered hoarsely, unhooking the drawstring on Severina’s tunic and exposing a pretty, pert breast. ‘Beautiful, sexy, wonderful liar.’ She blew lightly on the skin and watched it flutter. ‘Have I told you lately.’ Her nightgown slid to the floor. ‘Just how much I love you?’

Severina gasped as Zygia’s tongue flicked over her nipple. ‘I love you, too. So much, sometimes it hurts.’ Zygia felt her stiffen, and when she looked up, Severina’s eyes were filled with tears. ‘You won’t leave me, will you, Zigs? Not…not without telling me first?’

The older girl jerked back sharply. ‘What on earth made you say that?’

Severina sniffed back her tears. ‘The way you’ve been behaving lately. Secretive. Biting my head off. Little things which…add up.’

‘Oh.’ Zygia sat back, tucked one foot under her thigh and spiked her fingers through her short dark curls.

Severina gulped nervously. ‘Is there someone else?’ The look of horror on her lover’s face answered for her. ‘So, what then?’ She leaned forward impatiently. ‘Zigs, if you’re in trouble…’ The blood drained from her beautiful face. ‘Sweet Janus, it’s this, isn’t it?’

She ran her finger round the outline of the dragon tattooed on Zygia’s arm and felt a chill of pure terror when the dark girl nodded.