Claudius lingered at his lounger. His glance was concentrated at the balcony door and he sighed deeply, when his slave pushed through the curtain, to massage his feet and clean his sandals- with her tongue. She was places at his feet like a calm cow, braving the boring telling of her master. He lent back upon the lounger, closed his eyes and began to tell his daily stories about what happened to him.
“Today I thought it would be a silent day. The streets were empty, slave, nobody else was walking around, even no unfrees. I was roaming around the commanders private house, waiting to see him leaving and meet him at the scarlet house, but it wasnt succesful, he obviously stayed at home the whole day. Nah.. I was unlucky with that, slave, because I have important questions to ask him, quiet important for my homestone, our homestone.” His speech was proud and he altered his position at the lounger. He looked over her, the calm cow, pretty but a common slave, nothing special. Trained enough to care for his feet. When he continued quietly, it was not easy for her to listen, because his arian accent came out mouthy. ” After that, when I decided to head home and have you at my feet, somebody else got in my way. Strangers from nowhere you know. A slaver, he told me he came from the jungles. Do you know where that is? It’s so far away that I’d never think about traveling there. Anyway… He was black all over, his skin was as dark as the deepest place in the forests outside.” He gasped and laughed roughly. ” And this black bod offered me the offspring of his slave. She was red-haired and not that bad but I prefer blondes, as you may know. ” He nodded slowly and grabbed a cup of wine, twisting it in his hand.
“I didn’t decline to be friendly and honor him and his work, but I am not really interested in doing this kind of business. If I invest in a girl, then I do because I actually like it..like hehe.. Farida per example.! ” He tought about the odd encounter at the afternoon and recalls the rest of it for his slave: ” and then his employee arrived. A noble Lady, professional scribe and in his house for a long time, when I got it right. She was kinda provoking, like the most Ladies I know, but her fine robe disclosed me, that she is an honored part of out society. And she said something about Ar, she knows Ar, that made her more likeable. ” He pulled his toe out of the cows mouth and grinned widely. ” The slaves were really precious. This slaver has an eye for beauty and grace, and that he didn’t offer me a ware that I would like is almost because he doesn’t know me, I guess.” He snuffled once or twice and placed his hand on his slaves head. She didn’t dare to comment his statements and was glad to hear something from the outside, because she crave out her existence only in the walls of his household, this time at the fort but mostly at Ar.
“And you know what? For me this Lady is interesting. A travelling scribe could know a lot about the ongoing situation in this latitude. ..The slaver asked me to keep an eye on her and protect her. Well, I think a Lady of high calibre like her won’t engage dangerous situations, but I promised to save her, when it’s needed. ” He ended his story with a brief snort and rose from the lounger. He kicked the cow aside like a chair or a crate. It was time to take a bath and return to the blacksmith who still had his gladius. The one he was wearing was just a replacement, used and old.