The villa ran full with men and woman of worthy note, they leaned on low couch, half-drunk from the dark wine already poured into their shallow cups. A light wave of music fuelled their intoxication, and their laughter rang sharp, bouncing off the marble wall.
A man with a long flute played just loud enough the pull everyone's attention to the center, besides him, another plucked his lyre so soft it felt like whispering silk.
The candled lanterns danced across the polished floor, making every steps feel like a glow on its own...
A woman in blue silky stolas and half-drunk flicked her hand sending a servant running over with a tray of figs so full, they looked ready to burst. Their sweet smell, mixed with sharp spice of roasted meat, and I could almost taste it before it is served.
At that moment two people stepped into the open atrium. Gathering people's attention, I felt multiple eyes slid across me like sharp fingertips. Their gaze never lingered, just enough to measure and move on. On ahead were bare bodied woman with dark shackles around their necks, their bosom swayed gracefully for the entertainment of their betters.
Just then a middle-aged man dressed in silky white tunica and a red toga draped over it walked to our position. As he walked he packed a large section of his toga, allowing it to flow over his right arm, from his demeanor one would assume he was a man who held gold in favor.
"Ennius Linnaeus Moirai, you made it"
'Ennius Linnaeus Moirai was my uncle's name.' Seeing the middle-aged man approach, she stood maintaining her potion. Both men quickly took each other's arms.
"As the city's minister, it is only natural that I were to answer the magisters call" Linnaeus answered with a pale smile, as he gripped firmly onto the other man's arms. Pausing a bit. He added.
"I'm sure you still hold my niece Polarity to memory" Linnaeus said. Putting her to introduction, the man on the other hand beamed in surprise, one would assume he recognize her from distant memory one he could still recall.
Polarity on the other had barely any recognition of the man. As the city's minister, her uncle Linnaeus held council to a multitude of Idrissians on a daily basis. It would be considered tiresome to hold all of them to heart. But still she forced a smile out of courtesy.
"Ahh... Lady Polarity" He man marveled, as though caught in his own breath, he took her left hand before planting a gentle on kiss on its rear.
"How fine you have grown" He added, looking at Polarity's entirety, Polarity was wearing a pale milky white stolas that was barely visible beneath the heavier green folds draped over her body, the outer dress fell in long and careful layers pinned at the shoulders and lightly slipped to her shoulders as she moved.
Polarity nodded slightly at the man's gesture. After that the man turned his attention back to the minister. "Linnaeus, the magister would soon be making his appearance"
"Polarity, why don't you find yourself in company of another while Basha and I discuss affairs of mutual concern" Having said this, the minister drifted into the crowd.
Polarity watched her uncle get dragged away by the old man. Now alone, surrounded by pales drunkard laughter, and music she find wrecking the mood. She looked up at the open air it was evening, the sky was beginning to darken making the twinkling stars starts to become visible, and then she filled her gaze with the surrounding, Laeta was nowhere to be found.
Polarity released a slight chuckle, knowing her, she would be in a secluded spot having her fill of the day. She didn't have to search for too long as her quickly eyes caught something scuffling in a dark corner.
Polarity allowed her legs carried her and her sandals fell to march. She arrived just in time to witness a man whispered something into to the ear of a young woman with long blonde hair, before grabbing hold of her by neck and pressing her against the wall, he then slowly press his hand against her thighs, raising her gown up, his hand made its way underneath her garment, a soft moan escaped her already watering lips, as her eyes flew wide open. Despite the man's advances it looked as though the blond haired woman was not getting enough, she fell to position, pushing her hips down allowing man's wiggling fingers sink in deeper, rocking back and forth.
"Ahem" a slight coughed hand cut her off her pleasure time. It was at this moment that they finally noticed a new presence. Her breath swallowed, thinning out as she struggled to find her fitting. "Polarity? What in the name of Idris are you doing here" Laeta, muttered amidst her haggard breath.
"This is a gathering in your fathers honor" Polarity said in subtle disappointment. In her haze of pleasure, she had actually forgotten where she was for a moment, after regaining her sense. She quickly fixed her scattered garment. She then turned to the man.
"You may leave for now."
"Yes, domina" the man walked off. Polarity couldn't help but size him up, he had a hulking figure, and well defined muscles, if she remembered correctly that was just as polarity liked her men. She turned her attention back to the woman.
"It's your father's birthday, could have a bit of dignity" Polarity said in annoyance. Looking at the young woman before me. Laeta was the same age as Polarity, both of them had been acquainted since they were children curtsey of their father's friendship.
Laeta rolled her eyes, "As though you would fare any better'
Polarity shook her head at her words, she wasn't wrong. However it stands as a misunderstanding that would never be cleared.
I had played the role of Polarity quite well, no one seems to suspect a thing thus far. However Laeta was the closest Polarity had to a sister, she was the hardest to fool.
'I myself, a stranger in this world, had grown accustomed to this woman's presence, she held a special place in Polarity's heart I could feel it.' Just as I was about to say something, a tinging sound rang out.
"Come, my father is about to make another boring speech"
"I see you didn't take my word to heart…"
…
"My fellow idirisians" A man with gray white hair stood in the middle of the atrium, he was wearing a white tonic and a blue toga, next to him was a woman of equal luxury, she looked slightly younger than the man. Her yellow blonde hair was arranged neatly with fine ornament. The woman bore a great resemblance to Laeta. The husband and wife stood hand in hand, as the man continued.
"I am delighted to your arrived presence on my sixtieth birth year. Eat and drink your fill, what I have, I share with you on this day. Your presence is the greatest gift I receive."
The crowd raised their cups to the man gesture.
"Where is your daughter" The magister whispered to his wife, his voice was audible enough for people to hear.
"Right here father"
I looked to my side, Laeta was gone, now she was standing next to her parents, the magister looked at his daughter in frustration before turning to his wife. "Keep her in line"
Just then a commotion broke out, as armed guards in leathery armor dragged a group of men into the hall, bloodied and chained, the men looked broken and starved, and their bounds digging into their flesh.
'Are those…'
"These are the rebels that seek to challenge the might of the republic, we would make an example out of them on this day" the magister, stepped forward to clear the air.
'By Idris, it is truly them'
The Idrissians Empire ruled the entire mid-world, however the continent is unimaginably vast, making it impossible for the senate to spread its roots across the only landmass in the world. Every so often, the empire would be met with resistance, but they would be met with harsh resistance.
The magister nodded to his men, and they quickly string one of the men up, too much to the surprise of his comrades, who were already shanking in fear of their eminent fate.
"This would serve as a reminder to all who would stand against the might of Idris" the magister grabbed took hold of a sword, cutting dip into the man's flesh, a pale white bone became visible, blood pooled beneath him, rushing through the slope and into the pool in the middle of the atrium.
Laughter filled the room, the magister handed the iron sword, to another man, who stepped forwards, "Be sure not to cut too deep, I would have everyone take turns"
The Magister was known to be a ruthless and cunning man, it was due to this that he had no rivals. He took a step back. The other man now holding the sword went up, and stabbed the rebel in-between the rib.
The man winced in pain, by this time it was un-known if he was alive or dead, some of fellow rebels were already spilling their guts. Wanting to curry favor from the magister more and more people stepped up. And like so what was supposed to be a birthday gathering quickly turned into an execution. Very quickly another rebel was put to death. By now the open pool in the middle of the atrium had turned into a miniature river of blood.
"You fucking cunts" Just then one of the rebel shouted, looking at people in the room, seeing how his men had been slaughtered. Just as the words left his mouth, one of them men in leathery armored struck the rebel, causing his teeth to clatter in the marbled floor.
"Cease your tongue rebel"
Hearing the man curse at him the magister was quite surprise, he released a hollowed laugh, 'String him up next'
However at that moment, stepped out of the crowds, 'With the magister permission I would like to make purchase of this one' the man was young but well dressed.
The magister looked at the man doubtfully, doubtfully, "For what purpose" He inquired.
"I don't know if the magister knows this, but I'm a lanista"
"I think it would be a waste for this one to die this day, he looked strong and well built, I think he would be well suited for gladiatorial combat"
"Very well" The magister nodded, after sweeping his eyes through the crowd. Gladiatorial fights was becoming mainstream, and people paid huge sum to watch. Calcutta is just a level two city, among the vast womb of mother Idris. Perhaps through his support to this new sport would be for the betterment of his city, and would help him retain his position come the new election.
As much as he held power in this magistrate, he knew his limits, and the people in this room helped him secured that power, they would hesitate to throw him to mud if he were to directly go against their interest.
And as if the rest of the crowd had been holding it in, the birthday gathering, turned execution quickly turned into a bidding war.