Agnes Smith
WHEN IN ROME
Part III

848 A.D.

Rome

.........


[Agnes]

"Thank you Sister Donna," replies when the supplies are handed out.
"Maybe one day I'll help you to see Rome again," she adds with a smile.



She sits quietly in the cart, watching the route so that she can retrace it, 
and thinking of what she has to do when she gets back to Rome.

Visiting Lucius is first on her list, then home. Then she'll check on 
Antonella, and finally the office.

<><><><><>

[GM]

The eternal city greets you indifferently, quite oblivious to your absence 
of the past week. But something has definitely changed, as you learn 
when you arrive at Lucius' estate.


His servants are packing everything, and the house is being cleaned 
out. After asking around a bit, you confirm your worst fears, and the 
predictions of your mysterious abductors- Lucius Postumus, known to 
mortals as a property magnate and a scholar of minor reknown, was 
found murdered in his own home four days ago. Apparently the intruder 
(of whom no trace has been found) snuck in during a sudden 
thunderstorm. Lightning even struck Lucius' own home, damaging it 
considerably. His servants, and the authorities who came to investigate, 
were quite puzzled that nothing was stolen, and speculation exists that 
this was actually an assassination, the result of some business dealings 
Lucius may have had with unscrupulous partners. Certainly it was a 
bizarre assassination- most assassins prefer a quick knife between the 
ribs, or across the throat, rather than going to the trouble of decapitating 
their victim.


He left most of his considerable wealth to his servants, freeing all his 
slaves and giving them a stipend on which they can live comfortably for 
the rest of their lives.

You didn't expect he'd leave anything to you, but when the servants 
learn who you are, someone brings you a small scroll. "He did specify 
that Agnes of Northumbria was to be given this if she still lived in Rome 
when he died," the man says.

Along the top of the scroll is written, in Lucius' neat writing, "A list of 
names, of some modest historical value."

The actual list, however, is unreadable. Looking over it, you see a long 
list of words written in Latin letters....but the words make no sense.

"Ghthreak ahffuua ehaavn ahhk lpwor, daikh 318 ada ana 187 dja."
"dhfhk Hallw asnc jaepa 9183 adjj, ajdk a 1884 diwu jkj 99."
"aThey, adj 1399."

And so on. If it's some foreign language, it's not one you've ever seen 
before, and if it's an attempt to transcribe the sounds of another 
language with Latin letters, the language must tie its speakers' tongues 
in knots.


There seems to be nothing else you can do here. You return to your 
home, and find that luckily, no one has ransacked it in your absence. 
Your rent is due today, though, so no doubt the landlord will be coming 
around soon.


To your surprise, Antonella is not home. The servant who answers the 
door looks at you in shock. "Senora Agnes!" he exclaims.

"Our lady Antonella is looking for you! She has been going out every 
day, to your home and workplace, despairing because of your 
disappearance! She's been most distraught, and-" he lowers his voice, 
"fighting bitterly with her father. She actually disobeyed his express 
command this morning, when she left, and he is furious."

"Renato!" you hear Dominus Gallini roar. "Who's that!" The servant 
turns a bit pale.

<><><><><>

[Agnes]

She looks at the scroll Lucius has left her.
She cannot read it, but she knows what it says. She tells herself she 
must do the same one day. Carefully rerolling it she tucks it away safely, 
and sets off for home. As she goes, she considers where the scroll 
ought to go. She was as fragile a receptacle of the knowledge as Lucius. 
Maybe a monastery or a convent. But then Peter had allowed himself to 
be drawn out of a monastery, and any knowledge secured there would 
possibly have been lost. Kemal? Techo? They were as secure as 
anywhere else. 


Home again she changes out of the clothes she has worn for a week.
**They could have let me get a change of clothes** she tells herself, and 
then remembers her stubborn resistance in the cave. **Maybe not.**

She checked her cache of coins, and satisfied that they were still there, 
set off to see Antonella. She was glad she had written that note to 
Antonella when she had visited Lucius with the note she had received. 
**Hopefully, since the note had said that I was going to be away for a 
week or so Antonella wouldn't have become too agitated. It had only 
been a week that I'd been away ...** she sighs to herself, **plus the 
travel, and the time in the cave...  Ah, well she's probably not noticed I'm 
gone yet.**


She makes her way to the Gallinis'. Agnes knows the rent man is due, 
but he can wait.

She is a bit shocked, and humbled, that Antonella has been so worried 
about her.
She shout of her father lets her know that this is not a situation she 
wants to face. "Thank you, I'll go," she hurriedly whispers. She ducks 
round the side of the door, so that she can't be seen, and hurries away.
**Most undignified,** she tells herself, **but I am too old to take what 
was coming if I can help it.**

She decides to visit work, and then her house, then Antonella's church, 
and then the baths. Even if she didn't see the fool girl, she hoped that 
she'd been around her enough to sense her from outside a building.

<><><><><>

[GM]

You've never been able to sense Antonella at a distance the way you 
can a full immortal...you only get that odd sense of her predestiny when 
you're in close proximity.


However, as it happens, you find her at the next place you go 
looking....the Savorino warehouse.


No sooner do you enter the gloomy warehouse, than you hear voices in 
low conversation. Coming around the corner into the little nook where 
your office is located, you see Antonella and Dino. Antonella is standing 
in front of your desk, with her hand resting on the ledger. She looks 
disconsolate, staring off into space, while Dino stands nearby, saying in 
a placating tone, "...be unusual, but if she left you a note- why she'd give 
YOU a note and not her employers, I don't quite understand, but 
nonetheless-" his voice breaks off when he sees you.

Antonella's head jerks around, and her eyes widen.

"AGNES!" she practically screeches.


Then she lunges forward and throws her arms around you, almost 
bowling you over. Sobs wrack her body, and she clings to you like a 
frightened child. Behind her back, Dino's mouth just gapes open.

<><><><><>

[Agnes]

"I'm okay Antonella." 
She holds the girl tightly. Ashamed at how much hurt has been caused 
to her friend.

She lets Antonella get it out of her system, and then says quietly, 
"Lucius is dead."

 "Let's go for a walk." She says, ignoring Dino.

<><><><><>

[GM]

Antonella nods mutely, unable to speak for the time being. Dino opens 
his mouth, makes a sound in his throat, like he's going to say something, 
but then, for once, remains silent and lets you both exit.


Antonella walks beside you silently, holding your hand. Finally she says, 
"I wasn't worried at first, when I read your note. I mean, I was worried, 
but I figured you were all right."

"Then...then I heard about that freak 'thunderstorm' over by Lucius's 
estate. Lightning hitting his house. I knew what it meant." She looks at 
you, eyes red. "I found out soon enough that he'd been killed, but you 
were still missing. I thought....I thought maybe whoever killed him...." 
She gulps. Then looks at you fearfully. "Unless....I mean....you and 
Lucius were *friends*, weren't you....?"

<><><><><>

[Agnes]

"Yes, I suppose Lucius and I were friends. Not as close as you and I 
certainly, but friends. I'm sorry he lost his head."

 Agnes ignores her friend's implied fear of who took Lucius's head.
 They walk slowly through the streets, making their way nowhere in 
particular, as Agnes continues to explain.

"It appears that there are mortals out there in the world who know about 
the immortals, that we exist, and something about us. I don't know how 
nor why, but they do, and they seem to be organised in some way.
I found a note pushed under my door, telling me to leave Rome. I 
showed it to Lucius, and I suspect he ignored it as I had, except that I 
wrote you the note then, just in case there was more too it."

She shrugs. "There was more too it. Two men kidnapped me off the 
street, blindfolded and bound me and took me off to a convent. They told 
me a hunter was coming to Rome, and if I was still there when he 
arrived, I would die."
She holds up her hand and puts a finger to Antonella's lips to stop her 
interrupting. "Let me finish."
"I know nothing about them. 
But it appears that they were right. Lucius is dead - at the hand of an 
immortal.
Now...
Now I am tempted to return to that convent and see if there is anything 
there that I can find that tells me what is going on."

She smiles at Antonella. "You were about to say?"

<><><><><>

[GM]

Antonella is shocked. "Mortals who know about you? You were 
kidnapped? Oh, Agnes! Did they hurt you?" She looks concerned, 
showing that warmth for others that occasionally shines through when 
she's not preoccupied with herself.


"Ummm, nothing," she mumbles, when you finish, looking down. Then 
she looks back up, abashed, and suddenly throws her arms around you 
again. "Oh Agnes, I was so afraid....so afraid I'd never see you again!" 
She begins crying again.

<><><><><>

[Agnes]

"Some day, we all die: even immortals," she replies hugging the girl. 
"Death comes to us all."

 "I am moved that you care for me Antonella. I care for you too. But don't 
take stupid risks for me, Antonella. If you think I will lose my head - run 
away."
Agnes agonises over dropping more hints to Antonella about her future, 
but restrains herself. The thought of Antonella, 'knowing' that she cannot 
be killed in the true sense, isn't one that Agnes considers spending 
much time over.

"What about you, Antonella? Your father sounded fit to burst when I 
overheard him at your house. I take it that your relationship with him has 
deteriorated?"

<><><><><>

[GM]

Antonella sniffles, then blushes.

"Uh, well...." she mutters. "He, uh, kind of forbade me to leave the 
house, and I suppose I, well....disobeyed him. He's probably not very 
pleased with me."

She continues walking with you, looking glum. "There's not a man my 
father has brought to me that I want to spend the rest of my life with. 
They're all old, or mean, or boorish, or lecherous, or arrogant, or foul-
smelling....or all of those things!"

She looks down. "Of course, they're all none too choosy, for one reason 
or another. I can't expect a first-rate husband, because I'm not a first-
rate bride," she says bitterly. "Their attitude is I should be grateful that 
they'd even consider marrying a woman who's not a virgin. Some of 
them have even told me in explicit detail how they expect me to express 
my gratitude." She grits her teeth.

"I *won't* let Lavinia be forced to marry someone who will use her so ill. 
But my father has given me an ultimatum....if I don't accept a suitor by 
St. Wilfrid's day, he'll choose one for me."

<><><><><>

[Agnes]

"That's not so far away, is it?
I'm afraid that you are in for some hard decision-making then. 

You appear to heave limited choices.  You could accept whoever your 
father says; you could pre-emptively suggest the name of one you have 
seen already, shall we say the least worst; or you could retain your 
position of accepting none. For the accepting none option, you could 
either run away, or you try to convince your father of the righteousness 
of your position. Frankly, given that that has been your position 
throughout, and your father has tired of it - not to mention your outright 
disobedience of him forbidding you to leave the house - I don't hold 
much hope. On he other hand of course, if you run away, you will be 
unable to protect Lavinia."

She pats Antonella's hand.
"A fine pickle my girl."
With as straight a face as she can manage, she suggests, "You could 
always become a nun."

<><><><><>

[GM]

Antonella nods unhappily. "If not for Lavinia, I would run away."

She turns and frowns at you when you suggest becoming a nun. "That's 
not very funny," she sniffs indignantly.

Then suddenly breaks into giggles. "I don't think I'd make a very good 
nun!" she says ruefully, wiping her eyes.


"Well.....I guess now I have to return home." She looks across the city, in 
the direction of her estate. "I might not be able to get out again so 
easily." She clutches your hand. "Will you walk me home, Agnes?"

<><><><><>

[Agnes]

"Of course, Antonella. I'd be more than happy to."

As they walk back, she comments, "Your father is not going to be at all 
pleased with you. You did disobey his commands.
I'll come in with you for refreshments if you think that will get you a less 
angry welcome."

<><><><><>

[GM]

"Well, I don't know," Antonella says. "My father might just blame you for 
leading me astray. He already thinks you've been a bad influence. My 
silly twit of a sister let slip that you carry a sword."

"I would like you to come, though. The worst he can do is throw you out."


Antonella tries to sneak into her rooms, but her father has the servants 
on the lookout for her, and ordered he be told immediately. So he 
descends on her before she makes it across the foyer.

"ANTONELLA!" he roars. "Get to your room!"

"That's where I'm going any-" she starts to say, a little impertinently, 
although clearly intimidated by the Gallini patriarch. But he doesn't even 
let her finish. He grabs her arm, nearly yanking her off her feet, and 
propels her towards the stairs. Antonella squeals indignantly.

The portly nobleman is red-faced and livid. He turns on you. "Get out of 
my house and don't ever let me see you around my daughter again!" he 
snarls.

<><><><><>

[Agnes]

She shrugs at the head of the Galinis and, resting her off-hand casually 
on the hilt of her sword, says flippantly,
"I'll let you know when to keep your eyes shut then."

Then turning on her heel, she strides out of the house, leaving him to go 
apoplectic behind her.

 
 She heads back to work.
 
 "Hello Dino," she says confidently, knowing that she is about to take the 
wind out of his sails, removing most of the threats that he could hold 
against her for disappearing from work for a week unannounced.
"I'm thinking of moving to a convent for a while.
How much notice do you want me to give you to find another book-
keeper?"

<><><><><>

[GM]

You hear Dominus Gallini going apoplectic behind you. Visiting 
Antonella again will definitely require some sneaking.



Dino is, of course, surprised at your announcement. "You're joking, 
right?"

Seeing that you're not, he says, "Ummm....uh.....well.....at least a month 
is usually customary. I mean....we'll have to, uh, look for someone else, 
and interview them...." He looks at you sharply. "Is this just to make me 
leave you alone?"

<><><><><>

[Agnes]

"Well, the fact that I knew I was going to have to put up with your 
attentions if I remained here was a factor in my decision. It is something 
I could do without. But mainly, it is because I have realised that my 
education is lacking , and I ought to learn Greek, and doing so in the 
peace of a convent seemed best."

She sits on her chair and looks at him. 
"Of course, it might be that that there is a tutor I could use so that I could 
be taught here. But I have no idea how to find one, and I'm sure that I 
couldn't afford him anyway.
No doubt though, you would much prefer a grey-haired man with a wife 
and children to be your book-keeper instead of me."

Realisation comes to her as she speaks, that she is indeed starting to do 
exactly what Techo suggested, and she denied. 

<><><><><>

[GM]

"I'm sure there are people living in Rome who are educated in Greek," 
Dino says, looking puzzled at your sudden desire to improve your 
education. "And surely some impoverished scholars among them who'd 
be willing to tutor you, for a few coins. So what you're really telling me is 
we don't pay you enough? You're rather bold, asking for a raise after 
you just disappeared for a week! Where were you, anyway? Don't you 
think you have an obligation to let your employers know if you're going 
to absent yourself without leave for so long? Why, I've a good mind to 
tell my father to fire you-"

He shifts direction abruptly, realizing that, firstly, this threat probably isn't 
one he wants you to call him on, and secondly, he can't exactly rely on 
his father doing what he suggests.

"I notice you did take the time to let your friend know you were going 
somewhere." And suddenly his voice is casual, his eyes averted out the 
window. "So, ah, how did you become acquainted with Senorigna 
Antonella? She's of, well, a different social class than you, is she not?"

<><><><><>

[Agnes]

She raises an eyebrow at Dino's threat to fire her, and for once manages 
to hold her tongue from taking him up on his offer.

"There must be some trade from Byzantium, and I'm sure that some of 
the documents will be in Greek.
I don't like not being able to read all the documentation associated with 
a transaction. I, or in this case you, might be getting defrauded. If you 
know of any scholars who might want a pupil to learn some Greek, I 
would be obliged."

After considering his question about herself and Antonella, she replies 
curtly, "Sinorigna Antonella and I were thrown together by fate. 
I don't think I should say any more about it. After all, as you say, she is a 
different class from me ... or you, and it is not for me to tell about it."

Pointedly getting out the ledgers, she says, "Well, if there is a week's 
worth of transactions, I suppose I had better get started, hadn't I?"


After a long stint of trying to catch up, she returns home, paying the rent 
for the next month.
She supposes that she may as well stay in Rome for the time being. Her 
opportunities to see Antonella will be reduced, and she supposes that 
she will have to revert to going to Mass in the local church. She will try 
to keep in touch through Lavinnia if all else fails. But at least she isn't 
eating into her nest-egg.
However, she has been given a fright. She prepares an emergency bag 
of clothes, money and other items to see her through that she can just 
grab and run. She determines to make sure that in the next few weeks 
she identifies the local livery stables and routes to them so that she can 
get a horse quickly if she has to.
Rome is obviously too attractive a hunting ground for those that hunt, 
and she will stay only as long as necessary to look after Antonella.

<><><><><>

[GM]

"A different class from me?" Dino says indignantly.

"She can't be high nobility, or she'd never have been wandering around 
the streets like that."


The Savorinos are not nobles, and the Gallinis are. Technically, 
Antonella does occupy a slightly higher social strata than Dino, even 
though the Savorinos are wealthier. But no higher than many of 
Antonella's suitors.


Dino accepts your glib explanation. He even promises to find a Greek 
tutor for you. He doesn't immediately follow through on the latter 
promise...but he does resume following you around, pestering you.

But not in quite the same manner. He does still try to flirt with you a 
little.....but he keeps turning the subject of the conversation to Antonella. 
Whether because he was smitten with her beauty, or intrigued by her 
association with you (and your telling him she was too good for him), it 
soon becomes clear that Dino wants to meet her again.


So far, meeting her yourself is proving difficult. You spot the Gallinis 
when you go to Mass at their church....absent Antonella. Her sister looks 
quite glum. Antonella's relationship with her father must have taken a 
bad turn indeed, if he's actually confining her to the house to the extent 
that she cannot come to church.

<><><><><>

[Agnes]

"Right," she says one day, catching Dino unprepared. 
"It is patently obvious that you wish to meet Antonella again. 
Well write to her father or something! Claim to be a prospective suitor or 
something. Don't expect me to go scurrying around making 
arrangements for you. You are a big boy now."

"And by the way," she adds with a hint of disappointment, "mentioning 
an association with me to her father would not be a good move. I think 
he thinks I am a  bad influence on his daughter."

"Well," she asks as he continues to look like he was taken completely 
unawares, "there is a quill, ink and parchment. Compose your letter of 
introduction."

<><><><><>

[GM]

Dino sputters. "Wha- wha- what?"

He stares at the ink and quill as if they were foreign objects. "I've 
never...*written* to ask *permission* to see a woman before!" he says.

He picks them up reluctantly. "I don't even know where she lives, or who 
her father is," he points out. "You refused to tell me anything about her."

<><><><><>

[Agnes]

She tells him Antonella's family name and address.

"Her father is trying to marry her off - so you might even be in luck.
You'll have to hurry though, he may have decided who the lucky man is 
already. Just who you are, that his eldest daughter has come to your 
attention and that you would appreciate the opportunity to meet him and 
his daughter."

She watches him as he writes, appraising him.
**I don't suppose he is any worse than the other suitors that she's seen. 
It lets antonella spin things out for longer, and gets him out of my hair.**

"If you want, I'll show you to the house - although I suspect I'd be 
unwelcome and damage your chance of being seen, so I'll just point it 
out to you."

She walks over to look at what he has written so far, being white 
prepared to take it off him and rewrite it more neatly herself.

<><><><><>

[GM]

Dino licks his lips and sets about trying to write a letter.

He has been educated, of course, but being Dino, he never studied very 
hard, and hasn't had much opportunity to improve his writing skills, since 
his father, and now you, have always done all the work for him. His 
spelling is awful, his handwriting is abominable. 

His letter starts out, "Duminus Galini, I saw your dotter the other dey, 
and she is verry beutiful..."


Antonella could do worse than Dino. She probably can't do much better. 
He's young, at least, and not unattractive. He may be annoying and 
immature, and you wouldn't count on his being the most faithful 
husband, but at least he's not mean.

Of course, whether Antonella will approve of Dino is another 
matter...though her options really are running out. Then there is the 
question of whether Dino (and more importantly, her father) will approve 
of Antonella, if they learn she is not a virgin. This really is of great 
importance to Italian families. Dino might not care that much (it hasn't 
stopped him from chasing *you*- though not for marriage, of course), but 
his father may. On the other hand, marrying into the Gallini family would 
be a step up, socially, for the Savorinos.


Dino is trying to finish the letter, looking a bit embarrassed. "So, can't 
you tell me anything else about her? You are her friend. What is her 
temper like? What about her education?"

<><><><><>

[Agnes]

"Oh, give me that!" she says in exasperation. "Did you pay any attention 
to your tutors?"
She screws up the page he has started on and throws it away.

In her finest hand, she writes,

"Dominus Gallini,
I was pleased to learn of the return of your beautiful daughter after her 
abduction. I was especially surprised to learn that you were seeking 
suitors for her hand in marriage, and would be pleased if you would 
consider me as a candidate. I do so hope that you have not made any 
final choice so far, but it was only recently that I have learned of your 
daughter's return."

She signs it off

"Sincerely yours
Dino Savorinos


Savorinos silk and cloth merchants,
CXLVII via appia"

and folds it up. 
She takes his ring off his hand, and drops some sealing wax on the fold 
and seals it.

"There. That should do it. 
It will be up to you to make a good impression with her father.

And before you ask ... we went to Africa, she can read and write Latin 
and speak Arabic. The rest is up to you."

She hands him the sealed note.

"Now get someone to deliver it. 
And it isn't going to be me. For a start I am too busy looking after what 
will be #your# company."

<><><><><>

[GM]

Dino watches with a mixture of bemusement, irritation and appreciation 
as you rewrite his letter for him. "You have such nice handwriting," he 
says, leaning close over your shoulder as you write- but he backs off 
and keeps his distance at the look you give him.


He looks down at the sealed envelope. "Oh....all right." He frowns. 
"Arabic? She speaks infidel?" He chews on his lip. "You and she were- I 
mean, she-" he blusters a bit, but whatever questions he's trying to get 
out, trail off as he looks at you. He clears his throat.

"Very well. Ah, ummm....well, I suppose I should, uh, thank you." He 
coughs. "Thank you" he says quickly, with a miniscule bob, then turns on 
his heel and walks out of the warehouse, leaving you in blessed peace.



The next occurrence, as a result of this, comes two days later. The elder 
Savorino summons you to his office, upstairs. He's rarely there, as he 
spends most of his time either at home, or when conducting business, 
with other merchants. But today he is seated behind a small table, and 
squints up at you as you enter. He smiles and indicates the bench, 
inviting you to sit down. "Good afternoon, Agnes," he says.

"I have been quite pleased with your work. I was a bit concerned about 
your sudden absence," he adds, watching you carefully, "and I hope you 
will see fit to let me know if you have something so urgent it requires you 
to take leave from your duties again. But the books look tidier than they 
have in years. And you seem to be dealing with my dunce of a son quite 
well." He chuckles ruefully. Then gets to the point.

"I am rather concerned about him. I am not going to live forever. And he 
still hasn't settled down and gotten serious. I've been hoping that a wife 
would have a maturing effect on him. It did on me." He smiles, 
reminiscing, then sighs. "Now for the first time, he's mooning about some 
woman that he speaks of as more than just a possible conquest."

"He says this....Antonella Gallini....is a friend of yours." The old silk 
merchant leans back and regards you, with his failing eyes. "I've made 
some inquiries. The Gallinis are a respectable family, though it seems 
their fortunes are in a decline right now."

"The young lady is, if Dino is to be believed, quite beautiful. Yet her 
father has been having trouble arranging a suitable match for her."


"Agnes....is it true you know this girl? Please, I would know more about 
her. Dino is my only child, and regardless of his....shortcomings, he is 
the only future I have." He looks at you pleadingly.

<><><><><>

[Agnes]

She is surprised by the summons from the elder Savorino, but she can 
guess what it is about.
She bobs a curtsey at him as she enters his office.

After his comment, she apologies.
"I am sorry about my unannounced absence, Dominus Savorino. It won't 
happen again.

She feels a knife of guilt slide deep inside and a shiver runs down her 
spine. Antonella will never give him any grandchildren.

And yet, Dino is the best of a bad job for Antonella, and after all she may 
never die, married to some old goat, and conversely she might die 
tomorrow married to Dino. 

She wished that things were simple again, and makes her choice.

"I am honoured that you ask me, Dominus," she replies, and continues,  
"Antonella is indeed very beautiful and intelligent, if flighty and self-
centred at times. She would make a wonderful wife for Dino, if they could 
stand each other's short-comings. He has only met her one or two times 
when she was looking for me, so I don't know how well they will get on.

Her father is having difficulty marrying her off because she is being 
stubborn and overly choosey about who she wants to marry."

Agnes's mind races ahead with possibilities of what the future holds. 
Most tell her that she has just betrayed her employer, denying him the 
chance of a grand-child.

"I'm sorry, Dominus. I don't feel well all of a sudden. Please excuse me."
She gets up and leaves the room, leaves the building, and runs home.
Barring the door to her home behind her, tears stream down her face. "I 
am so very, very, sorry Dominus Savorino. I really am."
She weeps at her own heartlessness to the man that gave her 
employment.

<><><><><>

[GM]

The next day, Dino is in a cheerful mood. Dominus Gallini has agreed to 
speak to him. He's dressing up, and has even bathed.


"Don't worry, Agnes....I'll always have a spot in my heart for you," he 
says, in an unusually cheeky mood. Snickering at his own wit, he 
departs for the Gallini estate.


Three days later, you receive a letter from Antonella. It is very brief, 
saying only,

"My Dear friend Agnes,

Will you please come have lunch with me midweek? My father has 
consented to this visit.

Sincerely,
Antonella Gallini"


Then you notice what at first appeared to be idle doodles in the margins. 
It's Arabic script, proving that Antonella can be moderately clever, now 
and then.

"Either I must marry Dino, or be prepared to run away, for my father says 
this is my last chance. I need your advice and possibly your help. I had 
to beg on my knees to get permission to see you again."


You see Dino loitering near your office....probably he saw the courier 
who brought a letter to you from the Gallinis.

"So, did Antonella send you a letter?" he asks, trying to appear only 
mildly interested. The last few days have seen him transformed from 
arrogant cock to nervous suitor.

<><><><><>

[Agnes]

"Why yes, Dino, as a matter of fact, I have. I am to have lunch with the 
Galinnis tomorrow."

She smiles at him. 
"No doubt I will be interrogated by the Galinnis as to how suitable you 
are to marry Antonella.
And no doubt you will want me to put in a good word..."


"I thought you might," she replies to his nod. 

"We'll see," she finishes and turns back to her work.


The next day she goes to the baths early in the morning, and on her 
return home dresses up in her finest clothes.

At the Galinnis' she presents herself at the front door, knocking, and 
getting ready to unbuckle her swordbelt from its current position outside 
her skirts and give it to the servant.

She would do her best to justify the pleading that Antonella obviously 
had to do to get her here.

<><><><><>

[GM]

Antonella's favorite servant, Renato, is the one who answers the door. 
He accepts your sword with a nonplussed look. "It is nice to see you 
again, Signora," he says with apparent sincerity, then escorts you inside.

Dominus Gallini is waiting inside, flanked by his wife. You don't see 
Antonella or Lavinia.

The portly merchant prince stares you down, face set in a brooding 
scowl.

"Antonella is finally giving a suitor serious consideration," he says. "But 
for some inexplicable reason, she values *your* opinion...more highly 
than my own. She insists she will not make her final decision until she 
has a chance to speak with you." He glowers. "If you value my 
daughter's welfare, you will advise her to accept this marriage offer. I 
have no more patience for her childish antics and her petulant fits, and if 
you set her off again acting like a madwoman, by God I'll make you both 
regret it!"

Domina Gallini looks concerned, and puts a hand on her husband's arm, 
seeking to soothe him. She looks at you pleadingly, obviously wanting to 
take a more conciliatory approach towards you, but unwilling to 
contradict her husband.

<><><><><>

[Agnes]

Ignoring Dominus Gallini's outburst and implied rudeness, Agnes bobs a 
small curtsey, and replies, "Why, thank you for agreeing to me coming to 
lunch Dominus Gallini," and nodding to Antonella's mother, "Domina 
Gallini."

"I really have no idea why Antonella would wish my opinion on this 
potential suitor. Perhaps it is because I am a friend and not a relative. 
Still I am sure I won't be much help. I only really know one young Roman 
man. You might know him:  my employer's son, Dino Savorino? He really 
was quite keen for me to come to lunch here for some reason. I cannot 
imagine why.
Come to think of it, both he and his father were very keen to learn of my 
impressions of Antonella and her family."
With a small smile and a sparkle in her eyes, she concludes. "Perhaps 
he is about to conduct some business deal with you? I know they value 
my advice on business deals."

She looks around.
"But where are Antonella and Lavinia?"

<><><><><>

[GM]

Dominus Gallini's expression becomes even more brooding. "You *work* 
for Dino Savorino?" he says slowly.

"I find this an unlikely coincidence," he growls, beginning to pace around 
you. "And I find your professed ignorance even more unlikely-"

"Antonella and Lavinia are in the garden," his wife interrupts hastily, 
smiling at you, trying to restrain her husband from saying anything 
further. "They're waiting for you, why don't you go ahead and enjoy the 
brunch that Antonella's had prepared?" Her husband is momentarily 
stalled, in his pacing and in his outbursts.

<><><><><>

[Agnes]

"Thank you, Domina Gallini, I will do that," she replies, and heads for the 
garden. 

She warmly embraces Antonella when they meet. "Antonella! Thank you 
for getting me here for lunch, I am glad to see you again". 

She releases her and looks at Lavinia. "And you, Lavinia: It is good to 
see you too."

 "You are both looking well. How are you feeling though? I assume your 
father has confined you to house and garden?"

<><><><><>

[GM]

Antonella looks weary, which is almost unheard of for her. You've seen 
her anxious, frustrated, frightened, angry, sulky, moody, and nearly 
hysterical...but never worn out and dejected as now.

She brightens a bit, upon seeing you, and accepts your embrace gladly. 
Lavinia hovers nearby, looking nervous about the situation, but pleased 
to have the intriguing Northumbrian "savage" as a guest again.

Antonella nods. "I haven't been able to go anywhere," she sighs. "Nor 
has Vinny." She sits down on a long garden bench.

"I suppose you know about Dino's courtship," she says. She picks at a 
plate of olives.


"I think he's nice," Lavinia says, unbidden. Antonella frowns at her, and 
Lavinia closes her mouth but looks back at Antonella with arched 
eyebrows, unrepentent.

"That's just because he brings you gifts," Antonella sniffs.

"He brings you gifts too!" Lavinia says. "And he's cute. And he's certainly 
more pleasant than any of those old men..."

"Lavinia, be quiet," Antonella says in a firm voice, not loud, but with a 
tone different from her usual irritable snaps at her sister. Lavinia's mouth 
was open, prepared to continue her endorsement of Dino, but she 
closes it abruptly and looks at Antonella, surprised and a little hurt.

"You don't know anything about being married," Antonella says (which is 
true, though compared to you, Antonella knows barely more than 
Lavinia).

"You know him," Antonella says to you. "You've been working for him. 
The few times you mentioned him, before....before I met him, you didn't 
sound like you thought a great deal of him."

"Please tell me honestly what you think of him, Agnes. Will I be happy 
with him?"

"You couldn't possibly be less happy with him than you would be with 
Caius Riccus," Lavinia mutters, apparently naming one of Antonella's 
less palatable suitors. Antonella glares at her, and Lavinia looks down at 
the ground and resumes holding her tongue.

<><><><><>

[Agnes]

She sits and pushes olives round her plate also.

She sighs.

"Dino would make Lavinia a good husband. 
Yes, he might stray  - no, he would stray - now and again, and he 
considers himself a bit of a lad with the girls. But I gather that is what 
most Romans are like until they are married. His family are not poor, and 
would be able to afford to keep her in this style." She sweeps her arm, 
taking in the villa and grounds.

"But for you, Antonella? Would you be happy with him? I don't know.
But I know that whatever I say, then in, perhaps, 40 years time you will 
look back at this lunchtime, and say to yourself: Agnes knew a lot more 
than I, and she made that decision for me.
That is why I am struggling to say anything. If you hadn't made an issue 
of Lavinia being married off after you, I would have suggested getting 
Dino to consider her. As it is, I think you will have to admit that your 
father is going to marry you off. From what you have said about the 
others, Dino would appear to be the best choice, given the short time 
you have left."

She looks at Lavinia as she finishes,  "Do not compare him to your last 
husband, Antonella. You will be disappointed. As kind and considerate a 
man, I don't think you will find again."

<><><><><>

[GM]

Antonella looks down, flushing a little, as you remind her of her 
determination to stall Lavinia's marriage until after her own. It 
undoubtedly seemed like a good idea to her at the time...now perhaps 
she is seeing the wisdom in your words.

Lavinia herself looks at her sister uncertainly.

Both girls stare at you when you bring up Antonella's first husband.

"Why did you-?" Antonella starts, eyes darting back and forth between 
you and Lavinia, then says in Arabic "The silly fool will never be able to 
keep her mouth shut!" as Lavinia gasps "Antonella! You were 
*married*!?"

"T..to an infidel?" she continues, looking shocked.

Antonella sighs and stares back at her younger sister. "I think you've 
already figured out I'm no longer a virgin. Would you prefer it if I'd lost 
my virginity as a slave?"

Lavinia's mouth gapes open, then she shuts it and looks down, face 
bright red.


Antonella leans back, and puts a hand over her face briefly.

"Very well," she mutters, and lets her hand drop to her lap. "I shall marry 
Dino."

Lavinia looks up, and then slowly moves over to sit next to Antonella. 
Hesitantly, she puts her arms around the older girl. Antonella accepts 
her embrace, and they hold each other tearfully.

<><><><><>

[Agnes]

"She's not a little girl, Antonella," she replies in Latin, "and it is rude of 
you to talk about her in Arabic."
"Lavinia, I have just confided in you one of your sisters big secrets. I 
trust you are mature enough to know that you jeopardise your 
relationship with Antonella if you tell anyone else."

In Arabic, she asks quietly. "Antonella? I trust you didn't just try to poison 
yourself?"

<><><><><>

[GM]

Antonella looks startled. "What? Oh Agnes, don't be silly!"

But with a touch of morbid humor completely unlike her, she mutters "I'd 
at least wait until *after* the wedding night before I do anything *that* 
rash."

Lavinia, head cradled against her sister's shoulder, looks back and forth 
at your brief exchange in Arabic. Deciding she's not going to be made 
privy to it, she replies to what you said before; "I won't tell anyone," she 
promises softly. She looks up at Antonella. "Did you truly love him, 
Antonella? A..Agnes makes it sound like you did."

Antonella smiles and pats the girl's hand. "I'll tell you more about him 
later, Vinny. I promise." Slowly, she stands up, with an arm around her 
younger sister's waist, and holds her other hand out to you. "You will 
come to the wedding, won't you Agnes?"

<><><><><>

[Agnes]

She looks slightly disbelievingly at Antonella. "Why, of course, 
Antonella. I would be delighted to attend your wedding."

She stands. "Shall we let your parents know your decision? After all, it 
might mean that you are no longer confined to the house."

<><><><><>

[GM]

The Gallinis are naturally delighted that Antonella has chosen to marry 
Dino Savorino. Her father is somewhat less thrilled that you're going to 
be a wedding guest, but Antonella stands her ground again, insisting 
that not only will you come, but you will be one of her bridesmaids. [Or 
something similar- I don't know if they had similar traditions in 9th 
century weddings.]



The date is set for a month hence- Aleardo Gallini does not intend to 
waste any time, and Dino and his father are certainly amenable.

Antonella is less nervous than one might expect. She seems to have 
accepted her fate, and while now and then seems rather morosely 
resigned, other times she admits that Dino is probably a better husband 
than she would otherwise have got.


Dino, for his part, carries on much as he did before, sowing wild oats 
before he finally settles down. (Not that you think he'll ever "settle down" 
completely....you told Antonella that Dino will stray, and she agreed to 
marry him anyway; whether she will really accept this common male 
misbehavior, or intends to try to curtail his womanizing, remains to be 
seen.)

Antonella does at least recover some of her spirits during the wedding 
preparations; this is what she always wanted, *before* she went to 
Ifriquiya. Now her childhood dream, and her parents' expectations, don't 
shine so brightly compared to the memories she's left behind, but she 
also left Kemal behind because she could no longer stand to live in 
Ifriquiya, and wanted to become a Roman woman again. You know she 
still has a lot of growing up to do, but Peter probably knew a lot of the 
lessons you had to learn the hard way. He also didn't tell you everything, 
knowing you'd just have to learn them on your own.


Lavinia is very happy, and you notice that Dino really is kind to his future 
sister-in-law. But Antonella tells you that their father is already making 
plans to marry Lavinia off as soon as possible, now that Antonella has 
been properly betrothed.


During the month leading up to the wedding, Dino of course never thinks 
to help find you a Greek tutor. And you can hardly run off to the convent 
before her wedding, and Antonella will probably want you around for a 
while afterwards- she has to be anxious about what it will really be like, 
living in the Savorino household. Your desire to learn, and uncover a 
nagging mystery, wars with your desire to look after your friend, and 
future pupil. Will Antonella be happy, or at least content, with Dino, and 
live to an old age? (An interesting question- you've never seen an "old" 
immortal, and have never heard of someone becoming immortal after 
dying of old age.) Or will she become discontent, and want to run away? 
You don't *think* Dino will be a horrible husband, like the sort that will 
beat his wife (and if he tries, it's doubtful Antonella will take it passively, 
after all your boxing lessons. Truthfully, you're pretty sure Antonella 
could whale Dino.)

Too much uncertainty, too much you can't predict and aren't sure what to 
do about.

..........

The wedding is beautiful. The Gallinis aren't noble enough to be able to 
have their daughter's wedding at St. Peter's, but the smaller chapel they 
regularly attend is still larger than the vast majority of churches outside 
Rome, and far more luxurious. Antonella's gown is ridiculously 
expensive considering the Gallinis' financial straits, as are all the other 
expenses. Although your own wedding, to Kai, was performed with a 
*little* more ceremony than Kemal's simple declaration that you were 
now his wife, it was still a small and humble affair, observing many 
ancient peasant traditions that you now know were more pagan than 
Christian. A wedding in Rome, among Roman nobility, is a spectacle 
that would have completely overwhelmed the naive girl you were, so 
many years ago.

The guests outnumber the entire population of Marham. The feast is 
spectacular. Dino looks smug, inoordinately pleased with himself.

And the elder Savorino looks pleased, and relieved. No doubt looking 
forward to the grandsons he will have. Another pang of guilt goes 
through you. Antonella herself has mentioned children, generally with 
some degree of anticipation. It may just be something she's always 
assumed she'll do, rather than something she's really thought about and 
wants, but it also remains to be seen how she and Dino will cope with 
that inevitable disappointment, as months, then years go by and they 
remain childless.


Lavinia blinks away her own tears, as you all proceed to the banquet, 
and smiles up at you. "Don't you love weddings, Agnes?"

<><><><><>

[Agnes]

"I have only been to three before this, Lavinia, and ..." She catches 
herself before she says what would have slipped out: 'and all of them my 
own', and fills her own pause with, "and none of them as magnificent as 
this."

She mentally corrects herself, she had been to others' weddings in 
Marham, but she'd been thinking of her own, and how pride was causing 
Dominus Galinni to squander money when he cannot afford it. 

She shudders inside as realisation hits her. It was bad enough with 
Dino's spending. Now with Antonella spending the family's money too 
there would be a big dent in the Savorino fortunes. What is more, it 
would probably fall to Agnes to keep them afloat.

She realises she is worrying too much, and lets herself relax. It is her 
friend's wedding day - and she +is+ happy for her, despite what she 
herself knows about the underlying problems.

She spends her time close to Lavinia. Together they might avoid trouble. 
Lavinia would keep them clear of social faux pas, whilst Agnes would try 
to be worldly wise for them both.
Antonella had a husband now, and Lavinia might as well start getting 
used to the fact that their relationship from now on would be different.

Agnes had never thought it would be so, but the long bridesmaid's dress 
she was wearing would have concealed her sword beautifully, and yet 
she wasn't wearing it. It would have shown when she sat and when she 
kneeled in church, and it wasn't really a day for making a scene or being 
seen to be a 'barbarian'. She comforts herself that nothing would happen 
with so many people around, and if it did she had her sling and some 
shot in her purse, and a dagger strapped to her leg under the dress.

She sets herself to make sure that she and Lavinia enjoy themselves.

<><><><><>

[GM]

No trouble surfaces that day. You enjoy a splendid banquet that would 
have fed Marham for a month, and watch Dino lean over and whisper in 
Antonella's ear, making her blush. Her father looks relieved, Dino's 
father looks pleased, and plenty of other men at the wedding are looking 
at Lavinia....and quite a few at you as well. You can see Dominus Gallini 
already engaged in discreet conversation with one such admirer. More 
than one man approaches you and tries to engage you in flirtatious 
banter.


As the guests disperse, before the newlyweds retire to the Savorino 
estate, where Antonella will now be living, they accept private 
congratulations from you and Lavinia.

"You're next," Antonella says wryly, embracing her sister.

Lavinia looks startled, as if the thought had totally slipped her mind. 
"Oh!" She smiles falteringly. "Yes, I suppose I am."

Antonella's look becomes less teasing, more determined. "Don't worry, 
we'll find you a good husband, Vinny. Papa hasn't gotten me out of his 
hair yet!"

Dino chuckles, and looks at you. "Well, you missed your opportunity, 
Agnes. You shouldn't have played quite so hard to get."

Antonella gives him a sour look. Dino takes her hand and kisses it, with 
what appears to be genuine affection.

"Don't think you're going to continue to behave as you did before," she 
says warningly. She smiles at you mysteriously. "Agnes taught me a few 
tricks for dealing with wayward men."

"I'm sure she did," Dino says with a wry smile, but he doesn't look like he 
takes the "threat" very seriously, as Antonella throws her arms around 
you, suddenly tightening her grip in a fierce embrace.

"Thank you," she whispers in a choked voice. "For everything."


Then she slowly disengages, and allows Dino to lead her away, to their 
wedding bed.

<><><><><>

[Agnes]

She is pleased for Antonella, that at last she has had her wedding, 
though no doubt she will now take great pleasure in trying to organise 
Lavinnia's for her, as well as make sure her voice is heard in the 
selection of potential suitors.

She decides to give Antonella a month to settle down in her new role, 
and then pester Dino about a Greek tutor. If he doesn't organise one, 
then, she might be tempted to reconsider the convent option. If nothing 
else, the month will let her see how well she copes with Antonella being 
her employer's daughter-in-law. 

She spends her evenings making two copies of Lucius's parchment. If 
that was all that there was to show of his life, it would be cruel for the 
only copy to be destroyed by accident.

"Perhaps," she tells herself, "she ought to start her own, if she goes to 
the convent. But that would be vanity - I have done so little, and it would 
be no great loss if the two I have killed were forgotten."

<><><><><>

[GM]

Antonella's marriage seems to be about as happy as one might expect. 
She doesn't voice any dissatisfaction with Dino, but you can tell that she 
probably has compared him to Kemal...and found him wanting. Dino, for 
his part, does settle down a little. Having a wife (and being expected to 
now produce heirs) has saddled him with responsibilities, and he stops 
his nightly carousing.

He still comes on to you, but it seems to be more out of habit than real 
lust. He obviously realizes by now that you're never going to go to bed 
with him, especially now that he's married to your best friend. And he 
actually pays attention to the business....a little. He still lets you do 
almost all of the work.


Now free to go where she will (although she has to pay more attention to 
propriety than before, Dino lacks either the will or the desire, or both, to 
confine her as severely as the law allows), Antonella frequently shows 
up at the warehouse to talk to you, admire the merchandise, and 
generally alternate between being pleasant company and a pest. She 
goes to her father's house frequently, to continue "screening" Lavinia's 
suitors as best she can. She still invites you to come with her and her 
sister to the baths, and also makes sure you feel welcome to come to 
her home at any time. (Her father-in-law is fairly amenable to your visits. 
Dino would probably prefer to keep your visits less frequent, both to 
reinforce your lower status and because it's easy to see that a willful 
wife won't be made more tractable by freely associating with you....)


Realizing that Greek lessons will consume some of the time you'd 
otherwise be spending with his wife, Dino finally asks around and has 
some Greek scholars brought to the Savorino warehouse...he even lets 
you interview them there. They are middle-aged to elderly men, one a 
church scholar, two private tutors to the nobility. The church scholar is 
probably the most fluent in Greek, but he also spends far too much time 
admiring your face and figure; you can readily imagine him leaning 
close, pressing against you as he points out Greek letters...you've had 
enough of such distractions working for Dino.

The most patient and sincere teacher is one of the tutors to Rome's 
wealthy sons and daughters....probably a man much like the one who 
gave Antonella her dubious fluency in Greek.

(Antonella, upon learning of your search for a teacher, asks with mild 
reproach "Why didn't you just ask me? *I* can teach you Greek!")



One evening, a pair of young ruffains tries to grab you off the street 
while you are walking home from the Savorino estate. At first you feel a 
flashback to your earlier abduction, by the mysterious pair that knew you 
were an immortal. But it's obvious these two teenagers had much more 
immediate and base intentions. Fortunately, their ambush was much 
more poorly-laid, and they certainly weren't expecting that the young 
woman whose route they had observed, the past few weeks, would be 
such a vicious fighter.

They flee, counting themselves lucky to have escaped with their lives 
after you draw your sword. But you know incidents like these aren't 
uncommon, even in Rome, and you start feeling more wary about 
walking around alone. Lone women are easy prey and popular sport for 
young hoodlums, often idle noblemen.


As the weather grows cold, with the onset of winter, it looks like Lavinia's 
wedding will be shortly after the new year. To Antonella's dismay, the 
suitor who has finally won her sister's hand is a Count from Verona....a 
wealthy and prestigious husband, but Antonella wails that he will take 
Lavinia away and she'll never see her again. She had really been 
hoping to get Lavinia married to one of Rome's own native sons, but 
probably overestimated her own influence. Lavinia seems content with 
the man, who is only twelve years older than her, and you know it could 
have been worse....Dominus Gallini has contacts throughout the 
Mediterranean, and could easily have married his youngest daughter off 
to someone from the Byzantine Empire.


A month before Christmas, Antonella has you over for dinner. She is in a 
morose mood, a combination of many things, you think. She does have 
what she thinks will be interesting news to you; "Some king" from Britain 
is in Rome, to have his son christened and have an audience with the 
Pope.

You have met other Britons from time to time in Rome, mostly from the 
southern kingdoms of Wessex and Sussex and Kent. Many of them are 
slaves who were sold by Vikings. Ironically, you know less of the political 
situation in the land of your birth than in all the other lands you've been 
to since you became immortal. As a Northumbrian peasant, of course, 
you were only vaguely aware that there was a King somewhere off in the 
distance, and when living in London, merchants were more powerful 
than any remote Saxon warlords and thanes. All you know of Britain 
since leaving it is that most of the kingdoms, including Northumbria, 
continue to be devastated by Viking raids.

<><><><><>

[Agnes]

The onset of winter gives her an excuse to stay in Rome longer, as does 
her lessons in Greek. But being attacked in the street has reinforced her 
desire to get out of Rome. Eventually, the hunter will return and, if she's 
still here, she'll be found. "After Vinny's marriage", "After winter", "After 
she has learned Greek", she tells herself, and then she'll retreat to the 
convent. Having accepted that she is staying at least that long, she 
arranges to get a chain-mail shirt made: she will need one eventually. 


At diner with Antonella, Agnes doesn't delve into why she is morose. 
**The girl will tell me if she wants to.** and then checks herself. She has 
become infected with the same mood.

 She smiles. "Tell me what more you know of this British King, Antonella. 
Can we meet him? I'm sure two beautiful women can get an audience. 
And will that cheer you up, or are there other reasons why you are so 
moody?"

<><><><><>

[GM]

"Oh, you always call me moody," Antonella says evasively, waving a 
hand.

She looks surprised and thoughtful at the prospect of meeting the king. 
"Oh, perhaps we could," she says. "Dino might be able to wrangle an 
invitation to visit them at their Vatican lodgings, with an offer of a present 
of silk to take back with them to Britain." She holds her chin up 
somewhat proudly as she says "Of course the Gallini name should be 
sufficient to allow me to pay my respects. Even if it's not my name 
anymore." She looks at you, falters, and blushes a little as she adds, 
"And you could go as my, err, friend." As a commoner, a foreigner, and a 
woman with an absentee husband no one has ever seen, your status is 
too low to allow you the privilege of seeing anyone important on your 
own, despite the fact that you're better-educated than the vast majority 
of Rome, including its nobles. Antonella is always embarrassed when 
she inadvertently points this out....yet she always does.


"His name is, uh, Aethel-something. Papa Savorino" (the name she's 
begun using affectionately to refer to her father-in-law, who has probably 
come to love Antonella more than Dino does) "says he's the King of the 
West Saxons." She arches an eyebrow at you. "They're different from 
Northumbrians? Anyway, he came with his wife and three of his sons, 
including the little one who's to be Christened by the Pope himself."

<><><><><>

[Agnes]

She lets Antonella evade the questions about her mood, and stays with 
the shifted subject of the conversation.

"Yes, Antonella, Saxons are different from Northumbrians, and West 
Saxons different from middle Saxons, but I suppose we might 
understand each other after a fashion.
And yes, I know that I would have to rely upon you for any introductions, 
Antonella."
Agnes knows that her status is probably as low as it has ever been. 
Even when she was a slave she probably had a resale value. Here ... 
well not being Roman probably lost her the most status, and she was 
never going to change that. 
She shakes herself out of her thoughts. 

Looking over at Antonella's father-in-law, she adds, "I don't mean to be 
any trouble, Dominus Savorino. It's just that I have never seen a king, 
never mind met one, of any country. I think it would be good to have met 
a king. If you could make some arrangements, I would appreciate it."

<><><><><>

[GM]

[Dominus Savorino wasn't actually present at the moment, but I'll 
assume you asked him a little later.]


Dominus Savorino is a little amused at you and Antonella's ambition to 
meet the visiting king, but he smiles indulgently at his daughter-in-law. 
"Well. I'm sure he would not refuse a gift of red silk, to line his cloak, or 
make a fine gown for his wife. And if he likes it well enough, maybe he 
will wish to import more. You two can deliver it.....I don't feel much like 
going out these days. And I've met kings before."

The elderly silk merchant doesn't look that well. Antonella embraces him 
fondly and thanks him, looking a bit concerned as well.



The delegation to deliver some silk to the King of the West Saxons 
grows unexpectedly, when Dino learns of it and insists on coming along. 
He's not about to let his wife go meet a king and not be there himself. 
Then Antonella manages to get permission from Dominus Gallini for 
Lavinia to come along. "She would never forgive me if she didn't get to 
meet the king too." Antonella smiles. "I think she'll know better now than 
to make comments about barbarians and wode."


So you and Antonella and Dino and Lavinia, all dressed in your finest, 
proceed, two days later, to the holy Vatican.

The Kingdom of Wessex is west of London; you know that Wessex laid 
claim to London as being within its territory, though Sussex and Essex 
sometimes disputed that claim. Nowdays, Essex and Sussex are being 
too heavily raided by Vikings for them to spare any effort to dispute with 
other Saxon kingdoms. Having been in London, you picked up some of 
the regional dialect. West Saxon isn't the same as Northumbrian, but 
you'll probably be able to communicate, albeit awkwardly.


As soon as you enter the gates to the Vatican, you are on Holy Ground. 
The feeling of sanctuary is comforting, as you walk among nobles and 
high Church officials who bustle back and forth. It becomes more 
comforting when, as you approach the king's apartments, you sense 
another immortal.

<><><><><>

[Agnes]

Agnes sighs quietly to herself when Dino insists on accompanying the 
three of them. She tries to tell herself that having a man along to 
accompany them will make things easier for three women in the Vatican, 
but somehow even that doesn't help her get over the fact that with Dino 
as the figurehead, the chance of a deal for more silk looked that much 
more unlikely, and certainly less profitable. "After all," she tells herself, 
"He can hardly use a sweet smile and a little girl smile to clinch some 
advantage."

[The Kingdom of Mercia claimed London too, and when it was the most 
powerful of the kingdoms, actually controlled the place.]

Agnes put on her finest for the visit. She expected, and was not 
disappointed to find that Antonella and Lavinnia had bought something 
especially for the occasion. That they had not thought to wear something 
that showed off the very silk they wanted to sell, would have been a 
point lost on both Antonella and Dino, so she bit her tongue.

She contented herself with giving them the telling off quietly in Anglo-
Saxon. It would help her brush it up and it would give her the satisfaction 
of telling them off. 
When they asked her, she merely said she was trying to remember her 
Anglo-Saxon - her best too, with as few words that she now knew to be 
slang as she could remember.

The splendour of the Vatican almost overwhelmed her. She knew it was 
grand, but it far surpassed her expectations. The grandeur and the fact 
that it was holy ground, made the effect of the quickening that she felt 
even more of a shock.
Her hand went instinctively to rest upon the sword hilt that wasn't there. 
She remembered that it was holy ground, so there would be no fighting, 
and she remembered too that she had not brought it with her. After all, 
she was going to the Vatican, and she was visiting a king. 

She continued with the others, curious to see who the other immortal 
might turn out to be.

<><><><><>

[GM]

As you enter the long gallery leading past doorways that house 
important visitors, your group is obliged to step aside and bow low, as a 
party of Church officials emerges. After months in Rome, you still haven't 
had much close contact with the Church heirarchy, and so can't be sure 
of the exact rank of the men who march past with serious 
expressions...but you'd guess you're looking at several Arch-Bishops, 
and possibly a Cardinal, as well as numerous lay officials who 
accompany them.

Some of the lay officials (and one of the Arch-Bishops) cast distinctly 
non-pious looks at you, Antonella and Lavinia.

It's the man in red robes who catches your eye, though. His face is 
intense, his eyes searching, and he looks back over his shoulder to 
study your group as they retreat. He sees you looking around also, and 
you make eye contact briefly.

As they disappear from sight, the Quickening fades.


A trio of Vatican guards stands outside the King's apartment, along with 
two Anglo-Saxon warriors, one of whom wears a dyed red cloak and a 
silver-studded belt, and a sword in a finely-decorated scabbard. Such 
wealth probably means he's a Thegn, at least. All of the men turn to face 
your group. The two Anglo-Saxons smile appreciatively at the women; 
the Vatican men-at-arms manage to remain more impassive.

Dino clears his throat nervously and speaks. "We're...uh, this is...I'm, uh, 
Dominus Savorino....silk merchant. With my wife, and sister-in-law, and 
ah-" he glances at you, "servant."

Antonella visibly winces. She clutches your hand, probably praying you 
won't smack Dino right here and now.

The Thegn nods. He speaks in gutteral, almost unintelligible Latin. "Ya, 
yu haff gift fur him Lordship jah?"

Dino nods eagerly. The soldiers stand aside, and the Thegn admits you 
into the King's apartments.


"Well, technically, you're a kind of a servant," Antonella whispers, trying 
to be helpful. She falters. "Well, an employee....a clerk....oh, bother!" 
She sighs and glares at her husband's back.


The furnishings are very nice, and the sitting room is large, but it isn't 
quite as luxurious as you imagined. Perhaps it's the rather earthy 
presence of your fellow countrymen that makes it seem less refined than 
the rest of the Vatican.

Another Thegn announces you, in better Latin. You all bow low as you 
enter.

King Æethulwulf (you managed to learn his name, in the last day) is a 
tall, lean man, still handsome in his late middle-age. He's dressed in 
bright, clean robes, but not particularly gaudy dress....just the sort of 
garb you saw worn back in London by nobles, though with a few more 
trappings. He has a simple gold circlet on his brow, and a heavy sword 
with a well-worn hilt on his hip.

Two of his sons stand next to him. One is about Antonella's age, and a 
strapping young man, the other is a pre-adolescent, a couple years 
younger than Lavinia. Both boys wear swords as well.

Seated on a couch is the King's wife, an attractive woman who appears 
to be about ten years younger than him. Dino, Antonella and Lavinia all 
avert their eyes uncomfortably; she is nursing a toddler, something no 
Roman woman would ever do in the presence of others.


Dino manages to babble an appropriate introduction, getting to the part 
where he introduces his wife and sister-in-law, and will probably identify 
you as a "servant" again. Aside from the thegns, there are also some 
servants, and a couple of monks, in the room. No one is immediately 
translating for the king, so presumably he understands Latin.

<><><><><>

[Agnes]

She had been surprised at the man in red robes, and gave him a slight 
smile when their eyes met. What better place for an immortal to secrete 
himself. He was secure in holy ground, and had the Vatican Guard to 
defend against the likes of the muslim raid. And here was power and 
influence. Now that the possibility had been brought to her notice, she 
was not at all surprised that there was an immortal here. She'd be 
surprised if there was only one.

That Dino had decided to call her a servant had been expected. That 
expectation had not made it any easier when he had done so though.
Antonella though, despite her best intentions had managed to rub salt in 
the wound.

In arabic she whispers angrily, "I will not embarrass you and Lavinia by 
making a scene. But if your husband continues to imply that I am some 
sort of serving girl, then I will deem myself no longer in his employment.
Damnit I'm not even in *his* employment anyway! He can sell his own 
bloody silk, and I shall retire to a convent!"

Her seething simmers as they move to the king's room. She has decided 
that as Dino has so dismissed her, he can sink or swim on his own. 
She's certainly not going to help him.

The sight of the queen's infant calms her a bit, and she watches the 
queen and the child as Dino launches into his introductions. She lets 
him get on with it, knowing that he is going to accord her a status little 
higher than a slave, perhaps even lower. She tells herself that she has 
been there before, and was obstructive then, so why change? Before 
Dino finishes his introductions, the uncouth serving wench asks the 
queen in her best Anglo Saxon,
"How old is your baby, Your Majesty. What is its name?"

<><><><><>

[GM]

Everyone (including Dino) looks surprised when you speak out of turn. 
Only Dino looks offended, though. The King and the boys looks curious, 
as Dino falters and then tries to proceed with his introduction.

The Queen beams at you, and sets the little boy upright in her lap, and 
straightens her gown.

"You're a Briton!" she exclaims delightedly, in foreign-accented West 
Saxon. She herself may well have been born on the continent.


"He just turned two," she says. The boy looks at you with deep blue 
eyes, and a very serious expression. "My little Alfred."

<><><><><>

[Agnes]

Agnes smiles at the queen and her son. 
"Hello, Prince Alfred," she says, and curtsies to him.

Looking back at the Queen, she continues in Anglo Saxon,
"How was the journey to Rome, Your Majesty? Surely it 
couldn't have been easy with a child so young?"

And then as if she had only just realised that she has 
interrupted the introductions and that everyone was 
looking at her, she quickly looks from person to person 
at the others in the room, her eyes coming to rest on the 
King. 
"I am sorry, Your Majesty, I didn't mean to be rude and 
interrupt the introductions. But you have such a handsome 
son, and bright too. 
I am Agnes Smith of Bernicia." 

She indicates Antonella and then Lavinia with her hand, 
"This Antonella Savorini, and Lavinia Gallini, daughters 
of an important Roman Noble house, and finally, Dino 
Savorini, the heir to one of the finest cloth and silk 
merchants in Rome, Antonela's husband, and the son of my 
employer."

"Oh, I am sorry, Dino," she interrupts herself in Latin, 
turning to look at him, "Not only did I interrupt you, 
but I did all the introductions in Anglo Saxon. I do 
apologise." 
The cold stare she gives him should let him know that the 
apology is for public consumption only.

<><><><><>

[GM]

Dino chokes back on whatever indignant retort he was planning. There's 
no language he can safely abuse you in, and he certainly can't make 
any comments about your lack of breeding.

"My father is very fond of her," he says to King Æethelwulf. "She is very 
conscientious about her duties, so we have become accustomed to her 
outspokenness."

The king looks amused.

The Queen seems pleased to talk about her children with another British 
woman, and continues speaking in Anglo-Saxon. "Oh, Alfred has always 
been very well-behaved. He rarely fusses and never throws a tantrum. 
Not at all like Æethelbert and Æethelred. They were terrors as children, 
especially Æethelbert." She smiles teasingly at her other two sons; the 
eldest just smiles back, the younger one is still young enough to be 
embarrassed, and blushes.

"Alfred is ever so serious for his age, as you can see. My goodness, he 
seems to have taken a liking to you." Indeed, the littlest prince does 
seem fixated on you. Antonella waves at him, and Lavinia is cooing, 
trying to distract him, but the boy's gaze remains fixed on you.


Dino, after his awkward start, presents the King and Queen with a gift of 
fine red silk, for which the King thanks him graciously, and his wife 
dutifully enthuses about the feel of it. "Silk is a luxury we don't get much 
of in Wessex anymore, or anywhere else in Britain, not with the 
accursed Norsemen pillaging all trade centers and blocking trade from 
the continent," Æethelwulf says. He smiles at his wife. "Perhaps we will 
take some back with us."


The King goes on to chat with Dino and Antonella a bit. The younger boy 
hovers at the edges of the conversation, listening but not speaking 
much. You notice he watches Lavinia a great deal, though.

His mother plays with Alfred, and asks you how you came to Rome, and 
how long you have been living here. "Are you of noble birth yourself?" 
she asks.

"Bernicia is very far to the north," she observes. "The Vikings have 
ravaged there worst of all. Monastaries sacked, entire towns razed. This 
is a terrible time for Britain." She smiles at you. "Did you ever go to 
London, or Winchester, before you came to Rome?"

You notice the older prince, Æethelbert, has come over and is listening 
politely while smiling at you in a manner familiar to you...not lewdly, but 
certainly speculative.

<><><><><>

[Agnes]

She replies to the queen's questions warmly. It is a long time since 
Agnes has spoken her native tongue, and she is enjoying doing so. She 
smiles at Alfred, watching him. 

"My father was but a craftsman, your majesty.
The Vikings attacked and slew all my family, so I fled south.

I spent a year or so in London, where I met my husband, a merchant, but 
never got as far as Winchester.
We travelled around Europe for a year or so after that, and had the 
misfortune to arrive in Rome the day the saracens raided.
Antonella and I were captured and sold into slavery. But luckily, a jew 
took pity on us, or at least I like to credit him with that. He probably say a 
profit in it ransoming us back.

I have been in Rome since we returned, awaiting word of my husband. It 
has been a while, but I shall wait my seven years before giving up hope. 
In the meantime I have taken up employment with the best cloth 
merchant I could find."

She glances at the others and then looks back to the queen. "It was 
because of me that they met. I don't think Dino appreciates that after a 
year of adversity together, there is a special bond between his wife and 
me."

She looks at Æethelbert. 
"And you, Æethelbert. How has the trip to Rome been, and your stay so 
far?"

<><><><><>

[GM]

"What a tragic story," the Queen, whose name is Osburga, says. "Yet 
you seem very educated, and clever." She looks at you sympathetically. 
"Do you miss Britain?"


A look passed over Æethelbert's face- something like a silent sigh- when 
you mentioned your husband. But he continues smiling at you. "Rome is 
magnificent," he says. "Meeting the Pope is a great honor. But to be 
honest, I will be happy to return home. These Romans-" he lowers his 
voice, glancing at Antonella and Dino and Lavinia, "tend to be an 
arrogant lot. They have easy lives. I'd like to see how arrogant they'd be 
if they were getting raided by Vikings year after year. Oh, I don't mean 
your friends, specifically," he adds hastily, after a warning look from his 
mother. "They seem very nice."


As you continue chatting, Osburga bounces the little prince on her knee. 
Alfred keeps watching you, and smiles back at you. "He likes you," 
Osburga observes. "If at the end of your seven years, your husband has 
not returned- God grant that he will- and you choose to return to Britain, 
come to Winchester. I will remember you, Agnes. I would be pleased to 
find a place for you in my household."

<><><><><>

[Agnes]


She smiles at Æethelbert's comment, and after Osburga's comment, 
adds, "No, your majesty, they are arrogant. Even my friends are. That 
doesn't stop them being my friends, though. And you don't need the 
hushed whisper, Prince Æethelbert, they don't speak Anglo-Saxon." 

At Osburga's offer, she replies, "Your Majesty is most kind. I do miss 
Britain, and speaking in Anglo-Saxon. If my husband doesn't return, then 
perhaps I will make my way to Winchester."

She keeps an ear out for what is going on in the Latin conversation, and 
continues the pleasantries with the queen and Æethelbert. Eventually, 
despite her avowed intention to not help Dino, she starts to discuss silk 
and cloth, and whether the queen would like to purchase some  more, 
and what the markets in Winchester would be like...

<><><><><>

[GM]

Æethelbert smiles ruefully. "Hmmm. Of course, they wouldn't speak 
Anglo-Saxon. But still, it seems rude to talk about them behind their 
backs, so to speak."


Æethelwulf's wife and sons are surprisingly good-natured. Even the 
king, who is a bit more distant, speaks courteously to all of you. Your 
first encounter with royalty is very pleasant, far more so than you might 
have expected. You've heard enough tales to know that kings, queens 
and princes are often anything but noble.

You notice your Roman friends' noses twitching now and then, though, 
and you know why. After living among Arabs and then socializing with 
upper-class Romans for so long, you've become less accustomed to the 
smell of unwashed bodies yourself. And Æethelwulf and his family, 
despite being royalty, are like most Anglo-Saxons. Regular bathing is 
not a common custom in Britain.


Osburga is interested in taking more silk home with her. Her husband 
seems indifferent, but Æethelbert is interested in the trade possibilities. 
"Once a lot of trade with Europe flowed through London," he says. "With 
the Norsemen constantly raiding, and now encroaching regularly in the 
channel and even chasing merchant ships, we're becoming more 
isolated and more of a backwater," he sighs. "I don't think any regular 
silk trade to Britain is possible right now, much as the wealthy would 
enjoy the luxury. It would be nice to take back a large quantity, either to 
resell or to distribute over the years in the form of gifts."


Dino, almost too eagerly, tries to pursue your initiative and talk about 
quantities and prices. None of the royals seem experienced or interested 
in bartering, though; the king's experience is in politics and warfare, 
Osburga has been mostly raising their four sons. Although she has a 
great deal of understanding concerning the political and military situation 
around Wessex, she doesn't participate in it much. She has devoted 
herself to her children. She speaks freely about this, and with some 
pride. "Do you know how many kingdoms are torn asunder by fighting 
among the heirs?" she asks. "We agreed our children would be raised to 
respect their parents and love one another, and we have placed that 
above any ambitions for our kingdom. We have not regained the lands 
we once held, when my father-in-law annexed most of southern Britain. 
But we have fine sons who will make us proud." Æethelbert looks down 
and blushes a little. Alfred waves his arms and laughs.


You eventually persuade King Æethelwulf to take back several large 
bolts of the Savorinos' most expensive silk with him, despite Dino's 
interference. If he hadn't been present and insisting on trying to appear 
to be in charge of business negotiations, you probably could have sold a 
great deal more. Certainly Queen Osburga and Prince Æethelbert were 
interested in your conversation, whereas King Æethelwulf was only 
listening to Dino out of courtesy. Antonella and Lavinia probably 
entertained him and his younger son more, but not for their 
conversational abilities.

Osburga watches her sons and to a lesser extent her husband indulge 
Antonella and Lavinia in all their silly changes of subject, and rather 
breathless fawning over royalty (actually, Antonella doesn't fawn, she 
just gushes a little too effusively). The queen is quite aware of the effect 
the two beautiful, buxom girls are having on her men, but she smiles as 
indulgently as they smile at the girls.

"I was a great beauty also when I was their age," she whispers to you, 
without any trace of pridefulness. "After seven children, one simply can't 
compete with such well-rounded youth." She chuckles. "You have a fine 
figure yourself. I'm sure you noticed poor Æethelbert giving you eyes, 
until you let slip you were married." She winks at you. "Is that a true 
story, or just something you made up to avoid having to fend off the 
advances of a prince? You needn't worry, I didn't raise my sons to 
behave like Vikings. If he does proposition you, he'll take a demure 
rejection gracefully."

<><><><><>

[Agnes]

She smiles at Osburga's wink. Despite her being a queen, Agnes 
genuinely likes her. 
She gives a little shrug, and when Æethelbert is distracted by the other 
girls, whispers back, "Thank you for your compliment about my figure, 
your majesty.
I didn't want to lead Æethelbert into false hopes. The man I alluded to 
and I were never really married, and I have no idea if he'll ever return. 
But I am content to stay in Rome a while to get accustomed to European 
ways again, and to see if he does turn up. I doubt I'll wait seven years 
for him though. That is a long time. I wouldn't want Æethelbert to waste 
his time chasing me, when he could be pursuing the likes of Lavinia."

<><><><><>

[GM]

Osburga laughs softly. "I think he knows Lavinia is unavailable to him. It 
would not be a good thing for us to leave deflowered daughters of 
Roman nobility behind us. I'd give him a thrashing myself, if he did such 
a thing." She looks at you suddenly, and puts a hand on yours. "I'm 
sorry, I didn't mean to imply your virtue is any less than that girl's. 
But.....Æethelbert probably thought you might be more amenable to a 
casual fling. A Roman woman isn't going to sacrifice her marriagability 
just to be seduced by a 'barbarian' prince. A fellow Anglo-Saxon might 
find the prospect appealing." Her eyes dance. "I'm sorry, I probably 
sound terrible." She musses her little son's hair. "Such an improper 
mother you have."

"I take it you have no children, Agnes?"

<><><><><>

[Agnes]

"No, I have no children," she replies, looking wistfully at Alfred.

It had been a long time since she had been in the company of children, 
and even longer since she had been with one like Alfred, that obviously 
had taken a shine to her. A long moment of silence engulfs her, as she 
thinks of what will never be ... the price of immortality.

"I cannot bear children," she says quietly, looking back to the queen 
from Alfred. "I was told that by a monk I knew and trusted, and who was 
right in most other things he told me. I know it to be true."

She feels quite low, despite the company.

Looking about, she catches Æethelbert watching her. She smiles and 
lowers her eyelids demurely.
She glances back to the queen. "I had thought he was wife-hunting; 
which was why I suggested Lavinia," she whispers, and looks back at 
the boy.

She looks him up and down a couple of times, and lets him see her 
doing so, before turning back to Osburga. "I don't know. He is 
handsome, but I wouldn't want to make Alfred jealous - him having taken 
such an obvious shine to me first.

<><><><><>

[GM]

"Hmmm. He is of an age to marry, but we weren't thinking of making a 
match in Rome," Osburga says. She looks at Lavinia more appraisingly. 
"A very pretty girl, and she'll be big and healthy, if she's like her sister. 
But I rather doubt she'd be enthusiastic about being carried off to 
Britain."


Æethelbert smiles back at you, and actually flushes a bit as he sees you 
looking him up and down and then whispering with his mother. He turns 
to Antonella and asks her something in a low voice, his eyes still darting 
back to you and Osburga. Antonella breaks out into giggles. The two of 
them continue whispering back and forth. Dino, in the middle of holding 
up another bolt of silk for the king, glances at his wife and Æethelbert, 
and frowns a little. Lavinia is talking to the younger prince right 
now....Æethelred is waving his arms, as if describing some battle, or 
perhaps a monster that's been devastating the wilds of Wessex. He has 
the look of a young man making up some such grand story to impress a 
girl. Just on the brink of manhood, and desperately trying to make a bold 
impression, and Lavinia, who is just beginning to realize she can have 
such an effect on men, is clearly enjoying it. Not very nice, to let 
Æethelred keep making a fool of himself, but you can hardly blame her 
for enjoying having the advantage for once. For months she's had much 
older men courting her (which is to say, in all likelihood telling her she's 
very pretty and then delineating exactly what her duties as a wife will 
be), and now she gets to be the older, more mature one who leaves the 
male flustered and unsure of himself.


Queen Osburga watches all this observantly.

"I think my sons will remember this audience better than they'll 
remember the audience with the Pope!" she says with wry amusement.

She chuckles at your comment. "Ah, but you'll have to wait much longer 
before Alfred is ready to flirt with you. It will be quite some time before 
we begin looking for a wife for him." She offers him to you. "Would you 
like to hold him? Mind, he likes to grab hair."

Lavinia's interest in the tongue-tied princeling wanes as she sees you 
playing with the baby, and she nods, lets their conversation lull, and 
drifts towards you.

<><><><><>

[Agnes]

"You are right, I think they will remember this occasion."

"Thank you your majesty," she replies taking Alfred, and sitting him on 
the crook of her arm, allowing them both to see each other and look out 
over the room.

She smiles at Lavinia as she approaches, and in mock reproval, says in 
Latin, "Shame on you Lavinia, teasing the young prince like that. Anyone 
would think you wanted to be a barbarian princess."

<><><><><>

[GM]

Lavinia blushes. "I wasn't teasing!" she says defensively, but the 
deepening blush on her cheeks says she knows she was.

Any other comment she might make is forestalled by the presence of the 
princeling's mother, so she simply curties to Queen Osburga and says 
"You have very nice sons, your Majesty."

"Thank you," Osburga replies gravely, with a regal nod of her head, but 
a twinkle in her eye. Lavinia immediately kneels in front of you and 
makes faces at Alfred. "Ooooh, he's so CUTE!" she exclaims, in girlish 
fashion. Alfred looks at Lavinia dubiously, then tries to grab her long 
blonde hair.



When your visit is concluded, the King and Queen of Wessex see you 
off with genuine warmth. Osburga grasps your hands and says "I was 
quite serious, Agnes....do come to Winchester, if ever you make your 
way back to Britain again."

Young Æethelred watches Lavinia wistfully as she departs. His older 
brother elbows him teasingly, but then steps forward to grasp your 
hands after his mother does. "It was very nice to meet you, Agnes," he 
says in Anglo-Saxon. He leans close and whispers "We will be in Rome 
for another month....I would not mind having a tour of the city from 
someone who knows it, and speaks my language, if it please you. And if 
you have the time, of course."

<><><><><>

[Agnes]

"Thank you, your Majesty. If I get back to Britain, I will visit Winchester," 
she replies. 

To Æethelbert, she whispers, "Of course. I would be delighted to."

As they walk back through the Vatican, she says to the others. 
"Well, I am glad we went to meet them. Queen Osburga was delightful 
company. Antonella chatted with a king." She looks over at the soon to 
be blushing Lavinia: "Vinni flirted outrageously with a prince. Dino got to 
meet royalty and sell them a fair quantity of silks.
It all went rather well..."

She looks over at Dino, with a serious look on her face, "... once it 
recovered from a bad start. Dino, I would be grateful if you would refrain 
from treating me like some indentured serving girl. You will find I will 
embarrass you less often that way."

 She finishes off with a sweet smile for him.

<><><><><>

[GM]

Dino glowers at you. "You embarrassed me deliberately!" he snaps. 
"You just love to pretend you're in charge and you know everything, 
don't you?"

"Dino, stop it!" Antonella chides him, none too gently. "Agnes is right, 
you were rude and hopelessly inept, and if not for her we'd probably be 
leaving empty-handed! You should be grateful instead of resentful-"


Regardless of the truth behind her words, even you might have 
cautioned Antonella about so baldly calling her husband "inept" in front 
of others. To be chastised in such a manner by one's wife is an indignity 
few men will endure, and Dino turns red, his expression contorted with 
barely-suppressed fury. "Shut up! Just shut up!" he growls. "We're going 
home, and I don't want to hear another word out of you!"

Now Antonella turns red, and you sense an imminent explosion, even 
before you make it out the gates of the Vatican.


"I thought that Prince Æethelbert was rather handsome," Lavinia says 
demurely, trying to divert the brewing confrontation between her sister 
and brother-in-law. "Perhaps I haven't your talent for flirting, Agnes." 
Despite the blush that you did indeed create, she smiles at you and 
manages a bit of cattiness, though not meant with any real malice, just 
teasing- a kitten trying out her claws; "If I had your years of experience, 
I'm sure I could attract a prince with just a few flutters of my eyelashes. I 
suppose age has some advantages."


This proves so disarming, Antonella and even Dino burst out laughing. 
No one would think of you as an 'older woman', looking at you, so 
Lavinia's attempt at a barb is just silly. But it did distract the feuding 
couple, though only momentarily. It's painfully obvious that if Dino and 
Antonella don't both grow up and learn to make some accomodations for 
one another, their marriage is not going to be a happy one.

<><><><><>

[Agnes]

Despite wanting to, and almost doing so, she decides against launching 
a retort at Dino, arguing her case and calling him a spoiled brat. It would 
definitely not help Antonella's marriage.

She too laughs at Lavinia's comment.
"Oh, Vinni, Do I really look that old to you?

I just flirted all through my childhood."

With a disarming smile, she adds, "Anyway, if I was that good, you 
wouldn't have noticed me doing it.

And you are one to talk about flirting, Signorina Gallini. The queen 
herself commented that Prince Æethelbert was more likely to remember 
your visit than any other part of his stay in Rome - even the audience 
with His Holiness the Bishop of Rome."

She has some other comments to make about flirting, but decides that 
they had best be kept for when Dino wasn't there.
She keeps the conversation light as they retrace their steps out of the 
Vatican. There seemed little point in stoking the fires between Dino and 
Antonella.

<><><><><>

[GM]

Lavinia blushes even more deeply. "Oh, really! That *boy* was nice 
enough, but prince or not, he's still just a boy."

"A few years ago, you were just a girl," Antonella teases, poking her 
sister. "Now you have boys and men who see you quite differently."

"Well, she'll be married soon enough," Dino says. "Then she can behave 
like a proper married woman."

Antonella turns and narrows her eyes at Dino, but doesn't say anything. 
Lavinia looks uncertain whether she has been insulted, or if this is more 
tense sniping between her sister and her brother-in-law.



The four of you walk back to the Gallini estate, taking Lavinia home. 
Then you and Dino and Antonella walk to the Savorino estate. Antonella 
starts to invite you inside, but Dino says "No, I don't feel like entertaining 
tonight."

"Well I do!" Antonella snaps.

Dino seizes her wrist and nearly jerks her towards him. "You need to 
remember whose house this is!" he says angrily. He glares at you. "Your 
pardon, *Signora* Agnes," he says caustically, "but you will have to 
gossip with my wife another time. We will be retiring for the evening."

Antonella is crimson with fury and humiliation, and her other hand is 
clenching into a fist.

<><><><><>

[Agnes]

She can feel the tension as they walk back from the Gallini estate. 

That it comes to a head in their doorway comes as no real surprise. 
She is saddened that it has come to this, and so quickly. There is little 
that she can do for Antonella - she has promised to obey her husband, 
and has virtually no rights but those that come through him.

"It's alright, Antonella, I need some sleep after what has been a busy 
day. Maybe some other time.

Good day to you, Dino."

She leaves.

She is sad for her friend, but it is her life. Until she dies, she will try not 
to interfere too much.

She heads for home.
Tomorrow, she will see what Dino's attitude is - assuming he deigns to 
put in an appearance - it may indicate how things went at home.
Maybe she'll visit Antonella if she gets away from work before Dino, or 
maybe on the way back from the docks.

<><><><><>

[GM]

When Dino arrives the next morning, he is quiet and sulky. He avoids 
looking you in the eye. But he walks around the warehouse and takes 
note of what's in stock, and what arrives today, with unusual dedication. 
Not to say that he really knows what he's doing, but he makes himself 
look busy and tries to act like he's really doing something useful.

Finally he approaches you, just before noon. He rocks back and forth on 
the balls of his feet, eyes fixed on the ground in front of you. He looks 
like he's trying to dislodge something painful from his throat. Which in a 
sense, he is.

"I suppose, uh....I should....I may owe you...an apology." He grimaces 
visibly as he says it.

Once that's out, he manages to continue with a little less difficulty. "I 
know you've worked very hard for us." He clears his throat. "And you are 
probably somewhat responsible for our marriage." He manages to make 
*that* sound as if it could be gratitude or blame.

"Antonella and I.....we...uh....I suppose neither of us is quite what the 
other expected. Getting along isn't as easy as we hoped."

<><><><><>

[Agnes]

She smiles. "Thank you for you for your apology, Dino.
I caused my husband enough trouble - I don't think he knew what he was 
getting into either. I didn't expect any less from Antonella."


She stands from her chair, with the ledger on the desk in front of it.
"You could have done much worse than Antonella,  and maybe much 
better, but you seemed to be too engrossed in the pleasures of the now, 
to worry about the long term."

She shrugs. "Well, that is what you get with a whirlwind courtship. Had 
you been slower, she might have been married off to someone else, had 
you taken longer, you might have known more about her."

"I think you will both survive each other."

 She takes the opportunity of the enforced break from work to unsheath 
her sword, and acting as if he wasn't there, whilst still talking to him, 
practices a few strokes at imaginary targets.
 
"No doubt you will have some tiffs - for Antonella is strong willed. But 
then wouldn't you rather have a woman who will stand up for herself, an 
you and your family, than some weak-willed wallflower that relies upon 
you for everything."

She watches Dino as she goes through her routine, smiling at him, and 
his discomfort. 
"If you fight against her all the time, she will fight against you. You need 
to get her to fight with you.

 It might help if you allowed her some leeway, maybe allowed her some 
say in how things were done. Initially, only those places, where it doesn't 
matter to you, of course. But it would make a better bond if you allowed 
her to make some decisions where it did matter. And if she is wrong? 
Fine, tell her where she went wrong and why."

"You are a good man at heart Dino, otherwise I would have told her not 
to marry you. 
I trust you will live up to my recommendation."

<><><><><>

[GM]

Dino mumbles "Well, yes....I suppose," in response to most of your 
comments.

"She has such a temper! She can start screaming like a harpy, and I just 
want..." he clenches a fist, looks at you and your sword, and unclenches 
it. "Then she'll decide to make up, and she can be so....." a blissful smile 
spreads across his face. "...sweet."

He scuffs his feet. "Ahem. Anyway.....we...both felt we owed you an 
apology for that scene."


He suddenly looks directly at you. "Why do you carry that damn sword 
around, anyway? If I'm supposed to be frightened, I'm not!" He sounds 
irritated, which means no doubt your sword does make him more 
nervous than he'll admit, but he goes on. "I mean, have you ever really 
believed you needed that thing? I've never actually assaulted you, and I 
wouldn't!" Of course it's typical of Dino to assume all your actions are a 
reaction to him.

"It sets a bad example for other women," he finishes, and that suggests 
what's really bothering him. "It's one thing to want a wife who's assertive 
and capable, but quite another for a wife to want to practice *arms*, as if 
she was a soldier!"

<><><><><>

[Agnes]

"Really, Dino. If I thought I needed a sword to defend myself against 
you, I wouldn't be here. However, it was from the streets of this very city 
that I was abducted to Afriqua, and if it happens again, I want to have 
every chance of escaping. Last time I wasn't good enough to make good 
my escape - I only killed three of them. 

I am just staying in practice. Maybe next time killing three will be 
enough.
Anyway, one day, I will be on the road again as a travelling merchant, 
and brigands are not fussy about the sex of their victims when it comes 
to stealing their goods. That I am in practice may be the difference 
between all in the caravan being slain, and at least some surviving."

"Of course, carrying the sword has already made the difference between 
me being robbed or not, on the streets of your fair city, never mind the 
wilds of the Alps."

She stops and sheaths her sword. 
"Wouldn't you rather have a wife who could defend herself, your honour 
and your villa, than some poor simpering soul cowering in the cellar 
whilst theives relieve you of your fortune whilst you are off on business?"

<><><><><>

[GM]

"Well.....maybe," Dino says, looking doubtful.

He scowls. "A woman certainly shouldn't be bragging about killing 
people, though!"

"Antonella says you were teaching her how to use a sword, in Afriqua. 
She wants to continue her lessons. Apparently her father wouldn't allow 
that in his household, I can't imagine why," he adds sarcastically.

"I don't like the idea at all. But if I don't let her have her way with 
something, I'll have no peace."

"I'll think about it."

He stalks off. Knowing Dino (and Antonella), she will get her way....but 
Dino will spend some time "thinking about it" and making sure you both 
realize that if Antonella gets her way, it's by his sufferance.



You see Antonella that afternoon, who is bored and beginning to drink 
too much again. Watching her and Dino resolve their marital difficulties 
promises to be rather tedious. But if you can get her practicing with the 
sword again, at least she'll have something to occupy her mind and 
body....and you won't have so much work to do to get her in shape once 
her real training begins.


The next day, one of King Æethelwulf's Thegnes, the one who speaks 
decent Latin, comes to the warehouse asking for you.

"Prince Æethelbert sent me to fetch you," he says, looking you up and 
down with a little smile. It brings back memories of how a Northumbrian 
Thegne looked you up and down, many years ago. "He didn't quite put it 
that way, of course."

"He said he didn't want to interrupt your business, and I can wait until 
your employer dismisses you for the day."

<><><><><>

[Agnes]

"It would be politic for me to finish this," she replies in Anglo-Saxon. 
"Please take a seat."

After ten minutes, whilst she finishes off what she is doing, she says, 
"Done," and stands.

She lifts the scabbarded sword from beside the desk, and slides it 
through the slit in the top of her skirt. She then rather inelegantly, but in 
a practiced way, lifts the side of her skirt away from the Thegn in order 
to do the buckle of the belt.

She notes his rather incredulous expression, and comments, "I don't 
trust Romans in general, and in particular I don't trust them to be able to 
stop the next saracen raid."

<><><><><>

[GM]

"I see," the Thegne says, with a too-straight face. He sounds bemused 
as he says, "Yes, these Romans are a dangerous lot."


As you leave the Savorino warehouse, he makes a disparaging sound. 
"Saracens! All these people do is cluck about the one big raid on the city 
two years ago, but meanwhile they enjoy all the luxuries of undisrupted 
trade routes. They'd wet their pants if they ever saw a fleet of Viking 
longships coming up the Tiber."


With that 'Our invaders are worse than their invaders' soliloqy, the 
Thegne proceeds to ask you about how you came to Rome, whether you 
like it, where you're from originally (commenting on your northern 
accent), and other inquiries to satisfy his own curiousity whilst he sizes 
you up.

Of course you've learned that Rome's trade routes are anything but 
undisrupted; the spread of Islam has cut off the whole of North Africa 
and the East, from whence wealth once came which would cause 
Rome's present grandeur to pale in comparison. And the Vikings have 
harmed some of their Atlantic trade as well....though coming overland, 
the Norse have by and large created more trade than they've obstructed. 
And, the cities of Italy are in heavy competition for what trade is left. 
Then there is the Byzantine Empire to the east, another competitor.


A man of war like the king's Thegne has probably had no opportunity or 
interest in studying Europe's economy. Britain's kingdoms continue to 
shed as much blood fighting each other as they do fending off Vikings. 
He is more polished than the few nobles you remember meeting the last 
time you were in Britain, fourteen years ago, probably because he is one 
of King Æethelwulf's personal retainers, but he makes it clear he has 
little patience for Roman civilization and Roman snobbery.


He does not take you directly back to the Vatican, but brings you instead 
to an old temple dedicated to one of Rome's pagan gods. Some remain, 
despite occasional calls by churchmen to tear them all down, because 
the architecture is so splendid, and as what little culture that remains in 
Europe continues to disappear in a maelstrom of petty wars and Viking 
raids, the inhabitants of the city are making an attempt to preserve some 
legacy of their past glories.

Prince Æethelbert is waiting there. Apparently he escaped his family 
with only this one retainer to accompany him. He smiles when you 
approach.

"Hello, Agnes. Thank you so much for coming." Today he's dressed in 
slightly less formal clothing, though still more elegant and colorful than 
what he undoubtedly wears back home. He has his own sword still 
buckled at his side. He wouldn't pass for a Roman, but he looks a little 
less like a "barbarian prince".

<><><><><>

[Agnes]

She tells the Thegne that she is originally from Bernicia, and gives him 
the same condensed story of her life that she gave the King and Queen. 
She does all this in Anglo Saxon. She is pleased to be able to speak it 
again and listen to it be spoken, that she doesn't mind appearing or 
sounding common and uneducated.
That he has no interest in trade does not surprise her - he is a Thegne 
after all.

She smiles back at the Prince when he smiles at her. 
"Hello, Prince Æethelbert. It is not often I get the chance to walk with a 
Prince, nor to talk in Anglo Saxon. How could I refuse?"


"Now where should we start? Is there anything in particular you would 
like to see?"

<><><><><>

[GM]

"Well," Æethelbert says, considering. "Yes, there is."

"I have already seen all the great monuments, the temples, the 
aquaducts, the cathedrals, the gates.....everything that makes Rome 
great." He waves a hand as if to dismiss such greatness. "Very pretty, 
and very impressive, but surely the residents of this city don't spend all 
their time admiring buildings their ancestors built a thousand years ago."


He grins at you, an almost boyish grin, with a flirtatious quality about it. 
"I'd like to see where Romans go to enjoy themselves. I'm interested to 
know if these sophisticated heirs to a great empire have more pleasant 
ways to spend their idle time than we do, back in Wessex." He switches 
to Latin, and speaks with an exaggerated Anglo-Saxon accent, so thick 
as to be comical. "Ve are a simple people in Vessex, ja, ve sink, ve 
dance....und for real big fun, sometimes ve tip cows over." Behind you, 
the Thegne chuckles, at the prince's imitation of a bucolic Saxon 
peasant, the Roman stereotype.

<><><><><>

[Agnes]

She chuckles at his imitation too.

"Oh but zire, I but a zimple country lazz be," she replies in Latin with as 
thick a Saxon accent as she can manage. 
"For yearz, zimple cow tipping to zee again haff I longed."

She claps her hands together in mock delight, "To Rome you haff some 
cows for this brought?"

She shrugs and returns to Anglo Saxon. "You have to remember that 
this is how I am viewed by Romans all the time. My accent may not be 
that thick, but I am still viewed as a barbarian, unable to appreciate the 
finer points of culture. For a start - I don't know any Greek.

Rome stills tries to pretend that it has a great empire and is the centre of 
culture. 
There are still plays put on, choirs, exhibitions of paintings and all those 
sorts of things."
With a smile, she adds, "Being a barbarian of course, I have never been 
invited to such things."

"They do have baths, one of their pastimes I must admit I quite enjoy." 

She shrugs, "If you wanted to know about pastimes, I am probably not 
your best choice to ask. I can tell you about the finer points of leather-
work, needle-work and dress-making, but I suspect you don't want to 
know about that. I suppose there is some horse racing and chariot 
racing now and again, where they relive the glory days. And gamble 
substantial sums of money."

<><><><><>

[GM]

Æethelbert snorts. "I don't speak Greek either, and your Latin is better 
than mine." He smiles at you, curiously. "You're very well-educated for 
the daughter of a craftsman."


He snorts again and comments "Baths....too much bathing weakens your 
health. Probably why these Romans are becoming so soft." He smiles 
apologetically and adds "But I'm sure it's a luxury a woman would 
appreciate more."

"In any event, in Winchester we haven't the advantage of all these 
aquaducts to carry water around to fill and drain bath-houses. I 
understand there were once some Roman baths there, but they were 
built over long ago."


"Well.....my father will kill me if I gamble substantial sums of money. We 
can't afford to squander gold like that, not with all the troops we have to 
raise every year, and all the fortifications we have to build."

"He's already going to kill you when he finds out you slipped away by 
yourself just to go sightseeing," the Thegne comments.

"But I'm not by myself, Theodric, that's why I brought you. And Agnes of 
course."

"You didn't bring me, I came," Theodric snorts. Obviously he is the 
prince's self-selected chaperone. Æethelbert shrugs and murmurs to 
you, "If I'd stayed in our quarters this evening, I'd be listening to my 
father talking with some Frankish prince. He doesn't need me there. I 
can lead troops well enough, but I've no interest in government. My older 
brother is the heir anyway, it's doubtful I'll ever assume the throne."

More conversationally, he says "Chariot racing does sound interesting. 
Or would you like to see those plays and exhibitions you've been 
denied? I imagine they won't turn away a prince, even a 'barbarian' 
prince."

<><><><><>

[Agnes]

She smiles at the exchange between the two men, and wonders to 
herself how much Theodric was glad of Æethelbert's escape.

"What would you rather see, Æethelbert? I wouldn't mind seeing some 
of the exhibitions, but somehow, I can't see it being all that interesting to 
you and Theodric."

"What about going to the Hippodrome to see if there is any racing and if 
not when there might be some. And if there is none, we can try one of 
the exhibitions."

"But, if you like, I can show you the markets and the smiths' streets, 
perchance to see something you might not be able to get back in 
Britain."

"After all, you are the visitor. I may have other opportunities in Rome to 
visit all sorts."

<><><><><>

[GM]

Æethelbert smiles. "Well....you've got me. I'm not really that interested in 
looking at more old statues and jewelry and frescoes." His eyes light up. 
"Let's go to the Hippodrome! That sounds enjoyable."


Theodric is muttering something as he trails along behind you, a few 
paces distant, but you can't make out what it is.

You arrive at the Hippodrome in time to catch one small horse-race, the 
last of the day. No chariots, alas. Æethelbert chooses a horse at 
random, and cheers it on, but he seems more interested in watching the 
Roman spectators, and the way they scream, cheer and curse at their 
favorites. And in watching you.

He obviously finds you attractive, and isn't bothering to hide it. But 
neither is he being aggressive. Of course he shouldn't be flirting with 
you at all, since you're married, but trying to get another man's wife in 
bed is an old sport. He's nicer than most would-be amorous men, 
though, and Osburga did assure you he'd take a refusal gracefully.


After the race, he walks with you through the markets. Here, you see he 
could easily be induced to spend much more money than he should, 
being unfamiliar with the going price on most items, and having little skill 
in haggling. But he picks up some decorative items for his mother, for 
some of his relatives back home, and seems determined to buy a few 
highly-priced trinkets for you as well.

Over Æethelbert's shoulder, Theodric winks at you, being quite aware of 
what's going on. No doubt he's waiting to see whether his young charge 
is going to get "lucky" (and thus whether he'll be out all night, making 
sure the prince doesn't get into trouble.)

<><><><><>

[Agnes]

She supposes that she should have known better. She  was so pleased 
to be speaking her native tongue again, that she had pushed to the back 
of her mind the motivation that went behind the visit. She started to get 
uneasy at the Hippodrome, but here in the markets, she can guess for 
whom he is thinking of buying the trinkets that he is eying up.

"I am flattered, Æethelbert. That you are considering buying me 
something is compliment enough. Please don't spend your money on 
me."
She smiles and adds, "As I told you about the things you bought your 
mother, you are paying too much. You must learn to haggle.
And like me, the stall-keeper can see it in your eyes when you really 
want something, when if you feigned indifference, he might believe your 
threat to walk away empty-handed."

She feels so out of practice. She knows she has been sending him the 
wrong signals. **I am a married woman, damnit! And I love my 
husband!**
But unlike with Dino, she is enjoying Æethelbert's company, and 
Theodric's. She would happily stay with them all evening, but then of 
course his expectations would rise...
But to disappoint him now, would mean an end to the pleasant company. 

After dissuading him a second time from buying a trinket, she sighs and 
leads him aside.
"Æethelbert. I am a married woman. My husband is not here, but I am 
still faithful to him.
You are very handsome, and if I were single I would let you take me to 
bed. But I am married, and I would be filled with remorse tomorrow.
I am enjoying your company, but I do not want to lead you on in a false 
sense of hope."

She plants a small kiss on his lips.
"I have enjoyed today. Don't feel obliged to continue, now that I have 
told you this. I will quite understand."

"If you would both like, once you are finished here, I could cook you both 
something rather less Roman for your evening meal?"

<><><><><>

[GM]

Æethelbert looks disappointed, of course, but musters a smile. "Well," 
he sighs. "I can't fault you for that."

"I couldn't believe my luck when the 'Roman merchants' coming to visit 
us turned out to include three beautiful women, one a Briton. It would be 
fruitless to pursue the two fair-haired sisters, of course, but I'd rather 
spend my time with a well-spoken Northumbrian lass anyway. I hope 
your husband values you as much as he should."


He offers you his arm, to walk back and rejoin Theodric, who is standing 
a ways off, arms folded, watching the two of you with a speculative smile 
in his lips. "A proper dinner would be wonderful. Theodric does nothing 
but complain about the terrible fish-paste and spiced...'delicacies' that 
Romans enjoy so much."

<><><><><>

[Agnes]

"Oh, I am sure he does," she replies with a smile, thinking of Kemal, "I'm 
sure he does."

She takes his arm, and walks back with him towards Theodric.

"Theodric, I'm cooking you both a proper dinner."

She leads them back through the less well off parts of the city, where 
she buys ingredients: rabbits, turnips, some lard and some barley.

Despite his look, she proceeds to load Theodric with her purchases, 
before leading them back to her own house. In the room that is her 
kitchen, living room and dining room, she gets things laid out on the 
table. Prince or no, she tells Æethelbert to fill her cooking pot with water 
from the trough outside. Theodric is  set to lighting the fire whist she 
starts to prepare the ingredients. When the men are done she produces 
a skin of wine from the larder and some goblets, to keep them occupied 
whilst she gets on with the meal.

With the stew bubbling in the pot, and the other rabbit on a spit above 
the fire, she fetches a flask of meade from the larder.
"Perhaps this will help take away the taste of my cooking: I'm not very 
good really."

<><><><><>

[GM]

Theodric grumbles about being made to carry your groceries, but 
Æethelbert laughs at him. "You're the one who insisted on coming with 
me," he points out.


So, with a prince and a Thegne helping with the preparations, you fix a 
very good meal. As you serve the wine, Æethelbert tells you he's sure 
you're being too modest, which is just the expected flattery, but after 
dinner, Theodric belches and says "Not very good, hah! Tell you what, 
forget this scrawny brat-" he gestures at Æethelbert, "and come home 
with me, and teach MY wife how to cook!"


At the end of the evening, Æethelbert sighs and says "Well, I suppose I 
must return to the Vatican, and get bawled out by my father."

"Oh, he probably thinks you're just out drinking and whoring," Theodric 
says, gesturing with his goblet, then looks down at it and then at you and 
coughs embarrassedly. Æethelbert flushes and glares at the Thegne. 
"Well I'm not!" he snaps. "And I don't do that back in Winchester either!"

Theodric grins at the prince's discomfiture.


The two men rise to leave. Æethelbert fishes into a pocket in his cloak, 
and pulls out a gold chain that he must have purchased when you 
weren't looking (and probably paid too much for.) He holds it out to you, 
as if to put it around your neck.

"You have to let me give you something," he says. "You showed me all 
around the city, and made the day much more pleasant than it would 
otherwise have been. And Theodric and I drank all your wine."

He touches your cheek. "I wouldn't have treated you like a whore," he 
murmurs, unnecessarily, but probably made defensive by Theodric's 
tactlessness. "You're much too good a woman to be left waiting for years 
for your husband to return."

"Oh, give 'er a kiss and let's go!" Theodric yawns. Drink has made him 
both crass and tired, though the older man clearly doesn't mean 
anything by his comments. He's obviously used to saying whatever he 
feels like saying.

<><><><><>

[Agnes]

She blushes brights red, and looks and feels ashamed at at Theodric's 
jibe. She turns away to busy herself with something ... anything. And 
some utensils are moved unnecessarily.

She turns back when she hears the stools move against the floor, and is 
surprised to see Æethelbert with a chain in his hands.

The sight of it helps her recover from the Thegne's hurtful comment, and 
she steps up against Æethelbert, to let him put it around her neck. She 
puts her hands on his waist as his hands rest against her neck, fiddling 
with the clasp.  Suddenly she is very conscious of all the places where 
her body touches his. 

She has drunk too much wine in pleasant company, but even telling 
herself that wins no arguments in her mind.

The chain is too long, or perhaps her dress to demure, and he rests the 
links on the top. She looks down, and unbuttons the top two buttons, 
allowing the chain to nestle freely against her flesh.
She looks up at him, waiting for his eyes to return to her eyes from the 
chain.
"Thank you for the chain, Æethelbert. You really didn't have to."

She feels the touch of his hand on her cheek, and hears his words, and 
knows she is weakening. 
"I know you wouldn't," she murmurs.
She holds him close, and kisses him.

<><><><><>

[GM]

Æethelbert's hands rest against the base of your neck, even after he 
fastened the chain and you let it slide down against your cleavage. His 
fingers twitch slightly, as if he's resisting the temptation to trace the path 
of the chain along your flesh.

You both hold the kiss much longer than you should have, and you can 
tell he is very much aware of all the places your bodies press together 
too.


Then Theodric harumphs and says "Are you going to take her to bed 
after all? I wish you'd let me know so I'll know where I'll be sleeping 
tonight."

Æethelbert pulls away, flushing angrily. He looks at you with longing and 
frustration, then glares at the Thegne, then looks back at you.

"Forgive him, Agnes," he says. "He's an old man, and he learned 
manners at the knee of his mother, who was the most frightful troll you 
ever saw."

The moment gone, he pulls away. "I....I hope I see you again, before we 
leave Rome."

As they walk away, Æethelbert punches Theodric in the ribs, cursing him 
out. The Thegne grunts, and then laughs, provoking another rough 
shove from the prince.

<><><><><>

[Agnes]

She laughs at Æethelbert's jibe at Theodric's expense, but it is forced, 
and it shows.

She makes no attempt to stop him pulling away.

"It would be nice to have your company again, Æethelbert," she 
murmurs, "you are a pleasant change from the usual Romans."

She watches them go, and, fingering her gold chain, stands watching 
until they round the corner and disappear from sight.

 It was a lucky escape she tells herself. She had been about to do 
something that she would have regretted, and she was glad she hadn't. 
She had a loving husband, and she was just waiting until she could 
return to him. She loved him and he loved her.

By noon the next day, she realised she was edgy, jumpy, distracted, and 
she knew why. She was shocked to realise that she was wearing the 
lowest cut of her dresses, and the gold chain around her neck. She 
blushed at what she had done, and blushed even more when she 
realised her thoughts were lingering on the nigh before's kiss.

<><><><><>

[GM]

"Well, aren't you dressed up nicely today?" Dino says, as he circles you 
and leers at you almost as brazenly as in his recent bachelor days. His 
eyes particularly linger on the extra cleavage you've bared, and the 
unfamiliar gold chain around your neck. "Since you've often told me that 
you don't do anything for my benefit, you must be showing yourself off 
for someone else, hmmm?"

Indeed, this is not at all how you'd normally dress to work. You feel 
Dino's eyes on you all day as you go about your duties in a distracted 
manner.

Æethelbert does not send Theodric or anyone else that day, nor do you 
receive a letter. But silly to expect you would, is it not? Especially after 
last night, his father will probably be riding herd on him much more 
closely. It may be a little while before he can get away again....

If your thoughts continue turning in that direction, Dino will notice your 
blushes as well, and then you will truly have no peace from him.


Before leaving that day, he says, "I've decided to allow you and 
Antonella to continue with this silly sword-play of yours....on the 
condition that you not encourage Antonella to talk back to me, nor 
disrespect me. It's all very well for a woman to be strong-willed, but I 
think you have inspired a certain....rebellious, disobedient spirit in her as 
well." He looks at you haughtily. "What your husband puts up with is his 
own affair, but I would never permit a wife of mine to behave as you do, 
and I'm not about to allow Antonella to do the same."

<><><><><>

[Agnes]

She tells herself off for acting like a teenager again, and suffers Dino's 
comments in relative silence. To try to bandy words with him is not going 
to do her any good - not dressed like this. She has allowed herself to be 
stupid and thoughtless: Dino's taunts are her just reward.
She concentrates on her work, trying hard to ignore the strange 
sensation of the gold chain around her neck.

As time passes, she realises that is likely to be days before anyone 
visits, if at all. **By then, hopefully, I will have returned to my normal 
self.**

"Thank you, Dino. I'm sure Antonella will appreciate it. I will not 
encourage her to talk back at you or be disrespectful to you, if that is 
what you want. I shall visit tomorrow evening, if that is convenient."

"Indeed," she replies quietly, but pointedly, "What my husband permits 
or otherwise is our affair."

The next day she dresses in a style in keeping with her normal self: 
sword and all. Long moments of indecision led her to put the gold chain 
in her pocket, and she found herself occasionally fingering it in her 
pocket like a rosary. Again she forced herself to be diligent, and kept 
stray thought at a distance. **Some sword-play this evening will surely 
take my mind off things,** she tells herself.

<><><><><>

[GM]

Sparring with Antonella again does seem to take your mind off things, for 
the moment. Exercise has always been a good distraction.

Antonella is out of shape, and wants to quit sooner than she used to. But 
she is very glad you came, and eager to continue her "lessons".

As the two of you sit and rest (or she sits and rests, you just wait for her 
to catch her breath), she asks innocently "Did you enjoy escorting the 
prince around? Dino told me he sent his man to fetch you the other day." 
Is it your imagination, or just paranoia, that her eyes seem to be on your 
face almost as if she's looking to see if you blush?


And three days later, Dino comes into your office and says with a poorly-
concealed smirk, "You have a visitor, Signora."

Prince Æethelbert has come, this time accompanied by another man-at-
arms, someone younger than Theodric, who is standing a discrete 
distance away.

<><><><><>

[Agnes]

"Yes, it was very pleasant. He was nice company and I got to talk in 
Anglo Saxon," she replies all to quickly.

She resists the urge to look away in embarrassment, and decides to out-
stare Antonella.

"Perhaps, we might do it again." 

She quickly looks away from Dino, and towards her visitor. 
Agnes rises from her seat, and curtsies, "Prince Æethelbert." 

"It is good of you to visit again."

She had thought about her answer, all the possibilities. Now though, 
now that he stood in front of her she didn't know which one to use: to be 
cold and distant and let him know that it was an incident best forgotten, 
or be warm and probably return to the situation they found themselves in 
before.

Dino's presence sways her. She si not going to change what she is 
going to do - just because he's there. He can think what he wants, and 
probably will, so there was no point in saying anything here.

"I trust your family is well? Have you had the audience with the Pope 
yet?"
"I was just going to have a break for lunch. Would you care to join me?"

She picks up her sword, and slides it on, pausing to buckle the belt, she 
looks back at Dino. "I shall see you later Dino."

<><><><><>

[GM]

"I would love to," Æethelbert says with a smile. He is warm, but still 
somewhat formal in manner. He shows no presumption that would give 
Dino even more cause to speculate, and harass you later.

Yet as you walk alongside him, you can sense he *wants* to offer you 
his arm. Or is that just you wanting him to?


"My family is fine," he says. "My father was annoyed at me, as Theodric 
predicted, but..." the young man shrugs. "He got over it."

"Yes, I met His Holiness." Æethelbert frowns slightly. "It was a 
memorable audience, of course, yet.....well, it seemed 
almost....disappointing." He glances at you. "I mean, I should have 
known better than to expect a halo of light, or angels waiting in 
attendance upon him, but when we actually met, the Pope was just such 
an.....*ordinary* man. I suppose that's not very pious of me." He looks 
abashed, but not really ashamed.

"So," he says, changing the subject, smiling again. Then whatever he 
was going to say gets caught in his throat, and he stammers 
unexpectedly. Then regains his composure. "Ummm....I thought perhaps 
I would take you to some of those exhibits, see some of that high culture 
you haven't had an opportunity to enjoy yet. If that's amenable to you, of 
course."

<><><><><>

[Agnes]

She walks beside him, neither offering her arm, nor taking his before he 
offers it. **It wouldn't be right,** she tells herself.

"I'm sorry that you felt His Holiness was so ordinary." She gives a little 
laugh, I found that the only king I have been introduced to was an 
ordinary man too. And so were his sons."

"Some high culture would be nice to see even if I only manage it this 
once. I think that visiting some exhibits would be a very good idea."

As they walk towards their goal, she asks, "What were you going to ask 
back there, before you asked about he exhibits?"

<><><><><>

[GM]

Æethelbert stares at you a moment, then laughs. "It never occurred to 
me someone might expect kings and princes to be unusual, the way I 
was expecting something....uncommon, about the Pope. No," he shakes 
his head, "even my own father says a king is just someone whose 
ancestor chose the right side a few wars ago."


When you prompt him, he looks a little embarrassed, and answers "Uh, 
nothing really." Then, as you walk, he tentatively takes your arm, 
watching to see if you pull away. "I was just thinking that I will probably 
miss you, when I return to Britain next week."

<><><><><>

[Agnes]

She lets him slip his arm through hers, not pulling away. 
"I will probably miss you too, Æethelbert. It is good to have your 
company, and your conversation."

They reach one of the halls where a patron is sponsoring a display of 
paintings. She stops at the steps of the grand building, looking up at it. 
"They do have rather impressive buildings here, don't they?" she 
comments as she looks at it - and also looks to see how and where 
others are entering, so that they might do similar and not look out of 
place.

"I suppose the politics behind these types of displays  are beyond me.
Maybe the sponsor gets a portion of the sale value, or there are things 
going on behind the scenes that induce him to do it," she comments as 
she stalls.

Noting what others are doing, she is about to start towards the entrance, 
when she remembers what's in her pocket. She slips her arm out of his, 
and takes it out. She holds the two ends of the golden chain - one in 
each hand, and offers it to him. 
"Would you fasten it around my neck again?" she asks.

<><><><><>

[GM]

Æethelbert smiles. "Of course."

He reaches over your shoulders, leans close, but not too close, and 
takes what seems like a long time, fastening the clasp behind your neck. 
His hands brush gently against your shoulders as he pulls them back, 
the chain now resting against your chest.

Then he takes your arm again and escorts you inside, where you admire 
a display of Greek and Byzantine art, and some pieces from even further 
away. A nobleman who is showing off his collection claims that some 
come from as far away as Persia and beyond.

Some of the art- paintings, scrolls, lacquered chess pieces and stone 
carvings- looks not much different than what you could find done in 
Rome, but other items are clearly foreign, made by people with different 
materials, different aesthetics, different ways of looking at the world. You 
can remember the beautiful rugs and tiled floors in Ifriquiya, made in 
intricate patterns few Europeans would bother with, precise and 
symetrical. But never a human figure, for the Muslims believe that 
attempting to depict one of God's creations is an insult to the creator. 
What kind of thinking goes into the militaristic figurines with high pointed 
hats and protruding noses, or the painting of some sort of animal, or 
possibly a demon, that flashes lightning from its face?

You can't tell if Æethelbert is really appreciating the art (which is 
definitely different, and more sophisticated, than most anything done in 
Britain), or appearing to