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 Posted: Sat Jan 09, 2016 4:28 pm
Nemea's eyebrows lifted, but she accepted his explanation. They might sound harsh to some people, but she understood. They wouldn't hurt their captive unless she struggled, the state of her wrists was entirely within her control. She was a criminal... she needed to accept justice for her crimes.
The dark sky drew her gaze and the knight considered it, her hands braced on the curves of her hips. After a few moments, she concluded Rayyan was most likely right... she suspected they'd be lucky to make it safely out the harbor. With the direction the wind was blowing, catching strands of her hair to fling them across her face, getting up river would be a struggle and further slow their progress. A difficult and dangerous journey that didn't need to be made tonight, in her opinion.
"Not a problem." She said as she turned with a firm step, her mind made up. "Your men can room at the Garrison with mine. There are cells to hold your prisoner, and as for you."
The dark haired woman cast a look over her shoulder, a wide grin pulling at her mouth. "My household would be honored to host a brother of Mars. You can weather the storm in comfort, start out fresh tomorrow."
That settled, in her mind, she led the way down the city street with a long stride. Around them, people scurried to take down the awnings to their stalls and get goods under cover. Some paused to offer greeting as the knights passed, most were to intent on what they were doing. The docks were not far and they made decent time, the growing tension in the air adding energy to their steps. Waiting by the ship was one of Nemea's men, holding her horse and his.
"I'll send another note ahead. When you're ready, I'll guide you to the villa." Nemea tossed over her shoulder with a smile.
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Posted: Fri Jan 22, 2016 1:15 pm
"As long as you have the room and resources, I have no objections." Rayyan hadn't missed the grin on her lips as she suggested housing him in her own villa - nor did he miss the annoyed looked on Silvia's face. Although she was not as delicate and fragile as her frame suggested, an over-full garrison of soldiers was probably not her idea of a good time. As it was, he didn't even waste the breath to scold her for her decisions. This was what deceit and trickery earned. When they approached the ship, Rayyan pardoned himself from Nemea's presence long enough to pass instructions on to his right-hand man, Jashon. The other man seemed pleased to see Silvia trailing along close to Rayyan's heels, as if he had never doubted his commanding officer for a moment. That was the loyalty and respect that Rayyan valued in him - and it was why he handed over the length of chain to Jashon's grasp. "She's not to be let out of those for the night. You and the rest of the men are to go to the garrison with Tanais' soldiers - chain her to the wall, shut the cell, and do not open it again until we are ready to leave in the morning." If it seemed like a harsh order, Jashon never showed. He simply bowed his head and clamped his fingers tightly around the length of chain now in his possession. Just before he turned to head back to where Nemea was waiting, he settled one last look on Silvia. "If I have to hunt for you again, next time it will be with a dead or alive order. Do you understand?" The briefest nod on her part was enough. When he returned to Nemea's side, it was with a polite, if shadowed smile. There was a night of relaxation ahead of him - though, as a good soldier, part of his mind was always on the task set to him. He would not relax entirely until the woman was safely locked within the cells of Gehenna and awaiting her trial. "All my affairs are in order here, please, guide away.." There was a hint of the same grin she had offered to him not minutes before.
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Posted: Sun Jan 31, 2016 5:04 pm
One note was actually two as Nemea relayed the news of guests to her men and her servants, detailing some small instructions about placement and what to make ready for them. She trusted her lieutenant to see to Rayyan's men at the garrison and her own stewardess to prepare the guest rooms and food at the villa proper. Lilian had a far easier job of it with only one to accommodate for than Marcos.
By the time Rayyan finished his preparations and joined them, the Knight of Tanais was seated comfortably on her horse waiting. Beside her, one of her men held his horse by the reins and bowed as he approached.
"Eldran will guide your men to the garrison and has offered his horse for you to use." She said. Her mare shifted under her, sidling a step as the sensitive creature caught the change in her mistress and growing threat of storm in the air. Nemea quieted her with a sift of the reins, far more relaxed now with the crisis had been averted and an entertaining evening ahead of her. Gehenna had never stayed at the river city before, or even lingered over long. The chance to see him off his ship and in the setting of her home was not to be missed.
---
By the time they made it to the villa, drops of rain had begun to mark the dusty ground. Trotting into the courtyward before the tall, grand home with its elegant pillars and pale stonework, Nemea slowed and lifted her face to the sky. The rain flecked her cheeks and she smiled at the feel of it, something in the dark roll of clouds over head setting even her warrior's heart to beating a little faster in excitement. She loved storms... but tonight would not be a night to enjoy the power of nature on display, at least not until later.
A young boy raced out from the stables, looking about twelve with his gangly limbs and mop of brown curls. When the knight dismounted, she gave the reins over to him and, though her mare had shown herself spirited, he seemed to have no trouble bringing her into line under a familiar hand. His honey eyes were curious when he turned to the second rider, recognizing Eldran's horse, but not the man who sat astride it.
"Welcome to my home, Brother." Nemea said as she swept a hand out at the complex with its red tile roof. To the left of the house proper was the stables and on the other side of that was a smaller, less grand building with a professional air about it. "I'll show you where your room is and then, if you'd like, you can join me in the baths before dinner. The house is well appointed... one of the perks to running a city like this. The wine cellar is also well appointed."
The tall woman laughed as she headed for the wide front doors, stepping under the cover of the walkway around the courtyard as the rain began in earnest.
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Posted: Wed Feb 03, 2016 1:18 pm
The short ride to Tanais' villa was exhilarating in a way he had only come to appreciate as a soldier of Mars. Memories of running from the storms that rippled across Earth, of crawling into dusty, dirty shelters and holding a quivering younger brother until they'd passed, it all melted away in the wake they left behind in the dusty beat of their horses' hooves. Once he had feared the strength and raw power of Mother Nature, but she was a warrior like all others, demanding her prowess be recognized. As he stepped over the edge of the horse and planted both feet on the ground of her courtyard, Gehenna too looked up at the sky with reverence and felt the cold, harsh wind of the forefront bit at his cheeks. Mars was a goddess of war and her storms, birthed of a harsher world, made Earth's seem mere tantrums. "This one is going to be nasty," he murmured beneath his breath. Almost as an afterthought, he looked down at the reigns still clutched in his hand, then handed them over to the boy with his head of thick brown curls. A single pat was spared for the hocks of the horse that had brought him, then all of his attention turned back to his gracious sister-in-arms. The small drops of rain that had begun to spatter the dusty earth lingered on his body, clinging to his traveling tunic and sticking like glimmering dew among the folds of his locks. "I am at your mercy, Sister, lead me as you will. Who am I to know your homestead better than you?" There was a difference in his face already. With duty pushed to the back of his mind and a long night of baths and wine already promised, Rayyan was letting go of the oath that bound him to his station and embracing the man that he was without it. Rayyan of Earth, the lucky street rat that commanded an army and really, really liked a good, well-aged red. "Lead the way and I shall follow." And even with the rain beginning to pick up its pace, he bowed his head and waited.
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Posted: Mon Feb 08, 2016 8:28 pm
Nemea laughed at his comment as she strode for the door.
"Not yet, Brother." She tossed over her shoulder as the door opened before her, as though anticipating her arrival. Inside, a young woman bowed her head as they entered, her blonde curls pinned up on her head and her clothes the simple cut of a servant.
"Thank you, Coral." She said as she brushed past and took a left, heading for another open doorway with a pause to deliver some quick instruction. "Bring one of the bottles of red to the baths and some cheese. We're going to soak some of the Mars dust off before dinner. Mmm... send Nike as well."
There was a sly smile on her face when she finally passed through the doorway into the a large, spacious room dominated by a moderately sized pool, the corners of which were crowned with small statues of sea nymphs pouring water from vases on their shoulders. It tinkled sweetly into the pool, but the frigidarium was not the immediate focus of Nemea's attention. There was an abbreviated apodyterium inside the doorway, with woven baskets along benches. This was where the tall woman went first and into the basket went her clothing, down to her sandals and the leather bracers around her wrists.
"I will have the staff clean your things while we bathe." She said over a bare shoulder as she worked the thong out of her hair and let the mass of black fall down her spine in thick waves threaded with braids and gold beads. "We have a full set of bathing pools here. It was one of the features of the house I put emphasis on and I allow the servants and upper officers to use it."
Barefoot, she padded to the bath and slipped smoothly down the built in stairs, the water sliding up her legs to her hips and then to her waist as she moved further in. Drawing a deep breath, she dipped herself under the surface and came back up, shoving wet hair back from her face as cool water ran down her face and shoulders. The pool was wide enough to swim laps in, but Nemea settled for rinsing the dust off as she headed for the stairs on the other end.
The walls around them reflected the clatter of the water with their ceramic mosaic tiles. Scenes of the river flowed from one to the next, filled with water reeds and stylized fauna. In contrast to the browns and greens, the tile of the pool was water blues, as though they stood in the center of the river itself.
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Posted: Sun Mar 20, 2016 2:26 pm
Rayyan fell in step behind his gracious hostess obediently, content to follow her in silence as he drew his first impressions of her and her homestead. How one treated servants, and how they returned it, was a pretty good indication of character. He had never doubted that Tanais was a respectful woman but it was nice to see the loyalty she inspired in those around her. She was a true Knight of Mars if he'd ever known one. "It's breathtaking," his voice felt too loud in the enclosed room around them, reverberating off the walls like a low rumble of thunder, and he bit off the last syllable awkwardly in his attempt to withdraw the noise. Instead of words, he chuckled lowly to himself, bemused. His dark eyes trailed from the extravagant barriers that had repelled his voice back at him, to the smooth, dark plane of bared skin between her shoulder blades and down over the slope of - His eyes, respectfully, snapped back to the floor at his boots and he ducked inside the small space to put his own gear into one of the baskets. Small trickles of red dust pooled at his feet as he knocked caked up layers of it free from the creases in his tunic and greaves. Finally free of his traveling gear, he emerged from the room and followed her lead down the slick steps of the pool, until every inch of his dark skin was submerged beneath the surface. The travel-worn knight took the extra time to swim a few strokes beneath the crest of the cool, clear water and once he finally emerged, he was soaked thoroughly and free of the clinging red earth of Mars. Sometimes he felt like he would never be free of it. As he rose up to follow her to the opposite end, small rivers of water dripped from his dreads and trailed down the flat plane of his back. His eyes again found focus on the space between her shoulders, tracing the length of her inky hair as the tips ended along her spine. Belatedly, Rayyan realized that drinking wine in the baths with Nemea might be more of a challenge than tracking Sylvia down for the fourth time. "Gehenna is not really a place with so many pleasantries," he offered with a tease in his tone, though he was careful to speak softer than before, "I must say that I can't help being a bit envious. My men will swarm this place if you let them in." The words ended with another deep, chest-rumbling chuckle. He loved his men dearly, but they were a rowdy bunch - a short stay on Mjolnir nearly ten years previous and they had never been the same.
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Posted: Tue Mar 29, 2016 2:39 pm
He seemed intimidated by the way noise bounced around inside the bath and it made Nemea smile with her back turned to him. The water than ran down her back and over her hips took the dust of the Red Planet with it and they left it behind as they climbed from the frigidarium to head to the next pool.
This one had warmed water, but not hot, and the tall woman slipped into it comfortably. It chased away the chill of the cold pool as she turned to half-float backwards, all of her submerged to her chin. She got a pleasant moment, watching Rayyan trail after her and she smiled as she headed for the side of the pool and the seats there. It would be a short pause before the next pool, and the knight hoped by the time they moved on, the wine would have arrived.
"I suppose I'm not surprised to hear that a prison doesn't have much for amenities." She smirked as she settled on the marble ledge, one long leg crossing over the other as she leaned back into the wall of the pool. "Its a shame though. You look like it would do you some good to have something to relax with after a long day wrangling convicts."
Nemea's fingers lifted, dripping water, to start working on the collection of small braids that wove through her hair, taming the thick mass of it to something less than a wild mess. It would take time to unweave them all, but they had that, and hands on the way to help.
"The garrison has its own set of much larger bathing pools that your men are welcome to use while they're there. They're probably as in need of it as you are, with the amount of dust you left on my floor." She teased him back. "Maybe you should look into installing a set for yourself. I imagine the volcano would make an easy method for heating the calidarium."
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Posted: Sun May 01, 2016 6:45 pm
The man trailed after her at a polite distance, pretending that he didn't notice the way the water trickled over her skin. If she meant to make him watch, he wasn't sure - Martians were nearly as bad as any culture he'd ever known for their lack of shame. He wasn't complaining, but simply complying with proprieties. Even if she had been teasing him not hours before. "I don't always chase convicts," he offered as he rose up from the warmer water and sat down on the seat near her, close enough that they could talk comfortably but without the risk of bumping elbow. He had completely submerged himself until the long dreads trickled with water and sent rivulets across his dark skin. He never bothered to try and fix the frayed edges himself - once he got home he was sure a handmaiden would usher him frantically into a parlor to be fixed. Grooming was always such an afterthought. "Most of my men live in the city here with you when they're not on duty, actually. I'm sure you know by now." It had been a long time ago that he had come to her villa and asked for arrangements to be made, once he'd returned from Mjolnir with an unexpected guest. Even now he knew Jashon was eager to get home here, in the city, and probably beside himself with joy that they'd had to stop overnight. "Building my own set of baths wouldn't be very efficient. It's just unfortunate that I'm the only one whose home is beneath the court." The strong, broad shoulders rolled in a shrug as he dropped his eyes to his hands. Dirt was caked beneath his nails and in his knuckles, a mix of dark red and brown that suggested it wasn't just from his tangle with Sylvia in the village. He busied himself with scrubbing away the worst of it, ignoring the raise of her arms as she rebraided her hair. Even if he really wanted to peek. "To be honest, I'm only sent on the retrieval missions when we suspect the target is difficult." He smirked as he recalled the wild, blonde captive. "As you can see."
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Posted: Sun May 15, 2016 9:44 pm
Nemea smiled as she worked on her braids, letting them out one by one. Her brother-in-arms came to sit by her and watching him, she could tell he was trying not to stare. It was amusing, and flattering, making her feel smug. Beauty was for the people of Venus, but she could be pleased if he found her strength and confidence attractive. There were many men who were more put off by it than attracted, evidenced by the many who can come seeking to marry into a title and finding their potential bride too much to handle. Things had settled down after the children and men seeking her hand had all but ceased. She was far happier with her occasional bed partners, and if her fellow Mars knight was inclined to become one, she would be quite pleased with that.
"Yes, I remember that." She said when he mentioned his men. The arrangement had been in place for many years now, but the knight they served had kept his lonely vigil on his mountain, rather than take up a residence in her city. "Its a shame you don't come out more... I'll admit that I'm pleased to have a chance to entertain you here in my home. Looking back, I'm surprised you never had a reason to stay before."
A young woman entered from a room back and around the corner from where they had entered, coming from somewhere deeper in the house, over an arm she carried a few towels and a basket, while in her hands she had a tall pitcher of some beverage.
"Ah, Nike, thank you." Nemea said as she rose, turning as the brunette came to kneel beside them in the pool. She smiled and dipped her head as she began to set out her things, producing two goblets from the basket to fill with wine. She offered first to her mistress and the knight of Tanais took the cup to hand to her guest, her other hand extended for her own.
"Nike, this is Rayyan, Knight of Gehenna. Rayyan! Nike is one of my personal attendants. She is an experienced masseuse, if you would like some attention while we soak, and she's accomplished with grooming as well. She is the one who braids my hair." She said as she waved at her own locks, most of the braids out now. The tall woman took a moment to set down her drink and reached for the scrapers set ready by the pool to begin scraping the loosened dirt off her skin.
Nike waited patiently by the pool, her hands in her lap and her attention divided between the two should either ask for her services. Once Nemea had scraped most of herself, she reclaimed her wine and headed for the steps on the other side of the pool. A much smaller structure was her destination, the walls of the cylindrical pool rising up from the floor, rather than being set under it. It was really only big enough for a handful of people sitting, and as evidenced by the steam rising from it, the water was significantly hotter than the pool they were in.
Nemea left him to follow as he pleased, padding barefoot up the steps before she sank down blissfully into the hot water. Wine and a soak... the perfect pairing after a long day.
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Posted: Sun May 22, 2016 5:44 pm
Rayyan was all too pleased to see the woman when she arrived - though mostly because he was too ready to fill his gut with the strong, spiced wine that the red planet was known for. Nothing quite said 'welcome home' more than the spirits of Mars. "I might ask her to tame these dreads a bit before I head home, then," he offered with a smile as he nodded gratefully at both Tanais and her maiden, then took the cup in his own large, dark hand. "Tegan might actually beat me if she sees how much that little minx likes to hair pull." The sound of his deep, throaty chuckling was silenced as he pressed the goblet to his lips and took the first large gulp of the liquid it contained. A pleased sigh was released as he set it down on the dry edge of the pool next to him, replacing it for the scraper she had already begun to work with. This, most of all, had been one of the most peculiar things he had become accustomed to. As a man born on Earth in the streets, bred as a stable boy, he'd never seen what his people called "Roman Style" baths - though he'd always wondered if Rome had once been settled by Martians. He'd never known a Roman to ask. His hands used the scraper adequately if not quite adeptly - he knew what he was doing and how to accomplish it, but it was some time before he followed Tanais and settled into the deep, steaming water across from her. "I am a man married to my duty and Mars comes before all women and pleasures. Though do not think I have not spent a day or two in your taverns." He drew another gulp from his goblet, not laughing into it this time though not quite able to contain the smirk on his lips. As he withdrew and ran a tongue across his lips to catch a stray drop, his eyes rose to hers again. "Though I should make more of an effort to thank you. With you guarding Tanais, I never have to worry about the forward defense. There's a peace for a Knight in my station when we know that our closest city is defended by someone capable." The goblet raised slightly in playful salute, though his eyes remained on hers.
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Posted: Mon Jun 13, 2016 1:33 pm
The was a smirk on Nemea's face as Rayyan came to join her, and no shyness about watching him do it. Nike trailed along behind with the wine, though she moved in a way that kept attention away from her. Her training made sure her mistress and her guest would not feel as though there was even a third person in the room, unless they wished something from her.
As Rayyan settled, she slipped up behind him and settle the wine on the rim of the bath before setting her basket at her side. She set to work with gentle fingers and a hooked needle to begin reordering his dreadlocks, weaving escaped strands back into the thick cables.
Nemea raised her cup in a return salute and sipped it, though with a touch more restraint than her guest.
By the time they had finished the bath, they had gone through the pitcher of wine and started on another. Once properly heated, they had moved from the hot pool to the tepid pool to cool down. It took time, but it was a pleasant one, stories and jokes exchanged while Nike cleaned Rayyan up and then helped Nemea with the rest of her braids. It was a quiet servant informing them dinner would be ready soon that finally drew them from their relaxing.
There was clean clothing waiting for them when they emerged. In Roman style, they were little more than yards of cloth that pinned at the shoulders and had a tie for the waist. Nemea's was red and obviously one of her own with the embroidered border of lions. Rayyan's was a dark green, the edging geometric and generic. Something offered to guests who stayed at the villa.
When they emerged from the bathing room, there was a sudden shriek from down the tiled hall and a small figure that came flying down it. Nemea had just enough time to bend down before the little girl crashed into her and the knight swept her up, lifting her over her head with ease to a peal of girlish laughter.
"Mama!" The girl looked to be very young, her gait showing some confidence though her limbs still had that softness toddlers had. Her hair was a golden sort of blonde and fell in wispy curls around her face.
"Ambrosia!" Nemea laughed as she gently shook the little girl in mock rebuke. "Who let you off your leash?"
Behind her, at a far more sedate pace, came a dark haired boy a few years older, and a young girl. The girl had the same robes the other servants wore, but the boy did not. His were a soft shade of purple that matched his vibrant eyes and it was obvious he was trying very hard to look proper, standing politely by the nursemaid's side. The young girl was brought down to brace on Nemea's hip with a natural and comfortable motion, her small hands fisting in her chiton.
"Rayyan, it seems my family got tired of waiting for us and came looking." She said with a laugh. She bounced the girl on her hip before she gestured at the little boy. "This is my daughter, Ambrosia, and my son, Aster. Tira is their nursemaid."
The little boy watched Gehenna with curious, but shy, eyes the entire time. When he was introduced, he awkwardly performed a bow, the whole act more like he was copying something than because he had experience with it. Nemea smiled as she settled her hand on his head and now that he'd been called up, Ambrosia was staring at him as well, though her gaze was far more bold.
"Ambrosia didn't wait for Tira like I did." Aster said as he turned his eyes briefly to his mother, sounding just a bit put out about it.
"Because Ambrosia is a Fury in training and hasn't learned how to curb herself like you." Nemea laughed, ruffling his hair. "You are far more polite."
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Posted: Sat Feb 11, 2017 1:31 pm
Relaxing with Nemea was pleasant and easy in a way he had not expected and, he had to wonder, why he had never sought out her company before this moment. Sure, he was married to his duty but he had plenty of time between his conquests and his daughter that he should have made his presence at least known. Honestly, it was a wonder he never had with how often his men visisted the city. Maybe he just tried not to mix pleasure and duty with his ranks so close to home. Maybe he was just blind. He was smirking to himself as he stepped out from the bathing room with her, adjusting the length of cloth just over his shoulder, when his thoughts were interrupted by a whirling ball of energy Nemea only just managed to catch with her strong arms. To see that it was a wild little girl made him smile immediately, though he did his best to fade into the background while Nemea greeted her children. If they were anything like Sylvi, they didn't get to see their mother nearly enough and he wanted to make sure she gave them her full attention for just a moment. "My daughter is also a Fury in training," he commented lightly, looking back unabashedly into Ambrosia's wide, curious eyes. He leaned in only a bit forward so that he could speak to her, lowly, "she doesn't like her leash either." His joke made himself chuckle, quiet and rumbling in his wide chest, before he looked down at her much more tamed son. The freshly re-tucked dreads swayed as he inclined his head respectfully, addressing him like he would any other man of the house. A fury he could handle, he had been handling one for years, but a proud man in training was a foreign obstacle outside of his trainees. "I hope your family doesn't mind that I'm joining you for dinner, Nemea. I wouldn't want to intrude." Though he brought his eyes back up to his companion, there was a hint of a smile at the corners of his serious mouth. He did actually like children very much, though there was seldom room for them at the hold.
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