Byzantium Infected Box Set

by James Mullins

  Athos grinned at Baltazar, “Sounds like a good plan. Mind if I join you at least as far as the bath? I think after the bath I will head to the Thirsty Palm and see if I can talk to Athea. I had some time to reflect on the march back, and there are many things I would like to talk to her about.”

  Baltazar leered at Athos and asked, “Oh really. What sort of things?”

  Athos slapped Baltazar on the shoulder in mock indignation, “Get your mind out of the slop bucket, my friend.” Baltazar gave Athos an innocent who me look by way of reply and started for the door.

  The Roman Bath at Damascus was small in comparison to the baths of the Empire’s largest cities such as Constantinople, Antioch, Alexandria, and Thessalonica. It was, however, still finely appointed. The bath was divided up into two major sections separating females from males. The baths in the male section consisted of three pools: a hot-water pool, a warm-water pool, and a cold-water pool. Each bather would pay an attendant five Nummi pieces. This gave the bather access to the full range of bathing pools.

  For additional sums, other services could be purchased such as a sauna and massage from one of the state-owned slaves. The bathhouse artfully appointed with many mosaics adorning the walls. Some depicted peaceful and relaxing scenes of nature while others showed legions from long ago marching to victory. Athos suspected the bath house dated back to the 4th century or so.

  As Athos stepped onto the stoop at the door of the bath house, he looked over his shoulder and watched the last of the sun disappear behind the horizon. Each man dropped the required five Nummi pieces into the outstretched hand of the attendant at the door as they walked past him. As they stepped inside and shut the door behind them, they both breathed a sigh of relief. It was much cooler inside the bath than it was out on the street.

  The friends then headed for the changing room. Stripping off their clothes, they each set them in a small square stone alcove set in the wall. Nude, they then headed for the cold-water pool. With a look of pure bliss on their faces, Athos and Baltazar sank into the mercifully cool waters. They both sat in silence for several moments savoring the feel of the cold water on their skin.

  Baltazar broke the silence, “So Athos, what do you plan on doing with your twenty-four hours of freedom?”

  Athos face contorted into a grimace and replied, “I don’t know, I want to go to Athea and pick up where we left off two nights ago.” Athos paused waiting for Baltazar to jump in with advice but he received only silence. “I don’t know, Baltazar, if you were me what would you do?”

  Baltazar grinned at him, “How do you feel about her? Athea is an attractive woman. That makes it even harder to tell the difference in your feelings. Do you have feelings for the physical woman that is Athea, or are you in love with the idea of Athea, the person?”

  Athos sat back and thought about it. The only other person in the pool with them stood up and left the pool causing the water to ripple. A bit of it lapped into Athos’ mouth. He spit it out of his mouth imitating a fountain. With a mischievous grin in his eye, he suddenly changed the water’s trajectory and hit Baltazar right in the eye. Baltazar responded by laughing and splashing Athos in the face. The pair then circled each other attempting to splash water into each other’s eyes and mouth.

  After several minutes of the game, another bather walked in and looked down at the two men playing in the water. The man’s features shifted to show his irritation on condescension with the game. The friends caught the look and stopped their game. Athos paused for a moment and thought about what Baltazar had just said, “This is why I value your advice. You always have a way of helping me see. While I appreciate the beautiful woman that she is, what I cherish is the person. The more I get to know her the stronger my feelings for her get. At first, I was taken by her obvious feminine wiles, but as we went from brief encounters at the Thirsty Palm to longer conversations something happened. I didn’t see it at first, but I found myself drawn more and more to those conversations.”

  Athos paused, and Baltazar prodded, “And? There’s more I can feel it.”

  “I have had misgivings about pursuing Athea. The problem I have had all along is me. It seems very evident to me that I am not good enough for this woman! I can’t shake this feeling that I am nothing but a poor nobody crawled out from under a rock on the side of an Armenian Mountain.”

  Baltazar reached over and thumped Athos on the top of the head, “You’re hopeless. Can’t you see it? The woman adores you and makes as much effort as she can to spend time with you in the confines of the Thirsty Palm without neglecting her other customers. Then she agreed to meet you during her time off and talked to you half the night! This woman is interested in you, Athos! Quit screwing around here in the bath with me and get your arse to the Thirsty Palm! God only knows how long we are going to be gone on campaign putting an end to these crazy arse Arab Cannibals, so you need to get this figured out now. If you don’t, you won’t have a decent night’s rest until we return.” Baltazar took in a deep breath and then winked at Athos, “You have it pretty bad, my friend.”

  Baltazar paused for a moment to let his statement sink in and then continued. “This is a brand-new Roman Empire. Remember Justinian? He went from being a poor farmer from the arse end of no wear Albania to Emperor of the Romans! His wife Theodora rose from equally humble roots. While we will always be saddled with stupid nobles put in positions of power because of the blood that runs through their veins things are changing. If you are competent, you can rise to the highest seat in the Empire. Athos, I know you are down on yourself about where you grew up and the circumstances surrounding your departure. You need to forget about that and focus on what you are capable of doing, and then do it!”

  Athos let out a sigh, then grinned and said, “You’re right, Baltazar. This could be my last chance to be with her before God calls me back to his breast.” Baltazar snorted. Athos continued. “Seriously, we don’t know what we are facing.”

  Baltazar rolled his eyes, “Athos, the Roman Empire has stood for seven centuries, the Republic for five centuries, and the Kingdom for two centuries prior to that. I seriously doubt a bunch of bewitched Arab Cannibals is going to put an end to it in a day.”

  Athos nodded his agreement, “Only God knows the future, my friend. I suspect you are right though.”

  Athos walked through the entrance to the Thirsty Palm. Immediately Athea looked up from pouring a drink, and their eyes met. She winked at Athos, smiled, and finished pouring the drink. Just seeing Athea filled Athos’ heart with a warmth that he couldn’t describe. Was this love? He walked across the room and picked out the table that he, Baltazar, and Constan had sat at two nights ago.

  Athea finished up with setting a bottle of wine and two goblets down on a table occupied by a couple on the other side of the room. Their eyes once again locked and she began to walk toward him. Athos looked up and smiled at her as she stood over him. “What will it be tonight, hun?”

  “I’d love some dinner. What’s good tonight?”

  “We have a freshly slaughtered lamb roasting right now in the fire pit. It smells great. Would you like a piece of it?”

  He smiled up at her, “That sounds great, but let me think about it for a little while. What else do you have?” he asked.

  “We have a chicken out back we could slaughter for you and roast.”

  Hmmm, he thought, “Chicken sounds good too,” he said. God, I am so nervous, can you please give me the strength to get through this? “Can I have a bottle of the Cappadocian?” Athos asked.

  “Sure, we just got a new shipment in yesterday.” She smiled once more at him and turned toward the kitchen. As she walked through the door, she looked back at him and then disappeared. Athos silently cursed himself for sounding so nervous.

  The unconfident Skutatoi sat there for several minutes wondering what was taking her so long. Athea emerged from the kitchen. She was carrying a huge plate with lamb set on a bed of vegetables. Balancing on the edge of the plate wa
s his bottle of wine and a goblet. The room filled up with the smell of lamb and Athos’ stomach rumbled to life reminding him that he hadn’t had anything to eat all day. The lamb smelled irresistible. Why couldn’t I just decide a few minutes ago? He sighed in frustration.

  Athea stopped at a nearby table and delivered the lamb to a man dressed in a white turban and robes. Athea then brought over his wine and goblet. She set them down in front of him. They both reached for the wine bottle to pour his first drink, and their hands met. They both pulled their hands back and blushed. Athos looked up into those beautiful green eyes smiled and said, “Thank you so much. Sorry I couldn’t decide tonight. Can I have some of the lamb? It smells absolutely divine!”

  Athea smiled down at him, “Yes, hun, I’ll bring you some right out. Is there anything else you need?” She said the last with an expectant look.

  Athos paused for a moment to work up the courage to ask her, “Yes, when you get a chance could we talk some more? I have some news I would like to share with you.”

  A look of worry flashed across Athea’s face, “Sure, Athos, as long as no one else comes in I should be able to sit down with you and talk.”

  Athos replied with a smile and said, “Thanks.”

  Athea disappeared into the kitchen. At that same moment, the door opened, and Baltazar and Liana entered. Baltazar smiled and waved at Athos as he picked out a table and started heading for it. Liana had her arm wrapped in his and was sporting a beautiful set of turquoise earrings.

  Athos wondered when Baltazar had found the time to get to the market and buy them with the grueling training schedule they have had lately getting ready for the bewitched Arab Cannibals, but he had somehow managed it. Baltazar pulled out a seat for her. The chair made a scaping sound as he pulled it out. Baltazar then sat. It only took a few seconds for their hands to find each other’s again. Athos now understood why Baltazar seemed to have a new confidence about him of late. He was in love.

  Athea emerged from the kitchen just as Baltazar and Liana sat down. She noticed the new couple and headed straight for them. Athos couldn’t quite hear what was being said. After about a two-minute-long exchange, everyone looked over at him knowingly. All of a sudden, the center of attention, he looked away hurriedly, but the redness in his cheeks gave him away as he blushed again for the second time that night.

  Everyone smiled at him as they saw he was watching them out of the corner of his eye. This is maddening, Athos thought as he downed the rest of his first glass. He wiped the moisture on his face away with the back of his sleeve, poured himself another glass and, went back to waiting.

  Athea headed back to the kitchen and emerged once again with a sumptuous plate of lamb on a bed of vegetables, this time she was balancing two goblets and a wine bottle on the edge of the plate. She walked toward Athos. The wooden floor creaked under her weight as she moved across the room. As she arrived, Athos stood up and grabbed the two goblets and the bottle of wine off the plate. Athea set the plate down in front of Athos. The smell was, even more, divine up close. Stifling the urge to tear into it immediately he asked nonchalantly, “So what’s going on with those two?”

  Athea giggled nervously, “They seem to be awfully concerned about us.” As she reached for the goblets and wine his hand intercepted hers, and he gently squeezed it reassuringly.

  Athea grabbed the two goblets and the wine bottle and walked them over to Baltazar and Liana. Liana smiled at Athea and asked, “So how is it going with Athos?”

  Athea contemplated her response for a moment and then said, “Good I think. He’s nervous, but he is being really sweet. I feel bad I haven’t been able to stay and talk with him yet. He seems like he has something weighing on him.”

  Baltazar joined in the conversation, “He likes you a lot, Athea. I think you are the first woman he has ever been truly interested in.”

  Athea giggled nervously and flashed him a smile, “No worries, Baltazar, I’ll go easy on him.”

  “Just figure something out soon. The suspense is killing us!” Liana said.

  Athea replied, “I’ll try. Hopefully, things will be quiet for a little while so I can sit with him.”

  No sooner had the word come out of Athea’s mouth than the front door opened and Constan came ambling in. He paused for a moment letting his eyes adjust to the brightly lit interior of the tavern. He quickly noticed that Athos was sitting at a table by himself and headed toward him. Athos tried not to show the disappointment on his face he acknowledged Constan, but before Constan could make it all the way to Athos’ table, Baltazar stepped in front of him and asked, “Hey buddy, how are you doing tonight?”

  Constan replied in his typical gruff manner, “Fair to middling lad, just looking to get drunk. Athos looked like he could use some company.”

  Baltazar turned him toward his table with Liana, “Nonsense, you should join us. We were just getting started.”

  Constan smiled at the invitation and says, “Don’t mind if I do, lad. What are you drinking?”

  Constan and Baltazar walked back toward Baltazar and Liana’s table. Baltazar sat back down in his seat but scooted closer to Liana. Constan chose a seat across from the couple. Athea walked up to their table and asked. “What would you like?”

  Constan thought for a moment and replied, “Whatever the cheapest rot gut you have on hand. I got one goal in mind for tonight, getting drunk.”

  Athea replied, “Sure, coming right up.”

  Athos watched the scene unfold before him. He was genuinely relieved that Baltazar steered Constan away from him. He looked down at his meal and began by cutting off a slice of lamb. He brought the piece up to his mouth and savored the smell for a moment. He noticed just a hint of steam coming off the meat. Looks perfect. Finally, he placed the piece in his mouth. The flavors of the perfectly prepared meat exploded on his tongue. He chewed slowly releasing the juices into his mouth.

  “Somehow this tastes better than it looks!” Athos exclaimed out loud. He continued eating but always observed Athea as she moved about the room ensuring everyone’s needs were met.

  Constan looked at Liana and said, “Lass, you sure are a looker.”

  Liana blushed and replied. “Thank you, Constan. Baltazar has told me so much about you and the other soldiers. It would seem everyone had a different reason to join the army, but he never heard yours. What brought you into the service of the Empire?”

  Constan paused for several moments letting his thoughts drift back to a time long ago, “Well, lass, I was the seventh child born to a goat herder in Macedonia. We made the best life we could on the side of a mountain, but it was hard. My father did what he could for us. I was one of thirteen total children. My mom died in childbirth. She was trying to birth her thirteenth child, and the child tore her. She bled for what seemed like days. Nothing my dad did could stop it. He tried everything he could think of, but nothing seemed to work. We were too far away from anyone to get help. I sat there and watched my dad, helpless, as my mother drifted off and joined the Lord.” He paused for a moment and wiped tears away from his eyes.

  Athea arrived with a bottle of rot gut and deposited it in front of him. She knew Constan well and didn’t bother giving him a goblet. Constan took a swig from the bottle and wiped his mouth on the back of his sleeve, “I was fourteen summers old that day. I vowed to myself that I would never be as powerless as my father. The next day I walked off our mountain and found a road. It was the first time I had gone more than a mile from the mountain. It was also the last day I laid eyes on it. I started off toward the rising sun in search of adventure.”

  Constan paused and took a long swig from his bottle, “Later that day a farmer gave me a ride in his wagon. I did not know much about the world then. I had spent my whole life on our mountain with my mother and father making a living from the goats. The farmer, Valens was his name, began talking about the adventures he had serving in the army. He did an outstanding job filling my head with bullshit that one.” Constan’s
eyes had a faraway look as he told his story.

  Constan took another long drink from his bottle and continued, “I got it in my head that I wanted to join the army and see the wonders of the East. The farmer brought me to a village. That was the end of the line for him; he was there to sell his cabbage. I asked around about joining the army. The folks there told me to walk east to Adrianople where there was a recruiter.”

  Constan was interrupted when the door opened, and a group of rowdy older men tumbled into the tavern. Constan looked up and smiled. “Now there is a group of fellows I can concentrate on getting drunk with!” He said happily. “I appreciate the invite Baltazar, but you need to focus on this lovely lass before she gets away!” He stood up, grabbed his bottle, and joined the other veterans at a nearby table with two long benches.

  Athea sighed and thought I can’t seem to catch up so I can talk to Athos. She walked up to the table full of grizzled 5th Parthica veterans. “What will it be, gentlemen?”

  One of the men looked up at her, leered, and asked, “How much are you?”

  I wish I could just vomit on him! Better play the game so I can get a good tip. Athea walked over to him. He turned around on the bench to face her. She placed a finger under his chin and exerted just the slightest bit of pressure. He slowly stood up as she lifted her finger. When he was standing, she set her hands on his shoulders and moved her face closer to his. In anticipation, he moved his lips toward hers. Just as they were going to meet, she brought her knee up into his groin. He howled, grabbed his manhood, and sat down hard on the bench.

  Athea smiled down at him, “More than you can afford.” The group burst into laughter then poked fun at the man, “I didn’t hear an answer to my question. Again, what will it be, gentlemen?”

  With a sigh, another man, she remembered him as Justin, answered, “Can we each have a bottle of the same rotgut you served Constan?”