After Vesuvius

 

After Vesuvius

by

UrsusMajr

1 April , 82 AD

“Maximus?”

The big man turned at the sound of a familiar voice. “Domi... Lucius Hirtuleius!” A grin split the big man's bearded face as the two embraced, then stood back to look at each other.

“Quid agis, Maximus? You look well. It seems like you've been eating regularly... it suits you.”

“Too well! I'm getting fat. To tell you the truth, we've found out that neither of us can cook. We eat all our meals at the tavern. I don't think the cook knows what a vegetable is. You look well... Lucius.” Maximus still had to remind himself to use his former owner's name instead of 'Dominus', even after three years.

Lucius patted his tummy. “Yes, between Antonia insisting that I eat three full meals, and Sabina cooking way too much food for each of those, I am gaining back some of what I lost... after...” His voice trailed off. “Well, you know. Now, come, tell me, is Rufus with you?”

To the casual observer, the two men looked like old friends who had met by chance, asking after each other's families, instead of what they actually were: former owner and manumitted slave, one talking about his wife, and the other mentioning his lover, not his son or brother.

“Yes, he's just up the street at the iron mongers shop, says he 'must get something to make amends'. I've no idea what he's up to. We were going to stop in briefly at the farm to say hello and beg a favor.”

“Now, you know you don't have to beg, Maximus. What can we do?”

“I think I'll let Rufus explain, he's coming up behind you now.” Maximus pointed his beard over Lucius' shoulder. Lucius turned and greeted the red-headed man trotting towards him. “Salve, Rufus! Well met!” The two clasped forearms, then embraced.

“Where did you find him, Maximus?” Rufus asked, releasing Lucius from the brief hug.

“Oh, he found me, just a moment ago. He says he's eating better, and I told him I was getting fat. Did you find what you needed?”

“Oh, yes, it will be ready in an hour. But our visit won't be a surprise now.” Rufus sounded disappointed, for he did love surprises.

“Oh, Antonia will be surprised, I promise you, and she likes surprises as much as you do. But listen, I've finished with my business here and was going to have a bath before returning home. Why don't you both join me? I gather you have an hour to kill, no? Then we can pick up what you have purchased and return to the farm together.”

“I didn't know Nuceria had a public bath?”

“It didn't until early this year. This place is growing. There's even talk of the army improving the road south from Rome to bypass... well, to make it easier to travel...”

“...now that the main road to the coast no longer exists,” Rufus finished Lucius' sentence for him. A great many Campanian Romans had fallen into the habit of not referring directly to the catastrophe of late 79 AD that so altered their lives and their landscape. Few had survived, and those that did were often the only ones of their family left. Virtually everyone in the surrounding region of Campania had relatives, knew people, or had business contacts with victims of the massive eruption; people who had been buried under layers of ash and mud, cooked alive and incinerated if they hadn't been killed first by lava bombs or falling walls and roofs. Even after nearly three years, the horror was still fresh.

“Yes. Well, what do you say to a bath? It's not grand like the ones in Rome and elsewhere, but it's new and clean and quite comfortable, if on the small side.” Lucius looked expectantly at the two men.

Rufus nodded his assent, but Maximus seemed hesitant. “Well, I'm not sure...” Correctly divining the reason behind Maximus' reluctance, Lucius put his hand on Maximus' shoulder. “Maximus, no one will mind. This is the country, not Rome, we're used to a more rural sort of citizen. This is a market town, it's not just city folk who use the baths. We see all sorts, smooth, rough, and in between. It will be fine.”

“All right, then. A good soak sounds wonderful,” Maximus said, somewhat reassured.

As they walked to the new baths, Lucius leaned over to Rufus and said in a low voice, so as not to be overheard by any passers-by, “I've seen him, you know, when you were washing each other off after we all made it to the farm. It must be like sleeping with some kind of bear.” He winked at Rufus, who turned his usual fiery red. “The bear is right here, you know,” Maximus growled, but secretly pleased that their former dominus was comfortable enough with what he and Rufus were to each other that he could make a teasing comment about it.

After paying their fee and collecting towels, they proceeded to the changing room off of the caldarium. As they stooped to untie their caligas, Rufus whispered to Maximus, “Relax, my Beast. I'll drown anyone who makes rude comments.” Maximus snorted. “More likely they'd comment about you. You look like you're covered with spun gold and copper.” It was true that Rufus was blessed with a fine pelt of fur, covering chest and belly, arms and legs; but he lacked the shoulder, back, and butt fur that Maximus sported. Where Rufus' crotch shrubbery narrowed a bit before spreading over his belly, Maximus was evenly covered from toes to head, over his shoulders, and down his backside with thick black hair.

The three stepped into the steamy caldarium and eased themselves into the hot water. All three 'aaah'-ed together. Sitting on the tiled step that ran all the way around the pool, Maximus' fur floated all around him, moving this way and that as the water in the steaming pool rippled with each person's movement. Stretching out his legs, Lucius sighed and said, “I have missed this.”

“This is very nice,” Rufus said. “I could get used to this,” Maximus added.

“You can, you know,” Lucius said, eyes closed in relaxation. “There is no restriction on your using public baths now. One of the blessings of Roman citizenship.” He opened his eyes and said to Rufus, “Now, what's this about a favor? Maximus, here, said he'd let you fill in the details.” But just as he was about to start, a pair of bathers walked in and started lowering themselves into the pool.

“Avete, gentlemen,” the taller of the two said. “A beautiful day, is it not?” They all nodded, and the conversation veered to introductions, small talk about the weather, the blessed lack of earthquakes, the new baths and proposed road; and then the tragic death of the Emperor Titus from a fever, and speculation on what kind of ruler his brother Domitian was likely to be.

“Such a shame, to die so early. I mean, look at what he accomplished in just those two years: put down that rebellion in Judea, finished the Colosseum, and let's not forget his great generosity to the people here after the catastrophe, and in Rome, after that awful fire. What more might he have done had he lived?” The shorter one shook his head sadly.

“Well, to be fair, he put down that rebellion a few years before he became Emperor. But I agree, he was a good man and an able ruler. Of course, he had an excellent example in his father,” Lucius said.

“Yes,” the taller one said, “Vespasian was an exceptional leader. And I say that not just because he contrasted so well with the three other cretins that sat on the throne that year.” The shorter one chimed in, “Yes, this Flavian dynasty bodes well for Rome. Thank the gods there are no more Julians pretending.”

“You might want to watch your tongue, Petro,” the taller one said softly to his companion. “You never know who's listening.” The small talk continued for a while longer before Lucius made to get up.

“You know, I believe it is time we dipped ourselves in the tepidarium, and then a quick plunge in the cold pool. We need to stop and pick up whatever Rufus here has bought at the iron mongers and then hustle home. Antonia will be expecting me, and won't she be surprised at what I bring home!” Lucius chuckled in anticipation.

The three men raised themselves out of the hot pool, water streaming from their naked bodies and making climped strands of Maximus' and Rufus' fur. They said their goodbyes and padded down the hall to the temperate pool. Petro turned to his friend and raised his eyebrows, nodding towards Maximus' backside. “Hard to tell if he's coming or going,” he muttered, getting a snort of agreement from the other. “If he had a short tail, you really couldn't tell!”

After picking up Rufus' parcel at the iron mongers and one other small package, the trio headed out of town in Lucius' cart. “And before you ask, none of the slaves are sick. I just like to drive every once in a while. And my back doesn't seem to appreciate the gait of a horse so much these days.” Maximus noticed that Lucius was sitting on what looked like a plump pillow. “Age does none of us any favors, it seems.”

There was not much talk on the ride back, all three of the men enjoying the pleasant spring weather, for it was indeed a beautiful day; but Lucius did comment, “You know, it was just such a spring day that Antonia and I came here in this very wagon. She was checking up on the progress of putting the house in order, and I was checking up on you, Maximus. And I do believe that is when you two first met, is it not?”

“Yes, it was, and I made a comment on your name,” Rufus said, nudging Maximus.

“Yes, and I paid you back with a comment on that fiery head of yours!" Maximus chuckled and nudged back. It was nice to be able to relax and not be on guard when talking about their shared pasts.

“I am truly glad it all worked out well for you both. Now, when will you tell me what this favor you wish is?”

Rufus and Maximus looked at each other. Maximus nodded to Rufus, indicating that he should start. “Well, we've taken some time to decide on what we wanted to do with our lives, as you suggested. We are pretty well settled on what we plan on doing with ourselves, but there are some details we are uncertain about and could use your business wisdom.”

“And we are going to take the advice you gave us when we traveled to Neopolis for the manumission,” Maximus added.

“Ah, so you are going into business together,” Lucius said with a smile.

“Well, sort of; I mean, not exactly.” Rufus turned to Maximus. “You tell him this part.”

“We thought about a farm, but nothing large enough to make economic sense could be managed by the two of us alone.”

“Alone? But surely you would have...” Maximus cut Lucius off.

“No. No slaves. Neither of us could do that. No.” Both Lucius and Maximus looked vaguely offended.

Rufus stepped in. “What Maximus is trying to say is that we have no complaints in any way about how you and the lady Antonia treated either of us when we were your slaves. You always treat your slaves well. It's just that, well, it's... we value the freedom you granted us, and... and...”

“I think I understand. And some manumitted slaves go on to eventually own slaves themselves, for economic reasons if nothing else. But, you know, most masters do treat their slaves decently, and I am sure you both would. Oh, I know there those who are cruel and vindictive. But it doesn't make sense to mistreat your property. A resentful slave or a fearful one will not work as well. A slave is an investment. And I remember what I overheard a recently manumitted slave say in the marketplace one day, 'You can't eat freedom.' He's right, you know.”

“Perfectly true, Lucius. But freedom makes us fully human. Property isn't 'human', not fully. And no matter how well-fed a slave is, he's still a slave. I mean no disrespect, and we are both fully aware that our situation is different from most freed slaves, we have the cushion of funds that you so very generously bestowed on us. We will be forever grateful for that. Always.” Maximus waited for Lucius' reply.

Lucius harrumphed and scratched his nose. “Do not worry, gentlemen. I am not really offended. What you say has merit. You should know that there is a faction in Rome, and elsewhere too, I believe, that takes the view that people should never be regarded as property. I understand there is even a cult that started in Judea and has spread to several cities in the Empire that promotes that idea, among some other frankly far more bizarre ideas... raising the dead, and even cannibalism, if you can believe it. Well, it's a cult. There are always cults. Besides, slavery has been the norm throughout all our history, even in the early days of the Republic. With other cultures, too. Perhaps one day that may change, but I don't see it coming soon.” Lucius pointed ahead. “Look, we are nearly there. Perhaps you two might get out here and stay out of sight until I announce you to Antonia? Surprise her? Yes?”

“Yes, we should!”

Lucius pulled the wagon up in front of the large farm house. Maximus and Rufus had already alighted, Rufus carrying his two parcels, and he and Maximus were standing out of sight of the front door where Antonia was standing. Two slaves led the wagon away and unloaded the goods Lucius had picked up earlier in the day.

“Husband, you are come home. Was the trip a good one? How is your back?” Antonia stepped forward and Lucius kissed his wife on both cheeks. “Yes dear, very good. My back is fine, and a good soak at the baths helped, too. And it was a lovely ride in the Spring weather. But look, I have a surprise for you. See what I found in the town!” At this, Rufus and Maximus stepped forward so Antonia could see them.

Antonia's hands flew to her face. “Oh, Vesta be praised! What a surprise! I was just thinking of you yesterday and wondering how you both were doing!” Although she had regained her usual cheerful demeanor, and retained her slim figure, she had far more gray hair and more lines in her face than before the eruption and the frantic flight from the doomed city they had once lived happily in. That experience had left it's indelible marks on her, as it had on so many. Rufus and Maximus both bowed their heads politely. “Lady, it is good to see you looking so well,” Rufus said.

“And you, Rufus. Your beard... it's... it suits you! Now, come in and sit with us. You will stay for your evening meal. No, I won't hear of it.. you will stay.” Antonia turned and called out inside. “Anna, please tell Sabina that there will be two more for dinner.” Turning back to the two men, she insisted, “And you will stay the night. And you must tell us everything that is going on with you both. Shall I have Anna or one of the others take those for you?” sh.e said, eyeing Rufus' two parcels.

“Lady, I thank you, but I really need to see Anna and Sabina myself, if it pleases you. I have something for them.”

“Of course, Let us go in, and you can see them now if you like, Rufus.” She turned to Lucius with genuine pleasure. “Thank you for bringing them along, it is good to see them again, it seems ages.” She had always had a soft spot in her heart for Rufus; but since their escape, due entirely to the efforts of the two men working together as one, she now looked on both as deserving of her special regard, nearly equal to the other members of her family.

Rufus walked ahead and went though the rooms and hall to the kitchen. His feet moved of their own accord... this was familiar territory to him. Entering the kitchen, he found Sabina standing in front of the oven, her back to him.

Still standing in the atrium, Antonia nodded at the doorway Rufus had just walked through. “Do you know what that is about, Maximus?”

“Lady, I confess I know nothing of it. He's been rather secretive about it all.”

“Well then, you should follow him and see what he has in those packages, don't you think?” Antonia said with a smile.

“Lady,” Maximus nodded politely and quickly followed his mate to the kitchen.

Antonia turned to Lucius. “I'd not say this to his face, but for one who had never been a house slave, he is well-spoken and has very good manners.”

Lucius smiled. “He does. People look at him and think, 'brute'; but Rufus has filed off some of the rougher edges, and he always had a very sharp mind and steady character. He will do well in business, or anything he puts his hand to, I think.”

Rufus cleared his throat and Sabina turned and nearly dropped the dish she was holding. “Oh! My! Rufus.. I mean, Rufus Hirtuleius! Of all people....”

“Ave, Sabina; and 'Rufus' is still appropriate.” He smiled at the cook, who rather hesitantly smiled back.

“Sabina, I trust you are well. It is good to see you again.” He paused for a long moment, not knowing exactly what to say next, then forged ahead in a rush. “I have wanted to make amends for the very harsh way I spoke to you when we fled the house in Pompeii. You were very good at avoiding me in the weeks after so I didn't have the chance to do that. And I know that you probably never forgave me for making you abandon your cooking pans. So I have brought you this.” Rufus handed Sabina the larger of the two parcels. “Open it, please. It's for you.”

Sabina unwrapped the coarse cloth and revealed a large, heavy, well-made iron pan with a long graceful handle. “Oh. OH!” A huge smile lit Sabina's face “Gratius tibi ago!” She reached out and touched Rufus' hand, something she never would have done in earlier days. “Sum valde gratus!”

“You were always an excellent cook, and an excellent cook deserves the best equipment.” Rufus smiled at Sabina's obvious delight. Maximus stood quietly in the doorway, watching with pleasure his lover's success at winning over the cook after such a long time. Just at that moment Anna called out as she entered the kitchen from an adjoining room. “Sabina, domina says to tell you that there will be tw...” She stopped cold, staring at the smiling Rufus, and at Maximus, standing in the other doorway.

“Quid es hoc?” She blinked, as if unable to believe her eyes. “You've returned?!” Anna started to back up, plainly still uncomfortable around Rufus.

“Wait, Anna, please don't go.” Rufus spoke rapidly before Anna had a chance to escape. “I know I have apologized before, and tried to explain my rough treatment back in Pompeii. We were all more than a bit crazy that day, and I know you've not really trusted me since. I'd like you to accept this as a sort of peace offering. I am sorry, truly.” He handed the smaller package to Anna, who stood still, staring at it.

“Well, go on, girl, open it!” Sabina said to Anna, who had not made a move toward opening the package.

Anna reached out and slowly began to unwrap it. Inside was a small neat box, and inside the box was a soft, silken scarf, dyed a deep blue, edged with gold thread. She pulled it out and held it up. “For me?” she asked in a quiet voice.

“Yes, Anna, for you. Please accept my apology now for the slap and the harsh words.” Rufus had noted over the years that Anna was rather taken with soft fabrics and jewelry. A gift of a pin or broach would have been too intimate and not appropriate at all, so Rufus had settled on the scarf he'd seen in the tradesman's shop earlier in the day.

“Say something, girl!” a slightly exasperated Sabina said. “If you don't want it, I'll take it!” Anna immediately clutched the scarf to her and moved back from Sabina's reach. “No!” She put the scarf to her face and smiled at the soft touch. She turned to Rufus. “Thank you, Rufus Hirtuleius. It's... it's beautiful.” She touched the scarf to her face again and smiled. “Gratius tibi ago.”

Maximus leaned forward and whispered in Rufus' ear. “Success, I think. Well done.”

Rufus stood, rooted to the spot, not quite knowing what to do next. He looked at Maximus with a 'get me out of this' look. Maximus spoke up. “Rufus, Lucius Hirtuleius wishes to speak with us, I think we should attend to that.

He turned to the two women. “Valete.” He gave a friendly nod and tugged Rufus towards the door.

                                                                        *

Later, after the evening meal was concluded and the four of them were enjoying more wine, Lucius patted his belly and said, “I do believe Sabina has outdone herself this evening. I wonder if it's our special company that has spurred her to her best efforts?”

“Now, my husband, you know Sabina always does her best for guests.” Antonia patted her mouth with a napkin and then settled to sharing news of the family. “We are grandparents now, twice over, since we last saw each other. Lucius Tertius and his wife Claudia have given us a beautiful grandson, and our Cornelia has just birthed a lovely granddaughter! Both families are to visit us here later this summer. And Marcus and Livia are expecting, too!” Antonia was obviously pleased at the prospect of having grandchildren to spoil. More talk about various personal and local events followed for a pleasant quarter hour.

“Now, really... we've been sidetracked too often. You asked for advice but we never got the the details. Tell me now.” Lucius drained his cup and refilled it from the wine jug on the low table in front of the dinner couches.

“Wait, husband. It's late and I am tired; and you obviously have more business to discuss this night. I will retire, if you don't mind.” She rose from the couch and kissed her husband, then turned to Rufus and Maximus. “This has been a very pleasant evening. We shall see each other before you leave in the morning. Rufus knows the way to your rooms. Bonum nocte, and may Somnus send you both good sleep.” She smiled and nodded to then both in turn and left the triclinum to the men.

“That was very graceful of her,” Rufus said. Both Maximus and Lucius nodded agreement. Rufus looked directly at Lucius and said, “You have been very lucky in your choice of a wife.”

Lucius sighed and nodded again. “I truly have.” Settling himself more comfortably on his couch, Lucius continued. “Now, finally, tell me your plans,” Lucius said as he refilled each of their wine cups.

Rufus went first. “As we said, we have decided to take your advice. We will miss you and this area, we've spent a good part of our lives here. But there is sadness here, too. And your advice about going someplace rural, for privacy and where no one knows us and we can start fresh... well, that is what we've decided.” Rufus nudged Maximus. “Now, go on, tell him the rest.”

“You know I like horses, I understand them and they seem to like me. I much preferred working with them than other farm work. I would like to raise and breed them, as a business. And Rufus has his own plan in mind.”

Rufus took another sip of wine. “I am literate, and I have a good hand, my script is quite readable. And I am very good with numbers, as you know. I would keep the accounts for Maximus, and take in some work from any local merchants who needed a scribe or accountant. Not every merchant has the time to do that, and even some of the best are not literate themselves.”

“That sounds well thought out. What will you do for living arrangements?”

“We are looking at a piece of land with good pasture and a small house, with room enough to build a decent stable. Close to a town but far enough away so that...”

“So that you can make all the noise you want!” Lucius said, grinning. Then, more quietly, “Trust me, I know all about stifling your voice when all you want to do is shout in triumph.” He swallowed more wine. “But seriously, I think it wise to move away, much as I would miss seeing you; it would have been nice for my grandchildren to have two additional uncles to dote on them! And, you have found such a place, you say?”

“We think so, in a small town to the north of here, not far from Clusium. It's called Rocca.”

“Ah... I don't know it. I was in Clusium once, I think. River town, no?”

“Yes, on the Tiber.”

“How did you find this place? It's plainly not local.”

“Here's the lucky part, for us at least. The half-brother of the tavern owner and his wife died within a half year of each other, over a year ago now. They had no children and the property fell to our inn-keeper. Since we've been staying there for some time now, he's become friendly, after a fashion. He has no desire to farm at all, and no interest in moving north. The place was neglected, but when he heard we were looking for property, he mentioned it to us, at what sounds like a good price. I'm sure he thought to unload the property on two unsuspecting investors. Long story short, we expressed interest and made a tentative offer, and he agreed to not accept other offers for a short period. He had papers drawn up, we have them with us. Would you look them over, Lucius?”

Lucius' face betrayed the deep misgivings that had grown in his mind over the last couple of minutes. “I would seriously advise, no, insist, that you personally inspect the property first before doing any....”

Slow smiles spread across both Rufus and Maximus' faces. “Oh, we've seen the place. We saw it before we considered making an offer.”

“But...”

“Tell him, Rufus,” Maximus chuckled.

“We told him that we were both heading to Rome to finish tying up the last details of our lost property and businesses from the recent catastrophe. We grumbled a lot about how long and drawn out these things had become. Instead, we took a boat up the Tiber to Clusium. Rocca is only an hour's ride from there. We found the property, looked it over, and discovered why the tavern owner was willing to accept a lower price than other land in the area”

“So... what's wrong with it?”

“From our standpoint, almost nothing. There is a large, lush pasture, plenty of rainfall, a house in fairly decent shape, a small spring and a good well. But from a farmer's standpoint, it's not a good choice. At least half the land lies on a rather rocky slope. You might raise grapes there, but there are too many rocks for much else, and I'm no vintner... and we saw no other vineyards in the area in any case.”

Maximus drained his wine cup. “So, when we got back to the tavern, we knew exactly what we were dealing with. He'd said nothing about how half the land was basically useless for farming and that the house needed many new tiles on the roof. And that's why we want you to look over the contract. I don't fully trust him. It might be that he just wants to get rid of land he'll never use, but he does seem a bit too eager, and maybe less than truthful.”

“Well, leave it with me and I will go over it in the morning, when I am fresh.” Lucius stretched and yawned. “I am for bed now. There's more wine if you wish.” He stood and looked fondly on his two former slaves. “You have new lives ahead of you, and you've made a good start. I am truly pleased for you both. Bonum nocte.” He took his leave, and Rufus and Maximus, both tired themselves, followed soon after.

*

The farm house was quiet now that everyone had retired. The house was, in fact, rather large, though not as large as the house in Pompeii had been; and contained a wing of three guest bedrooms that Antonia had furnished for her and Lucius' children and their families when they visited. Antonia had thoughtfully placed Maximus in one and Rufus in the adjoining one that had a doorway to the first, allowing them to sleep together and still maintain the fiction of their 'good friends and business partners' relationship for the rest of the household. Rufus sometimes wondered if either Anna or Sabina had tumbled to their secret. They had always been careful and discrete, but neither of the women were blind or stupid.

“Wolfpup...” Maximus whispered as he poked Rufus in the side. Rousing sleepily, Rufus mumbled, “What? What is it?”

“Does it bother you that I'm so hairy?” Rufus struggled to full wakefulness and raised himself up on an elbow.

“Oh, Beast, what brought this on? Was it Lucius' remark about sleeping with a bear?”

“I guess... yes, that. And the looks those two men cast towards me today at the baths. Don't say anything, Wolfpup, I saw them, I know it.”

Rufus gently took hold of Maximus' bushy black beard, turning his head. “Beast, look at me. I love you, above anything. I would love you as much if you were smooth as a baby, but I love your fur. I love sleeping with a bear!”

“The divine Julius had all his plucked out, every hair.”

“Don't even think it, Beast. Just... don't. It would be a crime against nature and the gods. I would miss it terribly.” Rufus smiled. “Besides, with you, it would take days; and by the time it was done, half would have grown back!” Rufus leaned forward and lightly kissed a nipple, just peaking out of the thicket of black hair. Maximus gathered Rufus up and held him tightly to his chest. “Gods, I love you so!”

Rufus tapped his Beast urgently on his side. “I can't breathe!”

“Oh, sorry, love. It's just, sometimes I...” Maximus stopped and swallowed. “I'd be lost without you, you know.” Rufus nodded mutely. They spent a good deal of time caressing each other's beards and bellies and chests, and kissing fondly in the dark. The familiar comforting smell of his lover, the feel of his warm hairy bulk against his own chest and belly and crotch had it's usual effect on Rufus of producing a raging erection.

Maximus felt the stirring and reached down to cradle his Wolfpup's hefty balls. “Oooo, someone's ready! Do you think we can?” Maximus whispered quietly in Rufus' ear while shifting his bulk to allow room for his Wolfpup's hard meat.

“Yes, but we need to be very quiet, no growling, no screaming in ecstasy, no....” This earned Rufus what he had come to call 'The Look' from Maximus, a sort of 'I'm not an idiot, you know, I can behave when I need to, I'm house-trained and everything' message, delivered wordlessly. Rufus grinned.

“Fuck my belly, Wolfpup!” Maximus whispered urgently in Rufus' ear. Rufus happily complied, rolling on top of Maximus and beginning to plow his lover's thick pelt with his cock, creating a wet furrow of precum. The slick drool eased the passage of Rufus' fuckpole, but still allowed enough scratchiness of the Beast's belly fur to provide stimulus and help Rufus drive towards his climax. Their relative differences in height meant that Rufus could be prodding his Beast's navel while at the same time lapping at and sucking on a Beast nipple.

The happy work continued, with Rufus backing off twice to avoid cumming too soon; but finally, Maximus gripped Rufus' butt and pulled him tight against his own belly. Rufus moaned quietly, then grunted softly as he shot, pumping pulse after pulse of hot seed, filling the Beast's navel and cementing their copious belly fur together. “Oh! My love! My life!”

“Shhhh.... shhhhh. I'm here. Rest on me.” Rufus had been unaware that he was arching his back and supporting himself with his arms as he came, and now relaxed so he was fully plastered against Maximus. Both sighed together.

After a short rest, Rufus whispered, “Feed me, Beast,” and Maximus mutely nodded. Dismounting to one side, Rufus lifted himself off of Maximus' sticky belly, fortunately before the cum had dried, and moved back, bumping into his Beast's rigid meat. He turned his head slightly and gazed lovingly at the upright flesh he desired so much. He opened his mouth wide and engulfed it completely, his copper beard meshing with Maximus' coal black bush. Maximus gasped at the sudden moist heat and then reached forward with both hands to caress Rufus' head and pull him down firmly.

Rufus ran his tongue all around the shrouded tip, then used his lips to tug the foreskin down to completely reveal the sensitive tip. Maximus shivered as his cock reacted to the increased heat and sensation. Rufus continued to run his tongue all over and around the thick shaft, down to the base and then back up to the tip. He used his hands to support himself, working solely with his mouth. Maximus moaned and whispered urgently, “Wolfpup, I won't las... I can't....” and then gave up and let loose, pumping Rufus' mouth and throat full of his seed. Rufus, used to the flood his lover produced, swallowed rapidly, losing not a drop. He milked the last of the fluid from his Beast's slowly shrinking cock with his tongue and lips. When he was sure he had it all, he released Maximus' meat and rolled to his side, cuddled in close to his Beast's body. “Thank you, love. You fed me well.” Maximus pulled him in close, and they fell asleep, both of them content and drained.

The following morning, Rufus woke early and carefully got out of bed so as not to disturb the still-sleeping Maximus, or anyone else in the household. He scratched the thicket of fur on his belly and pulled on his tunic. He pushed aside the large curtain that covered the door to the adjoining room and ducked through, replacing the curtain. He yawned and stretched, and then roughed up the bed and moved the small oil lamp and dish and beaker, to make the room look 'used'. 'No sense in giving the house slaves more to gossip about,' he thought to himself as he exited the room.

Just at that moment, one of those slaves was coming up the hall with two towels and a steaming jug of water. Rufus silently blessed his foresight in exiting from the room assigned to him instead of the one he had spent the night in; the slave certainly had seen him. “Sir, I was just bringing water, would you like to refresh yourself before the morning meal?” The slave politely ducked his head.

“Yes, I would, I thank you. Come.” Rufus turned and went back into 'his' room, followed by the slave who laid a towel on the back of the lone chair in the room, and poured the water into the basin that stood on a small table by the window. “I do not recognize you, are you new here?”

“Yes, sir. The lady Antonia bought me a few months ago to help Anna.”

“And how are you called?”

“Decimus, sir.”

“Well, Decimus, I'm sure Anna or Sabina will have told you that I and my business partner, Maximus, were once their slaves, and that we were manumitted not long after the recent catastrophe. So you may call us by our given names. I am Rufus.”

Decimus nodded. “Thank you, Rufus. Will there be anything else you need?”

“No, thank you. But you might wait a bit for Maximus' wash-up. He sounds like he is sleeping late.”

“Thank you, Rufus. I will come back later.” Decimus ducked his head again, and left the room.

Rufus made quick work of his wash, splashing his face, and drying his hair and patting his short thick beard dry. Finished, he laid the towel next to the basin and headed toward the kitchen. On his way, he noticed Lucius at his desk through the open door to his study. He looked up and motioned Rufus in.

“You're up early, Rufus.”

“And you, Lucius.”

“Well, I seem to need less sleep these days. Old age, I guess.” He motioned at one of the chairs along the wall. “Bring that over here.” Rufus had never seen Lucius blush in all the years that had lived in their household, but he looked truly embarrassed now. “Oh, I am sorry. Old habits must die harder than I thought.” He paused. “Will you sit, Rufus Hirtuleius?”

“Oh, I am not offended... dominus.” Rufus grinned, and Lucius smiled too at the implied humor in the use of the now inaccurate form of address. He pulled the chair towards the desk. “What do you think of the document?”

“Well, I've read it through twice. It's a bit crude, but I see no legal errors. The wording is correct, a bit archaic. I do have a couple of points, though.”

“Oh?”

“Yes. Shall we wait for Maximus?”

“He was sleeping soundly and snoring a while ago,” Rufus said softly. “I can fill him in later, if it pleases,” in a louder tone, in case there were any slaves nearby.

“Certainly. First of all, the owner stipulates payment within ten days of signing. Insist on thirty, that gives you time you may need to revisit the property. I'll explain. The description of the property is very cursory. You two should put your heads together and write up a more complete description. Go back again if you need to, get measurements and such. You were always honest, Rufus, so I don't need to tell you, but be complete. Don't exaggerate, but don't honey-coat things either. Make sure boundaries are clearly noted, and don't forget the condition of the house. This will establish a basis for my second point.”

“Which is?”

“The price seems mostly fair, given what you've told me, perhaps a bit high. The house sounds like it will take some work, though. Offer five hundred sestertius less.” Rufus' sandy eyebrows shot up. “Yes, I know, it's a steep reduction. But it gives you room to bargain, He comes down some, you come up some, back and forth, and eventually you agree. Done right, both sides feel they have won. Here, I've written up a clean copy of the agreement with the changes I think you should include. You can add your description of the property and make a copy to present to the landlord. Oh, and Rufus...”

Yes, Lucius?”

“Let Maximus do the bargaining.”

“Oh... why, Lucius?

Lucius gave a slightly evil smile. “I've seen him bidding on horse stock!”

Just at this moment, Maximus came into the room, his hair still a bit wet from his wash up. “Salvete! I hope everyone slept well.” Lucius chuckled and winked. “I imagine so.” Both Maximus and Rufus smiled and ducked their heads a bit.

Anna appeared at the doorway. “Sabina has breakfast ready early, dominus. Would you and your guests like it in here?”

“No, Anna, let's have it out in the garden, I want to show them what we've been doing there.” They adjourned to the garden and Decimus and Anna brought the food to them and then withdrew. The cool early morning mist had not yet cleared off completely. Lucius pointed out the new plantings. “And I want to have a covered walkway around those two sides of the garden, and an arbor, just there. There's too little shade here now in the summer months. I think we will live out our days here, and we might as well be comfortable.” The three sat and ate their light meal and were joined by Antonia as they were finishing.

“Ah, everyone is up early it seems; and I thought I might beat you both,” she said, nodding toward Rufus and Maximus. “What are your plans for today... are you leaving soon?”

“Antonia! They will think we want to be rid of them!” Antonia looked a bit abashed.

Rufus interrupted. “Oh, no... please, Lady, we don't think that at all, you have made us feel very welcome, and we have fond memories of Sabina's excellent meal from last night. Please thank her again for us. But we do need to be making a start fairly soon.” Turning to Lucius, he asked, “Does your offer of the cart and Decimus to ride with us still stand?”

“Of course. I'll have him bring the cart around now so it will be ready. Antonia needs him to pick up a few things in town anyway.”

They finished the last of their meal, and gathered their few things and then stood together on the porch at the front of the farmhouse. Antonia took Rufus' hand, then Maximus'. “Good luck to you both, and do please write to us and tell us how things progress. And you must visit us once you are settled.” Lucius embraced them both, and there was a slightly awkward silence as all four cast their minds back to those several days that had changed their lives so utterly, and the fact that it might be years before they saw each other again. Lucius again embraced the two men. “Valete, and may the gods always watch kindly over you both.”

Decimus was in the cart, waiting. Maximus got in to his left and Rufus to his right. Sabina ran out of the house, carrying a square parcel, wrapped in cloth. “Here, something for you to eat on your way.” She handed the parcel up to Rufus and then backed off shyly. “Thank you for the lovely pan, Rufus... and Anna loves the scarf, even if she is too much of a goose to come out and tell you herself.”

Decimus touched the whip to the horses flanks and they moved off. Both freedmen looked back and saw Lucius with his arm around Antonia's waist. Both waved for a good while, and then re-entered the house.

Decimus turned to each of his passengers. “Sabina has told me of how the two of you saved the household, and others as well. Your manumission seems truly deserved. If it please you, can you tell me if what everyone says is true, that there is nothing left of Pompeii? Nothing at all?”

Rufus turned to Decimus. “You are not from here, then?”

“No, my former master lived in a small villa outside of Rome.”

“How did you come to be here, then?”

“My former master lost greatly in bad investments, and sold most of his slaves as well as the villa. I was sold to a slave broker, who sold me to another broker. Somehow, I ended up with a trader in Nuceria, where Lady Antonia bought me. So, we heard rumors and stories of the destruction, but just that... stories, and people tend to exaggerate. Anna cautioned me against asking either the domina or dominus about the eruption, and neither Anna or Sabina will talk very much about it.”

Maximus spoke up. “I can tell you there is nothing left. The mountain is nearly gone, blasted into nothingness. The entire city, and the lands and villages around it for miles, are covered with lava that has hardened to rock. Almost nothing grows there, and all you see above ground are the tops of a few broken columns, sticking up like rotted teeth.” He took a deep breath. “We saw it happen. It was like a great rolling wave of ash and mud and heat and death. I have never seen anything move as fast as that wave. No one has, ever. Nothing could escape it. It nearly reached us, even as far away as we had managed. I still have nightmares about it.”

“So do I,” Rufus said. “It was like Hades had been brought above ground, and then snuffed out in an instant.”

“Would you ever go back? To see, I mean...”

“Gods, NO! I hope never to see it again.” The trio rode on towards Nuceria in silence.

They arrived in the crossroads on the outskirts of Nuceria at mid-morning. “You can let us off here, it's not a long walk for us, and it's a nice day. Thank your for the ride, Decimus.” Maximus climbed down from the cart. Rufus followed on the other side and added, “I know you will have a good life with Lucius and Antonia. They are good people, and you will be well treated.” They both stepped back.

“Fare well, gentlemen, may the gods go with you.” Decimus touched the whipstock to the horses flanks and they moved off.

Rufus and Maximus headed up the road that lead to the village where they were staying, about a two hour walk away. The day was sunny and bright, with a light breeze. While they walked, they discussed what they had seen at the property in Rocca. “Once we get back, I'll write all this down, then we can go over it together again before I make a clean copy. I'll need more parchment, though.” Rufus checked his purse for funds. “Beast, how are we with the landlord?” “We are good to the Kalends, no worries.” “Excellent. We should have enough time to get to Rome and back, assuming he accepts the revised terms. I still think five hundred is a steep discount...”

“I think I can manage to get most of that. We'll have a nice chat over his best wine,” Maximus said.

“Lucius said I should let you do the talking.”

“Oh?”

“Yes, he said you drive a hard bargain.” Maximus chuckled. “Yes, I do.” He put an arm around Rufus' shoulders and hugged. “We're really going to do this, aren't we.”

“Gods willing, yes. Yes, we are!. Are you happy, my Beast?”

“Yes. Nervous. But yes, happy.” He squeezed Rufus again.

After an hour of walking, Maximus suggested a break. They sat on a large flat rock at the roadside, and opened Sabina's parcel. The faint aroma of pork sausage rose from the contents. “Look, she's given us bread and sausage and cheese and olives, and.... a small jug?” Maximus broke the clay seal and sniffed. “Well, it's wine, so we won't go thirsty!”

Rufus took a taste. “Oh, my! This is more than just 'wine'. It's Falernian.” Rufus took another swig, then offered the small container to Maximus.

“Well, it does taste good, not sharp at all. But... what's the difference?”

“Oh, Beast... Falernian is the best! It has a soft flavor, like flowers and sun. You drink this and you don't wake with a headache the next day, even if it isn't watered. Not that you should ever water this. Hand it here.” Maximus did, and Rufus took another long pull. “Gods, that's good. Thank you, Sabina! I hope she doesn't get in trouble with Lucius. This isn't the everyday stuff, you know. It's special.”

“Well, it was very nice of her to pack it for us. I think this was your gift at work! But I'm used to 'everyday'. I imagine you are, too, Wolfpup. How come you know about Faller... Fallerrian?”

“Falernian. It's 'Falernian'. When they would have special guests, it was served; and sometimes, the amphora would not be completely emptied by the time the guests left, if you know what I mean.”

“You mean it somehow got emptied into the wine cups in the kitchen?”

“I'll never tell,” Rufus smiled. They finished their meal and brushed away the crumbs, and were immediately surrounded by noisy birds. Stretching, they looked over the valley spread out before them. “I'll miss this a bit, I think.”

“But it's too close to the past for me. Too many memories, they plague me sometimes. It will be good to start fresh, no?” Maximus looked at his Wolfpup.

“Yes, it will.” They were quiet for a time, both enjoying the warmth of the sun and the light breeze. Rufus' cock stirred as he remembered their quiet love-making in the early hours. “Beast, look down there, that clump of trees. I bet it would screen us from the road...”

“Ah, my insatiable Wolfpup. Come here!” Maximus embraced the red bearded man he loved so much, picked him up, and carried him down to the trees. As Maximus walked, Rufus turned his head, nosing Maximus' tunic to one side, and latched on to the soft pink disc of a Beast nipple. Maximus moaned in pleasure as Rufus sucked and tongued the now erecting flesh. “Oh, gods, don't stop! Never stop!” With one arm firmly around Rufus' thick waist, he moved his other arm up to gently press Rufus' head to his chest, cradling it with his large hand. Rufus eagerly lapped at the hard pink nub, stopping at times to nuzzle it with his thick, coppery beard.

Maximus' cock thickened and extended, surging upright, jerking with the quickening pulse of his heart. Each time Rufus chewed lightly, large blobs of precum would ooze out. “Fuck me, Beast. Now. I need you in me again, I need to feel you inside me.” Maximus nodded mutely, and set Rufus down. Both men hurriedly pulled off their tunics and loosened the strings of their sublinaculums, letting them drop to the ground. “Holy Priapus, is there any more beautiful sight in all the world?” Rufus gazed with love at his naked, hard lover. Maximus' foreskin was now fully retracted, the blunt tip glistening and coated with slippery clear fluid, as was more and more of the shaft.

Maximus reached out a hand and touched Rufus on the shoulder. “You glow in the sunlight, you know that?” He then leaned back against the largest of the trees and motioned with both hands to Rufus. Rufus thought that his Beast wanted a hug before they lay down, but Maximus had another plan in mind. “Reach up and lock your hands behind my neck.” The Wolfpup did so, and Maximus cupped his hands under Rufus' ass cheeks, boosting him higher, level with his waist. “Now, raise your legs some. That's it. Hold that now.” Although Rufus was smaller than Maximus, he was no lightweight; but years of outdoor work had made Maximus very strong, and the easier life he'd had on Lucius' farm had not cost him any of that strength. He raised his Wolfpup up a bit higher, spreading his cheeks, and flexed his cock, searched for the entry into his lover. Both gasped when the tip found it's target. Maximus slowly and carefully lowered Rufus onto his slick erection.

Rufus reveled in the force of the thick, blunt shaft making it's way into his body. His Beast was being careful, and the slight initial twinge of discomfort quickly faded to bliss. Maximus' cock was the same width and thickness base to tip, making it look and feel like a sausage rather than a mushroom or a wedge. He could feel the flex and pull of his lover's neck and shoulder muscles and the firmness of his hands supporting him safely as he was fucked. They had never coupled this way before and Rufus found himself liking it a lot. He could hug and hold his Beast, bury his face in the Beast's thick chest fur, even lick a nipple, which brought a gasp and a deeper thrust. In spite of his strength, this position was not made for prolonged mating, and Maximus's penis began arrowing in and out more and more rapidly as he drove towards his climax. “Beast, you are in so fucking deep!” Sensing that the Beast was about to cum, the Wolfpup began to growl louder, in time with the powerful thrusts. “Now, Beast... yes!... fill me... now!” With a shout of joy, the Beast did so. Rufus reveled in the hot flood of his lover's seed, deep in his guts, never tiring of that feeling. “Oh, my fuckbeast!”

Exhausted, they both clung to each other for a while before Maximus lifted Rufus off his now-softened shaft. His cock slid out with an audible 'plop' and sagged downwards, it's happy work finished for now.

“Beast, I hate to do it but I must get rid of some of your seed. Futuo, but you filled me full!” He kissed his love and then moved off to squat briefly in the bushes.

“It's too bad there's no stream nearby. I'm all wet, too.” He laughed. “You leaked all over my legs when I pulled you off!”

“Once we get to the inn, we can sluice each other off in the yard behind the stable." Thinking of the property they were going to buy, Rufus mused, "I wonder if Rocca will have a public bath?”

“I doubt it. Clusium certainly does, but that would be a long walk just to clean up!” Maximus handed Rufus his tunic and then put on his own. The two climbed back up the slope and onto the road, to continue their trudge to the inn and the inn keeper with land to sell.

*

After a rinse off in the stable yard and an early evening meal, Maximus joined Rufus in his room and they amplified the description of the house at Rocca. Rufus made notes in the margin of the original contract. “We're lucky that the landlord had some pieces of clean parchment.” Rufus scratched at the parchment. “Here, hand me that quill, this one is split.” More scratching. “I wish I had a calamus, much neater result.”

Maximus snorted. “Perfectionist.” He leaned over and kissed Rufus on the head to take the sting out of the comment. Rufus worked for another hour, making a careful, clean copy of the revised contract, leaving only the final price blank.

“There. That's done. Tomorrow, after the morning meal, you can work your bargaining magic on the landlord. I'll start off, because he will expect that. Then I'll hand him over to your tender mercies.” He hugged, then kissed, Maximus.

“I wish we could sleep together tonight, Wolfpup,” Maximus whispered.

“Best not tempt the fates. We've been lucky so far, and...” Rufus stopped as he heard footsteps in the hallway outside the room. They stepped apart.

Maximus opened the door and said loudly, “Well, I think we have made good progress on the contract, those were good ideas of yours. We can discuss any last minute changes in the morning. I am too tired now. I'll see you tomorrow. Bonum nocte.” He smiled inwardly, the little charade had certainly been heard by older man just entering his room at the end of the hall. Maximus had the room next to that. More and more, as the possibility of living together inched towards reality, he resented the need to dissemble, to hide and lie. More so here in a rural area than in a city or in Rome, but still... 'Why should anyone fucking care?' he thought to himself before drifting off to sleep.

Unknown to him, Rufus was having a very similar thought as he lay in his bed in his room down the hall from Maximus. 'What's 'normal' anyway? No two people are exactly alike. I suppose someone who is really different scares people. Beast can look really scary, but he's so good and kindhearted inside. We shouldn't judge people just by what we see. But I guess that's too hard for most people.' He sighed. “So we put on a show and wear a mask, like in the theater, if we want to survive together,” he whispered to himself, a rare bitterness surfacing.

*

The next morning, after the pot boy had cleaned the tables and the landlord had time, the three sat down together to discuss business. A jug of watered wine was accompanied by three cups at the table. “Well, you said you wanted to think about it and make some plans. Have you decided?” The landlord looked first at Rufus, then at Maximus, but mostly at Rufus. Maximus poured wine for the three of them.

Rufus cleared his throat. “Yes, we have, but with a couple of changes. First, we need thirty days for payment, not ten. Both of us will need to go to Rome to get our funds, Maximus can leave soon, but I can't leave immediately. Second, the description of the house is incomplete. We've written up a more complete description. Read it, please; you will find it quite accurate. It will require a good sum of money and time to put right.” Rufus pushed the contract over to the landlord.

“Now, as to price.” Maximus leaned forward and smiled as he said this, noting the surprised look on the landlord's face. “We feel a fairly substantial reduction in your asking price is in order, given the state of the house, and the fact that half the property is not suitable for field crops.”

The landlord spluttered, “I made you a price that was more than fair. You won't find land that cheap, house or no,” ignoring for the moment the unsuitability of half the land for farming. He looked at Rufus when he said this, but Rufus remained silent.

Maximus continued. “Oh, hardly fair, given the fact that the house was in worse condition than presented, and not all the land is useable. But, since you need to get rid of the land... land you are paying taxes on and that is bringing in no income at all... we're prepared to offer four thousand, four hundred sisterces.”

“WHAT? That's six hundred less than the price we discussed.” He looked again at Rufus as he gestured towards Maximus. “Is this man insane? I can't accept that! Surely you and I can come to a sensible agreement.” He had played his outrage well, but had made the mistake of excluding and under-estimating Maximus.

Maximus smiled thinly. “Rufus and I are partners in this enterprise, and you are dealing with us both... together.” Rufus locked eyes with the landlord and nodded once. Maximus continued. “And we are sure that we can come to a sensible agreement, one that is fair to you... and to us.” He refilled the landlord's wine cup. “Here, have some more wine. Make me another offer and we'll talk. Or we can leave. Your land, your choice. Oh, and those taxes are due in two months time, I believe. A shame it doesn't generate any income for you.” Maximus smiled, but there was little humor in it.

The negotiations progressed throughout the morning: fifty sisterces here, twenty-five there, a further fifteen, with Maximus wearing the landlord's resistance down. Unknown to the landlord, when they had visited Rocca, the two had inquired about taxes and learned just how much the landlord was likely to be paying on land that was fallow and unoccupied, and when. Maximus used those figures to the greatest advantage. “You know, no real business man, such as yourself, can continue to absorb that steady drain on your income, supporting unproductive land. You must be losing, oh, close to..." and he named a figure that was exactly the amount of tax owed. "O course, you would know better than I. And of course, business here hasn't been as good as I am sure you hoped last year. And it seems to me that you won't be just 'cutting your losses', you'll be making more in the sale than you would pay in taxes over some time.” In his deceptive way, Maximus lead the landlord to gradually accepting a lower price, while leaving him with the impression that he was actually the one coercing the pair into accepting a higher price than what they were asking.

Finally, sensing he had pushed as far as he could, Maximus folded his hands and said, “So, I guess you have worn us down. Very clever, for land you don't want. Four thousand, six hundred sisterces... agreed?” Maximus looked at Rufus who nodded, then looked at the landlord, who nodded with a smile. He pushed the contract towards the two, and Rufus inked in the agreed amount. All three stood and gripped each other's forearms. Rufus asked, “Do you have a clerk in the village who can notarize this?”

“We do... shall we go now? It's not far.” The landlord was plainly worried that the two might change their minds. He was also beginning to feel the tiniest of doubts that he had not made quite as good a bargain as he had earlier thought. Once the contract was signed and notarized, four copies were made, one for the landlord, one for Rufus and Maximus, one to be kept in the court there, and one to be ultimately deposited at the court in Clusium, Rocca not having an administrative building or official. “You will have the deed for us in thirty days.” Maximus said it as a statement.

“Yes, when you hand over the money.”

“Before the ides of next month then. Agreed.”

Later in the afternoon, Rufus and Maximus were sitting on a bench outside the inn, their legs stretched out, hands crossed over their bellies, eyes closed against the late afternoon sun. Without opening his eyes, Rufus said, “Lucius was right.” Maximus did not open his eyes, but smiled.

Later in the evening, Rufus asked Maximus, “I'm curious. Lucius said to ask for a five hundred sisterces reduction, which I thought was very high. That's a lot of money. And you asked for six hundred!”

“Yes, because I needed more bargaining room. And I ended saving us four hundred sisterces off his asking price. Not bad for a morning's work!”

4 April, 82 AD

Two days later, they had settled their bill at the tavern, collected their belongings from their two rooms, and were headed back towards Nuceria. Their chances of catching a ride to Rome were better there.

“You know, I did have a moment, back there when we were negotiating. I was afraid that he would ask me to point out the new description or worse, read it to him.” He paused, and Rufus did not interrupt. Very quietly, Maximus said, “Wolfpup, will you teach me to read?”

“Of course, my Beast! But you know you will always have me to tend to things that need literacy. Not everyone is literate. Some very successful businessmen...”

“Yes, I know, and I am grateful. But I want to do this, I want to be able to be truly free. Oh, not of you love, never that. To be independent, I guess. My own man.”

Rufus reached out and hugged the big man. A passing man on a donkey looked at them with a rather odd expression, but the moment, and the travelers, passed on.

The sun climbed higher in the sky, and both men were glad to rest for a bit in the shade of a roadside tree. “Should we stop at Lucius' place?” Maximus asked.

“Much as I'd like to, I think not. We need to get our money from the banker. We are running low, even with the funds Lucius kept back for us when he made the deposit in Rome. And who knows how long it will take us. If we end up walking, that's at least five or six days each way, plus however long it actually takes us in Rome.”

Having reached the town, the two were walking down the main street towards the largest inn in Nuceria. Just at that moment, Lucius and Decimus rounded the corner.

“Gentlemen! Ah, well met! Gods be praised, I am glad to find you. Oh, thank the gods! Come, join us and tell us your news quickly, and then I must tell you things.” Lucius was obviously pleased at finding his two former slaves. Maximus and Rufus looked at each other and nodded and followed Lucius and Decimus into the taverna across from the inn.

“Is everything settled? Contracts signed? What did you end up agreeing on?” Wine, olives and bread were brought to the table.

“We ended up agreeing to four thousand, six hundred. We are heading to Rome to the bankers as soon as we can. And we do have the thirty days you suggested.” Maximus was obviously pleased with himself.

Lucius turned to Rufus and smiled broadly. "Did I not tell you?!"

“You did, and you were right.” Rufus chewed on some olives. “But you seemed anxious, Lucius, when we met just now. Why?”

“Because I have had some very disturbing news, and I was greatly afraid that I would not be able to get it to you before you left for Rome. As I very nearly didn't.” He took a gulp of wine. “You know I deposited your settlement money with my banker. I have known him for years, a most honest and upright man. Truly, a Roman of the old tradition. Caius Calvus, my former business partner, you never met him, Maximus, but Rufus has, I believe.” Rufus nodded. “Caius wrote to me with news that our banker, Marcus Lucellus, has died suddenly, and the bank has been taken over by a sort of syndicate. They have ties to some apparently corrupt officials, I don't know all the details. I have already sent a letter authorizing Caius to withdraw my funds, and put them in a holding with the Vestals. It will be safe there. But I couldn't do that for your monies. They are in your names only. You say you are going to Rome now?”

“Yes.”

“Good. Make all haste, I have a very bad feeling about this, and when I had one of the local priests take the auspices, they were not good.”

“What should we do? What can we do?”

“Get all your money out and take it with you. Dangerous, I know, but you will have to think of something, some way to transport it. And I have made out two letters introducing each of you to the bank, describing your, ah, distinctive looks.”

“Could we not do as you did, leave it with the Vestals?” Maximus asked.

“No. My uncle is a Senator, and his niece is a Vestal, that's why I was able to work that. That wouldn't be available to you. It really isn't supposed to be available to me, but.... Anyway, that's my news. I wish I had better, or at least more details. But Caius was quite worried, more so than I had ever known him to be. So treat this seriously. That money is your future.”

They all gulped their wine. Lucius turned to Decimus. “Decimus, go across the way to the inn and ask if anyone is heading to Rome and could take two passengers for pay. Stress that the passengers have need of haste, there's a good boy.” Decimus left.

“How is he working out? Rufus was naturally curious about the young man who appeared to have inherited his old position in the household.

“He is doing well. I like him, he is quiet and well-spoken. Antonia likes him, and what's more important, Anna likes him. There is peace in my house.” He smiled ruefully. “Ah, here comes Decimus now. That was fast. What news, Decimus?”

“If you move quickly, you are in luck. There is a merchant, on his way to deliver a shipment of wool to a ship in the port of Ostia. He will leave as soon as he finishes his meal. He will take two passengers... for six silver asses* each.” (* four as were equal to one sestercius)

“Why, that's highway rob...”

“We've really no choice. It's nearly 100 miles, too long to walk, and we can't depend on finding a ride along the way.”

“Wait.” Lucius reached into his purse and brought out a handful of coins. “This will cover your costs, with some left over for food. Just until you get your money from the bank.”

“Lucius, we can't. You've already done so much...”

“Rufus. Maximus. I can never fully repay my... our debt to you. You saved our lives, and others as well. Take this now, and hurry. Jupiter speed you on your way. Now, go!” Embracing Lucius quickly, Rufus and Maximus shook Decimus' hand and hurried across the street to the taverna.

Late in the afternoon, heading southwards in the goods wagon along the Via Appia, they found their driver a dour, taciturn man, not given to conversation; which actually suited the two. The fewer details they had to invent about themselves, the better.

10 April, 82 AD

On the morning of the sixth day, they had reached the outskirts of Rome. “Let us off here, and we won't have to walk back from Ostia,” Maximus said. The driver did so, and moved off towards the port, as silent as he had been all along.

“My backside is telling me we might have been better off walking,” Rufus said, stretching and rubbing his back. The small inns they had stayed in along the way had not helped matters... hard, lumpy pads on equally hard wooden boards. “I slept on better as a slave,” Maximus said. Rufus nodded.

They stood at the Porta Appia, the main southern entrance to the city. “What now?” Maximus did not know Rome at all, and was suitably awed at it's shear size and bustle.

“Lucius wrote down the location of the bank on my letter. Yes, here: 'On the west side of the square directly in front of the temple of Juno Moneta'. I have a vague memory of where that is, but we can ask. I'm hungry, shall we get something for lunch?”

“Yes. How are we for money?”

“We should be OK, Lucius was very generous. Look, there's a taverna over there, and there's a line. That's usually a good sign.”

Maximus' belly growled. “Then let's eat!”

After a decent meal, the two set out to follow the taverna owner's directions to the temple square. “I was here once with Lucius, but I doubt I could have found the place again. The streets are so crowded, it's hard to know what direction we are traveling in. And there seems to be building everywhere.”

“Where did Lucius and Antonia have their house?”

“Ah, not here. It was over on the Quirinal.”

“Was it large?”

“Oh, yes, quite large. The place in Pompeii was maybe a third it's size. There were twelve house slaves. Of course, there was no stable, so just two outdoor slaves to maintain the garden.” Rufus stopped at an intersection of three streets. “We're to go that way, on the other side of the fountain.” They walked on.

“When Lucius and Antonia decided to leave the city and sold the house here, they only took four of us with them. They bought you and the others in Pompeii for the farm.”

“Bless them for that, or we wouldn't have met.”

“True.” Rufus edged bit closer to Maximus and said in a low voice. “I still remember our first kiss, in the stable.” “Me, too,” Maximus whispered.

In fairly short order, the two reached the crowded square in front of the temple. “Ooo, it's large, isn't it,” Maximus said.

“Actually rather small,” Rufus replied. “Well, it's one of the older ones in Rome, dates back to the early Republic. You should see the Capitoline precinct and the Forum. Maybe, if we have time...” A centurion leading a troop barked at them for being in the way, interrupting Rufus' thought.

“Now, Lucius said the bank was on the west side, so probably somewhere along that arcade.” Rufus was pointing to a covered combination walkway and porch that stretched along one entire side of the square, filled with a motley collection of wooden stalls, selling what appeared to be anything at all that would be needed in a house. Furniture, cooking utensils, cloth, lamps, braziers; all crowded together with shoppers, loudly bargaining. “Look, I think that's it.” They dodged two slaves lugging a large couch destined for someone's triclinium, then stood in front of a sturdy door with impressive iron hinges, studded with iron nails, with a carved lintel that bore the inscription “Bank”. The entered the cooler and suddenly quieter interior.

The older slave at the desk looked up. “P-p-please close the door, sirs.” Rufus did so. “Ah, much better. T-t-too much dust and noise out there. What can I d-do for you?”

Rufus spoke up. “We are here to claim our deposits, both of us.” Maximus nodded.

“Ah, I see.” He paused, looking closely at both of them. “I k-k-know all of our clients, but I d-do not recognize either of you.” The slave sniffed and lay down his stylus. “I'm s-sure I would remember you. C-c-could you....”

Rufus stepped forward and handed him Lucius's letter of introduction. Maximus did the same. Rufus cleared his throat. “You don't know us because it was Lucius Hirtuleius who opened the accounts with you shortly after he manumitted us. After the catastrophe, you know.” The slave nodded.

The slave broke the seals on both notes and read each carefully, looking up at each of the men before him as he did so. “Yes. Well, this s-s-seems to be in order. I kn-kn-know Lucius Hirtuleius well, he is a valued client of ours, or at least, was.” The slave seemed to be suddenly nervous, glancing over his shoulder. “I am b-b-bound to ask, though, why you wish to withdraw all of your funds? This is r-r-rather unusual, you know.”

“We are going in together on a business venture, one which will require each of us to contribute a good portion of the capital needed. I trust there will be no problem with this?” Rufus was braced for some complication, perhaps with their manumitted status, in spite of Lucius' letters. Maximus stayed silent, but moved forward, his intimidating bulk casting a shadow across the slave's desk.

“No, it's j-j-just that... you see, we don't keep those sums here in the office. They are secure, no problem there, but I d-do not have access to the building where we keep them. My master is away just now, but will be b-b-back by opening tomorrow. He will attend to obtaining your f-funds. If you would care to return tomorrow? I know it is inconvenient, but there is a nice taverna just a-a-across the square that rents rooms, if you care to....” The slave gestured out the door, but was plainly nervous and ill at ease. Maximus was doing his best not to scare the poor man, but Rufus noticed sweat forming on the man's brow.

“For my part, I would rather have the money now, but if you can't do that, we will just wait until your dominus returns. If my partner here has no objection, we'll look around outside, perhaps visit the temple, and be back tomorrow morning... first thing.”

“I've no objection,” Maximus said. Something, perhaps his physically imposing presence, had obviously make the poor slave very uncomfortable.

“Very good, then, tomorrow. And now I must c-c-close the office briefly while I g-get my noon meal. Valete, gentlemen.” The slave ushered them out with almost indecent haste and closed the door behind them.

“Well, that was odd. More than odd.” Rufus was plainly puzzled and vaguely troubled. Maximus nodded.

“I think I scared him. That office was small and I'm big...”

“I don't think it was you at all, Beast. He was extremely nervous, and I don't mean his stutter. Did you see how he kept looking over his shoulder? Like he was being watched?” Maximus nodded. “Let's go over there, there are benches by the temple steps. We can keep an eye on the door to the bank for a while from there. I don't much like the delay, but maybe...” The two proceeded to the temple steps, dodging the busy shoppers crossing from sales booth to booth.

They entertained themselves by watching the busy commerce in front of them. They were discussing the slave's odd behavior when they heard a soft hiss from behind the bench they were sitting on.

“Gentlemen, if you please, follow me to the other side of the temple. No, don't get up just yet, wait a bit, then follow,” the voice whispered softly. Before they could get a good look at the person who had spoken, he had vanished in the crowd. Maximus looked at Rufus. “Futuo, Rome is a strange place. Should we?” Rufus shrugged. “This seems off. I don't really feel comfortable with it, and I don't like losing sight of that bank's door. And I can't be sure, but I think...”

“Wolfpup, you're safe enough with me around. And there's probably a back door to the bank, anyway.”

Suddenly deciding, Rufus got up. “All right, let's go.” The two walked around the front steps of the temple to Moneta, getting occasional whiffs of incense from within. They circled around to the opposite side of the small temple, and found a much quieter, less crowded area.

“Not here.” The same whispering voice came again from behind them. “Over there, you s-s-see the stairs? Meet me at the base.” Again the figure was too quick for them to identify, moving quickly across the open space and vanishing down the steps.

“Now I really don't like this,” Rufus said. “That has to be the slave from the bank.” Maximus moved off towards the steps, and Rufus followed, trusting in his mate's size and strength as a deterrent to any street thuggery. They walked down the steps and found themselves in what looked like a small garden, probably part of the original temple precinct. They were alone. A figure stepped out from behind a tree and approached them.

“Ave, gentlemen.” Rufus was confirmed in his suspicion that the voice belonged to the stuttering slave from the bank. “I ap-p-pologize for the secrecy. I kn-kn-know I am being watched., but I think we are s-s-s...” The slave slapped his thigh. “...safe here.” In spite of this, the slave seemed just as nervous as before.

“Listen. All of this is very strange and worrying to us. And I don't like being worried.” Maximus stood in front of the slave with his hands on his hips. “So. What is going on?”

“Can I trust you? Lucius Hirtuleius c-c-commends you highly to the bank and says your are good, honest men. Can I trust you?”

Rufus tried to calm the man. “Yes, you can trust us, but we need to know what is going on. You must see that this is all very... unusual. Here, sit, and tell us.” They all sat on a low wall. The slave looked around carefully, seemed to make a decision, and forged ahead.

“You know that the former owner of the bank has died. He was getting on in years, it's true, but his health was excellent. It was a great surprise when he took ill so suddenly. I think Lucius Hirtuleius must have told you that, and that a syndicate has taken over the bank and it's affairs. The three other slaves were all sold off; but I was kept on, as I was the one who knew all the clients by sight. I do hope Lucius Hirtuleius is in good health? He was always polite and well-spoken, never hasty with me, unlike some others of our clients.”

Rufus nodded and said, “He is, I assure you. Please... go on.”

“How much do you know about our new Emperor?” The slave looked at the two men.

“Uh... very little, other than he is the younger brother of Titus, and son of Vespasian. He seems to be continuing their good policies.”

“Yes, he has. But he is much more rigid in his moral outlook than Titus or Vespasian were. They say that Vespasian's long-time mistress welcomed the two sons to the palace offering a motherly kiss to each. Titus accepted, Domitian turned his head and refused, 'on moral grounds'. Given that he sees many things as black or white, I quite believe it." Rufus and Maximus looked at each other and shrugged.

"And how much do you know of money?” the slave continued.

“I can count and do sums, I am good at it. And I...”

The slave interrupted Maximus. “No, I mean about money itself. The coins.”

“I don't understand.”

“Roman coins have value for two reasons. First is the silver contained in them. The amount of silver equals it's value. The problem is that ever since Augustus, that amount of silver has declined... not in the actual weight of the coin, but in the purity. Before Augustus it was 98% pure. Oh, there is other metal in the coins as well, so that they are durable and can be stamped with the Emperor's image and whatever else is needed. But over time, the purity of the silver has declined. The weight is made up with other base metals, so the coins generally look the same and weigh the same. Recently, the purity has declined to just over 80%.”

“So the money is worth less? I don't like where this is going,” Maximus growled.

“Technically, yes. But you remember I said there were two reasons for the value. The second is people's faith in the coinage. As long as people believe the coins are worth what they are supposed to be...”

“Then they are worth what people believe they are,” Rufus finished for him.

“Exactly. And people were beginning to hear and believe rumors of the dilution of the currency. This caused some serious unrest, here in Rome and elsewhere. People sometimes forget that Roman coins are used in trade far and wide, and if their value was questioned... So, Domitian responded promptly to the unrest, declared that the coinage would be returned to Augustan levels, and began minting new coins and exchanging them for old. As you can imagine, that is a Herculean task. He has authorized new mints, and added new nummularii, the officials tasked with minting and testing coinage. It's become a kind of holy mission for the Emperor. Some of the older nummularii, ones who had their positions because they were relatives of Senators, had become lax in their duties. Domitian removed them from their posts and banished them.”

“Thank you for the lesson in finance, but what does this have to do with us, or you, for that matter?” Rufus was plainly puzzled and becoming a bit impatient.

“Because I think there is something very wrong going on at the bank, and because in his letters, Lucius Hirtuleius commends you both highly. Ever since my new masters took over, I have been told exactly what to say to anyone desiring their funds. It's always the same story, and it's not true. There is always a delay, and then the finds are brought to me in the office. But the thing is, we used to keep those funds on the premises, there should be no need for a delay. Last month, one of our oldest clients came in, in desperate need of funds. The delay was longer than usual, and I tried to intercede with my masters on his behalf. My masters were very rude to me, threatened me! After that, I did some investigating on my own. I don't like having to lie to our clients. I am an honest man.” He stopped and gulped. “Ever since then, I get the feeling I am being watched.”

“Why?”

“Because of what I found out. You see, the coin that is brought to me to give to a client looks exactly like all the new coinage … shiny, sharply stamped. I carefully removed one and replaced it with one of my own. A fellow slave works in one of the mints controlled by the temple priests here. He had that new coin tested.” The slave paused. “It has much less silver than it is supposed to have, just over 70% instead of the 98% the Emperor decreed. I think that, somehow, my new masters are minting so-called new coins themselves, and substituting them for the actual new coins. They turn in the older coins on deposit with us and melt down the new ones they are given in exchange. They use that silver, or some of it at least, to mint 'new' coins to give to a depositor and keep nearly 30% of the silver for themselves. It could be years before anyone notices.” The slave seemed to suddenly run out of energy, and visibly sagged. “And I said all of that without st-st-st...” The slave smacked his thigh with an open palm. “...stuttering once!” He looked amazed.

“If you are right in this, you must go to one of the city magistrates. This is not right, and it must be stopped.”

“Oh, sirs! I'm afraid! I just...”

“Really, you must. It's not just us, you know. It's all the clients that have trusted you, personally, and the bank over the years. Think of them. I'm sure the magistrates will offer some form of protection for you, in view of the situation.”

The slave plainly still had his doubts, but the appeal to his sense of duty to the bank's long time clients, many of them aged, seemed to give him a sense of resolve.

“All right. I know I c-can't do this any longer, I'm an honest man and I hate the deception. It makes me sick. I will g-g-o to the magistrate if I must, and then I will leave here and g-g-o to Marcus Lucellus' brother and throw myself on his mercy.”

Maximus spoke up. “You know what they do to runaway slaves.”

“I do, but if I stay, it's only a matter of t-t-time before they decide to get rid of me. I am sure they think I know too much. Oh, I wish Marcus Lucellus had never d-d-died!” The slave was sweating again along with the stuttering. “And I must return to the bank, I have s-s-stayed out too long..” The nervous slave made to go but Maximus stopped him.

“What are we to do? That money is necessary for my future, as well as my partner's.”

“You must f-f-find a way to get your money, and soon.”

“Yes, I see that, but where is it kept?” Rufus asked.

“Every depositor's f-f-funds are kept in locked boxes, with their names on a lead seal attached to the lock. Do you know the old market, the one built before T-Tiberius?”

“I think so,” Rufus said.

“Part of it was b-burned in the fire we had here, so it's abandoned now. There is a large cellar under that b-b-building, what's left of it, and I believe that is where the syndicate has moved the money, and perhaps where they are minting the substitute coins. I've heard them t-talking about the place when they thought I couldn't hear. And now I have to go!” The slave scuttled off like a scared rabbit.

Maximus scratched his beard. “Well, I'll be buggered.” Rufus couldn't help but grin. “Yes, yes... I know,” the big man said, reaching over and for a quick squeeze of Rufus' knee. “But could all this get any stranger? And what are we supposed to do? Break into that cellar and steal our money?”

“Well, it wouldn't be stealing, as such... it IS our money, after all. But I haven't a clue as to what our next steps should be. What if that slave doesn't go to the magistrates?”

The two continued to discuss the situation, back and forth. Unnoticed by either of them, a silent figure on the temple's rear porch quietly moved back deeper into the shadows and stole away.

*

A few hours later, Felix Carbo was in his study, deep in thought, when his wife, Livia, stormed in. “Husband! What mess have you gotten yourself into this time?” She stood, angry, her hands on her hips, glaring at him.

“Now, what is troubling you... dear?” Not for the first time, Felix reflected on the fact that he didn't much like his wife, less and less of late, in fact. She had the irritating habit of letting him know that she felt she was far more competent than he was, at just about anything.

“That stupid little enterprise of yours at the bank. The enterprise that apparently that old slave knows all about now. I told you to get rid of him, when you got rid of the others.” She advanced towards Felix's desk.

“You've been listening at doors again, haven't you? I kept that old slave because I needed him. He knows all the clients, and he's honest to a fault. The clients trust him. He's the trustworthy public face of the bank.”

“The 'public face' that now apparently knows enough about your stupid scheme to get you banished, according to Julius. AND two of the bank's clients know now, as well.” Felix raised an eyebrow at that. “Oh, I know all about your tame busybody Julius. He was just here. There is nothing that happens in this house that I don't know about. At least Julius knows enough to keep tabs on things, And you know how Domitian deals with public maleficence. If you are banished, what will happen to me, I ask? Have you thought of that... husband?”

“Livia, you need to have a bit more confidence in your husband's abilities. And you'd do well to remember,” he said, through gritted teeth, “that it's my 'stupid little enterprise' that provides you with all the money to pay for those ridiculous baubles you are so fond of displaying in front of all your clucking women friends.”

Livia simply ignored her husband's remark and pivoted to a different tact. “You need to silence that stammering old fool, and those other two as well. You remember what Julius overheard... the clients encouraging that old codger to go the magistrates, and him promising to do so! And don't forget, he has that coin he filtched, or at least one of the nummularii do. And I will wager it's not one of the ones you've bribed, either.”

“I will deal with all three...”

Livia interrupted him. “And not with half-measures, either. I know you.”

“I said I would deal with them, but not yet. I need to...”

“If you are too squeamish to do it yourself, get Aulus or Lupus to do it. Or that cretin, Coro. Why you keep him around escapes me, but in this case, he'd be useful. He, at least, has no compunction about doing what's necessary.”

“I said 'NO', Livia! I need to talk to these three and find out just how much they know... if they know anything about the other banks.”

“What other banks?” Livia blurted out.

“Ah... so you don't actually know everything that goes on, now, do you, Livia?” Felix leaned back in his chair and stared hard at his wife. “I think it's best that you leave these affairs to me. And I really think it's best that you go busy yourself with something else, and right now. Go torment one of the house slaves, or make one of your friends miserable with your presence, and leave me in peace.” The last five words were said with increasing anger. Livia turned on her heels and stalked out. When her presence had dissipated, Felix got up and walked through the house and into the garden to the stable beyond.

“Ah, Aulus. I may have a job for you and Lupus. Perhaps Coro, too.”

*

Throughout the afternoon, Rufus and Maximus had batted ideas back and forth as to what to do about their deposits. Each plan in turn was examined and discarded. Rufus was particularly vexed. “Really, what can we do but accept what they give us? If we melt it down ourselves, we will lose part of it's value, besides breaking the law. And we can't take it to the nummularii or another bank, because they would just say that we've already been given new coins for old. I just don't know...” In fact, Rufus had confessed not knowing what to do several times already during the afternoon.

“Oh, Hades, Wolfpup. Fuck all this dilly-dallying. We know what we have to do, we've known it all along if we're honest.”

“And that is?”

“We have to go and get our money before they have a chance to melt it and pass off those rancidius fakes on us. What other choice do we have?”

“No other that I can see, Beast,” Rufus sighed and reluctantly agreed.

“I say we go now, and keep an eye on the place until nightfall. Then, if we haven't seen anyone going in or out, we go in and find our boxes and get out.” Maximus stood up. “I'd feel better if I had a club or a knife, but maybe we won't need weapons, if we're quiet and quick about it.”

“Agreed.” Rufus seems to pause for a moment, considering. He took a deep breath. “Let's do this.”

The pair found their way to the old market. The building had obviously been damaged in the fire, and not yet repaired or torn down, as Domitian's reconstruction program had done to many other building in the part of Rome affected by the great fire of 80 AD. That effort was in full swing. Piles of construction materials were everywhere in this part of the city.

By an hour after sunset, there had been no traffic in or out of the partially ruined building. I think it's safe, don't you?” Rufus said to Maximus, who nodded. They very quietly approached the portico, searching for stairs that would lead down to the cellars. At first, they had no luck, but then Maximus spied a doorway in a still-intact wall towards the rear of the building. “Worth a try!” Maximus put his large hand on the latch and moved it slowly, in case it made noise. It did not. The door swung open quietly on hinges that were obviously greased. “Can it be this easy?”

“I don't like it, Beast. Be careful” They began to descend the stone stairs, moving slowly. “Hades, it's dark. I wish we had a torch or something...”

“Well, there is a torch at the bottom, just there.” There was just enough light for Maximus to make out the torch in a holder on the wall. “Now to see if.... yes!” Maximus took a tinder box that was in a niche in the wall next to the torch. “Once I get this lit, you go close that door, but don't let it latch, we may need to get out in a hurry.” Rufus moved back to the top of the stairs and waited while Maximus struck the flint. The pitch-soaked torch lit quickly, flaring and smoking. Rufus closed the door just to but not latched and went back down next to Maximus.

The light revealed a dank hall, with brick columns on either side. Dust and mold and soot were everywhere. As they moved forward, doors on the opposite side became visible. The hall was otherwise empty, but there was a smell of something like burned metal in the close air. “Let's try that one, the big one,” Rufus whispered. Maximus nodded silently as they moved across the hall. A soft noise behind them caught their attention, but they were not quick enough. Each was hit from behind, hard, with a cudgel. Rufus hit the ground and did not move. Maximus sank to his knees, but a second heavy blow knocked him down to the ground as well. He was equally still, and bleeding heavily from the wounds to his head.

“Coro, you idiot! If you've killed this one too, we're ALL for it!” Coro just growled. “Quick now, the boss will be here soon. Drag that one into the small room there. Lupus, help me with this one.”

Coro grunted as he lifted Maximus' heavy legs. “Fucker's heavy.”

“Just hurry it up!” The two men were dragged into the room, and a smoky torch lit. Each was placed on a stool and tied with ropes. “Make it tight.” Aulus was getting nervous, knowing that their boss would not be pleased at another death of his prime sources of information. “Lupus, go back upstairs and wait for the boss. Let us know when he gets here.”

“What about the others?”

“The boss gave them the night off, remember? Fewer witnesses.” Lupus turned and left the room.

“When's the boss coming?” Coro asked, chewing a hang nail.

“Not sure, he said 'soon'. Here, toss that bucket of water on yours there. I'll see if I can wake mine... if you haven't killed him.” A bucket of filthy water was dumped on Maximus, and another on Rufus. “Wakey, wakey,” Aulus said. Maximus didn't move, but Rufus stirred and raised his head.

“What is this? Who are you? What's going on?” Rufus started to struggle against the ropes that bound him.

“Well, you've been meddling in things that aren't your concern... and we're here to correct that.”

Out of the corner of his eye, he saw a body, unmoving and slumped against the wall opposite. He recognized the slave from the bank. Turning his head, he winced as a bolt of pain shot through his head. “What have you done...” Then he saw Maximus, tied up just as he was, slumped over, unmoving. “Tu foedus nothi! I'll kill you!” Rufus followed his threat with a stream of profanities that would have done a legionary proud while he struggled to loosen his bonds.

“Keep a civil tongue in your head, scum,” Aulus said, slapping Rufus hard across his face, splitting his lip open. Lupus came back down the stairs and entered the room and started to speak, just as Maximus surged awake, lurching this way and that, trying to break the bonds that held him.

“UNTIE ME!” he roared.

“No chance, asswipe.” Coro stuck his face directly in front of Maximus.

“Pedicabo ego,” Maximus growled, then spat twice, the first hitting Coro in his left eye, and the second landing on his mouth.

“Why, you mother fucking piece of...” Coro raised his fist and smashed Maximus in the face. The crunch of cartilage was audible to everyone in the room. A wave of pain washed over Maximus, radiating from his nose; and his vision was clouded with red mist. Coro raised his fist again, to finish the work he had started.

“Coro, stop! CORO!!” Aulus screamed at the out-of-control man. “The boss hired us to take them and soften them up, not kill them.” Coro hesitated. “You've already done for the old slave, and the boss won't like not having living sources to question.” Both Aulus and Lupus breathed a sigh of relief when Coro finally lowered his fists.

“Ah, fuck it. I need to take a piss anyway.” Coro stomped out of the room. Moments later there was the sound of his powerful stream hitting the basement wall at the end of the hall.

Aulus turned to Lupus. “I don't like this. We weren't supposed to kill any of them yet. Coro is getting harder to control. He enjoys this way too much, more and more. Mark my words, Lupus, one day.... one day he's not going to stop when I tell him to. And he'll kill one or both of us. Just for fun.”

Coro reappeared and kicked the now-empty bucket. “Where's the boss? When he's done, I want to take care of that one once and for all,” glaring at Maximus, who's breathing sounds were mixed with bubbling sounds from the copious blood clotting his nose and beard.

“Is he coming?” Aulus asked Lupus, unhappy with the absence of his boss. Lupus could finally relay his news.

“No, not yet. But I could hear men marching, sounds like they are getting close. I don't like it.”

“Oh, relax, its probably just the city guard, fanning out to keep an eye on all those heaps of building material scattered about.” Aulus turned back to the two men, still tied on the stools. “I think we....”

He was interrupted by the sound of splintering wood from the top of the stairs. Two legionaries had smashed into the door, expecting it to be locked. A troop of legionaries and a centurion, accompanied by two magistrates, hustled down the stairs, spreading out in the room. Several carried torches. Seeing light from one of the rooms, a smaller group of legionaries made to enter it, while the others searched the other part of the cellar and it's rooms, along with a second centurion.

Entering, they saw the three men they had been told to arrest. Aulus and Lupus surrendered rather quickly, but it took three legionaries to subdue Coro. They were not gentle. One of the magistrates, a tall man named Gaius Aquillius Gallus, spoke to Rufus. “We will get you out of here. Centurion, have some of your men make a litter and carry these men back to camp. Have the camp doctor tend to them and find a place for them in camp. I will want to speak with them when we all return. Oh, and remove the dead one. See to it.” The centurion saluted and left, taking four legionaries with him. He turned to Rufus and Maximus. “Well, you are safe now.”

“Sir! Over here, look at this!” One of the other legionaries had discovered a large number of strong boxes, each with a lead seal on the lock. “And here, sir!” Not to be outdone, another legionary had opened a door that revealed what looked like a smelter, complete with crucibles and small ingots of silver and other metals. The second centurion and the second magistrate inspected the finds and had one of the legionaries hurry back to the barracks and bring more men to transport the evidence back to the camp.

*

Meanwhile, Felix Carbo was stuffing two leather bags with silver ingots, some clothes, and a fist full of his wife's 'baubles'. “These'll fetch a nice amount,” he muttered aloud. An hour earlier, on a street close to the old market, he had been late in getting to the cellar he used for his enterprise and where his hired thugs and the objects of their kidnapping would be waiting for him. Just as he was turning the corner, he saw the troop of legionaries and the two magistrates descending the stairs. He faded back into the shadows, turned and walked quietly away, and then ran. 'Lucky for me,' he thought. 'Livia was right, I should have sold or killed the stuttering old fool. But who'd have thought the magistrates would believe him, or have acted so fast!' Carbo wasn't stupid and believed in the power of planning ahead. He had suspected this day would eventually come; and he had a plan in place to deal with it. A quick trip to Ostia, a bribe to a captain of a small merchant vessel, and a clean escape to someplace far away. 'Spain, maybe, or maybe Alexandria, depends of what's leaving quickest and where it's going,' still thinking to himself as he continued shoving valuables into the bags. He briefly thought of warning his wife. “Why bother?” he said aloud, with a satisfied smile.

11 April, 82 AD

Very early the following morning, once the legionaries carrying Maximus and Rufus were back at the barracks, the camp doctor was summoned. Seeing the pair, he said, “Ye gods, what is all this? You look like shit. Street fight?”

Rufus shook his head carefully, wincing in pain. “Not exactly. It's a long story.”

“It usually is.” He summoned an assistant to bring hot water and towels, and began to deftly wash the blood from Maximus' face and head so he could assess the injuries. “Friend of yours?” he said, looking at Rufus.

“Business partner.”

“Rough business you're in.” He probed gently at Maximus' head wounds. “Well, the skull is intact, that's good. Scalps bleed like stuck pigs, I find.” He turned to his assistant. “Luca, another basin of hot water. And more towels.” He turned back to Maximus but spoke to Rufus. “This will need more attention. Has he vomited at all?”

“No.”

“Good. I need to give him some poppy juice, and while that is doing it's job, I shall attend to your head. You seem to have gotten away with rather less than your partner, here.”

The doctor continued skillfully cleaning the wounds and spreading a sharp-smelling slave on them. For the first time, Maximus spoke.

“Hades, that stinks! What is it?”

“It's my own invention. I know it isn't most pleasant of smells, but it will keep infection at bay. I make it up myself. My teacher swore by it, and I've added a few ingredients of my own. The men here swear by it... when they aren't swearing at me." He turned to his assistant. "Luca, I'll need the finest thread, and that strong wine, and the small basin.” Once the objects had been brought, he spoke directly to Maximus. “Now, hold still.” The doctor continued for another thirty minutes, finally finishing with the last of the stitching and bandaging.

“There. That should do it.” He turned to Rufus. “Your injuries should heal fairly fast. This one's” he said gesturing to Maximus, “will take longer. That flap of skin that was torn... I've drawn the edges together as close as I can with some thread, soaked in strong wine.” He tapped Maximus on the shoulder. “Keep it dry. Are you married? Have your wife change...” Maximus slowly shook his head. “Well, get one of your slaves to replace the bandage every few days. If it feels hot, or starts to smell, get to a doctor. But I think it will be all right. Get some rest, avoid strong wine, watered wine only for a week. Same for you.” He looked at Rufus. “You are both very lucky, you know.” He rinsed his hands and dried them on the last of the towels. “I'll check on you tomorrow. Now, both of you need sleep.” The doctor motioned for his assistant Luca to follow, and exited the room.

Rufus could hear the doctor speaking with one of the soldiers out in the hallway. “Is there a spare room? Good. Have a second bed brought in, largest you have. And let them sleep as long as they may. Simple food only, egg posset with honey for now, if the cook can manage that. And mind you, watered wine only.”

“Sir.” The soldier nodded and left to do the doctor's bidding.

Both men slept much of that day, only rousing to piss and eat a simple meal. The camp doctor checked up on his patients in the late afternoon of the following day.

“How are you feeling? Stupid question, I know. You feel awful. You look awful. But better than yesterday, actually. Here, let me see your bandages... Marcus, isn't it?”

“No, Maximus Hirtuleius.” Maximus' reply was especially nasal in tone, like he had a very bad cold. He would have a badly broken nose for the rest of his life, increasing his forbidding looks. Right now, the nose was swathed in bandages, spotted with red.

“All right, Maximus, now look at me. Follow my finger with your eyes. Again. Good. Blurred vision? No? Excellent.” He looked at both men. “Headache, right?” Both nodded. “To be expected for both of you. Any problem knowing who you are or where you are?” Both Maximus and Rufus carefully shook their heads. “Excellent. Well, you've both had some pretty rough treatment, but I don't see any lingering effects likely. Except your nose, Maximus. Nothing for that. I'll have one of my assistants change those bandages for you now.” He next examined Rufus, and, generally pleased with what he saw, nodded and patted Rufus' shoulder. “I believe the magistrates want to see you both tomorrow. As far as I am concerned, you are free to leave whenever. Just give yourselves time to heal. Rest as much as you can, keep exertion to a minimum for at least a week, more if you can.” He strode to the door, turned, and wished them well. “May Aesculapius watch over you both.”

When the doctor had left, Maximus looked at Rufus. "At least he didn't say we looked like shit."

13 April, 82 AD

The following morning the pair stood before the same two magistrates that had been present at the raid on the old market. They spent an hour relating everything that had happened since they had arrived in Rome, and were closely questioned about exactly what the slave had told them. Once finished, the two magistrates put their heads together and spent a good few minutes whispering to each other, nodding heads.

“Well, You two were fortunate to have that camp doctor attend you. I'm told he trained with a Greek, and you know how good Greeks are with injuries and medicine, and... that sort of thing. I must say this has been a most curious affair. And a clever scheme of Felix Carbo's, if I do say it myself. Given the slave's evidence, we had to act fast, and a good thing, too. If it hadn't been for you two attempting to get your money before the syndicate disposed of it we might not have caught up with them for many more months.” The taller of the two magistrates took a sip from the cup of watered wine at his elbow. “You two have done Rome and the Emperor a great service in this, even if we can't officially approve of your methods.”

Both Rufus and Maximus interrupted the magistrate. “We were only going for our own money. It was the slave who did the service, sir, not us". "Yes, he was the one who brought the evidence to you.”

“At your suggestion, I believe. It's regrettable that he is no longer with us, the Emperor would certainly want to thank him as well. The Emperor has had his eye on that syndicate for a while now. He takes a personal interest in these cases, you know. Or maybe you don't. Anyway, we will take matters from here. You needn't concern yourselves with this any further. And don't worry... those scum will be tried and executed for the two murders they committed, and the two they attempted. Though, sadly, Felix Carbo seems to have given us the slip... for now. The taller magistrate cleared his throat. “The centurion here will escort you out. And take it easy for a few days... you both look like shit.”

“But what about our money?”

"Oh, all in good time. These things do take time, you know. That money is evidence now. But you'll get it back. Eventually.” The magistrate turned to the centurion and motioned them out the door.

“May I ask a question?” Rufus wasn't budging until he had the answer to a question that had been bothering him for the last two days.

“What is it?” the shorter magistrate, Gaius Cassius Longinus, said.

“How did the slave come to be dead in the cellar?”

“Oh, apparently one of the thugs hired by Felix Carbo followed him when he came to us. We took his evidence and then sent him on his way. I believe they took him off the street after he left here and brought him to the old market so Carbo could question him about what he might know about the other banks. Oh, we know there are at least three banks involved in his scheme. Any road, he must have clammed up, or they got too eager in their questioning. Which made getting you, and silencing you, all the more necessary for them. You are very lucky we all showed up in time.”

“Couldn't you have provided him with some protection, at least until you raided the place? He knew he was being watched.”

“Why? After all, we had what evidence we needed, and he was just a slave, after all. And as a slave, any testimony he might give would be suspect in court without his being tortured first.”

Rufus was livid, and almost said something regrettable, but Maximus's touch stopped him. “It would do no good,” the Beast whispered in his Wolfpup's ear. The two then exited the office, accompanied by the centurion.

The three men, two of them looking the worse for wear, walked through the cool rooms that made up the magistrate's offices. The centurion was one of the two that had led the raiding party at the old market two days prior. He had seen the surreptitious gesture of a squeezed hand that Rufus had given Maximus while they were waiting for the legionaries to return with litters.

“I know what you two are, you know,” the centurion said quietly, in a seeming aside as they walked out of the magistrate's offices and through the barracks courtyard. Rufus' and Maximus' immediately went into survival mode, a habit long ingrained. “What are you implying?” Maximus growled with low menace in his voice.

“Oh, no worries, mate. I've buggered a few recruits myself.” The soldier's eyes took on a distant look. “More than a few. It's great fun when they wiggle around on my cock. I love it. Ha! Used to be, no one really minded, as long as you married and made more Roman brats. But our new Emperor, well...” He looked appraisingly at Rufus. “Fuck me running, but you must shine like a beacon's fire, when you're naked, with all that red hair.” He all but licked his lips like a wolf eyeing his prey.

Maximus stepped closer to the centurion and brought his battered face close. “Careful, mate. Lay a hand on him and I'll break you in two and not raise a sweat doing it.” Maximus grinned with slowly increasing menace and seemed to grow larger. Both hands formed very large fists.

The soldier raised both his hands in front of him, palms out. “Pace, friend. I mean no harm. Just want to give you a friendly warning... from one friend of Priapus to another. Our new emperor is quite the moralist. He has issued any number of public morality decrees promoting the mos maiorum, and he especially disproves of 'activities' that run counter to the increase of numbers of natural-born Roman citizens. And he's not just talking about mistresses kept on the side.”

“Point taken,” Rufus hastily said, anxious to get away.

“Just watch yourselves, is all.” They had reached the compound gate. “Here we are, then. Go well, and... Priapus watch over you!” The centurion winked.

Left outside the gate, Rufus and Maximus turned to each other. “Whew! Now what?” they said together. “I think..,” again together. They started to laugh and then stopped, heads throbbing. Rufus said, “You first.”

“OK. Well, I hesitate to say this, because you know these people and I don't. But what about the man Lucius sold his share of the business to? I forget his name, but they knew each other for many years. Do you think he might be able to help us? Lucius, at least, was well known in the metals trade, and must have had dealings with the magistrates now and again. I'm guessing here, I know.”

“No, Beast, it's a good idea. His name is Caius Calvus, and I think I know where to find him.”

“Do you think they will catch up with Carbo, Wolfpup?”

“Well, he had a head start, but I don't doubt they will try. I hope they do find him. Those others shouldn't take all the blame while he gets away.”

Unknown to any of them, Felix Carbo was at that moment reclining on the bottom of the Mediterranean, having been knifed and smothered and then relieved of his two bulging leather sacks by the ship's captain he had bribed for passage to Alexandria.  His weighted body had been pushed overboard in the early morning hours.  At first, his body didn't attract much attention from passing fish, but then the bottom feeders began to gather.

                                                                             *

Two hours and a long walk later found them standing in front of Lucius' old metals business. Rufus knocked on the wooden door beside the large closed opening for what was likely the main entrance and exit.

“WHAT?” came a shout from within, and then the door was opened by a grime-covered young man wearing a leather apron. “What do you want, we're closed, can't you see?” gesturing towards the shuttered opening.

“We're looking for Caius Calvus. I am Rufus Hirtuleius, I once was a slave of one of the owners here.”

“Oh. He's in back, through there,” the young man nodded over his shoulder, looked closely at Maximus' bandaging, and then abruptly walked off. Rufus and Maximus walked to the back of the shop and found Caius, hunched over a piece of metal filigree, most likely part of a hanging lamp. He looked up, and recognized Rufus' fiery red beard and hair.

“Rufus! As I live and breathe! It has been years since I've seen you. How are you? How is Lucius?”

“He is well. I am as you see me. And you?”

“The business prospers, so I am well! And who is this wounded hulk? No, wait, Lucius mentioned him. It will come to me... Marius? Marcus?”

Maximus said, “No, Maxi...”

“Maximus! I knew I'd remember it. By the gods, you look like shit. What happened? No, wait... we've heard something about this I think. First, I know Lucius took my advice about the bank, so I assume that is the reason you both are here in Rome?” The pair nodded. “And did the magistrates raid a counterfeiting scheme involving that bank?” Again, they nodded. “Ah, so the rumors are true. And that must mean that you two were the ones we heard were rescued from certain death! There must have been quite a fight by the looks of you. The rumors have you two fighting hordes of counterfeiters, and legionaries swooping in at the very last minute. They are supposed to have carried off heaps of silver and coins!”

Rufus finally got a word in edgewise. “Hardly all of that! It's a long story and it's partly why we are here, but not entirely. Might we sit somewhere? It's been a long walk.”

“Oh! Oh, of course. Yes. Come with me, my house is at the back, just through here.. come.” They followed Caius across a yard with a blacksmiths furnace and several carts and into a surprisingly spacious house, comfortably furnished. Caius called for one of his house slaves to bring refreshments. All three sat on cushioned chairs with a low table between them.

“My wife died three years ago, so the slaves keep all this in trim for me now. She chose the furniture, and I've kept it all.” In spite of the sad topic, Caius seemed relatively cheerful. “Now, tell me all about this.”

For the next half hour, Rufus related the story of their adventures, with Maximus adding details here and there. “So, really, that is why we are here. We both would like to ask for your help. We came to you since you and Lucius had been in business together for so long, and we know of no one else who might be able to help.”

“Well and good, but you haven't told me what it is you need help with?”

“The magistrates tell us that our money is evidence and that we cannot have it now. We will get it 'eventually', but they don't say when, just that it 'takes time'.”

“Yes. Well, Roman justice sometimes works slowly, I admit. I imagine you would like your money sooner? Am I right? I bet I am!”

“Yes, and as soon as possible. Maximus and I are going into business together, and that money was to pay for the purchase of land. For horse raising. Maximus is excellent with horses, and I will keep the books and handle the finances and help arrange the sales. But the contract we have with the owner specifies that we pay him by the end of this month.” This was the story he and Maximus had agreed upon to use with the bank if needed, and it would work as well here, too. “We just don't know what to do at this point, and thought you might have an idea.”

“Who are the magistrates involved, do you know?”

“ Yes. They interviewed us today. Gaius Cassius Longinus and Gaius Aquillius Gallus.”

“Ah, the two Gaiuses. I know Longinus. Helped him get elected last year. He owes me a favor or two for that. Let me see what I can do. It may take a day or two, the Emperor's new currency issue has made extra work for just about everybody, it seems. But I'll do what I can. Are you staying nearby?”

“We don't actually have a pla...”

“Stay here, then; I've plenty of room, and would be glad of the company. Besides, it looks like both of you could use some rest. You look like shit. Agreed?”

“We would be most grateful.” Maximus was suddenly feeling extremely tired and a bit unsteady, and the thought of a good lie-down appealed greatly.

“Then it's settled.” He called for one of the house slaves and gave orders for two rooms to be made ready, and for extra places for the evening meal. Shortly after, Rufus and Maximus were led to their rooms and provided with pitchers of hot water and towels.

Later, after a rest and wash-up, at the evening meal in the triclinium Caius said, “I'd thought of suggesting a visit to the baths, but seeing your bandages... what exactly did happen in that basement? You say the rumors are exaggerated, but by the look of you... And what happened to that poor slave? The rumors are quite extravagant, and no two are the same. But you know how gossips are! Ha! Can't resist adding more and more lurid information!” Rufus and Maximus filled in details they had left out earlier.

“It seems as if the gods were truly watching over you both. You could have easily ended up like that slave, poor fellow.” Caius reached for a handful of grapes. “I will get in touch with Longinus tomorrow and see what can be done. He's apt to forget who he owes favors to.” Rufus raised an eyebrow at this. “Oh, politics don't really change all that much, Emperor to Emperor. It's much the same as it always has been, in spite of Domitian's morality campaign.” He paused. “Yes. Gaius will want to run for a second year as magistrate, before moving further up the cursus honorum. His term is almost up, so he'll be 'receptive' to offers of help. I think we can work something out. In fact, I'm sure of it!”

“We would be most grateful for any help, Caius Calvus.” Both Rufus and Maximus yawned at the same time. Maximus smiled sheepishly.

“You are both tired. Perhaps you should make an early night of it. I think I will go to the baths, though. If you need anything, just ask the slaves. And I will send Marcus to you in the morning to help with changing the bandages. Calpurnia always said he had the gentlest hands.” Rufus thanked their benefactor and he and Maximus returned to their separate rooms and fell into deep sleep.

14 April, 82 AD

The following morning, Marcus appeared with fresh bandaging at Rufus' door. “I can handle this, I think, but if you would see to Maximus? And thank you.”

“Certainly, honored sir.” Marcus bowed himself out and went down the hall to Maximus' room and knocked.

“Come in.” Marcus opened the door. His eyes took in the sight of a nearly naked man, surely the hairiest one he had ever seen. Being a modest and discrete slave, he did not betray his surprise.

“I'm here to help with the bandages, if it please you.”

“Well... yes, I could use some help I think.”

Marcus began unwinding the bandage covering Maximus' skull wound. “Oh, my. I've seen a few injuries, mostly burns around here. Obviously, this was serious. But it looks very clean, no infection. And someone did a fine job with the thread.” He dabbed at the healing wound with a cloth soaked in strong wine. Maximus winced. “I apologize, honored sir. Let me get some salve the dominus keeps for burns, it will help.” He returned a few minutes later to find Maximus combing his beard, tangled from sleeping. “I can do that for you if you wish. Your bandages first, though.” Marcus skillfully applied the salve and fresh bandage. Almost immediately, the pain eased.

“Ah, that is good, Marcus. Where did you learn to tend wounds?”

“Mostly by experience. Men working with hot metals get an amazing number of injuries, so it was necessary to learn. Here, let me.” Marcus gently combed the snarls out of Maximus' bushy beard. “There. Will you want something to eat?”

Maximus' belly grumbled. “Yes, please! And see if Rufus Hirtuleius will have some, too.”

“I will let the cook know.” Marcus helped Maximus with his tunic, silently marveled at the thick fur on the man's shoulders and back, and then bowed his way out.

They were eating their morning meal when Caius Calvus hurried in. “Ah, you are up. Good. Busy day. Did you sleep well?” Not waiting for an answer, Caius grabbed a hunk of bread and some cheese. “I have to be out for most of the day. Take your ease, ask Marcus or any of the slaves if you need anything. Much to do. I should be back by late afternoon.” With a cheerful wave, Caius hustled out.

“I get tired, just watching him. I remember Lucius saying it was like working next to a spinning top.”

“How's your head?” Maximus asked.

Rufus thought for a moment. “You know, it doesn't hurt much at all. Wrists are sore. Lip is still tender. But all in all, not too bad. How about you?”

“Whatever salve Marcus smeared on my skull has taken that pain away completely. My nose still hurts like Hades, though.”

“My poor Beast,” Rufus whispered. Aloud, he said, “Well that is good. We'll have to see if we can get some of it to take with us.”

Finishing their meal they walked into the small garden and sat in the morning sun. “Ah, that feels good.” Maximus sighed, then looked carefully around. They were alone. He turned to Rufus and in a quiet voice said, “I ache for you Wolfpup. I miss holding you. I need you next to me.”

“Oh, I know, Beast. I feel that, too. But soon we can, as much as we want.” Rufus sighed and closed his eyes against the sun for a while.

“Beast? If you are up to it, I may have a quicker solution to our need. But only if you feel rested enough.”

“Go on, Wolfpup.”

“Well, there is a lupanar I know of, a rather notorious one...”

“Um... Wolfpup, I don't want to pay a slave to... I need you.”

“I didn't mean that. This place also rents rooms. The decorations are... arousing. We could tell Caius that we are in need of some time out and about this evening. Several hours in each other arms would do us both a world of good, I think.”

“You interest me! Will this place mind two men...”

“You forget, I grew up in Rome. Attitudes here are more relaxed than in the countryside. As long as they get their money, the brothel owners don't much care what goes on behind the curtains... as long as their property isn't damaged in the process.”

“It sounds wonderful, Wolfpup. Let's go!”

“My sex-crazed Beast! I didn't mean right now!” Rufus said with a laugh. “ Let's spend a quiet day, and then go in the early evening. Besides, you know what the doctor said.”

“I know, I know, no exertion, lots of rest, and all the rest of it. I'm not an invalid, and I'm not at death's door. Time and sex with my Wolfpup is the best thing for my health right now, doctor be damned. Yours too, I'll wager.” Rufus smiled and nodded in response.

They passed the rest of the morning watching the craftsmen at work in the shop, followed with a simple but filling noon meal and a long nap.

In the late afternoon, Caius returned home, bustling in the door while giving orders to one of the craftsmen from the shop. “We'll need twenty of them, the hammered copper ones. Can that be done by, oh, say, the day after tomorrow?” The craftsman nodded and returned to the shop, and Caius went looking for Rufus or Maximus. He found Maximus walking in the garden.

“Ah, there you are. Have a good day? Got some rest? You look better. Where is Rufus? I need to talk with you both.” All this in rapid fire.

“He was just relieving himself, he should be here in a little bit. And thank you again for the hospitality. I am feeling better, and I think Rufus is too, but you'll have to ask him. Ah, here he comes.” Rufus walked into the garden, not expecting to see Caius as well as Maximus.

“Ah, excellent. Maximus tells me he is feeling better. How are you doing? I trust you got some rest today, you are looking more like the Rufus I remember. Now I have news, why don't we all sit, it's still pleasant out.” He gestured to the long bench at the side of the house.

“Now, I did get to see Gaius Cassius Longinus this morning. He was busy as usual, but when I mentioned my name, the slave brought me to him immediately.” Caius smiled. “We chatted for a bit, we discussed the upcoming elections, I offered my help again, reminded him of my previous help... and then indicated I needed some help with a problem.”

“Was he receptive?” Rufus asked. “He didn't seem all that interesting in moving things along when we were with him.”

“Ha! Well, you see, you didn't help get him elected!” Caius gave a great belly laugh. “It's all quid pro quo, gentleman... it's politics!”

“And?” Maximus was anxious for Caius to relate the results of his conversation with the magistrate.

“Oh, it was quite satisfactory. Your money will be here tomorrow, all of it, and already exchanged for new coins... real ones!" Caius smiled. "You see, Gaius really wants to be re-elected.”

“That is indeed good news! Thank you so much!” Rufus was smiling carefully, his lip still tender; and Maximus clapped Caius on the back, thanking him as well.

Caius gave another belly laugh and smiled broadly. “I am a very good businessman, and I know how to collect on debts owed.” Suddenly serious, he looked at both men. “That money means a lot, doesn't it?”

“Yes, it does. It means the future, for each of us. Lucius was very generous to us when he manumitted us, but we have to make our own ways now.”

“As I understand it from Lucius, very much deserved on both your parts. Well, what are your plans?”

“We are going into business, together, at least initially. We have found some land and will be raising horses for sale. Maximus here does very well with horses. I'm good with figures and such, so I will keep the books for the business, perhaps do some record-keeping for local businesses. We will see how it goes. The urgent need was because we have contracted for that land and have thirty days to pay. And that was fourteen, no, fifteen days ago. We were on our way here when Lucius caught up with us and gave us your news about the bank.”

“That was fortunate, and I am glad my news prevented you, or Lucius, from being cheated.” Caius got up from the bench. “And now, I need to freshen up and go meet some prospective clients. This could be a big contract for us here. I am giving them a nice soak in our baths, and then a tour of the workshop, then dinner. Will you two be all right on your own? I know it's remiss of my host duties, but it will be just business talk...”

“Do not worry, Caius, you have already helped us greatly. Actually, we thought we might go out for a bit this evening, we are both feeling better, and it's been a stressful few days.”

“In need of some recreation? Ha! Best thing! There are two very nice tavernas not far from here, excellent wine. And a quite good lupanar, just down the road. Very good company, if you take my meaning!” Caius positively leered. “Just follow the phalluses on the cobblestones, can't miss it!”

“Thank you, we'll watch for it!” Maximus smiled and nudged Rufus, playing the part of two gentlemen looking for an evening's entertainment. Caius hustled into the house, leaving Rufus and Maximus looking at each other and smiling. “Looks like we are in luck. Caius won't wonder why we are gone. Still, we shouldn't stay out too late. We're still 'recovering', you know!” Maximus leaned over and whispered to Rufus. “You're the medicine I need right now, and I intend on making you feel much better very soon.”

An hour later, just as the sun was going down, the pair were out, walking down the narrow streets leading away from Caius Calvus' house and workshop. Rufus was muttering to himself, recalling the way to Acca Laurentia's, which was not the brothel Caius has mentioned. “Phalluses in the cobblestones... who would have thought it?” Maximus chuckled. “How do you know of this place, Wolfpup?” Maximus was curious. Slaves were not usually taken along when gentlemen visited brothels.

They stopped walking. “Maximus, listen to me. I know you've had experiences with women as well as men. I did, too, before we met. For me, it was necessary to give truth to the 'illusion'. None of that makes any difference now. I love you Beast. Nothing else interests me.”

“I know that, Wolfpup. I didn't mean... I was just...” He sighed. “The past is past. It does not affect us at all. But I was just curious how you came to know of the place. Did Lucius frequent it?”

“Jove's balls, no!” Rufus chuckled, imagining Lucius' reaction to some of the antics he had seen there, years ago. “But always at Saturnalia, we slaves were given a whole day and night free from all duties. Did you ever have that, Beast? I mean before Lucius bought you?” Maximus shook his head. “It was complete liberty, and in some households, it was chaos. Very large households would even elect ones of themselves to be the dominus and domina for the day. Lucius and Antonia gave each of us a small sum to go out and do as we wished. The staff was larger then, and some of us men went to brothels. One year, we found our way to Acca Laurentia's, having heard rumors of its reputation. Turns out it was fully deserved.”

“Are you sure they won't mind people like us?” Maximus was clearly still worried how two adult men of the same age taking a room together would be viewed. Oddly, an older man and a younger one were less likely to be looked askance at.

“I tell you, Beast, this place is notorious. They raise an eyebrow at nothing, and wink at everything. It's like Rome the way it used to be before the Flavians. Well, in private, at least.”

“All right, I will take your word for it.” They turned a corner and stood in front of the door to Acca Laurentia's. In the doorway there was a slave, tasked with admitting or turning away potential customers. He looked over the pair and then, shaking his head, said, “Sorry gentlemen. Move along.”

Rufus, not about to be frustrated in his quest for his Beast's seed, spoke up with an edge to his voice, “What? Are we inconveniens? Not good enough for you?”

“Well, you both look like...”

Maximus gave a deep growl and took a step towards the door man. Startled, the door man stepped back, considered a moment, and then stepped aside. The pair entered the atrium, and Rufus gave Maximus'shand a squeeze. “Well done, Beast.” Maximus smiled.

The atrium, open to the sky, was generously proportioned The impluvium featured a fountain with an impressively endowed satyr enthusiastically raping a young faun. The sun was down now, and a number of hanging oil lamps gave off a pleasant flickering light. Incense, smelling of Oriental spices, wafted gently from a censer in the corner. On the right wall, there was a large fresco of three nymphs pleasuring a reclining senator, his robe with it's purple stripe discarded beside him. Sounds of people talking and laughing and splashing came from the baths, through an archway to their left. The two approached the counter, behind which the brothel's lena was sitting, gazing in a polished silver mirror, plucking her eyebrows.

“And what would you two fine.... oh, my! No. No, no. Not here. I am sorry, but I really can't have...”

“What's wrong with us?” Maximus growled, getting tired of being looked down upon.

“Well, I'm sure you are very respectable-looking gentlemen under normal circumstances, but, looking as you now do...” She gestured at them. “It would be bad for my business. I run a very popular and respectable establishment and there's an image to keep up, you know. Fighting is frowned upon in polite company. My customers come here for a good time, not a street fight. You two look like shi...”

“We know, we've heard it before. We only want a room, we wouldn't be taking advantage of your more... public facilities.”

“Ah.” A pause. “I see.” Another pause. “Well, then...” The lena thought for a moment further. “How long would you be wanting the room for?”

“Two... no, three hours.”

The lena made a quick calculation. Looking Maximus up and down, she said, “Number ten is my largest room, though the frescoes might not be to your taste. Bucket, oil, water, and sponge provided. Towels included. It has a fresh mattress. Twelve silver asses, new ones, mind.” Maximus started to object, but Rufus interjected.

“We'll take it. How much for an extra mattress?” Rufus asked.

“Two silver asses.” Again, Maximus started to object, but Rufus nudged him, shook his head, and handed over the coins.

The lena handed Rufus one of two copper discs with the number '10' carved on it. The other she hung on the largest of the water clocks on a shelf behind her. “Number ten is down that corridor on the right. Hang that disk on the hook beside the curtain, no one will bother you. I will let you know when your time is up,” she said, nodding at the now dripping water clock. “Will you two be wanting some company this evening?”

“NO!” the pair said together. The lena sniffed and returned to her eyebrows.

Maximus gave the lena a disdainful look, leaned over and slowly and deeply kissed Rufus, took his hand, and they walked down the hallway towards number ten. A slave popped out of a door at the end of the hall, carrying the extra mattress for the room.

Maximus drew the curtain aside, and they stepped inside the room. It was larger than they expected, and quite clean. It was obvious that some money had been spent on the furnishings. Three hanging bronze oil lamps provided subdued light. The stone shelf against the far wall held the two plump mattresses, covered with a soft muslin cloth. A pretty table with a brass statue of Venus caressing a satyr stood against one wall. A low upholstered stool and a chair with an unusual shape completed the furniture. The fresco on one wall indeed did not fit their tastes, showing an older man ravishing a younger woman, barely a woman, in fact. The scent of the incense hung in the air.

Maximus pulled the heavy, woven curtain back across the doorway, and they fell into each other's arms, hugging tightly. “Oh, don't let go, Wolfpup. Hold me tight.” Rufus, who had no intention of letting go, squeezed tighter.

They kissed repeatedly, letting their passion rise with their cocks. They slowly undressed each other, reveling in the sight of each other's hairy bodies. “Gods, you are beautiful!” Maximus said, gently stroking Rufus' beard and chest. He reached down and cupped his lover's ball sack and leaned in and kissed him. Rufus, knowing how very much his Beast liked it, tilted his head a bit and searched for a nipple among the thick fur. Finding it after a couple of misses, he latched on and sucked gently, then licked all around, and then flicked the erect nubbin with his tongue. “Holy Priapus!” the Beast gasped, and raised both hands to cradle Rufus' head against his chest. Rufus kept lapping and sucking, eventually switching to the other nipple. Maximus growled with rising pleasure. “Come lay down with me.” Maximus led Rufus to the cushioned stone ledge and lay down, gently pulling his Wolfpup after.

They lay on their sides, facing each other and stroking and caressing each other's bodies and fur, the tips of their cocks touching. They leaned in and began kissing again, gently and lovingly at first, and then with more fierceness, but with Maximus being careful of Rufus' lip. Maximus' hand circled around behind Rufus' head and pulled him in close, tongues touched and probed, then wrestled. Their passion flared brightly and they hugged each other, furred chests and bellies pressed tight, cocks grinding into each others' crotches. They stroked each other's bodies, hands lingering over pleasingly soft bellies, and then reaching down to fondle rigid cocks and furred ball sacks.

Maximus pushed Rufus over on his back, nuzzled in his beard, and then moved down to his chest, caressing one nipple then the other with his tongue, sucking, flicking, biting gently. Rufus writhed under the treatment. He raised his hands and pushed Maximus' head down towards his straining cock.

Maximus moved further down, kissing and nibbling Rufus' furred belly as he did so. Rufus's thick cock was straining upwards, foreskin fully stretched back, the tip glistening with precum. Maximus slowly swallowed it, working his way down the shaft with his lips, a bit at a time.

“Oh, Beast,” Rufus breathed.

Maximus pulled partway off and gripped the now slick shaft with his hand, moving it up and down slowly, along with his mouth. Every few strokes, he would use his tongue to trace the underside of his Wolfpup's shaft. Unable to hold back any longer, Rufus began thrusting upwards with ever-increasing urgency. Maximus kept pace, and with a loud groan, Rufus flooded his Beast's mouth with copious load of red wolf pup seed. Maximus swallowed greedily, sucking to stimulate more flow. When the flow finally stopped, Maximus released the slowly softening meat he had feasted on and looked at Rufus. “Good?”

“Ye gods... good? Optimus maximus!” Still a bit winded, Rufus saw the rope of precum dripping from the Beast's cock, riding high and tight against his belly. “My turn!” The exchanged positions, and Rufus made love to his Beast's pole. While he was working the shaft, he worked an oil covered finger, then two, into his Beast's ass. On the first entry, Maximus gasped aloud. Rufus continued working at bringing Maximus very close to exploding, and then backing off, the prostate massage eventually turning his Beast into a whimpering fur-covered mass.

“Let me fill you, Wolfpup! Please, I need to...” With that, Rufus pushed two fingers in Maximus' hole and at the same time, swallowed his cock down to the root. Maximus exploded in Rufus' mouth, filling it with hot salty fluid. The more Rufus swallowed, the more Maximus pumped. Finally, Rufus sank down onto Maximus' belly, the last spurts of the Beast's seed running down on his beard.

They both were panting with exertion. Rufus rolled on his back next to Maximus, and they lay together as their breathing and pulses returned to normal. Neither said anything, each savoring the experience. But nature would not be denied, and their lusts and cocks both rose again as they fondled each other. They took turns humping each other's asses, penetrating and teasing, pulling out almost all the way then plunging back in, moving very slow then faster and faster, edging closer and closer to climax, then backing off to prolong the pleasure.

“That's it, Wolfpup, take me! Breed me... OH! Deeper, deeper. Yes! Oh, gods, YES! You feel so good. Don't stop, don't hold back. Flood me with your seed!” On all fours, Maximus looked like a thick, heavy draft horse. Rufus's eyes were closed in ecstacy, focused intently on the exquisite feelings traveling up and down his cock as he plunged in and out of his lover's tight, warm ass. When he shot off, he was surprised at the quantity of his seed, having just recently emptied a large amount to Maximus' belly. Maximus eased himself down on the compressed mattresses. Rufus lay, temporarily spent, on Maximus' backside. When his cock shrank and slipped out of his lover's ass, he rose up and silently nudged Maximus.

Maximus scrambled up and moved aside so Rufus could assume the classic position of animals mating. Maximus positioned himself and oiled his cock and Rufus' hole. He centered his cock, and gripped Rufus' hips with both hands, and pressed in without stopping until he bottomed out, buried a deep as he could go. He began a steady fuck rhythm, pulling back until he was nearly out, and then pressing firmly all the way back in. He gave Rufus no chance to rest or catch his breath, urgent need rising higher and higher.

“Oh, FUTUO, Beast! Bite me, take me!” Rufus growled and thrashed as Maximus leaned down and took his lover's neck in his mouth, biting, sucking, and licking. Rufus bucked back, and that drove Maximus over the edge for the second time. He reared up, grabbed Rufus' hips more tightly and hauled him back, hard, onto his rigid cock as he shot blast after blast of his seed deep inside. They were both shaking as Maximus eased Rufus down on the bedding and then rolled him over against his own body.

Spent, they spent the remainder of their time in each other's arms, kissing gently and stroking each other's bodies, warm hands tracing outlines of bellies and chests and beards. “Why do you think we like fucking so much, Beast?” Rufus' backside was tucked tightly against Maximus' front, the small of his back perfectly fitting the Beast's belly.

“Because it feels good,” Maximus replied, pulling Rufus in closer, his hand holding the red-furred man's chest. His cock tip was still lodged in just inside his lover's warm ass. He avoided moving his hips to keep himself in as long as possible.

“Yes, but we have hands to relieve ourselves when we need to, or want to, and that feels good. What makes it better when someone else is involved?”

Maximus raised himself on an elbow. The tip of his cock slipped out of Rufus' ass with the movement. “I think it's because when we relieve ourselves, we know exactly what will happen next, with each move we make, because we're making it. There's no mystery, no surprise. Now when someone else is in control...” Maximus lightly pinched the Wolfpup's nipple that his hand was covering.

“Stop that!” Rufus giggled.

“Really? You want me to stop?”

“No.... you know I don't!” Rufus gave Maximus'shand a squeeze with his own. Maximus nuzzled his lover's neck, beard and lips brushing skin still wet with their sweat.

“Time, gentlemen,” the lena said. She stood outside number ten, but did not move the curtain that covered the doorway. Long practice had taught her that clients usually did not like the curtain moved aside before they were ready, and she had no curiosity about what had or was transpiring on the other side. Besides, she thought to herself, 'I've see it all before anyway'. Human lust and sexual appetites held no surprises for her. She walked back down the hall. If the men had not emerged in a few minutes, she'd send Macro in to roust them out.

Maximus and Rufus rose from the comfortable mattresses, embraced and kissed one last time before returning to the real world outside. They used the sponge and water bucket, donned their tunics and outer cloaks, and walked down the hallway to the atrium. As they passed by the counter, Rufus wished the lena 'bonum nocte', but got only a faint grunt in response. Outside, they both took deep breaths, for the first time in three hours not laden with the incense that seemed to have seeped into their very pores.

“I love you, Beast,” Rufus, taking Maximus' hand and squeezing. “And I, you,” Maximus replied with a squeeze of his own. The night had taken on a chill, and the pair walked quickly on their way back to Caius Calvus' house. On the way, two street thugs started to approach, and then veered off after sizing up Maximus.

“Told you you'd be safe with me!” Maximus chuckled. Rufus laughed, and gave Maximus a quick hug on the now deserted street.

When they reached Caius Calvus' house, they found him standing in a reception room just off the atrium, weaving slightly. “Ah! You made it back safely. Good!” He looked the pair over carefully. “You two both look much more relaxed and happy! Excellent! I take it a good time was had? I knew it! Didn't I tell you it was a good place? Yes?! And by the looks of your neck, Rufus, you had Messalina! She's a hungry one!” Caius seemed just as pleased with his 'recommendation' as he was with their appearance. Rufus smiled and said, “A gentleman, even if he's a former slave, never tells.” Maximus just smiled and nodded, saying nothing.

“Yes, that's proper, don't give me details... best left unsaid. It's obvious that the visits did both of you good! Best thing to buck up a man's spirits, attention from the ladies. Am I right?!” Caius almost leered at the two. “I'll wager you had more fun than I, but I had the better financial luck! The clients are greatly impressed and will be signing a contract that will make me a decent amount of money.” He grinned. “I'm a very good businessman, you know!” He very nearly lost his footing, and put a hand out to steady himself.

“And now, bed for me. It's been quite a night for all of us! Bonum nocte!” Caius padded off to his bedroom, more than a bit unsteady from wine. Marcus appeared at the doorway. “Will either of the honored gentlemen require anything?”

“No, Marcus, thank you. We are good for the night.”

“Then I shall attend to dominus and then retire myself. Bonum nocte.” He hurried off to help Caius navigate his way to bed.

15 April, 82 AD

The next morning, they met a perfectly sober Caius Calvus in the room he used as his office. “Well, well, you both look the best I've seen you! Too bad about your nose, Maximus, but it does sort of give you an 'air', if you take my meaning. No offense, of course!” Neither man had renewed their bandages, refusing the help of Marcus, but accepting his offer of pots of the salve that Maximus had found comforting. After nearly a week, the bruising was fading for both of them, too.

“Gaius Cassius said he would send your funds here after the quarta hora, so it should be soon now. Here, sit” He pushed the dish of cheeses, olives, and bread towards them. “I know you were concerned about how you might transport the money back with you. I have a suggestion, if you like.” The two nodded as they tore hunks of bread and dipped them into the dish of garum. “I have a shipment of iron goods going north. It's stowed in the wagons and ready to go, but I've stopped the drovers for a bit. We could easily place your funds, once they get here, in with the crates so they would not be noticed. I always send guards with these shipments, but really... things have gotten a lot quieter since the Emperor's public executions of highway thieves. Amazing what a few flayed corpses will do to encourage respect for the law!” Caius munched on some olives.

One of the workmen from the shop appeared at the door, along with Marcus. “Two men from the magistrate's office to see you, dominus.”

“Ah, excellent. Show them in.” In short order, the two largish deposit boxes, with fresh seals, were set on the table and the messengers withdrew. Caius disappeared for a moment and then re-appeared with a cutting tool from the shop. “I know Gaius will be scrupulous in this matter, but we have a saying here... 'trust, but verify'.” With that, he cut the seals and opened the boxes. “Gentlemen, please count and be sure all your funds are there. I have some business to attend to while you do that.” Caius discretely left the room and busied himself elsewhere in the house.

“I guess we should count. These coins are really all new issue, it seems.” Rufus held several up, scrutinizing them in the light. “We'll have to take the magistrate's word they are the real thing. They certainly look it.” Rufus and Maximus set to counting. It took rather longer than they thought, but once done, it was apparent that their funds were there down to the last silver as.

“I'll find Caius,” Maximus said. “Nice of him to give us some privacy.” He left Rufus putting the last of the bags of coins back in the boxes.

Caius and Maximus returned quickly. “All in order I trust?”

“Very much so, and thank you again for all of your help in this, Caius Calvus. Truly, you have been a godsend to us.” Rufus, followed by Maximus, grasped Caius' forearm and then embraced briefly.

“One of the workmen will be here to set fresh seals on the chests, and then I think you can be off. You should be back in plenty of time to make your payment for the land.” Caius nodded approvingly as the workman hot sealed each box with molten lead. “There. All done! Gentlemen, it's been a pleasure... and don't forget to give my very best wishes to Lucius and that lovely wife of his! May Fortuna always watch over you, and Moneta over your money! And Jove speed you on your way!” He embraced each of the men again and then bustled off with the workman talking rapidly as he walked. “Now, don't forget we need those copper fittings today, tomorrow at the latest....” His voice faded as he crossed the courtyard and entered the shop.

Rufus and Maximus looked at each other. “I guess that is it. We really are on our way.” They walked to the wagon that was being loaded with their funds, the boxes placed in a wooden crate, cushioned with straw. Tucked amongst the wooden crates, they were unremarkable. Rufus and Maximus climbed up on the front of the wagon with the drover. “Do you mind company?” “No, not at all,” the drover said. “Helps pass the time.” The oxen lurched forward, and they were off.

Later in the afternoon, Maximus, gesturing to the guards riding in the other wagon, asked the drover, “It seems pretty quiet. Do you always have the guards?”

“Yes... boss likes the security. Though there has been much less trouble on the roads of late.” He shifted the straw in his mouth to the other side. “Say what you will, but our new Emperor's pursuit of criminals has made a difference.” He flicked his whip against one of the oxen's flanks. “Move on.”

21 April, 82 AD

Six days later, Maximus and Rufus, along with some of their money, were back at the inn. The inn-keeper greeted them at the door, hands on his hips. “I wondered if you would return, seems like a long time.”

Rufus spoke up. “We had thirty days, this is actually a week ahead of time. We have your money.”

“Good. We'll go inside.” The inn-keeper turned and went in. Maximus and Rufus followed, Maximus holding the leather sack that contained the price of their future. The remaining funds they had buried in a well-concealed location in a copse of trees along one of several minor roads leading out of town. They would pick it up later. Rufus especially was uncomfortable traveling with so much money, but they had little choice. This was a good compromise.

Maximus set the bag down with a heavy 'clunk' on one of the tables in the dining area. “I assume that you have the deed for us?” Maximus leaned on the table, both arms planted, one on each side of the bag.

“Yes, as promised.” He unrolled the deed and pushed it towards Rufus, and then, remembering, moved it to Maximus.

“No, my partner can go over it. You and I can count the money.” Maximus untied the leather thongs and spilled the coins out on the table. The landlord's eye's glittered. “You'll notice that it's all in the Emperor's new coinage.”

The landlord held one up to the light. “Handsome,” he said. “You won't mind if I check this.” It was a statement, not a question. “Servius!” he called out over his shoulder. A small, neat man emerged from the kitchen area, carrying a leather wrap, which he unrolled on the table. He selected two coins at random. He set them on a scale, one at a time, and then placed another coin on the other pan. Each balanced. “Good,” the man said. He then took a small vial and unstoppered it, spilling a small drop of the liquid on each coin. The liquid rolled off the coins and on to the table, where it fizzed and ate a shallow pit on the table top, leaving the coins unscathed. “Good,” he said again, stoppered the vial, and nodded to the inn-keeper, holding out his hand. The inn-keeper handed over a coin from the pile. The small man rolled up his equipment, nodded his thanks, nodded to Maximus and Rufus, and exited the inn via the front door.

“Are we good?” Maximus said to Rufus, who had finished reading the deed. Rufus nodded. "It's all in order."

“Will you require rooms for the night?” the inn-keeper asked as he swept the coins back into the bag.

“No, I think not. We have much work to do. We will be on our way. Vale. May the gods watch over you and your family.”

“Valete.” The inn-keeper clutched the bag in his hand, turned, and walked away.

Maximus turned to Rufus. “Notice he kept the bag?” Rufus chuckled. “Let him have it. Let us go.”

That afternoon, they made their first purchase for their new lives, a stout wooden cart with iron-shod wheels, and a pair of oxen. “I thought you would look for horses, Beast.” Rufus said with a smile.

“Horses are good for general work and personal transport. Oxen are better for the heavy jobs.” They climbed up on the cart. Maximus touched the oxen's flanks with the tip of the whip, and they lurched into motion, and headed off to collect the rest of their money that they had hidden earlier. With that safely stowed in their new cart, they headed off towards Rocca. The two looked at each other and smiled, and then started to laugh out loud with joy, thinking of their new life... together.

27 April, 95 AD

“I've been thinking...” Maximus said, laying aside the scroll he had been reading as he and Rufus sat, naked, at the table in their kitchen. It was a special pleasure to be able to be naked now, whenever they wished.

"What, again? I thought I had thoroughly drained you this morning...” Rufus, with practiced speed, dodged Maximus' attempted swat.

“I think of other things than sex with you, Wolfpup.”

Rufus grinned. “You shouldn't, I'll think I am losing my skills. All right, all right, I am listening. What thoughts other than sex with your Wolfpup have you been thinking? Something in that scroll?”

Maximus gave Rufus 'The Look' before continuing. “No, not in the scroll. You know how we always stop at the baths in Clusium when we are there.” Rufus nodded. It was a special treat, a long hot soak to ease aching muscles, along with the slight touch of arthritis that he would never admit to. “Well, I was thinking it would be nice to do something like that at home.”

“What, a public bath in Rocca?”

“Of course not.” 'The Look', again. “No, I mean a kind to hot bath or pool at the house. Well, outside the house. To soak in.”

“How would that work,” Rufus asked, intrigued in spite of himself.

“You know where the rocky slope behind the pasture curves around towards the barn?”

“Yeeesss...”

“Now, hear me out. We make a kind of terrace, a couple of big stair steps. We dig out a hole, line it with stones and cement. On the stair step above it, we build a kind of oven with a flat top, only large. We put a big iron pot on that. We have a lead pipe running from the pot to the pool below. We fill the pot, heat the water, then run it through the pipe to the pool, and soak!” Maximus looked proudly at his lover. “What do you think?”

“I think is sounds like a lot of work.” Before Maximus could speak, Rufus continued. “You are big and strong, but all that digging and cementing, and toting water... when will you have the time? When will I have the time to help?”

“We sold two prize horses last week. We could hire some of the work.”

Rufus thought for a minute. “I admit, the idea of a good hot soak sounds like heaven some days. But I see a problem... two, really.”

“What?”

“First, how would you drain the bath when the water cools?”

“Oh, that's easy. We build in a drain at the bottom, and....”

“But there's no public cloaca to drain into!”

“True, but we'd have a trench or pipe to take the water and channel it into the vegetable garden. You're always saying 'waste not want not', you know.” Maximus couldn't resist teasing his sometimes over-cautious Wolfpup at times. “What's the other problem?”

“That's a lot of water to tote up to the top of this contraption. How is that to be done?”

“Ah. Well. I haven't quite figured that out yet. But I will!”

Rufus looked fondly at his Beast. “I can see how it might be a very nice thing. We can both think on it for a bit, shall we? Meantime, I'm hungry. Do we have any of the pork sausage left from lunch?” They worked together, preparing their supper, the smaller and larger men comfortable with each other and their lives, as the sun sank lower behind the hills.

Later, after they had finished their evening meal, Rufus reached for a wax tablet and stylus. “Beast, I've been thinking.” He started drawing a crude diagram of a device.

“Uh oh.”

“Just listen. When I said it would be a lot of water to carry up to the bath you are proposing, something tickled in the back of my mind. I've finally remembered it. It's something I saw in one of Lucius' scrolls, a treatise on engineering, by a Greek. It uses a tube, with a kind of screw inside it. You have one end submerged in water, and a crank on the other end of the screw. The spiral of the screw raises the water up the tube as you crank. We already have the pond you dug by the well for the horses to drink from. We could use that as the source for the screw device.” Rufus looked at Maximus. “Of course, we'd need a blacksmith to make the screw. Or maybe have it carved out of wood....”

The Beast scratched his beard, working to imagine how it would work. “I confess I can't see it in my mind, but if you think it might work, I'm willing.”

“Good. There's nothing pressing we have to do tomorrow. We could take a close look and do some measuring.”

“Sounds good, but there's no rush. And I think it's going to rain tomorrow, so we might have to wait anyway. I'm for bed right now. Shall we?” Maximus patted Rufus' furry thigh and stood up. Rufus nodded. Maximus leaned over and blew out the oil lamps on the table and took Rufus' hand as they walked to their bedroom, naked, lit by pale moonlight through the window.

*

The rain fell gently, making soothing sounds on the roof tiles. Spooned together, the two men were enjoying the luxury of a late morning in bed and lazy love-making.

“Wolfpup...”

“Hmmm?”

“Did you ever think we could have ended up like this?”

“You mean free and together? Dreamed of it, yes, often. Though it might really happen? No, never. We have been so very, very lucky.” Rufus pushed his erect penis into his Beast's ass. The oozing slide was a familiar, quiet comfort for them both. The slow, steady motion of Rufus's meat between Maximus' warm cheeks was deeply satisfying. Neither of them ever tired of the physical sensation of penetration, or the emotional connection that act re-enforced. There were still times of urgent need and pounding triumph on both their parts, but more often now, it was this gentle, loving mating that made up their mornings or evenings. “Oh, Beast,” Rufus gasped softly as he pumped his life into his mate. When he sensed that Rufus had finished, Maximus tightened his muscle ring around the thick piece of his lover that was lodged inside him, holding on. “My love,” he exhaled slowly. They both relaxed, still spooned and coupled, and listened to the rain.

Historical Notes

This is a work of fiction, but many aspects are solidly based in fact. The historical characters mentioned did exist, and in the time and places depicted. Although Rufus, Maximus, Lucius and his family and slaves are all fiction, the events surrounding them are real, as they were in the previous story. Forms of address, descriptions of buildings and social customs are based on documented fact as well. The town of Rocca is entirely fictional, but Clusium and Nuceria are real enough, and still exist today. Acca Laurentia's is fictional, but the meretrix I've named it after figures largely in the legends of the founding of Rome. The bulk of the action takes place early in the Emperor Domitian's reign, 81-96 AD. It is very helpful if you have read the prequel to this tale, 79 AD, but it is not absolutely necessary.

Banking was well-established and wide-spread in the Roman world. A uniform currency used throughout the Empire made it possible to transfer funds readily. Regulated banking officials included 'nummularii', who were directly responsible for minting and assaying the coinage; 'argentarii', official money changers; and 'mensarii', bankers who dealt exclusively with loans. Many temples served as a kind of safe deposit box, accepting money or valuables for storage for a fee. In those cases, interest was never offered. The Roman temple to Moneta (goddess of memory and protectoress of funds, and the source of our words 'money' and 'monetize') was one of the earliest examples.

Archimedes' Screw was used by the Romans, but in fact the principle predates the Greeks, as the Egyptians used such devices to raise irrigation water from the Nile to their fields after the annual floods receded.

Prostitution was legal, licensed, and taxed in Roman society. Brothels were common in Roman towns and cities; and prostitutes were frequently mentioned in Roman literature, often favorably. Lower class prostitutes of either sex were called 'scortum' or 'prostibulae'; a higher class female prostitute was called a 'meretrix'. Female prostitutes outnumbered males; and most, of either sex, were slaves or poorer free people. More than a few were daughters of high-born families that had fallen on hard times. Successful meretrixes moved about freely in the upper levels of Roman society. Prices ranged from quite low for a simple coupling with a prostibulae to 'the sky's the limit' for a meretrix who caught the eye of an emperor or senator. Visiting prostitutes and brothels was not frowned upon in Roman society, being considered a legitimate form of entertainment for males of any class, as long as one demonstrated self-control and moderation in frequency.

Domitian is an interesting character. He was the younger son of Vespasian, the first of the Flavian emperors; and the younger brother of Vespasian's successor, Titus. Both boys were well educated, Titus at court, Domitian with private tutors. As youths, they apparently got on well together, only disagreeing in early manhood over Titus' long affair with Berenice, the Judean Queen, an early sign of his later development of a rigid sense of morality. The anecdote in the story of Vespasian's mistress, Antonia Caenis, is considered truthful by several sources.

Suetonius' The Twelve Caesars is primarily responsible for Domitian's negative historical reputation. Suetonius, though never a senator himself, nearly always sided with the Senate in the historic back and forth between Imperial and Senatorial power. He wrote the twelve 'books' in sequence, and, critically, he lost access to the Imperial archives partway through the writing of the first of these, on Julius. From that point on, except for a few letters of Augustus' he had handled prior to losing access, he had to rely on third party accounts, gossip, and hearsay for the rest of his magnum opus. The final book, the one on Domitian, seriously betrays Suetonius' Senatorial bias. Domitian loathed the Senate, and the feeling was returned tenfold. Domitian stripped the Senate of the last vestiges of it's legislative power, turning it into a purely administrative body. Small wonder, then, that Suetonius paints Domitian as an epic tyrant, greedy, vain, corrupt in the extreme; and totally unfit as a human being, let alone as an Emperor. One relatively minor example would be Suetonius' portrayal of Domitian as a cultural Philistine, with no knowledge of or love for literature. Yet, it was Domitian who restored the library of Rome at great expense, and out of his own purse. Domitian was a steady source of patronage for historians and poets during his reign as well, facts which Suetonius simply ignores.

The reality is, as usual, much more nuanced. Particularly early on in his fifteen year reign, Domitian continued many of the sound policies instituted by Vespasian and Titus. He restored the public banquets at holidays, which Caligula had stopped. This alone endeared him to the general populace of Rome and the provinces. He instituted a comprehensive public works program, rebuilding many of the public buildings and facilities damaged or destroyed in the great fire of 80 AD in Rome, thus providing work for the many left unemployed by the fire's destruction. He extended the aqueduct system that brought fresh water into Rome, a move which was both popular and enabled the city of Rome itself to expand. In particular, he instituted a reform of Roman currency, restoring and standardizing the silver content of the coinage, which had gradually declined; and more firmly regulating the nummularii, the officials tasked with minting and testing coinage. He vigorously prosecuted fraud and malfeasance among government officials, many of whom were relatives of Senators. This had the effect of restoring and increasing public confidence in both the currency and in banking, as well as turning the Senate more firmly against him. His strengthening of the Empire's border defenses made him very popular with the Army. Interestingly, he ceased the persecution of Jews and Christians. But much of this was accomplished by decree, not through the Senate. Domitian did not take opposition kindly.

From the beginning, Domitian exhibited a strong authoritarian streak, which only increased as his reign continued. He declared himself the executor of the office of Censor, the official in charge of public morality, in perpetuity. He seemed bent on limiting or eliminating all public expression of frivolity or exuberance. Sober, formal behavior and traditional Roman values were the ideals he rigorously promoted and enforced. This was in contrast to the earlier, more easy-going public attitudes, especially when it came to sex.

He involved himself in every facet of Roman government, as an efficient if ruthless supervisor. Crimes of libel or theft were to be punished with exile or death. Indeed, the death penalty was extended to a number of crimes previously punished by imprisonment or exile. Public speech was restricted. Towards the end of his reign, he increasingly accepted information from informers to bring false charges of libel and treason as a way of discouraging opposition to his edicts. He saw himself as the second Augustus, divinely ordained to return Rome to it's former glory, by whatever means necessary.

But the good he did should not be overlooked, and it needs to be remembered that much of the negative reputation is the result of writers with very definite axes to grind. Modern scholarship has at least partially redressed the historical balance. The historian Theodore Mommsen described his reign as “a somber but intelligent despotism”. For the majority of his reign, there was no widespread dissatisfaction with his policies. His harshness was limited to a highly vocal minority, who exaggerated his despotism in attempts to curry favor with the dynasty that followed.

Domitian was assassinated by court officials on September 18, 96 AD. Suetonius offers a highly detailed (and highly fanciful) account of the deed, filled with astrology, soothsayers, and appearances by the goddess Minerva. What is factual is that only a few hours after the assassination, members of the Senate rushed to the Senate House and did two things. First, they appointed Marcus Cocceius Nerva as Emperor; and second, voted to officially condemn Domitian's memory to oblivion, 'damnatio memoriae'. His name was to be removed from all public buildings and public records, the uttering of his name made punishable by death, and his coins to be removed from official circulation. All this proved hard to enforce in Rome itself, and was almost entirely ignored in the provinces.

Nerva was a very odd choice for Emperor. He was old and childless, and had apparently taken no part in the assassination plot. Suetonius does not mention him at all. He was not known to have spoken against Domitian in public, and in his writings, was favorable to the Flavians. He lacked both experience and support in Rome or the provinces. Why the Senate chose him remains unclear... but that is perhaps a tale for another time.

Note that I have included a glossary of Latin words and concepts that might not be familiar to the casual reader.

UrsusMajr December, 2023

This story was written by a real person, not a robot. Please respect the work that goes into these stories and do not post them elsewhere without the author attribution at the top of the story. The author may be contacted at: ursusmajr@gmail.com

Glossary of Latin Terms used in 79 AD and After Vesuvius

1. Aesculapius - The Roman god of medicine and healing.

2. Atrium - The large entrance room in a Roman dwelling, sometimes open to the sky.

3. Ave - Typical greeting, used in addressing one person.

4. Avete - Typical greeting, used when addressing two or more as a group.

5. Bonum nocte - Good night.

6. Basilica - In Roman times, a large public building used as law court or assembly hall.

7. Caldarium - The hot pool in a Roman bath house.

8. Caligas - Literally, 'boot'; descriptive of Roman footwear in general. The Emperor Caligula got his name (actually a nickname) from the soldiers serving in his father Germanicus' legion on the Rhine. 'Caligula' means 'little boot'.

9. Calimus - An ink pen with a wooden handle and metal tip

10. Cloaca - Literally, sewer. The main public drain in a Roman city or settlement.

11. Domina - Form of address for the wife of the head of a Roman household. Also used for an unmarried female owner of slaves.

12. Dominus - Form of address for the male head of a household, owner of slaves.

13. Ex Jure Quiritium vindicavit in libertatem - Literally, 'by the law governing citizenship rights, you are declared free'.

14. Falernian - the very best Roman wine. Most Roman wine was rather harsh because it was drunk young, rarely aged for more than a few months at best. Falernian was prized for it's gentle and flavorful character, and therefore treated better (and aged longer) than run-of-the-mill drink.

15. Frigidarium - The cold, or source-temperature pool in a Roman bath house.

16. Fundus - Literally, 'farm', and later, 'bottom'. In Roman times, a privately owned farm of any size, though usually smaller.

17. Futuo - Literally, 'fuck', used as both a verb and as an all-purpose exclamation, but not in polite company. Used in much the same way as it is today.

18. Garum - Fermented fish fat sauce, used everywhere in the Roman empire as a condiment.

19. Gratius tibi ago - Literally, 'thanks to you', a formal way of thanking someone other than a close friend for a favor or gift.

20. Hades - Roman version of Hell, the underworld.

21. Ides - The 13th day of the month, except in March, May, July, and October, when it was the 15th. (The notorious 'Ides of March' is known for Julius Caesar's assassination, but was also the deadline for settling debts in Roman commerce.)

22. Impluvium - A small square pool located in the atrium, often fed by a fountain.

23. Inconveniens - Literally, 'inappropriate'. Anything unacceptable or uncouth.

24. Jove - Another name for Jupiter, head of the Roman pantheon

25. Juno Moneta - Roman goddess of money and protectoress of bankers and funds.

26. Kalends - The first day of the following month.

27. Lena - The madam of a Roman brothel.

28. Lupanar - A Roman brothel.

29. Macellum - Literally, 'market'. One of the main markets in Pompeii, located at the Forum. It was partially destroyed in the earthquake of 62 AD, and not yet completely rebuilt by the time of Vesuvius' eruption in 79AD.

30. Manumission - Roman legal proceeding by which a slave owner frees the slave. The slave was then considered a 'libertas', a free person. Manumitted slaves automatically became Roman citizens. Manumissions were taxed.

31. Maximus - Literally, 'great' or 'greatest', also large or imposing.

32. Nones - The 7th or 8th day before the Ides.

33. Nummularii - Roman officials tasked with the minting of coins and supervision and distribution of money and indirectly, banks.

34. Optimus Maximus - Literally, 'Best and Greatest', often used in conjunction with Jupiter, head of the Roman pantheon, or to describe a person or an event. It implies very high praise.

35. Pace - Peace

36. Paterfamilias - Literally, 'father of the family', head of a household. See: 'dominus'

37. Pedicabo ego - Go fuck yourself.

38. Peristyle - In Roman architecture, a series of columns surrounding a courtyard or garden, or an indoor space such as an atrium.

39. Pileus - a conical felt hat, worn only by freedmen in Roman times.

40. Pluto - The Roman god of the dead and ruler of the underworld (Hades).

41. Pontifex Maximus - Literally, 'supreme pontiff'. The high priest of of the Roman College of Pontiffs, a powerful figure both in religion and in politics.

42. Priapus - A Greek and Roman fertility god, protector of livestock, bees, plants, gardens, and male genitals. Clothed or naked, he was always depicted with an erect penis. He was a central character in much of Greek and Roman erotica.

43. Pyroclastic flow - a fast-moving current of hot gas and volcanic mud that flows along the ground away from a volcano at speeds up to 500 mph. Temperature can reach 1800 degrees F.

44. Quarta hora - Literally, the 'fourth hour' after sunrise.

45. Quid es hoc - Literally, 'what is this', a general expression of surprise.

46. Rufus - Literally, 'red'.

47. Salvete - Another form of greeting, especially in the morning, used when addressing two or more persons.

48. Sarno - A small river that ran along the border of Pompeii's city wall. Obliterated by the eruption.

49. Saturnalia - A winter Roman holiday celebrated in honor of Saturn. It was marked by modest gift-giving, public feasts, and a general over-turning of social customs. Slaves and freedmen switched roles with masters. Originally celebrated on December 17th, it was later expanded to a six-day festival.

50. Satyr - An example of one of many Greek mythological characters imported intact into the Roman mythology. Satyrs had ears and tails of a horse or ass, and were originally depicted with a animal's legs. They were always depicted naked, with permanent, enlarged erections.

51. Somnos - The Roman personification of sleep. According to Ovid, he was the brother of death.

52. Sublinaculum - Worn under a tunic or toga, it was the functional equivalent of 'tighty whities'.

53. Sum valde gratus - Less formal form of thanks, 'thank you VERY much!'.

54. Tepidarium - The warm pool in a Roman bath house, using a mixture of heated and source-temperature water.

55. Triclinium - In a Roman house, the dining room. It had a central low table, with at least three low couches arranged horizontally around it.

56. Tu foedus nothi - You filthy bastards.

57. Tunic - basic form of dress for all Roman males. Simple in design, they could be belted at the waist, and were of varying lengths. Middle and upper classes could add a toga of various types over a tunic. Togas were expensive, and awkwardly voluminous to wear. As time went on, they were increasingly relegated to only the most formal occasions.

58. Vale - Typical form of farewell or good-bye, used when addressing one person.

59. Valete - Typical form of farewell or good-bye, used when addressing multiple people

60. Vesta - Roman goddess of the hearth and home, especially the sacred fire of Rome's hearth.

61. Vestals - Priestesses of the temple of Vesta, tasked with continual tending of the sacred fire in her temple in Rome. They sere selected by the Pontifex Maximus before puberty, served for 30 years, and were required to be chaste for that time. If they broke their vows of chastity, their lover(s) were publicly beaten to death, and the Vestal herself was buried alive. Once retired, they were free to marry (few did), and held an exceptionally high place in Roman society, with rights and privileges accorded to almost no other Roman citizen.