'There is more,' he said quietly, and lifting out a pair of large pendant earrings, he handed them to her with a smile.
Cailin smiled tremulously back at him, and affixed the large single teardrop amethysts set in gold filigree to her ears. There were several bracelets in the box as well: two gold bangles set with diamonds and pearls, and a wide gold band with inlaid mosaic that glittered and glistened with the light. Finally there was a filigreed gold headband studded with amethysts and diamonds. Cailin fitted it over the sheer mauve-colored veil covering her hair, which she wore loose in deference to Aspar, who liked it that way.
'I will be the envy of every man in the Hippodrome today,' he said sincerely. 'You are the most beautiful woman in a city of beauties.'
'I wish to be the envy of no one,' Cailin told him honestly. 'The last time I knew such happiness and contentment, the gods snatched it away from me. I lost everything I held dear. Now that I have found happiness again, I want to keep it, my lord. Do not boast lest the gods hear you and grow jealous of us.'
'We will keep it,' he said firmly, 'and I will keep you safe.'
Cailin traveled to the city in her comfortable litter while Aspar rode his big white stallion by her side. He was greeted by many people along the way. Cailin, watching from the security of her conveyance, felt her heart swell with her love for this great and good man. There was no doubt that Flavius Aspar was well-respected by ordinary citizens, not simply feared for his power and wealth.
They entered the city through the Golden Gate. This was Constantinople's ceremonial triumphal gate. Made of pristine white marble set into Theodosius's walls, the gate gained its name from the enormous burnished brass doors with which it was fitted. The elegant severity of the gate's architecture, and its splendid proportions, made it an object of admiration throughout the empire. Passing through the gate, they traveled slowly with the increasing crowds down the Mese to the Hippodrome.
At the Golden Gate they had been met by a troop of cavalry that had come to escort Aspar and his party along the broad main avenue of the city. As they surrounded Cailin's litter, she discreetly closed the silk curtains. She was well aware that she was the object of certain curiosity among the soldiers, but she could not allow them to stare boldly at her as if she were a common prostitute.
The Hippodrome could seat forty thousand people, and was an imitation of Rome's Circus Maximus. However, it had never hosted games quite as cruel as those in Rome, nor had it seen the martyrdom of innocents. It had been first built by the Roman emperor Septimus Severus, but remodeled by the great Byzantine emperor Constantine I. The entertainments it offered were varied. There was everything from animal baiting, theatrical amusements, and gladiators, to chariot racing, religious processions, state ceremonies, and the public torture of famous prisoners. Entry to the Hippodrome was gained by presenting a special token, and tokens were issued free in advance of the games to the populace who came to sit, regardless of class, upon the snowy marble tiers of seats.
In the center of the Hippodrome a line of monuments had been erected, forming what was called a spina. The spina indicated the division between the downward race course and the upward one. Among the monuments was the Serpent Column, which had been brought to Constantinople from the temple of Apollo in Delphi by Constantine I. The ancient column, made up of intertwined bronze snakes, had been given to the temple by thirty-one Greek cities in the year 479 b.c. It commemorated the victory of the Greeks over the Persians, and was presented to the gods with gratitude. Another monument that stood out was the Egyptian obelisk that Theodosius I had placed upon a sculptured base. It was carved on all four sides with scenes of imperial life, including one of Theodosius himself in the imperial box with his family and close friends, watching the games.
Cailin's litter was set down by a private gate to the arena on the eastern side. Aspar dismounted his stallion and proudly handed her from the vehicle. He knew that every man in the cavalry troop was eager to see the woman rumored to have captured his heart. A dainty jewel-encrusted gold sandal was put forth first as she stepped from the litter. Eyes widened. Knowing looks were exchanged by the soldiers, most not a little envious, and as the empire's First Patrician escorted his beautiful young mistress into the Hippodrome, a long, low whistle of admiration echoed behind them.
Aspar grinned, just as any small boy with a new and most admired toy would have, but Cailin scolded him softly.
'Shame on you, my lord! You need not look so delighted with yourself, as if you did something worthy of praise. All those randy young soldiers are wondering about is if it is your power, your wealth, or your skill as a lover that has gained you a young and pretty mistress. It is nothing to be proud of,' she finished, looking indignant. 'A decent woman would be shamed.'
'But you are not considered a decent woman,' he teased her. 'Those randy young soldiers, as you call them, would envy me even more if they knew the passionate, wildly wanton creature you have recently become. My back is covered with weals that are a testament to your delicious newfound desire, my love. Ahh, yes, you do well to blush!' He chuckled. 'But I am content to have you so utterly shameless in my behalf.'
She was blushing, but she was also unable to restrain her laughter. His happiness at having been able to overcome the ice in which her soul had been so encased made her happy. 'It is you who are shameless, my lord,' she countered. 'You preen like a peacock in full plumage, and you fully enjoyed displaying me to those young men.' She giggled. 'They all looked so surprised when they saw me. Is your reputation such that they did not think you capable of attracting a pretty woman? They should but know you as I do.'
'If they did, my love, I should be called by a different name, and would have taken Jovian for my lover,' he chuckled.
He led her up a flight of stairs, explaining as they went that this was the way to the two private boxes allowed in the Hippodrome other than the imperial box. 'The patriarch's box is on the emperor's right hand, and the box of the First Patrician of the empire is on the emperor's left hand. I have come early so we will not cause a disturbance with an obvious entry. It would not do to have the crowds hail me before the emperor. We will slip quietly into the box, and then be on hand to greet our guests. The emperor will not come until the races are ready to begin. There will be four races this morning, and four in the afternoon. In between we will see other entertainments, and Zeno will come with our servants to bring us luncheon.'
'I have never seen chariot races,' Cailin said. 'Who will be racing today? There was an amphitheater in Corinium for games, but my father never took us. He said the games were cruel.'
'Some are,' Aspar admitted, 'but there will be no gladiators today, I have been told. There will be actors, and wrestlers, and more gentle amusements that do not take away from the racing. We have four chariot teams here in Constantinople, the Reds, the Whites, the Blues, and the Greens. They will be racing, and the passions they arouse in the collective breast of the populace is oft-times terrifying. Wagers will be placed, and you are apt to see a fight or two between the adherents of a particular team and their rivals. You are safe in the box.'
'Which team to do you favor, my lord?' she asked him.
'The Greens,' he said. 'They are the best, and the Blues come after them. The Reds and the Whites are nothing, though they try.'
'Then I shall favor the Greens as well,' Cailin said.
They had reached a small landing where the staircase divided into two sets of stairs, and taking the three steps up to their left, they entered Aspar's box. An awning of cloth of gold striped with purple roofed the box. There were comfortable marble chairs with silken cushions, and benches set about, all with a good view of the arena. The public stands were beginning to fill up, but no one noticed them, and a quick glance showed Cailin that the imperial party and the important religious personages were not yet in their boxes.
'There are no steps going to the emperor's box,' she said to Aspar. 'How does he enter it?'
'There are stairs directly into the box that lead from a tunnel beneath the palace walls,' he told her. 'It allows our emperor a quick exit should he find he needs it. I've always thought it an excellent place for an ambush, but there is really nothing one can do should that occur.'
'Cailin!' A young woman had entered the box behind them.
Cailin turned and recognized Casia, looking particularly radiant in scarlet and gold silks. Cailin held out her hands in welcome. She had wondered how she would feel seeing Casia again, but the young woman had always been kind to her. 'Fortune has smiled on you, I am told,' she said, greeting Casia. 'I am happy you could come.'
