“You cannot have a woman?” she askedskeptically. “And how long do you stay in this Legion,Roman?”
“We enlist for a period of twentyyears,” I answered, then thought to add, “Although our ImperatorTiberius is considering raising it to twenty-fiveyears.”
This elicited a gasp, but before we couldcontinue our conversation, a bearded man of about forty walked up,and he cut in, addressing the girl in their tongue, his gazeshifting back and forth between us. Obviously, since I had no ideawhat was being said, I was paying close attention, and to my ears,he sounded somewhat suspicious, but then I saw her indicate thenecklace. Immediately, the man’s entire demeanor changed, and heturned to me wearing a broad smile, making a small bow. This, Irealized, was the merchant who ran this stall, and it was with asmall but surprising stab of disappointment that I concluded thismust be his much younger wife. Who, it must be said, did not appearpleased at the interruption at all, because she snapped somethingat him, but his reaction was even more surprising and confusing.Rather than being angry at being rebuked, he held both hands up ina placating gesture, and said something in a tone that reminded meof the kind I use with Latobius when he is getting too hard tocontrol. This seemed to mollify the woman, her tone softening asshe said something else, which clearly surprised him, and he turnedhis gaze back to me. Suddenly, I became very uncomfortable at theway the pair were intensely interested, and I saw others nearbyturning to pay attention.
“I apologize for the interruption,Roman.” She switched back to Latin, which, to my ear, was betterthan Ivomagus’. “You were telling me that you Romans who are inyour Legions cannot have a woman? And,” she finished, “that youenlist for twenty years?”
“Yes,” I answered cautiously,whereupon she turned back to the bearded man to speak rapidly, andI saw his eyes widen in astonishment.
This was the moment where I thought Imight have an idea of what might be so interesting, but before Icould speak up, she turned back to me and said, “So, you Romans donot lay with a woman for twentyyears?”
I burst out laughing, my suspicionconfirmed, and I shook my head, assuring her, “No, what I said isthat we cannot be married. Not,” I thought to amend, “legally,under our law. But,” I grinned at her, “no, that doesn’t mean wedon’t lay with women.”
Did she look relieved? I wondered. And ifso…why?
“So,” she indicated the necklace, “whois this for?” Her tone turned teasing, “One of those women that youcan lay with but not marry?”
I was tempted to say yes just to see how shereacted, but I admitted the truth.
“I was thinking of it as a gift for mymother, for when I return.”
She did react, but not in the manner I wasanticipating, as her expression softened.
“She must be very worried about you,”she said soberly. I suppose my reaction prompted her to explain,“We have heard that your ship was in a storm and blown all the wayhere. My father has traveled to Germania many times, and he told mehow far away it is.”
I did not really know what to say, though Imanaged to mumble, “I’m sure she is…worried, I mean. But all of mymen have mothers, and families, and that’s why we are working sohard to get back.” I grinned at her. “Because nobody likes worryingtheir mother, even Romans.”
This made her laugh, and I did not get thesense that she was doing so out of politeness
“We would not want that,” she agreed.Then her face changed again, and she became businesslike, pickingup the necklace so that I could examine it more closely. “It is avery fine necklace,” she said as she laid the pendant into mypalm.
She was not wrong, and I imagined how itwould look around my mother’s neck.
“How much?”
Rather than answer immediately, sheturned and talked to the bearded man, and I thought I heard theword denarii, but I could notbe sure.
Finally, she turned back and said,“Since we do not use the same kind of coin, my father says that wewould ask three gold coins that we use. Which,” she paused, “hesays would be twenty-five of your denarii.”
“Twenty-five denarii!” I gasped. “That’s ridiculous!” I sawthat she did not understand the word, so I said, “That is far tooexpensive.”
“If you cannot afford it,” shereplied, shrugging indifferently, “that is unfortunate.”
“I can afford it,” I snapped, stung byher implication. “I can afford to buy ten of these necklaces if Ichoose to. But…”
“You do not have ten mothers,” sheanswered coolly. “Only one. And,” this time, she did not shrug;instead, she tossed her head so that her unbound hair flipped back,“she is clearly not worth it to you.”
Fortunately, that was when I realized whatshe was doing and I had almost fallen for it; I cannot say if I wasmore amused or irritated, and I decided to have some revenge.Unfortunately, I did not get the opportunity, because just then, Iheard the clattering sound of hooves, turning just in time to seeCogidubnus enter the square at the head of his party.
“I must go speak to your king,” Isaid, then added awkwardly, “If I have the opportunity, I will comeback and we can conclude our business.”
I turned without waiting for an answer, butI had only gone a couple of paces when she called out.
“Roman!” I turned, but to my surprise,she stepped out of the stall and came hurrying up to me, and in theprocess, she got closer than ever as she looked up at me. When shespoke, I could barely hear her. “Please, be careful when dealingwith King Cogidubnus. He is not to be trusted!”
Before I could say anything one way oranother, she stepped away from me, turned about, and walked brisklyback to where her father was standing, looking worried. Despite thedisturbing words, and the fact that Cogidubnus had seen me and washeading towards me, I could not take my eyes off her as she walkedaway.
Through a series of gestures, I
