1: Seventh hour: Arrival at the tavern, Claudia, Caecilia, Elena

Seventh hour (12:14)

The early afternoon sun shined brightly and without respite in the cloudless sky. As she walked the streets of Pompeii, Tita felt the stifling heat reflect off the stone paving and brick walls. The air was heavy with humid heat. She realized she was not used to the brightness, heat or humidity in this area, as she rubbed the sweat from her forehead. The two heavy leather satchels that hung over her shoulders did not help. Neither did her yellow-green shawl and long light-green linen dress. She really wanted to take off her shawl and dress and wade in the cool Sarnus river, like the people she saw that morning near the ports on the river. But she knew people would tell her to go away, out of fear from seeing her unusually spotted white skin.

Tita walked around the corner to head east towards the east city wall. She saw a woman some distance away on the left side of the street who stood out from the other passersby with her dark red dress as she remained still in front of an entrance. Tita deduced that was probably Aurelia’s tavern. Tita was surprised it took only about a quarter of an hour to walk from the forum to the tavern. She had imagined Pompeii to be much bigger in size, from how her cousin Claudia had described the town.

Tita sighed with relief knowing she would soon unload her heavy satchels- all her worldly belongings and clothing. She reflected on how the possessions she loved so dearly had become oppressive weights of burden over her long six-week journey from Gergovia to Pompeii. How many times had she thought to toss her satchels away and free herself of past possessions? To break with her past completely and thoroughly.

Tita often thought of how she had weighed down her cousin. Tita figured Claudia had lost most of her clients in Pompeii after being away for eight months. Had Claudia managed to recuperate her prostitution business in the past month that she had been back in Pompeii? Tita hoped so…

Tita had been overjoyed when Claudia had returned to Gergovia last October to spend a month with her family. Tita had missed her cousin terribly. But Tita deeply regretted that Claudia had then delayed her stay for seven more months to convince Tita to join her in Pompeii. Tita admonished herself yet again for not accepting right away to go with Claudia, so that Claudia could quickly return to her work.

Instead, she and Claudia had wasted time, endlessly and foolishly arguing about living in Gergovia or living in Pompeii. Tita had had so many concerns- about Aurelia’s business, their future together at Aurelia’s villa, their lodgings, getting along with the other girls, handling clients generally, being cultured enough to handle the high level clients in Pompeii, handling male clients while maintaining her virginity, how her skin spots would be viewed, being able to attract good clients, the loss in social status that prostitution meant. Ultimately though, Claudia was right that the gods had given them a precious gift, an opportunity to be close together again, as they had been in Gergovia since childhood.

Tita noted it had been a winter and spring of silly stubbornness and self-inflicted tension. She wondered if other women were as crazy as they had been. Tita shook her head and giggled at how often she and Claudia had talked, argued, fought, cried, reconciled and laughed together, only to start over again.

In the end, Tita was won over by Claudia’s consistent enthusiasm for Aurelia, Aurelia’s villa, Elena, the girls and the work. Tita remembered how annoyed and frustrated she felt for finally giving in, but also how tearfully relieved they both were that their stubborn fighting was over, and how happy Claudia was that they would live with each other like the sisters they were. And Tita was very happy for that also.

Now Tita was anxious about the prostitution work at Aurelia’s villa. Could she fit in with the experienced girls? Could she master etiquette? Could she learn to handle male clients, though she was a virgin and preferred women? Would women find her spotted skin appealing? Claudia had insisted since childhood that Tita’s spots were beautiful. But Tita’s long experience was that her spotted skin caused disgust or fear in others. Could she really attract good clients? Or would she only get clients who taunted her for her spots?

Tita was especially nervous about meeting Elena, Aurelia’s main trainer who taught the new girls about the prostitution work. During their eight months of discussions, Claudia had repeatedly lauded Elena, her beauty and incredible wisdom. Claudia had often warned Tita about Elena’s spell and how it affected every woman who first met Elena. Would Tita also be enraptured by Elena? Could she control her feelings for Elena and focus on her training? The site of the tavern unleashed a thousand questions and fears in her mind. Tita walked towards the woman in the dark red dress with trepidation.

As Tita crossed the street and approached the tavern, she saw the woman seemed a little younger in age and shorter in height and heavier, with a pleasant round face, small dark brown eyes, nice lips and a strong nose that Tita thought made her seem honest. Her dark brown hair was arranged in a series of braided rings that seemed like a crown on her head. She had exquisitely shaped black eyeliner and red radial lines painted on her forehead. The dark red paint on her cheeks matched her dress color. Tita saw her hands and feet were also decorated with black and red lines, swirls and shapes.

The young woman broadly smiled as Tita walked up to her, her eyes warm, her gaze steady. She smelled of quinces and lemon, and a sweeter scent Tita was not familiar with. The woman held out her hand. Tita noticed the woman was also sweating from the hot sun, but just a little bit. She was clearly more used to the heat and sun than Tita.

“Hello, my name is Caecilia,” she said, taking hold of Tita’s hand with a firm grip. Tita replied with a firm grip as well, liking Caecilia’s firmness and her sweet smile.

“Hello, I am Tita, Claudia’s cousin.” Tita said quietly.

Caecilia stopped shaking hands and tapped her chin and lips, perplexed. Then her face brightened with amazement and joy. “Oh! You are Claudia’s cousin from Gergovia?”

Tita smiled, though she realized her shawl covered her mouth. “Yes.”

Caecilia laughed heartily as she stepped forward and hugged Tita. “I am so sorry. I was thinking of my client Claudia.” Tita returned Caecilia’s friendly hug as Caecilia laughed again, stepping away. “She normally arrives around now and I was wondering why she had sent a relative instead of herself. Sorry, my thoughts are funny sometimes.”

“Do you know my cousin Claudia?” asked Tita, wondering about Claudia.

“Oh yes!” Caecilia smiled broadly. “I met her when she returned a month ago. She is great! We get along very well. We share the same sleeping room and you will join us. So tonight we will sleep together! But in separate beds. Claudia will not return until tomorrow night or Sunday morning. She usually spends Friday and Saturday at a patron’s villa…”

Tita saw Caecilia was going to say more but she stopped herself. Instead, she grinned again, apparently very happy to see Tita. Caecilia gently took Tita’s hand. “Come in, come in! Elena is here to meet you! We have all been waiting for you for some days now.”

“Elena the trainer?” Tita was suddenly nervous. She had not expected to meet Elena so soon.

“Yes, yes! But do not worry. She is completely amazing and very sweet! And you must be very hot and dying of thirst. Today is a very, very hot day. Come inside and cool off and eat and drink.”

Caecilia grinned and pulled Tita into the tavern and to the right. Tita immediately felt cooler to be out of the hot sun. She saw four tables and benches along the street wall, with the last table by the side wall next to a window opening onto the street. The sunlight through the window revealed an imposing, tall gladiator with black brown skin. Tita was suddenly taken aback, stopping in her tracks and pulling away from Caecilia.

“Oh!” Tita exclaimed.

Caecilia turned to Tita and followed Tita’s fearful look towards the gladiator. Then she chuckled. “Oh do not worry about Tacitus. He protects us! He is Aurelia’s husband. He is great. We all love him. You will too.”

Tita remembered her cousin Claudia had described Tacitus as stern, strong and funny. Tita was relieved that he was not a stranger and annoyed she had reacted so foolishly. But she remained shaken as Caecilia gently took her right hand again and led Tita towards the dark gladiator. Tacitus stood straight and stiff with his back against the wall, his large hands clasped in front. His immobile glare made Tita feel apprehensive. She imagined Tacitus could make anyone afraid with his intensely fierce black eyes.

A young woman in a light blue dress arose from the table bench and stood next to Tacitus, reaching to his shoulder. Tita saw the woman was radiantly beautiful, with a warm, inviting smile. She seemed only a little older than Tita, and stood as tall as Tita. But her eyes, face and dark tan skin were utterly captivating.

“Elena, this is Tita! She finally arrived!” exclaimed Caecilia, smiling grandly while giving Tita’s hand to Elena.

Elena took Tita’s right hand with both hands, using a lightness of touch and sensitivity that Tita found remarkable. “Tita, welcome to Pompeii! We have been waiting for you. Aurelia and Claudia have been anxious as well. But I see your journey with the Bactrians has been good for you.” Elena continued smiling serenely.

Tita could not break away from Elena’s large olive-hazel eyes that sparkled in the shadows and held Tita’s blue eyes in a warm gaze. Tita was captivated by Elena’s low, melodic voice, her supple lips and well proportioned face. Her luxuriant light brown hair was intertwined in a head dress that made it seem like she wore a crown. She had subtle blue eye-liner that extended past her eyes and small blue dots painted on the borders of her ears and thin blue lines on the sides of her neck.

“Come sit down,” said Elena as she motioned the opposite bench at the table.

Tita noted Elena’s posture was straight, but not stiff. Her confident, graceful movements reflected wisdom and experience beyond her years. Tita now understood why her cousin had lauded Elena so much. Tita could see Elena’s wisdom in how she handled herself.

But what surprised Tita most were the sweet citrus and earthy scents of Elena’s dark tan skin, and how shiny her skin appeared in the sunlight from the window. Tita did not know why, but Elena’s scents strongly excited her. Tita had a sudden embarrassing urge to kiss and lick Elena’s skin. She blushed a bit.

“I-….” Tita could not find the words, as Elena’s mesmerizing presence cast a spell on her.

Tita saw Caecilia was laughing. “Elena has that affect on everyone the first time they meet her. It is normal! I will go back outside.” Caecilia continued giggling and warmly squeezed Tita’s left hand. “I am so happy you arrived! Welcome home!”

Caecilia’s mention of ‘home’ snapped Tita out of her reverie. She realized her long journey was finally over. Tita sighed heavily, letting go of her journey worries as new concerns about her work started to occupy her mind. She unslung her satchels from her neck and shoulders and gently laid them on the floor, sighing again with relief.

“They became heavier and heavier,” she absently remarked, looking at Elena.

“Please sit down,” said Elena. “Have some water with lemon.” Elena sat down and filled a cup from a jar on the table.

Tita sat down heavily on the bench and sighed deeply. She looked at Tacitus who stood like a stone statue, a curious contrast to Elena’s fluid warmth and elegance. Tita noticed the material of Elena’s light blue dress was very smooth and shiny. She realized it was silk, a fabric she had seen at her parent’s fabric shop in Gergovia, usually for rich clients. Tita remembered that Claudia had said Elena loved to wear silk. Was Elena also rich?

“That is silk?” Tita asked, as she felt uneasy and light-headed and started to see stars.

“Yes. Come, drink. You must be thirsty from the heat,” Elena insisted, pushing the cup towards Tita. Elena poured herself a cup as well.

“Yes….” Tita let her shawl fall from her face and used it to wipe off the sweat from her face and forehead. She took the cup with both hands and drank with gusto, realizing she was very thirsty. The lemon water was wonderfully refreshing. Elena also drank and Tita felt Elena was already studying her, which intimidated her a bit.

Tita quickly finished her cup and sighed with relief, feeling better. “Thank you,” she said. “I am sorry to be four days late. The Bactrian dancers made more stops than planned.”

Elena smiled. “Do not worry. We imagined that the dancers stayed in more places. The important thing is that you have arrived safely and in good health. Everyone will be happy to meet you, especially Claudia and Aurelia.”

Tita still felt a bit embarrassed. She half-smiled while looking down. “Thank you.”

“It is very good that you drink well… Prosilio, bring another jar of lemon water.”

A man by the ovens dressed in a loincloth walked around the cooking area and through an opening in the wall behind the ovens.

Elena placed her hand on Tita’s arm. “Have you eaten?” she asked.

“Yes, a few hours ago. Thank you. The water is fine.”

“Perhaps a little bread or fruit?” Elena pointed to bowls of bread and fruit on the bench in the shadowed corner under the window.

“No, I am fine. Thank you.” Tita emptied the jar of water into her cup and drank it, again savoring the coolness and tart taste. She was surprised how good the water tasted.

“Remember that in this tavern, the food and drink are free for Aurelia’s staff.”

“Thank you. But I am fine with the water. It is very good.”

“Good. Drink then. The sun is stronger in the south, so you must drink well and often until you adapt to the climate. Adaptation can take a week or more in the summer. Use the water to wet your face and let the water dry by itself. That will help cool you.”

Tita liked the idea. She set her cup down, dipped her fingers in the water and wet her face, sighing with relief at its coolness. She giggled at the idea of keeping her face wet.

“I look wet,” she said, looking at Elena sheepishly as she felt the water run down her face.

“Good! Put more water on your forehead and neck.”

Tita did so, sighing again, relishing the coolness on her skin. “Thank you.”

“It is very important to avoid getting too hot. Your linen dress is one layer?”

“Yes.”

“Good. And you wear a strophium and subligaculum?”

“Yes, in leather.”

“Good. Then your skin can breathe well. Once you have adapted to the climate and humidity, then you can wear more layers if you wish. But for now, dress lightly. And keep your skin covered, so you do not get sun burned.”

Tita nodded. “Thank you.”

“Eventually your skin will darken a bit, as I am sure you noticed with Claudia. But for now it is good you stay covered to protect your skin. The summer sun here is strong.”

Tita finished her second cup and watched Elena sip her water. Tita tried to distract herself from Elena’s scents and her thoughts of wanting to kiss Elena and caress her dark skin. Then she heard a little chime and turned around and noticed a water clock by a wood counter near to them.

Prosilio walked out of the opening in the back wall with another jar and he came over to their table and replaced the empty jar with the new one. Tita saw that Prosilio was actually a boy, perhaps fifteen or sixteen. He had a tall, sturdy body and his sweaty skin glistened.

“Thank you,” said Tita, eagerly pouring herself a third cup of water. She noted the new jar had cooler water with a little more tartness from the lemon.

“Thank you Prosilio,” said Elena. “Meet Tita. She is Claudia’s cousin and will join us.”

“Hello miss,” he mumbled, looking at Tita with alarm and stepping back a bit.

Tita paused her drinking. “Hello Prosilio.” She saw the fear in his eyes and bristled.

“Tita only has a different type of freckle Prosilio. It is not contagious,” said Elena about Tita’s spotted white skin. “Remember, Tita is Claudia’s cousin and Claudia has freckles too. Tita is joining our team, so you have nothing to fear. Tita and Claudia have known each other since childhood.”

Prosilio looked at Elena, then back at Tita. He understood and relaxed. “I am sorry, miss.”

Tita smiled wanly. “It is fine,” she said flatly.

“Prosilio, please go to the arena and bring Remo back. We need to send a message to Aurelia. Remo should be by the west or east gates,” said Elena.

“Yes maestra.”

Elena touched Prosilio’s arm. “But before you go, ask Lucius if he needs anything.”

Prosilio nodded and left them. Tita saw Prosilio went to talk to a man baking bread by the ovens. Then Tita turned to look at Elena. “I am sorry,” said Tita in a low voice. “I do not like to worry others.”

“Why do you apologize? You are not causing harm,” said Elena quietly. “I know you must always face the unfounded worries of others. That is not pleasant. But their worries are not your fault. Remember that.”

“Thank you… Can I wet my face again?”

“Certainly!” said Elena with a big smile.

Tita giggled and dipped her fingers in her cup and dabbed her face again with her wet fingers, appreciating the water’s coolness. She did it a few times until she felt her face was very wet, cool and refreshed. She loved the lemon scent of the water. “Thank you. It feels and smells very good.”

“Of course!”

Tita saw Elena continued to look at her with a smile as Elena rested her warm hand on Tita’s arm again. Elena’s touch, warmth and scents continued to excite Tita. To distract herself, Tita sipped the water and looked behind her to see the tavern better.

The space was how Claudia had often described it, with four tables and benches along the street wall, and four more tables and benches along the other side wall. At the far back corner were the cisterns with wine, posca and soups. Then there was the opening in the back wall, and then the cooking area with two fire pits and three ovens close to where they sat. Between their table and the ovens was a long wood counter with baskets and bowls of bread, salads, carrots, asparagus, cheeses, olives, figs, dates, fruits, nuts, honey and spices, and to the left of the counter was the water clock, which stood as tall as the counter.

Tita noticed the tavern was mostly empty, with two tables at the far back corner occupied by some women and children. Tita knew from Claudia that through the opening in the back wall and to the right were the four stalls where the girls entertained tavern clients at all hours. Tita knew she would be spending a lot of time in those stalls. Claudia had described them as small and warm from the heat of the ovens coming through the back wall. Tita hoped she would not feel claustrophobic in them.

Tita realized the tavern was bigger and cleaner than the tavern at the port, where she had had her last meal with the Bactrian dancers that morning. Tita saw the ovens had brick chimneys going up to the ceiling and she realized the oven heat was more mild than at other taverns. A faint breeze came through the window, and Tita appreciated the cool feeling.