5: Eighth hour: Walk to forum, the bodyguards, sensuality and the Bactrians

Eighth hour (13:14)

Elena took hold of Tita’s right hand and guided her out the tavern. They found Caecilia standing outside as she was before in the hot, bright sun.

“Caecilia, we are going to meet the Bactrian dancers,” said Elena. “We will be at the villa later. Before your shift ends, make sure that Remo gets Catilius for you. I already let Remo know to let Catilius know, in case you do not have someone to take to the villa. Doria will probably leave soon with her client to go to the villa. Ezra and Valeria will be coming here later from Herculaneum with Porphyrius but they probably will not stay long enough to wait for you if you are busy. Gnaeus will bring Vopsica, Laelia and Nina around the tenth and half hour, but he may not be able to stay either because Paulla and Saufeia will need to return to the villa. And since I will not be here, Tacitus must stay here.”

“Yes Elena. Understood. Good luck!”

“Thank you… You may go inside and stay at the window. It is too hot now. Later, around the tenth hour, when there are more people on the street and the sun is less bright, you can stay out in the street. But for now, sit, rest and drink. With the arena fights today, Sarius or Vibius may show up later with new friends. Or you may get new patrons. So rest and stay cool for now because I expect you will be busy later.”

“Thank you Elena! I was just signaling for Claudia, but I do not think she is coming today. Perhaps she went to the arena and will stop by later. I will stay by the window. Bye, Tita. See you later!” Caecilia quickly hugged Tita and went inside the tavern with a broad smile.

Elena took Tita’s arm in her arm. “Come. We can walk this way to the forum baths…” Elena and Tita proceeded west on the hot, bright street.

“Caecilia has other women clients besides Claudia?” asked Tita, curious.

“No. Claudia is her only woman patron. Caecilia prefers men patrons for work, but she enjoys women also. Caecilia has a good relationship with her patron Claudia, and Caecilia likes the afternoon shift, which also fits Claudia’s schedule. Most women with limited time like Claudia prefer the morning at the tavern, rather than the afternoon. But there are some like Claudia who prefer the afternoon to the morning. Usually Claudia spends a few hours with Caecilia. But afterwards, Caecilia prefers to change her focus to men.”

“Why?”

Elena glanced at Tita. “It is better if you ask her directly…”

Tita nodded and understood that Caecilia’s preferences likely had to do with childhood neglect or traumas.

“Since your focus is to entertain women,” Elena continued, “you might consider starting off to stay in the tavern in the morning, freshen up at the Stabian baths around midday and continuing for the early afternoon. With your unique looks and red hair, you will attract a lot of attention. Your evenings will likely be with patrons at the villa. But we will discuss your schedule later. Now is not the right time. I only wanted to let you digest this suggestion over the next few days.

“Getting back to Caecilia, she is very good friends with Clea, one of the girls at the villa. They trained together last October and became very close. Now Clea is part of a group of four girls who primarily work for Janius, one of Aurelia’s oldest and best patrons. Tonight you will meet Clea and the others. They are a sweet, fun group. I am sure you will like them.”

Tita noticed how Elena walked with a flowing movement. She felt like she was being pulled along by Elena’s graceful walking.

“I will have to work with them?” Tita asked, intuiting she might.

Elena looked at her. “Very good Tita. If you want, yes. And if Janius wants also, of course. But you have the freedom to evaluate first. Meet the group and see how you feel with them over the next few days. Then you can decide.”

“Thank you,” Tita’s interest was already piqued. She wondered how it would be to work with four other beautiful girls. She found herself excited and blushed.

“Tell me about your trip,” said Elena. “It must have been a very new experience for you.”

Tita snapped out of her fantasy. “Oh yes. It was quite a journey. I had travelled with my family from Gergovia to Massalia a few times. But I had never travelled alone. It was a long journey. But I am very grateful for the experience. I learned a lot of things!”

“Good! It is excellent you have that attitude. I imagine Quintus and Sextus treated you well?”

“Oh yes. They were very respectful. I have never had the honor to be guarded and treated so well.”

“Good. They have worked as bodyguards for many years for Aurelia. Tacitus knew their father, who fought as a soldier in Carthage. Aurelia trusts them with her life. All the women they have accompanied for Aurelia have praised them. I am glad to hear they maintain their level of service and respect.”

“They helped me many times,” said Tita. “We had to fight off a few bandits and animals, especially between Genua and Pisae. But they are very skilled with the sword. And they are exceptional at hunting and fishing. They found fish, quail or rabbits anywhere when we were between towns. I very much enjoyed their company. They really made the trip easy for me. And they had amazing stories to tell about their days as soldiers. And I especially liked their funny bantering. I did not know brothers could be funny one moment and argumentative the next.”

“As brothers they are inseparable,” noted Elena. “Even though Sextus is eight years older than Quintus, they like to stay together. Things will change in a few years when Sextus retires to his farm and family. But for now we are lucky to have them… So they accompanied you to Rome?”

“Yes, from Gergovia to Rome. They accompanied Claudia and me to Massalia, and then once Claudia took her boat, we went back north to the via Aurelia and they took me all the way to Rome. We travelled mostly by mule, but we made many stops. We had five mules, and two were for goods they transported for others. They brought some packages from Massalia to Genua, then other goods from Genua to Dertona, and so on. I was amazed at how many merchants and tradesmen they knew during the trip. In each major town we would spend about two days to rest and resupply, also so they could greet all the local people they knew. I was very surprised and comforted.”

“Yes, they wisely combine their escort service with their transport service. Knowing the local merchants affords them extra security and better treatment in the towns.”

“I thought the same thing. It felt like we were going from one group of friends to another at each town. It was very enjoyable that we were not complete strangers. We actually escorted two older ladies from Dertona to Placentia. They were relatives of a family in Dertona that Quintus knew. They rode the extra mules.”

“And how did you meet the Bactrian dance troupe?” Elena asked.

“Oh, Quintus was the one who saw them first. In Pisae, the night we first arrived, he went to see a friend and on the way back, he saw them performing in the forum. So he came running to get Sextus and me. We were eating at a tavern…” Tita laughed at herself. “It was a funny moment because I was very tired and grumpy that day, since my bleeding had started. So Quintus and Sextus were pleading with me and I just did not want to go. I was really exhausted. But then Sextus insisted, saying they would leave me in the tavern alone otherwise. And I did not like that because it was also a brothel, and not the best level. And the patrons were getting drunk. So I went with them to the forum, which fortunately was not too far. And then… I was shocked.”

Elena turned to her, smiling. “Oh?”

“I mean, I had always known I favored women. I am sure Claudia has told you already that I knew since puberty. But sometimes I had doubts. I guess because I am still a virgin. With Quintus and Sextus, I could see myself enjoying either of them, or kissing them anyway. They were both appealing and I liked their company a lot. But it was kind of a weak idea. I mean, seeing an erection does not really excite me, though I know it excites Claudia. So when I thought about being with them, I felt only very mild excitement and curiosity.

“But, when I saw the Bactrian dancers, it was like lightning from Jupiter had started a fire in my belly. I had never felt so excited. The way they danced and moved, especially Zina and Zine. It was completely amazing and very erotic. I thought I knew about attraction, but I realized I had only felt embers to the fire they made me feel.”

“Very good!” exclaimed Elena, smiling broadly.

“Really? Why is that good?” Tita stopped walking to look at Elena directly, and Elena pulled into the shade of a side street.

“Because the more you experience and understand sensuality, the easier it will be for you to encourage that same feeling in others.”

“Oh I do not know Elena. I feel so clumsy in this respect. Whenever Claudia lets me dance, she laughs at me. And I laugh too because I am so clumsy. I think I am the least sensual person I know.”

“That is normal. One always feels clumsy when learning new things. But sensuality is not something you learn by imitation or by reading. It is something you learn by feeling. So the more you feel it, the more you understand how it affects your body, and how your body expresses itself in response. Because sensuality is about feeling and expressing with your body, not with your mind or heart…”

“Oh,” Tita thought about this. “So sensuality is like learning a sport?”

“To some degree yes. But sport involves actively thinking about your body. Sensuality has almost no thought at all. It really is about feeling with your body. Remember what music does to you. Different music can make you want to dance in different ways. I am sure you have felt that impulse.”

“Yes, certainly. I love music.”

“Excellent, that is a very important first step. Now, sensuality is similar to that impulse to dance, but with excitement added in, excitement that your body wants to express. Not you, but your body.”

Tita noticed how Elena emphasized very strongly ‘your body’. “My body is my greatest asset,” she said, half-smiling at her recollection of what Elena had said earlier.

“Excellent Tita!” Elena kissed Tita on the cheek. Tita blushed a deep red and Elena laughed heartily. Tita joined in, giggling. “That blush is your body feeling,” added Elena. “Remember that.”

Elena took a sip of water from her pouch and offered the pouch to Tita. Tita followed Elena’s lead and took a short sip also, excited at tasting what Elena had just touched with her lips. This water had more orange juice than lemon. Tita liked the taste and took another sip. She found herself staring at Elena’s lips, wanting to kiss them.

“It is sweet,” she said absently, then woke up from her reverie and gave the pouch back, a bit embarrassed that she was grinning dumbly at Elena.

“Yes. As the water warms up in the sun, it is not as refreshing. But the sweetness gives a little energy and refreshment. As for what you feel now, your desire to kiss me- Remember, that is sensuality.”

Tita felt even more embarrassed, and annoyed by Elena’s uncanny ability to perceive everything.

“No doubt you are annoyed. As you should be,” Elena continued in a quiet tone. “That is the normal, correct response. Remember Tita, I am your trainer. So I will test you often. You may feel disrespected, hurt, annoyed or angry. You may even feel pain. But remember I do not have you do things to hurt you out of malice. Everything I ask you to do is to put sunlight on details you have not considered before. So expect to be annoyed many times these next days.”

“Do all the girls get annoyed?”

“Of course! If they did not, I would be a terrible trainer.”

“Why do you say that?”

“Because the work of a prostitute relies entirely on knowing and understanding in a very profound way your own limits. You must know your feelings and expectations, both for yourself and for when you treat others. By having negative experiences, you learn to understand why those experiences are negative for you. Then you can consider whether to give such experiences value for yourself.

“As I am sure you have thought already, prostitution involves opening yourself and your lovely body to others requests. And doing so with certain grace, positivity, skill and sensuality. So it is important to understand yourself, to analyze what you feel in doing certain activities and then determine what feelings are truly important for you. It is critical that you learn enough about yourself so you can maintain your wonderful sense of self, and most importantly, your self-respect.”

“Ah…” Tita reflected on this for a moment. “Now I understand…. Thank you, Elena. I see I will learn a lot from you. Thank you for being my teacher. Claudia spoke so well of you and now I see why...”

“That is fine. And do not apologize for your feelings. It is good to feel what you feel. Just remember I am your trainer, and while you are a lovely young woman, I cannot love you completely. I can love you as a teacher loves her student, as a confident, as a good friend, as a special sister. But no more.”

“Why do you say a ‘special’ sister?”

“Because we will do sensual exercises together.”

“Oh…” Tita flushed bright red, as she felt her ‘sensuality’ fire up. “Have you trained all the girls this way?”

“Of course. Especially those who prefer men and have never really considered women erotically. Aurelia has male and female clients, and it is important to have some sensual taste for both sexes.”

“So I will need to train with men also?”

“Naturally, but you will maintain your virginity. There are other ways to please men. Generally speaking, the training is easier for women who prefer women, because they tend to already have some experience in pleasing women. And men are easier to please than women, so the training for pleasing men is also easier.”

“Ah. And do the girls…” Tita paused. “…like the exercises?” Tita blushed more deeply.

Elena look at her and smiled. “I have had no complaints so far.” Elena laughed and Tita giggled nervously, still blushing.

Elena started walking again, holding Tita’s arm close. Tita kept up with her. They walked in silence for a bit as Tita understood Elena was letting her fire quiet down.

“Do all the girls get desires for you?” Tita asked, reflecting on her own desires for Elena’s skin.

“Very good Tita. You ask excellent questions. Yes, I have that gift from the gods. My gift is to make women desire me. It is a gift just like your spots. And just like your spots are a burden for you, my gift was a burden that I did not like when I was young. Because I too wanted to be like most other woman and prefer men to women. But now I love my gift deeply, because it is part of who I am. But, like any particular thing, my gift has good and bad aspects about it…”

“Jealousy?” asked Tita.

Elena stopped to look at Tita. “Very good, Tita. It is very, very good that you are quick to see the good and bad aspects. That quickness of mind will serve you very well...” Elena started walking again, still holding Tita’s arm. Tita walked with the Elena, trying to match her flowing movements. Elena noted across the street was a new bath complex that was still under construction and only for men. Then they arrived at the intersection with a street Tita recognized as the cardo, which Elena noted was via Stabiana to the south and via Vesuvio to the north. They waited for a few chariots to pass by, and then crossed the street.

“So, getting back to your friends,” continued Elena. “I imagine you spent a lot of time watching the Bactrians dance.”

“Oh yes, they were mesmerizing. Sextus and Quintus were always joking that I was more taken by them then they were.” Tita laughed.

“How did you find them in Rome?” Elena asked.

“Oh it was a coincidence. We last saw them in Alsium, and then the next day we arrived in Rome. The brothers took me to an inn and stayed with me that night. The next morning, we said goodbye because they had to find a few merchants for goods they needed to deliver to Ostia. So I was walking about Rome and I just happened to find the dancers camped near the Domus Aurea. They are clearing the area for new arena- a very big one it seems!”

“Ah, so the gods gave you a gift.”

“Oh yes, very much so! After I met them, I went right away to Fortuna’s temple to give thanks. But they were very happy to see me. I guess they recognized me from all the times we saw them- I mean Quintus, Sextus and myself. We saw them six times- in Pisae, Vada Volterrana, Populonia, Cosae, Castrum Novum and Alsium. I guess we were following each other on the via Aurelia.

“Anyway I had lunch with them, actually with Zarina first. And I told her I was going to Pompeii, and she said they were going to Pompeii after a few days. So she invited me to stay with them. I do not know why they did that. After all, we really did not know each other. But I guess she thought I was foolish to travel alone. Or maybe because I had seen them many times. So I accepted to stay with them and then Zarina let me meet the others.

“She thought it might take ten days to get to Pompeii. So then I went to a courier service and used most of the currency Sextus had given me from Aurelia to pay for the message I sent to Claudia. The message was a big expense, but I did not want to worry Claudia or any of you.”

“You did the right thing Tita. Aurelia had always intended that the money Sextus gave you should be used for emergency communications. So you acted correctly.”

“Thank you.”