10: Ninth hour: River cleansing

Ninth hour (14:49)

 They continued splashing and playing in the water for a bit, then resumed trying to clean off the olive oil from their hair. Tita kept tipping her head back in the water and pulling, stroking and squeezing her hair out. But her long red hair remained a bit slippery with oil.

Tita took a deep breath and dunked down into the river to let the water wash out the oil from the top of her head.  She hunched underwater and rubbed the top of her head while slowly bubbling out air until she felt the oil loosen off a little bit. Then she stood up out of the water to catch her breath and wipe her eyes of water when she heard Zine shout. Tita looked where Zine was pointing.

Elena was approaching them. Zina made a mock sad face, but Tita saw Zina’s dark brown eyes were sad, despite her joke. Zine’s slender amber eyes were also saddened. Tita saw Elena wave at them and motion with her hands to stay where they were. Elena walked fluidly down the gentle grassy slope towards them, grinning all the while.

When Elena got to Zina and Zine’s tent, much to Tita’s surprise, she took off her water pouch and then took off her light blue silk dress. Then Elena kneeled to unlace her sandals. Tita realized Elena was going to join them in the river. Tita saw the pugios Elena had strapped to each thigh. Elena removed the daggers, took off her sandals and then unstrapped her leather underwear which was tinted a dull red orange that looked well on Elena’s dark tan skin.

Elena collected her things and placed them in their tent, then came out with the water pouch as she walked naked towards the river to join them, smiling grandly. Tita noted how Elena looked very different now. She was no longer the trainer or villa manager, but a naked friend who had come to join them. Tita was amazed at Elena’s transformation.

Tita noticed how Zina and Zine watched Elena without ever taking their eyes off her. Tita also found herself excited to see Elena’s body- her shapely legs, wide hips, narrow, flat waist and firm breasts that were smaller than Tita’s breasts but larger than Zina or Zine’s breasts. Tita saw Elena’s body was more firm, with a little more muscle tone than Zina and Zine. She really had been a dancer, Tita thought.

Tita also noticed Elena’s tan skin color was a bit lighter than Zina and Zine’s. But Elena’s smooth skin shined much more. Tita wondered if the shine was what attracted Zina and Zine’s attention. Elena’s skin seemed to shimmer in the sunlight, looking as if she was covered in drying olive oil. But Tita knew the shine was likely from Elena’s special skin treatment. The Elena effect.

Tita noticed other decorative marks on Elena’s body- a thin blue line starting between her breasts and running down to her belly button and vagina, faint blue lines that accented her ribs, lines on Elena’s back that Tita had not seen clearly.

The most curious thing was Elena’s pubic hair. It was trimmed into an almond shape and colored bright ochre with a thin red border. It looked like a cute two-toned flame. Tita giggled at the symbolism and saw it finely contrasted with Elena’s dark tan skin, adding an erotic touch that Tita found humorous and exciting.

Tita noted that Elena’s decorative marks were few, but gave Elena’s body an elegance and erotic quality that made her seem even more beautiful.

Elena waded in the river while greeting them and letting out a long sigh of relief as she splashed her face, then dipped her head back in the water. She sighed deeply as she floated on her back towards them, relishing the cool water and the peaceful moment. Tita realized Elena could swim and asked Elena if Elena could give her lessons, to which Elena replied with her characteristic ‘Certainly!’

Elena stood in the water to face them and opened her leather pouch to fill it with cool river water. As she did so, Tita noticed Elena’s hair was falling in disarray. Elena realized it also and laughed, saying that the beauty of the river and the beauty of their joyful playing together made her forget about the comb in her hair.

Elena started to unravel her hair and Zina went over to help Elena untangle her hair from the comb buried within. After some moments, Elena laid her head back in the water, wiggling her head in different directions. Zina slowly and gently pulled the comb free, carefully avoiding to pull Elena’s hair. Tita saw the comb had a crown like shape and was made of copper. Elena thanked Zina, took the comb and threaded it on the strap of the leather water pouch, shaking her head and laughing all the while.

Elena apologized for the mishap, the first time she had done so since Tita had been with her. Elena greeted Zina and Zine with a grand smile, delicately taking both their right hands, placing their palms together and gently kissing both outer sides. She repeated the gesture with both their left hands.

Tita thought it was a curious and moving way to show friendship and affection. Elena looked even more friendly with her wet dark brown hair messily stuck to her back and shoulders like everyone else. It made Tita excited to see her that way…

Then Tita rebuked herself for being so lustful with Zina and Zine present, though she was amazed that she still had excitement. Tita realized this was the first time the three of them had enjoyed each other in the afternoon. During their journey from Rome the only times they had to enjoy each other were late at night, and once very early in the morning.

Tita snapped out of her thoughts and saw Elena was speaking to Zina and Zine in Bactrian Greek. Tita waded closer to Zina so Zina could translate in spurts. Elena was thanking Zina and Zine for taking excellent care of Tita during their journey from Rome. Elena very much appreciated all the love and kindness they had shown to Tita.

Elena said that she hoped that even after they went in separate directions, whether in a few days or later on, that they stay in touch with each other. Elena strongly recommended that they write letters to each other. Communication from loved ones was the most precious gift one could have because the written word kept memories alive and vibrant. She insisted they write. Tita nodded in agreement, saying that she liked to write and would always want to write to Zina and Zine.

Elena asked if Zina and Zine could read and write Latin and Greek. Zina confirmed they could read and write Greek, but Zine did not know Latin and Zina could only read a little bit of Latin. Elena insisted they learn Latin, because that was the language of the Roman empire and it was important to know it for their futures. But in the meantime, Elena could teach Tita to write in Greek, so that Zine could also understand any messages Tita sent them.

Zine was moved by this gesture of kindness. She hugged Elena, who embraced her in a gentle, almost motherly way. Zina explained that Zine was not used to kindness from strangers. Elena replied that any friends of Tita’s were friends of hers as well, and that she felt honored to know both of them.

Elena noted it was very rare that young lovers would let an older young women become part of their intimate relationship. But they had offered themselves, their love and their tent to Tita and cared for her and fed her.

By opening their joint love to Tita, they had helped Tita in immeasurable ways. Elena knew Tita would remember their selfless young love and passion forever. Elena concluded that it was always a welcome joy to see such love and passion and she hoped to see more of it in the coming days.

Zina and Zine started to ask many things in Bactrian Greek to Elena and Tita watched them with a smile, as they were caught up in the Elena effect. Tita realized she could still smell Elena, even though the river water dampened Elena’s scent. Tita imagined they might be asking about her and Tita or about Aurelia’s girls. The conversation continued for a bit, then Elena said something that seemed to satisfy or suspend their curiosity.

Elena looked at Tita and switched to Latin, explaining to Tita that they had asked about Elena, about Tita, about how often they could see Tita and if Elena could join them. Elena explained that they should expect to see Tita only after training sessions were complete, and that Elena still had to develop a training schedule. But tonight they could spend time together and probably tomorrow night as well, depending on how tired Tita was.

Then Elena asked Zina to translate so she could speak to Zine also. Zina whispered her translation to Tita, saying that Elena was explaining that the training for prostitution was a difficult one, not just for the sexual activity, but mostly for the psychological preparation. Elena noted Tita would be asked to do many things, with men and women, and with Elena.

Elena noted that neither Zina or Zine should get jealous of what Tita did, or even of what Tita might temporarily feel. Elena was confident that Tita would always have a special place in her heart for Zina and Zine. Tita smiled and nodded, looking at the pair as they smiled warmly, looking at Tita and back at Elena.

Then Zine, who was usually quiet, started speaking in her lower, deeper, slightly raspier voice. Tita noted how Zina’s tone changed a bit to a less excited, more neutral tone. Tita had seen this change in Zina before, whenever Zine spoke seriously about something she and Zina were in complete agreement about.

Zine explained they both understood Tita’s work would be difficult, and that Tita might develop passions for others. They knew Tita would always love them because she understood them as they understood her. They knew Tita was a survivor, as they were.

Zine explained that she and Zina had known each other since as long as they could remember. And at an early age, they were left alone, with only each other, when invaders came to their village and destroyed it, raping, brutalizing and burning their mothers and dismembering their fathers and siblings for sport. They had hidden in the bushes and had to suffer silently to protect themselves, each silencing the sobs of the other.

Out of that tragedy they arose as one phoenix out of the fire, as one life, one love, forever united. Zina and Zine both knew that surviving that tragedy together, learning how to find food and protection for themselves with no one to help them, surviving their many months of sorrow and loss, that struggle made them into two halves of the same being. They had pledged so many times that if one of them died, the other would kill herself. Neither of them wanted to live without other, ever.

They both knew that if they were alone, without the other, they would each be dead, that life would be pointless. They lived for each other. They loved each other wholly and completely. Their love was strong like iron. Nothing could break it. Their love was strong enough that they could also love others without petty jealousy.

But they both loved Tita because she was a survivor, like them. She had survived the tragedy of thousands of cutting remarks each day over many, many years because of her spots. They knew she had tried to take her life a couple of times. They saw the marks on her wrists. So they understood her. They knew she was like them, that despite her suffering she was good, honest, tender and sweet and wanted to live and love.

Zine and Zina loved Tita’s spots. They wanted to have her spots. They felt empowered to be in her presence. Tita’s strength and tenderness reflected their own. They loved how she caressed delicately, like they did. They loved her skin, as she loved theirs. They loved her body, as she loved theirs. They loved how she hummed like they did. They loved how she was tender and sweet and gentle like them.

Zine noted that Tita was their kindred spirit, that Jupiter had seen fit to let them share life and love together, for however long Fortuna decided. Zina turned to Tita and spoke in Latin as Zine spoke in Greek that they both would always welcome her with open arms and hearts, whenever she wanted, whenever she was ready.

Tita knew their story since they had told her about it a few times during their journey. But the pain of their story, and their mutual and professed love left her sobbing profusely. She waded closer to hug Zina and Zine together tightly, squeezing them into her, wanting to comfort them and thanking them over and over again. She exclaimed she would always love them, for the courage and strength they had given her.

But Zine stepped away shaking her head, and Zina did the same, tearing up, explaining that they merely showed her the courage and strength and love she already had in her. She was good, like they were. Tita did not know what to say, and continued crying as Zina and Zine started crying, kissing Tita on her hands and cheeks, hugging her gently.

Tita smelled Elena’s scent and felt her close, her hand on Tita’s back as she joined the hugging. Through her tears, Tita could see Elena had been moved to tears as well, which shocked Tita since she thought Elena had seen everything. But Tita realized that even old women cried and were sentimental, sometimes even over small things.

Tita remembered her maternal grandmother crying over a small bracelet that reminded her of a love she had had long ago, before she had met Tita’s grandfather. Tita then found it odd and funny that she was comparing Elena to her grandmother, even though Elena was only a little older than she was. At least that was how she appeared... The Elena effect.

Suddenly there were three horn blasts, the signal that the Bactrian dancers had to break up the camp. They stepped apart to stifle their sobbing, wiping their eyes and sighing. Tita splashed river water on her face to clean and freshen up, and she saw Elena do the same. Zine and Zina wiped each other’s faces, giggling. Elena made a joke in Greek and then in Latin, that they could be called the crying gang. They all laughed.

Once they had regained their composure, Elena motioned to Zina to translate to Tita. Elena explained she had given directions to Zarina, Mene, Dukht and the two male slaves, Biton and Orges, so they all knew the route for guiding their group and animals to get to Aurelia’s villa. Elena would leave with Tita now, since she had to alert Aurelia and send the courier to intercept the husbands. And Tita needed to unpack her belongings at the villa and get settled in and also get some rest. But Zina and Zine would see her and Tita later that evening when they ate together with all the others, around the second hour of night during vigilia prima.

Elena said that Zarina anticipated they might arrive at the villa around the eleventh hour. Zarina had told her it usually took an hour to set up camp and get the animals situated. Elena estimated it might take longer because they might need to split their camp between the north and south yards. Elena explained they would be staying inside the perimeter walls of the villa, just for convenience and efficiency.

Elena further explained that Aurelia would not have meals ready for them so they should prepare their own food. But, she added they would all eat in the villa’s north yard, as a way to meet and get to know everyone. Elena noted that after dinner, she wanted to spend time with the three of them to talk about their journey together, about their own individual histories and Tita’s history. And Elena would share some of her life as well.

Then Elena joked to be prepared for more crying. They all laughed. Tita noticed Elena smile in a particularly tender way, adding she looked forward to becoming Zina and Zine’s friend as well. Zina replied that she already was their friend, and Elena thanked them, kissing their hands in the same way she did when she first waded into the river.

Elena then motioned Tita to join her. Zina and Zine hugged Tita together, and they motioned Elena to join the hug. Elena gave a final squeeze and then they separated and Tita followed Elena out of the river, while Zina and Zine stayed in the water, preferring to wash their hair a little more.

Tita saw the sun was in the mid-afternoon position, which was already the ninth hour. She and Elena went into Zina and Zine’s tent to dress. Tita realized her hair still had a little olive oil in it, but Elena said not to worry about it. Elena added Tita did not have to be perfect to see Aurelia now. Tita would have time later in the next days to show Aurelia how she intended to present herself to others.

Tita nodded, thanking Elena for the tip. She dried herself with her linen dress. As Elena knotted the daggers to her thighs, she recommended that they could stay cooler by not putting on their leather underwear. Elena showed Tita a pouch Elena had on the inside of her silk dress where she could keep their leather underwear. Tita happily agreed, feeling relieved to be free of her sweaty and hot underwear for awhile, especially after the cool river water. She knew her linen dress would cover her features well enough.

When they came out fully dressed, they found Roxana was waiting outside the tent. She stepped forward in her characteristically brusque way and gave Elena a bundle of flowers that Tita imagined Roxana had picked nearby. Elena was touched by Roxana’s gift and she hugged Roxana, thanking her. Roxana hugged Tita as well. Tita wondered why Roxana had done this.

Tita and Elena turned to wave goodbye to Zina and Zine who were still in the river. Roxana stayed with Elena and Tita as they walked up the slope towards the meeting tent and the trail beyond. Roxana asked questions to Elena in Bactrian Greek and Elena replied in her normal tone.

Then at one point Roxana asked a question that made Elena stop and think for a moment. She looked at Roxana, then kissed her gently on the lips. Elena spoke a little more to Roxana and then Roxana clasped Elena’s hand and thanked her in Latin, smiling grandly. Roxana left them to go back down to her tent which was closer to the river.

Tita was very curious, but decided it was better to ask Elena later about what had just happened. She guessed Roxana might have asked Elena to be her girlfriend or to have sex with her. Roxana was that way- impulsive and bold, often following her feelings more than her mind. She sometimes joined Zina and Zine in their nightly passions.

Zina had explained to Tita that Roxana loved women also, but she was meteoric in her temperament. She would appear and disappear at will. Roxanna liked to have sex with everyone. Still, Zina said, they liked Roxana for her spice and passion. Zina and Zine felt Roxana was the most beautiful girl in the group, especially when she danced sensually. So they normally accepted her when she wanted to join them.