The Pompeiian Horse

3. COMPROMISE

MARCH

Janus had always been more comfortable in his uniform than in civilian clothes as soon as he embraced the military. Even after several days of being on his official leave of absence, the long toga felt alien- like something restraining him instead of proclaiming his station. Still, there was no point in thinking too much about this as they walked back home. Pompo had chosen the Central baths instead of the one by the Forum today because the priests of the city were recreating of the procession in honor of Mars, the Tubilustrium, which should be happening in Rome with twelve Patrician youths carrying the sacred shields.

A merchant city surrounded by farming lands, Pompeii was a huge follower of Mars, god of the armed forces and farmers, destruction, and all masculine things. As a member of the army, Janus should be there amid the chaos at the Forum, but he had paid his respects the previous night during the cleaning of the trumpets. Nevertheless, it seemed their detour had an ulterior motive. Pompo and his bodyguards, Thalia and her female slaves, and Janus stopped in front of a two-story building with bright green-colored walls (never mind the graffiti all over them) and paintings of ferocious animals on its massive wooden doors. A sign dangling above the entrance gave away the name of the establishment- The Zoo.

"Here we are," said Pompo grandly.

"I didn't know Pompeii had animal exhibitions." Janus grimaced.

Thalia and her girls giggled, her blond curls trembling gracefully with the action. "No, cousin. This is the all-male whorehouse Pompo mentioned the other night."

Pompo tried to scowl at his wife, but it turned into a smirk; proper Roman matrons were not supposed to talk about whorehouses and situations beneath their station. But in Pompo's house, Thalia was not just a wife but an intimate friend, and they were far beyond propriety. It was a beautiful thing.

"Where the Stallion works..." Janus arched an eyebrow.

With a wink, Pompo simply said, "Just so you know the way from the villa, in case you want to come and take a look."

"You know I could ask someone to bring me, right?"

"Taking a look is one thing. The owner lets you see the guys, and if they are practicing or fighting you could watch, but to use the services it's by appointment only."

"You seem to know a lot about this place."

"A man wants something different now and then." Pompo looked at his wife, and she giggled again, her cheeks coloring this time.

Janus had the feeling Thalia watched her husband when he was trying different things.

"I mean, now that you're here we could finally get you a nice girl to settle down and give me some nephews and nieces to spoil them rotten." Pompo smacked Janus's back. "Meanwhile, you could get rid of all that tension having a nice sword fight with a former gladiator and fucking the living daylights out of him afterward."

"Are you sure this is appropriate language in front of your wife?" Janus looked at Thalia, and she was covering her face with her gauzy veil now, perhaps embarrassed, perhaps to conceal her enjoyment of the situation. Janus added, "Besides, I don't believe in love. That's something the gods only give to mess with us."

"So young to be so callous." Pompo shook his head, chuckling. "And you're perfectly aware that not all matches are love matches. Not everybody is as lucky as our parents, or Thalia and I." Pompo grabbed his wife's waist and smashed her against him. It was something Patricians did not do in public, but Pompo had always acted more like a merchant than one of the Roman Elite. Thalia yelped contently. Before Janus could open his mouth again, Pompo asked, "Have you ever been in love, cousin?"