The Foreign Empress

Reminiscence Pt. 3

As the rest of my cohort binds the pirates, I take the opportunity to investigate look for their loot room. After some tapping (and pirate threatening) I'm met with the welcome sound of a false wall. I place my palm against the wooden wall to try and feel for a hidden lever or switch to open the compartment. I'm rewarded with splinters. Screw it. I head up, grab Cassius and the massive ax of the pirate I killed. Let's see the wall go up against this.

With but a few mighty swings, the fake door is nothing but splinters. The interior is pitch black; I step in cautiously, gladius drawn, wary of an ambush. The sound of sandals crushing wooden splinters comes from behind me as Cassius follows me in. Back-to-back, covering each other, we wait for our eyes to adjust to the darkness. The room slowly becomes clear.

It's a small area, no more than five meters squared probably. The space is filled to the brim with all sorts of supplies and treasure. The captain's stash no doubt. Amphoras of wine and mead lie on the left, in front of them, barrels and sacks full of good quality grain and dried meats. I grab a bag of dates for myself and pass another bag to Cassius, the rest will go to my cohort. On the right of the room lies chests of sestertii, bolts of silk, and other precious items. I hear a sound and instantly go rigid, straining to hear more. Again! Somebody is in here with us.

I tap Cassius lightly and make a few hand gestures. Look over there. Potential enemy. Despite the darkness, Cassius gets the message and acknowledges it by tapping me on the left shoulder. The two of us grip our weapons tightly but walk normally. It would be impossible for us to disguise our footsteps with our armor on. In fact, trying to do so might alert the person to the fact we're on to them. As we approach the origin of the sound, I sprint forward, seeking to take the person by surprise.

A little girl, probably around ten years of age, cowers in an alcove formed by chests and boxes. Her silk stola instantly delineates her as the daughter of a wealthy family, the missing daughter of Thessalonica's magistrate no doubt. Her initial fear fades quickly as she recognizes Cassius and me to be legionnaires and not pirates. I sweep the girl up in and carry her up to the deck.

Now in sunlight, both Cassius and I (and some of the nearby legionnaires) gasp at the young girl's beauty. Her golden hair tumbles down in radiant locks, catching the sun and amplifying it such that one might believe that Helios himself had descended from the heavens. Her elegant features, even at such a young age, exert such nobility that a few legionnaires fall to their knees instinctually. But most stunning of all are her eyes. Neither sapphires of the purest quality nor stars plucked from the sky can compare to the piercing vibrancy of her eyes. A single beauty mark underneath her left eye adorns her otherwise flawless face; however, this only serves to accentuate her beauty further. Despite being a woman myself, I feel drawn to her, like a moth to a flame. "What's your name little one?"

"Valeria Bellator."