There was a tremendous SPLASH, and a torrent flew toward us. I choked and gagged, as saltwater went in my mouth and up my nose. We hit a few more large waves, but nothing like that monster. As quickly as it appeared, the storm faded and moved away.
I looked around and saw that at least most of the men were still aboard! Thank the gods! The captain reported, “There were a dozen or so injuries, but we only lost two men, sir.” I was very relieved. Some of the children below might be hurt, but at least down there they couldn’t be washed into the sea.
I shouted, “Thank you for your mercy, mighty Neptune!” I threw another Aureus into the water.
I heard a quiet bark and turned to look. Tyranus was in the water, a few hundred paces behind the ship! A wave rose up and he tried to bite it as it struck him. He disappeared, as the last of the daylight faded to darkness. A tear rolled down my face. He was a fierce and difficult mongrel, but I would dearly miss him.
My girls were despondent, holding each other and crying when I told them.
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Not much after dawn, a sailor spotted land to the east. We made it to Belgica!
The men rowed down the coast to a large town, Ostend. I sent five men with Krato to buy us wagons and horses, for our long journey to Rome. Patrician Letreus offered me a room in his palatial home, which I gladly accepted.
I had three of his servants help three of mine feed and watch the children, as I dined with our gracious host. He told me of the projects that had been built and improvements made to the city in the two years since I’d been there on the way to Caledonia. Three of the main roads were paved with cobblestone, and six public latrines and a sewer had been constructed. A public bath was built across the road from the Patrician’s home, for reasons of elevation and water supply, of course. He assured me it had nothing to do with his convenience. I smiled. If I was in his place, I might have done the same.
He invited me to the bath along with the town’s apothecary and a few other men of the upper class. After months of dirt and half a week being pelted with salt spray, it sounded wonderful. He told a servant, “Luccia, bring Inge and Ely to the bath, you have guests to entertain.” I brought along my new Tribune, Narvus, along with my slaves Mirna and Dana.
The young women rubbed us with soap and rinsed us before we stepped into the warm water of the bath. It was quite invigorating. We admired the attractive nude ladies and discussed local affairs. The city was doing very well. The tribe far to the north hadn’t been a problem for a few years, and the last harvest was plentiful. The women brought us roast duck, bread with cheese, and sliced pears. Letreus had the youngest of his servant girls, Inge, feed me a few small honeyed apple cakes with her fingers as dessert. She was a slender brunette, with small firm bosoms and a pretty face. She’d obviously been a woman less than a year. Dana fed the Patrician and Mirna waited on the apothecary.
We followed an unwritten rule and traded slave girls for the night. Letreus gossiped that Inge was small, but wild in the sheets. Legatus Pullo had shouted many times during his night with her, but was smiling for half a day after. I’d never seen Pullo smile longer than it takes to piss! He also suggested, “Maybe you can teach her to use a belt more enthusiastically. The Legate said he had to encourage her several times.”
I told him that Mirna couldn’t do anything with her lower parts, due to the baby in her, but her mouth was excellent. He smiled and stared at her, while she shyly turned a light shade of red, nearly matching her pretty hair. He taught her a trick and the next time she sucked me, she slid a finger in my ass. SO naughty, but pleasant.
He wasn’t kidding about Inge. When I retired for the night, she had my belt in her hand and was about to swing it, before I even finished undressing. I took it away and put it down, then guided her to bed for some more conventional joy. After two sessions in five or six positions, she fell asleep.
I missed my menacing mutt Tyranus, but was more than happy to stare at her lovely nude form while I contemplated the future. I hoped Pullo got a good price for my slaves that travelled with the legion, and that the rest of our journey would go well.
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