Play@YSDC

"Maybe we can talk about it this evening. There are too many prying ears around here." Caelia says to Scaevulus. "Enjoy the rest of the afternoon and I'll see you later." She smiles winningly and looks around for Germanicus.

Germanicus was shaking hands with a few people and enquiring to their health as he passed them on his way. Two lictors were shielding the senator from the worst of the emerging crowd.

"Until this evening, then," Scaevola said to Caelia. "I look forward to it." He departed with his entourage.

Germanicus spotted Caelia speaking to Scaevola as he was leaving, and he also noticed others nearby he had recognized from the Forum this morning during the incident with the soothsayer, several of whom were his clients. A couple of them were speaking to Claudius and helping him with the wine.

Although Germanicus appreciated the company of the young healer, he couldn't approach her so shortly after she'd taken her leave of Scaevola, it was less than proper. He wasn't entirely sure why, but he loathed the man even more for just the fraction of an instant.

He strode toward the group of his clientes and said with a benign smile.

"The Gods never cease to amaze me! If Claudius's charm attracts a following of such ferocious warriors, I should perhaps have trained him better in the arts of war and the Parthians would already be under the auspices of Roman civilisation!"

Germanicus's smile doesn't fade as he looks at the men in turn.

"Tell me then, my dear clients, does Hera move you to these acts of homely activity, or are fierier voices fanning your motivation?"

As she takes her leave of Scaevola, Caelia catches Germanicus watching them and barely notices an instant look of displeasure on his face before he expertly hides it with a generous smile and turns towards his servant, a small crowd and what looks like Artemis hefting a large barrel of wine. Caelia drifts, seemingly randomly, towards the group, smiling and nodding to a few people she recognises.

Artemis had followed Claudius with a small wine cask in his arms through the vendors and back to where the Senator was still meeting with guests, passer bys, and officials. Claudius had tried to carry everything, and that was not possible, so they split up some of the items, and then Artemis suggested that he could come back quickly and get the second cask. As he dropped the one cask, he watched a rather stout, man step up to Claudius and caught the greeting the man extended to the servant. Artemis tried to catch more of the conversation, but wanted to hurry back to grab the second cask. The man who had hailed Claudius had the stance of a seasoned fighter and the physique to match.

Artemis grabbed the second cask, still where they had left it a bit of a ways between the market and where the Senator was meeting people. He shouldered it, and rushed back as quickly as he could. When he reappeared with the cask in hand, the Senator had finally finished his greetings and had turned towards the small group that had started to linger and gather about. Included in the group was Caelia who he had visited the Queen's audience chamber. As he approached, he dropped the cask to the ground and heard the Senator say,

"Tell me then, my dear clients, does Hera move you to these acts of homely activity, or are fierier voices fanning your motivation?"

He straightened then extended a bow towards the Senator, followed by the military salute he was trained for years to render a general of the Republic.

"General, once trained to help an officer and his retinue, one is always subject to falling into old, familiar habits, Artemis smiled. And you were kind enough to hear my request earlier, when I saw Claudius making his way to the vendors, it seemed he may need some help with the purchases so I offered to help. It also gave me the chance to reflect upon what we" Artemis jestered towards Caelia, the fighter still near Claudius, and the others nearby, "had heard from the Queen."

Now, he thought, maybe the General would know something about all that the Queen was worried about.

'Good day, Sir..' Spurius some what maintains distance with Senator..'cavalry man at your spare..fortunate enough to meet you in person...these good people asked my services while at queens palace...and I think they need strong support advancing in their quest...' Spurius stops talking and awaits for response..

"Artemis Gaius Silvius, you are a man of interesting acquaintances to say the least. Pray tell, how is it you keep the company of the Queen of the Nile? You have aroused my curiosity."

Germanicus smiled and nodded benignly at Spurius. So many soldiers without a job, that would be trouble in the streets soon. A good thing Caesar was preparing his campaign, they'd need seasoned men to join the march East.

Artemis blushed at the Senator's remark. He took the stance typical to a standard bearer rendering a report to a superior.

"Sir, I merely followed along with a few others I had seen earlier in the day, and was assumed to be part of their party by the guards," Artemis smiled at the thought. The continued, "as it so happened, Spurius was there and his help I suspect will be critical to address the Queen's concerns for the safety of the Republic and our beloved Caesar."

Seeing Caelia coming in the direction of the group, he turned and called aloud, "Ava, Caelia, she was with us, Senator, please, please come and join us for a moment."

As he turned back to the Senator, he resumed his report, "Sir, the Queen is worried that the enemies of Caesar may be afoot and intending mayhem to him and others in the day to come."

Story smiles at Lucius, "I know you will my friend."

Story pauses for a moment as if considering their course of action in light of Elizabeth's question. After a few seconds he looks at her and says, "Considering the precarious situation we find ourselves in perhap it would be best if we all stick together. If things go sideways we will be together and can adjust as the need arises." Story looks around area they find themselves in and continues, "May we not screw this up."

Germanicus smiled his welcome at Caelia and then turned his attention back to Artemis.

"The enemies of Caesar and the Republic are ever busy plotting in dark alleys, soldier, it is the way of things. But what special cause does the Queen of Queens have to be alarmed? Surely Caesar is well protected by his friends and troops."

"The enemies of Caesar and the Republic are ever busy plotting in dark alleys, soldier, it is the way of things. But what special cause does the Queen of Queens have to be alarmed? Surely Caesar is well protected by his friends and troops."

Artemis shifted nervously, looked about, and leaned in towards the Senator. In a lowered voice directed at his superior, he said, "sir, she and her hand maiden spoke of a Brotherhood that may be seeking revenge for Pompey's demise and that holds Caesar somehow responsible. She mentioned death and a Sphinx as well, but it all seems a bit hard for me to understand. Sir, we may want to be in more private quarters to discuss this matter, if even for a few moments."

Artemis leaned back, and looked about. He shrugged and motioned for Caelia to step forward and join in the conversation with the Senator.

Germanicus nodded in appreciation of Artemis's common sense.
He stood tall and raised his voice so bystanders could hear him clearly.

"I have a busy day ahead of me, but for men of the Legion I've always time. You may meet me at my residence in an hour time and bring your friends too."

With that he turned from Artemis and the others and faced Caelia with a kind smile.

"Caelia Alba, would you do an old man the pleasure of escorting him for a short while? Not just to discuss the maladies of age, I can assure you, but to brighten his day for just a select moment."

Aricus, ex-gladiator

"Matters official hold the Senator's mind," Aricus says to Lupus. "I'll send a messenger to his villa later to determine what time I am needed. Would you join me to quench thirst and cast eyes on women of loose morals? I know of a nearby caupona."

Elizabeth nods in response to Story. "That sounds sensible. So, where do we start?"

Caelia gives Artemis and Spurius a brief nod and smile, "I'll meet you at the Senator's villa in an hour. Keep your eyes open; my back is itching with the though of spies in this busy crowd."
And she smiles warmly up at the senator as she takes his arm affectionately and walks with him, 'The pleasure is mine, great friend of my beloved father. Especially if we can find some quiet and shade to walk in. You will be glad to hear that I have some new frankincense fresh from the Indus Valley for your knees."

"I believe my wife's gratitude will be boundless, my dear, your craft and skill will keep many a whining hour from her ears."

Germanicus offers his arm to Caelia and walks with her in the shade and near-seclusion of a porticoed archway where they can talk somewhat removed from prying ears.

"Now tell me, my dear Caelia, how you keep finding yourself in the company of such military men. Your father would hold me responsible if I not broached the subject." He smiles almost mischievously. "I am most intrigued and surmise it is not through the practise of your trade alone."

Artemis turned to Spurius still nearby as the Senator and Caelia left. Before he spoke he say Claudius start to follow in tow to the Senator.

"Claudius, till we meet again," Artemis smiled kindly at the hooded servant.

"Spurius, I have to find a better looking tunic for this evening, can you give a fellow veteran some guidance as to where to go?" Artemis shrugged a bit embarrassed at being at a loss as to where things might be. "I also have no clue where the Senator's villa actually is, and I probably need to ensure my lodging at the Golden Eagle remains secure and that is back near the military quarter of the City."

'I myself arrived at town today only after long time..have not put my foot in city properly to know which is which.. for senator's villa I am about as clueless as you are...maybe even more as I have met him for first time..' '..on second thought if you wish to be more presentable for the evening ..we may ask performers at theater..borrow one from them...or you can head back to your lodge and ask nice people there of your request..I will meanwhile ask about the location for senator's villa, meet you back at forum..' Spurius was overthinking everything at this point.

OOC,Spurius like to roll spot hidden at this point.

"That's the million dollar question my dear. As Nefertiri said, if the Brotherhood is currently here they will be operating in secret." Turning to Lucius he says, "Where does one find the seedy underbelly of Rome?"