<strong>~ Liliana strolling with Aulus, on their way back to Antonious’ merchant kiosk, in the outer courtyard of the ludus ~</strong><br/><br/>Liliana slanted her eyes upward, glancing at Aulus through her dark lashes as they walked at a comfortable pace around the courtyard, leisurely making their way back toward Antonious’ kiosk. A small smile turned up the corners of her mouth as she thought about all the endearing little reactions Aulus had involuntarily treated her to during their brief acquaintance. It was charmingly obvious the young man had very little - if any - experience with women, and her smile warmed as she pondered the unlikely blend of a tender innocent who was also a battle-hardened soldier.<br/><br/><em>Ah, the endless feast of sensual delights just waiting to be discovered by young Aulus!</em>she mused to herself. With his tall, strong young body walking alongside her, his large calloused hand carefully enfolding her small feminine hand, Liliana found herself tempted to indulge in orchestrating Aulus’ carnal awakening. There was nothing quite like the first taste of love, either of the heart or of the body. Perhaps a delicious deflowering was exactly the rare delicacy she had been craving of late. Absently stroking her thumb softly along Aulus’ hand as her thoughts wandered, Liliana wondered what meaning Aulus would attach to his first lover. It was a well known fact that a man’s first time with a woman could have significant impact on his perception of the woman who claimed his virginity. A slight frown creased her forehead as she considered the advantages of having undue influence on the young soldier at her side should she she be the one to personally introduce Aulus to the pleasures of the flesh. However, as a married woman, it wouldn’t do to have a love-struck young man fawning over her until another lover took her place in his heart.<em>Hmmm...perhaps I can simply arrange for the...event, making use of a pleasure slave for the purpose, in order to avoid such encumbrances.</em>She nibbled at her lip in excited anticipation as the thought began to take root.<em>Yes, I believe it would be a very pleasing diversion indeed...hmmm...I wonder if the slave Nakia might prove to be a good selection; he did seem to be quite taken with her!</em><br/><br/>Just then, as they passed by the training sands where the gladiators as well as new gladiators-to-be had earlier stood, shouts of anger and the sounds of an altercation rang out. Her curiosity was piqued, but she could see nothing of the disturbance. Perhaps the gladiators were in the midst of training? A warm thrill tingled through her body at the thought of the powerful warriors she had seen earlier, soon to be engaged in exhibition combat for her pleasure - if the Dominus accepted her offer of patronage. She wondered how she would go about choosing which gladiator to claim as her own, if there would be a warrior at this ludus she would desire to support.<br/><br/>Although she was delighted with Aulus’ company, and titillated at the direction her thoughts had taken with regard to the young man, Liliana was a bit impatient with the lack of hospitality at this ludus. Guests at her own villa would be seen to immediately upon arrival, and never would they be left to wander her grounds in wait of welcome. As they approached in return to Antonius’ kiosk, her glance fell upon the wine she had brought. Her tongue ran eagerly along her lips at the thought of a cool glass of wine, the heat seeming even more oppressive without water or wine to slake her thirst.<br/><br/><strong>“Ah you have returned, I hope my boy wasn’t causing you too much trouble?”</strong><br/><br/>Liliana graciously smiled at the old merchant, the look in his eyes making him appear a bit lecherous for a moment, but perhaps she was simply projecting the direction her own thoughts had taken. “Antonious, you must jest! Aulus was of course the most gracious of escorts, and I have thoroughly enjoyed his company. In fact, I would like to bend your ear with an idea we were discussing...”  She stopped in mid-sentence as an obvious house slave hurriedly approached their direction on the way to her destination. “Apologies, Antonious” Liliana flung at him quickly as she strode to intercept the slave girl. “You there - a moment, please.” As the small dark-haired slave nervously paused in her swift pace, Liliana made her request in a manner that compelled compliance, looking over the exotically pretty girl with a kind smile. “I see you serve the house of this ludus. Your Domina is obviously unaware there are guests who have been awaiting entrance for some time; I have no doubt she will want to have us welcomed immediately as soon as she learns of our visit. If she is indisposed, I am certain one of her head slaves has the capacity to see us to welcome, as refreshment would be greatly enjoyed in refuge from the heat of the sun.”<br/><br/>Aishwa came to a stuttering stop, her toes digging into the hot sand as the woman unexpectedly addressed her. Instinctively bowing her head and approaching the woman of obvious noble bearing with appropriate deference, she softly answered her replies. “Yes, Lady, I will see to it at once.” When the noblewoman thanked her, she was a bit surprised; most often the polite niceties were ignored when society’s upperclass interacted with lowly slaves. “Who may I say the visitors are?” she asked demurely, her eyes casting down humbly as she committed their names to memory so she could properly advise who was seeking entrance. She had no authority herself to see them to comfort, but she knew Nakia or Galo would know what to do, she had but to find them in proper haste - a challenge in of itself today it seemed.<br/>