The sensation of the water was cool and constricting against his skin.  It provided him relief from the attrition of the beating heat of the sun which was a plenty here at this high elevation in the Roman Republic.  The heat was quite similar to his experiences in the East.  His officers always reminding him and his fellow Hastati that water was vital for surviving both on and off the battlefield.  An army cannot move unless it has food, and access to water.  Only now did he understand the values of water off the battlefield, but lacked the foresight that it would create an interesting show for the eyes of Liliana.<br/>Liliana’s eyes never left his.  Her ambitions were much like his eyes; a predator having marked her game. Is it was this….animal instinct that made her move to Antonious to sweeten his ears with the sugar coated words of her tongue.<br/><br/>“Antonious, you have brought many lovely temptations with you today - for now I choose this one, but perhaps before you depart I will discover I am in need of more. However, I find I am intrigued to hear more of the Legion from your young apprentice; would you mind instructing Rufius to leave the wine next to your table when he returns? I think I will invite your young soldier for a stroll as we continue our conversation.”<br/><br/>A startled look washed over Aulus’ face as he blankly stared at Antonious.  Clearly she had motives, but motives that were clearly oblivious to Aulus.  The shock on his face was not by means of the hidden intentions behind the proposal, but rather that such a transaction was available.  His role though limited to learning and protecting his guardian was never expanded to the point where others may take possession of him, even if but a brief moment, and alone at that.  A wave of red flushed at his cheeks as he caught ear of her proposal to escort her to continue their conversation.  Antonious was sly and quick enough to notice the young man’s reaction which only it made it more interesting if not to dare such an offer.<br/><br/>“You flatter me with your kind words m’lady, and even more so with more interests with what goods I bare.”   Her request dare not fall on flatten ears, “….but of course m’lady I will certainly see to the transaction and guarding the wine.  Of course you’re ladyship will allow me an opportunity to sample such fine gifts if I may?”  As far as her last request was concerned, Antonious seemed to hold no ill will towards her proposal, “By all means the young lad is all yours, besides I still got plenty of guards here to squander of their money.” The old sleepy merchant looked to the boy as if waiting for him to take action to the lady’s request.   “Well what you waiting for lad, the lady has asked for your time, no sense in wasting it.”  Aulus’ having now come to grips with reality and what had now been settled was slow to react.  He first started out clumsy as he tried to reattach the button strap to his tunic masking his bare flesh, but his clumsiness left him fumbling with the button taking what would normally be seconds instead minutes.  After finally securing the strap his next show would be that of reckless.  When he moved from behind the kiosk to approach Liliana he had accidently bang his kneecap against the corner of the kiosk.  A sudden, sharp pain overwhelmed him as his top teeth bite into his lip struggling not to dare make a sound.  A few droplets of blood escaped his lips from his canine teeth burying into the flesh while he allowed the pain to subside.<br/><br/>Aulus had very limited experience escorting nobility, especially female nobility.  Because he was one of the lower dregs of soldiers such training and knowledge was deemed unsuitable/unnecessary for men such as him.  This made it even more difficult when her hand hooked onto his left bicep, her body leaning ever slower to his side, like two young lovers.  “I noticed a garden area just off this outer courtyard - perhaps we can find a secluded bench where we could...more comfortably satisfy our mutual curiosities.”  The way she had used the word “secluded” it almost seemed like that of a conspiracy or hidden motive beneath her honey coated words, but unfortunately they were just simple words to Aulus as he nodded in agreement. One of the more valuable lessons Antonious instructed to the man was that “the customer was always correct, unless they try to squirm ya out of more money” and even in this situation, the same golden rule was to be applied.  He remained cautious and made sure to match the lady’s pace so as to not force her to speed up or slow down on account of him. Instead of roaming through the western training grounds, they would move East instead passing through as series of main doors.  Before them was a small but luscious room that was filled with assorted plants and herbs which were fenced to allow separation between the plants and a means for them to grow as a whole.  One could simply take but a whiff and be caught in a tidal wave of aroma that of simple plants, to rich unique flavors that the mind could not fully interpret.<br/>Just past the doors of this medicinal home were the means to enter the inner courtyard.<br/><br/>Aulus was at first a bit nervous to take steps inside such a beautiful area.  Unlike the barren outside, the inner courtyard flourished with life, a small capsule of greens, blues, red, all colors imaginable, unlike the rocky, barren and sandy outer courtyard.  During his moment of weakness a woman (Nakia) would pass by both him and Liliana.  Her motives were unclear but certainly driven based on the way she paced herself.  His blue predator eyes would only get a moment’s glance at her, and even then he wasn’t even sure if this creature even knew about his and Liliana’s presence. Because of the woman’s commonly brown hair and her more…….limited attire it was easy for Aulus to rule out that was in-fact a servant to this Ludus.  However, during that brief moment of getting to see her face, Aulus was slightly distracted by the gems that were encrusted on her forehead.  Was it perhaps some trick, or perhaps a tradition about her people?  Well either case it gave away to Aulus’ attention which would be a momentary weakness.  A second after the woman’s brief passing he turned to Liliana once more, offering her an attempt of a smile to mark his enjoyment walking with her.  Soldier’s needed a lot more work in smiling, but at the very least he attempted to pull it off and while it wasn’t the most perfect smile, it was one that certainly can fool to believe that he couldn’t be a soldier.<br/><br/>“If I may ask m’lady, what is it you wish to know about the Legion?”<br/><br/>