<strong>~ Liliana seeing her husband off as he departs for yet another business trip ~</strong><br/><br/>The roiling sea of bodies reluctantly and only momentarily parted as the elegant raeda rolled slowly toward the docks, the throngs of denizens milling around the bustling Portus Tarraconis filling back in behind the moving carriage’s wake. The majestic pair of snowy white horses leading the carriage, the ornately decorated wood of the wagon, the luxurious fabric of the canopy and curtains - all provided mute testimony to the wealth of the couple riding within. Reaching its destination at the dock, the driver pulled up sharply on the reins and the horses abruptly ceased their onward motion, their silky alabaster manes flowing and muscles rippling as they momentarily reared up, hoofs pounding the air in an eye-catching display of their high spirited temperament.<br/><br/>The pearl white satin curtains draping in the windows of the raeda softly framed the profile of the woman who sat within. Her long, deep sable brown hair was pulled up and away from her striking face to cascade in lustrous waves down her back. The sumptuous tresses were held in place with jeweled hairpins, the emerald gems a glittering weighty counterpoint to the airiness of her pale green gown. Matching thin emerald bracelets adorned her slender wrist, the delicate jewelry luminous against her soft honeyed skin.<br/><br/>Leaning forward from the bench where she sat brought the woman closer to the man sitting across from her, and she placed her hand to rest upon his knee.  The man was decades older than the woman, but his vibrant blue eyes belied the thinning white hair on his head and the deep wrinkles softening his face as he regarded the woman with tenderness. Leaning forward as well, he grasped her smooth small hand between his large weathered ones, and spoke to her tenderly.<br/><br/>“Liliana, again I must part with you, my beloved. Have care with yourself while I am away, and know that it will be you I think of each day as the glorious sun rises to bathe me with its warmth and light, and each night as the heavenly moon and stars shine their beauty down upon me.”<br/><br/>Liliana’s full sensual lips curved upward in a soft smile as she spoke, the smile lighting her violet eyes and resonating in the laughing tone of her voice. “Gnaeus Petronia Nerva, you charmer - you always know the words to rouse my soft heart at your departure.”  Moving to sit beside him, Liliana lifted her hand and caressed the side of his face tenderly with her fingers, and Gnaeus gently captured her face between his hands. Their lips found each other and a loving kiss passed between them, Gnaeus tightening his fingers on her unconsciously as he deepened their parting kiss. Breaking their embrace, he reached for her hand and brushed his lips softly over her knuckles, his eyes holding hers intently. Releasing her hand, he departed the raeda and strode purposefully toward his ship.<br/><br/>Floating grandly in the water in front of the halted raeda, the galley merchant ship rocked gently at its moorings. In a blur of motion, men scrambled on board the ship and on the docks to finish loading the last of the crates and boxes and various merchandise onto the ship, now that the owner and captain had arrived.  Upon Gnaeus’s departure toward his ship, the driver of the raeda flicked the reins and smoothly steered the carriage away from the docks.<br/><br/>Liliana eased back into her seat as the carriage began to move, releasing a long, deep sigh, her dark fringe of thick lashes beginning to lower against her cheeks as she relaxed into the soft cushions. Catching a swirl of red out of the corner of her eye, she turned her head to watch through her window what appeared to be a disembarking soldier easily thwarting a would-be pickpocket. As she admired the graceful maneuverings of his masculine form, the scarlet undulations of his cape reminded her of the abundance of flowing blood at the recent gladiatorial game she had witnessed, her very first.<br/><br/>The violent and bloody contest between mighty warriors had electrified her, awakening a primal excitement she was intrigued to discover within herself. Craving more of her newfound entertainment, she had revealed her attraction to the games to her husband, who had suggested she make an introduction to Valeria, the Domina of the Ludus Leonis Scopulus Tarraconensis. Gnaeus was amused at her fascination, and proposed she look into sponsoring her very own gladiator in the games - an idea that more than piqued her interest.<br/><br/>Having learned that Valeria’s husband had just purchased a fresh stock of slaves, Liliana had immediately dispatched a messenger to Valeria indicating her desire to have first pick of the most promising among their new arrivals, advising that her sponsorship of a gladiator would be most generous. Expecting a return messenger at any time, Liliana reclined comfortably on the cushions as her carriage rolled through the streets, her fingers unconsciously twining in her hair and her hand absently stroking the softness of her gown against her thigh as she pictured the powerful gladiators resplendent in their near-naked chiseled flesh, as they battled each other for the ultimate prize: to remain alive.<br/><br/>