The rain had come and gone and the heat was unbearable. Ilithyia leaned her cup to the slave standing at her side - Naevia, she thought her name was, not that it actually mattered to her - silently demanding "more wine" in her natural haughty way. Both present company and offered activities were unworthy of her time, she thought, so she decided to make the moment more… entertaining.

"Rome is positively aflutter with news of Theokoles' defeat. No one believed such a thing was possible… Especially at the hands of a Thracian." She finished, accentuating the nationality with more than a hint of hatred, as she sipped her wine, which, she thought, was also below her standard. She paid no attention to the response Lucretia supplied her with, instead, focusing her mind on more... intimate matters.

"And does your good fortune extend downward?" She asked abruptly, eyes glimmering in hope.

"I do not follow" Lucretia said, causing Ilithyia to sigh at her answer. "The Priestess. Has her fertility rite born any seed?"

"I was unable to conclude the rite within the allotted time." Lucretia looked downward, although the discomfort of the subject was painted on her face. "My husband was sadly absent".

A thought past through Ilithyia's mind, causing her to smile. She intended on receiving a satisfying answer to this one.

"What of the other man?" She leaned closer to her new friend, speaking in a conspiratorial whisper. "You still have not told me anything about him. Is it Solonius? I have seen the way he looks at you."

Lucretia's face contorted in disgust, "I would rather fuck an eel!"

"The thought of his naked cock is rather distressing... no, a woman as beautiful as you deserves a real man. Someone of position maybe...?"

"...He is no one of note." Lucretia finally admitted.

"No one of note... Someone more physical, perhaps…" Her eyes roamed throughout the room and onto the balcony, causing her to remember the habitants of the ludus beneath them, and it came to her. "A slave?!"

The sound of voices suddenly seemed to boom throughout the room, causing an abrupt stop to their conversation, leaving her utterly unsatisfied. It was Batiatus, accompanied by a woman, his arm crossed with hers, and both followed close by two slaves, a man and a woman. The man belonged to her husband, she was sure, but the woman, fair in age and beauty, should regard to her new guest. Lucretia did not fail to notice the sudden change in Ilithyia's demeanor as she examined the new parties.

Batiatus' eyes fell upon the woman, "what a delight that I should have stumbled upon such a goddess while in the markets." At the sight of Ilithya, the woman ran towards her, linking their arms as one.

"You flatter" she said to Batiatus, in a mist of grace and modesty.

"Lucretia, I present you my beloved sister, Cassia" Ilithya spoke joyfully, still embracing her kin.

Lucretia bowed, "I'm honored." She could see the resemblance: both fair-skinned, long golden hair, fallen in wide curls past their shoulders, athletic figures, and not any less important, the deep blue eyes, capable of hypnotizing even the most chaste of men.

Cassia released her hold on her sister and enveloped Lucretia with a hug, her form of a humble gesture of gratitude for the lovely hospitality, something Lucretia suspected Ilithya was incapable of perform.

"We must attend to our business affairs, assuring you are left in trusted hands." Batiatus said, smiling towards his wife. The three women walked forward, towards the balcony. Now that they were free of the company of certain husbands, Ilithyia wished to return to the previous subject of discussion. "How fairs Crixus?"

Her quest caught Lucretia is caught off guard, forcing her to hesitate with her response, and giving Ilithyia all the proof she needed.

"Crixus?" Cassia questioned, as she was not familiar with the theme of discussion.

Ilithyia looked to her sister, "he is one of Batiatus' gladiators." She turned back towards Lucretia, who appeared to have regained her composure. "His injuries, suffered against Theokoles. Is he expected to live?"

"His strength returns."

Ilithyia smiled widely, "Joyous news. It would be a great tragedy for such a man to pass from this world, would it not?" She wanted to defy Lucretia, who simply responded with a smile, as she refused to confirm what Ilithyia had already discovered.

The bait had been sent to the snake pit.