Emerald Dusk
Chapter 1: The Green Flash
"Stop daydreaming like a child my lady," Servant Adela besieged, her eyes shone with patients she had from years of servant hood to my family. "My lady if you continue to gaze out to the horizon every moment in hopes to arrive home more swiftly then it will feel longer as well as people with start to ponder that you appear a tad foolish."
Cassia tore her gaze from the sea where the sun had yet to rise. The massive waves loomed out as if to catch the ship on which she sailed upon. The cool night breeze was pleasant against her face. The low mist cradled the waves as if to conceal the secrets hidden below. "Given how I have been in the Empire for some time to help my aunt recover her health, would it appear so surprising that I am awaiting with joy to see my island home again?"
Her servant's eyes narrowed slightly as she surveyed her with obvious playful annoyance. A faint smile grace her lips one Adela was unaware she was showing. "Three years away is not as long as it appears my lady, what more the lord and lady will no doubt be just as joyfully awaiting your arrival." Cassia could not help herself and muttered. "You are still the same, your words always seemed to calm my feelings. I had faith you would not change so much it pleases my heart to know that my faith is not misplaced." Adela raised her head it was only in my presents alone that she a slave did this. I had ordered her to raise her head and speak to me as a equal as she was seen as one in my eyes. "I am too old to change my ways now my lady, I as well see that you are much the same to. The lord and lady had hoped your uncle had tamed you by now."
"He tried, Adela, he tried."
She grunted scornfully though still her hidden smile remained.
Cassia knew she should conduct herself as a lady of her stature though there were moments in her life where being a lady was upsetting in her defense. Her mother, father, her uncle, and many tutors all tried to tame her. To those who gazed upon her all they saw was that she appeared pleasing to look upon. Those who knew her learned she was more than just a lady, I have since my birth owned a free spirit soul and heart that did not turn away from injustice. I will admit I am a tad mischievous.
"You must make an effort to behave properly, as a highborn lady should," she commented.
"You wish I was more like lord Constans daughter Aelia, no doubt."
"No, my lady I am pleased to serve you and your family. I know many wish that you be as calm and patient as she. I only wish a times such as so that you remain patient until we reach home tomorrow. You will have time to see everyone, as well they are waiting to see that you remained who you are. Just so in my opinion."
Cassia kept the satisfied smile from her lips. Beautiful, lady Aelia, the daughter of her father's closest friend lord Constans. Though lady Aelia and herself were equal in wealth, beauty, knowledge, and social stature Aelia always conducted herself in a ladylike grace that Cassia would only show when needed. Other times Cassia would do as her heart pleases. Be it riding through the fields of her father's land under the full moon or eating the fresh grapes from the vines that would be prepared for the roman emperors wine.
Cassia loved how her father would let her be the first to sample the wine that would be sent to the emperor on his ships. She loved her father so much. No matter what she did even when he was most crossed with her for her behavior at times he would always end up laughing about it before the day would end and I would know that I was forgiven.
"You have told me almost nothing of my father," Cassia prompted as the ship continued to are destination of Pompeii. "My mother as well, are my little brothers still trying to be better than the other?"
"What is there to know? Let's see your father the lord Falco still is respected by all and takes good care of the lands and the people who serve him. Your mother the lady has been sketching knew designs of jewelry and writing poetry. The young masters well let's say the score is dead even my lady."
"Oh, there are also whispers of young lord Dominicus my lady."
"Dominicus?" Cassia leveled her eyes with her servant. Dominicus was lord Constans son and lady Aelia older brother. "What whispers have bin uttered of he?"
"There are whispers my lady that the young lord Dominicus has been asking the lord, your father about you." Adela let out a little giggle that made her face appear 10 years younger.
"Me? For what cause does Dominicus ask my father of me? I have been gone from home for three years since I was seventeen."
"Perhaps the young lord fancy's my lady. It would be understandable why."
Cassia gave her a surprised look. She had missed the way Adela could at times say something that would take her by shock.
"I do not believe so and in my opinion, you are letting your inner storyteller out. I mean why would Dominicus fancy me when he has known me all my life and knows how I am and only starts to ask of me when I am to return home?"
"My lady you are lovely. Both for your heart and for your appearance." Look my lady. She pointed to the water where my reflection stared back at me.
Many believed her beautiful. She her self believed she was only pleasing to gaze upon. Her face was round and even with large apple cheeks that brought a balance to her face. Her hair was long and brown that showed all its different light and dark shades, Her father had said it looked as the cinnamon herb, and smell just as sweet, Her eyes a true green, like a fresh spring forest. She had generous curves with a small waist to emphasize them.
"You are a beautiful youth with perfect features. What more is perhaps the young lord did not rely his feelings until after my lady was gone? Adela gasped "what if there is talk of a betrothal my lady?
"Dominicus fancy me? I think not, that man has his heart set on becoming more that a merchant lords son. He wishes to be a roman soldier in the Emperors army."
"He has no desire for love or marriage and he has made that very plain to see by always chasing female servants, and one or two ladies'. If he sees a pretty female he does not see a human being but a potential bed warmer."
"My lady you should not speak so there are eyes and ears everywhere."
"I only speak the truth Adela. Dominicus thinks very highly of his appearance and equally of his charms. Though I have been gone for 3 years and a person can change though I do not believe Dominicus has am I wrong? You remained with my family and saw all until my father sent you to come fetch me, so I would not have to travel back home alone. You should know."
Adela remained silent for a moment until she uttered "No my lady he has not."
Cassia nodded her head "I thought so Dominicus did not appear to be one who changes so easily."
"The young lord does have fault with is manly desire though you must admit he is pleasing to the eyes."
Cassia eyes widen as she stared at Adela. She could not believe what her servant had just uttered. Adela seeing Cassia look on her face replied "I may be old my lady, and my eyes do not see as well as before though I am not blind yet. What harm comes from admiring a healthy beautiful young man that is very pleasing to see."
Cassia laugh "Adela you are if not wrong twenty or so older than he."
"So, my lady a woman can have visions of all her hearts desires as she rests. If my mind decides to keep the thoughts and memories of a pleasing to the eyes young man, what harm is there to it."
Cassia just continued to laugh until the laughter in her died out before answering. "Flowers are pleasing to the eyes as well Adela."
"Your point being my lady."
"That some flowers are poisonous and may hold a few thorns.
"I see your point my lady he is a flower I should not touch even in my mind for all I would get is a sickness of the heart. At least until the poisonous flower decides to turn his poison into medicine." Cassia nodded her head in agreement.
"You should rest now my lady for when the sun rises tomorrow we shall be at Pompeii and in three day's time it will be the day of your birth once again this year."
"You are right Adela we should sleep though it appears to be too late now."
"What do you mean my lady?" Adela asked. Cassia gazed beyond her. "look all time we spent talking the sun has begun to grace us with its presence." Adela turned in the direction of Cassia's gaze and saw indeed the sun had begun to rise. As Cassia and Adela watch the sun rise from the sea, there suddenly, a green light shined like beautiful emerald across the sea into the sky. Then all to soon it was gone.
"What was that my lady?" Adela asked both in wonder and fear.
"I do not know Adela in all my knowledge no tutor I've had ever told me of a green light at sea."
"It is called the green flash my lady."
Both Cassia and Adela gasped and turn behind them. "Oh, captain it is just you." Cassia replied as her heart began to calm once again. "We did not hear you approach"
"My apology's my lady I did not mean to cause you two women a fright."
"Apology accepted captain." Cassia turned her gaze back to the sea where the sun had risen, and the light had shown. "What did you call that light again."
"The green flash my lady. Emerald dusk by others. It is a rare sight that only occurs at sunset and sunrise. It is such a rarely seen wonder that the men who sail the seas have a legend about it. The legend says that anyone who sees a green flash will be blessed with happiness by the gods of the sun and sea."
"I like that belief captain this legend pleases my heart, does your heart feel pleased as well Adela?"
"Yes, my lady it does I could use a gods blessing and happiness will make my years much more joyous." Adela smiled it was one Cassia shared.
"Oh, captain I did not ask why are you here and not in your captain quarters resting? Is it time to switch with your men?"
"No, my lady I came to wake them for we are to reach Pompeii soon. Though truthful to the gods I have another reason"
"Truly?" Cassia could not hold the joy and impatience from her voice. Though she just took president of the ending of his words.
"Truly my lady. Are you pleased?"
"Very good sir, very. Though I must ask for what other reason have you arisen?"
"I have fear the news will make you feel a fright my lady."
"I shall be the one to judge my own feelings now answer."
"There are tales of a malevolence soul has escaped the underworld and is killing people at sea traveling to and from Rome my lady. So I wish to look to the seas even now that we are almost at Pompeii. No harm in being cautious."
"You must be taking me for a fool, let me make it known I am no fool, The seas come with dangers of storms. People die at sea often, not all ships return everyone knows this." Cassia could not believe the stories she has been given this day first Adela now he. She must control her temper being mischievous on the ship would not help.
"I swear to the gods I tell no falsehood."
Cassia turned to him, she looked him in the eyes and saw no falsehood in them. She nodded her head. "Speak what news you hold."
"Yes, my lady. As I said there have been many deaths at sea though it is not what you think. The ships are unharmed it is the men on them that lay dead."
Cassia could not comprehend this. "what?"
"The men my lady, all the ships that were attacked no soul left alive though the ships be unharmed."
"How do you know this to be truth?"
"The last ship to have its men killed there was only one survivor. They say the soul did not want him for he is blind."
"What can the man know if he is blind?"
"Many have asked that question my lady. The man claims he heard their deaths. He said the nigh was just the same as always but then something hit the ship. The men called out to check the waters only to see nothing. Then the blind man heard a splash from the sea he believed someone had falling into the water until he heard screams of the men on the ship and a sinister laughter. He said all to soon the screams ceased to utter silence. Then he felt a large cold hand on his shoulder as cold as a corpse he said. The blind man said he has never known such fear. He felt a breath on the back of his neck then a voice whispered in his ear."
Cassia absorbed in the tale asked. "What was whispered in his ear?"
"He claimed the voice said (It brings him no joy if they do not see him to run.) That is why they claim the evil soul let the blind man go for he could not see him."
"That my lady is why many men fear going out to sea now."
Cassia could not doubt that she too felt a terror in her very being from the tale. "Come Adela we must get are belongings together, so we can depart from the ship as soon as we land on Pompeii. I must bid you farewell captain" Cassia bow her head to the captain and turned to leave. Adela right behind her.
"Adela where are the gifts I had prepared for my family and everyone?" She had need for something to take her thoughts from the tale she had just herd.
"They are in your satchel in your private sleeping quarters my lady. You did not wish for them to be placed with your other belongings. You wanted them near so as to not misplace them." Adela answered with a calm clear voice.
"Yes, that is right thank you Adela. I am younger then you and yet your memory is sharper than mine. Your quick mind is swifter then any blade."
"Thank you, my lady. My mind must be quick how else am I able to be of use to a young lady who can outwit any man and yet still forget to place a saddle on her horse when riding."
"I do not forget Adela I choose not to ride on one." Cassia rolled her eyes as she turned from Adela a smile on her lips. "Though you are correct at my wit. I had a proper education. The best tutors sent to me by my father. The teachings I was given was not only womanly in the sense how to run a household and how to be a good wife."
"What more did they teach you my lady?" Adela asked she was never present when I had my teachings it was only me and my tutors. The only ones allowed to interrupt my teachings is my father and mother. They did not what me to have distractions during my learning's.
"I was taught reading, writing, math, Greek grammar and literature, politics, oration, and public speaking. There were times I even studied Latin."
"My lady those are teachings for males."
"I am aware. I asked my father that I wish to be taught them he did not reject my desire. My father saw my determination to be seen as an equal to men in knowledge. My father also saw the benefits in the sense that I would not nor I wish to be taken advantaged of for not proper etiquette."
"I wished to be a wife that will be a partner to my husband. One who could accomplish much. As well as lighten the burdens a lord must bear.
"My lady I believe you will make a fine wife one day. You are well at marriageable age. Knowing the lord, he would arrange a marriage alliance with the wealthy and powerful young lords in the Roman empire or Pompeii. All you must do is ask."
"Thank you, Adela, for saying I will make a good wife one day. Though an arrange marriage is not what I want. When I marry it will be for the man who stole my heart and makes me stronger as a woman not for wealth or power."
"I crave for someone to gaze at me with love and admiration the way my father does to my mother."
"Ever since I was a child I thought of the man I would one day love. Who he will be as a person. How he would see me. In my mind I created the ideal man for me."
"What kind of man is the man my lady wants?" Adela asked with wonder.
"I want a man that has a heart that enjoys adventure though still respects they joys of a warm loving home. I want the man I love to know that with me by his side he will never be alone. I want him to see a strong independent woman. The strongest hes ever known and at the same time he would see me with such gentle grace and pure heart. A heart that he would always want to belong to him."
Adela was so traffics in my words I continued.
"I want him to know that if he ever felt lost that I would always find him and bring him back. I want a man that understands me. Someone tall, dark, and daring. That gives out waves of pure attraction. Oh he would set me on fire. He would burn me in the sweetest way. So that I would never want to get away from him."
"Someone who no matter what land he goes to everyone can feel his fire, his spark, his lightning that shows freedom, power, and respect. Though he would never abuse it. Oh no he would only use it when needed and to help. He would have principles that no matter what would never brake them."
"He would never abuse a woman. He would never beat me. He would never lay a hand on me the way my father never hurt my mother. He would cherish me everyday in a hundred different ways. He would show gentleness with me. Respect. Caring."
I was getting lost in my deepest fantasy I could not stop. It was as if he was real.
"He would be honest, Sincere. Dependable."
"My lady he sounds perfect for you and I must say you do have a precise sense of what you what just hearing about him is making me feel warm and wishing I was twenty years younger and he was real."
"Adela." I laugh. Though I feel my own body warming from my greatest fantasy though I would never tell Adela.
"My lady what if it takes a long time to find him? Or you do not ever find him? What would you do then?"
"If the gods do not bring him to me now then I will wait. As the years pass and the man chosen for me by the gods does not ever make himself known then I will never marry." Cassia was adamant of her decision.
She would not regret it she always knew what her heart wanted. If her heart could not have her other half, then she would not want anyone else to fill the space. Her heart would not take the love of a man that was not hers but another woman even if that man himself had not met her. It would be betrayal to her heart and to the man who's heart she belong to.
"My lady you cannot mean that."
"I do mean it Adela. If I do not marry for love, then I will die a spinster. Old and silver haired on my island home."
"My lady." Adela's eyes shined both with sorrow and respect for her.
"Come we must be ready when we arrive."
"Yes, my lady."
Cassia carefully placed her scrolls in her hands next to the others that lined up in her trunk. She had obtained many scrolls in Rome more then she had anticipated. For her father many philosophical texts, if she had to guess she would say her father lord Falco had more scrolls than the Herculaneum library. I remember my father telling me of his youth when he had studied with a traveling scholar, in an effort to quench his thirst for knowledge. For her mother she prepared the newest crafting designs scrolls from finest roman craftsmen had to offer.
A knock came on her chamber door, surprising her, for her servants had already taken all her belongings but her scrolls those she wished to be take out when they landed.
"Enter," she called, thinking it was a servant, come to see if she changed her mind on her chest filled with scrolls, but to her surprise, it was the captain young son that filled her doorway. Cassia did not blink at the young boy nervousness. His need to make is father proud shown every day since meeting him came to mind. His reason to see her must be cause of his distress. Few boys met high born ladies at sea. She learned long ago that soft sounding spoken words and kind expressions could put one at ease. Smiling ruefully, she spoke in a soft sounding voice.
"Good day young one. Do you have news for me?"
"Yes, my lady."
Cassia remained patient remembering her mother and tutors teachings patience was a virtue and she witness as the boy calmed before answering her.
"My father wished to inform you that we are approaching Pompeii, the island can now be seen from the ship." The boy appeared happy to have delivered the message entrusted to him by his father. I was in sheer rapture. The gods have brought me home.
I kissed the boy quickly on his gentle cheek and dashed to the front of the ship. The last thing my eyes witness was the boy's eyes had widened from shock and his face reddened all the way to his ears.
I ran and by the luck of the gods I was an inch from running into Adela.
Adela placed her hand over her heart no doubt to calm it.
"By the gods my lady you gave me a fright. I was on my way to fetch you with news that-"
"That we are approaching Pompeii and that we can see the island from the ship." Cassia rushed to finish Adela's words.
"I see the news travels swiftly my lady, as swiftly as messages do to the gods."
Cassia could not contain herself a moment longer. "Come Adela let us admire are island home from the front of the ship."
As the ship docked at the port of the Island Cassia gazed at the sight of her home. She was proud since birth to be a citizen of Pompeii. She knew the street sellers, the quickest route through the market place, the finest craftsmen, the best places for food and drink though truth be told her fathers was still the best.
"Oh, look at it Adela does it not fill your heart with pride and joy?"
"Yes, my lady it does though I believe no one holds such pride as thee when one gazes at Pompeii.
"Yet another passage of sweet words has been uttered from your lips that pleases my soul as it does my ears." Cassia smiled wide and true.
"Adela would you care to eat in the market place before we ride up the mountain, I am a tad hungry. I should have eaten on the ship, it was my own impatiences that I did not. I in turn did not rest as well. Your words of me needing to be more calm are reprimanding me now."
Adela just smiled. Knowing I had learned a little lesson from her words of wisdom.
"Yes my lady we can, remember I was with you at all times so I am also with a tad of hunger."
"Good. I know just where we should eat."
"Quickly Adela we must seize a carpentum."
"Yes, my lady. I will not be long." Adela bowed at my lady and parted in search of a carpentum.
Cassia returned her gaze to Pompeii. "I have returned."
Cassia's moment of tranquility was short lived as thoughts and fears came to her forefront of her mind. The news of the death of men at sea and man who had killed them brought fear to Cassia as she looked to her Island
"I pray to the gods no death happens to take the ones I love from me."