Chapter: 10 The Unexpected

There was a noticeable spring in Treize's step when he left the bath house. Zechs and WuFei trailed behind him talking quietly. "So If you weren't here, you'd still be in a mountain monastery?" the big blonde asked.

"If Master Ron hadn't decided I should accompany him on his travels as the Emperor's ambassador, I wouldn't have followed him into exile, yes. The moon god Yue Lao ties a red thread between two people and wherever life takes them. Regardless of time, place, or circumstance they will be drawn inexorably together. It is fact. The thread may stretch or tangle, But it will never break--of this I am certain."

"The Romans believe it is the three Parcae (the fates) that weave the threads of life together. Their loom depicts the journey of mortal and immortal alike from birth to death and beyond. They say Nona spins the thread, Decima measures it to the proper length, and Morta is responsible for seeing the thread is worked into the whole, tying it off and clipping the ends at the appointed time. My people share this myth but we know the goddesses as Laima, Dækla and Karta."

"Karta…Like Quatre?" WuFe mused.

"Yes, after many, many, daughters, My Uncle Scead petitioned the fates to grant him a son. They sent him on a quest that would require him to trace his thread of destiny across half a continent to see it happen. I would not be at all surprised if my cousin owes the goddess his name, if not his very life."

Treize scoffed. "It is up to us to carve our own destiny. The gods give man the freedom to do whatever they want--then they sit back on their mountain tops to watch what happens for entertainment. I have never heard of a god or goddess who actually cared or was at all emotionally invested it those who worship them."

"But still you keep looking." Zechs whispered to himself.

Treize cast a look over his shoulder at the other two but said nothing either to support or deny the claim. The three had not yet rounded the corner of the bathhouse enroot to the garden when an unexpected voice halted their steps.

"Cousin Janus is just bitter because Bacchus did him a bad turn at his Liberalia--I doubt he has been inside a temple since." A voice interjected from behind them. Zechs and WuFei spun surprised to see two women emerge from the tree line.

The ginger haired man stiffened, "My name is TREIZE, Dorothy, as well you know." The words were out of his lips before he turned to regard the newcomers. "And last I checked, the fact that your grandfather is my uncle, does not entitle either of you to make assumptions or comment about my particular beliefs, or lack there of." He scowled, "Why are you here?"

"See how he treats me?" the woman sniffed, wiping a porcelain cheek with one finger with the affectation of wiping away an invisible tear. "He is so mean…I don't know how you can stand it Lucrezia."

WuFei eyed the two women incredulously. They seemed polar opposites. The first and shorter of the two, Dorothy, wore a Greek style chiton in vivid blue, rather than the white pleated stola most roman women favored. The difference was apparent in more than the color of the dress. Instead of long straight sleeves hers were open on top, fastened only at intervals with silver pins leaving swaths of ivory skin exposed.

The young woman's hair was almost as impressive as Zech's, both in length and color, and she wore it elegantly arranged cascading down from a bejeweled comb. Only the distinctly forked brows were indicative of her connection with the Kushrenada line; a trait which admittedly seemed more suited to the ginger haired nobleman, than his cousin.

The second female had hair dark as a raven's wing, cropped short in an almost masculine style. Her eyes reminded him of Duo's only darker and she was dressed in a tunic similar to Zech's except that it came to mid-calf rather than the knee. Her arms were bare and a band of what appeared to be ivy had been tattooed encircling each bicep.

She the wolf's head crest worked into the buckle of her belt clearly identified her as one of the Women attached to the estate. This… Lucrezia carried a bow in one hand and a quiver of arrows hung from her belt. Though the name was unfamiliar the eastern youth thought it likely this was the mistress warden of the grounds, and former arena huntress Zechs had mentioned upon their arrival here.

"Oh, I manage well enough." The huntress replied with a smirk. "Tribunus Treize, your cousin was just telling me that she has never had the opportunity to meet our Salararius, Zechs." she inclined her head in recognition of the tall man. "Have you been hiding him?"

"I assure you I have only his best interests at heart Ms. Noin. As I expect you have found, lady Catalonia has a proclivity for straying from the path and has been known, on more than one occasion, to take others with her. If it were not so, I expect you would not have come upon her wandering aimlessly in my woods. Now, I see my Diana has unstrung her bow. I dread the turmoil that would result should Mighty Neptune give ear to the siren's call."

WuFei was still learning the roman pantheon but Duo had mentioned Diana was the goddess of the hunt so it was a reasonable assumption that Treize was playfully taunting the dark haired woman for permitting herself, to be distracted from her duties. And Neptune, the sea king of course was Zechs. The former temple slave made a mental note to ask Duo what a siren was. Though He suspected in this context it was less than complimentary. He had only half-listening when Quatre told them of his former mistress but he was interested to observe why little blonde had described Lady Catalonia as 'formidable' though he would have preferred to have done so from a safer distance. As it was he tried to blend into the shadows beneath the eves of the bath house.

Dorothy's pale eyes narrowed, in response to her cousin's assessment of her but WuFei got the distinct impression that this was a dance the two nobles had covered many, many, times over the years. The interplay between them was so common that the verbal barbs had been worn quite smooth.

"I thought it best to warn you, my entourage will arrive at your door within the hour to announce my intention to dine with you this evening. I know how fiery Vulcan values his solitude" Dorothy sneered and Lucrezia cringed at the other woman's audacity. Comparing Treize to the lame god of the forge was a low blow and had WuFei not so recently relieved the pain of his injured leg the noble might have lost his temper…giving her the victory in this iteration of their game in which the object was seemingly Aequam servare mentum, (to keep a clear and unruffled mind)

"Why are you here?" Treize reiterated coolly.

"I am a women, I do not require a reason." The blonde insisted, "Did you find my palatable puer servus to your liking?" (slave boy) "All the court knows you are ever the arbiter elegantiae. (An authority in matters of taste)

"Quatre is adjusting nicely to his duties in my household. He did a fine job managing my accounts this morn." Treize informed her, "But I am certain you are not here out of concern for his well being."

"Oh yes I am sure you have been pleased by his figures and found his figure pleasing no doubt. Perhaps I should warn sweet Ganymede it is not Zeus that has carried him away to Olympus. In taking such a tasty tidbit Fumble footed Vulcan might easily rend him with his claws before he had the chance to take his place at the table." She smirked.

Zechs growled bristling Wufei could see in him echoes of the sea king after which he had been named and the storm was building. Insinuating Treize would treat his slaves with anything but courtesy was a serious affront. Treize lay a hand on his companion's arm knowing it was time to end the game. "Zeus was speaking to me of a wedding feast. I expect it would be a pity if he should learn his dear Discordia would sooner give her golden apples away to spend more time in the company of those bound to follow Nemesis' call.

The blonde woman eyes widened and she gasped in horror. "You won't tell grandfather I went back to the arena! You know he…Treize…that isn't fair!"

Treize only smiled, raising one forked eyebrow--Clearly he was the victor this round. "Answers." he prodded.

Dorothy sucked the air through her teeth. "Fine," she sighed. "I was riding in my sedan chair taking a leisurely jaunt in the countryside, when I was beset upon by a flock of potential suitor's. I pulled the curtains tight, as any demure young lady ought, and when they weren't looking I slipped out through a slot in the floor and made my way here through the woods hoping for a few hours peace. As I see it they will either; get bored and go home--unlikely, or they will arrive when my servants and litter-bearers do."

Having given him what he wanted she decided to make one final gambit. "And while we are conversing of those bound to Nemesis this--" She ran her palm up the center of Zechs chest. "--fine specimen makes me wonder what else you have been hiding from me." Zechs winced at the unexpected contact and Treize caught Dorothy's wrist and squeezed gently as he removed the offending appendage from his aide-de-camp's breast.

"I'll remind you only once…cousin, M'lord is a Liberti. (a freedman) You can not compel him to pay court to you as you do your other favorites. And even if that were not the case, he is of MY household--You should recall from when we were children, I do not share." Treize said casting a side long look at WuFei. "Please inform the cooks there will be guests for dinner. I expect they will want some form of entertainment after the meal, perhaps you and others can come up with something."

"Was he one of your new…" the Noin woman was asking, but WuFei didn't hear the rest. He hoped Treize would forgive him for not taking the time to bow formally since he practically fled back to the private gardens to warn the others. He hated to admit how much the presence of those two onnas bothered him. Thus far Treize had proved to be more honorable than WuFei had ever dared hope in a master. Likewise, he was confident Zechs' uncompromising sense of loyalty would ensure he acted in accord with his commanders wishes.

But WuFei knew, from prior experience, that roman nobles will sometimes act differently when around others of their kind. And women in particular seemed to have been endowed by the gods with the ability to induce males to all sorts of foolishness. Trust was a tenuous thing and WuFei hated uncertainty.

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Section 10 Notes:

Scead and Kaserena Winner: cannon names for Quatre's parents Zayeed and Quaterine. I would think these were the middle eastern pronunciations of Germanic original. Scead is A-S for Shade, which could mean shadow or spirit it is a good name for a noted druid and seer. Kaserina is from the same root as Zechs sir name "Merkaser" It conveys the idea of royalty and purity and in indicative of their familial relationship.. Winn is A-S for war, battle or strife. Winnan meant conquer or win so "Winner" meant then just what it does today.

The three goddesses Zechs mentions are from Latvian mythology of the Baltic tribes. As the Germanic tribes of this period were largely migratory I expect their mythology would have been a combination of various beliefs taken from or adopted by other tribes they encountered. Zechs considers his native home to be "Amberland" which consists of everything north of the lands claimed by Rome.

The Liberalia (17 March) is the festival of Liber Pater and his consort Libera. The Romans celebrated with sacrifices, processions, ribald and gauche songs, and masks which were hung on trees. This feast celebrates the maturation of young boys to manhood. More on this later.

Tribunus and Salararius: Noin, being Noin tends to refer to people by rank. It isn't just Zechs and Treize it is General Treize and Lieutenant Zechs. Before his injury Treize was a commander of the legions, a Tribunas. Unlike the series, This is not the highest rank in the roman military. That would be the Legate, legates were patricians of senatorial rank and Kushrenada's were the junior branch of the family, ranking below Dermail and Catelonia. Dorthy's father 'general Catalonia' was the legate of highest rank in Treize's regiment. When he was killed in battle Treize took over his duties, keeping the other 5 tribunes of the unit in order till the emperor could officially appoint another commander. If not for Treize's injury he would have taken become Legate himself but as it turned out the position went to the emperor's grandson Germanous, who had served as Treize's Tribuni Angusticlavii or junior tribune. Zechs, as a 'barbarian' was a 'Feoderati' who fought with the legion but was outside the usual command structure. His rank was that of Salararius, which meant he was placed wherever the commander needed him.

Ganymede: A handsome young boy who was abducted by Zeus (in the form of an eagle) given immortality and eternal youth to serve as the Gods cupbearer in Olympus. Quatre was Dorothy's Cupbearer but the story also has less savory connotation; Bad Dorothy…bad. Poor Quatre -hug-

Discordia is the Roman goddess of strife and discord. She belonged to the retinue of Mars and Bellona. The god and goddess of war She is the Greek Eris who disrupted the wedding feast of Peleus and Thetis by throwing a golden apple that everyone wanted. The fight that ensued supposedly began the Trojan war. I would be hard pressed to find a better parallel for Dorothy.

Nemesis: goddess of Vengeance and Retribution. It is thought that gladiators made offerings to this 'goddess of fortune' before fighting in the Roman arenas. So this reference is alluding to the fact that Dorthy is known to consort with gladiators; Which is forbidden to someone of her station by Julian law. Not only could Senators, and those of senatorial or equestrian families, not marry or tryst with gladiators they were forbidden from doing so with freed-slaves, actors, women/men of ill-repute, or those guilty of adultery. One might assume this was a law written with Dorothy in mind. Historically, the Emperor Augustus' own daughter Julia was found guilty of crimes against this particular Julian law, see next chapter. Eventually he was forced send her into exile. If Duke Dermail was going to feed Quatre to the eels for breaking a carafe of wine one wonders what he would do in attempts to rein in Dorothy.

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