Eirene spent a happy morning wandering through the busy market place with Jinn's coins burning a hole in the small purse he'd given her. As the sun crept higher and higher in the sky it seared away the wisps of mist that lingered inland, having been swept in by the brisk breeze. The rays of the sun, as they fought to break through the low clouds, began to warm the air and made Eirene smile to herself as she leisurely inspected each stall in the square. Most stalls displayed food; from the plain and simple fish hauled wet and shiny in from the nearby dock, to the more exotic fare traded from across the sea. The few grapes and coarse bread she'd nibbled to please Jinn had sated her hunger and so Eirene passed by the food sellers with polite decline as the traders hawked their goods loudly.

The market place in Ostia was not much different to the market she was used to in Rome apart from the fact it was a little smaller and seemed more organised to her, less sprawling in the Forum at the centre of the city. The merchants displayed their goods outside their stone archways in a bid to tempt the customer in to browse further. A beautiful array of various fabrics, all dyed different colours, caught her eye and so Eirene fought her way through the early morning crowd to reach the stall. It was considerably cooler in the shade of the sand-coloured stone and even though the sun had barely had time to heat the dusty ground the shadow was a relief for Eirene. She couldn't shake the unsettling feeling that she was being watched. She had felt the bore of eyes upon her back ever since Jinn had left but it was a feeling she had tried to ignore, until now. Eirene worked her way around to the other side of the wide, shallow cart that spilled various fabrics; from plain wool to rich silk, she let them all slide beneath her wandering hands as she lifted her gaze to roam around the bright marketplace, her back was turned to the alcove created by the dust-coloured archway that was the main shop.

'Can I help you?' a reedy, nasal voice asked from behind, making Eirene start and drop the white piece of linen she'd lifted from the spectrum of colours beneath her fingertips. She turned to find a tall, thin man looming over her. The features of his long face were just as pinched as his voice sounded and his neatly trimmed hair and beard were a pitch black that made his skin appear as white as milk. Eirene lifted the purse of coins quickly as though to prove a point. She was sure her surprise had given her a guilty look and she felt the need to show the merchant, with his dark, accusing eyes, that she was there as a paying customer.

'My Master wants me to buy some new clothes for us,' Eirene said. In truth, she had been attracted by the array of beautiful fabrics, glittering like the rainbows cast from droplets flicked by a fish's tail, but exploring the flat top of the wheeled wagon also had given her an excuse to turn and confront the eyes she could still feel locked upon her. Her own eyes, however, could discern nothing more than a busy market morning with no one in particular paying any special interest in her as they went about their own daily business. 'But we are travelling and do not have the time necessary for items to be made.'

'I see,' the man's eyes narrowed further, his head cocked at an angle that reminded Eirene of a pigeon as he stroked the side of his beard with one delicate finger. His sharp ears had caught the heavy clink of her coins and Acanthus was a shrewd businessman, he was not one to turn away custom. 'Your Master, is he as dark as you, or fair?' he questioned, his quick fingers sifting through the various fabrics and plucking at different colours as he held them up next to Eirene's face to judge the effect on her skin tone. He was clearly a man that took pride in his work. No one, whether slave or high born Senator, would leave his premises dressed as though life was too much effort.

'He is dark, dominus,' Eirene said, looking puzzled at the constant fluttering of fabric beside her.

'Then come, come, I have just the thing parum unus!' Acanthus declared with a dramatic swish as he flourished a piece of purple wool at her, leading the way into the shop front. Eirene cast one last unsettled look around the marketplace before she turned to follow the thin figure ahead.

'Vestis virum facit, the clothes make the man,' Acanthus said to Eirene as he rummaged through some more swatches of fabric that lay piled upon a work surface. 'Is your Master tall or short, thin or large?' he asked. Eirene stood in the centre of the shop, in awe of the masses of fine wool and linen, silk and cotton that surrounded them. It hung from the ceiling, draped down the walls and spilled from neat shelves in such a way that Eirene was reminded of a multi-coloured war tent.

'He is taller than you, dominus, and almost three times as wide.' Acanthus paused in his rooting and nodded his thin head slowly.

'A tricky customer, eh? Well, Acanthus hasn't ever turned a man away and your Master will be no exception.' He stood, letting the loose folds of his richly embellished dalmatica settle around him before he turned for a particular shelf that was almost out of his reach. 'Now, if I remember correctly, I should have something here that might fit.' He tugged and yanked at the corner of some woollen fabric. 'This was commissioned recently, but the gentleman in question gambled his fortune away and found himself naked on an auction block with no need for clothes.' He gave a little grunt of effort and another hard tug to free the item in question. It slipped so suddenly from between the other pieces it had been stacked with that Eirene feared the whole lot might topple off the shelf. Acanthus, on the other hand, was so skilled at pulling out this and that from around his shop that the stack barely even wobbled. He shook out a fine piece of woollen fabric and held it up for Eirene's inspection.

The girl reached out to run her fingers over the deep blue cloak that was hardly even creased from the compression it must have sustained at the bottom of such a large pile. The colour, a midnight blue that instantly reminded her of Jinn's indigo eyes, made her smile.

'It certainly is fine,' she remarked, running a sharp eye over the fine stitching.

'All the fabrics used here are made on the premises. My daughter is a most excellent weaver.' Acanthus nodded to a back corner of the room where a weaving loom stood, half occupied by a stretch of plain fabric but otherwise empty and still. 'She is, however, extremely lazy. I'm lucky to rouse her before midday,' he said in an almost conspiring tone. 'I digress, however. Look at the expanse of this, the length and the width. If your Master is of gladiatorial size, as you say, I'm quite sure this will be large enough for him. And this,' he unfurled a clean white linen dalmatica. 'This was also created along with this cloak and I have had little cause to sell them until now.' Eirene nodded with a smile.

'Yes, I will take them, dominus. Thank you.'

'Now,' Acanthus turned sparkling eyes upon her small frame with a smile that could only radiate delight. This expression was almost joyous, a completely different one from the initially suspicious one he had worn outside. 'To you, little one. What can we find for you, hmm?' He extended one very long finger and lifted Eirene's chin, his calloused fingertip hard against her soft skin as he examined her eyes, directing her head this way and that to catch the fall of her heavy, dark hair over her thin shoulders. 'It is clear to see that your Master cares a great deal for you,' his eyes dropped to the silver and inscribed collar at her delicate throat. 'Noli me tangere,' he muttered. 'Yes, he cares very much. So we should give him a little more to care for.' Acanthus took a step back, one long finger now stroking his neat black beard as his eyes raked over the whole of Eirene's form. He turned, thoughtfully, lifting various items and lengths of cloth until his hand swept across a length of silk. It was the palest blue in colour, like moonlight on a still river and it rippled easily over Acanthus's hands, catching the light as he held it up to Eirene. 'This, little one, is just what you need.'

Eirene gaped in awe, her eyes wide and shining as she reached out to touch the tunica. It was cool and ran over her fingers like water. She had never touched anything as smooth and beautiful before.

'Breathe, child,' Acanthus said with a happy grin. 'I know my work is awe-inspiring, but there is no need to deny yourself air in appreciation.' His dark eyes glittered as he ushered Eirene behind a wooden screen at the back of the shop. 'Now, let's see how it fits.' Eirene willingly ducked behind the screen and shed her travel-stained tunica, swapping it for the silk one immediately. It flowed over her lithe frame, highlighting her soft curves as the neckline dipped down between her small breasts. It was twisted over the shoulders, the simple detail drawing attention to her delicate neck. The hemline just brushed her toes in a way that did not hinder her movement. She felt like she was sheathed in water and could not keep her hands from stroking the smooth silk as she stepped back into view.

'You are the Moon goddess personified,' Acanthus beamed, his shrewd eyes glowing like embers with pleasure at his creation. 'Never before have I created something so beautiful.' He swept over to Eirene, his long fingers tweaking at the smooth cloth here and adjusting the hang of the hem before he stepped back to consider her again with his head tilted to the left. He tapped his lower lip with one tapered fingertip as his eyes narrowed in thought. 'Hmm. Perhaps we could stand to one minor adjustment.' Acanthus held something long and thin out to Eirene and she could see it was a long silver chain. He stepped behind her and caught the thick tangles of her dark hair up with one hand, twisting it deftly so that all the strands were coiled away from her delicate features. He secured Eirene's heavy hair with the length of finely made silver which caught the light when she moved her head. Her hesitant hands reached up to explore her new hairstyle, careful not to dislodge the wild waves now tamed.

'Beautiful!' Acanthus exclaimed. He placed his hands either side of Eirene's face and at such close proximity Eirene couldn't believe she had thought his warm eyes were ever accusing. 'Truly. Your master is a lucky man to have one such as you. Innocent and completely pure in all ways. Don't ever let them break you.' His gentle touch upon her cheeks was fatherly. 'The clothes may make the man, little one, but it is the woman who completes his soul. Remember that.' With a soft pat he dropped his hands and stepped back from her, all trace of sentiment gone as his quick fingers resumed stroking his neat black beard. 'Now, to business.'

Eirene dropped the coin purse into his outstretched palm and caught the gleam in his eye at the quiet chink of the coins inside. The artistic fatherly figure had instantly been replaced by the shrewd businessman once more and it made her smile as she watched him count out his fee. He handed the purse back and Eirene barely felt a difference in weight, suspecting that he had under charged her for the garments that he wrapped loosely in a plain piece of cotton fabric.

'You will certainly turn some heads out there,' he smiled, teeth almost as white as his pale skin. 'Not that you need any more attention.'

'What do you mean?' Eirene asked, puzzled, as he walked her to the entrance of the arched doorway.

'The two guards over there,' he motioned across the market square with a brief nod of his head as he pressed the wrapped parcel of clothes for Jinn into her arms. 'They haven't moved since you entered here. I saw them watching you as you rounded that corner. Have you done something you shouldn't?' Eirene frowned, remembering the eyes she had felt upon her back as she had crossed to inspect the fabrics displayed outside. She followed the line of Acanthus's sight and shook her head, feeling her hair wobbling precariously in its unusual position. 'Well,' Acanthus gave her silken tunic one last tug, adjusting the neckline. 'Be safe, little one.'

'Thank you,' Eirene smiled at him, drawing the cotton-covered clothes closer to her chest as she stepped out from the cool alcove and into the brighter morning sun. Eirene instantly picked up movement from the direction the two guards had been lurking and she knew at once that they were following her as she made her way deeper into the market place. Carrying the clothes she'd bought for Jinn under one arm she made a big show of pausing to inspect some dried dates that she had no intention of buying and sure enough, as she turned to one side to cast a sly glance over her shoulder, she noticed the two men had stopped too. Both were tall, much taller than her she judged, even with the distance between them. One man had fair hair worn longer than the current fashion, while the other had short brown hair shorn close to his head but both were as hulking as gladiators. Their red woollen tunics were overlaid with heavy leather breastplates and long swords were sheathed at their sides. Neither made an effort to conceal the fact they were openly staring at her as she moved on to examine the pots of runny honey arranged neatly beside an array of jewel like figs. The sweet scent of the overripe fruit was almost cloying.

'Finest honey in Ostia, my dear,' rasped the crooked old crone beside the stall. 'It will sweeten the seed in your belly,' the white-haired old lady, almost bent double with age, cackled manically, revealing a black hole of a mouth devoid of any teeth.

'No, thank you.'

'Sweet enough, eh?' the old lady asked, rheumy eyes fixed on the fine silk of Eirene's tunic as her fingers, twisted with age reached out to stroke the shimmering fabric. 'Ooh, ain't you the lucky one, eh?' Without warning her hand clamped with surprising strength around Eirene's wrist and she twitched the girl closer to where the pots of sticky honey were lined up. 'You got money then, you got enough to buy some honey off old Prisca. Come, come, just a jar or two, eh.'

Eirene shot a panicked look over her shoulder again as the old woman with white wisps of hair that barely covered her scalp pulled her closer. The two guards had moved now to pause at the stall beside her and Eirene had a panicked urge to run away. She twisted her wrist in Prisca's hand, trying to loosen the grip of her claw-like fingers.

'Let go of me!' Eirene cried as quietly and as firmly as she could, not wanting to draw any undue attention. With her free hand she fished a coin out of her purse and flipped it towards the old lady who, despite her failing eyesight, caught the glint of gold and rapidly relinquished her hold on Eirene to scrabble at the ground and retrieve the coin.

Eirene spun on her heels and wheeled off in the other direction, feeling the dusty stone of the market place floor, worn smooth over time, fly beneath her running feet. The shimmering pale blue silk of her tunic fluttered out behind her like a smudge of summer sky and a few tendrils of her hair escaped the restraining chain that still held her hair back. The pounding of heavy feet followed her like the beat of some terrible heart as she made her way back through the edges of the market and headed towards the docks with the hope of finding Jinn back at the waterfront tavern.

'Desino!' came the shout from behind her, a deep, resonating voice that could only belong to one of the guards. 'Thief!' Eirene glanced over her shoulder as she continued to run, her nimble feet weaving her through the throng of people that had swelled gradually since first light. It seemed as though the blonde guard, slightly less hulking than his darker companion, was the faster of the two and was closer behind her and it was from him that the shouts of 'thief' were coming from. She clutched the neatly wrapped parcel closer to herself, ducking to avoid the grabbing arms of a wine merchant, who had stepped out from his alcove and into her path. The man was almost as wide as he was tall and so slipping around him was no mean feat, but the thought of what would happen to her if the guards caught hold of her made her fast and nimble. The threats of branding 'runaway' upon her forehead had never been forgotten and though she was not a runaway and she had no idea what she could possibly have done to instigate her pursuit, and so Eirene ran anyway. It was instinctive. She heard the blood rushing in her ears, hot and fast; and felt the rapid beat of her heart as it thrust painfully against her ribs as she ran, reminding her of the little bird she had tried to nurse and how the fragile beat of life had pulsed against her fingertips.

A few other merchants made passing grabs at her as she ran, pursued by the two men shouting loudly for the thief to stop, but it was a discarded tangle of fishing net that was eventually her downfall. Having darted to the left to avoid a wool trader who came barrelling after her Eirene missed the pile of strongly woven rope that must have been dropped on the way to an early morning haul. They were right on the outskirts of the market now, so close to the docks that the tang of salty air was sharp in her nostrils and she could hear the shouts as boats were unloaded, the gentle push and pull of the tide against the shoreline. The noises followed her down to the ground as one foot snagged in the messy net that was rough with salt and age against her skin. Eirene flung both arms out as she fell face-first amidst the tangle, her wrapped package of clothes for Jinn skided across the ground and landed a few feet away. Her palms were tingling and grazed from contact with the floor and she suspected her knee would blossom a good bruise, but she didn't have time to dwell on her aches and pains as a large pair of hands hauled her back to her feet.

'Well, well, look what we caught, Corvinus,' the blonde guard laughed, gripping Eirene's upper arms tighter than she felt was necessary.

'Ah, good work, Domitius,' the guard with closely cropped brown hair said as he pulled himself up beside his faster companion. 'A little thief. A pretty one too.'

'I'm not a thief!' Eirene declared angrily, in between panted breaths, her chest still rising and falling rapidly. She shook with anger and exertion.

'What's this?' Corvinus asked, his blue eyes twinkling with amusement as he lifted Eirene's chin with one thick finger to get a better look at her collar. It was an unusual adornment for a slave, as not many masters chose to mark out their property unless they were prone to run away. 'Touch me not,' he read from the inscription. 'Well, I'm afraid your master will be most disappointed we haven't been able to follow his orders, but theft is a serious offence in Ostia and we take our jobs very seriously, don't we, Domitius?'

Domitius tossed his fair hair from his eyes and grinned at Eirene.

'We do indeed. And an offence like this, by a slave, is punishable by death.' Eirene gasped and squirmed in Domitius's grip, but he only shifted his hold on her, his hands sliding down her arms to hold both wrists behind her back with one hand as his other arm wrapped around her shoulders to pin her back against his leather-plated chest.

'I haven't stolen anything, I'm not a thief!' Eirene yelled desperately at Corvinus as he stood in front of her. 'What is it you think I have stolen?!' Domitius released her wrists, one hand bringing her palm up in front of her own face as his other arm remained wrapped around her shoulders. Eirene could feel his breath, hot and too sweet against her neck made bare and vulnerable by her new hairdo. He tweaked the little band of gold that was still on her thumb.

'We saw you steal this,' he said, tapping the gold ring with a well-bitten fingernail.

'You couldn't possibly have seen that, it's mine!' Eirene cried incredulously.

'Yours?' Corvinus took a menacing step closer to her, one dark eyebrow raised and half a grin on his face. 'A slave doesn't own anything. Not even her name, girl,' he lowered his broad face to hers. One meaty hand reached out to stroke the cool silk she wore, sliding over her nipple that lay just beneath Domitius's forearm and slipped across her ribs to rest upon her hip. Eirene let out a squark of complaint and twisted wildly, straining against the restraining arm.

'Let go of me! Don't touch me!' she growled loudly. The few people that passed by hurried on without even a second glance, no matter how hard Eirene tried to catch their eye. If a slave had done something wrong, no matter how finely she was dressed, it was no business of theirs unless it happened to be their slave. 'Please, I'm not a thief, I didn't take anything.' She grasped the flesh of Domitius's arm that still lay heavily across her chest but he only gripped her tighter. Corvinus grinned, flashing surprisingly white and even teeth, his brown eyes dark and glittering as he brought his hand up once more to caress her silken breasts, thick fingers pinching a nipple with enough force to make her cry out. Animalistic fear pulsed in her veins, mixed with hot, hot rage as she stiffened and tensed. She felt Domitius's breath on her skin again, quick and rasping as he pressed cold lips against her warm neck.

'I'm sure there's a way we can come to some sort of agreement that sees you walk away with a public lashing rather than a death sentence,' Corvinus said, taking another step towards her which left him pressed against the length of her prone body. 'But my fellow soldier and I would expect nothing less than gratuitous appreciation at such leniency.' At such close proximity Eirene was forced to lean her head back against Domitius's thickly muscled chest so she could see Corvinus's face. She felt a firm and growing bulge pressing against her stomach which left her in little doubt as to what he meant. Domitius chuckled and reached his free hand around Eirene to grope roughly between her thighs. With her body crushed against Domitius, Eirene did the only thing she could think of whilst she felt as desperately trapped as she did. She spat right in Corvinus's face. With lightning speed he pulled his hand back to strike her, but the blow never came.

'She is right,' a lilting musical voice cut across the hush of secluded pathway, freezing Corvinus's hand as he held it aloft in readiness to hit Eirene. She watched his wide jaw become slack and followed his gaze with the smallest turn of her head. 'I know her master gave her that ring as I saw him with it only last night.' Petra stood, beautiful and commanding in the sheltered space, dressed in the plainest of white woollen tunics that was exquisitely cut. Eirene had never seen the woman dressed so simply, but it served only to enhance her ethereal beauty. Her heavy, golden hair had been spun into a high twist that sparkled with the palest blue gemstones, as though a hundred raindrops had been caught amongst the fair strands. 'I happen to know her master very well and can vouch for her character. And his temper. Now, I suggest you both do as her master commands and touch her not. Leave her be.' In the brief silence that followed Eirene could hear the furious beat of her own terrified heart, she could feel it pulsing in her throat.

Nothing could prepare her for what happened next, however. Corvinus stepped backwards, allowing the light to filter in again as his towering form withdrew from Eirene at the same time as Domitius dropped his arm from her chest. In relief Eirene gravitated to the familiar figure of Petra, whose golden eyes were hooded and hard as they looked down at the two guards. Though the angelic woman stood at about the same height as the two tall men, it was the haughty inclination of her glorious head that allowed her to look upon them with disdain. 'Now I suggest the both of you take your dicks and your false allegations and find another helpless slave girl to prey upon, before I speak to your commander and have you strung up by your balls in the Forum for misconduct.' The musical lilt never left her tone, but it was the harsh light of her eyes that added weight to her words. There was a dangerous crackle of energy around her that Eirene had felt around Jinn before, when he was angry. The two men must have felt it too, because without another word Corvinus clapped his blonde companion on the shoulder and the two of them turned to retreat. Eirene turned from them also, her back to them as she tried to regain control over her still fast-beating heart, but as she did so she missed the glint of coinage tossed carefully from Petra and caught easily by Domitius. When she finally looked up at the woman Eirene assumed the self-satisfied smile that graced her perfect lips was because Petra was just as surprised and as pleased as she was to see the guards back off so easily.

'Thank you,' she managed. 'I… I thought you hated me.' Eirene blushed.

'Hate is such a strong word, Eirene. I never hated you. I suppose I was jealous of you. I have loved Jinn for a time longer than you can even comprehend, in a way that one angel should not love another. In all our time here Jinn has always distracted himself with one girl or another, there has never been a shortage of attention for him. When he first brought you back I had thought it would be just another passing infatuation for him, like all the others. But I see now that it is not.'

Eirene could no longer meet Petra's eyes and she felt the colour in her cheeks burn brighter. 'And there is no need to thank me, Eirene. You are under Jinn's protection and, as such, under mine in his absence now. This time apart from him has helped me clearly see how he truly feels for you. I could never forgive myself if something were to happen to you, little one. I know it would break Jinn's heart if you were hurt and he was not here to help you.' Petra grasped Eirene's hands gently, causing her to look up as she smiled for the first time into her wide, unsure eyes. The full force of her glowing beauty hit Eirene then and the girl found herself once more in awe of her appearance. 'You are now aware of our true angelic nature, Eirene, I know that Jinn has told you everything.' Eirene nodded. 'And we both now know his strength of feeling for you. He has never shown his wings to another human before, he really is serious about you.'

'I know,' Eirene said with a small smile.

'But I think his love for you has clouded your judgement.' This left Eirene confused and she frowned.

'I don't understand.'

'He thinks he is doing the best for you, but I'm not convinced it's the right thing.' An echoing frown creased Petra's smooth brow and she shook her head, her warm eyes sad as she looked upon Eirene who was still clinging to her hands. Petra took a deep breath as though preparing herself for something. 'He is keeping your brother's whereabouts from you and is lying about it to protect you. Jinn thinks that he can lead you away from your brother and save you,' Petra said slowly and with meaning. Eirene gasped in disbelief.

'Lead me away?' she repeated, as understanding slowly dawned on her. 'So I have been near him all this time?' Petra raised her arched eyebrows gently in silent agreement. 'Where?' Eirene asked, her eyes searching Petra's desperately, looking for answers. But Petra remained silent. 'Here?' Eirene squeezed Petra's hands excitedly but was met with the smallest almost imperceptible shake of the head. 'Rome, then, my brother's in Rome still?' She was greeted with the tiniest smile and an even smaller nod. 'Jinn knows my brother is in Rome? Why would he lie to me?'

'He thinks it is the right thing to do. But, despite your status in life, you are your own person and it is our duty as guardians to allow you to make your own choices and support you in them. Jinn has never truly grasped that, but I believe that because of the way he feels about you, he will understand now that whatever choice you make from this point on he should support.'

Eirene felt her heart catch in her throat. 'I have to go back, I have to go back to Rome.' Petra smiled lovingly and Eirene could almost feel the warmth radiating from her. 'Have you seen Jinn? He didn't say where he was going, I would have thought he'd be back by now.' Eirene glanced over her thin shoulder, as though their simply talking of him could make him appear. She felt Petra gently tug on her hands, bringing her attention swiftly back to the taller woman, who looked earnestly at her.

'As much as I think Jinn will eventually support your decision to return to Rome and find your brother, I feel he will initially reject the idea. He might pass it off as an irrational and passing thought and try to persuade you out of it. The only way to show him you are entirely serious about finding him is to just go. He will probably catch you up on the road back to Rome and by that point he'll understand you've made your choice.' Eirene listened intently and nodded. 'Besides, when he sees you looking so beautiful he'll be powerless to do anything but your bidding.' Petra brushed away a few loose strands of Eirene's dark hair from her face, tucking them gently behind her ear with a motherly-like smile. From such an inhumanly attractive woman, this was praise indeed, which somehow helped Eirene to see the logic in Petra's plan.

'If you see him, will you let him know where I've gone?' Eirene felt torn between wanting to see Jinn, to discuss everything Petra had just told her, and wanting to leave for Rome. Her heart ached to see her brother as much as her feet burned with longing to get going. Petra's warm and surprisingly gentle hand cupped the girl's smooth cheek, her elegant thumb stroking the side of her face lovingly.

'Of course. Now fly, flightless one, before Jinn finds the wings to catch you.'