The general nods. "Fortuna be with you, son." As Aulus makes his way back to his tent, he hears his men drinking with the celts, and with other members of the legio. "Hic...This fuckin' Punic, right? He's 8 feet tall, and a mountain of muscle..." One of the soldiers exaggerates the tale of the duel, to the amusement of the celts. Inside his tent, Aulus feels sleep come quickly, after the excitement earlier. When he wakes, it's dark outside. In the darkness, he hears soft breathing.
Aulus would have liked to join in the revelries but he had more important things to attend to. When he woke, he looked around to see who was breathing so close to him. He called out in a low voice, 'Who's there?'
"Was wonderin' when you'd wake up. I coulda slit your throat a dozen times already... Romans..." A familiar gruff female voice sounds in the dark, before a candle is lit. Varrin's eyes take a moment to adjust, but he soon recognises the Gaul he met in the farmhouse, dressed in a ragged tunic rather than combat gear. "Lady Maat's gonna be guiding you into the palace, and I'm going with, too. Here." She tosses him a tunic like hers, the clothing of a slave.
Anai hummed as she moved next to her daughter. "That's good. Let the nobles fight among themselves. That's all they are good at." She sighed with content. "I think an example must be set. Give Tuaa a tip from one of your spies, that Roman's will make her governor if she opens the gates for them tonight. The slut will not be able to resist the temptation. Have one of our allies wait in ambush... amazons. And prepare to capture her and her co-conspirators." Anai said as she stroked her daughter's cheek.
"I can offert to you become one of us. We Amazon understand important of fresh blood in our ranks, no mater what is men or woman. Of course men can never be equal in our socielity, but if it will proven skills in fight and other things, it could become member of tribe." She look seriosly at Caria. "You already prove some skills in fight and this is enought to give you chance to join us, but before you become of us, you will have to prove that your body and soul belong to tribe. You will be under my direct orders, as I will give you trials and chalenges to pass. Some of them will be demand your muscles and stamina, some your brain and heart, and some... you will find humilating. "
'Oh, I'm ssorry. Fighting that duel to get your arse out of that farmhouse must've tired me out a bit,' Aulus rolled his eyes and chuckled, 'Why would you volunteer for this anyway?' He took the tunic and started to change, she probably couldn't see much in the darkness at any rate, 'Thanks. You have a name Gallic girl? I'm Aulus.' Coming out of the tent dressed in the slave's tunic, only taking a small utility knife with him, Aulus nodded, 'What's with you and Maat anyway? You've been following her all the way to the general's tent. Lead the way.'
"I'm Agorix." She walks with Aulus out through the camp. Most people at this time are asleep, but there are still plenty of sentries who spot them and analyse them suspiciously before letting them through. "As for why I'm with Maat?" The redhead shrugs. "I'm her bodyguard. She pays me well, and on time, so I protect her. That's why I'm going with you right now, to make sure she doesn't get hurt." Together, they go into the tent from before, where Maat waits, wearing more substantial clothing to protect against the cold, but which still manages to emphasise her curves. "Ah, you've finally arrived." Her voice sounds out, smoothly. "Time to see if the gods really do favour you."
'I see, let's hope things go smoothly then,' Aulus said to Agorix. Going to the tent, he inclined his head, 'I never thought I'd pose as an Egyptian lady's slave. The gods have a sense of humour, but it seems the gods intertwine our fates for now, Lady Maat. Do you want to fill me in on the way?'
Maat nods, as they head out into the cold, leading Aulus and Agorix towards the coast. "Outside the walls of the city, there's a small fishing village. It's been abandoned since the seige began, but inside there's a tunnel leading inside the city.
"That's a tempting offer... one I would find very... attractive." The woman says giving Ivyari a look that made her shiver - like a predator looking at the prey. "But I think not. Not when your city is about to fall." She took a swing of wine. "Come with the offer again, after you won the battle and drove of the Romans." She emptied the bottle and gave it to amazon.
"Good girl." Anai purred. "Once we drive out the Romans, and show strength, we will negotiate peace..." She sighed. "Nane will probably become a client state. I doubt we will be able to preserve our independence." She caressed Taia's cheek affectionately. "But for that, we need someone we can talk with. General Quintus needs to die." She sighed. "You are sure that Maat will manage the assassination?" She asked.
Ivyari take bow and shoot arrow in the bottle breaking it. "Alright, so stay here. And keept in mind that falling of this city, doesn't mean fall of Amazon's." She said smiling and go away, wanted to find kartaginian ridders who seen that Roman from duel.
@Tjf General finds himself alone in the command tent, staring at the map. At this moment his daughter from Ouei entered the tent, bringing him a jug of wine and a cup. "Do you wish something to eat, master?" She asked in a deep husky voice.
{It's Carthaginian - with C} She approached the men, looking quite put down, quietly drinking wine and discussing something quietly. Ivyari was not surprised - they just lost their comrade/commander.
Taia coos and settles into her mother's touch. "I can't be entirely certain. If she fails, or turns on us, however, I have something of a backup plan." Taia shakes her head. "But it's not entirely ready yet. I'll tell you properly when it's closer to completion."
Pesca smiles as he sees his daughter, pulling out a cup for her to fill so she can have a drink too. "No, not yet. I find that I'm not quite hungry."
"I trust you to take care of this, my dear." Anai said as her hand travelled lover, on her daughter's bust. "What about the escape route? Is it prepared?" She had one new tunnel dug after Nane entered the war, leading to a small cave with a boat and loaded with some treasures.
The woman took a cup and drunk gratefully with a delight. "I would think that you would be meeting that Egyptian woman now..." She said as she took another sip.
