It was blisteringly hot. Inland like this, without the cool air rolling off the sea it became almost unpleasant. Sweat stuck clothing to skin, the air itself felt heavy. Where was the famed breeze to provide some relief? Had it not been for the shade afforded by the forest they rode through, Achilleas would have been beginning to wonder why he had agreed to this. They had left early, hoping to avoid the worst of the sun but the hours had ticked by and Helios was unrelenting in his path across the sky. Twisting in the saddle, he glanced over his shoulder to where his brother and cousin followed, looking just as hot and uncomfortable as he felt.
“I vote next time we insist Iason comes to us” he grumbled, swiping his forearm across his face as he turned to look forward again. “There is one of him and three of us. It only makes sense”
He was referring to the invitation their cousin had extended for Stephanos and Emilios and himself to join him for a couple of days out in the province of Chaoedia, the seat of his barony. Stephanos had sold it in as weekend of hunting and other such leisure pursuits, and with some reluctance, Achilleas had agreed, despite him having plenty to keep him busy in Euttica.
It was easier for the other two, neither Stephanos nor Emilios had the responsibility of a barony, and it showed in the way they had both so readily agreed to come. The prerogative of second sons, the idle pursuit of fun over duty. He envied them the luxury of it sometimes. The two were undeniably closer than he himself was with Stephanos, had more in common perhaps, but Achilleas had time for his cousin, and he had decided that really there was little harm to be had in this trip. Iason was notoriously staid, which made him a little less suspicious than he might have been had it been an idea conceived by Stephanos himself. Achilleas had studiously avoided being swept up in any of the Prince’s exploits and he had no plans to change that. And as he considered that, he realised that perhaps it [i[was[/i] better that they had come out here to Chaoedia, where if there was any trouble to be found, it would at least not cause the ripples it might in the capital. And he mused, with a sideways glance at the other two, less insalubrious distractions.
They should be safe, all things considered.
He just about managed to duck and avoid a branch that hung low across the path, Achilleas considered calling back to warn the others, and then judged it would serve them right if they weren’t paying attention. He was not going to spend all weekend supervising them like they were two unruly children, he decided then.
He couldn’t take full credit for the plan to introduce Achilleas and Iason to moral debauchery. The idea had actually come from the woman who had sat naked on the table in his room, between whose legs he currently had his tongue. She sat back to back with her sister, who had her legs spread for Lord Emilios on the other side. Empty wine goblets were littered about and the two men and two court ladies were currently engaged in a game of which man could bring his chosen woman to climax faster.
The game devolved into a fit of giggles, with each woman laying across the table and then using their mouths to see which of the men would be able to go fastest. It was a fun game. One they’d done before, but not with this set of sisters and it ended with Stephanos and his courtier of the evening laying out on the balcony, talking while Emilios finished up whatever it was he and his friend were doing in the room.
“You and Lord Emilios are so fun,” the girl said, smirking at Stephanos. “How do you both have brothers who are so…boring?”
Of all the people in Taengea, he loved his brother best, but that didn’t mean he was blind to the man’s faults. Achilleas was a cousin, and further still removed from himself. That meant he could see him with even clearer eyes. “We were blessed by the gods to be the fun ones, while those two get the burden of running things. It’s their loss…” he said as he kissed her hand and studied her palm. “But there it is.”
“You should teach him,” the girl grinned, using her other hand to trace his mouth. “And Lord Iason too. Ugh. I practically ran into him in the gardens the other day and he wouldn’t even give me the time of day. So rude.”
“Shall I teach him too?” he laughed. Iason wasn’t someone he usually associated with. Another of the ‘boring’ ones.
“Teach them all!” she cried and called in to Lord Emilios. “Lord Emilios, you and the prince are to instruct every man in the court on the techniques you two use!”
Stephanos thought of that night as he rode, glowering at Achilleas’s back. It was hot. Horribly hot and Achilleas’s occasional whining about something or other was getting old. Thankfully he hadn’t done it frequently. Just every so often. The weather was too hot. The Dimitrou manor was too far. Why didn’t Iason come to Vasiliadon more?
“Next time, then,” he called and shot Emilios a look and a heavy eye roll. He couldn’t wait to get Achilleas drunk and loosened up. A whore or two and his cousin would be shaking his hand, thanking him for lying to him. Iason hadn’t invited them. Iason had no clue they were even on their way. But, from what Stephanos knew of the shy lord, he wouldn’t deny them entrance into his home, and he probably wouldn’t stop them from causing havoc either. Iason was another one who needed to loosen up.
With Hesiodos, Stephanos and Emilios’s bard friend also on the way, (Stephanos hoped), to Iason’s home, this evening would be hilarious.
He ducked easily under the branch and even broke off a twig, tossing it lightly at Achilleas’s head. “Think about the wine and hospitality we’ll receive!” He winked at Emilios when he was sure that Achilleas wasn’t looking. He’d only lied to one brother, not the other.
Hesiodos was always up to have fun in any way, shape or form. A bacchanalia was particularly up his alley. When he received a letter from his old friend Stephanos to attend one, mainly as the main entertainer, he didn’t have to think about it twice. He dropped everything he was doing, picked his lute, some bottles of good wine, and went on his way.
That’s how he found himself walking through the woods, singing a cheerful song a the top of his lungs. He intended to not to go home that night, to get drunk and possibly to have as many wild romps as possible… all to cheer up the stick in the mud of Stephanos’ cousin. Hesiodos was hell bent of making everyone have a good time.
He interrupted his singing when he saw someone at the distance, between the trees and branches. For a moment he thought bandits, but that didn’t worry him – if it came to that, he had his twin swords on his belt, ready to draw blood. But when he approached, he realized the folk were too well dressed to be bandits…
Only when he got close enough, did he smile widely, “Well, well, well, look what the cat dragged in!”, he came out from behind a bush, as subtle as silent as a marching army, and gave Stephanos an enormous hug. He was quite fond of the man, truth be told, ever since they meet in an orgy where they double teamed a rather voluptuous lady. One tended to become good friends after that sort of thing.
When he separated himself, he saw the second man, weighting him with his eyes, “You must be Achilleas. You certainly look like him, for what I’ve been told”, his tone was amused. He did look like a completely humorless stick in the mood that needed some joy in his life, “My name is Hesiodos of Phossis. It’s a pleasure!”, he offered an overly theatrical bow.
He'd had plans for the day, and then the evening. During the day he worked with the horses, did what little paperwork and reading of reports were required for the running of the barony, and finished any other official duties before the sun started to fade in the sky. Taking a late lunch, Iason gathered a book that he'd been intending to read and settled under one of the many trees on the property of Chaoedia, this one near the front of the house. He was dressed simply, in a dark green chiton as was his preferred color, leaning against the tree as he read. As far as he was concerned, this was how his time would be spent until the light became too low to use. Then he would retreat indoors and use a candle.
Fully engrossed in his book of the history of the northern wars, he was surprised and not much thrilled when a servant came about with a nervous expression. Setting his book aside, Iason tipped his head in curiosity as he was usually left very much to his own devices, wondering what could bring someone out to fetch him. Unless something was amiss with his father or sisters, he had very little good reason to think of.
"My lord, your cousins of Mikaelidas have arrived with Prince Stephanos."
His eyebrows shot up so far they nearly disappeared into his hairline, and then darted back down into a frown as he looked about and heard the approaching sound of hoofsteps coming closer. There must have been a letter that he missed, informing him that the princes were coming to visit him, but how could he have missed such a thing when just that morning he had gone through all of his correspondence and seen nothing? Giving a nod to the servant, he hesitated a moment before giving an apprehensive sigh.
"Prepare rooms for them. At this hour I doubt they'll go back to the capitol tonight."
Hauling himself from beneath the tree, the young baron handed his book to the servant and sent them on their way, crossing to the columned front of his manor and watching as Emiios, Achilleas, Stephanos, and a fourth man who was unfamiliar to him pulled up their mounts. With a slight smile though a look of clear confusion, he gave a wave and moved to hold the head of Achilleas' horse as they dismounted.
Alexandria had so many boring clients lately. Even the many secrets that were left on her pillow had been dull, often resorting to her clients bitching about the most annoying things. One of her clients was almost in a fit of rage, saying how upset they were about their crown being bronze instead of gold. Though she mostly enjoyed her job, she was itching for a chance to catch some real secrets, or have fun with clients at least.
She got a contract to entertain a group of men, and she was paid pretty impressively. With her being quite well-known, the twenty-five year old couldn't wait for something, anything, exciting to happen. When men all gathered together, it was usually a fun time no matter what. They would get drunk, she'd bed at least two of them, if not more, and things were an all-around good time. When the opportunity arose, she just couldn't pass it, even if it wasn't her usual gig.
Alexandria left the Garden to her second, a woman she trusted dearly whenever she was going on business. Though she disliked leaving her brothel, she trusted all of women in there as well as her second. Life was too short for her to be stuck in Vasiliádon, though she wasn't complaining.
The woman arrived in a day's time with her personal escort, of whom she always had when she went to places that she did not go to often. Traveling was her least favorite part of a journey, and though she usually loved the destination, she did not care for boat rides, cart rides, or walking long distances.
She made sure to wear her red, silk peplos, often the client's favorite garment of hers to wear--and take off. Her dark hair was pinned up, though Alexandria knew it would be let loose soon enough. It was ungodly hot outside, though shade was always provided by her escort, whether he was fanning her or holding a shade above her head. She couldn't get all sweaty and disgusting, especially for clients. Well, not before she bed them, at least.
Alexandria approached the manor. "Good day," she said to the guard at the gate. "I am here to report to Prince Stephanos of Mikaelidas for a group of men who wish to be serviced?" She was composed, and it didn't seem as if the heat bothered her. She was always composed, just as a hetaria should be. "I have a letter of invitation to arrive at the Dimitrou Manor on this day." She smiled softly to the guard, showing him the invitation.
She wasn't sure where to go, and neither was the guard. "I was not told to expect anyone, much less a woman. Please, do come in." Alexandria nodded at her personal escort, who was to roam around the town until it was time for her leaving. She walked up with the guard, entering the manor.
The guard and herself approached the group of men. Five, she counted in total. She nodded and thanked the guard. Alexandria was several feet away from them still, though she did not make her presence known yet. They seemed as if they had just arrived and greeted each other. She knew patience was a virtue, especially when royals were meeting with each other.