soldiers, most not a little envious, and as the empire’s First Patrician escorted his beautiful young mistress into the Hippodrome, a long, low whistle of admiration echoed behind them.
Aspar grinned, just as any small boy with a new and most admired toy would have, but Cailin scolded him softly.
“Shame on you, my lord! You need not look so delighted with yourself, as if you did something worthy of praise. All those randy young soldiers are wondering about is if it is your power, your wealth, or your skill as a lover that has gained you a young and pretty mistress. It is nothing to be proud of,” she finished, looking indignant. “A decent woman would be shamed.”
“But you are not considered a decent woman,” he teased her. “Those randy young soldiers, as you call them, would envy me even more if they knew the passionate, wildly wanton creature you have recently become. My back is covered with weals that are a testament to your delicious newfound desire, my love. Ahh, yes, you do well to blush!” He chuckled. “But I am content to have you so utterly shameless in my behalf.”
She was blushing, but she was also unable to restrain her laughter. His happiness at having been able to overcome the ice in which her soul had been so encased made her happy. “It is you who are shameless, my lord,” she countered. “You preen like a peacock in full plumage, and you fully enjoyed displaying me to those young men.” She giggled. “They all looked so surprised when they saw me. Is your reputation such that they did not think you capable of attracting a pretty woman? They should but know you as I do.”
“If they did, my love, I should be called by a different name, and would have taken Jovian for my lover,” he chuckled.
“My lord!” Cailin was overcome by another fit of mirth.
He led her up a flight of stairs, explaining as they went that this was the way to the two private boxes allowed in the Hippodrome other than the imperial box. “The patriarch’s box is on the emperor’s right hand, and the box of the First Patrician of the empire is on the emperor’s left hand. I have come early so we will not cause a disturbance with an obvious entry. It would not do to have the crowds hail me before the emperor. We will slip quietly into the box, and then be on hand to greet our guests. The emperor will not come until the races are ready to begin. There will be four races this morning, and four in the afternoon. In between we will see other entertainments, and Zeno will come with our servants to bring us luncheon.”
“I have never seen chariot races,” Cailin said. “Who will be racing today? There was an amphitheater in Corinium for games, but my father never took us. He said the games were cruel.”
“Some are,” Aspar admitted, “but there will be no gladiators today, I have been told. There will be actors, and wrestlers, and more gentle amusements that do not take away from the racing. We have four chariot teams here in Constantinople, the Reds, the Whites, the Blues, and the Greens. They will be racing, and the passions they arouse in the collective breast of the populace is oft-times terrifying. Wagers will be placed, and you are apt to see a fight or two between the adherents of a particular team and their rivals. You are safe in the box.”
“Which team to do you favor, my lord?” she asked him.
“The Greens,” he said. “They are the best, and the Blues come after them. The Reds and the Whites are nothing, though they try.”
“Then I shall favor the Greens as well,” Cailin said.
They had reached a small landing where the staircase divided into two sets of stairs, and taking the three steps up to their left, they entered Aspar’s box. An awning of cloth of gold striped with purple roofed the box. There were comfortable marble chairs with silken cushions, and benches set about, all with a good view of the arena. The public stands were beginning to fill up, but no one noticed them, and a quick glance showed Cailin that the imperial party and the important religious personages were not yet in their boxes.
“There are no steps going to the emperor’s box,” she said to Aspar. “How does he enter it?”
“There are stairs directly into the box that lead from a