Publica Section 2 Part 2

Part 2

Lavendi shuffled through the market crowds hunting for fine silk. She pulled Salene, her bed warmer, along tightly by the hand. The barbarian girl was not properly cultured, and Lavendi feared she may fall into trouble due to her ignorance. With the wealth Lavendi held both openly and in secret, she intended to turn the girl into a sweet image.

Praetorian guards stood out amongst the commoners. Their very presence made Lavendi feel ill at ease. They were the representation of the Imperator and he was a dangerous man. The Serpens felt simple, and merchant like. Greedy senators were all alike. It was the power hungry that were unscrupulous to the point of ruin. There was no doubt in Lavendi’s mind that Thracus earned his seat by subterfuge, and by that fact, every praetorian under his direct command was an extension of his deceit.

For now, she ignored them and shopped the exotic goods of the galaxy. It was the Rim Worlds that were renowned for their fabrics but now, any good from the Galactic Core worlds were incredibly valuable as well. The barbaric clothing that Salene wore troubled Lavendi. She did not know how her husband felt about foreigners, but if he was the good republican that he had been titled, he would have frowned upon her choice of woman.

“Here, let us dress you in these colours,” Lavendi said, picking out blue and white silks. “How do you find these, Salene?”

“Très jolie,” she replied in her light voice. Lavendi loved the sound of her voice for her body was not fully mature yet.

“Then I will make a dress of these for you,” she said, keeping a watchful eye on the praetorians. She feared they may have been watching her but she intended to outwit them at their game. When next her husband returned, she intended that he have prestige and honours given to him for every deed he has ever done and remain out of the Imperator’s clutch.

She waved her cashless card and handed the spools of cloth to her mistress, touching her soft hands by chance. In an instant she felt herself filled with lust. Knowing too many eyes watched her, she only smiled and pulled Salene along lightly. Lavendi took a quick pace back toward Hasitus property.

Despite whatever instinctual desires she held, Lavendi had to keep her wits. As a loving wife, she would live in her husband’s property and avoid sleeping too many nights in her great manor. Rumours were a despicable part of life.

“Let’s hurry,” Lavendi said to Salene’s giggle.

The two rushed up the steps into the house. Salene calmly put away the cloth while Lavendi rushed into the bedroom.

“Come to the bed,” Lavendi called out.

“Tu es trop ardente!!” Salene replied, offering some resistance to Lavendi.

Lavendi groaned out, “I didn’t take you in for your prattle.”

With her own soft painted hands, she lightly pushed Salene into the bed. She pulled her hands through the soft washed brown hair. Lavendi did not care if the doors were open, or the windows left gaping, she bent down and thrust her mouth onto Salene. The girl twisted about underneath, breathing heavily before pulling her inward. Her smaller hands slid about her body touching her where she needed to feel the girl’s warmth. Lavendi was not sure if she made too much noise, but in a matter of minutes it was over.

As she lay along side Salene, slowly brushing her hand against the girl’s hair, she thought aloud, “Perhaps Jacobi was right. My instincts are too overwhelming.”

“Non, tu es parfaîte,” she whispered into her ears. She was such a sweet girl. It was solace for Lavendi to have someone where politics did not enter. Perhaps, her husband may be another person she could confide but he was Jacobi’s nephew.

Jacobi was not so guiltless of breaking the bene principes as he always thought. He abused his influence with the people, getting what he want for much less than its value. As a senator he may have had a just hand, but even with her, he sent on perilous quests. This time, she entrusted her with finding Valisus.

She intended to fully use her marriage in a manner yet unperceived by Jacobi. Lavendi would test the strength of Hasitus commitment to her, and if it proved to be strong, she would truly become his political protection. For now, she would look into Valisus’ sudden vacation.

When a sigh, she sat up from her bed to gather her hastily cast clothing. Pieces of lingerie sat at every corner of the room. As she dressed to leave, Salene fell asleep. Lavendi would leave her be so that she could leave for the east markets alone. It would trouble her greatly if anything befell Salene.

Walking back into the city, she was flooded again with the sound of a thousand bustling bodies. It was both a welcome noise and a distracting buzz. A childhood in the city accustomed her to its usual workings but her dreams of a green paradise gave her desire for something else. Instead, she fed her desires with instinctual pleasures.

The east district was a street of only mansions and grand statues. Trees grew atop buildings and were surrounded by the most meticulously dyed and painted stones. Once these structures were of stone, but the Serpens had come and left it marble. The shops and stores used fine cloths to protect their goods from the sunlight, while fountains provided easy refreshments.

As a merchant, she frequented these parts many times. It was the best place to sell goods the affluent would desire. However, a merchant had to be wary of a Serpen shopping the stores. While others were easily fooled by inflated prices, and others protected from the prices by friendship, the Serpens showed no reserve in using political prowess to earn their discounted prices. They had friends amongst the merchants only because the snakes protected them from other senators who would frown upon wealthy merchants in their entirety.

Lavendi found a seat at a well known chef’s restaurant. The servers recognized her and let her be at the seat she had chosen. She greatly enjoyed the pheasants that were cooked her, and welcomed the meal despite its cost. Many others enjoyed the restaurant and some enjoyed it daily.

“Ah, what a coincidence, my young lady,” Lassus said, raising a glass of wine to her. He put down the paper he was read and swept his arms outward in a welcome gesture. The large fat man gave his very best exultant look from across the table.

“Yes,” she said giving a small hint of a smile. She appreciated the gesture of her mouth. Lavendi hinted at much, but gave nothing. “Might I enjoy a meal with you, Lassus? I find myself quite lonely without Hasitus.”

“Of course, of course!” Lassus proclaimed loudly. He turned his head and barked, politely but overly loud, “Server, a fine wine for this young lady.”

“How have your past days been? I find the senatus very intriguing,” Lavendi asked while giving her order to the server.

The man heaved a sigh, and his whole body shook. Lavendi watched as fat rippled about. She wondered what it would be like to grasp that much flesh at once. “It has been hard and I am not as fortuitous as Hasitus to have a fine woman to confide these problems within.”

“Oh, but do tell me,” Lavendi said, placing a hand on his. “I may already be married, but I help where I am needed.”

Lassus laughed aloud and pulled his hand away. He gulped the wine, accidentally letting a dribble flow from his chin. Every action irked Lavendi. She pondered Jacobi’s apparent friendship with this snake and yet his open distaste for her overly powerful lust.

“Ah, these things are no secret anyway!” Lassus said. “The senatus is being run by the Imperator’s tribune. It is such a disaster for the bene principes.”

“A disaster for merchants alike,” Lavendi interrupted.

The man laughed again, showing all his surprisingly white teeth. “I would only agree. It was a complete shame for the people that the senatus had let pass the new tax to be levied against the good Navis Eurus. The ship captains live on delivering goods to other worlds, goods that if not delivered would leave us destitute. It is not right for them to be have these extra taxes levied against them when our wealth has done so well so far in funding the military in its campaigns against the Federation,” he spit the last word out as if bile had entered his mouth.

“How did the senatus let such an imperialistic proposal be approved?” she asked, knowing the adjective was a dangerous one to use openly. However, there were no praetorians about here and the Serpens ensured that few Lupus affiliates would linger long in the east district.

“Ah, the Lupus has gained much support in the senatus since the new Imperator was crowned,” he replied unhappily. He paused as the servers returned bringing a fresh bottle of wine and her roasted pheasants.

As she chewed on the bird meat, she spoke in low voice to the snake. “I have heard Valisus took an unfortunate absence in that vote, and his supporters abstained in confusion.”

The snake did not reply immediately. He poured a fresh glass of wine and sipped it slowly. Lavendi watched his glossy eyes stare into the distance, seemingly lost from the conversation. She let him brood and ate more of her lunch.

“Valisus wished to visit some friends of his, off of Porta,” he replied finally.

“How far from Porta?” she asked, delving further. Lavendi wanted to see how far she could go with Lassus.

“Luna,” Lassus answered and took another draught of the red scented wine.

Lavendi paused a moment from chewing her food. “Luna?” she mouthed silently. The world was so far from Porta, it almost bordered the embattled systems in Grandeur. Luna sat at the crossing point of the Publica’s border with both Practica and Grandeur. It was also a barren world named after Terra’s only natural satellite. “What could there possibly be in Luna?”

“Perhaps some rare Galactic Core merchants, escaped from the hands of the Federation. Perhaps, they are distant relatives fled from Grandeur from the Trading Stations,” Lassus answered, giving empty responses. If he stated those, it was none of them. Lavendi now understood something was much more wrong than a simple manoeuvring of politics.

“That is unfortunate he is so far,” she answered. “I appreciate his company, as I do yours.”

She returned to idle chatter and as much silence as conversation could bear. The pheasant still tasted as it should but her curiosity was now fully engaged. A vacation of her own may be the answer to her problems.