| Claudia yawned and stretched her arms sensually. | | | | entrance with his chariots. He ran to hug his only |
| She leaned against the pillar of the balcony of her | | | | child. |
| beautiful villa in Anzio, the rich beach resort | | | | Behind him were two strangers, a big black one |
| preferred by the emperors and senators of | | | | and a tall white man with blond hair. They looked |
| Rome. | | | | like slaves. "I brought you some surprises from |
| "Such a beautiful day! I wonder when dad will | | | | Gallia, my dear!" said Marcus Regulus. |
| come back from Gallia, I kind of miss him after | | | | The general opened the trunk allowing his |
| almost 5 months gone to war." Her silky white | | | | daughter to excitedly dig and eye a variety of |
| gown flew gently down her slender body, tied in | | | | exotic silks, cashmeres and embroidered |
| the waist by a golden belt with dangling gold | | | | garments. |
| charms. Her hand rested on it and she | | | | She also examined - discretely - the white slave's |
| remembered Flavius, the senator. "Old Flavius, is | | | | blue eyes and his muscular body. "He is as |
| always giving me presents. He thinks he can buy | | | | beautiful as a god!" thought Julia. She also noticed |
| my love, but he is too old and flabby, and his | | | | he was wearing a wide gold bracelet in his |
| voice irritates me. I wish I could be courted by a | | | | forearm, which seemed to have intricate designs |
| handsome young man instead. I don't know why | | | | and gemstones, unusual for a slave. |
| dad wants me to marry a 30 year old man when | | | | "Oh, Claudia, this is Olaf, prince of the Norse. I |
| I just turned 18!". Her maid came and started | | | | captured him on one of my battles with the |
| combing Claudia's silky black hair. She braided it | | | | Vikings." |
| with a string of pink pearls, the latest fashion in | | | | Olaf smiled at Julia and gently took off his gold |
| Rome. | | | | bracelet and offered it to her. "This is my gift to |
| Claudia saw a cloud of dust on the horizon and | | | | you, my lady. With it I surrender myself not only |
| squinted to see better. "Could that be her father's | | | | to Rome, but to your enchanting beauty forever". |
| troops coming back?". She ran down the marble | | | | Julia blushed. "Thank you Olaf". After the Viking |
| stairs into the luscious garden and stopped to pick | | | | left, the General smiled at his daughter. "So, did |
| some fresh aromatic jasmine blossom to | | | | you like my surprise?" "I loved it!" said Julia, |
| perfume her hair. | | | | caressing her new bracelet. "It is just what I |
| General Marcus Regulus had just made his | | | | always wanted! |