NOVEL NEXT Chapter 7: Interlude II
Residence of the Cynther, Anko, Afriki
Last month of 575
Both, mistress and slave, worked tirelessly for days to finish setting up the new house.
Days in which Philipart remained absent.
"Oh, my lady," she handed him a napkin. "Please, don't cry anymore, it ruins your beautiful face."
With Sila's help, he took a seat to try to dissuade the anxiety that was invading him.
Nazly, she had not stopped crying the whole time they were tidying the house.
Her chest ached, and her mind troubled her as she could not find the true causes of her husband's bad attitude.
Reality had hit her.
She even came to think that he no longer felt the same way about her.
"My lord has had busy days, his absence can be justified by his duties as Magister. He may just be tired."
"Maybe you're right, but...."
The door began to be knocked roughly, interrupting his words, diverting his attention.
"Ah! Could you go and see who it is, Sila?"
She knew it wasn't her husband, as he entered without the need to knock.
The slave nodded, bowed, and withdrew.
"I have to find a way to help Philip....."
"My lady," again she was interrupted, now by Sila's call. "Someone is looking for you."
With curious eyes he watched her, questioning who it was.
Sila swallowed saliva, a slight trembling was present in her body.
"It's the Basilissa," she said bluntly, her eyes piercing hard into Nazly's face, who, after listening to her, paled a little.
"Make-bring her in," Shakily she rose from her seat, wiping away her tears and adjusting her clothes.
At once, a woman with bright purple eyes and long grayish hair with purple tones, appeared before Nazly's eyes.
"My lady," Nazly knelt down. "To what do I owe this honor?
"Huh?" Her tone faltered at the girl's action. "Please, Ly," he called her by her nickname, "we've known each other for years, there's trust between us. You know I don't like to be treated so formally."
The young woman reddened slightly, ducking her head.
"All right," she stood up, standing face to face with her. "Ivi..." She felt how the agony that was invading her was relieved a little when she saw her. "It's so good to see you," tears of happiness slid down her cheeks.
Ivette could not be indifferent, just like Nazly, she began to sob.
They did not utter any more words, they spoke with their eyes, and so they embraced each other.
"Wa-wait, this is not the time to cry," Ivette said, pulling away from the embrace and wiping her tears.
"Oh yes, excuse me," with a slight blush, she pulled herself together. Then she called her slave to serve delicacies and wine. "Sila, could you...?" His words stopped when he saw her carrying a baby. "Hey, what about that baby?"
"He's my son," Ivette spoke, smiling tenderly. "His name is Tarvel."
"Did Arcadio recognize him?" She received an affirmative answer. "Well, I congratulate you very much, Ivi," se kept a serious expression. "Apo-Apologize for not celebrating you properly, it's just that...."
"It's the last concern at the moment, I know," already foreseeing her words, he stopped her. "Our husbands are in big trouble."
His words aroused Nazly's curiosity.
"What do you know about Arcadio?" She asked with a disguised displeasure, still holding the idea that, he mentioned, he only harmed Philipart's actions.
"The last I heard of him, was that, after a talk with the Senate, he was approved permission to undertake an expedition south of the Nilus," he paused, recalling the details that had been brought to his attention, "thus succeeding in gaining control of three legions."
'At last he did do something useful,' she thought, guffawing inwardly.
"Based on what Philip told me, Arcadio should now be leading those legions here."
"I don't know anything about that," he declared. To which he took a seat in one of the armchairs. "I'm sure Arcadio controlled the amount of information that reached me."
"Maybe," she remarked disinterestedly. "You'll stay here, won't you?"
"If you don't mind..."
"No, no, it's okay, don't worry," cutting her words short, she pointed to Sila. "She is the servant of this house. She will obey all your orders," she made a little bow, and gently handed him the baby.
"Eh? Where are you going, Ly?"
Nazly, suddenly, near the exit, before retiring, looked at her out of the corner of his eye:
"I have some things to do, I'll be here for dinner."