Out Of The Waters — Snippet 27
Out Of The Waters — Snippet 27
Varus chuckled. In an undertone he muttered the refrain of the priests during the rites of Robigus–the deity of corn smut. It was a string of nonsense syllables to anyone alive today.
May 30, 2011
May 27, 2011
Out Of The Waters — Snippet 26
Out Of The Waters — Snippet 26
Cispius had taken off his armor before he shook his son awake, but his tunic reeked of sweat and blood. In a voice as rough as stones sliding, he had said, “Don’t ever let them know you’re afraid, boy. And by Hercules, if you play the man, you’ll find you really aren’t afraid. Don’t let your troops down, and you won’t let yourself down either.”
May 25, 2011
Out Of The Waters — Snippet 25
Out Of The Waters — Snippet 25
Her tone was polite but no longer obsequious. They were in Anna’s realm now, and however much she might respect Lady Hedia, she wouldn’t leave any doubt about what she knew.
May 23, 2011
Out Of The Waters — Snippet 24
Out Of The Waters — Snippet 24
“You said that the gathering was for Master Corylus?” Hedia said, letting her very real confusion show in her voice. “I had the impression they were expecting my daughter and myself.”
May 20, 2011
Out Of The Waters — Snippet 23
Out Of The Waters — Snippet 23
They were passing through the leatherworkers’ district. The reek of uncured hides warred with the stench of the tanning process. Alphena’s eyes watered, and even Hedia’s face contorted in a sneeze.
May 18, 2011
Out Of The Waters — Snippet 22
Out Of The Waters — Snippet 22
CHAPTER 5
Alphena had allowed her stepmother to choose her garments for the outing: a tunic of fine wool, cut much longer–and so more ladylike–than Alphena preferred, with a shoulder-length cape which was quite unnecessary in this weather. She also wore earrings, bracelets, and a high comb, all of silver but decorated with granulated gold.
May 16, 2011
Out Of The Waters — Snippet 21
Out Of The Waters — Snippet 21
“All I can tell you about a battle…,” Lenatus said, lowering his cup and looking at her with an expression something between calm and defiance. “Is that what happens is generally going to be worse than you figured it to be.”
May 13, 2011
Out Of The Waters — Snippet 20
Out Of The Waters — Snippet 20
“Fortunately…,” Alphena continued. She enjoyed the feeling of being in control of a situation without screaming at people. “Master Corylus is a proper gentleman. Despite my own failings, the worst would not have happened.”
May 11, 2011
Out Of The Waters — Snippet 19
Out Of The Waters — Snippet 19
***
Alphena had returned to the house with Hedia, in the double litter. She found it odd but nonetheless comforting to regard her stepmother as an ally–a friend even–instead of a demon sent to torment her.
May 9, 2011
Out Of The Waters — Snippet 18
Out Of The Waters — Snippet 18
The client in the office with Saxa was one of the Marcii Philippi, a distant cousin of Saxa’s first–and his second; they were sisters–wife; he was therefore a relative of Varus as well. Despite Philippus’ rank, he lived in straitened circumstances; though that hadn’t, Varus noted, kept him from eating himself into grotesque obesity.