The Aural Anaconda -a review of ”Bloody Kisses” It’s time…for a change. It’s time to get my head either out of my ass or out of Roman Britain, or just plain…out, somewhere – elsewhere, or else wear out what’s left of my synapses. They’ve been buried, unfortunately not fatally, in dense archaeological tomes of academe. A woman can only take so many Sub-strata B earthworks variations (early first to third-century CE), before having an overwhelming urge to cause a good few third millennium earth...

“Would you please,” Arrius asked later that day, “take your nails out of my back?” Iolanthe had quite forgotten herself, and that had not happened in years and years. “Did I …oh! Oh, Gaius, I’m so sorry, did I draw blood?” He rolled off her and on to his back with a massive sigh, followed by a yelp. “Ow! Yes, you did.” “Well, whatever got into you?” Now, it was Iolanthe’s turn to sigh. Her toes were slowly unfurling. Had it really been so long? And how had she forgotten? How could she? Arrius...

It was a slow and painful walk from Postumianus’ office through the praetorium to the private quarters of the Emperor and his family. They walked past offices and anterooms and several audience chambers, through a large formal dining room and along several corridors, before they came to Severus’ private sanctuary, a small three-sided peristyle garden off the Imperial family’s bedrooms. A small fountain, adorned with two gilded leaping dolphins at the top, bubbled water into a basin below, and...

The Unforgivable Crime I have committed the unforgivable crime. No, you'll find no dead bodies buried under my floorboards, no hidden Swiss bank accounts referred to in cryptic numbers in a document buried in the "Soft-porn" folder on my harddrive. (I wish!) I am many things to many people, but..."I am not a crook!." No. In a life filled with all sorts of drama, I have never committed anything that might be considered criminal. Or should I say, I've never been caught? ;) But according to the ...

Wanted: Multitalented individual for high-flying, highly demanding job. Must master the fine art of multi-tasking, have the ability to prioritize and the inner strength to rise above even the most challenging circumstances. Should not be afraid of hands-on experience and close encounters of the seventh kind, and should be willing to work 24/7. Only those willing to forfeit vacation, extraneous activities, possibly marriage, definitely sex and certainly peace of mind need apply. Success will b...

Once the doors were shut behind him, Severus hobbled over to the chair next to Arrius, his slaves fussing with cushions and a footstool to get him comfortable. All the while, Severus eyed first Postumianus with obvious distaste and then Arrius with obvious interest. Arrius knew from personal experience that Severus, for all his ill health and seeming frailty, was not an easy man to fool. If the expression on Postumianus’ face were anything to go by, Postumianus didn’t. With an impatient wave ...

Betraying the Next Generation - Part Two And so..it goes on. My generation started the whole thing by cocooning in the late Eighties and early Nineties, once we stood still long enough to hear our biological clocks ticking. And, man...were we ticking! Once our post-pregnant ever-widening butts were firmly planted on the nursery floor with Baby, it hit us with a sledge hammer. What were promotions, business trips, well-padded bank accounts, the acclamation of your peers and Chanel accessories ...

Dawn was a yellow streak on the horizon as a Roman cargo ship set anchor near a small cove off the eastern coast of Hibernia. Amphora after amphora of wine, along with other goods from the ship, was hoisted into the smaller rowboats under much cursing and swearing, since most of the men doing the unloading and hoisting were anything but sober. First ashore and out of the boat was a tall, dark-haired man whose hair was just beginning to gray. He turned to the rowdy men behind him with an angry...

It was a losing battle. It didn’t matter how vigilant you were, how carefully you ate and drank, how much you applied yourself in your gymnasium, how many Greek potions, face creams and ointments and miracle cures and horrendously expensive Alexandrian cosmetics you slathered all over your face – you still... grew older. Men grew more distinguished with age, as if time itself lent them some special patina and polish that commanded respect and dignity, whereas women… Obviously, this was not th...

The sun was just over the horizon to the east, and Gaius Arrius started his last day in Deva by arguing with a woman, a terrible start to any day, never mind his last. It grew worse when the beginnings of a slight headache made their first appearance at the back of his head, the result of drinking a thorough farewell with his men the night before, and finally, insult compounded into injury because Brecca, his Briton mistress, would simply not shut up. He kept his eyes closed and tried to igno...