Atia could see through the drawn curtains of her litter that it was a fair day on the Palantine. She was leaving the house of her brother, Gaius Baltar Curius, and making her way back to her own home. She had many preparations to make before her brother left the city.
He had agreed to join her hired freed-man, Krassus, at her olive grove near Arpinum with Atia's security staff and some of his own veterans. Apparently, a slave revolt that had already taken the town of Corfinium was coming nearer and nearer to her own estate. Krassus had sent word that several of her staff had already abandoned the property and rumors were spreading like wild-fire that the revolt was coming west.
Atia had originally planned on going herself to see to the safety of her property and people, but her brother had wisely advised against it. "Let me see how the situation unfolds," he reassured her, "It may be unsafe for a woman of noble-birth."
Fubia, Atia's woman, met her in the courtyard of Atia's domus. "Your Aunt and Uncle arrived earlier," she explained as she pointed Atia to the garden where they had been seated. Uncle Germanicus rose to meet her and kissed her eyes, "My dear neice," he exclaimed. "We've wonderful news for you!"
Normally, Atia relished visits from her uncle, he was a famous orator and poet, and he and Atia had wasted many an afternoon reciting and pouring over eachother's verses. However, Atia knew this visit would be different... the words, "wonderful news" could only mean one thing- another marriage proposal.
Atia sighed and seated herself between them. She already knew her answer, but she would atleast be polite...