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The Assassin of Laurentium
Dear Author,
I’m among the most sought-after male courtesans in the land (picture 1). With the body and skill of a dancer, I’ve been extensively trained in the art of seducing and pleasing men. But known only to a select few, I’m equally skilled in the art of espionage and assassination. You’d be surprised how easily powerful men spill secrets in the bedroom.
I like to think that my assignments have always been on the side of right, but it’s still a soul-killing and solitary existence. I was given to the king’s spymaster as a youth on the verge of manhood so my parents could feed and clothe my brothers and sisters. I left behind my best friend and first love who occupies my dreams even after all these years. I have yet to find that man who makes me feel as secure and safe.
I’m being given a new guard as I prepare to travel to my next assignment (picture 2). When he comes to my quarters, I’m struck by his physical presence but why does he seem so familiar?
Photo Description:
Photo 1: The first photo shows a beautiful young man with long blond hair reclining in an opulent bedchamber. Naked but for a few folds of light fabric, he wears heavy gold jewellery and has striking scarlet eyes. Beside him are a bunch of grapes and a silver jug.
Photo 2: The second picture shows a muscular man with shoulder-length dark hair reclining on a simple bed with only a blanket covering his loins.
This story was written as a part of the M/M Romance Group's "Love’s Landscapes" event. Group members were asked to write a story prompt inspired by a photo of their choice. Authors of the group selected a photo and prompt that spoke to them and wrote a short story.
This story may contain sexually explicit content and is intended for adult readers. It may contain content that is disagreeable or distressing to some readers. The M/M Romance Group strongly recommends that each reader review the General Information section before each story for story tags as well as for content warnings.
I’m among the most sought-after male courtesans in the land (picture 1). With the body and skill of a dancer, I’ve been extensively trained in the art of seducing and pleasing men. But known only to a select few, I’m equally skilled in the art of espionage and assassination. You’d be surprised how easily powerful men spill secrets in the bedroom.
I like to think that my assignments have always been on the side of right, but it’s still a soul-killing and solitary existence. I was given to the king’s spymaster as a youth on the verge of manhood so my parents could feed and clothe my brothers and sisters. I left behind my best friend and first love who occupies my dreams even after all these years. I have yet to find that man who makes me feel as secure and safe.
I’m being given a new guard as I prepare to travel to my next assignment (picture 2). When he comes to my quarters, I’m struck by his physical presence but why does he seem so familiar?
Photo Description:
Photo 1: The first photo shows a beautiful young man with long blond hair reclining in an opulent bedchamber. Naked but for a few folds of light fabric, he wears heavy gold jewellery and has striking scarlet eyes. Beside him are a bunch of grapes and a silver jug.
Photo 2: The second picture shows a muscular man with shoulder-length dark hair reclining on a simple bed with only a blanket covering his loins.
This story was written as a part of the M/M Romance Group's "Love’s Landscapes" event. Group members were asked to write a story prompt inspired by a photo of their choice. Authors of the group selected a photo and prompt that spoke to them and wrote a short story.
This story may contain sexually explicit content and is intended for adult readers. It may contain content that is disagreeable or distressing to some readers. The M/M Romance Group strongly recommends that each reader review the General Information section before each story for story tags as well as for content warnings.
52 pages, ebook
First published June 24, 2014
1 person is currently reading
62 people want to read
About the author
Clodia Metelli
7 books25 followersI write historical and fantasy fiction, usually featuring gay protagonists, sometimes with a strong romance theme, sometimes not.
Most of my historical fiction is set in the ancient Greco-Roman period, which I studied for many years and which remains a passion with me (reading Suetonius can have a terribly corrupting effect on a young mind...). I aim to offer an alternative, more internalised window on Greco-Roman society, the emotional and cultural lives of courtesans and poets rather than the deeds of gladiators and victorious generals. An elegiac rather than epic perspective.
My fantasy fiction so far includes both urban vampire fiction set in contemporary London and high fantasy, set in the decaying ancient civilisation of Laurentium.
Most of my historical fiction is set in the ancient Greco-Roman period, which I studied for many years and which remains a passion with me (reading Suetonius can have a terribly corrupting effect on a young mind...). I aim to offer an alternative, more internalised window on Greco-Roman society, the emotional and cultural lives of courtesans and poets rather than the deeds of gladiators and victorious generals. An elegiac rather than epic perspective.
My fantasy fiction so far includes both urban vampire fiction set in contemporary London and high fantasy, set in the decaying ancient civilisation of Laurentium.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 32 reviews
June 24, 2014
The games rulers play, Roman style.
Tasty tidbit to whet the appetite. Surprisingly chaste, yet erotic, it features nice intrigue with some significant political machinations as Artor acts on behalf of the empire to ascertain loyalty. The romance element is nascent at this point in the story so this is more a suspense/intrigue read. There are complications, a couple, and the end is really just the beginning. Hope there's more planned.
Tasty tidbit to whet the appetite. Surprisingly chaste, yet erotic, it features nice intrigue with some significant political machinations as Artor acts on behalf of the empire to ascertain loyalty. The romance element is nascent at this point in the story so this is more a suspense/intrigue read. There are complications, a couple, and the end is really just the beginning. Hope there's more planned.
June 9, 2017
this was a really good short story! i'm impressed at how she managed to squeeze in a plot (complete with twist), relationships, Feelings and kinky times in such a small amount of words. there's a cliffhanger but the story's been tied up (haha... no pun intended) at the same time, which is one of my favourite ways to end a story (especially a short story). definitely one of my favourites from the Don't Read In The Closet Events! my only criticism is that it seems like a high fantasy-ish setting but there isn't any fantasy, a la Captive Prince, which is a trope that kind of annoys me bc you could just set it in an actual historical place, or you could add in fantasy, but an alt-world w/o fantasy seems pointless. but that's just a personal pet peeve of mine.
July 4, 2014
Between 3.5* and 4*
This was the first few chapters of a novel. Or rather that's what it felt like. Great worldbuilding, careful and slow characterisation crammed into unfortunately too short a story.
I'd really love to read a leisurely novel version!
This was the first few chapters of a novel. Or rather that's what it felt like. Great worldbuilding, careful and slow characterisation crammed into unfortunately too short a story.
I'd really love to read a leisurely novel version!
August 10, 2014
3.5
This shows a ton of promise, featuring a solid fantasy set-up, good characterizations, and several fun plot twists. Metelli has a great sense for exotic luxury, and the story features an intriguing juxtaposition between its courtesan hero's taste for lazy decadence and the inner strength and discipline it must have taken to turn himself into such an accomplished assassin. Artor's sincere embrace of his new life avoids the usual decadent=evil, simple=virtuous dichotomies, and "beautiful slave boy" cliches. Gaheris makes a sexy, smoldering foil, though his character is not as well developed as it might be.
I had two main issues. The first is that the "lofty" fantasy diction--"tresses" or "locks" instead of hair, "unguents" etc.--risks sounding unduly stilted, especially in dialogue, where it never sounds natural or spontaneous. I'll admit to a prejudice here, since I dislike old-timey diction unless it's really well done, which it rarely is. Better in my opinion to just go with more contemporary speech patterns like a lot of fantasy authors are opting for now. At the very least, I think it could be dialed down without losing the rich, sensuous details of Metelli's world. My second issue is that a lot of the chapter breaks are bizarrely abrupt and awkward. They seem designed to signal a change in perspective, though there really isn't much of a distinction in the voicing (inflection) of Artor's and Gaheris' narratives, which gives an overall flat effect since their perspectives and even languages are dramatically different. There are also odd moments of head-hopping, which are isolated enough that I assume they were intended to be edited out.
The "lofty" idiom is a stylistic choice, one I happen to disagree with, or would prefer to see muted. The second is really just an editing issue, understandable given the constraints of the event, and simple enough to clear up. I mention them mostly since the story we have here is clearly meant to be continued, which I hope it is. As other reviewers have noted, this world seems like it could sustain a far longer, even epic scale, treatment. I'm hoping that's what Metelli is planning. It would certainly be great news for all M/M fantasy fans.
This shows a ton of promise, featuring a solid fantasy set-up, good characterizations, and several fun plot twists. Metelli has a great sense for exotic luxury, and the story features an intriguing juxtaposition between its courtesan hero's taste for lazy decadence and the inner strength and discipline it must have taken to turn himself into such an accomplished assassin. Artor's sincere embrace of his new life avoids the usual decadent=evil, simple=virtuous dichotomies, and "beautiful slave boy" cliches. Gaheris makes a sexy, smoldering foil, though his character is not as well developed as it might be.
I had two main issues. The first is that the "lofty" fantasy diction--"tresses" or "locks" instead of hair, "unguents" etc.--risks sounding unduly stilted, especially in dialogue, where it never sounds natural or spontaneous. I'll admit to a prejudice here, since I dislike old-timey diction unless it's really well done, which it rarely is. Better in my opinion to just go with more contemporary speech patterns like a lot of fantasy authors are opting for now. At the very least, I think it could be dialed down without losing the rich, sensuous details of Metelli's world. My second issue is that a lot of the chapter breaks are bizarrely abrupt and awkward. They seem designed to signal a change in perspective, though there really isn't much of a distinction in the voicing (inflection) of Artor's and Gaheris' narratives, which gives an overall flat effect since their perspectives and even languages are dramatically different. There are also odd moments of head-hopping, which are isolated enough that I assume they were intended to be edited out.
The "lofty" idiom is a stylistic choice, one I happen to disagree with, or would prefer to see muted. The second is really just an editing issue, understandable given the constraints of the event, and simple enough to clear up. I mention them mostly since the story we have here is clearly meant to be continued, which I hope it is. As other reviewers have noted, this world seems like it could sustain a far longer, even epic scale, treatment. I'm hoping that's what Metelli is planning. It would certainly be great news for all M/M fantasy fans.
March 30, 2015
I found this a difficult story to rate. Even now I'm questioning my 3 stars, wondering if I should give it 4.
The main problem can be summed up in one simple sentence: It's too short.
The scope of the story, the world building, the potentional for slow burn UST, the writer's obvious love and knowledge of the subject. It all screamed EPIC.
This story needs at least another 100K.
The main problem can be summed up in one simple sentence: It's too short.
The scope of the story, the world building, the potentional for slow burn UST, the writer's obvious love and knowledge of the subject. It all screamed EPIC.
This story needs at least another 100K.
November 27, 2016
An assassin who is also a courtesan is at the center of this fantasy story, set in a historical time that feels much like Ancient Rome. Artor was sold as a boy, educated by Laurentium, and is now basically a spy with some extra "talents". When he is sent on a new mission with a new bodyguard (his previous one was murdered defending him from an attacker), he turns out to be none other than Gaheris, an old friend from Artor's village.
The mission is not easy - Artor has to understand some of the politics of his situation and make a judgment, an unexpected twist changes everything, and Gaheris has severe doubts about the ethics of what they are doing.
If you like historicals, if courtesans with a hidden agenda are your thing, and if you're looking for a read that makes the past come alive, you might like this free short story. It does end a little more abruptly than I hoped, but that is mostly because I really liked the characters and wanted more...
The mission is not easy - Artor has to understand some of the politics of his situation and make a judgment, an unexpected twist changes everything, and Gaheris has severe doubts about the ethics of what they are doing.
If you like historicals, if courtesans with a hidden agenda are your thing, and if you're looking for a read that makes the past come alive, you might like this free short story. It does end a little more abruptly than I hoped, but that is mostly because I really liked the characters and wanted more...
July 2, 2014
This was strangely flat, I could sense no genuine emotional depth or connections between the main characters. Still, the author clearly went to a great deal of trouble to world build - even if at times it was bordering on the dry academic as opposed to the fantasy genre - so I think I would have given it at least three stars for that effort. Unfortunately there was a sudden and senseless eruption of bdsm, so now it gets two stars and a grumpy acrostic instead.
Get your kink on by all means,
But please
Don't
Spoil
My story.
Get your kink on by all means,
But please
Don't
Spoil
My story.
April 10, 2016
Love this... the characters, the world-building, the relationships. Only thing that really didn't work was that it was far too short and ended rather abruptly, leaving the reader in the lurch.
(I did think a couple of the names - Clarissimus Florianus and Ptolemaius - were a bit of a mouthful to read at times. ;) )
I do hope this short story is just the basis of a much longer novel!
(I did think a couple of the names - Clarissimus Florianus and Ptolemaius - were a bit of a mouthful to read at times. ;) )
I do hope this short story is just the basis of a much longer novel!
July 13, 2014
Intriguing tale but way too short !!!
Thank You Ms. Metelli
August 30, 2014
Offered for FREE from the M/M Romance Group's Love's Landscapes event. Thank you too all the amazing authors who participated!
I loved the premise, but was worried that this was an end-at-the-beginning type of story. Well, it was and it wasn't. If this had been a full length book with more depth and detail, I could see the ending being the gap before Part Two. The problem is that there wasn't enough relationship development to justify it from a character stand point. To be completely honest, I didn't think Gaheris served much purpose and would prefer the Dux as the love interest. We just didn't get enough emotion from either MC (even including anger, shame, jealousy) to buy a reunited lovers' trope.
I'd defenitely read Part Two (I'm sure there will be one), I just thought this had more potential than was realized.
August 5, 2014
just a whisker over three stars
Fantasy but firmly based in ancient Greek/Roman tradition
Artor is a slave, courtesan and spy working for the ruler of Laurentium. Some months before the story opens his body guard, Hercule, has been killed defending him and he has been in mourning/seclusion since. Now he has a new mission, to go to the second city of the empire and find out what the ruler, the Dux, is up to and, if necessary, dispose of him. He requires a new body guard for this mission and is introduced to a fellow slave, Troilius. Only Troilius is in fact Gaheris, Artor's childhood friend. Whilst the primary relationship is the romance sense is between Artor and Gaheris, Artor's job means that he also has to have a relationship with the Dux, which whilst for me this is fine I know it will put others off on the basis that on a technicality it's cheating. The story itself was well written and interesting, but unfortunately it feels unfinished.
Fantasy but firmly based in ancient Greek/Roman tradition
Artor is a slave, courtesan and spy working for the ruler of Laurentium. Some months before the story opens his body guard, Hercule, has been killed defending him and he has been in mourning/seclusion since. Now he has a new mission, to go to the second city of the empire and find out what the ruler, the Dux, is up to and, if necessary, dispose of him. He requires a new body guard for this mission and is introduced to a fellow slave, Troilius. Only Troilius is in fact Gaheris, Artor's childhood friend. Whilst the primary relationship is the romance sense is between Artor and Gaheris, Artor's job means that he also has to have a relationship with the Dux, which whilst for me this is fine I know it will put others off on the basis that on a technicality it's cheating. The story itself was well written and interesting, but unfortunately it feels unfinished.
August 15, 2014
I'm shocked about the low rating on this one. i can imagine many aren't pleased with the open ending, but I found the story itself very enjoyable , well written and I'm hoping for an extention/sequel.
July 27, 2017
Hmm the plot and pacing was off. Too many descriptions of environment (like reading ch3 of hunchback of notre dame) Barbarians everywhere! I didn't feel the connection between Artor and Geheris(?) at all. Sudden bdsm!
October 17, 2014
I read this originally when posted in the Love's Landscapes event and enjoyed it.
Reread again today, taking more time to appreciate the world building - an historical setting, romanish, medaevialish, GoTish.
The vibe I got is that whilst life for Artor is lavish, it is lonely and indeed dangerous - he is after all the keeper of lots of secrets.
The story here is a nice set up for lots of Artor/Gaheris spin off tales I think. It did feel a bit cut off at the end but was a good story.
Reread again today, taking more time to appreciate the world building - an historical setting, romanish, medaevialish, GoTish.
The vibe I got is that whilst life for Artor is lavish, it is lonely and indeed dangerous - he is after all the keeper of lots of secrets.
The story here is a nice set up for lots of Artor/Gaheris spin off tales I think. It did feel a bit cut off at the end but was a good story.
April 2, 2016
I enjoyed the characters, and their world and hope I get the chance to read the story again and/or to read more within the series.
My Rating System:
* couldn't finish, ** wouldn't recommend, *** would recommend, **** would read again, ***** have read again.
October 26, 2014
3.5 stars
This is done in a super-richly-descriptive style (the prompt did ask for descriptive) which is at times quite lovely. But the same long heavy wording makes for slow reading. It nicely encapsulates the prompt though and seems like it might be a nice jumping-off point for a longer work.
July 6, 2014
So much potential... it could have worked. It was a good take on an interesting prompt. But the eroticism wasn't very erotic... the set-up was the best part... the back story. The world had some interest, especially the play... but then once the dual relationships started, neither held much interest. I was as bored as Artor seemed to be with the whole process.
August 17, 2014
Quite hard to rate this - it was a good story and really seemed like it was going places, but then it just ended. I'm not sure this even counted as a HFN - there was hardly any interaction between the two 'lovers'. The surrounding plot was really good though - just ended far too soon.
July 12, 2014
Nice worldbuilding, but the story ends too soon. I'm hoping we'll get the whole story later, as this is definitely an interesting beginning.
event-stories-unread
September 22, 2014[NOTE: I rate most writing event stories (free reads) 4 or 5 stars because of my appreciation of the author's participation and gift.]
Want to read
August 25, 2016Oh yes...
Link:https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...
Link:https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...
June 30, 2014
Huh?!?! I turned the page and the story ended!
Want to read
July 9, 2014STORY INFO:
Genre: fantasy
Tags: bodyguard, assassin, spy, courtesan, BDSM, slow burn/ust, friends to lovers
Content Warning: HFN
Word Count: 15,908
Genre: fantasy
Tags: bodyguard, assassin, spy, courtesan, BDSM, slow burn/ust, friends to lovers
Content Warning: HFN
Word Count: 15,908
August 27, 2014
Review to come
February 18, 2015
I want the rest of this!!!! *tears.
Read
April 14, 2015dnf couldn't get into the story
Read
June 30, 2015A promising story which unfortunately didn't go anywhere interesting.
November 29, 2015
Too much build up, too little story, and the 'BDSM' came out of nowhere - unbalanced
July 13, 2016
it has great potential but its incomplete, it feels like the start of a novel, and because its short it felt a bit rushed....
July 16, 2016
Too short/cliffhanger. Otherwise, 5 stars. Excellent writing.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 32 reviews