“We really don’t want to impinge on Augustus’s duties,” Amelia felt a little troublesome.
“It is no problem at all. Besides, Jenna would hold me personally responsible if anything happened to either of you. And you know Rome shudders when she loses her temper.”
Amelia could not help but laugh. Marcus was quite right, Jenna was worse than Vesuvius when she lost her rag. Her stomach did a little dance as she watched a vision in red ride up the street. Her own private centurion guard.
“What are you doing on this side of town, Julius?” Augustus scowled at his young brother.
“He was visiting me,” Amelia pushed Julius behind her before Augustus tore a strip off him, especially in front of Marshall Vilnus. “I’m taking him home.”
“Please see they both get to where they need to be,” Marcus instructed Augustus before riding off.
Augustus jumped down from his horse, glaring at Julius. Amelia tapped his arm lightly. “Quit looking so thunderous. I rather liked having a young visitor.”
“But it is not safe for you to be out alone on the streets,” he barked.
“I’m a temple handmaiden. So stop with the overprotective brother routine. It’s not needed.”
Augustus let out a frustrated growl. “Your Arulian side is starting to come out.”
“And you’ll get an Arulian slap if you don’t cheer up,” Amelia hissed back.
Julius sniggered and got a smack on the back of his head from his brother.
“That wasn’t very nice,” Amelia responded tartly.
“I’m not in a very nice mood,” Augustus muttered.
Amelia stepped away from him and put her arm around Julius. “I really don’t want to walk with you when you’re behaving so foul, so please return to whatever it is you were doing before you got dragged away.”
“The Marshall asked me to escort you home. I cannot disobey an order.”
“No. Marshall Vilnus asked you to escort us wherever we were going. And we’re headed to the Temple of Juno, which I believe is one street away.”
Augustus snorted loudly and followed behind Amelia and Julius who totally ignored him. Amelia dragged Julius up the temple steps and inside. “Centurions are not permitted to enter a temple armed,” she grinned at Julius. “Therefore your brother can’t follow. Once he’s gone, we’ll continue on our way.”
They looked around the temple, admiring the beautiful statue of Juno. The whole temple had such a serene feel it to.
“It is only fitting you visit Juno having been to pay your respects to Jupiter.” They offered up a quick prayer to Juno, before checking that the coast was clear. It was. Luckily the route back to Julius’ home was trouble free.
Before he ran up the stairs and inside the apartment, Amelia gave him a stern talking to. “Remember, the streets are not particularly friendly, more so after the attempt on the Emperor’s life. Fights can strike up for the simplest of reason, and I think you should remain close to home.”
“But your area of the city is safer?”
Amelia cursed the logic of children. “Yes, but if you are close to home, you can return to safety quickly. Your mother will therefore not worry.”
She saw him race up the steps before leaving. To her surprise, Augustus was waiting for her just outside the courtyard.
“I thought you’d gone,” she glowered.
“Credit me with a little more intelligence, Amelia. I am not about to let you walk back to your temple unescorted.”
“Fine. Just don’t irritate me.”
“I’m sorry if I’m not good company, we’re all on edge. The streets are like a tinderbox at the moment. We’re all waiting for the mother of all riots to break out, which is why practically every soldier in the garrison is out in force.”
“I thought everything had calmed down.”
“No, tensions are simmering, but still very high.”
“I’m sorry,” Amelia felt quite contrite.
“For what?” he looked at her curiously.
“For my lack of understanding earlier. I had no idea.”
“I was entirely to blame. I should know better than to growl at a lady.”
“Especially an Arulian one. They growl back.”
Augustus let out a small chuckle and took hold of her hand and kissed it. “Am I forgiven?”
“I guess so.” She couldn’t stay cross with him, especially when those soft brown eyes looked at her.
He stepped marginally closer to her. “I saw Jenna fighting side by side with the Emperor the other day. It is a sight many of us soldiers will never forget.”
“You were there on the front line?”
“Yes. I wish I’d been closer to the Emperor, to be able to protect him.”
“That would have advanced your cause to join the Praetorian.”
“Sadly, I was in the wrong place and unable to leave the men under my command.”
“The Emperor did lose many of his guards, did he not?” Amelia felt rather callous for asking, but if there was a void that needed filling.
“Yes. But every guard has to meet strict criteria. Given the treachery of a couple, that recruitment process will be even more stringent.”
“We’ll get you wearing purple sooner than you think,” Amelia waved her hand dismissively. “I don’t think Emperor Trajan would refuse Jenna any request.”
“How is she? I understand she was injured in the fire.”
“She’s fine. She’ll be back tomorrow, so if you think the streets are tense, just wait. I give it one day before she and Marshall Vilnus are shrieking at each other.”
“Back to normal then.” They continued on in silence for a few minutes before Augustus spoke again. “There is a festival for Ceres coming up soon. Would you go with me?”
“What happens at the festival?”
“Eating, drinking, dancing. The usual activities.”
“I’ll have to check with Cassandra, but I think it likely.”
“Good. I enjoy spending time alone with you.”
“Alone with hundreds of other festival goers,” Amelia pointed out, just in case he had other ideas. However, those other ideas were rather appealing.
Jenna was seated nervously in Professor Daniels study as he read through her notes, she did her best to stop her leg from shaking. She was also waiting for approval to go back to Rome.
“Good work, Jenna,” the Professor looked up. “Excellent report.”
Jenna allowed herself a small smile. “I’m keen to get back to Rome. Am I cleared to go back later this morning?”
The Professor’s brown eyes rested on her for a moment. “I understand Marshall Vilnus has threatened to arrest the remainder of our students and teaching staff if you do not return, so I guess the answer is yes.” He stood up and paced around the room a bit, wondering how to best phrase his next question. “I have to ask, Jenna, what your current relationship with the Marshall is?”
She felt herself blush a little. “We have no formal relationship, Professor. And before you ask, no I have not slept with him.”
The Professor sat down beside her. “I am sorry to ask these awkward questions, but no student has ever really grabbed the attention of such a high profile citizen. You are aware, of course, that any relationship which develops cannot possibly last? You will one day have to return permanently to your time.”
“Yes. I know I have to return to my rightful era eventually. But I thought relationships of this nature were prohibited.”
“We actively discourage them. However, not only is the Marshall a man who would ignore our rules, he also has us at a disadvantage knowing about the gateway. We cannot therefore prohibit any relationship if that is your wish.”
“To be honest, I’m not entirely sure what I want.” Jenna answered. Much as she wanted to take things further with Marcus, she knew it would not last.
“In that case, I just need you to give one more blood sample to Dr Dracula, then you are clear to return.”
Jenna did her best to control her smile. “Thank you, Professor.”
CHAPTER 33
Mars looked up as Minerva flounced into his study.
“Sister, what a lovely surprise,” he grunted.
She leant over his desk and kissed his forehead. “I thought you’d be in better humour today.”
“And why would that be?”
“Jenna is due back this morning, is she not?”
“Yes.”
“Well, you’ll not win her over with that sullen attitude,” Minerva wagged a finger at him.
Mars could not help but smile. “Perhaps it is you who has brought out the bear in me?”
“Not possible,” she grinned. “Now before you irritate Jenna too much, you must pass a message to her from me.”
“Must I?” he sighed.
“I want her help in finding a master to tutor me in fighting in the oriental style.”
Mars stared at her perplexed. “Why? You’re a Goddess. You have incredible fighting skills already.”
“A compliment! Steady on, brother.” Minerva stared out the window onto the peristyle. “Jenna has shown me that my skills are actually lacking. I need to be truly great and want to pursue this style. It is the way forward.” She gave her brother a blistering smile. “That way I can also kick yours and Apollo’s butt.”
Mars snorted in response.
Minerva studied her brother for a moment and was a little shocked at what she saw. He was always so confident, so sure of himself, but she could see worry filling his handsome face. “What is troubling you?”
He looked away from her. “Jenna,” he said bluntly. “What if she does not return today? Do I have the courage to go through the gateway to retrieve her? I cannot even begin to imagine what lies on the other side, what the world has become after two thousand years.”
She reached out and touched his cheek affectionately. “You would risk yourself to bring her back?”
“Yes, without a doubt. Rome does not feel right without her.”
And he still had no clue about Jenna’s mark, Minerva sighed heavily to herself. Men could be so thick. Did he not think for one moment that there was a reason why he was drawn so strongly to this mortal, that this was way more than casual lust? That mark was calling him to her, like a siren to a drowning sailor. “You cannot possibly go through the gateway alone. You will need me to watch your back.”
He gave her half a smile. “You would do that for me?”
“No. For me. I can’t let you have the first glimpse of this advanced society without me. You need my skills of diplomacy too.”
He gave his head a shake. “Haven’t you got someone else you can go and irritate?”
“Probably, but baiting you when you’re in bad humour is infinitely more fun.” She gave him another kiss on the cheek before heading to the door. “But I take the hint when I am not wanted.”
“That would be a first.”
Jenna threw her arms around Luke as she emerged through the gateway into Mars’ Temple. “I have missed you.”
“Likewise,” he grinned. “It’s been far too quiet without you creating havoc and mayhem on the streets.”
“Hey, havoc and mayhem are my two closest allies,” she slapped his arm playfully.
“Well, you are the hero of Rome at the moment in Maia’s eyes?”
“Did the Emperor make good on his promise?”
“In person. She almost fainted on the spot when he showed up on her doorstep! She now gets a regular supply of food from the Imperial Palace. Delivered by General Dexter, who it is rumoured is quite taken with the young widow.”
“A matchmaker as well,” Jenna sighed dramatically. “Are there no ends to my talents.” She glanced at the marvellous statue before her. “And to think I nearly asked for this bad boy to be given to me.” She ran her hand lovingly over the smooth marble. It still felt incredibly warm to the touch.
“You didn’t?” Luke gasped.
“Almost. Although I would prefer the living version,” she grinned mischievously. “Now I must get back to Apollo. It seems an age since I was last there and I haven’t seen Amelia for a couple of days. There must be plenty of gossip to catch up on.”
She gave Luke one final hug before stepping out into the Forum of Augustus. She made a mental note to cross the Trajan Forum without being distracted. As she stepped into it, all she could focus on was the vision in black before her. He looked just as magnificent as he had done on the first day she saw him. But now she knew that what lay under the dark façade was just delicious. And more importantly, how the hell did he know she was back, it had been less than a couple of minutes? He extended his arm and swung her up onto the back of Hercules.
“Welcome home, Jenna.”
EPILOGUE
“It’s been a long time since you were last here,” the Oracle purred as Jupiter crossed over the threshold of her temple.
“I seek clarity,” he answered, dropping down onto a stone seat.
“Hmm,” she mused, extending her long fingers. “About your son’s prophecy.” She moved with deliberate slowness. “You know I can only speak to the owner of the prophecy.”
“You will speak to me,” Jupiter thundered. “Or I will end your life.”
“This must be serious to warrant a threat from you?”
“Could there be more than one person who bears his mark?” He thought he’d ask the obvious question to start with.
“There is but one.”
“We have found the woman in question, but she is a time walker. And a foreigner. How is this possible?”
“Doorways can be accessed from both sides,” the Oracle responded.
Jupiter thought about her words for a moment, their meaning slowly dawning on him. He cursed for not thinking of it himself.
“If she was taken from Rome as a baby, why return her now? No mortal could be aware of what that mark means.”
The Oracle gave a throaty cackle. “No matter how hard mortals try, no-one can truly alter their destiny. Jenna’s meeting with Mars was pre-set on the day she was born; the Fates saw to it that she was returned on time so the prophecy could start to be fulfilled.”
Mark of Mars Page 26