“I am half tempted to leave my sister here to see how long it would take her to turn completely round,” Marcus grinned. “She has developed an appetite like I have never seen. Actually I have. Our cousin Larissa is as wide as she is tall.”
“I am just showing my appreciation for Mrs Grainger’s cooking,” Arianna poked out her tongue at her brother.
Marcus turned to Jenna. “Were you not going to show us your weaponry?”
“Sure.” She led them down to the basemen to a large room where her father kept his display. The sides of the room were built from large stone blocks, each bearing a series of Roman numbers and letters. At the far end, the stones had hieroglyphics.
“Where these markings?” Arianna asked curiously. “I recognise the numbers and letters, but they mean nothing?”
“I have no idea. I think it’s just to make the room look more authentic,” Jenna shrugged.
“Authentic?”
“As in Roman.” She pointed to the row of weapons. “These are a selection of swords through the ages.” She picked one off the wall. “This is from your time.”
Marcus headed to the biggest one. “A mortal can lift this?”
“Yes. It is a longsword. Not the most practical but it was used from around 1300 to 1550.”
Arianna picked up a fencing sword. “This is far too weak to slice a man in two.”
“That is designed for sport not battle. I tried to teach this to Hector once.” She checked the sword was tipped. “The aim is to strike your opponent on the torso,” she demonstrated lightly on Marcus.
“What is the writing below each sword?” Marcus asked.
“That is the date range of where they are from. We no longer use the Latin numbers .”
Marcus still looked confused. He picked the sword from his time zone. “What date do you have on this?”
“Between 100BC and 150AD.”
“I do not understand your date.”
Then it dawned on Jenna why he did not. A Roman would not understand Before Christ and Anno Domini. “All our dates relates to a single point in history which is 0. Everything that happened before them bears the initials BC and everything after is AD.”
“What do they mean?”
“That I cannot tell you.”
“Why?”
“Because that information is too sensitive right now. For you anyway.”
Arianna’s eye caught sight of the crossbows whilst Marcus spotted the shotgun. Jenna gave a demonstration of the crossbow and let Arianna have a go. Marcus meanwhile was examining the gun.
“How does this work?”
“That is very dangerous and technology I cannot show you. That particular model is used for hunting but it has advanced to become something cold that kills hundreds of innocent people every day.”
Arianna yawned loudly. “I hate to admit it, but I think I did eat too much at lunch. I am going to retire to my room and watch more of your wonderful entertainment. Whilst I do not understand much, I love watching the fight scenes.”
Marcus gave Jenna a seductive grin after she had left. “We are alone at last, my dear,” he kissed her enticingly.
“We are indeed. What did you have in mind?”
“Something that involves much shimmering. That ride has made me feel quite desperate for you.”
“And being the considerate host I am, I must take care of all your needs,” she murmured in his ear.
The afternoon was shaping up very well.
CHAPTER 24
Stepping through the gateway, Jenna felt a surge of relief. Marcus and Arianna were back in their correct time zones. Arianna had taken some persuading to leave her new clothes behind at the Institute, but Jenna had eventually won that argument.
It felt kind of surreal walking across the Trajan Forum, they had been in Bath the previous day. Jenna was keen to get back to Apollo’s temple, she wanted to see Amelia and had missed Ares too. It was weird saying goodbye to Marcus having been under the same roof for the last few days.
“I guess I will see you tomorrow,” she kissed his cheek slowly.
“Tomorrow?” he queried. “I want you tonight.”
“What you want, Marshall, is irrelevant,” Jenna grinned. “You have much to do and so do I.” If they were arguing again, they must be back in Rome.
“Dominicus will want to see you,” Marcus was pulling out all the excuses.
“Then I shall see him tomorrow.” She headed up the steps. “Go see your mother, you know she has been worrying.”
Marcus hissed and stalked off. Three days in Bath and they had barely had a disagreement. What was it about Rome that brought out the argumentative in her?
Amelia was positively glowing. “Finally, I thought we’d have to drag you all back.”
“I made the mistake of showing Arianna the shops. We nearly lost her for good.”
“I still can’t believe you showed an ancient Roman the Roman Baths,” Amelia giggled. There was something quite warped in that.
“Hey, I was just highlighting what excellent craftsmen they have. That building has survived millennia.” Jenna bent down and picked up Ares who was tugged at her dress. “And how is my favourite boy?”
“I’m good,” Julius sloped into the temple. “I heard a rumour you were due back.”
“Have you been behaving?”
“Of course. But you’re in trouble for running off.”
“I did not run off. I left the city after rather a heated argument to cool off.”
“Making the Marshall bleed, more like,” Julius sniggered.
Jenna fixed her blue eyes on him. “And what makes you think that?”
“I made Augustus spill his guts, especially if he wanted me to forgive him.”
Jenna’s eyes instinctively went to Amelia who just gave an irritating grin. “All forgiven?”
“Yes. Not everything was as it seemed.”
“He said that?”
“No, the Emperor.”
“You met Trajan?”
“Yes. He had some questions about you too.”
“You even made the Emperor shout,” Julius giggled. “Augustus said he’d never seen him lose his temper before, but your disappearance had him barking at everyone. He even had an elite troop sent after you.”
“Oh crap. I guess I’ll get my ear chewed off when I next meet him.”
“I think that might be tonight,” Amelia winced. “He wanted to see you the minute you got back to Rome.”
“But he doesn’t know I’m back yet.”
Julius snickered and looked at Amelia. “For such a smart woman, she can be incredibly dumb at times.”
“Watch it,” Jenna scowled. “I could make you bleed too.”
“You walked through the centre of Rome, Jenna. You and the Marshall. No-one has seen you both for five days. I think the Emperor might have heard about your return from several difference sources.”
“He already knows,” Augustus’ voice echoed from the front of the temple.
Amelia ran out to him. Jenna thought it wonderful the way he kissed her with such softness.
“Are you here to take Amelia out?”
“No. Your father wants a word. Several, I imagine.”
Jenna stared at Augustus. “You know?”
“He kind of shouted the fact rather loudly at Cassandra the other day when he came looking for you. But it has not gone beyond these temple walls.” He glanced at his young brother. “I understand Julius is already privy to that fact.”
“Your father?” Amelia sounded lost. “Surely you’re not …..?” She couldn’t bring herself to say it.
“Yup. I have the weirdest blood type in history.” Immortal and Imperial.
“Trajan?”
“Was a bit of a bad boy in his younger years,” Jenna frowned. “But as he abandoned me as a baby, he has no chance of trying to instil any parental control.”
“If you sit on the temple steps, you should hear the shouting from here,” Augustus
spoke to Amelia.
“Had your nose broken recently?” Jenna muttered.
“Are you going to come willingly or do I have to drag you?” Augustus sighed.
“Well mount up, I can’t get on before you, unless you want to walk back to the Palace.” Jenna deposited Ares with Julius. “Watch him, he’s in quite a playful mood.”
Augustus rode quickly back to the Palace, it seemed Trajan wanted her delivered with the utmost speed.
“I should warn you, he was not happy at all to find you had left Rome. Take the tirade that is going to come your way with grace,” Augustus took her to one side before they entered the Palace.
“Thanks for the heads up. I’ll do my best, but I you know my temper.”
“That is what worries me.”
Jenna hurried inside and over to Trajan’s study. She knew the route very well by now. A guard swung the door open for her.
“Emperor Trajan,” she nodded. “You summoned me.”
Those pale blue eyes never left her as he rose. “My daughter has deigned to return to Rome. We are honoured indeed.”
“I was not aware I had to seek permission to leave the city. Am I not a free person?” she raised an eyebrow in response.
“I am your father,” he barked. “I should be told when you decide to leave the safety of the city.”
“I apologise. My father died four years ago, I was not aware I had to answer to anyone else.”
“I am your natural father, so you will give the respect I am due.”
Jenna headed over to him and kissed his cheek. “You have my utmost respect as an Emperor. In fact I think you are the greatest. However, having abandoned me as a baby, all paternal rights were rescinded.”
Trajan let out a low hiss. “You spent time alone with Marshall Vilnus.”
“Yes. That is nothing new.”
“Am I to announce your betrothal?”
“I thought Marcus had already told everyone we were betrothed?”
“I want a wedding. I will not have my daughter behaving in an unmaidenly fashion.”
“This is Rome,” Jenna retorted. “Most people behave appallingly. I, on the other hand, conduct myself with discretion.”
“Why delay such a union?”
“Because I am not ready.”
“You harbour dreams of returning to Arula?”
“That has to happen. Rome was only ever temporary.”
“You know I will not allow that,” Trajan responded. “You are and always will be a child of Rome. You carry Imperial blood.”
Jenna took hold of his hands. “I do not wish to argue about this now. When the time draws near, we can.”
“You are the most irksome creature I have ever come across,” Trajan sighed heavily in defeat.
“I get all my best qualities from my father,” Jenna smiled.
“And how is Marcus? Any visible wounds?”
“Just a few mental scars. One day he will come to terms with the fact that I do not do subservient.”
“Perhaps I should pity him.”
“Perhaps. Now, on a different subject, how are you progressing with the young nobles?” Jenna made a not so subtle change of topics.
“That has been delayed for a short while.”
“How come?”
“I was diverting my attention to find my missing daughter.”
“Who is now back, so we can resume with your plans.”
“Captain Augustus,” Trajan barked.
“Yes, Emperor,” Augustus entered the room immediately.
“Please escort Jenna back to the temple. I would suggest tossing her into the arena at the Colosseum, but she would only decimate our gladiators. Let Apollo have the headache of looking after her instead.”
Jenna kissed his cheek before she left. “Goodbye, father,” she murmured.
“Daughter,” he grunted.
Jenna glanced at Augustus as they headed to the courtyard. “That was not too loud, was it?”
“I said play meek and mild.”
“I was, wasn’t I?”
Augustus shook his head. “Perhaps I can find a nice well to drop you in on the way.”
Jenna smacked the back of his head. “Watch it, Emperor’s daughter here.”
Juno refused to release Minerva from her embrace for a good while. “I have missed you terribly, daughter. And so has your father.”
“Give the girl a change to breathe, Juno,” Jupiter sighed as Minerva tried to wriggle out of her iron grasp.
“You knew we would only be gone for a few days. Did you not get the message that all was well from Gaius?”
“We did, thank you. Although he was rather jumpy when we came face to face.”
“It does not take a genius to realise that if Marcus is Mars, then as his father, you are naturally the God of Gods.”
“True. Now tell me all. How was it?”
“A dream. Jenna’s home is beautiful, over three levels. Filled with furniture and decorations. All the windows look outside, over the gardens.”
“It is a large estate, is it not?” Jupiter continued his questioning.
“Yes, quite sizeable. We rode around most of it.”
“Is that still their favoured method of travel?”
“No. Riding is just for recreation. They have these rather luxurious metal boxes on wheels which transport you to where you need to go.”
“Pulled by horses?”
“No. They run by themselves. Jenna did show Mars what made it go, but she had no idea why. Like a lot of the modern inventions, they work but she could not say how.”
“How like a woman,” Jupiter laughed.
“What of the household? The food?” Juno could not resist asking.
“She only had one servant who ran the kitchen. But it seems people there like to be in the kitchen themselves. But the food is to die for. A concoction called chocolate which is better than ambrosia, better than anything I have ever tasted. Everything was delicious and exotic. We even got to taste the food they serve in Rome in her time zone, which apparently is consumed all over the world.”
“How was Acquae Sulis?”
“Only part of the Baths remain, but people come from all over the world to see them. The city was rebuilt about two hundred years ago in the most serene stone and it rivals Rome on beauty. The shops were amazing, so many designs, so much choice. Just to pick up and buy.”
“Jenna bought you clothes?”
“Yes. Sadly we were not allowed to bring them back. They are to be kept at McVale should we visit again.”
“Such a shame. I would liked to have seen them,” Juno pouted.
“I did manage to sneak some undergarments back,” Minerva giggled and undid the top of her dress. “Is this not the most beautiful thing you have seen?”
Jupiter spat his wine across the table as Minerva revealed her bra. Juno was captivated. “It is magnificent, such workmanship. Is it comfortable?”
“Amazingly so. And it makes riding so much more comfortable having your breasts contained. There is also a matching piece below.”
“Enough,” Jupiter barked. “Whilst you are quite the most beautiful creature to have graced this world, I really do not wish to see my daughter virtually naked. If you must show your mother, please do so in private.”
“I’m sorry, papa.” Minerva kissed his forehead. “I did not mean to embarrass you.”
“You are forgiven. But perhaps I will speak to Mars to get his view on Jenna’s world. It might be structured a little better towards my interests.”
“I wouldn’t count on it. He spent much of his time in her bed chamber. Strangely enough that was after she saw him in his riding clothes.”
“Riding clothes?”
“Yes. Men and women wear very tight trousers and long stiff boots. They really do show off every curve and attribute,” she waggled her eyebrows.
“I always said that boy takes after his father,” Jupiter grinned proudly.
Destined for a Deity (Mark of Mars) Page 22
