Blood Never Lies (Mark of Mars)

by Juliet Anderson

  “Jenna,” she oozed warmth. “Just the lady I’ve been trying to track down.”

  “I’ve been out of town for a few days.”

  “So I heard from Marcus. I’m glad your back, I need your help assessing oriental style fighters for me.” She bent down and picked up Ares. “He’s a cute little thing. I did not realise Apollo had his own cat.”

  Jenna smiled. “Marcus gave him to me, his name is Ares.”

  It was Arianna’s turn to laugh. How her baby brother must love that, a cat named after his big brother under his own roof. The cat was paying her due attention. “Anyway, before this furry critter distracted me, I was saying I need to borrow you for your expert advice.”

  “When?”

  “Now if you’re free.”

  “Cassandra is not here at the moment,” Jenna was feeling a little conflicted. She wanted to help Arianna but really needed permission to leave her post.

  “I will be fine on my own, Jenna,” Amelia came to her aid. “Cassandra will be back soon and Julius is due any time.”

  “If you’re sure you don’t mind me absconding?”

  “No. I’ll enjoy the quiet.”

  Jenna poked out her tongue and grabbed her headscarf. “Are these fighters at your house?”

  “No, didn’t I say? We’re watching them fight in a tournament.”

  “Not the Colosseum?” Jenna was not keen on seeing the killing that went on inside.

  “No, it’s at a small arena in the Isis region.”

  “Is it safe to go there alone? I only ask as I don’t want my ear chewed off by your brother.”

  Arianna smiled. “Marcus can get a little vocal at times. But you will be quite safe. I wouldn’t dream of putting you in harm’s way. Besides, Brutus is coming with us.”

  “Oh, Marcus is so going to love that,” Jenna laughed.

  “He’ll just have to get over it. It’s not like you’re out with Brutus on your own, you’re with me. He’s just accompanying us.”

  “Where are we meeting Brutus?”

  “We’ll stop at the house. You can’t go to a fight dressed in temple clothes. I’ll loan you an outfit.”

  Jenna got another glimpse of the beautiful Domus Flavus. Arianna so reminded Jenna of a twenty-first century woman. She breezed into the house, pulled a dress from her vast wardrobe and passed it to Jenna. “I’ll wait for you outside in the peristyle.”

  The light blue dress was stunning, far too lovely to be worn to such a rough part of the city. Jenna slipped it on and headed out to Arianna. “Are you sure about this dress? Won’t we stand out in the crowd?”

  “Nonsense, many nobles are attending the fight. We have a special area reserved for us. Now if you’re ready, Brutus is getting impatient.”

  “Men are always impatient,” Jenna sighed. “Let’s go.”

  Brutus was waiting for them by the front door. “Jenna,” his blue eyes twinkled. “It will be a pleasure taking you to the arena.”

  “You’re taking both of us, I hope,” she smiled back, just highlighting the boundaries.

  “Of course he is,” Arianna scowled at her brother. She linked her arm through Jenna’s and headed out in front of Brutus.

  “How big is the arena?”

  “It seats just a few hundred, it is only small.”

  “And the fighters all come from the Orient?”

  “I think it is a mixture of different fighters.”

  Jenna got the feeling they were going to a private fight, where only the upper echelons of society got to go and gamble. She was not far wrong. The arena was in a private building, and the seating was set out in an amphitheatre. Looking around at the other spectators, it appeared to be only nobles present. Arianna had secured them front row seats.

  Before long, the arena was packed and the first fight was announced. It was a mix of bare knuckle boxing and martial arts. Jenna watched the fighters with great interest as four pairs began.

  “Who looks the most promising?” Arianna asked.

  “That one there,” she pointed to a contestant, “and the other fighting against that tall blonde fellow.”

  “What makes you point them out?” Brutus was curious.

  “Watch them move. They use a mix of different fighting skills so it means they can adapt quickly to match any contestant.”

  “Is that what you look for in a tutor?”

  “That plus their ability. Let’s see how they progress.”

  “How well would you fare against them?” Arianna couldn’t resist asking.

  “Good question. I’d like to think pretty well, but something tells me they’re not fighting at full capability yet. They’re keeping something back for the later rounds.”

  “How do you know that?”

  “They look experienced. Only a novice would reveal everything he has in the first round.”

  Brutus slipped off at the end of the first round.

  “Has he lost interest already?” Jenna smiled. “His attention span is worse than I thought.”

  “No,” Arianna laughed. “I believe he has gone to place a bet on the two challengers you pointed out.” She leant in a little closer. “Women aren’t allowed to place the bets.”

  “Now there’s a surprise,” Jenna rolled her eyes.

  “So have you and Marcus got over your latest disagreement?” Arianna asked suddenly.

  “I think so. But I never really know what is going through his mind, he is such a difficult person to try and figure out.”

  “Tell me about it. I do know that he cares for you very much. And there lies the problem.”

  “How so?”

  “He has never had to express his true feeling before. And I don’t think he really knows how to.”

  “Most men are emotionally challenged,” Jenna responded. “Life would run so much more smoothly if women were in total charge of everything.”

  “Now there speaks a woman of sense,” Arianna beamed.

  “Using the words woman and sense in the same breath is scaring me,” Brutus sat back down.

  “Talking of challenged,” Jenna murmured to Arianna, making her giggle.

  “Is something amusing you, ladies?” Brutus raised an eyebrow.

  “Just you, brother,” Arianna patted his arm. “Now let us watch the next round.”

  “The two you recommend, their names are Leng and Chang,” Brutus leant in towards Jenna. A little too close.

  “You are in danger of being thrown into the arena,” she murmured softly to him. “So back up.”

  He sighed heavily and sat back.

  Jenna watched as the number of challengers got slowly whittled down, her two choices were still standing.

  “Would these men make good tutors?” Arianna asked.

  “It takes a true master to be able to teach such an art, so the answer is probably no. They may be able to recommend one.”

  “I need to place a final bet,” Brutus turned to Jenna. “Out of those two, who do you think will win?”

  Jenna thought for a moment. “Chang I think just has the edge. But it’s a fight, anything can happen.”

  “That’s good enough for me,” Brutus scuttled off.

  “Have you been to the Imperial Palace yet?” Arianna continued with her questioning.

  “Strangely enough, I had an invitation through today.”

  “That is the highest honour anyone can receive. And for a foreigner too.”

  “Yes, I sometimes forget I’m one of those.”

  “We all do. It is hard to believe you are not Roman.”

  “I struggle though to understand your love for the Colosseum. I don’t mind the idea of gladiators going against one another, but when slaves and prisoners are put into the arena, that to me is mindless slaughter not sport.”

  “I agree with you on that point. But it is what the people love.”

  “I just hope I never get an invitation to the Emperor’s box as I’m not sure how I could decline it without causing offence. And if I do
the latter, I might end up being one of the exhibits.”

  Arianna laughed. “I think you’d do rather well in the arena.”

  “Perhaps, but I’m really not that keen to try it out.”

  Brutus reappeared. “The final round is upon us and I hope Jenna is about to make me a healthy profit.”

  “And if I don’t?”

  “I’ll have to take payment in kind,” he gave a mischievous grin.

  “Behave,” Arianna snapped. “Or you’ll have your brother to contend with.”

  Brutus scowled heavily at Marcus’ name. There was clearly no love lost between the two brothers.

  They watched the final round in fascination. Jenna was pleased her judgement was correct. Her two original choices were the final pair, and she was pleased, she had selected the winner. Brutus was happy too, although she had to fend him off giving her a kiss when Arianna went over to interrogate the champion Chang.

  “You can stop the seduction techniques, Brutus,” she kept him at arm’s length. “I’m very much with your brother.”

  “But Marcus is so dull. You’d have a far better time with me.”

  “I’d only hold your attention for such a limited time and a serial charmer holds no interest for me,” she responded.

  “But it would be fun whilst it lasted.”

  “The answer is no, Brutus.”

  “Are you pestering Jenna?” Arianna reappeared. “I’m so sorry,” she looked at Jenna. “He hates to hear the word no.”

  “Tell me about it,” she giggled. “But I do believe even the dumbest of animals can be trained.”

  Brutus snorted and stalked off.

  “Is it wrong to tease him?” Jenna asked.

  “Absolutely not. That is what I find so endearing about you. You treat the male race with the same contempt that I do.” She linked her arm back through Jenna’s. “Now let us head home.”

  Evening was just setting has they left the private arena, the good nobles of Rome all spilling out onto the street.

  “What are the chances of us running into our brother,” Arianna sighed as up ahead was a bank of red and one very recognisable figure in black.

  Brutus went to link his arm through Jenna’s but she was too quick and stepped out of his reach. “Don’t even think about it,” she grunted.

  “If we keep our heads down, he might not recognise us,” Arianna suggested.

  “Why, would he disapprove of us being at the fight?” Jenna was curious as to Arianna’s discomfort.

  “No. But he’d be annoyed I took you from the safety of the temple without telling him.”

  “It’s actually none of his business what I do and with whom,” Jenna responded defensively.

  “I know that but he’s male. He likes to think he has control of us.” Arianna turned to her brother. “Brutus, perhaps you could return home via another route.”

  “And miss the fun? No way, sis.”

  Jenna pulled her headscarf forward and kept her head bent. They made it down the street unseen, and safely back to the Domus Flavus so Jenna could change back into her temple gown.

  Aurelius called her out to the peristyle. “My dear, how are you?”

  “Very well, thank you,” Jenna responded dutifully.

  “I understand you’ve been out in the provinces.”

  “Yes. I wanted a look at life outside of Rome.”

  “How did you find it?”

  “Very rural,” she grinned. “A bit too quiet for me.”

  “Well we are delighted to have you back. You add colour to the streets.”

  Jenna laughed. “I’m not too sure how I should take that.”

  “As the compliment it was supposed to be. Now come and sit and have some wine.”

  “I really should get back to my temple.”

  “Marcus said he would take you back when his current assignment is finished.”

  “He knows I’m here?”

  Aurelius let out a small chuckle. “Of course. He naturally worries for your safety, as do we all.”

  Jenna plonked herself down on a bench and took the goblet that was offered.

  “Tell me more about your parents,” Aurelius asked. “I am actually most curious about your mother.”

  “My mother?” Jenna queried. “What in particular did you want to know?”

  “If I remember rightly, women in Arula are educated and work.”

  “Yes, she studied….” Jenna hesitated. She had had a similar conversation in her dream with Mars. But how did she describe ancient history to someone who lived in that era. “She studied history from centuries previous.”

  “Is that where your love of Rome came from?”

  “I guess. Rome has stood for a while now, and it keeps growing in power. I was curious to see what the city was actually like, to feel its heartbeat.”

  “And to meet a God or two.”

  Jenna laughed. “If only.” The mention of Gods made her think about Julius. She wondered if he had offered up his Seraphina flower to Jupiter yet. Not that he would have got a response, it just would not happen.

  “Something is on your mind?” Aurelius picked up on her distraction.

  “You just reminded me of something. A young friend of mine is trying to have his father recalled from Britannia and keeps making offerings to Jupiter for this to happen. He nearly drowned recently trying to get a flower from the Seraphina tree.”

  “Favours from Jupiter have to be earned. If it was easy to get his attention, everyone would ask him for something.”

  “We both know that request will never be heard,” Jenna sighed. “I have been invited to the Imperial Palace tomorrow so if the opportunity arises, I will ask the Emperor if he can do this one thing for me.”

  “If it is that important to you, I will make the request myself to the Emperor.” He gave Jenna a sympathetic look. “It might sound better coming from me.”

  “I would not want to put you out, Senator,” Jenna replied.

  “Nonsense, it is of no trouble. And please so not call me Senator, it is Aurelius. You are practically family.”

  Jenna reddened at his comment. Marcus had called her his life match; did his father know that as well? Whatever the case, there was going to be no matching going on, she had her own era to return to one day. And that thought filled her with sadness.

  A noise in the atrium caught her attention. It was definitely raised voices.

  “I think your ride home has just stopped by,” Aurelius smiled.

  One rather cross looking Marcus stomped out to the peristyle. “Are you ready to leave?”

  “Yes,” Jenna stood up. “But I do not need an escort, I am more than capable of making my way the short distance back to the temple.” She didn’t want to be around him when his temper was fraying; it usually caused hers to as well.

  Marcus snorted in response. “Let’s go.”

  Jenna rolled her eyes and smiled at Aurelius. “It was a pleasure seeing you again.” She followed Marcus out to the courtyard, where he mounted up and pulled her onto the back of Hercules. “If you‘re going to be in such a foul temper, I‘ll walk back.”

  “I am angry that you went out with Arianna and Brutus without my knowledge.”

  “You do not own me, Marcus. I will come and go as I please and see whom I want. I do not need your permission.”

  “You are my woman, I have a right to know.”

  Okay, time to walk home, Jenna thought else she might just stab him with his own sword. She slipped down off the back of Hercules. “Let’s get one thing straight. I am not your woman, not yet anyway,” she snapped back at him.

  “I think you’ll find you are,” he walked Hercules alongside her.

  “I am only here temporarily so do not plan to get too attached to any one man.”

  Marcus stopped Hercules. “Are you suggesting there are other men?”

  “Perhaps.”

  A feral growl escaped Marcus. That was Jenna’s cue to make a hasty exit. Why could she nev
er keep her temper under control, he seemed to bring the worst out of her at times. She lost herself amongst the crowds crossing the Forum Romanum. It was just his way, this was a male dominated society, she kept telling herself. But he should know better by now than to try and restrict her.