The Emperor had barely recovered from the insults that William had thrown at him, but again his dark emotions got the better of him. He began ranting and raving like a spoiled child who had not been given his way. "Do something…Idiots… Kill these Christians… Now!"
But nobody dared to go into the arena. Nobody moved. Tilenius whispered, "I think everyone is afraid of the curses of these Christians. We need Jupiter's help."
A figure walked up to the Emperor. It was Volusenius. He bowed before the Emperor and asked for permission to speak.
"Who are you?" Decius balked.
"My name is Volusenius, your highness. I am a fugitivarius. I will kill these Christians for you…"
The Emperor glared at the man before him. "Do it, man… Do it. I will reward you richly."
Volusenius raised his eyebrows. "A villa, maybe… A villa at Piazza Pax Hortus?"
The Emperor gritted his teeth. "Fine. Whatever. Just make the crowd happy and kill ‘em, all three."
Volusenius smiled as he turned.
William could not believe it. He had heard about lions, although he had never seen one before. Lions, he had heard, were considered some of the most ferocious animals around. However, these beasts seemed as meek as lambs. The biggest one lay stretched out in the sun and was actually snoring. The other two seemed to keep watch.
"We can sit up now." William whispered to Caitlin and Cantilia. "There seems to be no direct danger."
Cantilia and Caitlin stared at the beasts before them. "I've never seen anything like it," Cantilia said, as she shook her head.
"But, what will happen if they wake up," Pollius whimpered. He pointed at the sky and said, "T-there's a storm coming. The lions will finish us off quickly.”
Pollius was right, at least about the storm, for as Cantilia looked up she too noticed the dark clouds that were looming on the horizon. "We just trust in God, Pollius…" she answered him, "Personally, I am getting weary of your attitude. I prefer not to hear your voice for a while."
Pollius scowled, but as one of the lions let out a grumble he jumped up and hid behind William.
William too scanned the horizon. "Look at these strange, dark clouds that are forming." Caitlin looked up as well. The sun was still covering the arena, but the sky on the horizon had grown inky-black and the dark clouds were fast moving in their direction.
"I-I have seen such clouds before," Caitlin whispered.
William looked at her. She was right. The day he and Caitlin had gotten married the sky had grown intensely dark as well. The clouds then seemed equally heavy and oppressive.
Cantilia just shrugged her shoulders. "Just a storm… A big one, but who knows… it may be in our favor."
"I-it's not just a storm, Cantilia. It's just li—" William said, but he did not finish his sentence as the gate in the arena opened with a clang and a lone warrior appeared. Instantly the crowd started to cheer again as they started to chant, "Action, Action, Action."
The warrior wasn't wearing a helmet, and seemed somewhat familiar to William. He was simply dressed in a wide loincloth that was attached to his waist with an enormous golden-looking belt. He was holding a net and a trident.
"O-oh…" William sighed. "Here comes trouble."
Caitlin looked up and gasped. "It's Volusenius."
Now William and Cantilia recognized him too. The warrior stopped ten yards before the lions and scowled. His black, shoulder-length hair was matted and small drops of sweat sparkled on his forehead. Although the dark clouds were fast approaching, the sun was still shining and his trident was gleaming.
"So!" he said with a mocking smile. "We meet again… only this time the Emperor has told me to kill you. And I am a most faithful subject. I always obey the wishes of the Emperor."
William stood up. His wound had stopped bleeding, but it appeared the world around him was turning and he felt nauseous. "I-I know you want us to die… But you will have t-to kill me first."
Volusenius chuckled and turned his attention to Cantilia. "What's the uncivilized sewer-rat saying?"
Cantilia just glared at him and did not answer his question. Then she said, "Be careful of the lions."
"The lions?" he smirked. "They are harmless. You have bewitched them, but you cannot un-bewitch them, for then they will kill you too."
"You believe neither in God, nor in the Emperor," Cantilia spoke. "You only love yourself. I would be careful if I were you."
Volusenius let out a laugh. The lion that had been sleeping and snoring opened one of his eyes. Then he opened his other one as well and even raised his head. His mane was blowing in the wind that was fast increasing in strength.
But, Volusenius did not notice it and stepped forward. "I know enough," he hissed. "You may have bewitched our lions. But you can't bewitch me."
The crowd cheered even louder as Volusenius took another cautious step. He lifted his trident and aimed it at William. With his other hand he moved his net around, skilled and calculating.
William knew what the fiend was doing, but he was not afraid. He had been through enough battles and had seen plenty of men like Volusenius, men more savage and more skilled than this Roman fellow.
"W-watch out, William," Caitlin stammered as she saw how Volusenius lifted his trident higher and higher and was swinging his net with deliberate motions.
Then, there was a loud roar.
For a moment, Volusenius froze in his tracks and turned his head. "What was th—"
But he had no chance to finish his words. The smallest of the three lions had lurched forward, without giving even the slightest warning. As if it was all orchestrated, the other lions jumped up too and preyed upon Volusenius. The man stumbled backwards and screamed in fear as he struggled to ward off the beasts.
But his scream was the last sound he made on this earth. In a matter of seconds, the wounded fugitivarius lay motionless before the three lions. They sniffed at their victim, but did not do anything else with the man. It seemed as if they wanted to make sure he was dead after which they moved back and lay down again.
William stared at the lions and then at Caitlin and Cantilia. "D-Did you see what I saw?"
Both Cantilia and Caitlin were shaking. "It must be God…" Cantilia finally stammered.
Pollius had not seen anything as he had been pressing his hands before his eyes. "What happened? What did you guys do?" But Caitlin did not even look at him. A determined expression had appeared on her face as she said with shining eyes, "God is going to get us out of here. There's no doubt about it."
The Emperor looked pale and was clearly at a loss as to what to do next. The crowd started to chant their disapproval again, although some had noticed the ominous looking sky and several spectators started to point at the approaching dark clouds.
Cantilia looked up again and a worried expression appeared on her face now too. "It's true," she whispered, "…It may not just be a storm. I have never seen clouds so dark."
Although most of the arena was still soaked in the sunlight, high above in the sky the first clouds were starting to cast their deep shadows over the place. Soon the sun would be completely obliterated.
"This is not just a storm. This is—" Cantilia murmured, but she couldn't finish her words as an enormous, ear deafening thunderclap shuddered the arena and within seconds darkness covered them all.
12
The Power of Prayer
There was pandemonium in the bleachers. The darkness had come upon them so suddenly and was so deep that great fear filled the arena. Spectators ran around without a clue where they were going and trampled upon each other in their desire to flee the scene. Most everyone screamed in fear and terror. "The gods are coming down… The gods are punishing us."
Some officials tried to shield the Emperor from the terrified mob, while others pulled on his toga to pull him away to safety.
Pollius screamed as well. As he noticed the lions had disappeared into the darkness, he decided to make a run for it. He aimlessly ra
n away groping in the blackness.
Another thunderclap rolled over the arena and then… just like that, out of nowhere, a shaft of light appeared. It shone with an unearthly, bluish, shimmering glow and broke through the darkness. It made a strange, buzzing sound and lit up the whole arena.
They could see a terrified Pollius again, pressed against the wall screaming as he noticed he was just standing near the biggest lion, who seemed equally confused. Both, beast and men, started to run again, albeit it in different directions.
William saw how the people in the bleachers were pushing and stamping on each other, and he pressed Caitlin close to his chest.
Cantilia's lips were moving although no sound was heard. She was praying, but her hands were trembling.
The buzzing sound stopped. Everything became intensely still as a hush hung like a thick blanket over the arena. Nobody dared to move. The shaft of light was scintillating and sparkling, but seemed steady.
"I…eh… we have seen this before," William whispered to Caitlin. "This is exactly what was happening the time we were just married."
Caitlin nodded. "We must pray, William… I cannot stand being separated from you once more."
The thought of losing Caitlin again jolted William into action and he burst out praying. "God in the Heavens… Please help."
As soon as he had said it, the light became less intense and began to fade. At first it was hardly noticeable, but soon it was clear the light was not as strong anymore. And then… the darkness returned.
William clutched Caitlin so firmly to his chest that she squirmed, but he did not let go. He had lost her before and it wouldn't happen a second time. He looked up and peered into the darkness. Last time it had only been this dark for a short moment. He just had to wait until it was over and as long as Caitlin was still firmly in his arms he did not mind.
He was right. After a minute or two, he noticed the sky was clearing up. The daylight was returning. There were still quite a few of those strange dark clouds hovering over them high in the sky, but they were moving away at great speed.
As soon as visibility had been restored, chaos and confusion broke out once more on the bleachers. People who had been too afraid to even move a muscle, started to run again into the direction of the exit gates. Nobody paid any attention to the Christians in the arena, and the arena emptied out fast. The lions, too, did not seem the least bit interested and were huddled together near their cage. Pollius stood by himself near the gate and was banging on it while yelling for help.
"What's that?"
William noticed the mist first. He loosened his grip on Caitlin and stared at a pillar of swirling mist that was hovering over the ground.
"What?" Cantilia asked.
"There…" He pointed to the opposite side of the arena to the swirling mass of fog.
Cantilia gasped and Caitlin let out a small yelp. As they stared at the strange phenomenon they noticed the swirling slowed down and the fog began to clear. They stared at it and saw the vague outline of a body. It appeared there was somebody standing in the middle of the mist. No… two figures. Colors and forms emerged and at last two human forms appeared.
"W-What is going on?" William murmured.
Two men stepped out of the remaining shreds of mist. The first one resembled a monk. A monk? He was wearing a white cloak, but when William looked closer, he noticed he was also wearing a leather breastplate. A formidable sword was dangling at his belt. A warrior monk… But… where does he come from?
The monk had a traditional hood, but it was hanging over his shoulders that were partly covered by his long white hair. He seemed to study them for a moment. As he turned to his companion he pulled on his equally white beard. The two spoke and the monk pointed his bony finger at them. The other fellow nodded, after which the face of the monk broke out into a smile and he stepped into their direction wildly waving his hand.
"William… Caitlin! Have no fear." He screamed. "We have come to help you."
Who is that?
The other figure seemed more familiar to William. It almost looked like… No, that couldn't be.
But as the second figure followed the monk and came closer, William's heart began to pound. That shoulder-length hair… the round, neatly trimmed beard and that decisive step… There was only one man who walked like that. It's my brother. It's Toby. William forgot his pain and walked to the approaching men.
Caitlin seemed to realize it too, as she whispered to Cantilia, "Oh, my sweet Lord… It's Toby, William's brother."
As Toby saw William approaching he started to run, and within seconds the two brothers were in each other's arms.
"Brother," William shouted. "I am so glad to see you."
"The pleasure is entirely mine," Toby exclaimed with joy as he allowed William to squeeze the air out of his lungs. When William finally let go, Toby stepped backward and studied William. "Tell me, brother, what happened to you? You do not look too well. And… what did you do to your hair?"
"I-I found C-Caitlin," William stammered, "But, those Romans, they got to me and—" He wanted to say more, but his legs gave way and somehow could not hold up his body anymore. William's world started to turn and everything became blurry. Toby grabbed him just in time as he fainted in Toby's arms.
"My name is Collbardus," the monk spoke to Cantilia and Caitlin as he kneeled down next to William. Toby had gently placed him on the ground and was doing his best to revive him. "I have come to help you to return to our own time."
Caitlin gasped and stared at the long-haired monk as he pulled a round flask out of a leather bag he was carrying around his neck. It contained a green liquid and as he opened it he placed it under William's nose. "We need to get back as soon as possible. William's wounds need tending as they seem to be infected."
Toby nodded. "Collbardus is a wise monk, Caitlin. He's Teherlach's friend. I can't explain it all either, but he knows what he's doing. Only a short time ago he rescued me and Skye."
"Y-you mean… Skye is allright?"
Toby smiled. "Very much so. We've got quite a story to tell you when we get home."
William now opened his eyes and Caitlin threw herself down on the ground next to him. "Oh, William… We are safe. Toby is here and there's a monk that can help us."
"That's right," Collbardus said. "I have studied the power of those magical stones all my life. I will spare you the details, but these stones, if approached at the right time, can open portals in time and …well, you have seen for yourself what can happen."
"Portals in time?" Caitlin stammered.
Collbardus smiled and shrugged his shoulders. "I know it sounds weird, but somehow you two got stuck in the time of Rome, and we need to get you out of it as soon as we can."
"How come Toby is here?" she wanted to know.
Collbardus smiled. "Well, if you travel to an unknown place, it is a good idea to have a bodyguard, isn't it. When I picked up Toby, I noticed these times of the past can be quite uncivilized, unlike our own time. Toby is here to protect us."
"But… how do we get out of here?" Caitlin asked as she pointed to the arena. "It's not safe here at all. These Romans hate us."
Collbardus nodded. "We need a river. If we find a river, we can be out of here by tonight." He squeezed his eyes, "Do you know of a river outside this place?" he asked Caitlin. She shook her head.
"But, I do," Cantilia spoke up.
Collbardus turned and stared at her. "You do? Who are you and how come you speak our tongue?"
"She's one of us," Caitlin stepped in. "She's from our land, but got sold as a slave to the Romans. Without her I would not have survived this horrible place."
Collbardus smiled. "In that case, you are most welcome, dear. Show us the way, once we are outside." The monk turned to Toby and said, "Toby, get us out of this gloomy arena."
Toby smiled and helped William up, who leaned heavily on his brother. Together they stumbled in the direction of the gate. Pollius was still there yelling and s
creaming for help as they approached, but at the last moment he ran off as he saw William and Toby approaching.
"Who's that?" Toby asked.
"A weasel," William grinned. "He will have to work out his own salvation in fear and trembling."
"What are you talking about, brother?"
"It's a long story, brother. I will tell you all about it when we are home, and we are having a good mug of ale."
As they came to the gate, Toby lifted his sword and in one swift move he cleaved the chain that kept the gate locked and it swung open and before long they stepped into the deserted Roman streets.
"It's so quiet here," Collbardus chuckled as he stared around. "There's nobody around. Maybe, I should retire here. It seems like a peaceful era in history."
"No, it isn't," Caitlin scoffed. "It's just because you gave those Romans a good scare with your fog and all that."
"I sure did, didn't I," Collbardus said with a grin.
"Well," Toby said. "It's sure making my job a whole lot easier."
Collbardus nodded. "But, Caitlin, soon you will be out of here." He turned to Cantilia. "Now, dear… where's the River? Show us the river, so we can go home."
As they sat on the banks of the River Tiber, they waited on Collbardus. He had told them to sit still and just wait until he would give the sign. The old man walked back and forth and mumbled to himself, but when he saw Caitlin's questioning look he smiled. "Don't worry dear… All goes according to plan. The stars are almost in the right place. We will be out of here soon."
"Soon?" Cantilia's face darkened. "W-What's going to happen to me, now? And where will you be going?" she asked Caitlin.
"Home," Caitlin spoke, "and you are coming with us." She gently ran her hand over Cantilia's forehead and moved some strands behind her ears.
"B-But you are living in a different time? I don't belong there."
"Yes, you do, and you will," Caitlin furrowed her brow. "There's nothing for you here. The Romans will kill you if they find you. Besides, you don't belong here. You are not even a Roman. William and I will take care of you. You've got nothing to fear."
Highland Warriors of the Glade - William: Slaves in Time: Clean and Wholesome Scottish Romance (MacChonaill Highland Saga Book 3) Page 8
