by A. B. Bloom
The swirl of cloaks and the stamp of feet filled my inner vision as the tree networked itself with others, giving me something close to a live feed of information. The trees became almost nature’s version of the internet, or GPS even. Kind of handy out here in the wilds. Pretty darn neat if I could take that back through the stones with me; I’d never get lost again.
The tree bristled at my thoughts and I let out a cry of surprise when I knew I understood what it was thinking. We’d never let you get lost.
I rubbed my hand along the bark. “I know,” I said out loud. I knew very little of what I was, or even why I was, but the one thing I knew for sure was that the trees were for my will. Of course, I didn’t know why, but I knew it all the same. The water, the plants, the flowers, all of nature’s power flowed towards me. And that was an advantage I wasn’t going to waste.
“I need to find the army. I can see them, but I don’t know where they are.” I spoke out loud.
I waited for a response. The bark rippled under my palm as though I were looking into the bright midday sun. I recognised the fire, the set of the logs around it. That was our settlement. The picture zoomed further out, and I could see the stones, my stones. Upon them stood a slender figure, a black cloak billowing as she stood on the highest stone. She was searching for me as much as I was looking for her. For a moment our eyes locked, her silver gaze piercing. The woman who had bought Phil into the world only to murder her at my feet stared back at me, her lips curved into a smile. The tree cracked, its bark flaying open like it had been struck by an axe. “Shit!” I pulled my hand away, but it was too late. It splintered with the speed of lightning, snapping at the middle and keeling over. “Bitch!” I cried, but my shout didn’t reach the Mage. The connection was severed with the fall of the tree.
I smoothed my hands over the bark, dropping to my knees as my fallen soldier lay on the floor. “I’m sorry.” A tear prickled my eye. Silly to cry over a tree, but its strength faded beneath my touch, the tingle of energy that it pulsed through my palm so willingly fading and ebbing like the beat of a stuttering heart.
Go, it whispered. Go.
My tear splashed on the silver bark, then another. The trees didn’t deserve to be hurt, much like when my father had chopped them down to make way for the stones. As much as the stones were mine, so were the trees and I would never want to hurt them.
My father.
For the first time I saw the priestess Mae and I as the same thing. This was what Heather had been hinting at all along.
We were the same thing.
The purple gem heated gently at my throat, tingling with reassurance.
Well, there was no way I was going to let the Mage and her army bring down my people the way she’d brought down the beautiful Silver Birch. I scrambled to my feet, watching as the place where my tears had fallen on the bark sprung with green moss. Swiftly, it buried the fallen tree in vibrant green, a fitting burial for a beautiful living thing.
Bending, I ran my hand along the soft moss. “Bless this soul,” I whispered, and then grabbing my skirts in my hands I ran back for the settlement.
Nobody else would fall today.
Chapter Six
The settlement was gathered into a crowd amongst the stones. The Mage and two tall soldiers stood in front of them. Even as I crept closer, I could hear the whimpers of children and some of the women.
Part of me wanted to fight. I wanted to connect to the earth and use all of nature’s force to beat these invaders back, but I also wanted to save the clan’s blood from being spilt. And it would spill, of that I had no doubt.
My own blood ran with a chilled shudder as I acknowledged the true reason why I couldn’t fight. I needed to go with them. With her, with those soldiers.
With my hood pulled up I wove my way through the crowd. The tremors of fear ate into me every time I brushed the arm of one of my people. Beneath my feet the earth pounded, but as no one else blinked or moved, scared the world was about to cave in, I assumed the earth was only beating for me.
Fingers tangled with mine and held me back, and I stole a glance to the side as Alana pulled me in close. “Stay back,” she whispered.
I met her gaze and shook my head. “Alana, I have to go. They will slaughter you all if I don’t.”
“No. Tristram will have a plan; he will protect you.”
I opened my mouth to tell her that Tristram wouldn’t be rescuing me today but swiftly shut it again as the clear ring of the Mage’s words fell over the clearing.
“I can sense you. I know you are here.”
Hell. My skin crawled, and I rubbed absently at the hairs on my arms. This was what I came for. This was why I stepped through the stones and left my own time far behind me.
With a last squeeze on Alana’s fingers, I pulled myself free. “I’m here and all yours,” I called loudly, allowing my voice to lift into the branches of the surrounding trees.
The Mage’s gaze rested on my face as I walked through the throng of people. The little refugee boy whose infected scalp I’d healed only a week or so before looked up at me with wide eyes as I passed by. I smoothed his head with my hand, for a moment pleased that his wounds were still healed.
I’d done good here. Mae had done good here. Now it was time to find out what I needed.
And I wouldn’t be scared.
Well I would, because my heart was thumping in my chest, loud and uneven, but I didn’t move my gaze from that of the Mage’s silver stare as I worked my way towards her. “I make no resistance. Let my people go and I will come freely.”
She sneered, and my throat tightened as I saw the soldier at her side clench his long spear just a little tighter. “I have no need of your people. They won’t make slaves worth bringing back to Rome. Worthless creatures every one of them.”
The soldier at her side glanced a look in her direction. His gleaming uniform more elaborate than the others, the plume of feathers in his helmet marked him as someone different to the other foot soldiers. He looked like he wanted to argue, but he didn’t.
I bit my tongue and refused to look at the people I loved behind me. “True. Most of them won’t make the journey. But I am yours.”
Her eyes narrowed. “I know you are.”
Just take me already. The air was tinged with sweat and fear. My stomach rolled the longer we stood. This Mage could have no idea of my plans to end her. Of my hatred of her for killing my only friend.
My pulse thickened as I thought of Phil now resting in a grave on the grounds of Fire Stone. She could be buried right where we stand, two thousand years from now, and all at the hands of this woman, because she wants me, needs me for something I don’t understand.
Well goddam take me already.
The Mage was in no rush. She watched me carefully. “You know, child.” I froze at the light tone laced with ice. “I have some sight myself, and sense this has happened before.”
Fuck.
I shook my head. “I don’t think so.”
“There is another. One who won’t let you go.”
I shivered involuntarily. “No. There is no other here.” I stared at the Mage with her pale eyes, noticing the intense expression on the general’s face at her side. His eyes were on my face, scrutinising, searching.
The white swish of my father’s robe caught the edge of my vision. I must not let these two meet. If I succeeded in achieving anything here, that would be it.
“There is no other. Now, I believe you have somewhere you need to take me.” I lifted my chin, meeting her gaze, urging her desperately to get the hell on with it.
And then it happened. The one thing I never wanted.
A crash and a shout rose from the trees, and I could sense him before I even saw him. Hell, that man was determined to save my life, regardless of how I pleaded otherwise.
Stamping my foot into the ground, uncaring of who was watching I pushed my need into the earth. A deep resounding crack echoed through the earth as it gaped open and
shoots of new bushes and shrubs built a solid wall.
His axe crashed through, determined to get to me and I winced as he damaged the brilliant green new growth.
Please stop.
The Mage watched me coolly. Her expression neutral. Then finally she lifted her hand and snapped her fingers, pointing them at Tristram where he battled sweaty and breathless, hacking his way through the wall of shrubs to get to me. “Kill him.”
My knees buckled. My head whirled. “No!”
The soldiers though sprung forward, their hands grasping at Tristram’s arms, hauling him up, their spears at the ready.
The green shoots of my barricade covered him from sight, but their leaves could not block the sound of his last cry. “Mae!”
Then silence filled the air.
The clansmen watched me wordlessly as I fell to my knees, my heart throbbing, the pendant at my throat cool as the one thing I needed more than any other was snatched away.
“Come.” The Mage motioned to the soldiers nearest her. “Time to move.”
They lifted me, but I was blind to their actions, unable to stand. A tutting noise filled the air. “Carry her. We can’t waste any more time.”
My body banged as I landed with a thump over a wide shoulder. But I couldn’t care. I didn’t even want to breathe. My focus remained trained on the hedge shielding me from the sight of my dead soulmate.
Tristram was dead.
And I’d changed the past and made it so much worse.
The march began and I watched the hedge holding my love until I could no longer see it.
I’d changed everything. Now I was truly on my own.
I bounced over the soldier’s shoulders for longer than I could count. Not that I counted, my tears wouldn’t let me. Where my tears fell flowers sprung up in their place, but they were quickly stamped to death by the heavy footfall of the soldiers in formation behind.
The Roman army were persistent and disciplined. I knew now how they had conquered the British Isles so easily. The ramshackle clans of the southern lands would never have been able to defend against a marching machine of this force. The fact my home isles had for so long was mainly due to the fact we were hidden in the wilds of the forest; of that I was almost entirely sure.
I had half a thought that I’d tell the next history teacher I saw, if I ever got back to my own time. But the prospect of returning to my own time seemed impossible. It would be like building a time machine when I didn’t know what parts I needed.
Tristram was dead.
I’d changed everything.
We hadn’t died together, our blood mingled on the stones. And he hadn’t lived, either, to be with Mae.
He was just dead. His cry of my name still echoing in my ears.
My chest hurt from my heaving sobs. My heart ached, and deep within my soul splintered. That we were meant to be together, I had no doubt. What happened now there was only one of us left?
Crying quickly overcame me and I stayed like that until I was flung on the hard floor like nothing more than a sack of old cloths.
“Bind her quick before she can use any power.”
I rolled my eyes, but it was lost on the helmeted shoulder who swiftly tied my hands. They clearly thought I had more skill than I actually did. My magic, if that’s what it was, was accidental. I needed something and the earth gave it to me. It gave me a sword, binds of roots, and it gave me a wall so I couldn’t see my soul die.
Right now, I didn’t want anything.
Not anymore.
“Mae!”
God, it echoed in my head. Over and over again.
“Little witch, here.” A hard crust of bread was thrust in my face, but I turned my cheek. How did they expect me to eat it with my hands tied? It thrust again.
“You will eat.” The Mage’s voice cut through the air.
I glared at her, my eyes stinging until they felt like balls of fire. “I will not be fed like a dog.” I lifted my chin.
“Untie her hands,” she commanded. “But watch she doesn’t touch the ground.”
I eyed the Mage with veiled interest. She knew more about me than I knew about myself. I was right, this trip to Rome was what I needed.
Hopefully.
Possibly.
Barely had the positive thought unravelled in my brain then I was overwhelmed by a blowing cloud of grief.
“You loved him?” The Mage stepped forward, her long, dark cloak skimming the dirt of the earth. With my hands released, I held the bread, but I didn’t take a bite.
I glared at her, mute and silent.
“He loved you. Enough to sacrifice himself.”
I dropped my gaze to the ground. He would always sacrifice himself for me, I knew it. Through Mae’s hazy recollections I knew it. Mrs Cox had told me the same in the infirmary in Fire Stone. He wasn’t meant to be on the stones with you. Then I could recall my own Tristan Prince’s words when I’d told him not to try to save me. Tell him that, because I think it’s in our blood.
What would happen to my Tristan now? I’d changed the cycle of events that had tied us together in death. What if I found my way back through the stones and he wasn’t there? What if he had never existed in my time? A clean slice of a knife would have made my heart hurt less.
I stared balefully at the ground refusing to meet the silver and inquisitive gaze of the Mage.
“You will have to strengthen your resolve before we get to our destination,” she said. “The Emperor has been waiting for you. You won’t want to disappoint him, otherwise your life won’t be worth living.”
She was goading me. Trying to get me to react. I refused and continued to stare at the ground, wondering why the trees wouldn’t help me just because I wasn’t touching them. Surely, they must have felt the danger I was in?
She chuckled a laugh as though she could read my mind. “No one will save you from the Emperor, little witch. I’m not even sure I can. He will break you until you no longer know who you are.”
She stood then, swishing her cloak, obviously bored with my lack of response. What did she mean even she couldn’t save me?
Just what did the Emperor want with me?
As I stared at a dried lump of earth, I realised my biggest mistake. I’d been only thinking of what I could learn from my time here. I hadn’t even questioned just what it was the Roman Empire wanted from me.
I’d launched myself into the lion’s den, and I had no idea in the slightest just what the Lion would be like or what he would want.
The soldiers stood and broke up camp. “Walk,” the Mage called back to me. I wanted to throw myself down and refuse, but I knew it wouldn’t make the blindest difference. Not now.
Now, I was on a dangerous path with no idea of where it would lead.
Chapter Seven
“Little witch. Wake up.” I jolted as a foot met with my ribs. We’d been marching for days, possibly even stretching into weeks. I was losing count, but the weather was becoming slightly warmer with our march so we’d made progress further into the Mediterranean as it would one day be known. We’d crossed the sea in boats that had looked like they would blow away in a puff of wind. At that moment I’d clung on and prayed to the god of my own time that he wouldn’t let me drown. I’d kept my prayers to myself. Despite my love of history and books, I couldn’t get a firm date of when the one true religion had blossomed from Rome. I knew the Druid period of Mae was after the time of Jesus, but my timeline was sketchy to say the least.
Who knew what gods were being prayed to and when?
So instead, I’d clung onto the wooden side of the ship and kept my lips pressed together in silent prayer.
The sea calmed a little, but I was not foolish enough to know that was due to me.
Trees were one thing. The sea and air seemed a little out of my extended reach.
I rolled slightly, blinking into an early morning sun. I figured we were possibly in the South of France, as hills and mountains rolled around us. Eventually,
they would stretch to Spain. My hands were still tied as they had been the entire journey apart from the brief moments I was allowed to eat or relieve myself. Always under guard.
I was guarded every moment. Whatever I was to the waiting Emperor, I was important enough to have every expense thrown at my capture.
The roads we walked were uniform and new. Straight inroads which had been carved regardless of what stood in their way. Roman roads—and all roads lead to Rome… didn’t someone say once?
I licked my parched lips. I might be dead before Rome. A girl could be optimistic.
“Little witch,” the voice called again, and I glared up into the general’s face. We’d become acquainted once my guardianship was transferred to him. The Mage was still around, flitting in and out, but I couldn’t always sense her presence. Where she went or what she did, I didn’t know.
“Augustus.” I spat his name which made his lips crimp into a firm line. His sandaled toe pointed for my ribs again and I winced as he ground the leather sole into my skin.
“You try my patience, slave.” His bright-blue eyes darted over my face, his lips curling. What must he see? I must be filthy, bedraggled. I probably did look nothing more than a scrawny slave right now.
How pleased would the Emperor be? I couldn’t wait to see his face when I was dragged into his presence.
“And you try mine, General, but it seems we are stuck with one another.”
His fingers itched, but the slap I expected never arrived. “Today I shall walk with you.” He reached his hand for my arm and hauled me from the ground. My arms stung from where they’d been tied in the same position for so long. Every time they untied them, I expected them to hang useless, but they always seemed to remember how to work. I was beginning to realise the human body was a phenomenal machine.
“How wonderful.”
He bared his teeth. “The other soldiers grow tired of your crying and mourning. I have offered to beat it out of you through the next stage of our journey. I don’t know why you grieve so. I heard Druid priestesses had a more than one man to keep them satisfied. Yet you mourn for that largish brute as though he were your only lover.” His eyes lightened on my face, and for all his goading and all the viciousness of his words I saw a light of sincerity deep within his gaze. It was like he was testing me, but I didn’t know what exam I was expected to pass. He had an expectation of me, but, how could he? I didn’t know him. And he was brutish and vile, so I didn’t want to, either.
