Mark of Mars Read online

  She managed to slither up through the array of branches until she was almost within reach of the kitten. As she reached up, the damn thing sunk its teeth into her. She swore loudly.

  Augustus covered Julius’ ears. “A true lady,” he laughed.

  On her next attempt, she grabbed the kitten by the scruff of its neck and held it tight to her. Climbing down one handed was going to be impossible, so she plonked the kitten on her shoulder.

  “Stay,” she said firmly. To her amazement, the animal did what it was told.

  She began the arduous task of inching back down through the branches.

  “What in the name of Mars’ do you think you’re doing?” a familiar voice bellowed up at her.

  “What does it look like?” she snapped back. “Cat patrol.”

  “You’re risking your life for an animal?” he asked incredulously.

  “Climbing a tree this size is hardly dangerous,” she snorted. “I’ve fallen from far greater heights.”

  “Well, take your time,” the tone of his voice had lightened greatly. “I’m enjoying the view from down here.”

  Jenna let out a squeal, she had completely overlooked the fact she was wearing a dress with precious little underneath. She kept her legs close together. “A nobleman would not look.”

  “I’m sure you’ve pointed out on several occasions that I do not behave like a nobleman.”

  “Pig,” she muttered.

  She was only a few branches away from swinging down when she heard the unmistakable crack. The branch she was standing on must have been rotten and it gave way as soon as her weight was on it. “Oh, crap,” she squeaked as she held onto the kitten and waited for that painful thump. To her amazement she had an incredible soft landing.

  “Not risking your neck?” Marcus gazed down at her as he caught her.

  Staring up into those wonderful black eyes, Jenna forgot briefly why she had been so cross at him. He seemed almost playful today. “But we saved the kitten,” she responded, holding up the furry critter.

  Marcus shook his head and set her onto her feet. She returned the animal to the grateful young girl before attempting to remove an array of twigs out of her hair.

  Julius gave her a wonderful smile. “Are you sure you’re really a girl? I’ve never met one who climbs trees.”

  “You haven’t been looking in the right place then,” Jenna laughed.

  Marcus looked at Julius. “Is this another admirer I need to fight off?”

  “This is Julius, Augustus’ brother.” Jenna introduced him.

  “Are you going to be a centurion like your brother?” Marcus looked at the stick in the boy’s hand.

  “I’m going to be the best swordsman in Rome. Jenna’s been teaching me to fight like an Arulian.”

  “If you’re going to be the best, then you’ll have to challenge me for that spot one day,” Marcus teased.

  Julius looked up at him, not in fear but in slight awe. “One day.”

  Augustus decided it was time to remove Julius before he openly challenged his commanding officer at the age of ten. “Come Julius, we need to get home.”

  “Can’t we walk Jenna back to her temple,” he whined.

  “No. It is in a different direction to us.”

  “But what if they come across a group of robbers. They’ll need our help,” he cut the air with his stick.

  “Rest assured, they will be safe. I’ll walk them back,” Marcus spoke.

  Jenna ruffled Julius hair. “I will see you again soon. And don’t forget your reading.”

  Julius gave Jenna an unexpected hug before slipped out the plaza with Augustus.

  Amelia started walking in the other direction with Jenna. “You really needn’t trouble yourself, Marshall, Jenna and I will be fine.” She remembered Jenna’s last encounter with the Marshall.

  “I’m on my way to the Domus Augustana, so it is on my way,” Marcus shrugged.

  “You have a meeting with the Emperor?” Jenna was enthralled.

  “He has need of my military knowledge.”

  Jenna tried to get her head around Roman politics. “Am I right in thinking, that if it is a matter concerning the city, then it has to go before the Senate. If it is to do with the Empire, then the Senate have no say over it, it is purely the Emperor’s decision?”

  “Largely, yes.”

  There was a question Jenna was curious to ask. “Rome has conquered at least a quarter of the known world. When will it stop?”

  Marcus stated at her oddly. “I thought we already had the majority. What makes you think we have so little?”

  “I have travelled to many other areas which are not under Roman rule and unlikely ever to be.”

  “How so?”

  “The orient to the east is a very large, very powerful region. It would be futile for Rome to even try to conquer that land so from home. To the west, you would need much greater ships to try and cross the ocean. To the north, there is not much and south, again, not overly wealthy civilisations.”

  “Perhaps we should make Arula our next stop,” Marcus teased.

  “If you’re keen to add a nation where women can govern men, then please feel free to add it to Rome’s territories. But you might fight it upsets the others under Roman rule.”

  Jenna left Marcus at the gates to the Imperial Palace. Their temple was located just around the corner.

  “I do believe that was a first,” she said a little startled.

  “What’s that?” Amelia responded.

  “The Marshall and I have not argued once.”

  Amelia shook her head. “Sometimes I think even being in your shadow is dangerous. I could get arrested for association.”

  Jenna saw a familiar young boy wander into the temple carrying a slightly larger basket than before. “You again?” she smiled.

  He nodded and handed her the basket. She pointed him to the rear of the temple to collect from bread. She nervously lifted the lid on the basket and let out a girly squeal. Amelia and Cassandra came running over.

  “What is it?” Amelia looked at the basket.

  Jenna lifted the lid again and pulled out the most adorable black kitten. He wriggled and mewed, chewing at her hand. “Aww, he is so cute.” She stroked the thick, soft black fur.

  “Who sent him?” Amelia asked, then rolled her eyes. “Sorry, stupid question.”

  Jenna pulled out the parchment in the basket. This is Ares. I hope you think of me when you hold him close. She could feel the colour start to rise in her cheeks. Bloody man had found her weak spot. She picked the kitten back up. “Ares, huh? Are you going to be as troublesome as your giver?”

  Cassandra looked at the kitten in horror. “This is a temple. We can’t keep a cat?”

  “He’ll keep the mice away?” Amelia piped up.

  “We don’t have any mice,” Cassandra retorted.

  “And the cat will keep it that way.”

  “I recall you also said the other day that retuning a gift to the Marshall of the Peace would not be a wise move,” Jenna added, waving the kitten under her nose.

  “Oh, very well,” Cassandra huffed. “But you two will have to clean up any mess he makes.”

  The girls gave a victorious smile. Then a thought struck Jenna. “What do we feed him on?” Whiskas sachets were not yet available in the Roman Empire.

  Jenna set about lighting the torches, strangely disappointed Marcus had not yet stopped by so she could thank him. Every time she thought she had sussed him out, he surprised her. The kitten was a clear response to her words the other evening, he was trying to win her around. And succeeding, damn him.

  She sat out on the temple steps watching night fall. In the distance, she picked up the faint sound of hooves. Her pulse fluttered ever so slightly as he came into view. She stood up and met him at the steps.

  “Hello, handsome,” she purred as she stroked Hercules’ nose.

  “Why thank you, Jenna. A compliment so early in the evening,” Marcus respond
ed, dismounting with grace.

  “I was talking to Hercules,” she felt herself blush. “Did you have your meeting with the Emperor?”

  “I did.”

  “What’s the inside of the Imperial Palace like?”

  “It’s a palace,” he shrugged.

  “I guess a man is the wrong person to ask on interior design,” Jenna sighed, running her hand down Hercules’ neck. She heard a sound behind her and saw Amelia chasing Ares.

  “Come back here with that, you bloody fur ball.” Amelia’s dulcet tones echoed through the columns.

  “The kitten is a delight. Thank you.”

  “I would like to think having one of your own will stop you climbing trees, but I am liable to be proved wrong.”

  “Probably,” she smirked. “Why the Greek name?”

  “I know you favour the God of War, but to call him Mars would be considered blasphemy. I thought Ares would be more appropriate.”

  Jenna turned away from him. “About the other day, I am sorry for what I did. My temper got the best of me.” She could feel the colour flooding back to her cheeks. Humility was something she was not well versed in.

  “And I got the worst of you,” he tried to make light of the situation. “It was, in fact, nothing more than I deserved for acting like an overbearing brute.” His hands rested on the top of her arms lightly. “I am used to being obeyed, not questioned. I have never had a woman give me grief as you do.”

  “We all have to face new experiences sometimes. It’s how we continue learning.” She spun around to face him, aware he was in fact standing way too close for her pulse rate.

  “I am trying,” he murmured. “Backing down is not something I am trained to do.”

  “Likewise,” she smiled up at him. She got caught looking into those eyes, hell she could drown in them. They were much softer and less stormy that the other evening.

  “Jenna,” Cassandra’s voice broke her trance. “We need you in the temple.”

  She cast her eyes down. “Thank you again for Ares.”

  “You are quite welcome.” He leaned in and kissed her cheek, inhaling the wonderful scent of rose.

  CHAPTER 15

  Jenna was always happy when chatting to the street children. She and Amelia had found them in one of their usual squares. The children were becoming quite accustomed to them and were enjoying the attention they were getting, as well as the food.

  “What do your parents do?” Jenna asked one young boy, whilst she attempted to clean the grime off his face.

  “My mother works at the bath house,” he mumbled between mouthfuls of bread.

  “And your father?”

  The kid shrugged his shoulders. “I think he’s a soldier somewhere.”

  Jenna nodded knowingly. Father unknown. “Does your mother leave you alone every day?”

  “I’m supposed to stay near home,” he looked up at her guiltily.

  “Perhaps you should. You could get hurt on these rough streets,” she warned.

  “But then I wouldn’t get to see you and eat your bread,” was his response.

  Jenna ruffled his hair fondly. Kids had an answer for everything, even in Ancient Rome.

  Two centurions appeared in the square, causing everyone to turn and stare. Amelia’s face lit up immediately, Augustus was one of them.

  His eyes never left Amelia as he spoke to them. “Major trouble has broken out near here, we are just clearing the streets of innocent citizens. Can we walk you to safety?”

  “That would be appreciated,” Amelia smiled. She liked her walks with Augustus.

  Jenna made sure the children understood the danger and ran off home. The sound of voices approaching got her attention. A small group of soldiers had been pushed back by the sheer weight of the rioters into the square. Not good.

  Augustus drew his sword. “Stay back, we will keep you safe.” He barked his orders.

  They watched the fight unfold before them. Even though the soldiers were heavily outnumbered, they were putting up a fairly decent defence. It would however only be a matter of time before they were overpowered. Jenna decided she had no choice but to give them a hand.

  “Sorry, but you’re about to see my misspent childhood in action,” Jenna gave Amelia a quick smile. “Our boys aren’t going to hold out much longer.”

  “What the hell do you think you’re doing?” Amelia squeaked.

  “Saving both our lives.”

  Jenna picked up a sword from a dead rioter and joined the line of soldiers. As an assailant came at her, she did not hesitate, she spun around and drove the sword into his right shoulder. It had the desired effect. He dropped his sword and fell to his knees. A blinding kick to the head dropped him flat. She had no intention of killing anyone, her intention was to disarm and disable only. She bent down and picked up the dagger from his belt and slipped it into hers. Just in case. Now she felt a bit more evenly matched.

  She turned and winked at Amelia, who was staring at her in a mix of awe and shock. “Did I forget to mention that I can kick box?”

  The next rioter who clashed swords with her was truly shocked at seeing a woman wield a sword. She took advantage of his hesitation and drove her sword into his shoulder. He too dropped his sword and was met with a very hefty kick.

  Jenna could not help smiling to herself. The joys of a classical education, courtesy of her mother and her fighting skills, courtesy of her father. Right about now she was so happy her father had insisted she knew how to defend herself and disarm a man. Although this was probably not quite how he would have envisaged her putting his tuition to good effect.

  “Are you insane” Augustus shouted to her. “Stay behind us.”

  “You’re outnumbered,” Jenna shouted back, dropping another rioter.

  The next assailant met with a different fate. As she blocked his sword with hers, she dealt a huge kick to his groin, followed by another blow to the face as he hit the ground.

  “Marshall Vilnus will personally rip me apart if anything happens to you,” Augustus sounded quite fearful.

  “I don’t give a damn about the Marshall. I’m protecting myself and Amelia.”

  Jenna continued to disarm a several more rioters. It was to her advantage that they were particularly unskilled with a sword. It felt totally surreal, here she as quite literally fighting for her life. Out of the corner of her eye she saw Augustus in trouble, he had been cornered by three men. She did not hesitate, the dagger in her waistband was thrown with such accuracy it felled one assailant immediately. She then battled the second, leaving Augustus with just one to contend with.

  Her assailant was far more skilled than the others she had come up against. He matched her blow for blow and she began to wonder what move she needed to make. His next blow clashed against a sword, but it was not hers. And he was not so lucky, the Marshall did not wound, he killed instantly.

  “What do you think you’re doing?” he bellowed making sure he put himself between her and any rioters.

  “Evening up the odds. Not everyone is as skilled as you,” she bit back.

  “Stay with Amelia,” he ordered.

  “You cannot order me about like one of your soldiers.” She strode over to retrieve her dagger. Another rioter came at her but before she could even raise her sword, Marcus had killed him. Hell, he could move quickly.

  Marcus was livid. He grabbed hold of her and physically deposited her next to Amelia. “Make sure she doesn’t move,” he barked at Amelia.

  Jenna scowled. “I really dislike that man.”

  Amelia held onto her arm. “You were quite amazing. And you helped Augustus. But please let Marshall Vilnus take over now. There’s no need to risk your safety further.”

  Jenna flared her nostrils. “Fine. I’ll stay put.” She flung the sword to the ground.

  Marshall Vilnus and his reinforcements put an end to the riot in minutes. It was strange that the violence no longer bothered her as much, she was getting used to it being a Roman way
of life. When all was quiet, Jenna pulled Amelia to her feet. “Guess it’s safe to go back to the temple.” She glanced at Augustus. “Did you not offer us safe passage back,” she grinned.

  He could not help laughing. “Yes, I did.”

  They were just heading out the square when a hand closed around her upper arm in a vice like grip. “Augustus, please take Amelia back to the temple. Jenna is to be detained for the time being.”