Chapter 3: Chapter 2 :- 82 AD part 2
Marcus turned on his friend. 'Don't be ridiculous. She stepped from behind one of the stones. That is all. You are jumping at shadows.'
'She's one of them, Marcus. Come on, let's go.'
'You go if you want. I will stay and show the peasant what a true Roman is.' Marcus turned back to the girl. He sensed Octavius back away and then heard the thumps of the other man's feet as he ran back towards the fort. 'My companions are superstitious.' He smiled without humour.
'And you are not?' asked the girl quietly.
Marcus scoffed. 'Of course not. I was born in Rome, the greatest city in the world. I won't be fooled by your trickery.' 'Trickery?' the girl asked with a smile of her own. 'What trickery?'
'Appearing from thin air …' Marcus laughed. 'I know that is not possible.'
'You know a lot, young Roman.'
'I know enough. I know that Rome is the centre of the world, and eventually all people will bow to its greatness. Rome will last forever, and I am Roman.'
'Nothing lasts forever,' the girl said sadly. 'Even your arrogance must one-day crumble.' She reached out and touched one of the stones gently. 'This place was once a shrine to a hero of our people. He stood against a beast of great evil and he died. People came here every year to lay flowers in the circle. His deeds were legend amongst the tribes. Now the tribes are broken, and they have forgotten their heritage. And people like you can come and defile it with your words and deeds. It is a sad thing, but the magic of the land slowly dies beneath your cities and roads.'
'That is the difference between my people and yours: Rome is eternal. It will stand until the end of time.' The girl laughed out loud and Marcus bristled. 'You doubt my word?' 'You are a child. I have seen the many futures, and Rome will fall just as every other Empire has. A new Empire will rise from this very isle, an Empire that will make Rome look insignificant, and yet even that will fall in time. Nothing lasts forever.'
'You have seen the future? So, you claim to be one of the heathen gods?'
'I claim nothing. I am simply the Maiden of Earth and Water.'
'You are far too ripe to be a maiden. Lay down here, and I shall pluck you and show you what a Roman man can do.'
'What of Annaea, Marcus? You would lie with me on the eve of your wedding?'
'How do you know of Annaea?' he snapped, angry to be chastised.
The girl simply shrugged and then turned to walk away. She hesitated. 'Do not come back here,' she said over her shoulder. Anger overwhelmed Marcus.
Leaping forwards, he gripped the girl's arm and spun her around. 'How dare you talk to me like that! I am Marcus Aquila Romila, citizen of Rome, son of the governor. I will have you whipped.'
The girl's green eyes flashed, and Marcus felt a frisson of power run through the hand that held her. He stepped back uncertainly, his hand dropping to his side.
'You doubt my power,' she said. 'Perhaps I can prove it to you.'
'How? You will not fool me with your cheap parlour tricks.'
'I shall grant you a wish, though there will be a price.' Marcus laughed, his confidence returning. 'What could I possibly wish for? I have everything I could ever want.' The girl simply stared at him with those disconcerting green eyes. Marcus could feel the challenge in them, and he bridled. 'I have a wish. Rome will stand eternal and so shall I. I wish to live forever, so that I may see the Empire's destiny for myself!'
'Granted,' said the girl with the green eyes. Then, to Marcus's sudden and heart-stopping consternation, she vanished.
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