Even without stopping much for food and rest, it took us almost nineteen hours to reach the point near the river where Allena saw Marcus and Laelia making out. It was close to midnight and the river looked swollen and angry. We took the alternate path that went through caverns in the dark. I was scared stiff but the men walked their horses through like they did it every day.
"Most of these caverns run underground, below the river bed. But when the river overflows like now, some of the caves are also flooded." Seamus explained.
He was Marcus's other friend that I never met before. Marcus was very good at dividing and delegating his work was what I realized. Conan who grew up near the fortress took care of most of his responsibilities there. Seamus grew up close to Allena's village and was Celtic. He knew these devious routes like the back of his hand. From what Max told me, Seamus also knew how best to deal with the emerging Italo-Celtic folks and their sentiments.
That night at the inn, I got a lucid dream. I was looking at Allena sitting in a class listening to a lecture. She was wearing bright colors all over that screamed the 80s retro style; leggings paired with a teal mini skirt, dandelion yellow blouse, white converse shoes, and a jean jacket. She tied her hair into a high sideways ponytail. Her odd shaped dangly earrings moved as fast as the pen with which she was furiously jotting down notes. What made her look extra cute were those ridiculously over-sized glasses on her face.It looked like the class was being conducted inside a library. The shelves were lined with thick volumes of books that were mostly about the history of Britain; Religion and the Decline of magic: Studies in Popular Beliefs in Sixteenth and Seventeenth Century England, A People's History of England, The Fall of the British Monarchies, and so on.The words on the chalkboard caught my eye. The professor also had a colorful chart with printed tex
If I had to describe the days spent without Marcus in the words of music, it was one of those sad violin pieces playing in the background continuously, blending days and nights together. The kind of sad music that had the power to evoke suppressed feelings, bringing tears to the eye even on the brightest of the days.To make matters worse the days were far from bright where I was. It had been raining cats and dogs from the day I returned. A windowless roundhouse, dark rainy days, and my regretful longing; it made me yearn for the bright Mediterranean sun and Marcus's cheery smiles."It's okay to stay in bed if the morning brings you sadness," Selma said, handing me a hot cup of spiced ginger mead.This drink did bring me comfort, for more like five minutes every time I had it. I missed coffee! The smell of freshly brewed coffee, the taste of the first sip, and the feel of the hot mug on a cold day. I also missed chocolates, french fries, pizza, and what not! I wanted junk food right no
My mind was exploding with questions. Meeting witches and sorceresses always left me with more questions than answers. The sea witch couldn't tell me where or how to find the other opal stone that she talked about. She said it was even possible that it was destroyed at some point. Time travel was only possible with those stones if our souls were tied together in another lifetime, she said.If I come to think of it, it must be several lifetimes. We were together in the Iron age; I saw us in the eighty's and somewhere in the medieval times where I had that baby with another guy; and Marcus saw me in the Chicago suburbs, which means he was somewhere out there too!Did our cursed story end up tragically in every lifetime?What made our souls be tied together?Why and how did gemstones get bound to our souls?Why were we cursed? When? By who?Can the curse be lifted somehow?The minute we came back from our little strol
The druid disappeared through the portal and I followed him slowly. I landed on the cold ground with a thud. The cave was surprisingly dry and there was no dripping sound anymore. The druid was looking at the cave exit that would lead us to the outside.So this was what Max and the others who walked out of the tunnel were looking at. We were so close to emerging out on the other side of the river, and I stopped them to stay the night and take the longer route. They must have hated me for that.I walked to the emerald grotto with perfect looking creamy white steps. I wondered what lied beneath but didn't dare to touch the water. Everything about this place gave me creeps."There is no river outside!" The druid exclaimed."That explains the dry cave, I guess.""I can only see dense forest, and the sun is about to set in a bit. Let's hurry!"He dug into the bag that he brought with him."Hold onto this for a second," He said, handi
After dinner that night, my ego lost the battle against the longing for Marcus, and I sat down to write a letter to him, telling him how much I missed him and how I wished he was here with me.His marks on my skin were gradually disappearing with each passing day; the bruises that he gave me on my arms and thighs were almost healed or replaced with fresh bruises from training with Aiden.We were growing apart with not much to hold on to. I brought nothing with me as a souvenir. I saved his shirt that he tore off during the heated moments but I was so mad at him before leaving that I forgot to pack it with my stuff.With not a picture to look at, not a present to cherish. I remembered then that I did have something from him; the wedding ring, a simple piece of iron that never failed to make my heart leap with joy.But why should I be the one to write to him? He fucked up and hid such a big truth from me. He just let me be instead of coming to get me like S
The house was unusually loud today. Marcus's sudden arrival had my whole family, including the extended members go crazy with whipping out several dishes."He's just one person! And he doesn't eat much at other people's homes." I tried to stop my mom from serving huge heaps of a dozen items.Marcus's forehead creased with a frown. I closely observed his eating habits when we were traveling back from the fortress."You talk like you know a lot about me." He muttered while looking at my mom for more colcannon."So buttery, I love this!" He said, eating it too quickly."Your wife made it." My mom's words made my face turn beet red."It's nice and buttery but a little too salty for my taste. I am not a fan of cabbage."He changed his opinion on the dish.What was he trying to achieve by pissing me off more?"Looks like you are not the only one that's pissed off here," Iona whispered to me."What the hell should he be ma
Marcus got hold of me when I was slowly sliding out of bed."Stay for a few more minutes," He said pulling me close and pressing a kiss on my cheek."Aren't you starving? It must be lunchtime already. I can smell fried onions and garlic.""Mmm me too! I have to go out for a little bit after lunch... will be back before dinner.""I was looking forward to spending the day with you.""I would have loved to. No one knows that I am here. I was supposed to take care of more useless peace treaties further east. I sent Max to do that for me. But I have to meet Dumnones today.""Who are Dumnones?""Dumnonii tribe is another tribe like yours. We have plans to build a Roman settlement there. But right now the harbor is only accessible by water. The military enclosure will need access by road. Exporting tin will be a lot more efficient too if there's a road. They are known for tin mining.""So if that tribe had silver mines and mine had ti
Training with Aiden was a nightmare today. Marcus promised to talk more at night and left to meet the Dumnonii tribe after lunch. He figured out most of the crazy stuff on his own these last couple of days. The weight of many things untold got lighter unexpectedly this noon. I just had to reveal one last thing and the hardest thing... that I was not Allena.I rehearsed my lines several times, imagining a different reaction from him each time."Allena, why the fuck didn't you go with him if you were going to think about him all day anyway? Aiden spat in irritation."I need this. I feel stressed.""About what? You have to focus, or just get the hell out.""I'll do better, I promise!"It was much easier on other days when Aiden had me do a mix of things for hours; sprinting, working the core, thrusting heavy wooden weapons at a fast pace, and my least favorite of all, wrestling.Today was the fateful day where wrestling was the main focus. Allena was good at kicking and hitting but unfort