Centurion Soldier of Rome

Spring had come early in the valley and Marcus was drawing up plans for his villa. Pontius and Saul were running a boarding house and tavern in the blacksmith shop with a brothel on the side. Marcus was living in the castle until the villa was built.

Quintius and two of his scouts had left for Briticana. “My sweet husband,” Victoria said, entering the room, “are you almost finished with the drawings.” “Yes,” he replied turning the drawing around so she could see it better. “What are all the numbers on the sides for?” she asked. “It’s the dimensions so the builders will know the size of things,” he replied. “You are so brilliant,” she said, sitting in his lap. “Roman soldiers are taught more than fighting sweetheart, why I’ve built some of the best bridges across this country,” he said.

“This, is it our bedroom?” she asked pointing to the drawing. “No this is, with a window overlooking the valley floor,” he replied. “Where is the baby’s room?” she asked. “What baby?” he asked looking into her deep blue eyes. A smile slowly spread across her face as she picked up his hand from the table and placed it on her belly. “By the gods I have a son,” he exclaimed hugging her tightly. “Or you could be having a daughter,” she said, kissing his hand and placing it back on her belly. “Would it bother you if it were a girl?” she asked seriously. “Not in the slightest,” he said, kissing her deeply. “It’s warm today lets have a picnic at the villa and you can show me my new view,” she said, as she quickly ran from the room.

“What’s Victoria all fired up about?” the king asked entering the room. “Well grandpa I think it’s either the new home or the new baby,” Marcus said, smiling at the older gentleman. “Grandpa that sounds better than I expected it would,” he said, looking out of the window.

Marcus and Victoria took a chariot and rode to the new villa location that afternoon. The sky is as blue as Victoria’s eyes today Marcus thought looking over the land her father had given them. “So where is our bedroom going to be?” she asked looking over the hillside. Marcus had tied the horse to a grove of trees and he walked over to her. He placed his hands on her shoulders and moved her over a few paces and spun her around. “There you are now, looking out your new window,” he said, placing his arms around her waist feeling the new baby. Her golden hair smelled good in the spring air. She wiggled away and went to the chariot bringing a blanket and basket back to where he stood. She spread the blanked on the ground and sat down on it as he did. “Marcus, I’ve been speaking with Saul about his God and I think our baby should be raised in his faith.” Marcus put a hand on her belly the white lace dress reminded him of her wedding gown. “Whatever you wish,” Marcus said, smiling at her.

She smiled and started to lean in for a kiss as the arrow tore threw her chest. A small trickle of blood ran quickly down her dress. The look on her face was one of shock and confusion. Marcus moved in front of her as two arrows tore into his back. “No!” he screamed out as she started to fall over backwards, her eyes rolling back into her head. He stopped her head from hitting the ground but he knew she was already dead, he had seen it many times before. He tried to stand as two more arrows caught his left shoulder. The sword came out two more arrows plunged into his chest sitting him down on his but. He looked at the grove of trees as five bowman dressed in the Canius’ colors fired again two arrows going into Victoria’s already dead body. One arrow glanced off his head and the lights went out.

He was walking through the yard of his villa holding Victoria’s hand. A small child played with a puppy in the yard. The child had golden hair. “What is it a boy or girl?” he asked her. She only smiled and touched his face. “Marcus, Marcus you must fight to stay alive,” a voice came from somewhere. Sharp pains ran through his body. “Don’t drift away, Sir, stay with us,” Saul’s voice came to him from the darkness. He was in the blacksmith shop with Arelius sewing up a wound. He focused on Arelius’ eyes and Arelius looked back. “Victoria,” he asked. Arelius shook his head no. Blackness engulfed him again. The pain from his body was almost a welcome distraction from the mental anguish he suffered. “He’s losing his will to live,” someone said, in the darkness. 

“Marcus, its Arelius you need to live if only to kill those who murdered your family.” Marcus realized he had lost his child as well, an innocent in it’s truest form. Anger formed in his very being, an anger that had a purpose in this life. He would destroy the Canius’ family and clean all of Rome of their disease. Marcus was awakened, by the jarring of his body. He could see through the floor slats, that he was being hidden. The lights were bright coming from torches. As the movement stopped for a moment he recognized the Canius’ colors on the soldiers above.

His head lifted up as a dark haired woman fed him hot broth. He realized he was in a wagon moving along a road somewhere. The pain in his shoulder woke him up as someone was digging at it with a knife. “The arrowhead must be removed or he will lose the arm,” someone said angrily. “He would sooner die than lose the arm,” Saul’s  voice came back. He felt someone moving h