Time Guards - The Italian Quest

Chapter XIII

Viola was looking at a turquoise patter, a blur of blue and green. The longer she stared at it the more the image made sense, it was of a man framed by the image of the sea. He was an old man, carrying a golden trident.

"Poseidon," she murmured, as an image of learning about Greek gods in a stuffy classroom came back to her.

"Neptune," said voice. Viola immediately thought it was Constance but no, this time it was Julius correcting her, "They are very similar deities though, I understand the confusion."

Viola finally realised that she had been looking at a mosaic, blinking she looked around her to see that she was one of two beds in a large, columned room which was mainly taken up by desks, busts of people and maps. It was far more grand than the room in Parma which they had shared, with mosaics on the floor, carvings in the walls and the room itself was as big as the ground floor of Viola's house.

Bernadette was sitting at one of the desks, looking at maps, Kristen was on a chair by Viola's bed with a furrowed brow. Julius was by the other bed, which Viola realised Constance was lying in. Her face had a nasty black eye and her cheek a cut. Bruises and more scraps dotted her arms, with the black, ugly S on her left shoulder. Most of the injuries had been bandaged with some sort of cream put on the rest.

"Is she alright?" Viola asked, pushing herself up.

"Better than we thought," replied Julius, "None of the cuts are too deep, she has been unconscious since though."

"We cheated a bit," said Bernadette, crossing over to join them, "We used future medical treatments on Constance's wounds, and yours. However, given the circumstances it's only a bit illegal."

"Mine?" thought Viola, then she remembered how the glass had stuck into her back. She immediately raised a hand to it, to feel bandages.

"We got all of the glass out," said Kristen, "They will heal pretty quickly, with all that we have put on them. That was incredibly dangerous though, Viola, you nearly killed yourself. The key isn't worth your life, you shouldn't have put yourself in so much danger."

"It was dangerous," said Julius, gesturing to the key which was now in a pouch on his belt, "But brave and Viola didn't get hurt too bad."

"You don't care whether we get hurt," said Kristen loudly, "As long as you get your gem."

Julius stood up, "That is not true and you know it. Just because you wouldn't commit such a selfless act doesn't mean that you have to punish Viola for doing so."

Kristen immediately stood up as well but Bernadette stood between them before either of them tried anything, "Don't you dare, either of you. We all chose to do this, no one was forced and in case you haven't notice we did succeed. One key down, two to go. One of which is probably a few miles from where we are right now, maybe less."

"We are in Ancient Rome now?" Viola asked as Kristen and Julius both sat down again. Bernadette nodded,

"Rome, AD 160. The current Emperor is Antoninus Pius, one of the Five Good Emperors. The empire is doing fairly well, it is ruling most of Europe but it being controlled and governed fairly well. It is hardly Rome's hay day though and soon she will be hit by a plague epidemic."

"Never catch the plague," said Kristen, "That is what history teaches us."

"And never invade Russia in the winter," added Bernadette, "Unless you are the Mongols," she smiled at this for some reason before turning back to the main subject, "The next key is probably in a Roman Temple about half an hour from where we are now. This total guesswork so Julius and I might be wrong but Vespansianos writing and travels indicate that he particularly liked Rome and this period in Roman history," she passed Viola a wheat and honey pancake, "Très goûteux, very tasty. Kristen has already eaten four," as Viola ate Bernadette continued, "Constance obviously can't join us on this one so I suggest Julius stays with her whilst Viola, Kristen and I head out to this Temple."