Time Guards - The Italian Quest

Chapter XIV

Constance found her eyes slowly opening, letting in sunlight. She took deep breathes as she felt the pain of cuts and bruises over her body.

"We made it to Rome?" she asked, her voice weak.

"Yes," said a voice to her right. Constance pulled herself up and looked over to see Julius sitting on a wooden stool by her bed. Behind him she could make out the distinct Roman architecture and the right maps, charts and other equipment pieces to make this place an embassy.

"How do you feel?" Julius asked, shifting the flat pillows so Constance could sit up in the bed.

"Not too bad," she admitted. Julius helped her have a drink of what she immediately thought was water but there was a metallic aftertaste.

"Fortified liquid," she murmured to herself and then said to Julius, "We shouldn't be using modern technology."

"Laws must allow for extenuating circumstances," he said, "You were beaten, Constance, accurately dated medical provisions wouldn't have worked as effectively."

She had to agree, Julius filled her in on where the others were and what had happened whilst she was asleep. Bernadette, Kristen and Viola had been gone for three hours so far and Julius immediately ruled out her going to help the search for the key. She was too weak, Constance had to agree with that as well. Once he had finished talking, she took a bandage from the pile next to her and tried to wrap it around her right shoulder, hiding the tattoo which was now surrounded by bruises.

"I'll do it," said Kirsten, seeing that she was struggling. Constance held onto the bandages, she didn't like it when people pointed out what she couldn't do.

"I can manage," Constance said.

Julius paused, "I can be your left hand." Constance hadn't been expecting this, she let him help her put it on more out of shock than anything else. Once it was on Constance explained herself. She wanted to look at him but chose not to, instead she focused on a painting of a goddess with a bow and arrow on the wall in front of her.

"You can understand why I want it hidden. My clothes hide it from other people but I don't want to see it right now," she paused, taking a breath, "Do not pity me, Julius, I am an incredibly fortunate person. Yes, I was slave from when I was a baby until the age of twelve working as a maid but not past then. A month after I turned twelve I met Cassim, my mentor and the Chief Time Guard, when he was on a secret mission. He had been captured by the man I worked for, I helped him escape and in turn he helped me. I can never put into words how fortunate it is that I can time travel and that Cassim found me and cares for me."

"Then I will not pity you," said Julius, "But you must recognise that you have had a hard life," he didn't expect her to answer this so he immediately continued, "What I hate the most is injustice. When you both were arrested, Bernadette was told her rights and you were beaten."

"I do not deal in absolutes," said Constance, "But I agree. Maybe, when you come to Reyia and all of this is over, we can work together to battle injustice on the island?"
"I'd like that, I've always wanted a career in politics," he said with a smile. It was a handsome smile, Constance decided, she couldn't help but smile as well but stretching her lips stung the cut in them so she stopped.

Constance slowly sat up fully and pulled herself out of the bed, "I'm going to take a turn around the room, help get some strength back." Her legs ached as she tried to move them which coupled with a wave of dizziness meant that she had to stand still for a moment until the room stopped spinning. She glanced at Julius, she had finally found someone like her.

*

"We searched for hours," Bernadette said as they stood outside on the temple steps, "Heures, and all we found was a petal, a real key and a very annoyed priest." The Priest seemed to be partially aware of what they were doing and had asked them to leave.