Chapter 4

My head was killing me! Sharp, throbbing pains seared through me. Every time I tried to open my eyes, it was as if someone was pushing the point of a blade into the socket and twisting. I tried to move and found that I was bound. I tried to talk, and found that my throat was so dry that no sound would come. Still, I struggled against the bindings.

"Reperio quod addo medicus hic statim. Vestri vita pendeo in is."

Someone near my head was calling out for someone to find and bring the doctor to me, immediately. It was also indicated that the messenger's life depended on it.

I felt a hand being inserted under my head. I was lifted up slightly, and I felt some sort of cup being brought to my lips. I drank whatever it was in the cup and immediately felt the warm burning sensation of alcohol. It was some sort of wine ... very strong wine, but wine, nevertheless.

"Cautio, imbibo sensim" he told me. "Regius vestry vires primoris!"

He wanted me to drink cautiously, and to regain my strength, first.

"Ego mos operor ut vos narro."

I told him I would follow his directions.

It was at that moment that I realized again something strange and terrifying had happened to me. I realized I was conversing in Latin with whomever it was that was attending to me. I also recognized that this Latin was not the same as the Latin that Father Rupert had taught me, though it was similar. It seemed richer and fuller than any I had ever heard. As I listened to others nearby, I understood all they were saying. But all of them were conversing in Latin. Not one word did I hear, of my native English.

"Tell me what happened, and where am I?"

My Latin was good, as I practiced all the time reading and writing from the Bible in Father Rupert's rectory. He had coached me for many hours, and I was a good student.

"You were at your post, keeping the rabble back when a stone, or rather a rock was thrown at you. It hit you below the edge of your helm, behind your left eye and you were knocked out. You were brought here for the doctor to treat you. He left your side only a short while ago."

"My memory is missing," I stammered. "Tell me, where am I and what am I doing here?" The pain was starting to relax a bit but I still couldn't open my eyes without that sharp stabbing pain. For now, I would keep them closed.

"Because I am your friend, I will tell you. But you must NOT mention to anyone you do not remember things. They will send you home immediately, if they find out."

There was a conspiratorial tone in the voice, and I could tell that this was a friend talking, so I waited for him to continue.

"Our legion has been posted here for 6 months now. The Goddess Hera knows it is one of the worst postings on earth. Relief from Rome was due last week, but then we got word it would be 3 months..."

He went on but I didn't hear. My mind stuck on that one word, ROME. My God, I thought, what has happened. Everyone is speaking Latin and this man is talking about Rome, and we are posted in this place. Oh I wish I could open my eyes and see what is going on.

"Marcus??? Marcus, are you listening?"

He was talking to me. He called me Marcus. I must open my eyes. Once more I tried opening them, and this time success! I blinked at the brightness of the sun, and knew in that moment I was not in England. The sun was hot and burning down on the tent we were in.

Moreover, the dress of the men and myself told me something was very wrong. I no longer wore the clothes of an English lord, and a cousin to the King. I found I was wearing what I believe to be the battle dress of a Roman Centurion!

"Quis est vestri nomen?" I said.

"My name is Claudius Aurelius, of course," he responded, "and you, Marcus Agrippa have been my best friend since we were boys. We learned to fight together, to drink together and to chase women together. We even became men together on the same woman. Try to remember as much as you can because the commander will know you are hiding something if you don't."