All For Freedom Chapter Eighteen

 Chapter Eighteen: Mark: In which I meet an Interesting Gallic Family

    I woke up in a room somewhere and found myself to be very much alive. I didn't have a shirt on but, thankfully, I still had pants on. I was quite bandaged up, too. 

    The door opened and, to my surprise, Flavia walked in. I quickly pulled the blanket up to my shoulders. She smiled, picked something up from the end of the bed, and tossed it to me. I caught it but dropped the blanket. It was a shirt.

    I stood up slowly and stabilized myself.

    "Careful." She said. "You've been in an unconscious state for at least a week an' a half an' have been runnin' a fever fer a few days. It broke last night finally. Mama was very pleased." I pulled the shirt on.

    "You found me and brought me back here?" I asked. "Even though I'm Remen?"

    "You was very kind to me." She said. "One good turn deserves another. Even if you're Remen. Marcus carried ya in here. He's out huntin' currently. I'm the one who bandaged ya up an' took care a ya."

    "Thank you." I said.

    "Do ya want anythin' to eat?" She asked.

    "Yes." I said, realizing how hungry I was.

    "Follow me." She said. "Don't judge." She led me into a small room with a fireplace and various stools. An older woman was making something in a pot on the fire. She looked up when Flavia moved a stool out of her way.

    "Good mornin' to ya, Sir." She said.

    "Good morning, Ma'am." I said.

    "Ya hungry?" She asked.

    "Yes, Ma'am." She grinned.

    "Good." She grabbed some bowls and filled them from the pot. She handed me one and gave another to Flavia, who sat down on the floor by a stool, and set her bowl on the stool. I did the same. 

    "Potato soup." The woman said. "Family favorite. That and peas." She winked at Flavia who blushed.

    "Thank you." I sad.

    "Eat up." She said. "You look like you could use a few days of some good food. What've you been doin' that gotcha so bloody and bruised?" 

    "Mama," Flavia said quietly.

    "I was tryin' to lead an army with my brother against my grandfather." I said. "We lost. My brother is worse off than me. He lost his head."

    "You poor thing." Flavia's mother patted me on the head. "Who's yer grandpapa?"

    "Kaesar." I said.

    "Odin's mighty beard." She said. I was saved from sayin' anything else by the arrival of a young woman and a young man.

    "Mama," the man said. "Where's Via?"

    "I'm right here, Lu." Flavia said. "What is it?" She stood up.

    "Liza wants ya." The man said.

    "Can Cornelia go?" Flavia asked. He shook his head.

    "She asked fer ya."

    "Alright. I'll just be a minute." Flavia quickly ate her soup then stood up.

    "Sorry." She whispered to me. She left the house quickly.

    "Wonder what Liza needs." Flavia's mother said, handing a bowl to the two newcomers. The man took Flavia's seat. The woman moved a stool over and sat down.

    "You must be Via's mysterious patient." The man said. "I'm Lucius, Via's younger brother. This is Cornelia. She's right in between me and Via." Cornelia smiled. "An' then there's Marcus, he's a year older 'an Via."

    "I'm Mark." I said. "And I'm a year older than Marcus."

    "Odin's beard." Lucius said.

    Flavia and Liza came over shortly.

    "It's nice to see you again, Mark." Liza said.

    "It's nice to see you too." I said.

    "It's also nice to be around someone who speaks right." Liza said. "Unlike these hooligans."

    "You're one of us now, Liza." Lucius said. "Don't ferget that."

    "I can't." Liza said. "Not with you reminden me every day." I glanced at Flavia.

    "Marcus married Liza the day I got back." Flavia explained.

    "Via's speech has gotten better." Liza said.

    "That would be my fault." I said.

    "So you're the different Remen." Flavia's mother said. "The one who let 'er go." I nodded.

    "I'm sorry ya got stuck with Via." Lucius said. Flavia promptly smacked him.

    "By the way, Mark," Flavia's mother said. "You can stay here as long as ya like. You'll always have a home here. It's my way of sayin' thanks fer everythin' ya did about Via." She must've seen my bewildered look. "An' call me Auntie. I insist."

    "Yes, Ma'am." I said.

    "Auntie." She said.

    "Yes, Auntie." I said slowly.

    "Good boy." She said. Flavia grinned. 

All For Freedom Chapter Nineteen

 Chapter Nineteen: Flavia: In which the Tyrant Topples

    Marcus, Mark, an' I met after supper one evenin' to talk about what Liza 'ad suggested to me the day Mark 'ad woken up.

    "I'd say it don'e sound too bad." I said.

    "You're the only one here who is not a wanted fugitive." Mark pointed out. 

    "True," I said. "But it's our best bet fer winnin' this war."

    "I agree with Via." Marcus said.

    "Thank you Marcus." I said.

    "I guess we're gonna try." Mark said. "Whether we all agree to it or not."

    "You said gonna!" I said.

    We set out towards Reme at dawn. Mark led the way.

    After a week on foot, we entered the grand city of Reme. We entered after dark 'cause both Marcus an' Mark was wanted fugitives: Marcus fer escapin' them gladiators, Mark fer bein' Mark.

    Our first stop was the barn behind Mark's ol' house. Mark 'ad felt sorry fer leavin' ol' Jethro behind. I was glad we was pickin' him up. I'd grown to like the donkey.

    Our next stop was not a stop. We was really just tryin' to find Kaesar himself. It was gonna be hard. It didn't help that we ran into the guy that thought he still owned Marcus. Mark ended our discussion over Marcus by punchin' the guy in the face. 

    We continued lookin'.

    We ran into an old friend o' Mark's who, of course, recognized Mark.

    "Mark?" The man looked amazed.

    "Cassius?" Mark grinned. "Cassius the Bored?"

    "Actually," Cassius said. "It's Cassius the Brute. Very proud of that name."

    "You look pleased, Cassius."

    "I am." Cassius glanced around. "The tyrant is dead, thanks to me. And a little help."

    "You killed him?" Mark glanced at me an' Marcus lookin' a little relieved.

    "Yup." Cassius glanced around again. "I should get outa here. I'm a wanted man now. But I'm proud of what I did. I freed Reme.

    "Yeah." Mark said.

    "See ya later." Cassius winked.

    "Yeah." Mark watched him run off. "We can go now. Our job is done."

All For Freedom Epilogue

 Epilogue: Mark: In which my Life Takes a Turn for the Better

    The Venelli Tribe of Celtaeca, Gaul made me one of their own a few weeks after Marcus, Flavia, and I returned. Since then, things only got better. My twenty-seventh birthday came and on it, I managed to secure the best thing that would ever happen to me.

    Flavia consented to marry me.

    The wedding ceremony was the basic Gallic ceremony (Which I thought was really cool). But, there was no real sign between the newly married couple to show if they liked each other. I thought that was sort of strange.

    After the feasting, of which there was a lot, Flavia led me to a little hill and we sat to watch the sunset.

    "Ya know," Flavia said. "I still can't believe I married a Remen."

    "I'm glad you did." I said. She punched me in the shoulder.

    "I can do that now, right?" She grinned. I nodded.

    "Flavia,"I asked.

    "What Mark?"

    "Can I kiss you?"

    "Why would you want to do that?"

    "Because I like you."

    Silence.

    "Flavia?"

    "Fine." So I kissed her. 

The End

All For Freedom Historical Note

     This book is just a fantasy. Hopefully, an enjoyable one. But, it was based off of part of Caesar's life. Many of the characters are just fictionalized versions of historical figures. Flavia, her family, and Liza are purely fictitious, however, Mark, Julian, their parents, Kaesar, his wife, and Cassius the Brute are based on historical figures. Most of them were like their historic counterparts to the death with the exception of one: Mark. I've included a little bit about the actual historic people below.

    Caesar (Kaesar): Caesar really did lead an eight year long war against the people of Gaul (current France and Germany). He gave his daughter to his friend Pompey in marriage. He and Pompey became enemies and the death of Caesar's daughter didn't help. Pompey and Caesar fought; Caesar won. Caesar most famously died at the hands of Cassius, Brutus, and a few others.

    Calpurnia (Cornelia Kaesar): Calpurnia doesn't factor into the story of Caesar all that much. But she did live and married Caesar. She was either his third or fourth wife depending on the source you read from.

    Pompey (Pompey): Pompey married Caesar's daughter, Julia. They were married for five years because she died after only being married to him for five years. He had two sons, Gneaus and Sextus, and one daughter, Pompeia. Pompey was married a total of five times. His three kids were all from his third marriage to Mucia Tertia. Pompey fought beside Caesar in the Gallic Wars only to turn on him later. Pompey unsuccessfully fought Caesar and lost his life to followers of Caesar's in Egypt. (Caesar avenged his old friend by killing Pompey's killers.)

    Julia (Julia): Caesar's daughter and the fourth wife of Pompey. Not much is known about her other than her death turned Pompey and Caesar against each other.

    Gnaeus Pompeius II (Julian): The eldest son of Pompey. He probably helped his father against Caesar until Pompey's death. Gnaeus and his brother fought an unsuccessful war against Caesar which resulted in Gnaeus's untimely beheading. He was thirty years old when he died. 

    Cassius and Brutus (Cassius the Brute): Cassius and Brutus are probably best known for killing Caesar (along with several others' help) an event which resulted in Shakespeare's play Julius Caesar (which includes the line "Et tu Brute"). Cassius and Brutus both ran on their own swords in the following war against Mark Antony and Octavius. 

    Sextus Pompeius (Mark): Pompey's younger son doesn't come onto the scene until he and Gnaeus fought Caesar. Sextus, unlike Gnaeus, escaped with his life. He fled. He ended up getting married and the couple had a daughter (Pompeia, probably named after Sextus's older sister). Sextus became a pirate and terrorized the Roman seas until he was caught and executed, without a trial, at the age of thirty five. He outlived his brother by a decade. 

All For Freedom Chapter Seventeen

 Chapter Seventeen: Flavia: In which I help a Remen

    Marcus an' I was out in the woods lookin' fer a sheep fer Mama when we found Mark, unconscious from lack of blood, near the village limits. Marcus picked 'im up an' we walked back to the village. The stupid sheep was waitin' fer us outside its pen. I let it in an' Marcus brought Mark inside the house.

    Marcus laid Mark on his old bed an' left 'im in mine an' Mama's care. Mama left him in my care mostly. 

    I pulled Mark's shirt off an' cleaned the various wounds, wonderin' how in Arachwee he'd gotten them. I'd have to ask him when he woke up. If he woke up.

    I bandaged Mark an' found an old clean shirt of Marcus's which I laid at the end of the bed fer when he woke up.

    A few nights later, Mark came down with a fever. A bad fever. Mama an' I sent Cornelia an' Lucius out to look fer some elderberries. They came back with quite a lot of elderberries. Lucius got a bowl of water an' some rags an' set them on a small stool by the bed. Mama an' I pressed the berries until we'd made elderberry tea an' juice.

    I poured some tea into a small cup an' forced it down my unconscious patient's throat. I applied a wet rag to 'is forehead. Now all we could do is wait. 

All For Freedom Chapter Sixteen

 Chapter Sixteen: Mark: In which the Tyrant Succeeds

    Julian and I drilled the men so many times. There were some complaints, but those were dealt with and for the most part, things were going pretty well. Julian treated me as his equal for the first time in my life. That meant that the soldiers respected me too. It was nice to know that.

    We received word about a month after I'd arrived telling me and Julian that Grandfather, along with a sizable army, was on his way. 

    We saw the army a few days later. The odds? Five to one, Grandfather's favor. That wouldn't stop me and Julian from fighting. We just knew we'd die in the process. 

    The men looked like they wanted to go apologize to Grandfather for their misbehavior in joining us. Julian wasn't pleased about that. He looked them up and down disapprovingly. Then, he spoke. 

    "Alright," he said. "What are you thinking of, you worm loving dogs? Get your noses out of the dirt and look up! You've been drilling for this moment for some time. Why do you think Mark and I have been drilling you? So that you can look good in your hand-me-down uniforms? Or is it so that you can win against all odds? I'd hope that it's the latter. I don't fight with cowards and dogs. I don't fight with sluggards and cats. I fight with beasts that do not care about the outcome of a fight. I fight with those who would give their lives to get rid of the tyrant. I fight today for what I believe is right to fight for: freedom. I hope that you will fight alongside me for our freedom from the tyrant. You're probably all going to die today, but, by Jupiter, you'd better take enemies down with you. Who's with me?!" The men cheered.

    "May Eres guide your swords!" I yelled. We refused to acknowledge Mars because of his partiality to Grandfather. We'd adopted the Greken god of war instead. 

    The day of battle arrived, dripping wet and frigid. The men lined up in formation and Julian and I stood in front. We waited. Neither army wanted to be responsible for starting the battle. But, start it did. I don't know which side finally started it. 

    The battle lasted for several hours. I don't want to go into detail. 

    Needless to say, we lost. Our men were slaughtered on that field. Julian was captured. I escaped because he told me to climb a tree. But, from in that tree, I could see Grandfather's camp. I could see when they beheaded Julian.

    I was the last Magnius left.

    I fled into the woods, covered in my own blood, until I could run no further. I passed out. 

All For Freedom Chapter Fifteen

 Chapter Fifteen: Flavia: In which I Return Home

    I couldn't believe my luck. I was free! I could go home! I'd see Mama, Cornelia, Lucius, an' Marcus again! 

    I skipped through the Remen forest with not a care in the world. Till I remembered that I was still in Reme. I slowed down an' kept an eye for Remens. 

    It took me 'bout a week to get to Celtaeca, an' another day ta get ta the whereabouts of the Venelli tribe.

    I walked up ta my house an' stopped. A young man was sittin' on the steps. He looked like Papa but was a whole lot younger.

    "Lu?" I asked. He looked up an' then stood up.

    "Via." He said. 

    "You're all grown up." I said. He nodded. I hugged him.

    "Where's everyone?" I asked.

    "I stayed behind in case you showed up." Lucius said. "The others is all at Marcus's."

    "Why?" I asked. "And when did Marcus get his own house?"

    "Marcus is marryin' that Briton, Liza." Lucius said. "Weddin's tonight."

    "He's marryin' Liza?" I asked. "But he just got back didn't he?"

    "He arrived home 'bout a week ago." Lucius said.

    "What'd he do?" I asked, "Get back, hug everyone, then ask her to marry him?" I laughed.

    "That's exactly what 'appened." Lucius said. "That and buy his own house. You're good at figurin' stuff out." I stared at 'im.

    "Wow." I said.

    "Would ya like ta surprise them tonight at the weddin'?" Lucius asked. I grinned.

    "Of course." I said. 

    "They'll be at Marcus's helpin' him get ready." Lucius said. "Well, actually, Mama is helpin' Marcus. Cornelia is helpin' Liza somewhere else. Ya know the drill." I nodded.

    That night, before the sun disappeared, Lucius an' I made our way to the ceremony ground. We joined the an' waited.

    A few minutes later, Marcus walked into the clearing in the the center of the grounds. He looked so solemn in his buckskin and his scars.

    A few moments later, Liza walked into the clearing an' stood in front of Marcus. He smiled gently at her but I knew he was thinkin' of me. Marcus took her hands in his an' the priest said a whole bunch of words. Marcus an' Liza exchanged rings, the priest prayed to Frey an' Freya askin' them ta bless the marriage, then they was married. There was no kissin' at a Gallic weddin'. Thankfully. Then, cam the celebration. Weddin's was a chance to eat, drink, an' party.

    The party started off with the shared cup procedure. The priest brought Marcus a cup of wine. Marcus took it in both hands, drank, an' then passed the cup ta Liza. She took the cup in both hands, drank, an' gave it back to the priest. A cheer went up from the tribe.

    Then, the tribe started the feastin'. Marcus an' Liza sat at the head of the biggest table. Mama an' Cornelia sat next to Liza. Lucius took my hand an' led me towards where Marcus was sittin'. Marcus looked up an' then stood up.

    "Via," He said. Then he hugged me. He let go an' the Liza hugged me. Then Mama an' Cornelia hugged me. 

    "How did you escape?" Marcus asked, once we was all sittin' down.

    "I didn't." I said.

    "You were freed?" Marcus was stunned. "Them Remens don't just free anyone."

    "This one was different." I said. Marcus grinned.

All For Freedom Chapter Fourteen

 Chapter Fourteen: Mark: In which I join Julian Against Grandfather

    I received word from Julian a few weeks after I'd told Flavia about her brother's escape. It was brief. Very brief.

    Mark,

    Father is dead. He was executed by some of Grandfather's followers in Agypt. Grandfather is in Agypt with Queen Cleoptra currently. If you want, you can come take command with me. If you choose to except, come soon.

    Julian

    I knew Julian was in trouble if he was asking me for help. I resolved to leave immediately. I left Mary and Peter with Grandmother but took Flavia with me. 

    When we were safely in the forest, away from Marcellus and Reme, I stopped and turned to Flavia. She was looking at me with a questioning look.

    "Flavia," I said. "Do you know why we're here?" 

    "No." She said. I told her about the note from Julian.

    "What does that mean for me?" She asked.

    "You're free." I said. "Go back to Celtaeca, to your family, to your friends." She smiled and hugged me.

    "Thank you." She whispered. Then she ran off.

    I continued on alone, glad that I had set something right.

    I reached Julian's camp in just over three days. A guard conveyed me to Julian's tent.

    Julian looked like he'd seen a spirit. He was pale, thin, and haggard looking. 

    "Mark," He said, addressing me by name for the first time without sneering or jeering at me. "You came." He sounded genuinely surprised.

    "Why wouldn't I?" I asked.

    "You hate me." Julian said. "Anyways, now that you're here, do you want to help me command the army?"

    "Yes," I said. We shook.

All For Freedom Chapter Thirteen

 Chapter Thirteen: Flavia: In which I get news concerning Marcus

    One evening, after I'd put Jethro up for the night an' made sure Marcellus was nowhere near the door, I slipped into the house. I tried to get up to my room but someone grabbed my arm an' pulled me into a dark room. My common sense, which I have a lot of, told me not ta scream 'cause it wasn't Marcellus who'd grabbed me. Thank Jupiter.

    The person lit a candle an' I saw, ta my surprise, that it was the young soldier, Mark. He smiled shyly an' set down the candle.

    "I'm glad you didn't scream." He said. Then he frowned. "Did I just say didn't?" I nodded encouragin'ly. He bit his lip.

    "Why'd ya bring me in here?" I asked, raisin' an eyebrow.

    I did not want Marcellus overhearin' us." He said. "Argh! I'm sounding more like you! No offense. And less and less like how I was raised!"

    "How's that a bad thing?" I asked. "Also, offense taken."

    "It sounds wrong." He said. 

    "No, it doesn't." I said. "It sounds perfectly fine. You Remens don't know how to speak right. But, back ta what you was sayin'?"

    "Right." Mark took a deep breath. "This morning, I went into the town to find out about the current situation of things. And I overheard someone saying that one of the gladiators had escaped. So, I inquired as to who it was."

    "Was it Marcus?" I asked, hopefully. By now, I'd told Mark 'bout Marcus. He nodded.

    "Yes, it was." He smiled again. I jumped an' clapped my hands together. Then, I hugged him, taking him briefly by surprise.

    "Shh!" Mark glanced towards the door. "We don't want Marcellus to hear." I let go of him.

    "Right." I said. "Thanks fer tellin' me. I appreciate it."

    "I thought you would." He said. "Now, we should get out of here before Marcellus discovers us." I nodded. 

All For Freedom Chapter Twelve

 Chapter Twelve: In which I let Marcellus In and Regret It

    The news came the following week. Father and Julian were declared enemies of Reme. Anyone connected to them was obligated to publicly denounce them and then have a loyal soldier of Grandfather's search the house and stay to keep eyes on the situation.

    I didn't denounce Father and Julian. But, I let the soldier in. 

    The soldier's name was Marcellus. From the moment he stepped through the door, he acted like Julian. He was in charge. Anyone who said and thought otherwise (me, Peter, Mary, and especially Flavia) was beaten severely. Flavia had the nerve to talk back to Marcellus one day.

    "Get me something to drink, you filthy thing." Marcellus instructed Flavia.

    "No." She said.

    "No?" He raised an eyebrow.

    "No." Flavia repeated. "An' ya know why? I'll tell ya why, you fat, lazy, piece of animal dung. You don't tell me what to do 'cause ya have no right to." For extra effect, she spit on him. Marcellus stood up, grabbed her by the arm, and went outside. 

    I saw Flavia the next day. She was bruised and wouldn't get up. I tried talking to her but she wouldn't respond.

    Marcellus was going to need to keep an eye on his back from then on.

All For Freedom Chapter Eleven

 Chapter Eleven: Flavia: In which I try to escape

    The soldier I was in possession of was nice. I didn't like him, he was one of them Remens, but that didn't change the fact that he was nice. I resolved to run away as soon as possible so that I wouldn't begin to like him.

    The very next mornin', after I'd made my resolve to run away, I got up before any light touched the dark Remen sky. I slipped on my sandels, braided my hair, an' slipped outside, shuttin' the door quietly behind me. 

    The early mornin' air was cold. It sliced through my thin clothes an' bit me as hard as it could. It was most certainly a Remen wind. It was harsh an' mean.

    I walked down the road through Reme. I remembered that a forest was nearby so I headed towards it. I'd be safe there.

    I reached the forest as the sun rose. A commotion behind me indicated that the soldier had realized I was gone. I ran farther into the forest. I could tell that someone was followin' me. I ran faster. Unfortunately I wasn't fast enough.

    I reached a clearing an' felt someone grab me. The person, who was probably a Remen, grabbed me around the waist an' lifted me off the ground. I kicked an' screamed. Papa woulda been proud.

    "Unfortunately, I cannot let you go at this moment in time." It was the soldier. He set me down but kept a firm grip on my arm. I was unwillin'ly led back to the soldier's house. There was no way I would be able to like him now.

All For Freedom Chapter Ten

 Chapter Ten: Mark: In which Father makes a choice and I'm not there to see it

    I was going home. I'd drawn the short straw so I was going home. I was very glad about that. I hadn't liked the army so it was a relief to be going back to Reme. Although I was bringing Flavia back with me. Father had bought her. I didn't like the practice of buying and selling people but I didn't have a say in anything.

    Flavia didn't like me. Maybe that was just because I was a Remen and she was a Gaul. She was the girl that had been with Marcus and Liza. Maybe she was the sister to one of them. Probably Marcus. She looked a little like him.

    "How much farther?" Flavia asked. I stopped and turned to face her. She was riding my donkey, Jethro, so that she wouldn't run away.

    "It's about a four day's walk to Reme." I said. "You've asked me every half hour. Surely, you can count." She shook her head. I started leading Jethro again.

    "I ain't done well with times." She said. "Some numbers I's fine with. But times ain't one of 'em." She went silent.

    "You okay?" I asked.

    "No." She said. "Papa was gonna teach me times after the war."

    "Maybe he still could." I said.

    "He was killed in Alesia." She said.

    "I'm sorry." I said.

    "You didn't kill 'im did you?" Flavia asked.

    "I didn't kill anyone." I said. I led Jethro with us both in silence for some time.

    "How old are you?" I asked.

    "Why is you so interested in my business?" Flavia asked.

    "I'm just curious." I said. 

    "Eighteen." Flavia said.

    "Twenty." I said. 

    We arrived in Reme four days later like I'd said. At first, Flavia was taken aback. She stared for a few moments at everything around her before remembering that "all Remens were slimeballs and everything they made was rubbish." I smiled.

    I introduced Flavia to Peter, the house servant, and Mary, the cook. Flavia helped with whatever needed to be done. Peter and Mary were happy that I'd drawn the short straw. They liked me better than Father or Julian. 

    Flavia liked caring for Jethro. She would spend hours "taking care" of him. I never bothered her. She needed time to get used to things. She liked to talk to Jethro. She acted as though he were a real person and not just a donkey. I ever let her see me watching her.

    After Flavia had been here for a few weeks, a messenger arrived from the camp bearing news: Father and Julian had turned on Grandfather and the Gauls had been subdued by Reme. I went pale at the news. I couldn't believe what Father and Julian had done. I told Mary and Peter because I needed to tell someone. I didn't tell Flavia at the time.

All For Freedom Chapter Nine

 Chapter Nine: Flavia: In which my life disintegrates 

    My jaw dropped. Alesia was amazing. A walled fortress that no Remen, no matter how hard they tried, could penetrate.

    The city was a days journey from one side to the other. The walls encircled the entire city. They was the height of three men an' as thick as four.

    We entered by way of a giant stone gate. The Gallic king, Vercintorix, himself met us inside an' took us on a tour of the city. Then, the army went one way an' the nurses went another.

    Liza an' I chose our room an' got ready fer a few days of rest.

    "The Remens is comin'! The Remens is comin'!" Liza an' I was up in a heartbeat. We ran out onto the streets an' tried to figure out exactly what them Remens was up to.

    The army took their places behind the gate an' the archers got ready to fire. Marcus tried to get Liza an' me back inside before the battle started an' we was killed in the fightin'.

    "Kaesar himself is with 'em!" Marcus said. "Please go back inside!"

    "If Kaesar himself is with them Remens, then I am stayin' right here." I said. "Our jobs as nurses involves stayin' with the men in case they gets themselves injured."

    "She's right Marcus." Liza said. Marcus frowned but gave in. So we stayed.

    The city fell after a week. Vercintorix rode out an' surrendered to Kaesar. Marcus found me afterwards an' I was very glad that he was okay. But he had a look in his eyes that I hadn't seen before.

    "Via," He said.

    "What Marcus?" I asked. "An' where's Papa?" He opened his mouth an' closed it again. Then he sat down on the ground.

    "No," I whispered. "No, no, no, no, no!" I sat down next to Marcus an' cried into his shoulder. "He can't be dead!" Marcus didn't respond. He just rocked me there on the ground in the dust. Eventually, Marcus spoke.

    "Where's Liza?" He asked.

    "Dunno." I said snifflin'. "I last saw her doin' her job."

    "We need ta get ya outa here." Marcus said, his grammar worsenin'. 

    Liza ran up.

    "The Remens are in the city." She said.

    "We have to go now." Marcus said.

    During the chaos of all the Gauls tryin' to escape, Liza, Marcus, an' I was seperated. The only comfort I had was that them Remens didn't always kill their prisoners. But, the alternative wasn't always better. That depended on how much people was willin' to pay.

    Marcus an' I was caught by the Remens an' our hands an' ankles was bound. Then we was thrown into an empty house with all the other captive Gauls to await what them Remens was gonna do to us. I leaned on Marcus.

    "Mama ain't gonna take this well." I said. Marcus put his arms around me with difficulty an' then leaned his head on top on mine.

    "She most certainly ain't gonna take this well." He agreed.

    Them Remens brought all us captives out to a makeshift podium an' lined us up behind it. Marcus stood in front of me.

    Slowly, one by one, our countrymen was sold off to rich, stupid Remens. Marcus was sold to the guy who owned the gladiators. I would probably never see my brother again.

    It was my turn then. I was pulled up onto the podium.

    The announcer made up a buncha stuff about me an' then asked fer money. Several Remens bid fer a long time fer me. Eventually, the announcer declared "sold!" an' I was marched down the podium to the idiot who wanted me.

    It was actually a few idiots. Since they was all part of the army, they drew straws to see who got to watch me. The young one drew the short straw an' nearly jumped fer joy. I didn't know why. I'd be a handful.

    The soldier an' I started fer the capitol city of Reme, called Reme, after dawn. The soldier tried to strike up conversation.

    "What's your name?" He asked.

    "Why should I tell you?" I snapped. He looked unperturbed. 

    "I prefer to call people by their actual names." He said. "I'm Mark."

    "Flavia." I said.

    "It's a nice name." He said.

    "Hmph." I said.