When Truth Fails (3 page)

“A bounty?” Ellie fell backwards, lying prostrate on the grass. “Ugh…”

Magnus stood over her. “What is it that you say?” He thought for a moment. “The word on the street is that Cassius put a hefty sum on your head.”

Ellie smiled. “So this is what it’s like when grown-ups try to sound hip,” she said with a chuckle.

“What?”

Ellie shook her head. “A hefty sum, huh?”

Magnus took a seat next to her. “Yes, I heard it from my cousin. Apparently you are a witch.”

She sat up. “Do you believe them?”

Magnus grinned. “You are quite bewitching.”

“Seriously…”

Magnus shook his head. “It is nonsense. If you were a witch, I do not believe for a second that you would be spending time with me out in the woods. Besides, there is no room for a cauldron out here.”

Ellie fell back down onto the ground.

“Are you going to fall asleep again? You do not even want to hear what other news I bring to you?” She turned her head. “Other words amongst the street is that there has been a rash of thefts amongst the shop owners.”

“Are they blaming that on me too?”

“Well, yes but that is not my point. The items being stolen are silk.”

“You sure it wasn’t you?” she asked, motioning toward the tent. “Wait.” She bolted up. “Silk?”

Magnus nodded.

“Like the type of silk that was used as blindfolds during the murders.”

Magnus nodded again. “Since you can no longer be seen in town, I went to one of the shop owners to ask a few questions. She was more than eager to bend my ear about one of her patrons who often complains of having small batches stolen. Guess when the last batch was stolen.”

“Just before the last murder?”

“Yes, and more yet. I asked the talkative woman if a batch was stolen last spring – that was when my sister was murdered – and she said yes. She remembered because she just had a shipment of floral pink silk sent in from the east. Expensive. Of course, that was what was stolen.”

“You do good work, Magnus.”

“I am not just a pretty face,” he said with a smile.

“I wish I could get out there though.”

“There must be something that you can do to sway the hand of Augustus, in order to get this bounty dropped from your head.”

“He doesn’t know who I am. I can’t convince him to do anything. He won’t listen to his men, not that they would listen to me anyway.” She laid back in the grass and closed her eyes. Even with her eyes closed she could feel Magnus’ gaze as he searched her body. Her eyelids fluttered open. “What are you looking for?” she asked him. “I don’t have a magic wand or anything.”

“A wand?” he said, not really paying attention to what she said. “I’m sorry. I find myself in awe of you at times.”

Ellie furrowed her brows. “Me?”

“You are an incredible woman. I do not know anyone like you. In a predicament like this, any other woman I know would just fall down in a heap on the floor.”

“I suppose I’m not like the other women around here, am I?” A smile crept across her face. “Woman.”

“Oh, that smile is unnerving. What are you plotting?”

“A woman. Would a women be able to stray Augustus’ mind? Perhaps his mistress, Lucilia?”

“Lucilia? Perhaps but she lives alone in a villa guarded by some of Augustus’ best men.”

Ellie stepped into the bedroom from the balcony. She took a deep breath. Lucilia was sitting at a vanity brushing her hair. She stood as silently as possible, just inside the doorway, waiting for Magnus to drop down from the roof. She didn’t even hear him as he snuck up on her and tapped her on the shoulder. Ellie squeaked in surprise. Lucilia spun around and screamed.

They both jumped toward her waving their hands. “No, no, no,” Ellie said. She placed her hand over Lucilia’s mouth to keep her silent. The guard at her bedroom door burst through the door and met face-to-fist with Magnus’s knuckles. He fell backwards.

“I will take care of this fine gentleman out in the hallway,” Magnus said. “You two can talk.” He dragged the man into the hallway and shut the door.

“Are you here to kill me?” Lucilia asked. Tears welled up in her blue eyes.

“No, I’m not here to hurt you.”

“Why not?” asked Lucilia. “After all of that, you are not even going to bother to put me out of my misery?”

“What are you talking about?” asked Ellie. She looked around at the lavish room decorated in the finest silks and the jewelry box full of gemstones of all colors. “You’re Augustus’ mistress aren’t you?”

Lucilia nodded. “I will not tell you his secrets.”

“I am not interested in Augustus. I want you to give Augustus a message for us.”

Lucilia sat down on the bed, her dress flowing outward, revealing layers upon layers of the finest fabric. “You speak as though you are not from here.”

“I’m not.”

She gasped. “You. You are the witch. The sorceress that he warned me of.”

“I am not a witch.”

“That is exactly what he said you would say.”

“Oh for goodness sakes.”

“You can get me out of here.”

Ellie’s shoulders drooped. This was the most emotion that she had seen the young woman express. Even as she was brushing her long blonde hair with the ornate brush, she looked sullen.

“Why do you want to leave so bad?”

She looked away. “My fate cannot lie here. I refuse to believe that I was raised to just be the rag doll to an arrogant politician. My father used to tell me that I was destined for great things.” She shook her head. “I know that I am a woman and I am not supposed to dream of such things…”

“You don’t love Augustus?”

“I do not even know the man. He will not marry me because I am not the type of bride he is looking for. He does not talk to me. He only expects me to open my legs wide for his-”

“I get it,” Ellie interrupted. She could almost hear the glass shatter as her image of Augustus was crushed. “Listen. I need you to do me a favor. You need to convince Augustus that I’m not a witch, or whatever it is they’re calling me. Believe me, I’ve been called worse to my face but none of those ever came with consequences like this. You know. The whole execution thing.”

“I cannot bend his ear. He will not listen to a woman.” She looked deep into Ellie’s eyes. “You are a witch. I can see the magic. Please. Please, help me out of here.”

Ellie shook her head. “I’m not a fu-” She took a deep breath. “You need to listen to me. I. Am. Not. A. Witch.”

“If you are not a witch as you say, I will be doomed here and so will you and your friend.” She motioned toward the door.

Ellie sat down next to her on the bed. She had come there looking to be rescued but ended up needing to rescue three people instead. “You said that you have skills, right? What skills do you have?”

“Skills? My father taught me how to tend the farm when I was a child. Before my mother told me that it wasn’t in my future.”

“Well your mother was wrong.” Ellie stood up. “It’s in your future all right.”

The door creaked open and Magnus stuck his head in. “How is everything in here?”

Ellie motioned for him to come closer. Magnus stepped in, dressed in the guard’s clothing. “The guard is, ahem, taking a nap.”

Ellie grinned. “Which way is the port?” she asked.

Magnus looked at the girl sitting on the bed and back at Ellie. “I do not like where I think this is going.”

“You trust me, right?” Ellie asked, coyly.

“No. No, I do not.” He pursed his lips and shook his head. He held his hands up in the air. “I did not risk my life so that you could rescue this girl that is supposed to save us.”

“She isn’t going to be able to save us anyway. We might as well do some good while we are here.”

Magnus gritted his teeth. Ellie’s pleading eyes softened his expression. “The port is to the west.”

“The ships that are there go to the new world for export. If we can sneak her onto a ship, I can guarantee you that she will be able to find some work.” She turned toward Lucilia. “What do you say?”

Magnus interrupted, “That is all fine for her but what about us?”

“Oh come on. Do you think that being a slave is any future for a beautiful young woman?”

“You know that I do not believe in slavery.”

“Well, then let’s sneak her out.”

Lucilia pointed to the wardrobe standing in the corner of the room. “I have some wonderful servant’s stolas in the wardrobe. If you slip one on, you can pass as one of my handmaidens.”

Ellie raised her arms up. “All right then. We’re all in agreement.” She motioned for Magnus to turn away as she stepped toward the wardrobe.

“I did not agree to any-” Magnus started before Lucilia took his arm and led him out to the balcony, all the while whispering something in his ear. Ellie watched the exchange but had more on her mind than eavesdropping on her…, friend? She stopped to stare at Magnus in full Roman armor. It was a sight she never thought she would see. He told her that he would never don armor again. He looked good in it though. A smile crept across her face as she unbuckled her belt.

“Is this right?” Ellie asked. Magnus and Lucilia turned around. Ellie was dressed in a translucent stola, held in place with a belt that was draped loosely on her waist. The garment itself was revealing: two large rectangular pieces of translucent cloth draped on either side of her, covering her breasts but leaving a triangular section of her skin bare from her navel up to her shoulders. The large belt was the only piece that kept her most intimate body parts for to herself. Magnus’ gaze went from her face down to her navel, stopping for a moment at her nipples, which were fairly exposed through the transparent fabric. It left little to the imagination.

“You look lovely,” Lucilia said, not missing a beat. She quickly ran to the dresser, packed most of her jewelry into a leather satchel that she kept on her waist and filled another. She handed the second one to Ellie. “This is all I can do to reciprocate your kindness. I hope this will help you in your quest to find innocence.”

“Quickly,” Magnus said coming in from the balcony. “The guards downstairs are looking restless.” As they prepared themselves, Magnus turned to Lucilia. “You have a few denari lying around?” he asked. She nodded. “Good, we need to pay the driver.”

Magnus walked out first, with Lucilia following, and a sheepish Ellie walking behind them. She could feel the eyes of the guards as she walked past them.

The guard at the front door was the only one to stop them. “Where are you going at this hour, madam?” he asked.

“Augustus asks for my presence at his villa,” Lucilia said, with a surprising tone of confidence. “With the death of Senator Glabor, he feels uneasy leaving his home so I am to come to him.”

The guard nodded and let the three pass. They fought the urge to run as they nonchalantly walked across the courtyard and past the last of the guards, finally disappearing into a carriage the Magnus had waiting for them.

Ellie and Magnus watched the ship leave the port from a short distance away – and from behind a building.

“Well that went well,” Magnus said. “Our ticket to freedom is leaving for freedom of her own.”

“Don’t be a sourpuss. We’ll find another ticket,” Ellie said, folding her arms across her chest. The cool sea breeze mussed her hair. Magnus pushed a few strands behind her ear.

“Come,” he said. “Let us get you some place warm.”

They snuck back to camp, taking the long way around and enjoying the view of the stars along the way. While Ellie seemed to be enamored with the stars above, Magnus was focused on another celestial beauty.

“What is happening between us?” he asked.

“Hmm?” Her mind was elsewhere but was brought back to reality with his worried expression. “What do you mean?”

“I just want to know what you think of us. If I should just work with you until we solve this murder or if there could be something more.”

“You’re asking me for clarity in our friend-er, relationship?” Ellie wasn’t used to this. If anything, it was usually her that had to ask for clarification with all of her ex-boyfriends and lovers. “I- I don’t know. I guess I haven’t really thought about it. Up until now, I only imagined myself with Cassius.”

Magnus nodded, obviously hurt from the comment.

“Oh, Magnus! I didn’t mean it that way.” She reached for him and grabbed his arm. He stopped walking. Facing him, she placed her hands on his cheeks. “You’ve always been here for me. My protector.” She smiled at the thought. “I don’t want to mess up what we have by trying to make it any more than what it is.”

He shook his head. “That is it though. I do not know what
this
is. You flirt with me. We talk as if we can be in a deeper relationship and yet-”

She nodded. “I suppose you’re right. I mean-” A breeze brushed past them causing her to curl up and wrap her arms around herself. He did the same, wrapping his arms around her. She rested her head on his armor, which was cool to the touch but she could feel the heat from his chest resonating through it.

“Let us get back to camp,” he said. “We can talk about it there. The trees should shelter us from this wind.”

The rest of the walk back was awkward and quiet. Magnus was deep in thought and Ellie was deep in, well, self-pity. She didn’t want to have her heart broken again. She had just tried to give it to Cassius, only to have it thrown away like a piece of rotting meat. Everything was getting so convoluted. She knew she was attracted to Magnus. That wasn’t an issue. But feelings for him?

She remembered the look on his face when she had mentioned Cass’ name. At first, she scoffed at his apparent envy but when thinking about Magnus wrapping his arms around another woman – any woman - she was surprised at how strongly she felt. The thought of someone else in his arms sent a pang of emotion through her. Jealousy? No… That can’t be it.

Once they got back to camp, they rationed out a small meal. Neither of them felt too hungry at the moment since their minds were busied with thoughts of their previous conversation.

Ellie tossed him a piece of bread after he took off his armor. “I do not miss having to do that every day,” he said. He sat down in front of the fire with just his tunic and belt on. Ellie plopped down next to him, still dressed in the stola from Lucilia. The light from the fire silhouetted her body through the thin fabric. Ellie was thin but curvy where it mattered. She glanced at him, feeling his eyes on her.

“I should change,” she said.

“No.” The sharpness of his voice caught them both by surprise. His cheeks flushed. “I mean, you look beautiful. You do not need to change unless the fire is not warming you enough.”

“It’s fine,” she said.
Why was everything so awkward now? Ugh, is this how guys felt after she asked for clarification
, she pondered in her head. He handed her half of his bread, their fingers touching during the exchange. Ellie grinned, reminiscing about that first touch of a high school crush. Except, Magnus had let go of the bread and was now holding her fingers. He laced their fingers together. His touch was gentle. She wondered if he had always been this gentle and if she just hadn’t noticed.

“I can keep you warm tonight,” he said.

What a line
, she thought but found herself staring into his eyes. Things suddenly felt less awkward. “Huh…” she whispered.

She wanted to touch him. She wanted to know what the heat was like. She was already imagining it: the slight sheen of sweat glistening in the moonlight and her body trembling under his touch.

“I have to tell you something,” she whispered.
What are you doing,
she thought
. You’re going to ruin this again. Just like with Cass.

“What is it?” he said. He looked deeply into her eyes. He was expecting a confession but he wasn’t going to get the one he was hoping for.

“I’m from much further away than you know,” she said.

“Across the seas?”

“And across time.”

Magnus furrowed his brows. Ellie had seen that look before.
This is a mistake,
she thought.
But it I can’t stop now.

“I’m from a different time. The future. That’s why I act different. Talk different. And why I know things that I probably shouldn’t.” She gave him a moment to let it all sink in.

“The future,” he said.

“My name is Ellen. I’m from far, far away. I told Cassius and he thought I was a witch but I’m not. I’m just a victim of circumstance. I didn’t mean to go back in time. It just happened.”

Magnus nodded. She could see the wheels turning in his head and she hoped that he wouldn’t turn
her
in. “Hmm…” was all he could muster.

“You think I’m crazy?” she asked.

He shook his head. “A number of things make more sense now,” he said with a smile. “The future,” he said. “Women are like you in the future?”

She nodded. “For the most part.” She smiled. “Is that bad?”

“No, but I do feel sorry for all of the men there, if the women are like you.”

She shot him a grin but found herself looking into his eyes again. He believed her.

“You believe me, don’t you?”

He nodded. “You have no reason to lie to me.”

Tears streaked down her cheeks.

“Oh!” he sputtered. “I said the wrong thing.”

“No,” she said with a laugh. “No, you didn’t. You’re perfect. Like usual.” She wrapped her arms around him before realizing what she was actually doing.

Magnus leaned in and brushed his lips against her cheek first, before diving in and kissing her soft lips with his. She melted into his arms. It was warm, it was perfect, and it was wonderful. It had been a long time since Ellie had been with someone but she didn’t remember it being quite as passionate. She had sex before but in comparison to this – she didn’t think she was doing it right.

Ellie unfastened his belt and let it fall to the ground; then helped him pull his tunic off, revealing a body that she had seen and longed for before. Somehow tonight was different. In the moonlight, she could see every defining muscle, every curve made by the shadows. Magnus was definitely someone that women would faun over no matter what era they were from. She had seen plenty of men in her lifetime but he was something special. He was her hero.

Magnus undressed her slowly, first slipping off her belt, and kissing her stomach as he laid her on the grass. He moved the fabric from her, uncovering her body as though he were carefully unwrapping a gift. His hands searched her body, taking in every curve and goose-bump made by the cool night air. He hovered above her and kissed her lips again. Ellie wrapped her arms around his shoulders, pulling him closer to her. He gently lowered himself down, pressing his muscular body onto hers.

She felt his excitement growing in between her thighs and, as she did, a sigh escaped her lips. How long had she been waiting for this moment? Too long. He kissed her neck and shoulder, his hot breath tickling every inch in between. His hands found her breasts. Her breath was getting heavy. She could feel her cheeks flush with embarrassment. The vulnerability of being naked in the midnight air was both nerve-wracking and thrilling. And it only fueled her desire even more. Ellie could feel his swelling inching closer to her and she gasped.

Normally, the walk of shame always made Ellie feel dirty and guilty but there was no walk this morning. No shame. Instead, she walked down to the creek and bathed, remembering every touch and every sensation from the night before.