*****
Jade strode ahead, hurt by Phoenix’s unfair comments. Whatever was bugging him, he had no right to take it out on her. They were all tired and worried. She brushed away tears and sniffed defiantly. She would not cry.
Being the youngest of seven had long ago taught her that sulking didn’t do any good – nobody paid attention – so Jade deliberately pushed her hurt feelings aside. She caught up with Marcus. Stealing a quick look up at his handsome profile, she found herself thinking about Phoenix’s comment. Did she ‘like’ Marcus?
“Is something bothering you?”
She looked up at him, startled. Had he been somehow reading her mind? No. He was referring to her spat with Phoenix.
“Oh,” she tried to sound relaxed, “I didn’t sleep well – kept thinking I heard someone calling my name - and Phoenix is just being grumpy.”
“What did he say to you?”
Jade opened her mouth then blushed. “Nothing important,” she finished lamely. “Can I ask you something?” It seemed safer to change the subject. Marcus nodded. “Why did you pull a knife out when I woke you yesterday morning? Were you expecting to be killed in your sleep?” she asked jokingly.
Marcus stared at her gravely for so long that Jade felt the smile slip off her face. Appalled, she realised what his silence meant.
“You mean you were expecting us to murder you?” She wasn’t sure how to feel about that. Kind of sickened and a little upset.
He made a gesture as if to brush away her words. “No, no, not you,” he assured her then added, “It’s just a habit.”
“You have a habit of expecting people to kill you in your sleep?” That was even more astonishing, if possible. “What sort of family do you have?” She was outraged on his behalf.
The Roman stared silently ahead for a few moments, his eyes on the path before them. Just when she thought he wasn’t going to answer, he spoke.
“My father’s a soldier. You learn to expect violent death when you’re brought up in a military family.”
“Your father’s death, maybe,” she scoffed, “but surely not your own. You’re just a ki…” she broke off, thinking about her history lessons. In olden times, when people didn’t live very long, someone Marcus’ age would be considered a man, not a kid. It was only in modern times that teenagers were thought to be too young for responsibility and treated like children. Marcus, by ancient Roman standards, was an adult.
It was a sobering thought. He was probably the most qualified of any of them to lead this expedition but Phoenix seemed to resent him. Jade was aware that Phoenix didn’t quite trust Marcus but she did. She knew the Roman was hiding something but he had no evil intentions toward them – she could tell that instinctively. Anyway, they all had something to hide.
“I’m old enough to join the Legion.” Marcus jerked his chin up.
Jade laid her hand on his arm and caught his affronted gaze. “I’m sorry. That was rude.” She eyed him, remembering something else. “I’ve been meaning to say thank you for helping us.” When he looked surprised, she continued. “You fought against your own countrymen yesterday. It must have been difficult for you. You barely know us and you’ve probably grown up with some of them. So, thank you.”
Marcus touched her fingers lightly then dropped his arm away and grimaced. “It was no hardship to fight against that Centuria. It’s well known their Centurion reports directly to Feng Zhudai.”
Jade stopped in the middle of the path, her mouth open in shock. Phoenix, who had been walking close behind, ploughed into her, sending them both stumbling. He apologised but Jade barely heard him. She grabbed his arm, her nails digging into his arm.
“Marcus. Say that again – about the Centurion we fought yesterday. Tell Phoenix.”
Phoenix looked back and forth between the two of them, clearly confused.
Marcus raised his eyebrows but repeated what he’d said. “I said that I didn’t mind shooting the officer we fought yesterday, since he’s in league with the Governor’s chief advisor, Feng Zhudai.”
Phoenix took an involuntary step back as he heard the name. Jade met his startled look and didn’t protest when he dragged her off to one side and hissed in her ear.
“But this is only Level One. What’s the big Badguy doing here? He’s supposed to be with the Emperor Han Zhangdi and General Ban Chao in China, not with Governor Agricola of Roman Britain. I thought we wouldn’t have to defeat him until Level Five!”
“I don’t know,” she replied in an undertone. “I was hoping you might. Didn’t you say you’d read the rulebook? I only skimmed the startup information.” She watched him rub his forehead as if he could squeeze the information out of his head.
He shook himself.
“I’m not certain of anything anymore,” he admitted, “but I am sure the goal of the game is to ultimately defeat Zhudai in the last level of the game, not the first. Here, we just have to focus on getting the Jewel before the Romans do, so we can get to Level Two.”
“Get home,” she corrected.
Phoenix shrugged. “Whatever. Hey,” he raised excited eyes to hers. “Maybe if we kill Zhudai now, we can finish it here on this level and you’ll get home sooner.”
He must have read the doubt on her face, for he quickly added, “It’s worth a try, isn’t it?”
“I don’t know,” she murmured. “Zhudai is supposed to be some sort of super-wizard. ”
“Well, maybe in this level he’s not so tough.” He wrapped his fingers lovingly around the hilt of his sword.
“The only problem is,” she nibbled at her lower lip, trying hard to ignore a rising wave of panic, “we’re not so tough in this level, either.”
“True,” his agreement seemed reluctant. “Well maybe you’d better talk to Marcus and find out all he knows about Zhudai. It is a bit annoying that he’s here.”
“Annoying?” Jade blinked at him. “That’s an understatement and a half.”
She signalled Brynn to keep walking and turned back to Marcus. “So tell me about the Governor’s advisor. How long has he been in that position? What’s he like? Where’s he from?”
Marcus frowned. “There’s little to tell.” He spread his hands wide. “He arrived from Rome a year ago, sent by Caesar himself to help the Governor subdue the Celtic tribes. He’s from some distant land, that I know.”
“How do you know?” she demanded.
Marcus’ dark eyes turned thoughtful. “Zhudai is a man like no other I’ve seen. His eyes are black and narrow and kind of….” He put his fingers at the corners of his own eyes and pulled them sideways.
Jade nodded. “He’s Chinese.”
“Chinese?”
Had the Romans ever traded directly with the Chinese in 80AD? She couldn’t recall, so she just flapped her hands for him to go on.
“Never mind. Just tell me everything you know about him. Like how he helps the Governor. Is he just giving the Governor advice on battle tactics? What?”
So Marcus talked and Jade listened, with Phoenix edging ever closer to try and hear, too.
Feng Zhudai had arrived from nowhere a year before to “advise” Agricola on how to handle the rebellious Celtic tribes stubbornly resisting Roman rule throughout Britain. The methods he advised, however, were less than honourable and many soldiers resented the influence this foreigner had over their Governor. Marcus spoke darkly of mass slaughters of druids and disappearances of both local people and soldiers who spoke out against Zhudai. There was, apparently, a newly-constructed stone temple of sorts in Londinium. A temple solely for his use. A temple where people went in but never came out.
Marcus described him as ‘cold’ and somehow all-knowing. It was said that he could read the minds of anyone brought before him, could spy on people from a distance. There was even one story of a man who, aft
er being touched on the head by the Chief Advisor, died moments later in hideous agony – but without a single mark on his body.
Jade listened in growing horror, occasionally breaking in with a question but somehow not doubting Marcus’ tale at all. After all, Feng Zhudai had been programmed to be the arch-nemesis of the 80AD game. It made sense that he would be extremely powerful and totally ruthless. Unfortunately, knowing he’d just been written evil didn’t make her feel any better.
Marcus fell silent at last.
“And the Governor?” she prompted. “Is he under some sort of spell or does he really trust Zhudai?”
Marcus laughed bitterly. “The Governor trusts no-one…but,” he paused, looking thoughtful, “I suppose it is possible that Zhudai could have some sort of arcane influence over him. That could explain why….” He broke off, fingering a long, still-pink scar on his forearm. “It doesn’t matter. The point is that Zhudai is, somehow, controlling Governor Agricola. I would give a lot to put an end to that situation. Before he arrived, the Governor was at least willing to listen to reason about his treatment of the Bretons and the Faery folk. It was only after Zhudai arrived that the Governor ordered the persecution of your kind and the wholesale slaughter of Druids, Bretons and Celts.”
The Roman lifted his head and gazed at Jade, his mouth pressed into a tight line. “I must tell you that my presence is severely endangering your life.”
Jade frowned but shook her head. “It’s alright. We know the soldiers want you back but you’re the son of a soldier, so I doubt they’ll actually try to kill us while you’re with us. So really, you’re probably keeping us safe.”
“No.” He shook his head. “It’s not just because of who I am. The Romans are after me because I attempted to assassinate Feng Zhudai. The Governor is furious with me.” Marcus looked straitly at Jade. “Since we saw that Centurion, I’ve known he has sent Zhudai himself to find me. The Governor wants me back, it’s true; but Zhudai wants me dead.”
****