Get ready for a trip back in time nearly 2,000 years to of
Rome’s invasion of Britain!
A SESTERCE FOR HER THOUGHTS
Author: Susanne
Marie Knight
Genre: Ancient
Roman Time-Travel Romance
Price: $4.99
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In Print:
Blurb:
An ancient coin transports Olivia two
thousand years back in time to the Roman invasion of Britannia and into the
arms of a hunky legion commander!
A
SESTERCE FOR HER THOUGHTS:
Olivia Kent knows a brass sesterce
is an ancient Roman coin with a value roughly calculated to be one fourth of a
day’s pay. What she doesn’t know is that one particular sesterce is
going to transport her two thousand years back in time to 43 AD and Rome’s
invasion of Britannia. With the help of a Druid priestess, Olivia dresses as a
Roman soldier, and meets Emperor Claudius, along with a handsome legion
commander. She changes both of their lives for the better... and her own as
well. But here’s her dilemma: should she remain back in the first century where
she can make a difference? Or should she take a chance and try to return to her
own time?
A QUARTER FOR HIS THOUGHTS:
Quintus Antonius Avitus, commander of Legio
XX Valeria Victrix, has served Rome faithfully but is weary of war. On this
invasion, he comes across a puny, injured soldier, Livius. The soldier states
that he is an American from a land to the west of Britannia--which is
impossible since there are no lands past Britannia. But Livius is full of
surprises, and also turns out to be a comely female named Olivia. Perhaps she
is telling the truth? She is unlike any woman he has known. However, she
insists that she cannot stay and must return to her home, despite the fact that
Claudius wants her to accompany him to Rome. Quintus is torn: omnia vincit
amor facit--does love conquer all? Or should he continue to auxilio
imperatoris--help his Emperor?
Scene Set-Up:
Quintus Antonius
Avitus, commander of Rome’s Legio XX, comes across a puny lad being
assaulted by guards. Quintus carries the hurt boy to his own sleeping room so
he can tend to the injuries. He has no idea that the boy is really a
twenty-first century woman, Olivia Kent, who just time-traveled back to 43 AD.
Excerpt:
Quintus took the
few steps over to the fallen boy. He got down on one knee, and then, turning
the lad over, he grimaced. Even with the helmet’s chin flap-guards, the young
soldier had been cuffed across the face a few times. He looked the worse for
wear--eyes swollen shut, cheeks bruised the colors of a rainbow, harsh
breathing as if the action of taking a breath could hurt.
Perhaps ribcage
damage. This boy had been harmed for the amusement of Quintus’ men.
Damn it to
Hades.
Naturally, he felt
responsible. Lifting up the boy as carefully as he could, he marveled at how
light this willow thin creature was.
With a groan, the
lad’s eyes cracked open. His eyes were blue... a bloodied blue, the color of
blue-grey storm clouds. On seeing Quintus, the boy’s eyes widened.
Quintus gentled his
voice. “Do not be alarmed. You are safe now. A doctor will tend to your
wounds.”
If possible, the
lad’s eyes grew wider but he did not speak. He did, however, bite his lower
lip.
Quintus carried the
injured bundle into the tent, bypassing the conference room for his own
sleeping room. There was, of course, a hospital, a valetudinarium, based
in the camp for the troops. But for some reason he wanted to oversee treatment
for this boy. And the very best medical treatment meant using the Emperor’s
physician, Xenophon.
Entering the room,
he carefully set the injured bundle on the bed. His body slave must have heard
sounds for he walked into the room and then spotted the boy. He stared down at
him.
“Demetrius, I need
some warm water and clean cloths. And fetch Xenophon. Tell him he has a new
patient.”
The slave quickly
left to accomplish his tasks. Quintus then reached down to unlatch the
flap-guards under the chin, but the boy moved away in alarm.
“Do not fear. You
will not be harmed. Allow me to take off your helmet so your injuries can be
tended to.”
The boy started to
sit up, but made a soft groan and fell back against the plush pillows on the
bed. Those dastardly guards must have kicked him in the ribs.
Quintus pressed
down on the lad’s shoulders. “Stay. Allow me to help you.”
No words but the
boy bit his lower lip again.
Taking that
response as an affirmative, Quintus then removed the helmet. By the gods,
multi-colored bruises, blood flowing freely from gashes, swollen and split
lips, and blackened eyes... the lad was so disfigured, his own mother would not
have recognized him.
“What is your name,
boy?”
In a low voice, the
answer came haltingly. “My name is Liv-Livius. And you?”
Not only was
Livius’ pronunciation barbaric, but he had to have been one of the few people
on this good Gaia who were unaware of Quintus’ name and position. This
confirmed the belief that despite the uniform, Livius was not a legionnaire nor
a member of auxiliary units.
“Quintus Antonius
Avitus, commander of Legio XX Valeria Victrix. Why are you here,
Livius?”
The boy stammered
again. “N-No... harm. I b-bear a gift for Caesar.” He pronounced Caesar
incorrectly.” Perhaps he realized that for he then clarified, “For Claudius.”
“A gift?” This
ragamuffin believed he had a gift worthy of an emperor?
Quintus ran his
gaze over the boy’s inconsequential form. The leather armor and pleated
under-skirt was of a pattern common in the days of Gaius Julius Caesar over one
hundred years ago. Unusual, to say the least. The cloth tunica underneath
was unbleached linen, so that was unremarkable, as was the over-the-shoulder
belt--standard issue. But the breeches...
Setting aside the
wet cloth, Quintus felt the material on the boy’s thigh. The lad almost jumped
in the air.
“Steady on,” he
soothed. “Your breeches are made of very fine fabric. Soft and sturdy. How very
peculiar.”
Then his gaze
fastened on Livius’ sandals. And yet they were like no sandals that Quintus had
ever seen before. The entire foot was covered with a material akin to leather,
but then not like leather at all.
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I hope you enjoy Olivia’s and
Quintus’ unusual story!
Susanne Marie Knight
Read outside the box: award-winning Romance Writing with a
Twist!
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