Book I: Chapter 3 | Pan Verus Romani Veribus Romanibus

Barbara awakens lying on the man's cloak next to the campfire. She tries to sit up, there is still a pain on her side and leg, but there is also a cold sensation. She looks and sees that the wounds on her legs, thighs, and arms have all been bound in bandages: leaves and aromatics have been stuffed inside. She moved her dislocated arm. It was moving again, but hurt every time she did.

It was broken, but tended to. The Sling was sturdy, and a wooden branch held her arm stiff. Various leaves were stuffed in, and the herbal smell coming from the bandages. It was then she realized she was bound up with her bare legs and feet wrapped in rope. She looked around for her Mother's jumpsuit. It was dangling on a spear, close enough to the fire to dry, not enough to catch fire. Holes in it had been functionally, if not elegantly patched with cloth similar to her bandages. Her various tools and effects were in neat piles next to it

She clutches the red cloak over her legs as a cold breeze blows. And she inches closer to the fading fire. In the distance she can see the two men talking. But can not make out a word they are saying. She looked up, and could see the reddish-orange hue of sunset poking through the hole in the forest.
"I was out for nearly 3 Hours..." She thought to herself.
She needed to get home. They would begin to assume she was gone for good.

She looked around the camp some more, the Monsters, the ones her captors called "Blemmiyae," were still scattered around, but the ropes, and spears were gone. Seemingly gathered up and placed away.

Near the fire there were two beasts: Horses. The horses standing near the fire were similar to, but not like the wild skinny horses that were scattered around the island to be eaten by the beasts. They looked well fed, and "dressed up?" They had a Leather seat on them as well as bags dangling across their backs and sides. "Do these humans ride horses?" She thought.

She looks again to the two figures and sees they are speaking to one of the blemmiyae. It is still bound. They are speaking angrily while the beast only groans and feebly roars back.

"Unde es dux? Unde es Rex?"

Say the Clean shaven one with ferocity. Before shaking his head. The Blemmiyae’s grotesque mouth on its belly chomped its teeth howled. Its massive arms wrapped around the tree writhed and its legs wrapped around the trunk struggled to break out. But the ropes were sturdy.

It seemed the two soldiers had been trying to question the creature, and got all they could out of it. The bearded one nods to his partner, who then after unsheathing his sword, makes an downward strike at the soft spot she indirectly showed them. With a quick stab of his sword, the creature’s eyes roll back into its skull and falls down.

"Strabo delinquavit. Blemmiyae intelligens non." The bearded man said.

She decides to call out to them. They were kind enough to treat her, maybe they would help dress her if she was not a threat. But what were their names?

"Saccibuccis, Senex." She said, and it certainly got their attention.

"Gratias..." she said not sure what other words to use, she gave up with their tongue.

"But can you help me up and give me my clothes back? It's cold."

"Barbara surrexit" One said.

"Veni Senex." He said it slowly and mockingly.

"Saccabuccis Impudentis.” The Bearded one returned the mockery. “Tua coruptela adolescentis"

Their swords were still drawn as they walked.

"Please don't hurt me! I'm a friend!" Barbara spoke quickly and in panic. They didn’t seem to understand her words, but the panic in her voice carried through without translation.

The Cleanshaven man went to the spot on the campfire where her clothes were. Sheathing his sword he picked up the jumpsuit. He played with the zipper a few moments, seemingly intrigued by it. Then Zipped it all the way down. And turned to her.

The one with the beard seemed to study her. He spoke slowly and clearly repeating her words back to her.

"Ong-ma-shu Ca-Rey Vam-me har-na. Ni nur mel-on"

He then turned to his friend.

"Haec Puella Graeca, dixis sed lingua sua a Britannia vinebat."

They were talking again casually about her.

And wait..Puella? I thought she was "Barbara." Why did that hurt?

The two seemed to be bickering, and the clean shaven man was not interested in the conversation.

"Europa, Gallia, Britannia, Picta, Parthia?” The man spoke in a singsong, mocking voice rolling his eyes. He carried her clothes in a neat pile.

“Non caro. Omniae Barbariae. Haec Puella est Barbaria."

Barbara thought to herself, listening carefully.

"This Puella is Barbara” She translated in her mind.

”Oh maybe Puella is a person” She thought to herself. Then looked down at her current state in undergarments, ”or girl."

The clean shaven soldier called Saccabuccis came to her, and gestured that he would untie her.

"Si Amica, Barbara, ut resolvo"

Her eyes moved between the two, the bearded one still looking at her curiously, his sword not wavering. She spoke slowly.

“Barbara non est hostis. Barbara Amicus est.”

"Barbara Amica est." The bearded one retorted to her. Her eyes jumped to his, she nodded and repeated. The clean shaven man drew his knife, she flinched. And he cut the knot. The bindings on her legs fell.

They help her to her feet. She puts pressure on her right leg for the first time, and immediately regrets it. She whimpers, for she knows better than to scream in the woods. The Blemmiyae may be asleep, but there were other monsters and beasts. The Cleanshaven one gives her a stick; she accepts it with a failed attempt at "Gratias Tibi."

"Gratias Nobs" the bearded one corrected her again.

Barbara looked at him with a spark of pain tinged defiance.

"Non"

She says again staring into his eyes defiantly while pointing to the clean-shaven one. “Gratias Tibi.” She says again clearly looking at the Clean-shaven one, Then glares at the bearded man.

Behind her she hears a laugh. The clean shaven man, ‘Saccabuccis,’ behind her helps her into her jumpsuit. Which he then pulls up with the help of her free arm. She is now covered, save her broken arm, the empty sleeve, is tied up around her other sleeve to prevent that limb dangling down. Unfortunately it left her chest and under garments exposed. The clothing was also, without the bands, ill-fitting. Grabbing his cloak off the ground he covers her again in the cloak, and fastens it with his brass pin.

The Bearded one had an expression that mixed between being amused and impressed by her defiance. The bearded figure goes to a sack on one of his horses and grabs a flat, floppy golden brown disc.

"Hic est Pannis." He says holding the disc to her. "Edo" He rips a piece off and takes a bite. Barbara watches and realizes she hasn't eaten in a long time.

"Edone?" She repeats pointing to herself.

"Ede!" He hands it to her.

She has heard stories about the mysterious humans. When they come they usually bring with them strange foods, this was certainly strange but not wonderous. It was fairly bland with an earthy taste. However it paired well with hunger, and the girl quickly tore apart the bread like a rabid animal.

"Barbara!" The bearded one, Senex, looked at his friend in shock. His friend responded. "Fames"

Then with a softer voice "Bibere da."

The Bearded one goes for a spot near the campfire, and grabs what looks like a skin.

"Hic Posca" He says slowly with a clear sing songy annunciation.

“In Posca est vina etiam salarium etiam aquam etiam aromat..."

He was interrupted.

"Suae da!"

Saccabuccis seemed to be getting irritated. Senex complied, pouring some of the red liquid into a small bowl for her.

Barbara held up her hands in a cup gesture.

"Bibo" she says.

"Bibibo" The bearded corrects.

She repeats. She takes a gulp. The bitter drink forces her to stop, she puckers her lips.The bearded one puts the drink down and looks at her.

"Estne Acedis?

Vere. Estne Salaris?

Etiam Vere.

Estne sacaris? Minime, sed restinguatus est."

It was shocking at first but once she grew accustomed to the taste, it became almost pleasant. She finished the bowl given to her, then gave it back.

"Arig-" She stopped. "ratias"

"The Beared one seemed to be taking an interest in her. Watching her carefully. He walked around her with his hands clasped behind his back. She tried to follow with her own eyes, but given the crutch she was slow and didn't want to move too much.

"Eureka"

The bearded one said, placing one hand to stroke his beard he then went back to the cup.

"Quod est?"

He points to the skin.

"Est Pusca"

He answers his own question.

He then points to the horse idling next to the campfire.

"Quod est? Hic Est Equus."

The figure looked at her, and then pointed to the campfire.

"Quod est?" He asked.

"Haec est Flamma.”

Then Pointing to her, “Et Tu?"

"Ohhh."

At first, confused realization dawned on the Elf.

"That is fire." She said with confidence.

A small smile crossed the man's face. He then walked to the tall tree.

"Sua nomen est arbor."

"That is a tree." She said.

He then points to the branch tugging at the low hanging branch, so it shakes.

"In Arboris est Virga."

"A Branch! Virga is a Branch" she says proudly.

"Ah-ha." The man's smile got wider. He shook the branch a little and grabbed some of the leaves.

"Foliae in Virga."

"Those are leaves!" She cried out.

"Leaves are on the branch!"

The excitement seemed to be infectious. The bearded man was excited as well. He went behind him, and using several leaves he then plucked a particular leaf with soft spikes on the leaves. "Urtica dico, et tu?"

Barbara paused for a moment. She was confused.

"Leaves?"

The bearded mans face fell.

"Las-se?" The bearded one spat out.

“Est Urtica. Ad crus tuum sanandum." He held out both hands then said again with more venom. "Las-se."

Barbara was confused and her spirit was starting to fall. She tried to understand what the man was looking for.

"Green Leaves?" She said with a forced smile.

It seemed to only make him more irritated.

"Lac-las-se. Lac-las-se. Omnia lac-las-se tibi es O Barbara."

He then reached into his pack.

"Suntne Laurusque Multus" He pulls out a set of leaves.

“Non, non, Plinius est Las-se!"

“Ehu solus las-se est! In Silvam Habes sed sola folia visit!"

The excitement fell out of the area. Barbara was reminded of where she was. Wounded, captive, in unfamiliar settings. She looked down at the floor and tried not to cry. There was an uncomfortable silence that hung in the air, only the soft chirps of the birds rustling through the leaves. Finding their homes for the night.

Saccabuccis placed a hand on her shoulder. It was firm, study, yet trying its best to be gentle in its grip.

"Lene lene. Lacrime Non. Latina tua est bene!"

He spoke softly to her, which was immediately lost when speaking to his friend.

"Plinie! Tua Academia cras erude!"

He barked, then moved so that he stood between the girl and his friend.

"Barbara, hic est Blatterus." He spoke while pointing at his friend. Who glared at him.

"Illus Blatterus Meus Amicus est."

He looked directly into her eyes, the smile he gave was soft pleading, like speaking to a small child.

"Tua Amica."

He pointed at her.

"Unde es?"

Barbara took another moment to calm down. Sniffled. Used her good arm to wipe her eyes. Winced as she adjusted her crutch, and nodded in understanding.

She took stock of where they were. It was all familiar to her, she knew so much of her environment. The Trees, the leaves, the way they fell. But never once had she had to articulate it. And now the first individuals to come looking for her advice, something she has longed for for so long. Her tongue was stiff and words vanished. Perhaps there was a better way. She could guide them.

"Illus" she said pointing towards a direction away from the tunnel where the Blemmye had come.

"Super Arboris."

The clean shaven one smiled.

“Barbara Pagano Plinium et Pompanianum Ducabit. Ducta Barbara.”

She nods. Then picking her up he placed her on one of their horses. Before climbing on behind her.

"Hic est Incitatus." He explained, stroking the horse's mane.

"Incitatus" Barbara responded, also petting the horse.

“Gratias, Pompanianus” She said.

Behind them Pliny was gathering the last of his supplies and after creating two torches extinguished the fire. He handed one to his friend, and then got on the horse as well.

"Ad Paganum Barbarae"
Pliny said. Barbara looked at the two.
She smiled,
"Veni Pompanianus et Plini"
pointing forward.

Pompanianus kicked his heels and their Horse began to move. Holding the torch they trotted into the dark forest.

"Venite" Pliny scowled before joining them.