"Movement carried." Catie said, hiding a smile behind her neutral mask. "Kerri, come here. You too, Octavian."

I pushed up off the stone bench where I sat and walked up to in front of the podium, the Augur emerged from the shadows of a pillar and met me, his white toga brushing the marble floor as he walked.

"Kerri, your ID please." Mark asked.

I unstrung the probatio tablet from around my neck and handed it to him.

"Your arm." Octavian said.

I held up my forearm and Octavian raised up his hands to the heavens and said to the roof. "We accept Kerri Davis, Daughter of Bellona, to the Twelfth Legion Fulmimata for her first year of sercice. Do you pledge your life to the senate and people of Rome?"

"I do." I answered, trying to keep the tension out of my voice.

I braced myself for the cry of "Senatus Populusque Romanus!" That came from the mouths of the senators. My arm began to burn and I smelt the burning flesh before I felt the pain, and when it came, it drove into my conciousness like a stabbing sword. I swayed on my feet and braced myself not to pass out, but the pain didn't stop. After what seemed like an eternity of agony, the fire suddenly died down and I could stand straight again, even if there were still spots dancing across my vision.

"You may sit down." Octavian announced, but before I could turn away, he leaned in and whispered in my ear. "I'll give you something for the pain later."

I smiled my thanks and walked back to my seat.

"Actually Kerri," Mark said from the podium. "Could you please wait outside while we decide Tom's fate."

I nodded and headed out the door, casting a wearing look at Tom's pale face before I descended down the steps.

---

I sat outside one of the nearby cafés where I could watch the entrance of the Senate House and wait for Tom to come out and tell me the senate's verdict.

While I waited, I stared at my arm in perplexion, a torch crossed with a spear, SPQR and a single stripe. The mark seemed so bold and confident on my arm, not exactly suiting my persona. I turned my attention back to the door, maybe I'd get used to seeing it on my arm in time.

I was on my third cup of hot chocolate before I finally saw Tom stumble down the marble steps. I grabbed the takeaway cup and rushed up to greet him.

"How did it go?" I asked, laying a hand on his shoulder to steady him.

He smiled up at me. "I think you put them in a good mood, I'm allowed to stay."

I grinned. "Awesome!"

"And, uh, thanks again for saving me, it took a lot of guts."

"Well unfortunately for Octavian's sanity, I have it in bucketloads!" I replied as we began to head back to the outer city.

He laughed. "So... centurion, eh?"

"Right? What exactly were they thinking? I'm not cut out for any kind of authority! At least it's only a recommendation." I laughed at the thought of me being a leader.

"I don't know about that, I think you'd do great." Tom told me.

I shrugged. "Let's just hope we don't get to see what a big mess I'd make."

We carried on our journey in silence.

Notes

I guess this is sorta a conclusion to my last chapter, anyway, let me know what you think!

Hope you all are having a great day/night! (Ok, timezones mess with my head!)

- Phoebe :)