The Divining (49 page)

     "Wait," he said to the Babylonian. "There might be more."

     S
EBASTIANUS JUMPED DOWN FROM
his horse and ran to Ulrika. "I was unable to confer with the High Priest," he said breathlessly. "He would not see me. I went to the governor, but it is beyond his control. Ulrika, not even
my friend Hasheem, the powerful money-changer, could help. I have given orders to my slaves to prepare the caravan to move out. They will be ready to depart at dawn."

     He looked at the frightened crowd—mothers with infants, men with useless legs, the blind and the sick—and then he lowered his voice. "The High Priest is on his way here. I was told he is bringing guards. Ulrika, I believe I can talk reasonably to the man, but we must not have a panic. If we get these people to remain peaceful and orderly, and to show no disrespect to the priests and to Marduk, I believe they will allow us to return to the city unmolested."

     "Sebastianus," Ulrika said, placing a hand on his arm. "I must go to Judea."

     He stared at her. "Judea! Why?"

     "I believe Rachel's husband is a Venerable One and that I am meant to go there and protect him as I did Rabbi Judah. But also, Rachel saved my life, and she was one of my teachers. I owe her a great debt."

     Sebastianus thought about it. "Rome has sent more legions to Judea. The unrest among the Jewish rebels grows."

     "Jacob is too precious to let fall into the hands of the Romans, who were his enemies. I must go to Judea and get him and Rachel to safety."

     "Where would that be?"

     "I do not know, but he must be remembered as Judah is remembered. I shall do it differently. I will not be so irresponsible with Jacob. I will give it a great deal of thought."

     Primo came up. "Master, is everything all right?"

     Sebastianus turned to his steward. "The High Priest is coming with an armed escort. I want no provocation. We will settle this peacefully. All they want is for these people to disperse and return to the city. That is exactly what we will do. Tomorrow, I want you to see that all my goods and people get safely to Rome. I am putting you in charge of the caravan."

     Primo's ugly face twisted in a scowl. "Where will you be, master?"

     "I am going to Judea with Ulrika."

     "Master! To
leave
the caravan?" The old soldier was nearly speechless with shock. Truly his master was under a witch's spell.

     "You have your orders."

     "Let me accompany you to Judea," Primo said, thinking quickly. What had he just overheard the girl say? They were going to rescue something precious? And two Jews named Rachel and Jacob? An act of treason without a doubt! Suddenly Primo was gripped with an intense desire to defend his master against Caesar's retribution. Even if it meant committing treason himself.

     "You will need protection, master. Revolution is fomenting in the province of Judea, and the Roman army has increased its presence there. It will behoove you to have a veteran of the legions in your party, and I am not without connections still."

     "I need a man I can trust to accompany the caravan."

     Timonides stepped forward and said, "I will take the caravan to Rome, master. It is the least I can do for the pain and grief I have caused you."

     Sebastianus thought for a moment, then said, "Very well. We must make haste now, for the High Priest will soon be here. Primo, ready your soldiers. There will be no fight, but we must be prepared. Timonides, as soon as this business is done, I want you to take my horse and ride to the caravan. See to the final preparations for departure. We have no time to lose."

     Ulrika went to Miriam and said, "Men are coming from the temple of Marduk, but do not be afraid. Sebastianus will have a few words with the High Priest and then we have to send all these people home."

     She paused to look into Miriam's plump face, no longer filled with despair but at peace. "I do not presume, honored mother, to tell you how to conduct your faith. But when I sent you here, I did not foresee the consequences of my actions. In the privacy of your home, spread word about Venerable Judah to friends and family, and always remember him, for that is what he asked of me."

A
FTER GIVING ORDERS TO
his second in command, Primo hurried back to his tent, where the secretary had been waiting impatiently. "I suggest you leave at once," Primo said. "The temple guard is coming and they might mistake you for one of those out there."

     The Babylonian raised his big nose and said, "You saw the armed guards who accompany me everywhere I go. A necessary precaution in my line of work, as I carry important documents, and sometimes money. They will ride ahead of me and identify me to the priests. I am known to all of them, as I enjoy a wide reputation in the city. They will let me pass unmolested. Have you anything to add to your missive before I take my leave?"

     Ignoring the man's disdain, Primo dictated an addendum to his report: "A new development, esteemed Quintus. So severely is my master held in thrall by the witch that we depart at once for Judea to rescue a treasure belonging to the enemies of Rome. This is not treason, my lord, for my master is hypnotized by the witch and knows not his own actions."

     The Roman communications network was a swift and efficient system, with riders speeding along roads for which Roman engineers were so famous. The riders took fast, strong horses and galloped from outpost to outpost, in a vast relay race, bearing news, dispatches, and letters for important citizens from the emperor on down. Primo knew his report would reach Nero long before Sebastianus did. The emperor and his guards would be waiting for him and, with great luck and the power of Mithras, arrest the girl instead of his master.

     As for Primo himself, he had one last important mission to carry out. In a final effort to rescue his master from committing treason, Primo would see to it that he found the insurgents Rachel and Jacob first, and kill them before Sebastianus could reach them.

     "M
ASTER!" CAME A SHOUT IN THE NIGHT.
Sebastianus and Ulrika turned to see Timonides running toward them, his white robes ghostly in the moonlight. He flung an arm behind himself. "Master! The priests and guards are coming. Oh master, there are
hundreds
of them!"

     Sebastianus climbed onto the highest pile of blocks that had fallen from Daniel's Castle long ago, and from this vantage point saw an astonishing sight: a line of blazing torches winding along the highway, like a river of
molten lava. Hundreds of guards indeed, Sebastianus thought in alarm. All on horseback. All carrying javelins and spears.

     
They come for a slaughter.

     Returning to Ulrika and Timonides, he said quietly, "I underestimated the High Priest. I believe he is coming not to negotiate but to make an example of these people for the citizens of Babylon. We have to keep everyone calm. Keep them back here behind the ruins. Primo and I will stand and fight. Perhaps the High Priest will be satisfied with a few."

     Ulrika took her place at Sebastianus's side as they watched the river of fire advance upon the ruins. Behind her, she heard the murmured prayers of hundreds of terrified people. Primo stood at the ready with his soldiers, weapons drawn. The wind whistled across the desert.

     So many lives at stake! There had to be a way to save all these people.

     Ulrika turned her face into the wind, closed her eyes, and drew in a slow breath. Reaching out, she placed her hand on the cold stone wall of the "castle" and she thought: If there is indeed a tomb under these ruins, is it large enough to hold all these people? If not all, then at least the children, the sick. And if it is a tomb, then perhaps it would be taboo for the temple guards to walk here, like the shaman's cave in the Rhineland which the German warriors avoided.

     Drawing in a purifying breath, Ulrika closed her eyes and envisioned her inner soul flame. Spirit of this place, she silently prayed, I beseech thee for thy help.

     She waited for a vision. When none came, she increased her concentration, focusing on the quivering soul flame, and with her free hand took hold of the scallop shell on her breast. Once again, she sent out her prayer.

     But nothing happened, and panic began to steal over her. Her mouth ran dry and her palms grew moist. She had used the meditation successfully to the benefit of others—but only for individuals. Now that there were hundreds of souls in danger, would she have the power to use her gift? Or did it only work for one person at a time?

     Realizing that her heart was racing—and that the temple guards were drawing closer—she redoubled her efforts. If this truly was the burial place of the Prophet Daniel, then it was sacred ground. This was her calling. This
was what she was born to do. She must not panic. She must not let fear overcome her inner powers.

     One by one she closed down her senses—turning deaf to the desperate prayers of hundreds of people, turning blind to the glowing torches coming up from the desert, turning numb to the feel of the wind and the cold on her skin, until all she was aware of was the rock beneath her fingers.

     Again she opened herself, set her soul free, and begged the sacred being of this place to give her a sign.

     Finally her spirit moved—through the solid rock and ancient dust, and across the timeless years—until she felt it touch something.

     Ulrika frowned. Something was there, just in front of her and yet, unlike with previous visions, she saw only darkness. Why was her inner sight being blocked?

     
No, not blocked. The darkness itself is the vision.

     Now she smelled a stale mustiness, felt rubble and gravel beneath her sandals, saw long corridors with dim lights at the end, heard the clanking of armor and the tramping of feet. And knowledge flooded her mind ...

     "Sebastianus!" she cried suddenly. "Before this was a tomb, it was a military outpost!"

     He turned to her. "What?"

     "This citadel was built hundreds of years ago as a primary defense against invaders from the south," she said, as knowledge filled her head. "The king sent his soldiers here to stage surprise attacks. Sebastianus, there are tunnels beneath us, and they lead to an oasis a mile from here, to the north! If I can just find—"Placing her other hand on the rough stones, she felt along the cold walls of the ruins. Her hand slipped inside a crevice. "Here!"

     Sebastianus called for Primo and several strong men with spears. Working in torchlight, while lookouts kept an eye on the approaching guards from the city, they rammed the shafts into the crevice and, pulling back with all their might, levered one of the stone blocks so that it slipped away.

     A rush of stale air blew in their faces. Taking a torch, Sebastianus slipped it in and looked around. Stone steps, dusty and littered with pebbles, descended into darkness.

     "It can be done," he said, "but we must hurry. If they catch us at this, they will pursue. Primo, you will go down first and light the way."

     "But you send us into a tomb, master!"