The Divining (8 page)

     Unfortunately, simply getting there first was not enough. Sebastianus still had to find a way to distinguish himself before the emperor. What could he take back to Rome as a gift that would set him apart from Badru, Sahir, Adon, and Gaspar, who would surely present splendid trophies to Claudius?

     As Sebastianus surveyed the camp, assessing damage and nerves, he saw two legionaries approach Ulrika's tent, where she stood her ground, tall and proud. He quickly made his way across, and as he neared, he heard her say, "There is no one in this tent."

     "Sorry, miss, but we have to see for ourselves."

     Ulrika did not budge. "I harbor no criminals."

     "Just step aside."

     She tipped her chin. "On what authority do you act?"

     "Is General Vatinius good enough for you? Now just—"

     Her clasped hands fell away. "
Who
did you say? General Vatinius? But he is miles from here, to the south—"

     "The commander is at Colonia, with his legions."

     Ulrika gasped. "Vatinius is
here?
Already?"

     Sebastianus saw the color drain from her face. Before he could speak, Ulrika surprised him by suddenly standing aside and saying to the soldiers, "Search. You will find nothing."

     As the legionaries conducted a quick sweep of the tent's interior, Ulrika wrung her hands. Sebastianus had never seen her so agitated. "You're worried about your father's family," he said, wishing he could offer something more. Sebastianus knew few details of the legions newly garrisoned at Colonia. He had heard conflicting reports, information being based more upon imagination and wishful thinking than fact.

     Ulrika's eyes met his, and he saw fear there. "I must warn them," she whispered.

     "Warn them—?"

     The legionaries emerged from the tent, and Ulrika, without another word, quickly went inside. Sebastianus stood there for a moment, puzzled, then he turned on his heel and called out for Timonides.

     A
S SOON AS HE
had seen his master enter the camp to stop and talk with the centurion, Timonides had tossed aside his unfinished lamb chop and rushed to the tent he shared with his son, Nestor, to prepare himself for the morning's astral reading. It was the first thing his master saw to when he returned to camp, before breakfasting even. When Sebastianus called for him, Timonides would be ready with the horoscope.

     As he pored over his charts, using his instruments by lamplight, scribbling equations on a scrap of papyrus, Timonides felt a pang of guilt over the falsehoods he had uttered in the past few weeks. But he had wanted to keep the girl with them, in case his jaw acted up again, or another ailment befell
him. He tried to assuage his conscience by reminding himself that in all his years of serving the gods and the stars, he had never asked for anything in return. Surely they would not mind this one small reward for faithful service, but the feelings of guilt—

     He froze. Something was wrong.

     He read his notes again, reset his protractor, made certain of degrees and houses and ascendants. And felt his blood run to ice. Great Zeus. There was no doubt. Yesterday, his master's horoscope had been as clear and uneventful as a summer's day. But now, unexpectedly...

     A catastrophe lay ahead. Something great and fearsome that had not been there in prior days. Timonides licked his lips. Why now? What had changed? Had it something to do with the soldiers searching the camp?

     
Or is it my punishment for falsifying readings?

     Timonides broke out in a sweat. He knew that when he reported this new reading, Sebastianus would demand an explanation as to why his horoscope had suddenly changed. If Timonides told him the truth, that he had lied back in Rome about bringing the girl along, what would Sebastianus do to punish him? Timonides did not mind for himself—he was an old man and had lived a good life and would accept any punishment within reason. It was Nestor he worried about. For his son's sake he must stay in his master's good graces. Pudgy and pie-faced, with the sweet temper of angels and the innocence of doves, Nestor would be helpless on his own.

     Timonides wrestled with his conscience and indecision.

     The day the newborn had been placed in his arms, the look of disgust on the midwife's face, the sisters and cousins all declaring it would be best for the child to leave him exposed on a garbage heap ... Timonides had almost agreed, until he had felt that tender flesh, the tiny bones, the utter helplessness of the creature. His heart had turned upside down in that moment and Timonides had known he could not do to this infant what had been done to him. And so he had kept the son who had come late in life to the Greek and his wife, a surprise really, as Damaris had thought herself beyond childbearing age. And when Damaris had died when Nestor was only ten, Timonides had pledged himself anew to care for the boy at any cost.

     Now, twenty years later, Timonides was being put to the test. And there
was no question. He could not tell his master the truth—that a great catastrophe now lay before them because his faithful astrologer had committed sacrilege by falsifying horoscopes. For Nestor's sake, Timonides must save himself with yet another lie.

     Rubbing his belly and wishing he hadn't dipped his lamb chops in so much garlic sauce, Timonides went out into the smoky morning to deliver the reading.

     He found Sebastianus sitting at a table in front of the tent where the wealthy trader never slept, a scroll containing financial records opened before him, the ever-present abacus in his hand. The young Galician smelled of soap. He had changed into a clean white tunic, the close-cropped beard was freshly trimmed, his hands and feet were scrubbed clean. Timonides knew that, with his blue cloak fastened at his throat, Sebastianus was ready to break camp and make the last leg of the journey.

     "The stars have a new message this morning, master. Something big is about to happen to you."

     Bronze eyebrows arched. "Big? What does that mean? Nothing was said of this last night, in the evening reading."

     "Things have changed," Timonides said, averting his eyes.

     "Changed?" Sebastianus thought about this. "The soldiers," he said. Then he turned in the direction of Ulrika's tent, where he could see her silhouette moving about inside, and a strange new thought fluttered at the edge of his mind.

     The soldiers ...

     Something about the soldiers and the girl named Ulrika. "I must warn my people," she had said.

     What had she meant by that? Warn them of what? He had thought she was simply going home. That was all she had told him.

     But ... in the past few weeks, a word here, a comment there. "My people's land surrounds a sacred, hidden valley embraced by two small rivers that form half-moons. In the heart of this valley lies a sacred grove of oak trees, where it is said the goddess Freya wept red-gold tears." And another time, proudly, "My tribe are warriors."

     Now, recalling her reaction to news of Commander Vatinius being in
Colonia, Sebastianus wondered: was it
her
people who were behind the new uprising? Were
they
the rebels Vatinius had been sent to vanquish once and for all?

     And were those insurgents at that moment camped in the hidden valley Ulrika had spoken of?

     Sebastianus rose to his feet, carefully considering his next words as new thoughts formed in his mind. "Old friend," he said to Timonides, "this great thing you speak of that lies in my path—could it be that I am about to meet someone very important?"

     Timonides hesitated. What in the name of Great Zeus was his master talking about? The old Greek had no idea, but there was suddenly a look of hope, even excitement in his master's eyes, and so Timonides said, "Yes, yes, that is it," eagerly bobbing his head, hating himself for the lie, the sacrilege. But he had no choice. And if the gods struck him dead in that moment, he would not blame them. "You are about to meet someone very important who will change your life."

     Sebastianus felt his blood suddenly run hot with excitement. It could only be Gaius Vatinius, commander of six legions! For who was more important in this region than he? And I have precious information to give him. I know where the Barbarian insurgents are headquartered!

     With such information, Sebastianus knew, General Vatinius would be assured a victory. And Emperor Claudius would grant a handsome reward to the man who had brought it about. The imperial
diploma
to China.

     I will ride north immediately and inform the General of a hidden valley embraced within two half-moon rivers ...

     U
LRIKA HASTILY BOUND HER HAIR
up in ribbons and reached for her travel packs. She decided she was not going to wait for Colonia. She must leave now. Vatinius was already here, and she alone knew of the secret trap he planned to set for her people.

     Slipping out of her nightdress, she chose a practical traveling gown of
plain white cotton with a matching
palla
, and as she dressed she thought of the myriad small vessels she had observed on the Rhine, local merchants plying their trade up and down the river under the eye of the Roman galleys. Ulrika spoke the dialect and had enough coins, she knew, to bribe one of them to carry her to the other side.

     As she wrapped bread and cheese in cloths, she thought of Sebastianus Gallus. She should let him know that she was leaving the caravan this morning. But then she realized he might not allow her to leave, might even assign a guard to her to see that she stayed safely in his charge until he delivered her to Colonia—as per their agreement.

     Saying a mental farewell to him, doubting she would see him again, Ulrika stepped out of her tent and headed for the Rhine.

S
HE WAS LOST
.

     Ulrika had been walking for days, following the map, trying to recall the details her mother had told her long ago—so many small rivers shaped like half-moons!—and now she was deep in the forest eastward of the Rhine, and she had no idea where she was.

     When Ulrika had made her way down to the Rhine, she had been able to bribe a boatman to take her across to the other side. And during the crossing, she had asked him if there was news of Vatinius and his legions, but the boatman had spoken quickly, his accent unfamiliar to Ulrika, so that she had garnered only bits and pieces.

     One thing she did know: a major battle was about to take place.

     But where?

     She scanned the sunlit forest, where firs and oaks cast dark shadows, and birds called from overhead branches, and the silence was broken by the occasional snap of a twig, reminding Ulrika that creatures were watching her. Hungry creatures ...

     Where was she? As she had headed eastward from the river, leaving civilization behind, she had encountered fewer and fewer people until now she was alone in the deep woods, armed only with a dagger and inner fortitude. She knew she was moving in a northeasterly direction, but to where precisely, she no longer knew. Unlike in the city of Rome, there were no signposts in this wilderness.