Valeria’s Cross (16 page)

Turning to Prisca, whom young Valeria already considered her grandmother, the newly betrothed girl declared, “I can hardly wait to meet my husband. Please tell me, is he handsome?”

Prisca smiled warmly. “Yes, he is most attractive.”

“Handsome, yes,” Valeria blurted out, “but I have observed that Maxentius is also a bit haughty.”

The girl looked surprised, “Oh, but he will not be haughty with me because I will be his wife.”

“Of course not,” Valeria assured her with a smile, wishing she had not been so quick to voice her opinion.

“Do you know why Maximian did not appoint his son as Caesar?” the young Valeria asked.

Prisca shook her head. “I am sure there must be a good reason. I suppose I could ask Diocletian.”

“Please do. I want to be a Caesar’s wife too.” The excited girl clapped her hands.

Valeria and her mother exchanged surprised glances, unable to contain their laughter over the young bride’s unrestrained enthusiasm.

Valeria was in Vienna, sitting on the terrace and finishing breakfast with her mother and stepdaughter, when she looked off into the distance and spotted Galerius and his entourage approaching. Forgetting protocol, she excused herself from the table and hurried down the stairs, where she waited at the entrance of the bridge that crossed the moat. When Galerius drew near, she bowed before him. Galerius dismounted and handed his reins to the groom, and Valeria waited patiently as Galerius’ servants removed his armor. Then she opened her arms in welcome and he gathered her into his arms, planting a passionate kiss on her lips.

“You have come at last,” she exclaimed, holding his face in her hands. “I have prayed you here safely, counting the moments until I would see you again.”

“And here I am,” he laughed.

“I must take you to meet our son! Little Candidianus is beautiful and such a joy to me. Thank you, my lord, for giving me a baby. He is long and lean, sure to be an emperor.”

“Aye, and I shall enjoy giving you many more … a whole army of boys!” He laughed at her exuberance over motherhood.

“I should also like a girl to dress in beautiful clothes—and to replace the daughter I am losing. Young Valeria and I have grown so close. I can hardly bear to say goodbye. Come, I shall take you to meet your son.”

“Wait! I must bathe, and then I will meet you in your chambers. Together we will see the children before we go to the dining room for the noon meal.”

Back in her room, Valeria’s servants helped her bathe. Soaking in fragrant oils, she chatted with Eugenia, who brought her several choices of outfits. Valeria selected a pale blue silk gown and a matching toga, fastened at one shoulder with a large sapphire and diamond pin. In her hair she wore a gold headpiece studded in sapphires, lapis lazuli, and deep coral, with matching gold and jeweled sandals.

“You are a feast for hungry eyes,” Eugenia exclaimed, her own eyes twinkling mischievously. “And I am quite sure your husband is ravenous! But now I must hurry and dress for my own husband.”

“Oh, please stay,” Valeria begged. “Keep me company while I wait for Galerius to come for me so I can take him to meet his son.”

Eugenia laughed. “Find someone else to entertain you. Or perhaps this is a good time for you to practice your patience. I must hurry.”

Valeria frowned. “I do not recall seeing Octavius ride in with Galerius,” she commented, suddenly envisioning the scene in her mind.

A hint of disappointment clouded Eugenia’s face, making Valeria’s heart ache. “Do not worry,” she told her friend, hugging her. “There were hundreds of soldiers with Galerius, and I had eyes for only one of them. For all I know, Octavius could have been by my husband’s side.”

Eugenia’s smile was tentative. “I am sure you are right, but I must say I never thought I would see the day you would be so pleased to see Galerius that you would lose your head in his presence.”

Valeria laughed. “That I care for him at all is a miracle indeed! Now, you had better run along and get dressed. As soon as Galerius arrives, I will inquire of Octavius and send word to you of his whereabouts.”

After Eugenia left, Valeria became so bored and anxious that she joined the ladies who were completing the needlework for her stepdaughter’s trousseau. Needlework had always given Valeria a sense of accomplishment, but today she quickly lost interest and decided to go and see her mother.

“Oh, my dear, you look stunning,” Prisca declared when Valeria entered her bedchamber. “I have missed you so much!” Prisca squeezed Valeria’s hand. “It’s been so lonely without you at the palace. When I spoke to your father this morning, he informed me that he and Galerius are leaving again and will likely be away for quite some time.”

“What? How will I ever have a baby if Galerius is gone so much?” Valeria fought tears as she leaned back and gazed into her mother’s eyes.

“We shall pray that God will give you a child while Galerius is here.” Prisca pulled Valeria into her arms and held her, stroking her hair, causing the younger woman to once again feel like a child in need of comfort.

“Oh, I never told you my surprise,” Prisca commented. “Since your father and Galerius will be away for an extended period of time, he has given me permission to live with you while he is gone.”

“Oh, Mother, that
is
wonderful news! I shall be so happy to have you with me. And you shall grow to love my little one,
even as I do. Though I still long to bear a child of my own, I know that God has given us the opportunity of raising a future emperor in Candidianus. I have great hope that one day Christianity will be the religion of the Roman Empire—if not through my father or husband, then my son will make it so.”

Before the women could continue their conversation, a young servant girl entered the room and stood waiting for their acknowledgement and permission to speak.

“My husband is waiting for me in my room?” Valeria guessed.

“No, Madame. It is Eugenia. She needs to see you in her room right away.”

“She wants me to come to her room?” Valeria felt a prickle of irritation at the near command. There were times when Valeria felt Eugenia took advantage of their close friendship, forgetting all protocol. “Tell Eugenia that if she wants to see me she must come to me.”

The servant blushed. “Please, Madame. It is urgent.”

Valeria looked at her mother, who gave her a slight push. “Go. Eugenia would never issue such a request unless something was terribly wrong.”

Valeria followed the girl down the long hallway to Eugenia’s room, where she found her friend crumpled on the bed, weeping into her pillow.

Valeria rushed to her bedside. “What is it? What has happened?”

“Octavius is not here,” Eugenia cried. “He did not return with the others!”

“Do not jump to conclusions,” Valeria soothed. “Octavius is probably at the bathhouse. Can you imagine how dusty the men are after such a long journey? It takes them time to make themselves presentable.”

Eugenia shook her head. “No. I saw his comrades downstairs. I even approached one of them, but he refused to look me in the eye. When I tried to speak to him, he turned the other way. I asked another soldier, but he told me he had not seen Octavius.”

Valeria’s anxiety level increased. Surely there was a logical explanation. “I will find Galerius and ask about his lieutenant. There is no need to shed tears, Eugenia. Octavius may have remained in Egypt to take care of unsettled matters. I know you would find this a great disappointment, but most of the soldiers had to stay behind.”

“But Octavius now rides by your husband’s side, and everyone knows that Galerius despises Christians. Why could you not have allowed Octavius to remain with your father, where he was loved and respected?”

Valeria laid her hand on Eugenia’s shoulder and waited until her friend made eye contact. “Because I begged Father to release Octavius to serve under Galerius so you would not have to live apart from your husband.”

“But why, when you knew how much Galerius despises Christians?”

“Octavius knew that too. He is a wise man, and he would do nothing to jeopardize his position.”

“But Octavius was safe with Diocletian. Why did you meddle in our lives and put my husband’s life in danger?”

“You certainly did not complain at the time. Had I not intervened, you would rarely ever see your husband.”

“But if he were with your father, I would at least know he was safe. If your husband has done anything to Octavius, I will never forgive you.”

Valeria’s concern turned to irritation. “Do not speak to me with such disrespect.”

“Ladies, ladies, please stop your bickering,” Prisca called from the doorway.

Valeria turned, surprised to find that her mother had followed her to Eugenia’s room.

“You two are jumping to conclusions. Arguing will not solve your dilemma. I will send a servant to inquire of my husband concerning Octavius’ whereabouts. I suspect that Valeria is correct. He probably had to remain behind in Syria. Someone has to watch over things, and Octavius is known for his loyalty and trustworthiness.”

Valeria’s irritation melted away, as she once again considered her friend’s distress. “I am sorry, Eugenia,” she said, leaning down to embrace her. “Mother is right, I am sure.”

“I am sorry too.” Eugenia sniffled and sat up on her bed. “I must get dressed in case Octavius arrives later.”

“That sounds like a wise plan,” Prisca agreed. “But first, let us pray for him.”

Once the women had prayed, Valeria left with her mother. “I hope Octavius is all right,” she whispered as they moved away from Eugenia’s room. “But now I am going back to my room to wait for my husband. Will you send word if you hear anything?”

“Of course, my dear. And if Galerius returns before my messenger does, you do the same.”

Though Prisca’s words sounded confident, Valeria noticed her mother massaging her temples, a sign the empress was concerned.

Valeria turned and walked in the opposite direction, headed for her room to wait for her husband. She had been there only a few moments when Galerius arrived. At the sight of him, Valeria’s concerns for Eugenia and Octavius dissipated, and when he gathered her into his arms and kissed her, she forgot them entirely.

“May I spend some time with you before I go see the children?” he asked.

Valeria nodded. She ran her fingers through his hair, still damp from his bath. Galerius reached up and removed her headdress and unpinned her hair. When it tumbled down her shoulders, he twisted his fingers around a lock of it.

“You have become a woman since I last saw you,” he said, cupping her chin in his hand and gazing into her eyes. “I counted each clop of my horse’s hooves on the long road home, dreaming of holding you in my arms.”

Valeria smiled, surprised that Galerius’ words brought the memory of Eugenia’s concern for her husband. She had better ask about the situation before she forgot completely. “I am sorry to interrupt your homecoming,” she said softly, “but—”

“Then do not,” he commanded, lifting her in his arms and carrying her to the bed.

“I have dreamed of this moment every night you were away,” she told him, stroking his face.

Later, when their passion was spent and she lay nestled in the crook of his arm, her head on his shoulder, she remembered the question she had been about to ask.

Valeria took a deep breath and plunged ahead. “Did … Octavius come to Vienna with you?”

Galerius flinched. “Why would you ask such a question when I have just returned to you?”

She turned her face upward toward his and ran her finger across his lips. “Because his wife is my dearest and closest companion, and she is frantic with worry that he did not return with you.”

Galerius withdrew his arm and sat up on the side of the bed. “Octavius was a fool,” he said, his back to her, though she could see the color rise in his neck.

“Father had great respect and admiration for Octavius,” Valeria reminded him, wondering why he had spoken of Octavius in the past tense. “He always said Octavius was a soldier to be trusted.”

Galerius turned back to her, his eyes cold. “Octavius is dead,” he announced.

Valeria gasped, the knife of disbelief piercing her heart. “No! It must not be true. It cannot be!”

Without hesitation, Galerius said, “It is absolutely true. And it was I who ordered my soldiers to execute him.”

Valeria could barely speak, “How did he … die?”

“Octavius was beheaded and his body tossed into the sea for the sharks to devour.”

Valeria felt her eyes widen in disbelief. How was it possible that the man she had finally grown to care for could do such a thing? “What are you saying? If it is true, then you are a barbarian!”

His rage contorted his face beyond recognition, and he grabbed Valeria’s arm. “Perhaps I am a barbarian,” he growled, “but you are a barbarian’s wife, and you will not speak to me in such a manner. Do you understand?”

Valeria cringed. “You are hurting me. Let go!”

Galerius squeezed her arm tighter. “You listen to me. You will not defy me again. Is that clear?”

Fighting the tears that threatened to explode from her eyes, Valeria nodded.