full

“The Lament of the Batavii” by J.S. Hawthorne (part 1 of 2)

Tulla Aula Agrippina is the bodyguard to a dead man–her lord struck down by a rival’s curse while she traveled to Rome on his behalf. Now, she finds herself adrift in a world that seems to have no place for her, seeking revenge on a foe who is invisible and untouchable.

Today’s story is the first of two parts of “The Lament of the Batavii” by J.S. Hawthorne, who is definitely not just a flock of magpies in a trenchcoat. Today’s story is one of eighteen featured in “In the Light of the Dawn,” an anthology of antiquities by the Furry Historical Fiction Society. Excavate more at fhfs.ink.

Read for you by Rob MacWolf — werewolf hitchhiker.

thevoice.dog | Apple podcasts | Spotify | Google Podcasts

If you have a story you think would be a good fit, you can check out the requirements, fill out the submission template and get in touch with us.

https://thevoice.dog/episode/the-lament-of-the-batavii-by-j-s-hawthorne-part-1-of-2

Transcript
Speaker:


You’re

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listening

Speaker:

to

Speaker:

The

Speaker:

Voice

Speaker:

of

Speaker:

Dog.

Speaker:

This

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is

Speaker:

Rob

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MacWolf,

Speaker:

your

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fellow

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traveler,

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and

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Today’s

Speaker:

story

Speaker:

is

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

first

Speaker:

of

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two

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parts

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of “The

Speaker:

Lament

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of the Batavii” by

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J.S. Hawthorne, who

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is

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definitely

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not

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just

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a

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flock

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of

Speaker:

magpies

Speaker:

in

Speaker:

a

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trenchcoat.

Speaker:

Today’s

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story

Speaker:

is

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one

Speaker:

of

Speaker:

eighteen

Speaker:

featured

Speaker:

in “In

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

Light

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of

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

Dawn,”

Speaker:

an

Speaker:

anthology

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of

Speaker:

antiquities

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by

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the

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Furry

Speaker:

Historical

Speaker:

Fiction

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Society.

Speaker:

Excavate

Speaker:

more

Speaker:

at fhfs.ink.

Please enjoy


“The Lament

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of

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the

Speaker:

Batavii”

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by

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J.S. Hawthorne, Part 1 of 2

“Oh,

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my

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child,”

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King

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Juba

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said

Speaker:

as

Speaker:

he

Speaker:

guided the

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legionary

Speaker:

back

Speaker:

to

Speaker:

her

Speaker:

feet

Speaker:

from

Speaker:

where

Speaker:

she

Speaker:

had

Speaker:

collapsed. “I’m

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so

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sorry.”

Speaker:

He

Speaker:

was

Speaker:

a

Speaker:

tall

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horse

Speaker:

with

Speaker:

sandy

Speaker:

tan

Speaker:

fur

Speaker:

and

Speaker:

a

Speaker:

shaggy

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black

Speaker:

mane

Speaker:

that

Speaker:

hinted at

Speaker:

distant leonine

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ancestry,

Speaker:

dressed

Speaker:

in

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

purple

Speaker:

robes

Speaker:

of

Speaker:

his

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station.

“But

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he

Speaker:

was

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fine,” the

Speaker:

legionary

Speaker:

sobbed

Speaker:

into

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

king’s

Speaker:

robes,

Speaker:

headless

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of

Speaker:

their

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respective

Speaker:

stations.

Speaker:

Like

Speaker:

the

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king,

Speaker:

she

Speaker:

was

Speaker:

not

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Roman,

Speaker:

though

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she

Speaker:

had

Speaker:

earned

Speaker:

the

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right to the tria nomina—Tulla Aula Agrippina—but they were

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both

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loyal

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to

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the

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emperor

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and

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to

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the

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Empire.

Speaker:

That

Speaker:

is

Speaker:

where

Speaker:

their

Speaker:

similarities

Speaker:

ended.

Speaker:

He

Speaker:

was

Speaker:

tall,

Speaker:

handsome,

Speaker:

graceful.

Speaker:

She

Speaker:

was

Speaker:

a

Speaker:

short

Speaker:

and

Speaker:

squat

Speaker:

mouse,

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heavily

Speaker:

muscled

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from

Speaker:

years

Speaker:

in the

Speaker:

legions,

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and

Speaker:

covered

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in

Speaker:

dozens

Speaker:

of

Speaker:

scars

Speaker:

from

Speaker:

innumerable

Speaker:

battles.

Speaker:

Her

Speaker:

right

Speaker:

eye

Speaker:

was

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

blue-grey

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of

Speaker:

a

Speaker:

sky

Speaker:

dreaming

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of a storm,

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and her

Speaker:

left

Speaker:

eye

Speaker:

was

Speaker:

missing,

Speaker:

as

Speaker:

was

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

top

Speaker:

of

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

same

Speaker:

ear.

Speaker:

Her

Speaker:

hair,

Speaker:

a

Speaker:

pale

Speaker:

blonde

Speaker:

just

Speaker:

a

Speaker:

shade

Speaker:

darker

Speaker:

than

Speaker:

her

Speaker:

white

Speaker:

fur,

Speaker:

was

Speaker:

tied

Speaker:

up

Speaker:

in

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

complicated

Speaker:

side knot

Speaker:

common

Speaker:

amongst

Speaker:

her

Speaker:

people.

“He

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was

Speaker:

fine,”

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she

Speaker:

repeated,

Speaker:

her

Speaker:

voice

Speaker:

weak.

Speaker:

Some

Speaker:

part

Speaker:

of

Speaker:

her

Speaker:

brain

Speaker:

was

Speaker:

screaming

Speaker:

at

Speaker:

her,

Speaker:

telling

Speaker:

her

Speaker:

she

Speaker:

had

Speaker:

failed,

Speaker:

utterly

Speaker:

failed.

Speaker:

The

Speaker:

rest

Speaker:

was

Speaker:

overcome

Speaker:

with a

Speaker:

creeping

Speaker:

numbness

Speaker:

that

Speaker:

threatened

Speaker:

to

Speaker:

steal

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

strength

Speaker:

from

Speaker:

her

Speaker:

legs

Speaker:

once

Speaker:

again.

A

Speaker:

dark-honey

Speaker:

voice

Speaker:

lilted

Speaker:

from

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the

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darkness, “It

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was

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twisted

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magic,

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a

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curse.”

Speaker:

Aula raised her head

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and

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took

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in,

Speaker:

but

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did

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not

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truly

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see,

Speaker:

an

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Egyptian

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jackal

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clad

Speaker:

in

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

raiment

Speaker:

of

Speaker:

a

Speaker:

priestess

Speaker:

standing

Speaker:

near

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

entrance

Speaker:

to

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

deeper

Speaker:

chambers.

Speaker:

Her

Speaker:

black

Speaker:

fur

Speaker:

was

Speaker:

painted

Speaker:

in

Speaker:

gold

Speaker:

and

Speaker:

silver

Speaker:

in

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

way

Speaker:

of

Speaker:

her

Speaker:

people,

Speaker:

and

Speaker:

her

Speaker:

hair

Speaker:

was

Speaker:

in

Speaker:

long,

Speaker:

tight

Speaker:

braids

Speaker:

to

Speaker:

her

Speaker:

waist

Speaker:

with

Speaker:

beads

Speaker:

that

Speaker:

rattled

Speaker:

softly

Speaker:

as

Speaker:

she

Speaker:

moved.

“This

Speaker:

is

Speaker:

Senhyrus,”

Speaker:

King

Speaker:

Juba

Speaker:

told

Speaker:

Aula. “She

Speaker:

helped

Speaker:

tend

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

princeps

Speaker:

while

Speaker:

we

Speaker:

awaited you.”

“I

Speaker:

want

Speaker:

to

Speaker:

see

Speaker:

him,”

Speaker:

Aula

Speaker:

said.

Speaker:

Before

Speaker:

she

Speaker:

could

Speaker:

be

Speaker:

stopped,

Speaker:

and

Speaker:

ignoring

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

protestations

Speaker:

of

Speaker:

king

Speaker:

and

Speaker:

priestess

Speaker:

both,

Speaker:

she

Speaker:

pushed

Speaker:

her

Speaker:

way

Speaker:

through

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

guards—praetorian,

Speaker:

she

Speaker:

noted

Speaker:

with

Speaker:

disgust,

Speaker:

not

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

Cohors

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Germanorum,

Speaker:

not

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

princeps’

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personal

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bodyguards—and

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to

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

room

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that had

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once

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been

Speaker:

his

Speaker:

bedchambers.

Gaius

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Julius Caesar, princeps iuventutus, consul designatus,

Speaker:

adopted

Speaker:

child

Speaker:

of

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Caesar

Speaker:

Augustus,

Speaker:

heir to

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

Empire

Speaker:

of

Speaker:

Rome,

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

most

Speaker:

powerful

Speaker:

man

Speaker:

in

Speaker:

all of

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

eastern

Speaker:

reaches,

Speaker:

lay

Speaker:

beneath

Speaker:

a

Speaker:

white-grey

Speaker:

shroud

Speaker:

in

Speaker:

this

Speaker:

house

Speaker:

perched on

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

sea cliffs of Lycia, so

Speaker:

far from

Speaker:

Rome,

Speaker:

from

Speaker:

his

Speaker:

father,

Speaker:

from

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

world that

Speaker:

awaited

Speaker:

a

Speaker:

triumphant

Speaker:

return

Speaker:

that

Speaker:

would

Speaker:

never

Speaker:

happen.

In

Speaker:

honor

Speaker:

of

Speaker:

his

Speaker:

adoptive

Speaker:

family,

Speaker:

Gaius

Speaker:

Caesar’s

Speaker:

death

Speaker:

shroud

Speaker:

depicted

Speaker:

him,

Speaker:

not

Speaker:

as

Speaker:

an

Speaker:

eagle,

Speaker:

as

Speaker:

he

Speaker:

had

Speaker:

been

Speaker:

in

Speaker:

life,

Speaker:

but

Speaker:

as

Speaker:

a

Speaker:

rabbit,

Speaker:

a

Speaker:

true

Speaker:

Caesar.

Speaker:

The

Speaker:

muzzle-embroidery

Speaker:

hung

Speaker:

oddly

Speaker:

over

Speaker:

his

Speaker:

beak.

Speaker:

They

Speaker:

had

Speaker:

left

Speaker:

off

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

silver

Speaker:

circlet, at

Speaker:

least,

Speaker:

in

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

shape

Speaker:

of

Speaker:

a

Speaker:

pair

Speaker:

of

Speaker:

ears

Speaker:

wrapped

Speaker:

in

Speaker:

laurel

Speaker:

leaves.

Speaker:

The

Speaker:

Roman

Speaker:

obsession

Speaker:

with

Speaker:

heritage

Speaker:

eluded

Speaker:

her,

Speaker:

as

Speaker:

had

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

costumes

Speaker:

and

Speaker:

prosthetics

Speaker:

all

Speaker:

designed

Speaker:

to

Speaker:

impress

Speaker:

on

Speaker:

others

Speaker:

that

Speaker:

Gaius

Speaker:

Caesar,

Speaker:

was,

Speaker:

by

Speaker:

virtue

Speaker:

of adoption,

Speaker:

lapine,

Speaker:

a

Speaker:

true Caesar,

Speaker:

just

Speaker:

as

Speaker:

Imperator

Speaker:

Caesar

Speaker:

Augustus,

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

Emperor,

Speaker:

had

Speaker:

become

Speaker:

a

Speaker:

rabbit

Speaker:

by

Speaker:

virtue of

Speaker:

his

Speaker:

adoption

Speaker:

by

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

first

Speaker:

Gaius

Speaker:

Julius

Speaker:

Caesar,

Speaker:

never

Speaker:

mind

Speaker:

that

Speaker:

he

Speaker:

had

Speaker:

been

Speaker:

born

Speaker:

a

Speaker:

wolf

Speaker:

to

Speaker:

a

Speaker:

family

Speaker:

of

Speaker:

wolves.

Speaker:

Gaius

Speaker:

Caesar—her

Speaker:

Gaius

Speaker:

Caesar,

Speaker:

to

Speaker:

whom

Speaker:

she

Speaker:

had

Speaker:

sworn

Speaker:

on

Speaker:

her

Speaker:

gods

Speaker:

and

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

gods

Speaker:

of

Speaker:

Rome

Speaker:

to

Speaker:

protect—had

Speaker:

been

Speaker:

an

Speaker:

eagle,

Speaker:

as

Speaker:

beautiful

Speaker:

and

Speaker:

terrible

Speaker:

as

Speaker:

a

Speaker:

sunrise.

Speaker:

But

Speaker:

it

Speaker:

was

Speaker:

not

Speaker:

Jupiter’s

Speaker:

children

Speaker:

who

Speaker:

ruled

Speaker:

Rome,

Speaker:

but

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

descendants

Speaker:

of Aeneas,

Speaker:

who

Speaker:

was

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

son

Speaker:

of

Speaker:

Venus

Speaker:

and

Speaker:

took

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

lapine

Speaker:

form

Speaker:

of

Speaker:

Venus. Aula’s people,

Speaker:

the Ubii,

Speaker:

did

Speaker:

not

Speaker:

claim

Speaker:

descent

Speaker:

from

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

gods,

Speaker:

as

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

Romans

Speaker:

and

Speaker:

Egyptians

Speaker:

did.

Speaker:

None

Speaker:

of

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

gods

Speaker:

were

Speaker:

mice,

Speaker:

but

Speaker:

each

Speaker:

took a form

Speaker:

particular

Speaker:

to

Speaker:

him,

Speaker:

her,

Speaker:

or

Speaker:

theirself,

Speaker:

as

Speaker:

was

Speaker:

their

Speaker:

want.

All

Speaker:

these

Speaker:

thoughts

Speaker:

flashed

Speaker:

through

Speaker:

her

Speaker:

mind in

Speaker:

an

Speaker:

instant,

Speaker:

all

Speaker:

of

Speaker:

her

Speaker:

confusion

Speaker:

about

Speaker:

Roman

Speaker:

rules

Speaker:

and

Speaker:

customs

Speaker:

and

Speaker:

heritage,

Speaker:

all of

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

invisible

Speaker:

walls

Speaker:

that

Speaker:

separated

Speaker:

her

Speaker:

from

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

one

Speaker:

to

Speaker:

whom

Speaker:

she

Speaker:

had

Speaker:

pledged

Speaker:

her

Speaker:

sword

Speaker:

and

Speaker:

her

Speaker:

life.

Speaker:

For

Speaker:

Rome’s

Speaker:

friendship,

Speaker:

her

Speaker:

tribe

Speaker:

had

Speaker:

sworn

Speaker:

fealty

Speaker:

to

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

Senate

Speaker:

and

Speaker:

then

Speaker:

to

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

Emperor.

Speaker:

For

Speaker:

her

Speaker:

devotion,

Speaker:

she

Speaker:

had

Speaker:

sworn

Speaker:

fealty

Speaker:

to

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

man

Speaker:

who

Speaker:

now

Speaker:

lay,

Speaker:

cold

Speaker:

and

Speaker:

breathless,

Speaker:

under

Speaker:

a

Speaker:

shroud

Speaker:

that

Speaker:

hid

Speaker:

his

Speaker:

true

Speaker:

face.

Cold

Speaker:

realization

Speaker:

ran

Speaker:

over

Speaker:

her.

Speaker:

She

Speaker:

would

Speaker:

never

Speaker:

see

Speaker:

him

Speaker:

again.

Speaker:

Perhaps

Speaker:

he

Speaker:

might

Speaker:

be

Speaker:

welcomed

Speaker:

into

Speaker:

Elysium,

Speaker:

forever

Speaker:

feted

Speaker:

as

Speaker:

a

Speaker:

true

Speaker:

hero,

Speaker:

or

Speaker:

maybe

Speaker:

he

Speaker:

would

Speaker:

rise,

Speaker:

as

Speaker:

his

Speaker:

grandfather

Speaker:

had,

Speaker:

on

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

back

Speaker:

of

Speaker:

a

Speaker:

comet

Speaker:

to

Speaker:

godhood.

Speaker:

Neither

Speaker:

of

Speaker:

those

Speaker:

places

Speaker:

were

Speaker:

ones

Speaker:

that

Speaker:

she

Speaker:

might

Speaker:

follow,

Speaker:

her

Speaker:

oath

Speaker:

be

Speaker:

damned.

Speaker:

When

Speaker:

her

Speaker:

allotted

Speaker:

time was

Speaker:

finished, she

Speaker:

might

Speaker:

hope to

Speaker:

join

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

wælcyrge, but certainly not Elysium.

Speaker:

Certainly

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

Roman gods

Speaker:

would

Speaker:

not

Speaker:

accept

Speaker:

a

Speaker:

barbarian

Speaker:

such

Speaker:

as

Speaker:

herself

Speaker:

among

Speaker:

their

Speaker:

kind.

Or

Speaker:

perhaps

Speaker:

worse.

Speaker:

Had

Speaker:

she

Speaker:

found

Speaker:

swifter

Speaker:

passage,

Speaker:

dared

Speaker:

riskier

Speaker:

roads,

Speaker:

maybe

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

comfort

Speaker:

she

Speaker:

had

Speaker:

carried

Speaker:

with

Speaker:

her

Speaker:

from

Speaker:

Augustus

Speaker:

would

Speaker:

have

Speaker:

been

Speaker:

enough

Speaker:

to

Speaker:

give

Speaker:

Gaius

Speaker:

Caesar

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

strength

Speaker:

to

Speaker:

defeat

Speaker:

this

Speaker:

curse.

Speaker:

Had

Speaker:

her

Speaker:

failure

Speaker:

so

Speaker:

stained

Speaker:

her

Speaker:

soul

Speaker:

that

Speaker:

her

Speaker:

destination

Speaker:

was

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

frozen

Speaker:

land

Speaker:

of

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

dishonored

Speaker:

and

Speaker:

forgotten

Speaker:

dead?

Speaker:

Would

Speaker:

even

Speaker:

her

Speaker:

gods,

Speaker:

then,

Speaker:

cast

Speaker:

their

Speaker:

eyes

Speaker:

from

Speaker:

her,

Speaker:

among the

Speaker:

lost

Speaker:

and

Speaker:

damned?

Once,

Speaker:

that

Speaker:

thought

Speaker:

would

Speaker:

have

Speaker:

terrified

Speaker:

her.

Speaker:

Now,

Speaker:

kneeling

Speaker:

before

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

shrouded

Speaker:

and

Speaker:

peaceful

Speaker:

dead,

Speaker:

it

Speaker:

was

Speaker:

just

Speaker:

one

Speaker:

more

Speaker:

barb

Speaker:

in

Speaker:

her

Speaker:

mind,

Speaker:

slashing

Speaker:

and

Speaker:

then

Speaker:

torn

Speaker:

away,

Speaker:

to

Speaker:

be

Speaker:

replaced

Speaker:

by

Speaker:

a

Speaker:

new

Speaker:

pain,

Speaker:

a

Speaker:

new

Speaker:

realization

Speaker:

of

Speaker:

loss. Her

Speaker:

imagination

Speaker:

conjured

Speaker:

for

Speaker:

her

Speaker:

a

Speaker:

thousand

Speaker:

lost

Speaker:

scenarios

Speaker:

and

Speaker:

might-have-beens,

Speaker:

a

Speaker:

thousand

Speaker:

different

Speaker:

things

Speaker:

that

Speaker:

she

Speaker:

would

Speaker:

now

Speaker:

never

Speaker:

have

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

opportunity

Speaker:

to

Speaker:

do.

Speaker:

She

Speaker:

would

Speaker:

have

Speaker:

given

Speaker:

anything

Speaker:

to

Speaker:

be

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

peaceful

Speaker:

corpse

Speaker:

that

Speaker:

lay

Speaker:

on

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

cold

Speaker:

stone

Speaker:

instead

Speaker:

of

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

regretful

Speaker:

and

Speaker:

lost

Speaker:

survivor.

Time

Speaker:

fled,

Speaker:

leaving

Speaker:

no

Speaker:

impression

Speaker:

of

Speaker:

its

Speaker:

passing in Aula’s mind. Her knees ached from

Speaker:

prolonged

Speaker:

contact

Speaker:

with

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

sun-warm

Speaker:

marble,

Speaker:

but

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

pain

Speaker:

was

Speaker:

masked

Speaker:

behind

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

waterfall

Speaker:

of

Speaker:

her

Speaker:

emotions.

Speaker:

Tears

Speaker:

rolled

Speaker:

down

Speaker:

her

Speaker:

face

Speaker:

and

Speaker:

dashed

Speaker:

against

Speaker:

her lorica,

Speaker:

shattering

Speaker:

to

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

floor.

Speaker:

She

Speaker:

was

Speaker:

vaguely

Speaker:

aware

Speaker:

of

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

movement

Speaker:

of

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

sun

Speaker:

and

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

shadows

Speaker:

that that

Speaker:

shortened

Speaker:

and

Speaker:

then

Speaker:

lengthened

Speaker:

once

Speaker:

again.

Speaker:

At

Speaker:

some

Speaker:

point,

Speaker:

she

Speaker:

ran

Speaker:

out

Speaker:

of

Speaker:

tears

Speaker:

to

Speaker:

cry,

Speaker:

dammed

Speaker:

by

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

great

Speaker:

wall

Speaker:

of

Speaker:

fear

Speaker:

and

Speaker:

rage

Speaker:

and

Speaker:

loss

Speaker:

deep

Speaker:

within

Speaker:

her.

“Child,”

Speaker:

King

Speaker:

Juba

Speaker:

was

Speaker:

next

Speaker:

to

Speaker:

her,

Speaker:

his

Speaker:

hand

Speaker:

warm

Speaker:

and

Speaker:

comforting

Speaker:

on

Speaker:

her

Speaker:

shoulder. “It

Speaker:

is

Speaker:

time

Speaker:

to

Speaker:

say

Speaker:

goodbye.

Speaker:

His

Speaker:

body

Speaker:

must

Speaker:

be

Speaker:

prepared

Speaker:

to

Speaker:

return

Speaker:

it

Speaker:

to

Speaker:

his

Speaker:

father.”

Speaker:

To

Speaker:

be

Speaker:

cremated,

Speaker:

he

Speaker:

meant,

Speaker:

to

Speaker:

have

Speaker:

even this

Speaker:

illusion

Speaker:

of sleep

Speaker:

stripped

Speaker:

away,

Speaker:

before

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

ashes

Speaker:

were

Speaker:

sealed

Speaker:

in

Speaker:

their

Speaker:

tomb.

Speaker:

Gaius

Speaker:

Caesar

Speaker:

was

Speaker:

as far away

Speaker:

from

Speaker:

Aula as

Speaker:

he

Speaker:

could

Speaker:

be,

Speaker:

and yet

Speaker:

this

Speaker:

thought,

Speaker:

to

Speaker:

have

Speaker:

him

Speaker:

interred

Speaker:

where

Speaker:

she

Speaker:

could

Speaker:

not

Speaker:

even

Speaker:

have

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

pale

Speaker:

comfort

Speaker:

of

Speaker:

being

Speaker:

in

Speaker:

his

Speaker:

presence

Speaker:

stripped

Speaker:

away,

Speaker:

very

Speaker:

nearly

Speaker:

overwhelmed

Speaker:

her.

Aula

Speaker:

nodded

Speaker:

silently,

Speaker:

and

Speaker:

permitted

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

king

Speaker:

to

Speaker:

pull

Speaker:

her

Speaker:

to

Speaker:

her

Speaker:

feet.

Speaker:

The

Speaker:

priestess,

Speaker:

Senhyrus,

Speaker:

was

Speaker:

there,

Speaker:

too,

Speaker:

and

Speaker:

together

Speaker:

they

Speaker:

guided

Speaker:

Aula

Speaker:

to

Speaker:

her

Speaker:

chambers

Speaker:

on

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

far

Speaker:

side

Speaker:

of

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

palace.

Speaker:

There,

Speaker:

King

Speaker:

Juba

Speaker:

left

Speaker:

her in Senhyrus’s

Speaker:

care.

“He was

Speaker:

whole

Speaker:

and

Speaker:

healthy

Speaker:

when

Speaker:

I

Speaker:

left,”

Speaker:

said

Speaker:

Aula

Speaker:

vaguely.

Speaker:

Senhyrus

Speaker:

half-carried

Speaker:

her to her

Speaker:

cot. “His injury had

Speaker:

been

Speaker:

minor.

Speaker:

Barely

Speaker:

enough

Speaker:

to

Speaker:

stop

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

campaign.

Speaker:

They

Speaker:

sent

Speaker:

me

Speaker:

to

Speaker:

Rome

Speaker:

to

Speaker:

get

Speaker:

messages

Speaker:

of

Speaker:

comfort

Speaker:

from

Speaker:

his

Speaker:

father.”

“Abbadon’s

Speaker:

treachery,”

Speaker:

said

Speaker:

Senhyrus. “A

Speaker:

small

Speaker:

thing,

Speaker:

a

Speaker:

little

Speaker:

poison

Speaker:

that

Speaker:

clung

Speaker:

to

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

consul

Speaker:

and

Speaker:

drew

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

attention

Speaker:

of

Speaker:

a

Speaker:

creature.

Speaker:

It

Speaker:

fed

Speaker:

from

Speaker:

him,

Speaker:

from

Speaker:

his

Speaker:

hopes

Speaker:

and

Speaker:

dreams

Speaker:

and

Speaker:

ambitions. It

Speaker:

left

Speaker:

him…”

Speaker:

She

Speaker:

struggled

Speaker:

for

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

word. “Empty

Speaker:

inside.”

Speaker:

Aula gave a small sob, and Senhyrus

Speaker:

hugged

Speaker:

her. “I

Speaker:

am

Speaker:

so

Speaker:

sorry.

Speaker:

We

Speaker:

did

Speaker:

all

Speaker:

we

Speaker:

could

Speaker:

for

Speaker:

him,

Speaker:

but

Speaker:

he

Speaker:

simply

Speaker:

never

Speaker:

could

Speaker:

quite

Speaker:

shake

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

wound.

Speaker:

If

Speaker:

we

Speaker:

could

Speaker:

have

Speaker:

found

Speaker:

a

Speaker:

way

Speaker:

to

Speaker:

remove

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

poison,

Speaker:

to

Speaker:

send

Speaker:

this

Speaker:

creature

Speaker:

away,

Speaker:

but…”

“I

Speaker:

will

Speaker:

kill Abbadon,” Aula said into Senhyrus’s

Speaker:

shoulder. “I

Speaker:

will

Speaker:

rip

Speaker:

him

Speaker:

limb

Speaker:

from

Speaker:

limb

Speaker:

for

Speaker:

this.

Speaker:

I

Speaker:

will

Speaker:

leave

Speaker:

his

Speaker:

body

Speaker:

for

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

scorpions

Speaker:

and

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

scarabs,

Speaker:

and

Speaker:

may

Speaker:

they

Speaker:

choke

Speaker:

on

Speaker:

him.”

“O

Speaker:

my

Speaker:

daughter,”

Speaker:

murmured

Speaker:

Senhyrus,

Speaker:

her

Speaker:

voice

Speaker:

heavy with grief.

Speaker:

She

Speaker:

held Aula

Speaker:

at

Speaker:

arms’

Speaker:

length,

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

jackal’s

Speaker:

bronze

Speaker:

eyes

Speaker:

searching

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

mouse’s

Speaker:

blue-grey

Speaker:

one. “Do

Speaker:

not

Speaker:

let

Speaker:

revenge

Speaker:

consume

Speaker:

your

Speaker:

heart.

Speaker:

Abbadon

Speaker:

is

Speaker:

beyond

Speaker:

your

Speaker:

power

Speaker:

now.”

“I

Speaker:

will

Speaker:

avenge

Speaker:

my lord,” said

Speaker:

Aula, ferocity

Speaker:

burning away

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

despair

Speaker:

for

Speaker:

an

Speaker:

instant. “You

Speaker:

said

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

poison

Speaker:

summoned

Speaker:

a

Speaker:

creature

Speaker:

to

Speaker:

drain

Speaker:

Gaius

Speaker:

Caesar’s

Speaker:

life

Speaker:

away.

Speaker:

If

Speaker:

I

Speaker:

cannot

Speaker:

revenge

Speaker:

myself

Speaker:

on

Speaker:

Abbadon,

Speaker:

I

Speaker:

will

Speaker:

find

Speaker:

and slay

Speaker:

this

Speaker:

monster.”

Senhyrus

Speaker:

released

Speaker:

Aula,

Speaker:

looking

Speaker:

discomfited. “None

Speaker:

could

Speaker:

even

Speaker:

tell

Speaker:

us

Speaker:

what

Speaker:

it

Speaker:

was.

Speaker:

The Romans

Speaker:

say it Parthian, the Parthians say it was

Speaker:

Scythean.

Speaker:

It

Speaker:

was

Speaker:

months

Speaker:

before

Speaker:

we

Speaker:

even

Speaker:

realized

Speaker:

it

Speaker:

was

Speaker:

in

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

palace,

Speaker:

though

Speaker:

surely

Speaker:

it

Speaker:

had

Speaker:

haunted

Speaker:

these

Speaker:

passages

Speaker:

before

Speaker:

you

Speaker:

had

Speaker:

even

Speaker:

left

Speaker:

for

Speaker:

Rome.

Speaker:

Only

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

consul

Speaker:

could

Speaker:

have

Speaker:

told

Speaker:

you

Speaker:

what

Speaker:

it

Speaker:

looked

Speaker:

like

Speaker:

and

Speaker:

how

Speaker:

it

Speaker:

attacked

Speaker:

him.

Speaker:

All

Speaker:

we

Speaker:

can

Speaker:

say

Speaker:

is

Speaker:

that

Speaker:

it

Speaker:

appears

Speaker:

gone,

Speaker:

now.”

“Can

Speaker:

it

Speaker:

be

Speaker:

summoned

Speaker:

again?”

Senhyrus

Speaker:

frowned,

Speaker:

her manner

Speaker:

turning

Speaker:

from

Speaker:

maternal

Speaker:

to

Speaker:

imperial. “I

Speaker:

do

Speaker:

not

Speaker:

wish

Speaker:

to

Speaker:

answer

Speaker:

that

Speaker:

question.

Speaker:

This

Speaker:

is

Speaker:

a

Speaker:

dark

Speaker:

road

Speaker:

you

Speaker:

seek,

Speaker:

legionary.

Speaker:

I

Speaker:

would

Speaker:

not

Speaker:

be

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

one

Speaker:

to

Speaker:

guide

Speaker:

you

Speaker:

along

Speaker:

it.”

Speaker:

Aula

Speaker:

started

Speaker:

to

Speaker:

interrogate

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

priestess

Speaker:

further,

Speaker:

a

Speaker:

feverish

Speaker:

plan

Speaker:

forming

Speaker:

in

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

eye

Speaker:

of

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

maelstrom

Speaker:

that

Speaker:

was

Speaker:

her

Speaker:

emotions.

Speaker:

Senhyrus

Speaker:

pressed

Speaker:

a

Speaker:

finger

Speaker:

to

Speaker:

her

Speaker:

lips. “Rest,

Speaker:

Aula.

Speaker:

Forget

Speaker:

this.

Speaker:

The

Speaker:

consul’s

Speaker:

death

Speaker:

was

Speaker:

a

Speaker:

tragedy.

Speaker:

Mourn,

Speaker:

with

Speaker:

us

Speaker:

if

Speaker:

you

Speaker:

wish,

Speaker:

alone

Speaker:

if

Speaker:

you

Speaker:

must.

Speaker:

Mourn

Speaker:

and

Speaker:

live.

“Tomorrow,

Speaker:

I

Speaker:

travel

Speaker:

with

Speaker:

King

Speaker:

Juba

Speaker:

back

Speaker:

to

Speaker:

Mauretania.

Speaker:

Return

Speaker:

with

Speaker:

us.

Speaker:

Lord

Speaker:

Caesar

Speaker:

always

Speaker:

spoke

Speaker:

well

Speaker:

of

Speaker:

you,

Speaker:

I’m

Speaker:

sure

Speaker:

his

Speaker:

majesty

Speaker:

would

Speaker:

welcome

Speaker:

your

Speaker:

presence

Speaker:

and

Speaker:

treat you as

Speaker:

an

Speaker:

honored guest in Volubilis.”

Aula’s cyclopic gaze held Senhyrus for

Speaker:

a

Speaker:

moment

Speaker:

before

Speaker:

she

Speaker:

nodded

Speaker:

her

Speaker:

assent.

Speaker:

Then

Speaker:

she

Speaker:

stifled

Speaker:

a

Speaker:

yawn.

Senhyrus

Speaker:

smiled

Speaker:

at

Speaker:

her. “Rest,

Speaker:

then.

Speaker:

I

Speaker:

shall

Speaker:

make

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

preparations

Speaker:

and I

Speaker:

will

Speaker:

gather

Speaker:

you

Speaker:

in

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

morning

Speaker:

before

Speaker:

we

Speaker:

leave.”

Speaker:

She

Speaker:

hesitated

Speaker:

for

Speaker:

an

Speaker:

instant,

Speaker:

as

Speaker:

though

Speaker:

assuring

Speaker:

herself

Speaker:

that

Speaker:

Aula

Speaker:

wouldn’t

Speaker:

do

Speaker:

anything

Speaker:

foolish,

Speaker:

before

Speaker:

she

Speaker:

left,

Speaker:

pulling

Speaker:

closed

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

door

Speaker:

to

Speaker:

Aula’s

Speaker:

chamber

Speaker:

behind

Speaker:

her.

Any

Speaker:

tiredness

Speaker:

fled

Speaker:

from

Speaker:

Aula as

Speaker:

soon

Speaker:

as

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

door

Speaker:

closed,

Speaker:

but

Speaker:

still

Speaker:

she

Speaker:

did

Speaker:

not

Speaker:

move.

Speaker:

She

Speaker:

sat

Speaker:

on

Speaker:

her

Speaker:

bed,

Speaker:

eye

Speaker:

half-closed,

Speaker:

as

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

gloam

Speaker:

lengthened,

Speaker:

and

Speaker:

she

Speaker:

plotted.

Speaker:

When

Speaker:

she

Speaker:

was

Speaker:

finally

Speaker:

ready

Speaker:

to

Speaker:

act,

Speaker:

night

Speaker:

had

Speaker:

fallen

Speaker:

completely

Speaker:

and

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

moon

Speaker:

hung

Speaker:

bright

Speaker:

and

Speaker:

heavy

Speaker:

over

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

rocky

Speaker:

mountain

Speaker:

forest

Speaker:

outside

Speaker:

her

Speaker:

window.

In

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

twilight,

Speaker:

she

Speaker:

stood

Speaker:

and

Speaker:

carefully

Speaker:

removed

Speaker:

and

Speaker:

packed

Speaker:

each

Speaker:

piece

Speaker:

of

Speaker:

her

Speaker:

armor.

Speaker:

She

Speaker:

treated the

Speaker:

items

Speaker:

with

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

utmost

Speaker:

care;

Speaker:

they

Speaker:

represented

Speaker:

her

Speaker:

rank

Speaker:

and

Speaker:

station as decanus. Aula was proud to

Speaker:

wear

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

armor of a legionary,

Speaker:

proud

Speaker:

to be among the Numerus Batavorum, to protect

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

Emperor

Speaker:

and

Speaker:

his

Speaker:

family.

But

Speaker:

she

Speaker:

had

Speaker:

failed.

Speaker:

She

Speaker:

had

Speaker:

failed

Speaker:

in

Speaker:

her

Speaker:

duties

Speaker:

as

Speaker:

both

Speaker:

legionary

Speaker:

and

Speaker:

guard.

Speaker:

The

Speaker:

armor

Speaker:

had

Speaker:

become

Speaker:

a

Speaker:

representation

Speaker:

of

Speaker:

that

Speaker:

failure, and

Speaker:

she

Speaker:

pledged

Speaker:

not

Speaker:

to

Speaker:

put

Speaker:

it

Speaker:

on

Speaker:

again

Speaker:

until

Speaker:

she

Speaker:

had

Speaker:

redeemed

Speaker:

herself.

Idly,

Speaker:

Aula

Speaker:

wondered

Speaker:

if

Speaker:

that

Speaker:

made

Speaker:

what

Speaker:

she

Speaker:

was

Speaker:

going

Speaker:

to do

Speaker:

next

Speaker:

easier

Speaker:

or

Speaker:

harder.

Speaker:

She

Speaker:

bypassed

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

warm

Speaker:

wool

Speaker:

and

Speaker:

scaly hide

Speaker:

clothing

Speaker:

of

Speaker:

her northern

Speaker:

homeland,

Speaker:

despite

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

chill

Speaker:

of

Speaker:

night

Speaker:

approaching,

Speaker:

in

Speaker:

favor

Speaker:

of

Speaker:

a

Speaker:

knee-length

Speaker:

tunic

Speaker:

someone had

Speaker:

left

Speaker:

for

Speaker:

her.

Speaker:

It was woven

Speaker:

in

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

eastern

Speaker:

style and

Speaker:

made

Speaker:

of

Speaker:

itchy

Speaker:

wool

Speaker:

instead

Speaker:

of

Speaker:

more

Speaker:

fashionable

Speaker:

linen, and

Speaker:

it

Speaker:

took

Speaker:

her

Speaker:

a

Speaker:

moment

Speaker:

to

Speaker:

get

Speaker:

it

Speaker:

to

Speaker:

hang

Speaker:

on

Speaker:

her

Speaker:

shoulders

Speaker:

correctly.

Speaker:

One

Speaker:

hand

Speaker:

went

Speaker:

to

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

knot

Speaker:

of

Speaker:

her

Speaker:

hair,

Speaker:

but

Speaker:

she

Speaker:

couldn’t

Speaker:

make

Speaker:

herself

Speaker:

undo

Speaker:

that

Speaker:

last

Speaker:

nod

Speaker:

to

Speaker:

her

Speaker:

homeland.

Aula

Speaker:

was

Speaker:

still

Speaker:

a

Speaker:

one-eyed

Speaker:

mouse

Speaker:

with

Speaker:

a

Speaker:

barbarian

Speaker:

haircut,

Speaker:

even

Speaker:

if

Speaker:

she

Speaker:

wore

Speaker:

Roman

Speaker:

clothing.

Speaker:

No

Speaker:

one

Speaker:

in

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

palace

Speaker:

would

Speaker:

take her

Speaker:

for

Speaker:

anything

Speaker:

other

Speaker:

than

Speaker:

one

Speaker:

of

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

Batavii

Speaker:

out

Speaker:

of

Speaker:

uniform,

Speaker:

but,

Speaker:

she

Speaker:

hoped,

Speaker:

she

Speaker:

wouldn’t

Speaker:

be

Speaker:

so

Speaker:

conspicuous

Speaker:

as

Speaker:

to

Speaker:

be

Speaker:

stopped,

Speaker:

at

Speaker:

least

Speaker:

not

Speaker:

before

Speaker:

she

Speaker:

completed

Speaker:

her

Speaker:

objective.

The

Speaker:

gods

Speaker:

were

Speaker:

with

Speaker:

her.

Speaker:

Wraith-like,

Speaker:

Aula

Speaker:

was

Speaker:

able

Speaker:

to

Speaker:

slip

Speaker:

through

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

halls

Speaker:

without

Speaker:

notice.

Speaker:

There

Speaker:

was

Speaker:

a

Speaker:

pall

Speaker:

hanging

Speaker:

around

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

palace,

Speaker:

Gaius

Speaker:

Caesar’s

Speaker:

death

Speaker:

like

Speaker:

a

Speaker:

specter

Speaker:

that

Speaker:

muted

Speaker:

sound

Speaker:

and

Speaker:

emotion.

Speaker:

Aula

Speaker:

was

Speaker:

no

Speaker:

less

Speaker:

affected

Speaker:

than

Speaker:

anyone

Speaker:

else,

Speaker:

but

Speaker:

she

Speaker:

had

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

presence

Speaker:

of

Speaker:

mind

Speaker:

to

Speaker:

use

Speaker:

it

Speaker:

to

Speaker:

her

Speaker:

advantage,

Speaker:

at

Speaker:

least.

A

Speaker:

bodyguard—Batavii,

Speaker:

thank Thunar—stopped her

Speaker:

just

Speaker:

outside

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

hall

Speaker:

that

Speaker:

led

Speaker:

to

Speaker:

King

Speaker:

Juba’s

Speaker:

rooms.

Speaker:

Once

Speaker:

she

Speaker:

drew

Speaker:

close

Speaker:

enough

Speaker:

for

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

guard

Speaker:

to

Speaker:

see

Speaker:

her

Speaker:

face

Speaker:

in

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

wan

Speaker:

moonlight,

Speaker:

he

Speaker:

lowered his

Speaker:

sword.

“You

Speaker:

were

Speaker:

sorely

Speaker:

missed,

Speaker:

sister,”

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

guard

Speaker:

told

Speaker:

her

Speaker:

in

Speaker:

a

Speaker:

low

Speaker:

voice,

Speaker:

speaking

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

tongue

Speaker:

of

Speaker:

their

Speaker:

homeland. “The

Speaker:

lord

Speaker:

asked

Speaker:

of

Speaker:

you

Speaker:

frequently

Speaker:

at

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

end.”

Where

Speaker:

were

Speaker:

you?

Speaker:

she

Speaker:

wanted

Speaker:

to

Speaker:

shout

Speaker:

at

Speaker:

him.

Speaker:

Why

Speaker:

didn’t

Speaker:

you

Speaker:

protect

Speaker:

him? The

Speaker:

maelstrom

Speaker:

in her mind

Speaker:

answered

Speaker:

in

Speaker:

a

Speaker:

voice

Speaker:

that

Speaker:

mocked

Speaker:

hers,

Speaker:

but

Speaker:

where

Speaker:

was

Speaker:

I?

Speaker:

Why

Speaker:

didn’t

Speaker:

I?

Her

Speaker:

voice

Speaker:

was

Speaker:

steady,

Speaker:

her

Speaker:

grip

Speaker:

strong as

Speaker:

she

Speaker:

grasped

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

Batavii’s

Speaker:

forearm

Speaker:

in

Speaker:

solidarity

Speaker:

and

Speaker:

grief. “Thank

Speaker:

you,

Speaker:

brother.

Speaker:

I

Speaker:

wish

Speaker:

I

Speaker:

had

Speaker:

been

Speaker:

there

Speaker:

to

Speaker:

comfort

Speaker:

him.”

“He

Speaker:

took

Speaker:

comfort

Speaker:

in

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

knowledge

Speaker:

that

Speaker:

you had

Speaker:

returned

Speaker:

to

Speaker:

his

Speaker:

father,”

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

guard

Speaker:

told

Speaker:

her, “and

Speaker:

that

Speaker:

you

Speaker:

would

Speaker:

return

Speaker:

to

Speaker:

him.

Speaker:

Don’t

Speaker:

believe

Speaker:

that

Speaker:

you

Speaker:

are

Speaker:

responsible

Speaker:

for

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

lord’s

Speaker:

passing.

Speaker:

It

Speaker:

was

Speaker:

the treachery

Speaker:

of

Speaker:

Abbadon,

Speaker:

not

Speaker:

you.”

She

Speaker:

thanked

Speaker:

him

Speaker:

for

Speaker:

his

Speaker:

kind

Speaker:

words,

Speaker:

and

Speaker:

continued

Speaker:

to

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

Imperial

Speaker:

wing

Speaker:

of

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

palace.

Speaker:

Her

Speaker:

luck

Speaker:

held,

Speaker:

or

Speaker:

otherwise

Speaker:

no

Speaker:

one

Speaker:

thought

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

Imperial

Speaker:

chambers

Speaker:

required

Speaker:

guarding

Speaker:

with the

Speaker:

consul

Speaker:

dead,

Speaker:

and

Speaker:

she

Speaker:

passed

Speaker:

by

Speaker:

no

Speaker:

one

Speaker:

other

Speaker:

than

Speaker:

a

Speaker:

group

Speaker:

of

Speaker:

hired

Speaker:

Egyptian

Speaker:

mourners.

Inside

Speaker:

was

Speaker:

cool

Speaker:

and

Speaker:

dark,

Speaker:

unlit

Speaker:

even

Speaker:

by

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

light

Speaker:

of

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

moon.

Speaker:

Gaius

Speaker:

Caesar’s

Speaker:

shrouded

Speaker:

corpse was

Speaker:

a

Speaker:

pale

Speaker:

luminescence

Speaker:

in

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

center

Speaker:

of

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

room,

Speaker:

which

Speaker:

smelled

Speaker:

of

Speaker:

salt

Speaker:

and

Speaker:

herbs,

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

strange

Speaker:

preservatives designed

Speaker:

to

Speaker:

keep

Speaker:

his

Speaker:

body

Speaker:

fresh

Speaker:

for

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

journey

Speaker:

back

Speaker:

to

Speaker:

Rome.

Speaker:

That

Speaker:

all of

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

Empire

Speaker:

would

Speaker:

cry

Speaker:

for

Speaker:

him

Speaker:

was

Speaker:

a

Speaker:

cold

Speaker:

comfort

Speaker:

to Aula.

Speaker:

The

Speaker:

hole

Speaker:

his

Speaker:

loss

Speaker:

left

Speaker:

in

Speaker:

her

Speaker:

was

Speaker:

too

Speaker:

big

Speaker:

to

Speaker:

fill

Speaker:

with

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

wails

Speaker:

and

Speaker:

prayers

Speaker:

of

Speaker:

even

Speaker:

a

Speaker:

thousand

Speaker:

empires.

She

Speaker:

approached

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

shroud-covered

Speaker:

body.

Speaker:

The

Speaker:

room

Speaker:

was

Speaker:

silence

Speaker:

given

Speaker:

voice.

Speaker:

Aula

Speaker:

became

Speaker:

aware

Speaker:

that

Speaker:

she

Speaker:

was

Speaker:

holding

Speaker:

her

Speaker:

breath.

Speaker:

She

Speaker:

forced

Speaker:

herself

Speaker:

to

Speaker:

inhale

Speaker:

and then

Speaker:

struggled

Speaker:

to

Speaker:

exhale.

Gaius

Speaker:

Caesar

Speaker:

was as

Speaker:

still

Speaker:

and

Speaker:

silent

Speaker:

as

Speaker:

marble

Speaker:

and,

Speaker:

for

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

first

Speaker:

time,

Speaker:

Aula

Speaker:

wondered

Speaker:

if

Speaker:

she

Speaker:

had

Speaker:

nerve

Speaker:

enough.

Speaker:

A part of her

Speaker:

wanted

Speaker:

to

Speaker:

pull

Speaker:

back

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

shroud, to

Speaker:

reveal

Speaker:

Gaius

Speaker:

Caesar’s

Speaker:

true

Speaker:

face,

Speaker:

but

Speaker:

she found that her hands would not

Speaker:

obey

Speaker:

that

Speaker:

command.

Speaker:

She

Speaker:

twitched

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

shroud

Speaker:

just

Speaker:

enough

Speaker:

to

Speaker:

reveal

Speaker:

his

Speaker:

left

Speaker:

arm,

Speaker:

suppressing

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

revulsion

Speaker:

she

Speaker:

felt

Speaker:

at

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

odor

Speaker:

of

Speaker:

early

Speaker:

decomposition.

Speaker:

Aula

Speaker:

couldn’t

Speaker:

bear

Speaker:

to

Speaker:

see

Speaker:

any

Speaker:

more, and

Speaker:

she

Speaker:

pulled

Speaker:

the arm free

Speaker:

of

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

restful

Speaker:

pose

Speaker:

it

Speaker:

had

Speaker:

been

Speaker:

in.

Speaker:

It came

Speaker:

easily,

Speaker:

rigor

Speaker:

mortis

Speaker:

long

Speaker:

since

Speaker:

fading,

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

flesh

Speaker:

cold

Speaker:

and

Speaker:

lifeless

Speaker:

beneath

Speaker:

her

Speaker:

fingers.

Speaker:

Once free

Speaker:

of

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

shroud,

Speaker:

she

Speaker:

could

Speaker:

see

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

wound

Speaker:

easily,

Speaker:

a dark,

Speaker:

unhealed

Speaker:

scar

Speaker:

in

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

midst

Speaker:

of

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

white-speckled

Speaker:

red

Speaker:

feathers

Speaker:

of

Speaker:

his

Speaker:

forearm.

Aula

Speaker:

drew

Speaker:

her

Speaker:

dagger.

Speaker:

She

Speaker:

probed

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

puckered

Speaker:

wound

Speaker:

with

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

blade’s

Speaker:

tip,

Speaker:

unsure

Speaker:

what

Speaker:

she

Speaker:

was

Speaker:

searching

Speaker:

for.

Speaker:

Curses

Speaker:

were somewhat

Speaker:

beyond

Speaker:

her

Speaker:

experience,

Speaker:

but

Speaker:

surely,

Speaker:

she

Speaker:

thought,

Speaker:

there

Speaker:

had

Speaker:

to

Speaker:

be

Speaker:

some

Speaker:

sort

Speaker:

of

Speaker:

physical

Speaker:

talisman,

Speaker:

something

Speaker:

to

Speaker:

connect

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

curse to

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

person.

Speaker:

She

Speaker:

did not

Speaker:

want

Speaker:

to

Speaker:

treat

Speaker:

Gaius

Speaker:

Caesar’s

Speaker:

body

Speaker:

so

Speaker:

shamefully,

Speaker:

but

Speaker:

she

Speaker:

could

Speaker:

not

Speaker:

admit

Speaker:

defeat,

Speaker:

and

Speaker:

would

Speaker:

not

Speaker:

permit

Speaker:

his

Speaker:

death

Speaker:

to

Speaker:

go

Speaker:

unavenged.

Speaker:

If

Speaker:

grief

Speaker:

would

Speaker:

not

Speaker:

fill

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

hole

Speaker:

in

Speaker:

her

Speaker:

heart,

Speaker:

then

Speaker:

revenge

Speaker:

would.

The

Speaker:

dagger

Speaker:

caught

Speaker:

on

Speaker:

something.

Speaker:

With

Speaker:

a

Speaker:

grimace,

Speaker:

Aula

Speaker:

fished

Speaker:

it

Speaker:

out,

Speaker:

revealing

Speaker:

a

Speaker:

sharp

Speaker:

sliver

Speaker:

of

Speaker:

iron

Speaker:

coated

Speaker:

in a

Speaker:

greasy

Speaker:

brown

Speaker:

ichor.

Speaker:

She

Speaker:

dropped

Speaker:

it

Speaker:

into

Speaker:

her

Speaker:

palm,

Speaker:

and

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

ichor stained

Speaker:

her

Speaker:

fur.

Speaker:

It

Speaker:

appeared

Speaker:

to

Speaker:

her

Speaker:

to

Speaker:

be

Speaker:

a

Speaker:

shattered

Speaker:

piece

Speaker:

of

Speaker:

dagger

Speaker:

or

Speaker:

sword.

Speaker:

There

Speaker:

was

Speaker:

only

Speaker:

one

Speaker:

thing

Speaker:

to

Speaker:

do,

Speaker:

if

Speaker:

she

Speaker:

truly

Speaker:

wanted

Speaker:

to

Speaker:

revenge

Speaker:

her

Speaker:

lord,

Speaker:

but

Speaker:

it

Speaker:

was

Speaker:

hard

Speaker:

to

Speaker:

face

Speaker:

that

Speaker:

realization.

Speaker:

Still.

Speaker:

She

Speaker:

sheathed

Speaker:

her

Speaker:

dagger,

Speaker:

took

Speaker:

a

Speaker:

deep

Speaker:

breath,

Speaker:

and

Speaker:

then

Speaker:

drove

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

splinter

Speaker:

into

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

muscle

Speaker:

between

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

bones

Speaker:

of

Speaker:

her

Speaker:

left

Speaker:

forearm.

Speaker:

It

Speaker:

burned

Speaker:

as

Speaker:

it

Speaker:

sank

Speaker:

in,

Speaker:

vanishing

Speaker:

into her

Speaker:

flesh

Speaker:

and

Speaker:

leaving

Speaker:

an

Speaker:

ugly

Speaker:

black

Speaker:

wound

Speaker:

behind.

The

Speaker:

wound

Speaker:

still

Speaker:

itched

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

next

Speaker:

morning

Speaker:

when

Speaker:

Aula

Speaker:

woke

Speaker:

to

Speaker:

Senhyrus

Speaker:

gently

Speaker:

shaking

Speaker:

her.

“We

Speaker:

are

Speaker:

ready

Speaker:

to

Speaker:

be off,”

Speaker:

Senhyrus

Speaker:

told her. “If

Speaker:

you

Speaker:

would

Speaker:

like

Speaker:

to

Speaker:

come

Speaker:

with

Speaker:

us?”

Aula

Speaker:

mumbled

Speaker:

her

Speaker:

assent

Speaker:

and

Speaker:

begged

Speaker:

for

Speaker:

a

Speaker:

few

Speaker:

minutes

Speaker:

of Senhyrus and King Juba’s indulgence to get her things

Speaker:

ready.

Speaker:

Senhyrus

Speaker:

swept

Speaker:

off

Speaker:

to

Speaker:

inform

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

king,

Speaker:

and Aula

Speaker:

struggled

Speaker:

from

Speaker:

under

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

blankets.

Speaker:

Within

Speaker:

a

Speaker:

half

Speaker:

hour,

Speaker:

she

Speaker:

had

Speaker:

reached

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

docks

Speaker:

and

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

Grecian

Speaker:

style

Speaker:

polyreme that

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

dockmaster assured her was Juba’s.

Speaker:

She had

Speaker:

not

Speaker:

found it

Speaker:

within

Speaker:

her

Speaker:

to

Speaker:

wear her

Speaker:

armor,

Speaker:

which

Speaker:

was

Speaker:

safely

Speaker:

stored

Speaker:

in

Speaker:

her

Speaker:

pack

Speaker:

with

Speaker:

her

Speaker:

few

Speaker:

meager

Speaker:

belongings.

Speaker:

Instead,

Speaker:

she

Speaker:

wore

Speaker:

a

Speaker:

simple,

Speaker:

undyed

Speaker:

tunic

Speaker:

under

Speaker:

a

Speaker:

thin

Speaker:

cloak,

Speaker:

arms

Speaker:

and

Speaker:

shoulders

Speaker:

bare

Speaker:

to

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

golden

Speaker:

Mediterranean

Speaker:

sun. A

Speaker:

wrap

Speaker:

of

Speaker:

old

Speaker:

cloth

Speaker:

covered

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

wound

Speaker:

in

Speaker:

her

Speaker:

forearm.

Speaker:

It

Speaker:

had

Speaker:

not

Speaker:

closed

Speaker:

overnight

Speaker:

but

Speaker:

oozed

Speaker:

that

Speaker:

foul

Speaker:

ichor.

Speaker:

Already it

Speaker:

had

Speaker:

stained her

Speaker:

bandage.

Speaker:

She

Speaker:

tugged

Speaker:

her

Speaker:

cloak

Speaker:

over

Speaker:

to

Speaker:

cover

Speaker:

it.

The

Speaker:

barge was much

Speaker:

fancier

Speaker:

than

Speaker:

Aula

Speaker:

was

Speaker:

used

Speaker:

to.

Speaker:

Her

Speaker:

limited

Speaker:

interactions

Speaker:

with

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

sea

Speaker:

had

Speaker:

been

Speaker:

largely

Speaker:

confined

Speaker:

to

Speaker:

military

Speaker:

transports

Speaker:

from

Speaker:

one

Speaker:

battle

Speaker:

to

Speaker:

another.

Speaker:

A

Speaker:

luxury

Speaker:

ship

Speaker:

like

Speaker:

this,

Speaker:

more

Speaker:

akin

Speaker:

to

Speaker:

a

Speaker:

floating

Speaker:

palace

Speaker:

than

Speaker:

a

Speaker:

ship,

Speaker:

she

Speaker:

thought,

Speaker:

was

Speaker:

as

Speaker:

far

Speaker:

beyond

Speaker:

her

Speaker:

comprehension

Speaker:

as

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

terrestrial

Speaker:

palace

Speaker:

of

Speaker:

Caesar

Speaker:

had

Speaker:

been

Speaker:

when

Speaker:

Augustus

Speaker:

had

Speaker:

invited

Speaker:

her

Speaker:

to

Speaker:

receive

Speaker:

gifts

Speaker:

and

Speaker:

encouragement

Speaker:

for

Speaker:

Gaius

Speaker:

Caesar.

Speaker:

Gifts

Speaker:

and

Speaker:

encouragement

Speaker:

that

Speaker:

now

Speaker:

lay,

Speaker:

unopened,

Speaker:

in

Speaker:

a

Speaker:

chest

Speaker:

to

Speaker:

be

Speaker:

returned

Speaker:

to

Speaker:

Rome

Speaker:

with

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

body

Speaker:

of

Speaker:

Gaius

Speaker:

Caesar.

“Child?”

Speaker:

King Juba

Speaker:

placed

Speaker:

a

Speaker:

hand

Speaker:

on

Speaker:

her

Speaker:

shoulder,

Speaker:

and Aula

Speaker:

started. “You

Speaker:

looked a

Speaker:

world

Speaker:

away.”

“Apologies,

Speaker:

Majesty,”

Speaker:

Aula murmured.

Speaker:

They

Speaker:

walked

Speaker:

side-by-side

Speaker:

along the

Speaker:

gangplank

Speaker:

and

Speaker:

up

Speaker:

to

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

broad

Speaker:

deck.

Speaker:

The

Speaker:

king

Speaker:

was

Speaker:

talking

Speaker:

to

Speaker:

her in

Speaker:

his

Speaker:

low,

Speaker:

reassuring

Speaker:

voice,

Speaker:

but

Speaker:

Aula’s

Speaker:

thoughts

Speaker:

drifted

Speaker:

as

Speaker:

she

Speaker:

watched

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

crew.

Speaker:

They

Speaker:

were

Speaker:

primarily

Speaker:

Mauretanian,

Speaker:

with

Speaker:

a

Speaker:

mix

Speaker:

of

Speaker:

Egyptian,

Speaker:

Greek,

Speaker:

and

Speaker:

Romans

Speaker:

among

Speaker:

them,

Speaker:

judging

Speaker:

by

Speaker:

clothing

Speaker:

and

Speaker:

hair

Speaker:

styles,

Speaker:

even

Speaker:

a

Speaker:

distinctly

Speaker:

Brittanic

Speaker:

kilt.

Speaker:

Aula’s

Speaker:

eyes

Speaker:

were

Speaker:

drawn

Speaker:

to an

Speaker:

unusual

Speaker:

figure,

Speaker:

a

Speaker:

snowy

Speaker:

white

Speaker:

owl

Speaker:

with

Speaker:

deep

Speaker:

red

Speaker:

eyes,

Speaker:

wearing

Speaker:

a

Speaker:

golden

Speaker:

Greek

Speaker:

chiton

Speaker:

and

Speaker:

matching

Speaker:

cloak.

Speaker:

The

Speaker:

owl’s

Speaker:

eyes

Speaker:

caught

Speaker:

Aula’s

Speaker:

and

Speaker:

the mouse

Speaker:

stopped

Speaker:

dead in

Speaker:

her

Speaker:

tracks.

“Child?”

Speaker:

asked

Speaker:

King

Speaker:

Juba.

Speaker:

She

Speaker:

became

Speaker:

aware

Speaker:

that her

Speaker:

tail was

Speaker:

lashing

Speaker:

at his

Speaker:

ankles.

Speaker:

She

Speaker:

stepped

Speaker:

on

Speaker:

it

Speaker:

to

Speaker:

hold

Speaker:

it

Speaker:

steady.

“I’m

Speaker:

fine,

Speaker:

Majesty.

Speaker:

If

Speaker:

you

Speaker:

please,

Speaker:

who

Speaker:

is

Speaker:

that?”

Speaker:

She

Speaker:

nodded

Speaker:

at the owl.

“Who?”

Aula turned in confusion to

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

king.

Speaker:

His

Speaker:

brow

Speaker:

was

Speaker:

creased

Speaker:

in

Speaker:

worry.

Speaker:

She

Speaker:

raised

Speaker:

her

Speaker:

hand

Speaker:

to

Speaker:

point

Speaker:

but,

Speaker:

when

Speaker:

she

Speaker:

looked,

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

owl

Speaker:

had

Speaker:

vanished

Speaker:

into

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

crowd

Speaker:

on

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

deck.

“There

Speaker:

was

Speaker:

an

Speaker:

owl,”

Speaker:

she

Speaker:

said. “I

Speaker:

swear

Speaker:

there

Speaker:

was.”

“Perhaps

Speaker:

one

Speaker:

of

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

crew?”

“She

Speaker:

wasn’t

Speaker:

dressed like

Speaker:

crew,”

Speaker:

Aula

Speaker:

murmured.

Speaker:

She

Speaker:

scanned

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

crowd,

Speaker:

but

Speaker:

there

Speaker:

were

Speaker:

no

Speaker:

owls

Speaker:

there. “My

Speaker:

apologies,

Speaker:

Majesty. I…

Speaker:

Perhaps

Speaker:

I

Speaker:

am

Speaker:

still

Speaker:

unsettled

Speaker:

by

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

lord’s

Speaker:

death.”

“No

Speaker:

need

Speaker:

to

Speaker:

apologize,

Speaker:

child,”

Speaker:

said

Speaker:

King

Speaker:

Juba.

Speaker:

He

Speaker:

gave

Speaker:

her

Speaker:

shoulder

Speaker:

a

Speaker:

squeeze. “I

Speaker:

regret

Speaker:

there

Speaker:

was

Speaker:

insufficient

Speaker:

room

Speaker:

to

Speaker:

find

Speaker:

a

Speaker:

cabin

Speaker:

for

Speaker:

you

Speaker:

alone,

Speaker:

but

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

berth

Speaker:

is

Speaker:

still

Speaker:

spacious

Speaker:

and

Speaker:

you

Speaker:

will

Speaker:

find

Speaker:

your

Speaker:

cabinmates

Speaker:

quite

Speaker:

agreeable,

Speaker:

if

Speaker:

you

Speaker:

would

Speaker:

like

Speaker:

to

Speaker:

rest

Speaker:

while

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

ship

Speaker:

is

Speaker:

made

Speaker:

ready

Speaker:

to

Speaker:

go?”

She

Speaker:

bowed

Speaker:

deeply. “Thank

Speaker:

you,

Speaker:

Majesty,

Speaker:

but

Speaker:

no.

Speaker:

I

Speaker:

think

Speaker:

I

Speaker:

would

Speaker:

prefer

Speaker:

some

Speaker:

sunlight.

Speaker:

I’ll

Speaker:

find

Speaker:

a

Speaker:

place

Speaker:

out

Speaker:

of

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

way

Speaker:

to

Speaker:

sit

Speaker:

for

Speaker:

a

Speaker:

time.”

Speaker:

They

Speaker:

said

Speaker:

their

Speaker:

goodbyes

Speaker:

and

Speaker:

Aula

Speaker:

headed

Speaker:

for

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

prow.

No

Speaker:

one

Speaker:

stopped

Speaker:

her

Speaker:

as

Speaker:

she

Speaker:

slid

Speaker:

ghostlike

Speaker:

amidst the

Speaker:

crew

Speaker:

and

Speaker:

passengers,

Speaker:

and

Speaker:

ultimately

Speaker:

found

Speaker:

a

Speaker:

place

Speaker:

to

Speaker:

sit,

Speaker:

her

Speaker:

legs

Speaker:

dangling

Speaker:

off of

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

side,

Speaker:

hanging

Speaker:

above

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

long oars

Speaker:

that

Speaker:

were

Speaker:

just

Speaker:

being

Speaker:

lowered

Speaker:

into

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

deceptively

Speaker:

placid

Speaker:

sea.

Speaker:

She

Speaker:

laid

Speaker:

her

Speaker:

head

Speaker:

in

Speaker:

her

Speaker:

hands

Speaker:

as

Speaker:

she

Speaker:

leaned

Speaker:

against

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

railing, her

Speaker:

back

Speaker:

to

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

shore.

Speaker:

In

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

far

Speaker:

distance,

Speaker:

dark

Speaker:

green

Speaker:

against

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

golden

Speaker:

sea,

Speaker:

she

Speaker:

could

Speaker:

just

Speaker:

make

Speaker:

a

Speaker:

line

Speaker:

of

Speaker:

islands.

The

Speaker:

ship

Speaker:

pulled

Speaker:

out

Speaker:

into

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

ocean

Speaker:

and

Speaker:

began

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

swift

Speaker:

route

Speaker:

west.

Speaker:

They

Speaker:

would

Speaker:

stop

Speaker:

almost

Speaker:

every

Speaker:

night

Speaker:

for

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

next

Speaker:

week

Speaker:

at

Speaker:

a

Speaker:

new

Speaker:

city,

Speaker:

before

Speaker:

they

Speaker:

would

Speaker:

make

Speaker:

open

Speaker:

water

Speaker:

and

Speaker:

longer

Speaker:

stretches.

Speaker:

In

Speaker:

a

Speaker:

month’s

Speaker:

time,

Speaker:

when

Speaker:

they

Speaker:

swapped

Speaker:

polyreme

Speaker:

for

Speaker:

carriage at

Speaker:

Tingi,

Speaker:

it

Speaker:

would

Speaker:

be

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

farthest

Speaker:

Aula

Speaker:

had

Speaker:

ever

Speaker:

been

Speaker:

from

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

forests

Speaker:

of

Speaker:

Germania,

Speaker:

across

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

temperamental

Speaker:

Mediterranean,

Speaker:

away

Speaker:

from

Speaker:

everything

Speaker:

she

Speaker:

had

Speaker:

ever

Speaker:

known.

A

Speaker:

failure

Speaker:

running

Speaker:

from

Speaker:

her

Speaker:

shame.

“You

Speaker:

have

Speaker:

a

Speaker:

look

Speaker:

about

Speaker:

you.”

Aula

Speaker:

started.

Speaker:

She

Speaker:

must

Speaker:

have

Speaker:

dozed

Speaker:

off.

Speaker:

The

Speaker:

deck

Speaker:

was

Speaker:

nearly

Speaker:

empty,

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

sun

Speaker:

high

Speaker:

overhead,

Speaker:

nothing

Speaker:

but

Speaker:

wide

Speaker:

ocean

Speaker:

visible

Speaker:

from

Speaker:

her

Speaker:

vantage

Speaker:

point.

And

Speaker:

standing

Speaker:

at

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

railing,

Speaker:

looking

Speaker:

out

Speaker:

at

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

trackless

Speaker:

sea,

Speaker:

was

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

strange

Speaker:

owl.

“Who

Speaker:

are

Speaker:

you?”

Speaker:

Aula

Speaker:

asked.

Speaker:

No

Speaker:

one

Speaker:

had

Speaker:

ever

Speaker:

snuck

Speaker:

up

Speaker:

on

Speaker:

her

Speaker:

before,

Speaker:

not

Speaker:

that

Speaker:

she

Speaker:

would

Speaker:

admit,

Speaker:

and

Speaker:

it

Speaker:

bothered

Speaker:

her

Speaker:

that

Speaker:

she

Speaker:

had

Speaker:

fallen

Speaker:

asleep

Speaker:

as

Speaker:

much

Speaker:

as

Speaker:

it

Speaker:

did

Speaker:

that

Speaker:

this

Speaker:

stranger

Speaker:

had

Speaker:

been

Speaker:

able

Speaker:

to

Speaker:

get

Speaker:

this close without waking

Speaker:

her.

“It

Speaker:

depends

Speaker:

who

Speaker:

you

Speaker:

ask.”

Speaker:

The

Speaker:

gapes

Speaker:

of

Speaker:

her

Speaker:

beak

Speaker:

twitched

Speaker:

upward

Speaker:

in

Speaker:

something

Speaker:

like

Speaker:

a

Speaker:

smile. “Around

Speaker:

here,

Speaker:

they

Speaker:

call

Speaker:

me

Speaker:

Mormo.”

There

Speaker:

was

Speaker:

something

Speaker:

about

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

name

Speaker:

that

Speaker:

tugged

Speaker:

at

Speaker:

Aula’s memory. “That’s

Speaker:

Greek,

Speaker:

isn’t

Speaker:

it?”

Mormo

Speaker:

nodded. “Though

Speaker:

my

Speaker:

father

Speaker:

was

Speaker:

Egyptian,

Speaker:

and

Speaker:

my mother

Speaker:

Trinacrian.”

“I’ve never seen an owl like

Speaker:

you before.”

“Thank

Speaker:

you.

Speaker:

Did

Speaker:

you

Speaker:

know

Speaker:

you’re

Speaker:

bleeding?”

Speaker:

Mormo

Speaker:

pointed

Speaker:

at

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

bandage

Speaker:

around

Speaker:

Aula’s

Speaker:

wrist. It

Speaker:

was

Speaker:

soaked

Speaker:

through

Speaker:

with

Speaker:

ichor. “A

Speaker:

nasty

Speaker:

wound,

Speaker:

there.

Speaker:

Shouldn’t

Speaker:

you

Speaker:

have

Speaker:

someone

Speaker:

take

Speaker:

a

Speaker:

look

Speaker:

at

Speaker:

it?”

“It’s

Speaker:

fine,”

Speaker:

Aula

Speaker:

snapped

Speaker:

with finality.

Speaker:

Mormo

Speaker:

shrugged. “Why

Speaker:

do

Speaker:

you

Speaker:

care,

Speaker:

anyway?”

“Curiosity.

Speaker:

I

Speaker:

saw

Speaker:

you

Speaker:

looking

Speaker:

at

Speaker:

me

Speaker:

before,

Speaker:

when

Speaker:

we

Speaker:

were still in

Speaker:

dock.”

Speaker:

She

Speaker:

knelt

Speaker:

down,

Speaker:

fiery

Speaker:

red

Speaker:

eyes

Speaker:

burning

Speaker:

into

Speaker:

Aula’s

Speaker:

storm-blue

Speaker:

one. “Ah,

Speaker:

I

Speaker:

see.”

The

Speaker:

stare

Speaker:

was

Speaker:

uncomfortable,

Speaker:

but

Speaker:

Aula

Speaker:

couldn’t

Speaker:

seem

Speaker:

to

Speaker:

pull

Speaker:

away. “See

Speaker:

what?”

“Failure,” said Mormo with a satisfied smile.

Aula woke with a start and

Speaker:

nearly

Speaker:

toppled

Speaker:

forward

Speaker:

into

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

ocean.

Speaker:

She

Speaker:

snagged

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

railing

Speaker:

before

Speaker:

her momentum could carry her

Speaker:

over

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

side

Speaker:

and

Speaker:

into

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

sea.

Speaker:

Strong

Speaker:

hands

Speaker:

grabbed her

Speaker:

by

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

shoulder

Speaker:

and

Speaker:

hauled her

Speaker:

back

Speaker:

onto

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

deck. Looking up,

Speaker:

Aula saw Senhyrus’s burnished bronze gaze

Speaker:

looking

Speaker:

down

Speaker:

at

Speaker:

her.

“Are

Speaker:

you

Speaker:

alright?”

“I’m

Speaker:

fine,”

Speaker:

said

Speaker:

Aula

Speaker:

as

Speaker:

she

Speaker:

scrambled

Speaker:

to

Speaker:

her

Speaker:

feet.

Speaker:

The

Speaker:

sun

Speaker:

was

Speaker:

near

Speaker:

to

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

horizon,

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

ship

Speaker:

pointed

Speaker:

almost

Speaker:

directly

Speaker:

at

Speaker:

it.

Speaker:

Behind her,

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

deck

Speaker:

was

Speaker:

alive

Speaker:

with

Speaker:

sailors

Speaker:

making

Speaker:

ready

Speaker:

to

Speaker:

pull

Speaker:

into

Speaker:

their

Speaker:

first

Speaker:

port at Rhodus. “I must have

Speaker:

fallen

Speaker:

asleep.”

Senhyrus

Speaker:

nodded,

Speaker:

but

Speaker:

she

Speaker:

didn’t

Speaker:

look

Speaker:

entirely

Speaker:

convinced. “The

Speaker:

sailors

Speaker:

say you’ve

Speaker:

been

Speaker:

here

Speaker:

all

Speaker:

day,

Speaker:

that

Speaker:

you

Speaker:

refused

Speaker:

food

Speaker:

or offers

Speaker:

to

Speaker:

rest.”

Aula’s

Speaker:

eyebrows

Speaker:

drew

Speaker:

down

Speaker:

as

Speaker:

she

Speaker:

frowned. “No

Speaker:

one’s

Speaker:

spoken

Speaker:

to

Speaker:

me

Speaker:

all

Speaker:

day,”

Speaker:

she

Speaker:

said. “Except

Speaker:

for

Speaker:

that

Speaker:

owl.”

“Owl?”

Aula

Speaker:

nodded,

Speaker:

then

Speaker:

hesitated

Speaker:

and

Speaker:

shook

Speaker:

her

Speaker:

head. “No, wait,

Speaker:

I

Speaker:

think

Speaker:

that

Speaker:

was

Speaker:

a

Speaker:

dream.”

Speaker:

She

Speaker:

watched

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

ship

Speaker:

glide

Speaker:

past

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

two

Speaker:

massive

Speaker:

pillars

Speaker:

standing

Speaker:

guard

Speaker:

at

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

mouth

Speaker:

of

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

harbor,

Speaker:

a

Speaker:

foot

Speaker:

and

Speaker:

leg

Speaker:

to

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

knee

Speaker:

stood

Speaker:

on

Speaker:

one

Speaker:

pillar,

Speaker:

while

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

other

Speaker:

carried

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

partner

Speaker:

of

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

first

Speaker:

but

Speaker:

only

Speaker:

to

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

shin.

Speaker:

A long

Speaker:

arm

Speaker:

jutted

Speaker:

just

Speaker:

above

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

waves,

Speaker:

all

Speaker:

that

Speaker:

remained

Speaker:

of

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

fabled

Speaker:

Colossus.

Senhyrus

Speaker:

followed

Speaker:

Aula’s

Speaker:

gaze into

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

fallen

Speaker:

statue. “The

Speaker:

Pharaoh

Speaker:

offered

Speaker:

to

Speaker:

rebuild

Speaker:

it,

Speaker:

you

Speaker:

know,”

Speaker:

she

Speaker:

said

Speaker:

conversationally. “Ptolemy

Speaker:

Euergetes,

Speaker:

that

Speaker:

is,

Speaker:

who

Speaker:

ruled when

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

statue

Speaker:

fell,

Speaker:

but

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

city

Speaker:

said

Speaker:

an

Speaker:

oracle

Speaker:

had

Speaker:

told

Speaker:

them

Speaker:

it

Speaker:

had

Speaker:

fallen

Speaker:

because

Speaker:

it

Speaker:

had

Speaker:

offended

Speaker:

Ra.”

“Helius,”

Speaker:

Aula

Speaker:

corrected

Speaker:

automatically.

Speaker:

Catching the look on Senhyrus’s muzzle, she explained. “The

Speaker:

Romans

Speaker:

call him

Speaker:

Helius

Speaker:

Hyperion,

Speaker:

and

Speaker:

I

Speaker:

don’t

Speaker:

think

Speaker:

he’s

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

same

Speaker:

person

Speaker:

as

Speaker:

your

Speaker:

Ra.”

“Does

Speaker:

not

Speaker:

Helius

Speaker:

pull

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

great

Speaker:

wheel

Speaker:

of

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

sun

Speaker:

across

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

sky

Speaker:

each

Speaker:

day?”

Speaker:

Aula

Speaker:

nodded. “And so

Speaker:

does

Speaker:

great

Speaker:

Ra. How

Speaker:

could

Speaker:

they

Speaker:

be

Speaker:

different?

Speaker:

We

Speaker:

are

Speaker:

not

Speaker:

so

Speaker:

far

Speaker:

from

Speaker:

Egypt

Speaker:

as

Speaker:

to

Speaker:

be

Speaker:

able

Speaker:

to

Speaker:

miss

Speaker:

a

Speaker:

second

Speaker:

sun

Speaker:

rising.”

“In

Speaker:

my

Speaker:

homeland,

Speaker:

I

Speaker:

was

Speaker:

taught

Speaker:

that

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

sun

Speaker:

is

Speaker:

Sunna,

Speaker:

and

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

moon

Speaker:

her

Speaker:

brother,

Speaker:

Manni.

Speaker:

They

Speaker:

race

Speaker:

across

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

sky each

Speaker:

day

Speaker:

and

Speaker:

night,

Speaker:

chased

Speaker:

by the

Speaker:

great

Speaker:

wolves, who

Speaker:

will

Speaker:

one

Speaker:

day

Speaker:

catch

Speaker:

and

Speaker:

devour

Speaker:

them,

Speaker:

ushering

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

Twilight.”

Speaker:

She

Speaker:

laid

Speaker:

her

Speaker:

forearms

Speaker:

on

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

railing. “Can

Speaker:

it

Speaker:

be

Speaker:

that

Speaker:

a

Speaker:

great

Speaker:

wolf will

Speaker:

one

Speaker:

day

Speaker:

eat Ra?”

Senhyrus

Speaker:

snorted. “Ra’s

Speaker:

only

Speaker:

enemy

Speaker:

is

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

serpent

Speaker:

Apophis.”

“Then

Speaker:

it

Speaker:

can’t

Speaker:

be

Speaker:

that

Speaker:

Ra

Speaker:

is

Speaker:

also

Speaker:

Sunna.

Speaker:

And

Speaker:

if

Speaker:

he

Speaker:

is

Speaker:

not

Speaker:

her,

Speaker:

then

Speaker:

why

Speaker:

should he be Helius?”

Senhyrus scowled, and Aula changed the

Speaker:

subject.

“Will

Speaker:

we

Speaker:

be

Speaker:

staying

Speaker:

here in Rhodus long?”

“Only overnight.” Senhyrus set a hand

Speaker:

on

Speaker:

Aula’s

Speaker:

shoulder. “Come,

Speaker:

have

Speaker:

dinner

Speaker:

with

Speaker:

me.

Speaker:

There

Speaker:

is

Speaker:

a

Speaker:

taberna

Speaker:

near

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

harbor

Speaker:

that

Speaker:

I

Speaker:

like

Speaker:

to

Speaker:

visit

Speaker:

when I am

Speaker:

in

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

city.”

Speaker:

There

Speaker:

was

Speaker:

no

Speaker:

easy or

Speaker:

polite

Speaker:

way

Speaker:

to

Speaker:

avoid

Speaker:

it

Speaker:

and,

Speaker:

despite

Speaker:

feeling

Speaker:

not

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

least

Speaker:

bit

Speaker:

hungry,

Speaker:

Aula

Speaker:

found

Speaker:

herself

Speaker:

trailing

Speaker:

Senhyrus

Speaker:

as

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

jackal

Speaker:

led

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

way

Speaker:

through

Speaker:

Rhodus.

Speaker:

The

Speaker:

city

Speaker:

itself

Speaker:

was

Speaker:

beautiful,

Speaker:

though Aula

Speaker:

found her

Speaker:

gaze

Speaker:

drawn

Speaker:

to

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

remnants

Speaker:

of

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

earthquake,

Speaker:

more

Speaker:

than

Speaker:

a

Speaker:

century

Speaker:

before,

Speaker:

that

Speaker:

had

Speaker:

destroyed

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

great

Speaker:

Colossus.

Speaker:

Stone

Speaker:

facades

Speaker:

and

Speaker:

ancient

Speaker:

monuments

Speaker:

were

Speaker:

cracked

Speaker:

or

Speaker:

tumbled,

Speaker:

unfaded

Speaker:

scars

Speaker:

from

Speaker:

old

Speaker:

wounds. It

Speaker:

made

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

skin

Speaker:

around

Speaker:

her

Speaker:

own

Speaker:

wound

Speaker:

itch.

Aula

Speaker:

let

Speaker:

herself

Speaker:

be

Speaker:

shown

Speaker:

to

Speaker:

a

Speaker:

table

Speaker:

in

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

quiet

Speaker:

taberna, curling her tail around her waist

Speaker:

to

Speaker:

avoid

Speaker:

being

Speaker:

stepped

Speaker:

on.

Speaker:

She

Speaker:

was

Speaker:

hardly

Speaker:

aware

Speaker:

of

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

food

Speaker:

that

Speaker:

she

Speaker:

ordered,

Speaker:

except

Speaker:

for

Speaker:

a

Speaker:

bottle

Speaker:

of

Speaker:

wine

Speaker:

undiluted.

Speaker:

A

Speaker:

barbarous

Speaker:

habit,

Speaker:

as

Speaker:

far

Speaker:

as

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

Romans

Speaker:

were

Speaker:

concerned,

Speaker:

but

Speaker:

it

Speaker:

had

Speaker:

been

Speaker:

ten

Speaker:

years

Speaker:

since

Speaker:

she had had

Speaker:

wine

Speaker:

at

Speaker:

strength

Speaker:

instead

Speaker:

of

Speaker:

watered

Speaker:

down, and

Speaker:

she

Speaker:

felt

Speaker:

as though

Speaker:

she

Speaker:

needed

Speaker:

something

Speaker:

stronger.

Speaker:

She

Speaker:

made

Speaker:

polite

Speaker:

noises

Speaker:

as Senhyrus

Speaker:

attempted

Speaker:

to

Speaker:

engage

Speaker:

her in conversation, but a one-sided conversation cannot last forever, and they found

Speaker:

themselves

Speaker:

eating

Speaker:

in

Speaker:

silence.

Speaker:

Aula’s

Speaker:

food

Speaker:

had been prepared

Speaker:

very

Speaker:

well,

Speaker:

but

Speaker:

she

Speaker:

tasted

Speaker:

only

Speaker:

ashes.

When

Speaker:

it

Speaker:

was

Speaker:

over,

Speaker:

Aula

Speaker:

stood

Speaker:

and

Speaker:

thanked

Speaker:

Senhyrus,

Speaker:

intending

Speaker:

to

Speaker:

return

Speaker:

to

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

ship

Speaker:

and

Speaker:

get

Speaker:

some

Speaker:

sleep.

Speaker:

For

Speaker:

whatever

Speaker:

reason,

Speaker:

she

Speaker:

felt

Speaker:

exhausted,

Speaker:

her day-long

Speaker:

slumber

Speaker:

notwithstanding.

“Tell

Speaker:

me

Speaker:

about

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

owl,” Senhyrus said, and

Speaker:

Aula

Speaker:

stopped

Speaker:

in

Speaker:

her

Speaker:

tracks.

“It

Speaker:

was

Speaker:

just

Speaker:

a

Speaker:

dream.”

Speaker:

Aula

Speaker:

didn’t

Speaker:

know

Speaker:

why

Speaker:

she

Speaker:

felt

Speaker:

so

Speaker:

defensive

Speaker:

about

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

question,

Speaker:

or

Speaker:

why

Speaker:

her

Speaker:

tail

Speaker:

lashed

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

air

Speaker:

behind

Speaker:

her.

Speaker:

She

Speaker:

found

Speaker:

she

Speaker:

couldn’t

Speaker:

meet

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

jackal’s

Speaker:

gaze.

“You

Speaker:

said

Speaker:

to

Speaker:

his

Speaker:

Majesty

Speaker:

that

Speaker:

you

Speaker:

had

Speaker:

seen

Speaker:

an

Speaker:

owl

Speaker:

when you

Speaker:

boarded.

Speaker:

I

Speaker:

checked,

Speaker:

daughter,

Speaker:

and

Speaker:

there

Speaker:

are

Speaker:

no

Speaker:

owls,

Speaker:

no

Speaker:

white-feathered

Speaker:

people

Speaker:

of

Speaker:

any

Speaker:

kind

Speaker:

aboard

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

ship.”

“Why

Speaker:

do

Speaker:

you

Speaker:

call

Speaker:

me

Speaker:

daughter?”

Speaker:

Aula

Speaker:

asked,

Speaker:

suddenly

Speaker:

angry,

Speaker:

though

Speaker:

she

Speaker:

could

Speaker:

not

Speaker:

say

Speaker:

why. “There

Speaker:

cannot

Speaker:

be

Speaker:

more

Speaker:

than

Speaker:

a

Speaker:

year

Speaker:

or

Speaker:

two

Speaker:

difference in

Speaker:

our

Speaker:

age.”

Senhyrus

Speaker:

looked

Speaker:

taken

Speaker:

aback. “I

Speaker:

apologize,

Speaker:

Aula.

Speaker:

It

Speaker:

is

Speaker:

a

Speaker:

habit,

Speaker:

I

Speaker:

suppose.

Speaker:

I

Speaker:

joined

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

priesthood

Speaker:

at

Speaker:

a

Speaker:

young

Speaker:

age,

Speaker:

as

Speaker:

my

Speaker:

people

Speaker:

are

Speaker:

accustomed

Speaker:

to

Speaker:

such

Speaker:

things.

Speaker:

I

Speaker:

think

Speaker:

I

Speaker:

began

Speaker:

to

Speaker:

call

Speaker:

everyone

Speaker:

child

Speaker:

so

Speaker:

that

Speaker:

they

Speaker:

would

Speaker:

take

Speaker:

me more

Speaker:

seriously.”

Speaker:

She

Speaker:

offered

Speaker:

Aula

Speaker:

a

Speaker:

smile

Speaker:

and

Speaker:

her

Speaker:

hand. “Will

Speaker:

you

Speaker:

forgive

Speaker:

me?”

Anger

Speaker:

gave

Speaker:

way

Speaker:

to

Speaker:

embarrassment.

Speaker:

Aula

Speaker:

grasped

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

jackal’s

Speaker:

hand

Speaker:

briefly,

Speaker:

but

Speaker:

couldn’t

Speaker:

find

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

words

Speaker:

to

Speaker:

smooth

Speaker:

over

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

moment.

Speaker:

Instead

Speaker:

she made her goodbyes

Speaker:

and

Speaker:

fled,

Speaker:

haunted

Speaker:

by

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

hurt and

Speaker:

confused

Speaker:

look

Speaker:

on

Speaker:

Senhyrus’s

Speaker:

face.

The

Speaker:

owl was

Speaker:

waiting

Speaker:

for

Speaker:

her

Speaker:

in

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

fresh,

Speaker:

bright

Speaker:

air.

Speaker:

Aula scowled.

“They

Speaker:

tell

Speaker:

me you’re

Speaker:

not

Speaker:

real,”

Speaker:

Aula

Speaker:

said

Speaker:

as

Speaker:

Mormo fell

Speaker:

into

Speaker:

step

Speaker:

beside

Speaker:

her.

Speaker:

The

Speaker:

two

Speaker:

made

Speaker:

their

Speaker:

way

Speaker:

down

Speaker:

to the

Speaker:

shore

Speaker:

and

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

ship.

“Well,

Speaker:

they

Speaker:

would

Speaker:

know.”

“Why

Speaker:

does

Speaker:

everyone

Speaker:

insist that

Speaker:

you’re

Speaker:

not

Speaker:

on

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

ship?”

“Because,

Speaker:

girl,

Speaker:

they

Speaker:

don’t

Speaker:

trust

Speaker:

you.

Speaker:

Don’t

Speaker:

you

Speaker:

think

Speaker:

they’d

Speaker:

have

Speaker:

found

Speaker:

me

Speaker:

if

Speaker:

they

Speaker:

believed

Speaker:

in

Speaker:

you?

Speaker:

They

Speaker:

pity

Speaker:

you,

Speaker:

sure, the

Speaker:

legionary

Speaker:

who

Speaker:

failed,

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

messenger

Speaker:

who

Speaker:

crawled

Speaker:

instead

Speaker:

of flew. Cursed

Speaker:

by

Speaker:

Mercury

Speaker:

himself,

Speaker:

it

Speaker:

would

Speaker:

seem.”

“Mercury

Speaker:

isn’t

Speaker:

my

Speaker:

god,”

Speaker:

Aula

Speaker:

growled.

Speaker:

She

Speaker:

reached

Speaker:

for

Speaker:

her

Speaker:

sword

Speaker:

and

Speaker:

remembered,

Speaker:

too

Speaker:

late,

Speaker:

that

Speaker:

it

Speaker:

was

Speaker:

safely

Speaker:

packed

Speaker:

away

Speaker:

with

Speaker:

her

Speaker:

armor,

Speaker:

tucked

Speaker:

into

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

hold

Speaker:

of

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

ship.

“Are

Speaker:

not

Speaker:

Mercury

Speaker:

and

Speaker:

your

Speaker:

Wuodan

Speaker:

one

Speaker:

and

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

same?

Speaker:

Messenger,

Speaker:

healer,

Speaker:

god of

Speaker:

travelers?”

“Roman

Speaker:

propaganda,”

Speaker:

Aula

Speaker:

said,

Speaker:

then

Speaker:

clapped

Speaker:

a

Speaker:

hand

Speaker:

over

Speaker:

her

Speaker:

muzzle,

Speaker:

her

Speaker:

eyes

Speaker:

darting

Speaker:

around

Speaker:

to

Speaker:

see

Speaker:

if

Speaker:

she had

Speaker:

been

Speaker:

overheard.

Speaker:

Mormo

Speaker:

smiled

Speaker:

wider,

Speaker:

and

Speaker:

Aula

Speaker:

felt

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

anger

Speaker:

returning. “A…

Speaker:

mistake.

Speaker:

Wuodan

Speaker:

has

Speaker:

little

Speaker:

in

Speaker:

common

Speaker:

with

Speaker:

Mercury,

Speaker:

and

Speaker:

I

Speaker:

am

Speaker:

cursed

Speaker:

by

Speaker:

neither.”

“No?

Speaker:

Blessed

Speaker:

of

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

gods,

Speaker:

are

Speaker:

you? Is

Speaker:

that

Speaker:

why

Speaker:

you

Speaker:

were

Speaker:

late

Speaker:

with

Speaker:

your

Speaker:

tidings

Speaker:

of

Speaker:

comfort

Speaker:

from

Speaker:

Caesar?

Speaker:

Why

Speaker:

you

Speaker:

paid

Speaker:

back

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

Emperor’s

Speaker:

kindness

Speaker:

and

Speaker:

charity

Speaker:

with

Speaker:

sloth

Speaker:

and

Speaker:

delay?”

If

Speaker:

she had only

Speaker:

returned

Speaker:

in

Speaker:

time.

Speaker:

She

Speaker:

closed

Speaker:

her

Speaker:

eyes

Speaker:

and

Speaker:

clenched

Speaker:

her

Speaker:

fists.

“You

Speaker:

know

Speaker:

that’s

Speaker:

why

Speaker:

Juba

Speaker:

and

Speaker:

Senhyrus

Speaker:

even

Speaker:

agreed

Speaker:

to

Speaker:

take

Speaker:

you,

Speaker:

right?”

Speaker:

Mormo

Speaker:

went

Speaker:

on,

Speaker:

relentless, her

Speaker:

voice

Speaker:

drilling

Speaker:

into

Speaker:

Aula’s

Speaker:

ears. “Pity

Speaker:

for

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

little

Speaker:

girl

Speaker:

who

Speaker:

failed

Speaker:

so

Speaker:

badly.

Speaker:

Pity

Speaker:

and

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

hope

Speaker:

that

Speaker:

you

Speaker:

could

Speaker:

be

Speaker:

put

Speaker:

to

Speaker:

pasture

Speaker:

somewhere on

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

edges of

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

empire,

Speaker:

far

Speaker:

away

Speaker:

from where

Speaker:

your

Speaker:

bungling

Speaker:

could

Speaker:

ruin

Speaker:

more

Speaker:

of

Speaker:

Rome’s heirs.”

“Enough!”

Speaker:

Aula

Speaker:

shouted.

Speaker:

She

Speaker:

swung

Speaker:

out

Speaker:

and

Speaker:

hit

Speaker:

nothing.

Speaker:

When

Speaker:

she

Speaker:

opened

Speaker:

her

Speaker:

eyes,

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

owl

Speaker:

was

Speaker:

nowhere

Speaker:

to

Speaker:

be

Speaker:

found,

Speaker:

but

Speaker:

Mormo’s

Speaker:

haunting

Speaker:

laughter

Speaker:

followed

Speaker:

her

Speaker:

all

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

way

Speaker:

down

Speaker:

to

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

ship.

Aula

Speaker:

didn’t

Speaker:

sleep.

Speaker:

The

Speaker:

glowing

Speaker:

coals

Speaker:

in

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

brazier

Speaker:

that

Speaker:

heated

Speaker:

her

Speaker:

shared

Speaker:

cabin

Speaker:

put

Speaker:

her

Speaker:

in

Speaker:

mind

Speaker:

of

Speaker:

Mormo’s

Speaker:

red

Speaker:

eyes,

Speaker:

and

Speaker:

every

Speaker:

time

Speaker:

she

Speaker:

closed

Speaker:

her

Speaker:

eyes

Speaker:

to

Speaker:

try

Speaker:

and

Speaker:

sleep,

Speaker:

she

Speaker:

had

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

absurd

Speaker:

thought

Speaker:

that

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

owl

Speaker:

was

Speaker:

staring

Speaker:

at

Speaker:

her,

Speaker:

staring

Speaker:

and

Speaker:

smirking.

She

Speaker:

arose

Speaker:

with

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

dawn,

Speaker:

and

Speaker:

climbed

Speaker:

onto

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

deck

Speaker:

in

Speaker:

time

Speaker:

to

Speaker:

watch

Speaker:

Sunna

Speaker:

or

Speaker:

Helius

Speaker:

or

Speaker:

whoever

Speaker:

begin

Speaker:

their

Speaker:

daily

Speaker:

race

Speaker:

across

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

sky. The

Speaker:

sailors

Speaker:

were

Speaker:

already

Speaker:

making

Speaker:

ready

Speaker:

for

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

trip

Speaker:

to

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

next

Speaker:

port, on

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

isle

Speaker:

of

Speaker:

Crete.

Speaker:

Aula

Speaker:

had

Speaker:

heard

Speaker:

Greeks

Speaker:

claim

Speaker:

that

Speaker:

Crete

Speaker:

had

Speaker:

been

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

birthplace

Speaker:

of

Speaker:

civilization—that

Speaker:

was,

Speaker:

of

Speaker:

course,

Speaker:

nonsense,

Speaker:

as

Speaker:

far

Speaker:

as

Speaker:

Aula

Speaker:

was

Speaker:

concerned,

Speaker:

as

Speaker:

civilization

Speaker:

had

Speaker:

been

Speaker:

taught

Speaker:

directly

Speaker:

by

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

gods—and

Speaker:

that

Speaker:

Crete had

Speaker:

flourished

Speaker:

for

Speaker:

millennia

Speaker:

until

Speaker:

King

Speaker:

Minos

Speaker:

had

Speaker:

offended

Speaker:

Neptune,

Speaker:

and

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

power

Speaker:

of

Speaker:

Athens

Speaker:

had

Speaker:

risen.

Aula

Speaker:

spent

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

day

Speaker:

avoiding

Speaker:

Senhyrus,

Speaker:

who

Speaker:

seemed

Speaker:

determined

Speaker:

to

Speaker:

be

Speaker:

friends.

Speaker:

The

Speaker:

mouse

Speaker:

kept

Speaker:

finding

Speaker:

dark,

Speaker:

out-of-the-way

Speaker:

corners

Speaker:

to

Speaker:

curl

Speaker:

up

Speaker:

in,

Speaker:

her

Speaker:

half-missing

Speaker:

ear

Speaker:

perked

Speaker:

for

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

sound

Speaker:

of

Speaker:

jackal

Speaker:

claws

Speaker:

clicking

Speaker:

on wood.

Speaker:

At

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

first

Speaker:

hint

Speaker:

of

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

priestess,

Speaker:

Aula

Speaker:

would

Speaker:

scurry

Speaker:

away

Speaker:

to

Speaker:

find

Speaker:

a

Speaker:

new

Speaker:

hiding-hole.

Speaker:

Easier

Speaker:

to

Speaker:

avoid

Speaker:

by

Speaker:

far

Speaker:

was

Speaker:

King

Speaker:

Juba,

Speaker:

who

Speaker:

made

Speaker:

a

Speaker:

few

Speaker:

attempts

Speaker:

to

Speaker:

speak

Speaker:

with

Speaker:

her,

Speaker:

but

Speaker:

she

Speaker:

could

Speaker:

always

Speaker:

count

Speaker:

on

Speaker:

some

Speaker:

urgent

Speaker:

piece

Speaker:

of

Speaker:

business

Speaker:

to

Speaker:

drag

Speaker:

him

Speaker:

away,

Speaker:

before

Speaker:

she

Speaker:

was

Speaker:

forced

Speaker:

to

Speaker:

answer

Speaker:

any

Speaker:

questions.

Of

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

white

Speaker:

owl,

Speaker:

Aula saw not a

Speaker:

feather, and

Speaker:

by

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

time

Speaker:

they

Speaker:

were

Speaker:

pulling

Speaker:

into

Speaker:

port,

Speaker:

in

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

shadow

Speaker:

of

Speaker:

Mount Cadiston,

Speaker:

she

Speaker:

was just

Speaker:

believing

Speaker:

that

Speaker:

perhaps

Speaker:

she

Speaker:

had

Speaker:

left

Speaker:

Mormo

Speaker:

behind

Speaker:

on

Speaker:

Rhodus.

Speaker:

She

Speaker:

chanced

Speaker:

standing

Speaker:

along

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

railing

Speaker:

to

Speaker:

watch

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

ship dock

Speaker:

and

Speaker:

get

Speaker:

her

Speaker:

first

Speaker:

look

Speaker:

of

Speaker:

Crete.



This

Speaker:

was

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

first

Speaker:

of

Speaker:

two

Speaker:

parts

Speaker:

of “The

Speaker:

Lament

Speaker:

of

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

Batavii”

Speaker:

by

Speaker:

J.S.

Speaker:

Hawthorne,

Speaker:

read

Speaker:

for

Speaker:

you

Speaker:

by

Speaker:

Rob

Speaker:

MacWolf,

Speaker:

Werewolf

Speaker:

Hitchhiker.

Speaker:

Tune

Speaker:

in

Speaker:

next

Speaker:

time to

Speaker:

find

Speaker:

out

Speaker:

how

Speaker:

Aula

Speaker:

finds

Speaker:

and

Speaker:

deals

Speaker:

with

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

creature

Speaker:

that

Speaker:

struck

Speaker:

down

Speaker:

Gaius

Speaker:

Caesar.

As

Speaker:

always,

Speaker:

you

Speaker:

can

Speaker:

find

Speaker:

more

Speaker:

stories

Speaker:

on

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

web

Speaker:

at

Speaker:

thevoice.dog,

Speaker:

or

Speaker:

find

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

show

Speaker:

wherever

Speaker:

you

Speaker:

get

Speaker:

your

Speaker:

podcasts.

Speaker:

Thank

Speaker:

you

Speaker:

for

Speaker:

listening

Speaker:

to

Speaker:

The

Speaker:

Voice

Speaker:

of

Speaker:

Dog.

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About the Podcast

Show artwork for The Voice of Dog
The Voice of Dog
Furry stories to warm the ol' cockles, read by Rob MacWolf and guests. If you have a story that would suit the show, you can get in touch with @VoiceOfDog@meow.social on Mastodon, @voiceofdog.bsky.social on Blue Sky, or @Theodwulf on Telegram.

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Khaki