Given that theJin’Saicannot be easily killed, taking the life of the Jin’Saiouwill do equally well.
“I HAVE BEEN BID FIVE HUNDRED SESTERCES FOR THIS prime example of Shashidan pulchritude!” the slave auctioneer shouted. “Who will give me six? Come now-just look at her! Won’t some fine krithian give me six?”
When no one in the crowd responded, the auctioneer put on his best look of astonishment. It was a well-practiced deception, and one that had served him well over the years. The slave’s current owner had told him that six hundred was the least he would accept. The price was relatively high but not unreasonable for such attractive, untouched goods.
Trying to entice new bidders, the vulgar auctioneer smelled approvingly of the naked woman’s long dark hair, then pointed lasciviously to her ample breasts. As expected, the crowd drew nearer. Like hundreds of other slaves waiting to mount the block, she wore an unmarked beeswax plaque around her neck.
“Only twenty years old and still a virgin!” the auctioneer shouted. “And she has been bathed in scented oils! That alone is worth one hundred sesterces! Just think of the many skeen children this one will bear! Why, she’ll easily pay for herself ten times over! Come, now-who will give me six?”
“Six, then, you robber!” a red-robed krithian man shouted from the back of the crowd. “But I’ll not give you one sesterce more! And she’d best be as fertile as you say!”
The auctioneer smiled broadly. He had finally reached the minimum bid, and he could soon move on to hawk his remaining merchandise. He gave the young woman another leering look.
“Fear not!” he shouted back. “In my vast experience, the worst Shashidan slave girl I ever had was wonderful!” This time the crowd roared with laughter.
As Julia Idaeus passed by she looked up at the humiliated young woman standing on the block, then stared across the great forum. The huge plaza was busier than usual, partly because it was auction day. But it was more than that, she realized.
The announcement of Vespasian’s impending campaign had restored the public’s confidence. With that had come a renewed loosening of their purse strings and a slight surge in tax revenue. It was not enough to greatly help the treasury, but it was sufficient to convince the Suffragat that the final day of games should serve as a special celebration of Vespasian’s impending departure, to build yet more public confidence in final victory. After some discussion, the emperor had given his blessing.
Seating in the coliseum would be free, first come, first served. For once, krithians and hematites would intermingle at the games gladly, with no rancor over who could afford the best view. Much free food and wine would be given away, and an unusually high number of slaves and animals were to be sacrificed. This would be the greatest single spectacle ever held in the coliseum, and the excitement was already at a fever pitch. The celebration would occur in two more days, and hundreds of people were already standing and sleeping in long lines outside the coliseum, hoping to be among the first to claim a good seat.
As Julia regarded the trembling slave girl, she was glad for the white veil covering her face, for it kept the mob from noticing her sadness. Deciding not to linger, she held her leather valise closer and continued on her way down the broad forum. As she passed through the crowd, many of those not intent on watching the auction bowed reverently to her.
Because of its massive size and great beauty, many Ellistiumites considered the forum to be their greatest achievement. At one end stood the Aedifficium, and far away at the opposite end could be found the emperor’s residence. The forum lay in the heart of the city, deep in the oblong valley created by the seven surrounding hills. Traveling across Ellistium was a long and complicated affair unless one traversed this bustling place and thereby added to the usual congestion.
Made of pure white marble, the massive rectangular plaza was surrounded by many public buildings, some of which towered several stories into the air. Among these were baths, a great library, and offices for such professionals as barristers, moneylenders, and land vendors. Other areas were devoted to cattle, vegetable, and fish markets. A gleaming colonnaded portico lay at the forum’s center, complete with covered walkways, eateries, and more shops of every description. From one end to the other, the forum measured more than half a league. Despite how often Julia ventured here, each time she revisited this place her sense of majesty was renewed. As she continued on toward her destination, today proved no exception.
Ellistiumites from all four classes bustled to and fro, giving her the impression that even the poorest of phrygians couldn’t wait to dispose of their hard-earned sesterces. As usual, everyone from highborn krithians traveling by personal litter to the lowest skeens being led to the auction block were present.
Some ladies carried parasols while they strolled about, and robed men eagerly gathered to discuss the events of the day. A marble tower stood at each corner of the forum, from which heralds shouted the latest news that few besides Julia knew to be heavily censored by the Suffragat. Food vendors cajoled with promises that his or her delicacies were the freshest and the cheapest. Proud horse traders displayed their animals before prospective buyers, magicians surprised and delighted the crowds, and ever-watchful centurions maintained order. The atmosphere was festive and carnival-like, and skeens were bought and sold here no differently than those same horses or the fine gold jewelry that adorned highborn krithian women.
Suddenly a breeze came up, threatening to lift Julia’s veil. Grasping it quickly, she clutched her leather valise tighter and hurried on. Soon she reached the famous landmark known as the Columns of the Emperors. It lay at the far end of the forum, just before the elegant entryway into the royal residence. The two opposing rows of giant columns were made of solid black onyx and rose to a height of one hundred feet. Each gleaming monolith was capped with a solid gold capital; atop each capital stood a marble likeness of a past emperor.
Walking among the massive columns always gave Julia a profound sense of history and sometimes made her feel insignificant, despite her important role as the reigning Femiculi. On reaching the final column she looked up to see Vespasian’s likeness shining in the midday sun. Purposely avoiding the guarded entryway to the palace, she turned right and walked on.
Soon she arrived at her destination. The Hall of Antiquity held a special place in the hearts of all true Rustannicans, from the most highborn krithian to the lowliest phrygian street beggar. Skeens were denied entry, even when accompanied by their owners. Pausing for a moment, Julia took in the impressive structure.
The building stood four stories high, each level boasting an ornate recessed archway every forty feet. Within each archway stood a marble likeness of an important figure from Rustannican history. People known for their contributions to the military, the arts, and the Vagaries were represented, along with members of previous royal families. More statues lined the flat rooftop.
One hundred stone steps led the visitor first to a broad landing, then up a narrower stairway to the huge columned entrance. Manicured cypress trees and thousands of colorful flowers adorned the grounds on either side. The battle frieze carved into the triangular pediment represented the famous Rustannican victory at Aegates, a onetime Shashidan city lying far to the south. Julia started the trek upward, eventually finding herself atop the last landing and among the massive fluted columns.
After taking a moment to catch her breath, she walked over to the huge sundial standing on the terrace. She was surprised to see how late it had become; she must not dally. As she smoothly turned to enter the building, armed centurions guarding the massive oak doors bowed to the Femiculi.
As she entered the great foyer, imposing works of art and artifacts of Rustannican history came into view. Despite their great number, they were only a smattering of what lay deeper within. Striding across the foyer, she stopped for a moment and looked around.
The Hall of Antiquity was both an art museum and a monument dedicated to the glories of the empire’s war machine. Many of its hundreds of exhibition rooms were filled with Rustannican paintings, sculptures, and tapestries, some of them aeons old. Other rooms devoted to the history of the Rustannican military exhibited ancient battle charts, war machines and weapons, tributes to past leaders, uniforms, and spoils from Shashida. Coming here to learn about Rustannican culture and the empire’s war machine was a required part of every krithian, hematite, and phrygian schoolchild’s education. As the children were escorted through the place by their teachers, the war displays sowed the seeds of a military career-a sentiment that thePon Q’tar did nothing to discourage.
From the grand foyer ran seven hallways, each named for one of Ellistium’s seven hills and leading to a different series of exhibition rooms. Sheathed in gleaming white alabaster and blue marble, the foyer atrium reached all the way to the roof, where skylights let the afternoon sun stream in. In the event of rain, shutters could be pulled across the skylights to protect the priceless exhibits.
The hall was busy today with a high number of visitors and several gaggles of noisy schoolchildren being escorted by their ever-watchful teachers, their eager voices and quick footfalls echoing loudly against the marble floor and walls. Without exception, everyone who crossed Julia’s path stopped to bow and pay heartfelt respects. To keep from being further delayed, she politely circumvented another approaching group of visitors and made for one of the gleaming hallways, then quickly climbed another flight of stairs.
Reaching the second floor, she turned and walked up the first hallway on her right and into one of the many exhibition rooms. She took her usual seat on a marble bench across from a wall covered with paintings. There were few people about just now, and that suited her purpose. Opening her leather valise, she withdrew her sketchpad and her colored chalks, then placed the valise on the floor.
The room she chose was devoted to a group of Rustannican painters known as the Ravennans. Ravenna was a small town in the south of Rustannica known for its magnificent sunlight and colorful foliage, especially during the Season of Harvest. The Ravennan painters had been a tightly knit group, never numbering more than twelve. Painting some two centuries ago, they displayed an uncanny ability to capture dappled sunlight while showing wholesome themes of hard work and loyalty to the Rustannican Empire. These patriotic qualities had quickly brought their work into favor with the ever-watchfulPon Q’tar. Like so many other aspects of Rustannican culture, all artwork was subject to the approval of the clerics before it could be sold privately or displayed in public. Conversely, all captured Shashidan artwork was immediately deemed degenerate and summarily destroyed by whatever legions came across it.
Despite Rustannica’s brutal nature, the Ravennans depicted their warlike nation as compassionate. Each brushstroke added layer on layer to the great hoax that was Rustannica. Only Julia and thePon Q’tar knew the truth about the craft, but thePon Q’tar had yet to learn that Julia was aware of it. It was that same dreaded secret that gave her the courage to come here once each month. Just the same, she lived with the constant fear of being found out, tortured, and killed.
As she looked at the paintings, Julia saw the same sanitized agenda over and over again, and she hated the Ravennans for it. These works mirrored the great lie, leading her to understand why thePon Q’tar valued them so much. Like a painter who reused a canvas to cover a failed effort, Julia was painfully aware of the ugly truth that lay beneath thePon Q’tar ’s treachery and deceit.
As she started to sketch the painting before her, her sense of revulsion grew. Her well-known pastime of sketching was nothing more than an excuse to leave the Priory and come here. She had chosen this place for her excursions precisely because she hated it so, and she frequented the Ravennan room because of all the chambers here, she hated this display the most. The military exhibitions were gruesome, but at least their depictions were honest. But here in the Ravennan room, surrounded with charming lies made of paint and canvas, Julia was best reminded of her intense hatred of all things Rustannican and the importance of her mission. For Julia Idaeus was far more than the reigning Femiculi.
She was a Shashidan spy and a member of the League of Whispers, embedded into the highest reaches of the Rustannican government.
As she sketched, people wandered by but left her alone. She was known here, and most visitors respected her privacy. That was another reason why the Hall of Antiquities was the perfect choice for her assignations. Because this was a public place, even the deeply suspiciousPon Q’tar would never suspect that something so damaging to their cause might happen within these walls. Her hatred for this place and all it represented was the perfect fuel for her passionate devotion to the Vigors cause.
Closing her eyes for a moment, she called the craft.
“I am here,” she said silently.
“We hear you,” the many voices answered in her mind. Their harmonious timbre was reassuring. “Are you well?” they asked.
“Yes,” she answered.“There is much to tell you.”
“And there is much for us to tell you, child. Is your secret still safe?”
“Yes.”
“Then you may continue.”
For the next quarter hour Julia silently communed with her Vigors masters over vast distances incomprehensible to the average mind. She told them everything, including Vespasian’s impending campaign to take the Shashidan mines and its reasons. When she finished she sat and waited, all the while being sure to glance from time to time at the hated Ravennan landscape and to continue sketching a copy of it.
For a time her masters did not answer, causing a flood of fear to pour through her. Have I been detected? she wondered. Are centurions on the way to arrest me? Then she realized that it must have been the stunning nature of her message that had given her masters pause. When they finally replied, she was greatly relieved.
“Are you sure of these things?” the voices asked.“Defending the mines against such a major attack will be a huge undertaking, and you must be absolutely certain.”
“Without question,” she answered.“Vespasian even allowed me to help form the battle plan.”
Again the masters paused for what seemed an unnerving period. “Tell us of the plan,” the voices finally ordered.
After outlining the campaign, Julia again fell silent, waiting for a response.
“So Vespasian has requested that you go on this quest to perform the auspiciums,” they said.“That will prove useful.”
“Indeed,” Julia answered.
“Does Gracchus continue to subvert the auspiciums to help perpetuate the great hoax?” the many voices asked.
“I believe that he does,” the Femiculi answered.“He is still unaware that I know. I have also been informed that Persephone will accompany Vespasian on the campaign.”
“That is interesting and perhaps useful as well,” the voices said.
“There is more,” Julia continued, fearful that she was pushing the limits of her subterfuge. Since she had sat down, no Rustannican had tried to speak to her. But it would only be a matter of time until some fawning citizen wanting to be seen in the company of the Femiculi came over to address her.
“Vespasian is acting strange,” she told them.“He left the games for no reason two days ago. I believe that he could be ill, but I do not know what is wrong with him.”
“That is also of great interest,” the voices replied.“But time grows short, so we will discuss it more during our next communion. While on the campaign it is imperative that you find a safe place in which to commune with us. Thank you for all that you have told us and for your constant bravery as you continue to serve us from the belly of the beast. Before we leave you, there is something important that you must know. If it happens, the results will be earth-shattering.”
“What is it?” she asked.
“TheJin’Saiand some of his Conclave are about to try to cross the Azure Sea, ” the Ones answered.“They have seen subtle matter for the first time, and they also discovered the message that we left hidden in the Tome and the Scrolls so long ago. Tristan is the first Jin’Saito do so. If he reaches Shashida alive, our world will change forever.”
Julia began to tremble, her shaking hands suddenly drawing unruly lines. It was all she could do to keep from erupting in joy. Finally allowing her tired fingers to rest, she took a deep breath and calmed herself.
“It is time for us to sever our link lest our communion be discovered,” the Ones said.“Stay safe, Julia Idaeus, and remain brave in the face of the many changes that will soon come.”
Even before she could say goodbye, Julia felt the bond between her mind and theirs dissolving, then it was gone. She felt tired but elated. Gathering up her valise, she put away her drawing things and turned to leave the Ravennan chamber. As she walked across the hated room, several Ellistium toadies bowed and scraped to her and attempted to engage her in small talk. But she did not mind, nor did she need to hurry, for hope was finally at hand.
As the Femiculi finally left the Hall of Antiquity to navigate her way back through the busy forum, from behind the protection of her veil she smiled.