“I am always ready for battle,” Tabor said calmly.
Ceti knew that Tabor was bluffing. Makki was right. As Godwin had said, Mahatos’s defenders were chasing time’s tail. The more time they had to prepare, the better chance they had to either defeat Makki’s fleet or evacuate the city if victory proved impossible.
Ceti glanced around the room, looking for Sky. He spotted her, half-hidden behind Gerhard. Good, that was as safe a place as any. Oddly, Dinah seemed to be lurking behind her husband and Licinius as well. She was usually at the forefront of any fight.
Ceti drew his own gladius. The motion brought everyone’s attention to him. He was only interested in one person’s reaction. He caught Sky’s gaze, hoping to reassure her.
“Either leave my villa or attack me, Makki,” Tabor said. “I would have thought a man with your reputation would not dither over a decision.”
Legate Makki waved a hand to his men.
“The traitor wishes to goad us,” he said. “Ahala, put away your knife. The rest of you, sheathe the swords, at least for now.” Makki bared his teeth at Tabor. “You’ve chosen your fate. When this is over, your villa will belong to me.” He pointed at the murals of the Battle for Seneca. “And then I will have to replace these with my victory.”
“Spoken with the confidence of a man who has never lost,” Tabor said.
Ceti sidestepped so he stood shoulder to shoulder with Gerhard, cutting Sky completely off from Makki’s scrutiny.
“You should fear that I’ve never lost,” Makki said. “I’m god-touched.”
“No, it means you’re due to be humbled,” Tabor said mildly.
“By you? I think not.”
Tabor grinned. “Not by me. By the gods.” His casual pose evaporated. “Get out of my home. The only way you will return is as a corpse placed on display.”
Makki grinned. “We shall see.”
Ceti relaxed. The leaders had been sparring, feeling each other out for weaknesses. He doubted either had found any. Mars, could you not have sent us an incompetent legate, like the last one?
As Makki, Ahala, and the rest of the imperials swept past them, Ceti noticed that Makki stared at Sky. She stared back, answering his unspoken challenge.
Makki halted, this time in front of Gerhard. The Viking still had his long sword at the ready. The heavy weapon with its jeweled hilt was far more impressive than the shorter gladius. Gerhard held his sword steady without visible effort.
“You might want to rethink your alliances, Viking,” Legate Makki said.
“You might want to rethink yours, Roman,” Gerhard said. “I noticed your second, Ahala, is no soldier. And not much of a man, so far as I can tell, for all he favors that long knife.”
Makki smirked. “We’ll meet again.” He turned and strode out the door, his men in his wake.
Ceti and Gerhard didn’t sheathe their swords until their opponents were completely gone.
Sky put a hand on Ceti’s forearm. Her fingers trembled.
“I said you would be safe here,” he said. “I’m sorry.”
She shook her head. “I’m not scared.”
“Engineer.” Tabor strode over to them. “I see you are still in one piece. After I am done loading you with tasks, you may wish you had not come back.”
That was a reprimand. More, it was the promise of punishment later, if they survived the crisis. At least his commander was being subtle in front of Sky.
“Yes, sir,” Ceti said, emphasizing that with a salute.
“And you’ve accomplished much in your time away.” Tabor cleared his throat. “You’ve brought us a visitor?”
“This is Sky of the Lenape, heir of the Wolf Clan,” Dinah said before Ceti could speak. “She’s come to study Manhatos with an eye to a possible future alliance between the Lenape and the Romans.” Dinah paused. “She has my protection.”
“Ah.” Tabor glanced at Sky’s hold on Ceti’s arm. “And clearly she’s come to study my engineer as well.”
“Sir, I—” Ceti felt his face grow hot.
“Easy, Ceti. A joke.”
Tabor nodded to Sky. When he spoke, it was in the Lenape language. “Welcome, Sky of the Wolf Clan,” he said pleasantly, speaking the language as if he’d known it since birth.
Ceti knew Tabor had studied hard to master the native tongue. He hated having to rely on translators when he dealt with the Mahicans.
“Thank you for the welcome, Tabor of Manhatos,” Sky said.
“I had not expected to see one of your tribe in my villa, but I’m pleased just the same,” Tabor said. “Treat my home as yours.” He took a deep breath and muttered, in Latin, “For as long as I can hold it, anyway.”
Sky took her hand off Ceti’s arm and nodded regally to Tabor.
Ceti tried hard not to smile. Sky had not been intimidated in the least by Tabor. That meant his commander would take her seriously.
“I look forward to learning much about Manhatos and its people,” she said.
“I see that,” Tabor said. There was quiet hostility behind his words that Ceti didn’t understand. Sky was no threat. Perhaps Tabor was still angry from dealing with Makki. Ceti clenched his teeth and moved to put himself between Sky and his commander.
“I’m not going to bite her, Ceti,” Tabor said in Latin. “Sky, dinner will be served soon. Please join us then. In the meantime, my son Gaius and your cousin Licinius can escort you to the baths where you will find warmth and a change of clothes.”
She glanced at Ceti. “Will he escort me as well?”
“I need to hear Ceti’s report immediately,” Tabor said drily. “But be assured that he will be at dinner.”
“Good.” She smiled and allowed Licinius and Gaius to lead her down a hallway to the baths.
Ceti tried not to think of Sky, naked, relaxing in the baths. Surely, the younger men weren’t going to stay to watch.
“Why were you so hostile to her, Tabor?” Dinah asked when Sky was out of sight.
“I don’t understand that either, sir,” Ceti said.
Tabor frowned. “You didn’t see it? Either of you?”
“I did,” Gerhard said.
“What, husband?” Dinah asked.
“Both Legate Makki and his second, Ahala, recognized your Lenape princess, Ceti,” Tabor said, answering before Gerhard could. “They’ve met before.”
“That’s not possible,” Ceti said. “Surely, it was only surprise at seeing a Lenape here?”
“How would you know?” Tabor asked. “You were paying attention only to the girl. Who, I will point out, you’ve only known for two days.”
“She’s no threat to us,” Ceti said. “She came as a gesture of peace.”
“Perhaps,” Tabor said. “But still, Makki and Ahala recognized her. So I wonder exactly what does Sky of the Wolf Clan know that we don’t? More importantly, how do we get her to tell us?”
Chapter Thirteen
What Sky wanted to do was shout the location of the legate’s fleet to all who were within easy hearing, especially to the two young men flanking her.
But she clamped down on her impulse, very aware of her mother’s orders to stay silent.
I have stepped into a situation where there seems no right choice.
Her path had seemed so clear in the sacred grove and now it was as muddy as flood waters. For once, her instincts did not tell her which way was correct. The gods were silent, too, perhaps displeased she was now surrounded by Roman things.
So she followed Licinius and Gaius in silence to “the baths.”
The hallway ended and opened down to several long, wide stone steps.
“The baths are at the lowest level in the villa. The water runs better that way,” Gaius said.
Everything here seemed to be made of polished stone—outer walls, floor, inner walls, and even the roof. How had the Romans cut and shaped such massive boulders?
“You truly bring water inside a home?” she asked. Ceti had said that he could make
the water flow to Shorakapkok, but she hadn’t truly believed him.
“Not just water, but a way to heat it,” Gaius said.
“As my father says, Romans are good for some things.” Licinius smiled.
“Yes, well, my father says Vikings aren’t good for much save building boats.”
“But they’re such wonderful boats.”
Sky smiled. The teasing between them sounded like her younger brothers.
“I agree, the boats are wonderful,” she said.
“But not better than the baths,” Gaius said. “And if you dislike Roman things so much Licinius, perhaps you should change your name.”
“I didn’t say I disliked Roman baths. I simply said the longboats are better.”
“Is it permitted to ask how you have a Roman name, cousin?” She’d been curious since first hearing it.
“Mahicans attacked and destroyed the Viking village on the day I was born,” Licinius answered. “Licinius, Tabor’s chief engineer and your Ceti’s tutor, gave his life to save my pregnant mother. My twin brother, Ragnor, was named after our father. I was named after our savior.”
“Your savior sounds like a fine man,” she said.
“I’m told he was.” Licinius smiled, ducking his head, and she realized he was shy. “Ask your Ceti if you want to know more.”
Your Ceti. He’d said that twice. There was no hiding her attraction to Ceti nor, likely, his interest in her. She wondered if that would become a problem among the Romans. Did they approve of pairings with her tribe?
“Here we are,” Gaius announced as he threw open a set of double doors. She barely saw the elegant carvings in the doors, instead entranced by what was in the room.
Like the entranceway, these walls were decorated with life-size paintings. Thankfully, they featured scenes of the sea and of sea creatures, rather than any battles.
Her face heated and she realized that it was far warmer in here than the hallway. She felt the change through the soles of her moccasins.
“This is the outer bath chamber, Sky.” Gaius pointed to the right. “The women’s bath is just beyond that doorway. Stay in the water as long as you wish. Dinner will be held at your convenience. When you are done, go through the second door, to the dressing room, and there will be clothes waiting while yours are cleaned. When you’re dressed, call for help, and the girl waiting just outside the dressing area will send someone, likely myself, Licinius, or your Ceti, to come and get you.”
Sky nodded, struck silent by the strangeness of this place.
Some of this must have shown in her face because Licinius smiled.
“You are safe here, Sky,” he said.
She didn’t think she was safe. No place had been safe since Makki’s arrival.
“Thank you, cousin,” she said.
Both young men bowed low and departed. They certainly were well-mannered and respectful. Her mother would approve.
She walked through the doorway to the bathing area. The light was dimmer here, though there were torches burning in the corners. Wait, they were not torches. The fire was burning on some sort of string contained under that glass. Another bit of Roman cleverness, like the aquila or the wheeled cart or the outer walls of this city.
She took a deep breath and let the steam hovering in the chamber fill her nose. She’d always associated water with the salty smell of the sea or the clear, mossy smell of the forest streams.
This chamber smelled like neither. The scent was close to wildflowers or honey. Through the mists, she saw a rectangular pool of water about the size of the pond near her village where her people bathed. This man-made pond would easily hold her entire family.
How did they get the water inside? And how did they heat it? She filed away the question for later, when Ceti was with her.
The pool shone brighter than the rest of the room as well, reflecting light from somewhere. That puzzled her until she looked up and saw a clear glass panel in the ceiling.
Another of those openings that Licinius called windows. How did they get it on the roof?
She stripped off her damp clothes, glancing around to make certain she was alone. Silly concern. Everyone in her tribe bathed naked, both men and women, from the young to the old.
Ah, but that was among her people. Not strangers.
She stared at the water for a moment, unsure how deep the pool was. She sat at the edge and placed a foot in the water.
More than warm. Hot.
But not unpleasantly so.
And now that she was standing on its edge, Sky saw underwater steps that would allow her to descend into the pool easily. She squared her shoulders and walked into it.
The heat enclosed her, driving away the last of the chill from her swim in the river. She sat down on the ledge and let her head fall back against the edge of the pool. Water in the lakes, rivers and ocean never became this warm. This was like being enveloped in liquid heat.
She wasn’t certain she liked the tall buildings or the perfectly ordered gardens. And the life-size paintings of a victory over her close kin made her extremely uncomfortable.
But this bath?
As Licinius had said, Romans were good for some things.
The overwhelming warmth relaxed Sky for the first time since she’d run after Ceti. She’d risked all to come here and see what Manhatos was like. She’d known what her decision had meant for herself and was willing to take those consequences.
But if Makki thought her presence meant her people were in an alliance with Tabor, he might attack Manhatos sooner, perhaps even tomorrow. Or he might attack her village, as he’d threatened on the beach.
She had not expected to face this problem. She had not expected to see Makki or Ahala here.
She closed her eyes and prayed for guidance, for that steady feeling of certainty she felt in the sacred grove.
But nothing came.
****
Ceti clenched his teeth and put his hands behind his back in parade rest. If he asked permission, Tabor would allow him to sit but, right now, not even the luxurious leather of the couches in Tabor’s personal study was an enticement.
“If Makki and Ahala recognized Sky, it means that the legate has approached the Lenape,” Tabor said, leaning forward in his high-backed chair. “I would be very surprised if she doesn’t know exactly where his fleet is located.”
“If she knew, she’d tell us,” Ceti said.
Tabor shook his head. “Your girl’s loyalties are to her people, not to us.”
She wants what’s best for everyone. “Sky came here to learn.”
Tabor scowled. “Exactly. The Lenape could already be allied with Makki. She could be here as a spy.”
Ceti had a vision of rushing forward and putting his fist into his commander’s scowling face. Long years of discipline held him in place. “Sky came to understand us,” he said. “She hopes with knowledge gained from her visit, she can convince the rest of the Lenape to help us.”
“Ah. So I’m supposed to sit back and wait patiently while a half-grown barbarian girl decides whether I’m worthy of being helped?”
“Sir! That’s uncall—”
“Silence, engineer.”
Tabor snapped to his feet and began pacing.
Ceti stared at a spot on the far wall. Attacking a superior office was a capital crime. The sentence was death by hanging. Ceti thought of Sky, standing in front of Shorakapkok’s warriors, protecting him with her own body. A death penalty in defense of Sky would be worth it.
“Sky is not half-grown,” Gerhard said. The Viking chief had settled near the closed door of Tabor’s office with his arms crossed over his chest.
“Excuse me?” Tabor stopped, turning his anger on Gerhard.
“I said she’s not half-grown.” Gerhard’s lips quirked. “She seems very fully grown to me.”
Tabor narrowed his eyes and glared at the Viking.
“Remember, you named me barbarian when we met, and yet here we are,” Gerhard said. �
��Insulting a representative of the people you want help from is not the right way to earn allies.”
Grateful for the distraction, Ceti rolled his shoulders, trying to bleed off some of his anger.
“She could be a spy,” Tabor repeated.
“No.” Dinah chopped the air with her hand. “Legate Makki already has a very good spy. He doesn’t need Sky.”
“What? Report.” Tabor’s command had the force of a slap.
“Be careful how you speak to my wife,” Gerhard said. “She’s not your soldier.”
Dinah crossed her arms over her chest and hunched down in her seat on the backless couch. She looked thoroughly miserable. Ceti doubted Tabor had scared her. Something was obviously very wrong.
Ceti let go of his simmering fury in his worry for Dinah. She had been quiet and subdued since they entered Tabor’s office. She never had trouble speaking her mind before.
“Give me some time, Tabor,” Dinah said. “It’s not every day I run into a ghost.”
“There’s no time for coddling,” Tabor snapped. “Explain now, Dinah.”
“I will explain when I’m ready,” she snapped back.
Tabor finally stopped scowling. His voice softened. “Dinah?”
Gerhard stepped from his stance at the door to stand behind Dinah. He put his hand on her shoulder. “Wife?” he said.
Dinah took a deep breath, clearly trying to force calm on herself. Ceti swallowed, thinking that whatever she said, it was going to be very bad news.
“You hid behind Gerhard when the legate approached you,” Tabor said. “Why?”
“I didn’t hide from Makki. I hid from Ahala, his right hand,” Dinah said.
“Ahala? The smaller man with the long knife?” Tabor said. “Ahala is Makki’s chief aide, much in his confidence and therefore dangerous but...You saw something I did not?”
“You saw what Ahala wanted you to see,” Dinah said. “But he’s far more than Makki’s aide. He’s the spy.”
“How do you know?” Tabor asked.
“We were trained together by Gracchus, my old master. We were close once and then...not.”
Gracchus.
Ceti could feel his face go pale. He understood Dinah’s fear now. Gracchus, the powerful patrician who trained his slaves to be spies and secret killers. When Ceti was young, that name had been used to scare misbehaving children. Ceti knew that Dinah had been one of Gracchus’s specially trained slaves, but she never spoke of those times.
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