Call to Juno (Tales of Ancient Rome #3)(107)



“What has changed your mind?”

“I nearly lost Larce and Arnth to the scourge. I also nearly died. I knew then I could not bear to be parted from any of you.” She kissed him. “I want to be with you in Acheron.”

He turned his attention to the burning talisman that was indistinguishable now from any lump of coal. He appeared pensive, shadow and light playing across the planes and curves of his craggy face. She slipped her hand into his. “I thought you’d be happy.”

He laid his hand on her throat, stroking her birthmark with one finger. “Seeing you sitting before the hearth reminds me of when you were a bride. You’re as thin as you were when I first wed you. You were so earnest, urging me to conduct the rites of fire and water. A Roman and a Rasennan. As opposite as those two elements. United under law but divided in mind and belief.”

She closed her eyes, enjoying the sensation of his caress. “That girl is no more. There’s nothing left of her within me.”

Vel kissed her hand, then examined her fingernails. “These were bitten to the quick, your eyelids swollen from weeping, your fair skin mottled. You were terrified that night, as though you viewed me as some monster.”

She smiled. “I prayed that I would not suffer at your hands.” She placed his palm against her cheek. “Now I long for their touch, both when waking and in my dreams.”

He clasped her hand and brought it to his lips, sucking each of her fingers in turn. The sensation of his warm mouth as it enclosed each tip was intense.

“Tomorrow we will seek epiphany as one, Bellatrix. Sharing the same beliefs in life and the same destiny after we die.”

“So that we can love each other even after our hearts cease beating?”

“Forever.” He kissed her throat. “Like Fufluns and Areatha.”

“Wait,” she said, breaking from him. She picked up one of the lamps, then tugged him to follow her through to the arcade with its trellised grapevine, past the moonlit garden and its bubbling fountain. Reaching their bedroom, she drew aside the heavy curtain, raising the lamp high so it illuminated one wall.

The painted leopard peered from its laurel grove, swallows flitting above its head. It had been their companion all their married life. Fuflun’s beast. A guardian that would protect them on the journey to the Beyond.

The chamber was more shadow than light. She pulled Vel toward their bed with its plaid coverlet and placed the lamp on the side table. He smiled, grasping her waist and lifting her to sit on the edge of the thick mattress. She laced her hands around the back of his neck and brushed her lips against his. “Tonight, though, we are just Vel and Caecilia. Husband and wife. Our fidelity proven before the spirits of the House of Mastarna.”





EVOCATIO





FORTY-NINE



Pinna, Outside Veii, Summer, 396 BC

Drusus trudged up the hill toward Pinna in the hot midday sun. He was covered with as much red dust as she’d ever been with grave soil. Trickles of perspiration carved lines through the grime on his face. His tunic and leather corselet were filthy, his boots dense with dirt. Behind him a detail of similarly stained men followed.

Every four hours a detachment of men would enter the bowels of the earth to mine the tunnel. The pace of the digging had been increased as soon as Furius Camillus had arrived at the main camp. His drive to complete the task energized the sappers despite the grueling schedule. Care was taken not to arouse suspicion. As far as the Veientanes could tell, the Romans were quarrying stone for the reinforcement of the siege lines.

As head decurion, Drusus did not wield a pick or cart away stone. However, as one of the supervising officers, he inspected progress at the end of every shift throughout the day. The rotation of men ensured fresh muscle power and no slacking. Nevertheless, four hours without break in the airless, dark confines took its toll.

Pinna ladled water from a jar into cups, handing them to the men as they passed. She gave one to Drusus who drained it in one swallow.

“I’ll be glad when I don’t have to creep into the belly of the earth. The tufa is soft enough to remove, but we need to shore up the structure as we go. We want to avoid a cave-in. It makes my skin crawl to be deep underground.”

“How much farther is there to dig?”

He wiped sweat from his face, leaving a pale patch on his skin. “The engineers say we should reach the opening of the temple shaft the day after tomorrow as planned.”

She smiled. “General Camillus will be pleased. He wants to attack on the summer solstice. He believes the dawn goddess will bless the assault if launched at daybreak.”

He frowned. “Are you saying the general shares strategy with you?”

“You would be surprised what a woman can learn when tending to a man.”

“You have become very sure of yourself, haven’t you?”

“I don’t plan to betray you, if that’s what you fear.”

Drusus scanned her face. “Yes, I believe you.”

Pinna ladled more water into his cup. She was glad to be free of his malice.

The past few weeks had been thrilling. She’d been delighted to tread in the footsteps of her mother by visiting the sanctuary of Mater Matuta in Satricum. And her Wolf had promised to repair and reconsecrate the temple in Rome. Pinna was overjoyed her divinity would once again be housed in splendor.

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