Call to Juno (Tales of Ancient Rome #3)(67)

Caecilia froze. She did not want to meet his eyes, to let him see her doubt that she could ever surrender to his faith. For even if for divine purpose, how could she watch him climax with others at Fufluns’s feasts? How could she welcome lying with another man behind a mask?

Outside, the timekeeper called the hour, startling them. The inevitable melancholy of farewell stole over her. She picked up the Atlenta pendant from the divan and showed it to him. “I’ll wear this to protect me while you’re gone. Atlenta has long kept me safe. And, remember, we will be lions after we die.”

Mastarna hesitated, his request hanging between them, then he smiled and kissed her a sad, deep, sweet good-bye. “Yes, Bellatrix, we will dwell in paradise together.”





TWENTY-NINE



Semni, Veii, Spring, 396 BC

The massive pithoi jars stood in the shadows of the storeroom like a phalanx of headless soldiers, shoulder to shoulder. If they had not been half sunk into the floor, they would stand as high as a man.

Semni held Nerie’s hand as she entered the cellar, Perca following on her heels.

“Ssh,” she whispered, placing her finger to her lips. “Be very quiet so we can hear if the princes are in here.” The one-and-a-half-year-old giggled, unable to suppress his excitement at being included in the game with the three older boys.

Spring had arrived, but its warmth had yet to infiltrate the deep interior of the palace. The air smelled of dry earth, although a faint smell of barley pervaded it. Coated with dust, most of the pots were empty, their contents gone to feed the palace household.

Lord Tarchon had ordered grain supplies to be further rationed. And Lady Caecilia had decreed the palace stores should be distributed equally among the families of both servants and courtiers. The principes expressed their discontent at such largesse, but the queen dismissed their griping, determined to show her fairness.

Semni knew she was lucky to eat one meal per day when those in the city struggled. Denied a healthy diet, though, she was aware her milk was drying up. Only two weeks ago, she’d had her first flux since Nerie was born.

Tired of the princes complaining their tummies ached, Semni thought a game would distract them. The cool confines of the network of cellars were a perfect setting for hide-and-seek. She signaled Perca to search the far end of the chamber. Whistling, the girl crept between the pithoi, trying to flush out a prince. Semni followed suit, peering around the contoured sides of the earthenware containers decorated with wavy lines and spirals. Nerie dogged her steps.

A stifled noise caught her attention as she reached a wooden bench where a pile of large terra-cotta buckets was stacked. It was then she spied a round wooden lid propped against the side of one of the pithoi. As she drew closer, she heard the sound of a whimpering child.

“Quick, Perca, come and help.”

Semni gripped one of the container’s clay handles and leaned over to peer inside. Down in the gloomy interior, Larce stared up at her, eyes brimming with tears. Arnth stood beside him, grinning.

“How did you two get in there?”

“Tas helped us, but now we’re stuck,” wailed Larce.

Semni rolled her eyes and leaned over the edge as far as she could, extending her hands to them. They were too far belowground to reach. Larce started blubbering.

“Calm down,” she urged. “I’ll try something different.” Scanning the room, she noticed a ladder. “Help me with that, Perca.”

The two girls managed to heft the ladder up and over the side to drop it down next to Larce. “Stop crying and climb up. Be careful. It might wobble.”

The four-year-old was beyond taking direction, though, continuing to sob. Arnth pushed his brother out of the way and clambered up nimbly, laughing as Semni hoisted him over the top.

“Baby,” he taunted Larce, confident now he was on safe ground.

“Am not!” Seeing his brother had escaped successfully, Larce was determined not to be bested.

The rescue accomplished, Semni sat down with a sigh of relief and rested against the pithos, pulling a boy down on each side of her, an arm around them. “You are never to do that again, do you hear me?”

Larce gave an exaggerated nod. Arnth’s cheeky grin was less than reassuring.

Semni glanced around, realizing she had yet to find the last brother. She scanned the rows of pithoi. There was no telltale lid propped against any of them. “Do you know where he is hiding?”

Larce shook his head. “He said he was going to see the gorgon.”

She frowned, wondering if he meant Cytheris. She knew the boy had overheard her and Aricia use that name. Yet she doubted he would refer to the handmaid as such. She looked across to Perca. “Do you know what he’s talking about?”

The girl shook her head.

Semni pushed Nerie off her lap and stood up, dusting down her chiton and helping the boys to their feet. “Larce? Do you know who Tas was talking about?”

The boy shrugged. “He said Medusa lived down here.”

Semni frowned, irritated the child had wandered away. “Take the princes back to the nursery, Perca. I’ll find Tas.” She handed her son to the girl. “And ask Cook to keep an eye on Nerie.”

After the group had left, Semni weaved her way through the pots, puzzled the oldest boy had not revealed himself. “Master Tas, you can come out now.”