Valley of Decision (33 page)

“The theater?” Eggie's smile slid from his face. “I set some trash on fire at the back of the stage. You don't think it could have—”

Barek dropped Maggie's arm. “
You
burned down the theater?”

Eggie gave a confused half shrug. “I would never destroy such a thing of beauty on purpose. I promise.”

“A fire?” Barek exploded. “During a drought? Have you lost your mind? It's a wonder the whole city didn't go up in flames.”

“Why are you so upset? It's not like I burned down the theater on purpose.” Eggie waved his hand over the bedraggled group gathered around the lamp's weak flame. “My diversion worked. All accounted for. Safe and sound.”

“Fool!” Barek stood so quickly the stool toppled behind him. “That theater was the property of Rome, and Rome will make certain someone pays for its destruction.”

“So the proconsul raises taxes.” Eggie gave another unconcerned half shrug. “What's that to you? You and all those living off Titus Cicero pay nothing to Rome.”

Barek grabbed him by the collar. “You have no idea what I've paid to Rome.”

Eggie held up his palms in surrender. “It was an empty theater.”

Barek shook his head and twisted Eggie's collar tighter. “I heard the soldiers saying a freedman and a slave died.”

“Died?” Eggie's face went slack and his arms fell to his sides.

“Oh, no,” Maggie said. “I didn't mean for anyone to die because of me.”

“Me neither,” Eggie said. “Not even plebs.”

“My father was a pleb, you
vappa
!” Barek shouted. “Who do you think you are?”

“He's not scum!” Maggie pulled at Barek's arm. “Tell him, Eggie. Tell him who you really are.”

Eggie's face had taken on the same crimson shade of his hair. “Publius Licinius Egnatius Marinianus,” he spit out. “Third in line to the throne of Rome.”

“What?” Barek let Eggie go, not because he didn't still want to hit him, but because the strength seemed to have drained from his shoulders. He took a step back. “No you're not.”

“Yes he is,” Maggie confirmed.

Barek's eyes grew wide. “You knew?”

Maggie's gaze darted to Eggie, who was rubbing his throat, and then to her grandfather. G-Pa had climbed back onto the bed with Jaddah and scooped her feverish body into his arms. She'd never seen her grandfather so worn. He couldn't help her get out of this situation.

Maggie drew herself up. “I knew.”

“For how long?” Barek demanded.

“I made her promise not to tell.” Eggie massaged his throat.

Barek's gaze continued to drill Maggie. “So you weren't going to tell me this cocky jerk pretending to be your new friend is the grandson of the man who wants to see us all dead?” The hurt in his voice was a spear to Maggie's heart.

“He can't go home,” Maggie said.

Barek spun. “Why not?” He challenged Eggie. “Are you some kind of spy for your grandfather?”

“No.” Eggie raised his chin. “I'm my grandfather's last choice for the throne.”

Barek took a speechless step back.

Maggie touched his arm. “I'm sorry, Barek—”

“Keep your excuses.” He pushed her away. “We're done.”

“You promised my father you'd look out for me.” Maggie knew she sounded exactly like that spoiled five-year-old he'd always detested. She shook off her embarrassment. “You know what? Forget it. I can look out for myself.”

“Then we should all take cover.” Barek stared at her, his eyes burning coals beneath his lowered brows. “I'll help you get to the well. And then I'm going to try to forget that I ever knew you.”

“I'm not going.”

“Yes you are.”

“You can't make me.”

“Wait.” Eggie stepped between them. “I thought we decided it was safer to wait until morning to fetch water.”

“Not for water.” Maggie mentally grabbed for her careless words, desperate to take them back. She'd kept Eggie's secret. But now that she'd forced him to lay his identity on the table, she wasn't sure she could trust him to keep her true identity quiet. Best she could do was to try to cover her tracks. “I meant we don't know how far we'll have to go.”

“Those wells are in the northwestern corner of the city,” G-Pa said, coming to Maggie's rescue with the last of his energy. “We are in the far southern quadrant.”

“Your grandfather is right.” Barek's simmering eyes said he wasn't stepping in to bail her out. He was stepping in because he didn't trust Valerian's grandson to know about the time portal. “Your grandmother is in no condition to make it across town.”

“Even if we were, we wouldn't go without Maggie and her mother,” G-Pa said.

“What are you people talking about?” Eggie's confusion creased his forehead. “Wells are wells. There's probably water
not a hundred paces from the shop door. If we need water, I'll go get it.”

Barek and Maggie exchanged tense looks. Hopefully Barek would see that kicking the future emperor of Rome to the curb was risky. He possessed insider information. He knew the location of the new hospital, who was running it, and most important, who was financing the entire Christian movement. The twitch in Barek's jaw told Maggie he would keep this potential enemy close.

“She's not from here,” Barek explained, giving her a glare that said
Follow my lead and don't you dare stir any more trouble.

“I knew it.” Eggie pumped his fist in the air. “She is a goddess fallen from the heavens, right? It was the eyes that gave her away.” He was snapping his fingers, trying to nail down exactly what he knew. “No . . . no, it was the magic in her box, the pink one that captured our likenesses and my heart.” He drew her hand to his lips. “Never fear, I shall take you to your magic well, my princess.”

Barek snatched Maggie's hand free of Eggie's. “No you won't.”

“If we cannot reach her magic well, then where shall we go?” Eggie's lips had left a blaze of heat on Maggie's hand. “For we will surely be discovered if we stay here.”

She wanted to say she wasn't magic, but Barek's dirty look not only shut her down, it also caused her to withdraw her hand abruptly.

“We are close to the city wall,” Barek said. “Before the sun rises I will see if a gate is unguarded or if the wall can be climbed.”

“And then what?” Maggie asked.

“Cyprian has a summer home in the mountains.” Jaddah wearily sat up to put an end to the bickering.

“Leave town?” New worries joined the wad churning in Maggie's stomach.

“Only until things calm down,” Barek said.

Could Maggie leave her parents behind without letting them
know where she'd gone? Okay, she'd be the first to admit that she'd skipped out on college and left the country without saying a word. But that was different. Deep down, she'd known all along that with a couple of clicks on the computer her mother would know exactly where Maggie's share of the inheritance money had taken her. What Barek was suggesting—disappearing into the barbarian countryside in the middle of the night—would have the same traumatizing effect upon her mother as that night years ago when Jaddah disappeared through the time portal and left Mom without a mother. Mom would spend the rest of her life looking for all of them.

Her mother hovered way too much, but Maggie couldn't bear the thought of causing her inconsolable heartache. “We need food, water, and medicine for Jaddah before we can even consider such a trip,” she said, hoping to stall the plan's momentum. “Maybe we should go back to Titus's to get a few supplies.”

“Too risky,” Barek said.

“On my way here, I skirted the soldiers billeted at the harbor. They eat well,” Eggie said. “They had barrels of salted ham, venison, chicken, oysters. Crates of apples, honey, Celtic beer, and wine. We could get our supplies there.”

“How?” Maggie asked.

“I could steal a ham. Maybe even a chicken,” Eggie offered.

Maggie's mouth watered. “Don't forget the garum.”

“Do either of you ever think past the end of your nose?” Barek dropped to the stool, his face pale. “Stealing a ham could very well cost one of us his life.”

“Lighten up, Barek,” Maggie said. “I was just teasing. Someone has to go.”

“I'll go.” Barek ran a hand through his dark mane. “Eggie doesn't know his way around.”

“No one can connect my face to the riots,” Eggie reasoned.
“You, on the other hand, have made an indelible mark on the minds of far too many soldiers today.”

“He's right, Barek.” Maggie pointed at the blood trickling from his arm. “Besides, you're hurt.”

“Just a scratch.” His attempt to return to his feet failed and he had to clamp a hand on her shoulder to steady himself. “I just need to rest a minute.”

“You need to quit being such a stubborn jerk.” Maggie tossed him the cloth she'd been using on his head.

“He could lead Maximus right to us.”

“He could have done that a long time ago. But he didn't. He helped me save my grandparents, Barek. I owe him.”

Barek threw up his hands. “If he brings destruction on our heads, that's on you.”

Maggie looked at Eggie. He was leaning against the wall, arms crossed. Despite his calm exterior, she could see that the weight of people dying because of what he'd done tugged at the corner of his lip. His heart was probably beating a hole in his chest. He was wondering whether she'd bring up why he'd run away. Understanding passed between them. She wouldn't tell of Eggie's aversion to battle and he wouldn't betray the whereabouts of her family. “I'll take that bet,” she said boldly.

Barek reluctantly supplied Eggie with specific instructions as to what to take from the military food stores and his opinion of the best way to avoid being detected. “Steal only enough supplies to get us down the road a few days,” Barek said sternly. “And I don't care who you are—no more fires.”

Eggie gave a solemn half bow, and then turned to Maggie. “And what special treat can I bring that will aid your grandmother's relief?”

“We'll have to ask her.” Maggie gently roused her grandmother.
“Jaddah, is there anything other than Mom's medicine that would make you feel better?”

“Honey and water. Maybe some basil, saffron, and black pepper to grind into an edible paste.”

“Your wish is my command, dear lady.” Eggie flashed Maggie a mischievous wink and raised his hood.

Barek growled low in his throat. “Don't take foolish chances.”

“I've learned my lesson when it comes to fire, but I will remain bold when it comes to love.” Eggie swept up Maggie's hand and kissed it soundly. “When I return, I expect to be rewarded properly.”

Maggie rolled her eyes. “Stay alive.”

Barek's lips grew taut, his eyes hard. He sent Eggie out into the night like Noah releasing the dove from the ark.

“He won't betray us,” Maggie said. “I know it.”

Barek snatched a blanket from the open chest. “What else do you know about Eggie that you're not telling me?”

T
HE PROCONSUL HAS BEEN
inconsolable.” Maximus heard the soldier stationed outside his bedchamber arguing with whoever had dared to knock on his door. “He has issued strict orders to be left alone.”

“He shall see me.” Titus barged into the room with a force that brought Maximus's face out from behind his pillow. “What is the meaning of arresting Cyprianus Thascius?” Titus's roar shook the mosquito netting draped around the large ivory bed. “Have you not caused enough trouble for one day?”

“Someone burned my theater.” Maximus had ordered the shutters bolted, for he could not bear looking at the blackened rubble. He swiped his hand across his nose. “Two very good men died.”

“I'm sorry for your loss.” Titus's fleeting sympathy was quickly replaced by the real reason he'd come. “You're fortunate this entire town did not go up in flames.”

Maximus lifted his head, indignation straightening his spine. “If you want an apology from me, you won't get it.”

“I want Cyprian granted the freedom accorded him in the codicil to the late proconsul's will.” Titus shook his long finger and looked down his nose with the same accusing stare Hortensia used when she wished to threaten him. “That document clearly granted him a pardon and justified Cyprian's reinstatement as a
Roman citizen and a solicitor. You have no legal basis upon which to hold him.”

Something inside Maximus snapped. A loud crack reminiscent of the one that sent the theater's pillars plummeting to the stage. A bitter brew of desolation and despair seeped from the fissure. He was the one who'd lost everything, not this monkey-faced frontier patrician. Kaeso was right, he
could
still fix this. But he wouldn't do it by issuing pardons. No, he would make a new path for himself—one where he would never again cower in fear. Maximus would make certain everyone feared
him
, including his mother-in-law. He would fix it so that whoever was responsible for this searing agony in his chest would feel the same pain.

Maximus threw back the mosquito netting and leaped from the bed so quickly Titus staggered back several steps. Now it was he who pointed a finger. “You dare to come into my palace and issue demands?” He drew his robe closed and cinched the sash. “Cyprianus Thascius is the leader of those professing heresy and burning my city.”

“You don't know that it was Christians who set fire to the theater.”

“Prove that it wasn't!” Maximus said. “Cyprian knew his rebels were plotting destruction and he did nothing to stop it.”

“Christians are too busy caring for the sick to plot rebellion.” Titus drew in a slow, angry breath. “Cyprian surrendered in a magnanimous effort to avert further bloodshed. His surrender is by no means an admission of any wrongdoing by the Christians. He is admired in this city. Free him and let him calm the masses . . . Christian or not.”