The Divining

     "Selene," came a deep voice. Ulrika turned to look up into blue eyes filled with questions. "And yet not ... You resemble her."

     It had been a long time since she had spoken German, but it came back easily to her lips. "Selene is my mother, and you are my father." He was so handsome, so strong and heroic looking, as if he normally lived with Thor and Odin. She could see why her mother had fallen in love with him.

     Frank surprise stood on his face. "I am your father?" His eyes roamed her hair, her features. He smiled. "You are Selene's daughter, yes, but now I see my mother in your eyes, your chin. I did not know ..."

     He drew her into his arms and clasped her in a strong embrace. He held her for a long moment, while Ulrika heard the steady thumping of his warrior's heart. Then he drew back and said, "Your mother is well? Our time together was short, but it was memorable."

     "Mother is in Ephesus. And I believe she is well. How did Vatinius catch you?"

     He smiled. "I am not as swift as I once was."

     "This is Sebastianus," she said. "My husband." Ulrika then introduced her father to Timonides, Primo, and Rachel, and as she explained how they had all come to be standing before Emperor Nero, she thought: What anodd mix we are—a wealthy Spanish trader; a veteran of the Roman army; a Greek astrologer; a Jewish widow; a hero of the German revolt; and myself, a girl once lost but who has found her way.

     "Where do you go from here?" Wulf asked in halting Latin, and Sebastianus said, "We go to Galicia."

     Primo muttered, "We won't be going anywhere if we don't find a better hiding place. The Praetorians are getting close."

     Wulf's look darkened. "It is me they want, not you and your friends. Vatinius will not rest until I am recaptured. If I go, they will come after me, and you will be free to go your way."

     "No!"

     "Ulrika, I must return to the Rhineland, and you must go with this man who is your husband."

     "Wulf, my friend," Sebastianus said, "travel with us to the port of Ostia, for there I can see that you are disguised and well provisioned, and placed with a safe and trusted caravan leader. They are all known to me, and many owe me a favor."

     Wulf nodded in agreement, and then he went to stand guard with Primo, who was keeping an eye on the throngs filling the Forum, and the Praetorian guards searching among them.

     Ulrika first made sure that Rachel was all right, and found that she was already being taken care of by Timonides, who had cleared the marble bench of autumn leaves to make Jacob's widow comfortable. The cedar chest with its precious contents was tucked securely against the altar of Mithras.

     Ulrika then turned to Sebastianus, who was also keenly watching the crowds among the temples and government buildings. "Why do we go to Galicia?" she asked.

     In the intimacy of the small and ancient grotto, Sebastianus took Ulrika by the shoulders and looked long and deep into her eyes before saying, "Ulrika, someone might say it was the coincidence of an earthquake and shoddy craftsmanship that brought those mosaic tiles down. But I call it a miracle, for the tiles came down in a shower of stars that looked just like the star-shower over my homeland the night Lucius died. It not only saved all our lives, Ulrika, but pointed the way as well. I believe it was a sign that I ammeant to return home after years of roaming. It is also the answer to where we are to take Jacob's relics. To Gaia's altar, which is a sacred place."

     Ulrika turned to Rachel and said, "You will not be safe in Rome."

     Rachel nodded. "We will take Jacob to that sacred place."

     "Master," Primo said, "we must be going. We ca

     "But where do we go?" Timonides asked, rising from the marble bench. "Nero confiscated your estate and caravan. He left you pe

     "Do not fear, I have many friends who will help."

     "I, too," Primo said.

     "And there are members of my faith," Rachel added, "who will help."

     Ulrika opened her hand and discovered, to her amazement, that she was still clutching the emerald. Timonides whistled. "That will be worth a good price!"

     "But not with Nero searching for us," Primo said darkly. "He will eventually regret letting us and the Barbarian go. He will send legions after us."

     But Ulrika, gazing into the green heart of the gemstone, shook her head and said, "Nero will not search for us. After today, his popularity will rapidly decline. When word spreads of how he treated General Vatinius, robbing him of a victory parade with his prisoner in chains, the army will turn against the emperor. In four years he will become so unpopular that the Senate declares him a public enemy and orders his execution. Nero will die by his own hand, with a dagger in his throat."

     "It is time to go," Sebastianus said, gesturing to his small party. "The Praetorians will not see us. There is a man who lives north of the city. He will take us in for a while. I did him a favor once ..."

41

WE HAVE ARRIVED!" SEBASTIANUS cried as he urged his horse into a quick gallop, while Ulrika rode in his arms.

     They had sailed from Ostia and crossed the Great Green to land at the Roman colony of Barcino, on the northeast coast of Hispania. From there the caravan of horses, mules, wagons, and people had struck westward, to follow newly laid Roman roads and ancient trails carved long ago by forgotten ancestors. They trekked past tiny hamlets and scattered farms, isolated Roman villas, and the occasional military outpost. The terrain was variously flat, mountainous, green, and rocky, with a deep blue sky traversed by enormous billowing clouds. The capricious winds blew at their backs and in their faces, while nights sparkled frostily and days glowed with warmth. In the far distance to the north they saw the towering mountain range named after the mythological princess, Pyrene, beyond which lay the land of the Gauls.

     After weeks of travel, the weary caravan had finally crested the last hill of their journey, and they now saw below a verdant countryside of such deepand wondrous green that Ulrika thought it could not be real. Set amid steep, wooded hillsides were whitewashed buildings surrounded by pastures and orchards. The villas stood far apart, with footpaths co

     Sebastianus's eyes filled with tears as he sat atop his horse, and he could not for the moment speak. Ulrika sat in silence as he steadied her in a tight hold.

     "That is my family home," he finally said, pointing to a sprawling villa with several buildings and gardens and pe