Eight for Eternity

Chapter Thirty-Seven

After Felix left to retrieve his belongings from the barracks, John went to Julianna’s room. The door was open and the room empty. The chest which had sat beside the bed had been taken away. He wasn’t aware that she had already made arrangements to move to Antonina’s as Theodora had decreed. He would have preferred for the girl to stay under his watch.

He made his way to the garden and sat on a bench near the closed screen to his office, partly concealed by an untrimmed shrub. A chilly breeze swirled around the peristyle, sending dry leaves rattling around its columns. The last of the daylight gradually faded from the rectangle of sky, revealing cold sparks of stars.

After what seemed like a long time there was a scuffling noise from above. A figure appeared on the roof, just visible against the dark sky. It climbed nimbly onto the limb of a yew tree. John was standing at the base of the tree by the time Julianna reached the ground.

“Chamberlain! How did you guess?”

“I once knew a woman who performed with a traveling troupe.”

“She climbed out of a garden and went over the roof to meet you?”

“No. She had more sense. But she was as athletic as you are.”

John could see Julianna looking at him curiously. “I remind you of her, don’t I?”

“I’ll escort you to Antonina’s apartments right away. Your room’s already been emptied. There are some questions first, though. It’s warmer inside.”

“If you don’t mind, I’d rather talk here.”

“I want you to tell me the truth about Hippolytus.”

Julianna bit her lip. “He’s dead.”

“I realize that. Your father told me as much as he knew. Out of concern for you.”

“Father’s only concern was that I stop seeing Hippolytus. I’m sure he’s glad Hippolytus is dead. He’s no longer a danger to me.”

“That’s not true. If Hippolytus was involved with a conspiracy against the emperor then you might be in grave danger. Whoever killed him, for whatever reason, might want to kill his associates. Hippolytus might have told you something you would be better off not knowing.”

“We only talked about the races and…what people talk about.”

“You must have known he was causing trouble. He fomented a minor riot after all. It isn’t everyone who manages to catch the emperor’s attention so as to be hung by imperial decree.”

If Julianna was shaken by John’s words she didn’t show it. “We weren’t able to meet often. What he did with his time, outside of following the races, he never said.”

“Do you really think there is someone in this city who wanted to kill Haik, a stranger who had never set foot in Constantinople before?”

“You’re trying to scare me. You want me to believe I was the target. I don’t see how anyone could have mistakenly poisoned Haik rather than me. It doesn’t make sense. Besides, he must have been poisoned outside the palace. How would anyone get in?”

“You’ve had no trouble coming and going. Why should Haik’s murderer?”

“I think your friend was here on some dangerous business. It had nothing to do with me, or Hippolytus. He should have stayed in Syria.”

“Possibly. But even if you won’t accept the fact that you’re in danger, surely you want me to find Hippolytus’ murderer?”

“Will that bring him back?”

She walked away. John saw her hand go to her face. He followed and when she stopped and turned she was blinking glistening eyes. She had come to the carved horse with the cross on its stone blanket. She ran her hand over the equine back. “I used to dream about racing at the Hippodrome when I was a child,” she said. “Mother came into my room one night and found me on the floor, tangled up in blankets. She wanted to know what happened. She heard me fall out of bed. I told her it was just a nightmare I couldn’t remember. Actually my chariot had tipped over and I had to cut myself loose from the reins. It didn’t stop me from dreaming again. Usually I crossed the finish line first. How I wished to be a charioteer!”

“You may not think so highly of them after that incident in the Augustaion.”

“I shouldn’t have been there by myself. Charioteers are used to taking what they want. It’s their nature. I can never be a charioteer. Can you imagine, Chamberlain, what it is like, to know that you are barred from ever being what you wish to be, no matter how diligent your efforts?”

“Perhaps I do. But people are never free to do anything they wish. Not even the emperor.”

“Antonina does whatever she wants. She takes what she wants.”

“You may not know her as well as you think, Julianna.” John shivered. The night wind was rising. “It’s time I took you to her. On the way you might think of something you haven’t told me. Whenever you do-if you want Hippolytus to be avenged-tell me.”

They left the garden and went through the atrium out into the dark grounds of the palace. John wondered if Julianna appreciated that she might never see her father or mother again. He thought she did not understand the seriousness of the situation. At her age one never does. At least she did not appear to be in despair over the death of her friend.

They were out of sight of the house when Julianna suddenly stopped and spoke. “There’s one thing you should know.”

“Yes?”

“About Hippolytus. He’s nothing like father says. He’s not a ruffian.”

“I see.”

“You do believe me?”

“I do.”

She hurried on and said nothing more.

As they approached the Daphne Palace several figures emerged from the darkness and came racing in their direction. The men brandished spears.

“What’s happening?” John demanded.

“Intruder!” one of the guards yelled, hardly slowing down.

A knot of people had gathered in front of the building. They talked excitedly. One pointed in the direction of the ornate portico, the entrance to the kathisma. Lights from the imperial complex flickered across the massive rampart of the Hippodrome which loomed over the much lower palace walls.

Antonina was suddenly beside Julianna. Her face was flushed. “You’ve arrived just in time for all the excitement.”

“I hear there’s an intruder,” John said.

Antonina regarded John without curiosity. He was a familiar figure at the court. “Some claim the rioters are infiltrating the palace grounds,” she told him. “Others claim it’s a phantom. An inhuman creature. It was seen leaping along the top of the walls. And someone else said they saw it on the roof of a house.”

“On a house? Near the stables perhaps?” John glanced down at Julianna. Her expression was opaque. “Just someone’s imagination, I’m sure.”

“I hope you’re right. Everyone’s terrified.”

John left Julianna in Antonina’s charge and walked slowly back to his house, pausing now and then to look up at the distant stars, so far removed from the turmoil below. How strange people could be. The city was going up in flames. The angry multitudes were plotting to storm the palace. Yet they were terrified of a phantom.

As he crossed his dimly lit atrium his attention was caught by a flash of color beneath one of the benches against the wall. He bent down and pulled out a slipper.

The yellow slipper Pompeius had lost what seemed like an eternity ago.