Semper Fidelis

Chapter 58

The sun was up by the time they reached the north gate. The bags seemed much heavier than when they had set out. Tilla and the boy struggled through the chaos of vehicles and pack animals. Everyone from armorers and ambassadors to jugglers and souvenir sellers seemed to be planning to set off for the border in the wake of the great man. She recognized the two junior officers who had been Geminus’s shadows. They looked somehow less frightening now that Geminus was not there to give them orders. She guessed they were heading north, safely away from the recruits who might want revenge.

There was no sign of Valens. A Praetorian who had clambered up onto a cart waved them away. He was busy trying to organize drivers whose vehicles were crammed too close to move no matter how much they were yelled at. Someone told them that the procurator’s carriage was still inside the fort. The informant had no idea where-or who-the procurator’s doctor was.

Eventually she heard someone calling her name. Before she could respond, several bored travelers took up the cry. There was a mocking chorus of “Tilla! Hey, Tilla! Come on Tilla, you’re late!” and a round of applause when she appeared.

Valens too looked as if he had been awake all night. He paid off the boy and seized her bags.

She said, “Is there any news?”

“Not yet.” He lifted the bags into the air, maneuvering past a stall where a couple of foreign-looking slaves were haggling over the price of coats with hoods to keep the rain off. Finally he deposited them in the back of a worm-eaten two-wheeler that smelled of sheep. Its lone mule was being held by a boy not much older than the one who had just brought Tilla here. “This is Celer,” announced Valens. “He’s promised me he’s a safe driver. I’ll pop back and see you whenever I can.”

“But where-”

“Ruso’s fine,” said Valens. “I saw him last night. He sends his good wishes.” Drawing back from the cart, he murmured, “Sorry about this, but it’s all I could find. You should be all right: The mule doesn’t look capable of running off.”

“But where is it going?”

“We’re traveling with the emperor,” he said, as if he had just told her something good. “Well, a little behind him, actually.”

“But where is-”

“I promised Ruso I’d look after you.”

“But-”

He seized her by the elbow. “Jump in,” he urged. “Get yourself comfortable. The emperor should appear at any moment and then we’ll be off.”

She stood her ground. “What about-”

“He’s with the Twentieth. Give me your arm-”

“We are following the emperor while my husband is going west to Deva?”

“Please get in the cart, Tilla.”

“The emperor is going north, to where his wall cuts my people’s land in two.”

“You’ll be able to see your family. How long has it been?”

“But I have to go where my husband goes.”

“Dear girl, you don’t understand. He doesn’t want you there. He made me promise to take you with me.” Valens flashed her one of his charming smiles. “You don’t think I’d dare to argue with you otherwise, do you?”

She almost smiled back. “You are very kind, but-”

“Tilla, if you don’t get in this cart, what are you going to do?” His voice hardened. “They won’t let you near him. You’ll be alone with several hundred men. He’s got no authority anymore and you haven’t even got a maid to protect you. This isn’t the time to be stupidly brave. This is the time to think, Poor old Ruso has enough things to worry about, so I won’t give him another one.”

Tilla leaned back against the worm-holed boarding. “There is just me in this cart?”

“There wasn’t time to find a chaperone.” He gestured toward the melee of vehicles. “But as soon as that lot get moving, I’m sure you can find some local woman who needs a lift.”

And you will come back and see me when you can?”

“I promised I would look after you. I intend to take my duties very seriously.”

“Then I thank you for keeping your promise.” She gathered up her skirts in one hand, seized the side of the cart, placed a foot on the wheel hub, and swung up without his help.

When she was in, she crouched and looked over the side at him. “Valens, did you tell the tribune anything about the people in the house where I was staying?”

He frowned. “Should I have?”

“No,” she said. “But somebody did.”