Nestled between the libraries was a wide marble column that seemed almost to touch the heavens. Well, maybe not, but it was higher than any of the surrounding buildings and had a viewing platform on top, so I supposed there was a door on the other side that was meant to be entered. I walked around the column, and though I found the door in the square base, my attention had already been drawn upward to the detailed and intricate carvings that wound their way up the column, telling a story of war.
"This was built many years ago in honor of Emperor Trajan's military victories," the vestalis said. "What images do you see?"
I walked around it, picking out the carvings that represented the emperor and his soldiers. Women and children were depicted here, as well as whatever army Rome had fought in this war.
I described everything to her, but with each image, the vestalis only nodded and asked, "What else?"
I circled the column again, telling her of the carvings of river crossings, the slaves who assisted in the battles, and the armored horses Rome brought into battle.
"Do you think any of that is what I wanted you to see?" she asked. "Look carefully, Nicolas. The army defeated by Emperor Trajan fell far too easily. Th
ey are not worth such a grand column. Look again and tell me who the true enemy is to Rome."
I walked around it again, and this time my eye instantly locked upon the image of a serpent's head, its jaw open and baring lines of sharp teeth and a forked tongue. Though the carving didn't show fire on its breath, I could almost picture it there. I had seen this same beast before.
"The dragon," I said. "They show the dragon as part of the enemy army. Yet although I can see the images for the army's loss to Rome, I do not see the dragon's defeat."
"Because it never was defeated," the vestalis said. "The dragon remains an enemy to this empire. She has had many names over the centuries: serpent, draco, dragon. But you know her as the Mistress. The only way to save Rome is to defeat the Mistress."
"Why would I save Rome now?" I asked. "After what they've done to me, do you think I care at all about this empire?"
"You must care! Imagine a forest, thick with tall and deep-rooted trees. If one of those trees happens to fall, does it land on empty ground?"
"I imagine it would land on other trees, causing them to fall as well." I shrugged that off. "You're telling me that if Rome falls, other civilizations around it will also come to ruin. Well, maybe they should. The Mistress might be doing the world a favor."
"You don't believe that," the vestalis said. "If you did, you would not have asked the emperor to pardon her past crimes."
"I didn't want to die with Atroxia's voice still in my head. That's all."
Her tone sharpened. "No, you did it because you felt compassion for Atroxia, despite her crimes against the empire, and her crimes against you. All I ask is that you show the same compassion for Rome."
"You want me to save the empire." I shook my head, even as I mumbled the words. "On the same day the empire sentenced me to die."
"I ask you to end the Praetor War, on the same day I saved your life!"
"If I kill the dragon, as you want, it will kill Atroxia too. The Mistress may be an enemy to Rome, but Atroxia is not. She bears a curse that has changed her. That curse has done far worse to her than the punishment ever could."
"Yes, I know." The vestalis took my hand and gave it a firm squeeze. "Which is why it was such an important first step to get her forgiven of her crimes."
The first step? Suddenly, I understood my role in the vestalis's plan. She had given me asylum shortly after I got magic, protecting me from the empire's soldiers. She had helped me find the rock meant to become the Jupiter Stone. She had saved me from the executioner. Now I knew why.
It was only ever about reclaiming Atroxia, about bringing back one of her own. The vestalis had not saved my life. She had only delayed my death. Nothing she had done was for me -- it was only to use my power the same way everyone else wanted to use it.
"I won't do it!" I yanked my hand away. "This is not a fair request!"
"It's not a request at all, Nicolas. It's your fate, and you must accept it."
I shook my head. "I've done all that I can do for Atroxia. I thought if she received forgiveness for her crimes, it would end her punishment and allow her to die."
"The dragon must die. Atroxia must live."
"I can kill the dragon, maybe, but the only way Atroxia will live is if I free her from the curse. Do you know the price for that?"
"Lightning." The vestalis spoke calmly, as if she had accepted my death, so I should too. "You must bring in a storm."
I stepped back from her, unable to believe she had really said those words. "You're asking me to make a Jupiter Stone. It's the same thing the Praetors want, the same thing the Mistress wants." My eyes narrowed. "Maybe there's no difference between any of you."
"There is every difference!" the vestalis said. "Have I asked you for glory or power? Have I demanded anything for myself? My only desire is to right a wrong that was done centuries ago. If we correct that wrong, then we will save an empire."