Once I was alone, I listened again for Atroxia's tears, which rushed at me like raw emotion. I walked the field as I had before, choosing my steps based on the direction in which the crying became louder.
And stopped exactly where I had before, at the ruins of the old temple.
The Mistress was a vestalis. It would make sense for her punishment to take place inside a temple. Though I could not explain why it had been destroyed to rubble since her burial.
I knelt on the ground there, closed my eyes, and waited. It wasn't long before I heard the growl of a wolf. The wolf of Mars.
But I had the bulla now, so I wasn't afraid. Or not as afraid as before. I could communicate with the wolf, not force him to obey me. Still, I said to him, "If the temple is here, show me."
Inside my head, above the crying of the Mistress, the wolf answered. Or rather, a voice spoke to me. It had to be Mars, answering through his chosen animal.
"Do you have the key, Nicolas Calva?"
"Yes." I didn't know what the key was, or how I could have it, but Valerius had died to protect my keeping of it and I wouldn't let that be in vain.
"Have you come for the amulet inside?"
My heart pounded. "Yes."
"Are you worthy, Nicolas Calva, to hold a sacred amulet of the gods?"
No. I had the bulla, the first of the three amulets, but I'd stolen it. I couldn't claim worthiness.
So I said, "You must decide that."
Fur brushed up beside me, and when I opened my eyes, I saw the wolf at my side. He used his snout to move my hand over his head, and I smiled. This terrible beast was really only a puppy wanting love. I gave him a scratch, but he hadn't been asking for that.
The wolf looked up, and I followed his gaze. Directly in front of me was an elaborate temple. It was small but grander in workmanship than the Pantheon or Caesar's temple or any temple I'd yet seen in Rome. Only three marble steps led to the base, which was surrounded by marble columns ringed with gold. The blocks of white marble on the walls were fit so carefully together that they almost appeared solid, and the cornice of the arched roof was carved so intricately that my eyes could not find a single flaw. And it was no wonder. No man had constructed this temple.
This temple was built by the gods.
Nicolas Calva, we are alone at last."
Startled by the sound of a voice, I turned, hands out. Decimas Brutus wasn't far from me, but the wolf at my side growled, warning Brutus to keep his distance if he hoped to avoid being bitten. Beyond that, the bulla was clearly visible hanging on my chest. And Brutus was alone.
I looked back at the temple, but it was in ruins again and the wolf had retreated into the woods. Brutus said nothing about it, so I was sure he could not see the temple as it really was. That privilege had been given only to me.
"You again," I said completely without enthusiasm. "Don't you ever give up?"
"Don't you?" he asked, arching an eyebrow to show his amusement.
"Not until I win," I said.
He smiled. "Unfortunately, today will not be that day. Dawn will be here soon, and you and I have business to discuss."
"Give up this fight," I told him. "Thanks to General Radulf, few of your men are still standing."
"You saw my army in the woods," Brutus said dismissively. "There are hundreds more of us, even thousands if we measure to the ends of the empire. You have swatted a bee today, but we are a hive, ready to sting."
I was in no mood to debate bee analogies with him. Instead, I said, "Try stinging me now." Then I used the bulla to unwrap some of the unburned vines from their cords and sent them swirling around Brutus's body.
By the time I was finished, only his face was showing and it was nearly as purple as the grapes. I walked forward, picked a grape from about where his elbow would be, and squashed it beneath my fingers. Let him wonder about that analogy for a while.
"How dare you!" he shouted.
"How dare you?" I replied. "You killed Senator Valerius, who did nothing to you and who could give you nothing! I intend to deliver you to the emperor himself, at which point I will tell him every detail of your treason against this empire!"
Brutus started to answer, then his gaze drifted beside me where a light was beginning to form. I had felt the change in the air already and knew what to expect, but I still moved sideways when Radulf faded into view. I didn't know what strange things could happen if he tried to appear right where I was, but I wasn't about to risk suddenly sharing arms and legs with my grandfather.