The Dance of Time

'Fought extremely well, I was told.'

'Belisarius, he frightened me. I have never seen a thirteen-year-old boy who could fight like that. He was deadly beyond belief. And suffered not so much as a scratch himself.'

He shook his head. 'Thirteen! At that age, I could certainly wield a sword with great strength and vigor. But I doubt I was much of a threat to anything beyond a log, or a cutting post. My soldiers are already spreading stories about him.'

'Ah.' Belisarius thought he understand the nature of the Rajput's worries. 'He was trained by Valentinian, Sanga. Meaning no disrespect to your own prowess, but-being honest-much of that prowess is simply due to your incredible strength and reflexes. Valentinian is actually a more skilled fighter than you. For a boy like Rajiv, who is not and will never be his father's physical match, he was the perfect trainer.'

Sanga started to say something, but Belisarius forestalled him with a raised hand. 'That is simply an explanation. As for what I think concerns you, there are many stories about Rajiv. The one I think personally is the most significant is Valentinian's story. Told, mind you, with considerable exasperation. The story of your son's lunacy when he saved the lives of the soldiers garrisoning the southern gate.'

There was an odd expression on Sanga's face, one that Belisarius couldn't decipher. Then the Rajput king chuckled, quite warmly.

'That! Ha! The truth is, Belisarius, I tend to agree with Valentinian. It's certainly not something I'd have done-at that age or any other.'

He shook his head again. 'You misunderstand. I am not concerned for my boy's soul. He is no budding monster, simply. . what he is. A thirteen-year-old boy who is deadly beyond his years because he was born a Rajput prince but then-for long months, in the most intense period of his life-raised by a Roman soldier. A very unusual Roman soldier, at that. 'Stripped to the bone,' as my wife describes him.'

He turned to look at Belisarius directly. He was frowning slightly, but there was no anger in his eyes. 'You understand, now? He is no longer Rajput, Belisarius. Not really. Something. . else. Not Roman, either, just. . else. So. How am I to raise him? I have been pondering that, these past weeks.'

The sun was setting. Belisarius paused, to watch it do so. For his part, Sanga simply waited.

By the time the sun was down, Belisarius understood. 'You think he would do better being raised by someone else. The rest of the way, so to speak. And that someone would be me.'

'Yes. I have thought about it, a great deal. If I tried to force him back into the Rajput mold, he would rebel. Not because he wanted to-he is a very dutiful son, I have no complaint-but simply because he could do no other. Not now, when he is already thirteen. But neither do I want him to drift, not really knowing who he is or why he lives. I can think of no man in the world I would trust more than you, to see him safely through that passage.'

'Have you spoken to your wife about the matter?'

Sanga had a smile on his face that was almost as crooked as a Belisarius smile.

The Roman general chuckled. 'Stupid question.'

'It was her suggestion, actually. I wouldn't have thought of it on my own, I don't think.'

That was probably true. Belisarius admired and respected Sanga enormously, but it was a simple fact that the man was on the stiff side. Very unlike his wife, from the sense Belisarius had gotten of her these past weeks.

He probed himself, to see how he felt about the idea. And was a little shocked by how strongly he reacted.

'I knew someone once,' he said, very softly, 'who was much like Rajiv. Neither this nor that. Great-souled, but also very deadly even at a very young age. Yes, Sanga, I will be glad to do it.'

The Rajput king looked away, then nodded. Stiffly.

'We need to find a way to persuade Rajiv, however,' he cautioned. 'I do not want him to think-not for a moment-that his father is rejecting him.'

When Belisarius said nothing, Sanga turned back to look at him.

'I have missed that crooked smile of yours. It's nice to see it back.'

'Leave it to me,' Belisarius said.

A wife and her worries

'I don't have anything to wear!'

'Of course, you do,' Calopodius said. 'Wear your usual uniform.'

'To an imperial reception? Don't be absurd! There are going to be-wait a moment, I actually have to count-'

Anna did so, quickly, on her fingers. Then: 'Three emperors, an empress-ruling empress, mind you, not the usual wife business-more kings than I can remember since every realm in India is sending their monarchs-the highest official of Axum short of the negusa nagast himself-thank God he's not coming, what would we do with a babe less than a year old? — and-and-and-'

She threw up her hands. 'More royal officials than sages, more sages than generals, and more generals than there are leaves on a tree.' Scowling, now: 'I leave aside the presence of heroic figures of legend. You know, the sort of people who have nicknames like 'the Mongoose' and 'the Panther' and bards write verses about them. And you want me to wear a uniform?'

Antonina came into the chamber just in time to hear the last few sentences.

'Well, of course. What else would you wear? You're hosting it-one of the hosts, at least-as the leader of a medical order. Naturally, you should wear your uniform.'

Anna glared at her. 'Is that so? Well, then. Since the same applies to you, may I assume you'll be wearing that obscene brass-titted cuirass of yours?'

'To an imperial reception? Don't be absurd!'

A husband and his observations

'I think the reception is going splendidly, Belisarius,' commented Khusrau. 'Much better than I thought it would, to be honest. Given that this salon is packed with people who were killing each other just a few months ago.'

The two men took a moment to gaze out over the milling crowd.

'Such a relief, to be able to stand instead of sit for change,' the Persian emperor continued, 'and without a thousand courtiers swarming over me. A wonderful idea, this was, to hold the reception in a salon instead of an official audience chamber.'

Belisarius grinned. 'No room for courtiers. And no need for bodyguards, of course. Not with the room sprinkled with people who have nicknames like 'the Panther' and 'the Mongoose.' It was my wife's idea, by the way.'

Khusrau shifted his gaze, to look upon the woman in question.

'Such a magnificent, brilliant woman.'

' 'Brilliant' is right. I recommend taking care if you happen to be in her vicinity. If she turns around suddenly, those brass tits would sink a warship.'

The Emperor of Iran and non-Iran shared a chuckle with Rome's most famous general.

'But she's always been flamboyant,' Belisarius added. 'Or else she would have chosen a sensible uniform like Anna Saronites.'

Both men took the time to admire the woman in question, who was standing not too far away. At the moment, engaged in an animated discussion with two sadhus from. . Bengal, Belisarius thought. He wasn't sure. Whoever they were, they were famous in their circles, or they wouldn't have been here at all.

They were wearing nothing but loincloths. Anna's severe costume looked positively glamorous in comparison.

'The courtiers must have gnashed their teeth, seeing them pass through the guards,' Belisarius commented.