different series of exhibition rooms. Sheathed in gleaming white alabaster and blue marble, the foyer atrium reached all the way to the roof, where skylights let the afternoon sun stream in. In the event of rain, shutters could be pulled across the skylights to protect the priceless exhibits.
The hall was busy today with a high number of visitors and several gaggles of noisy schoolchildren being escorted by their ever-watchful teachers, their eager voices and quick footfalls echoing loudly against the marble floor and walls. Without exception, everyone who crossed Julia’s path stopped to bow and pay heartfelt respects. To keep from being further delayed, she politely circumvented another approaching group of visitors and made for one of the gleaming hallways, then quickly climbed another flight of stairs.
Reaching the second floor, she turned and walked up the first hallway on her right and into one of the many exhibition rooms. She took her usual seat on a marble bench across from a wall covered with paintings. There were few people about just now, and that suited her purpose. Opening her leather valise, she withdrew her sketchpad and her colored chalks, then placed the valise on the floor.
The room she chose was devoted to a group of Rustannican painters known as the Ravennans. Ravenna was a small town in the south of Rustannica known for its magnificent sunlight and colorful foliage, especially during the Season of Harvest. The Ravennan painters had been a tightly knit group, never numbering more than twelve. Painting some two centuries ago, they displayed an uncanny ability to capture dappled sunlight while showing wholesome themes of hard work and loyalty to the Rustannican Empire. These patriotic qualities had quickly brought their work into favor with the ever-watchfulPon Q’tar. Like so many other aspects of Rustannican culture, all artwork was subject to the approval of the clerics before it could be sold privately or displayed in public. Conversely, all captured Shashidan artwork was immediately deemed degenerate and summarily destroyed by whatever legions came across it.
Despite Rustannica’s brutal nature, the Ravennans depicted their warlike nation as compassionate. Each brushstroke added layer on layer to the great hoax that was Rustannica. Only Julia and thePon Q’tar knew the truth about the craft, but thePon Q’tar had yet to learn that Julia was aware of it. It was that same dreaded secret that gave her the courage to come here once each month. Just the same, she lived with the constant fear of being found out, tortured, and killed.
As she looked at the paintings, Julia saw the same sanitized agenda over and over again, and she hated the Ravennans for it. These works mirrored the great lie, leading her to understand why thePon Q’tar valued them so much. Like a painter who reused a canvas to cover a failed effort, Julia was painfully aware of the ugly truth that lay beneath thePon Q’tar ’s treachery and deceit.
As she started to sketch the painting before her, her sense of revulsion grew. Her well-known pastime of sketching was nothing more than an excuse to leave the Priory and come here. She had chosen this place for her excursions precisely because she hated it so, and she frequented the Ravennan room because of all the chambers here, she hated this display the most. The military exhibitions were gruesome, but at least their depictions were honest. But here in the Ravennan room, surrounded with charming lies made of paint and canvas, Julia was best reminded of her intense hatred of all things Rustannican and the importance of her mission. For Julia Idaeus was far more than the reigning Femiculi.
She was a Shashidan spy and a member of the League of Whispers, embedded into the highest reaches of the Rustannican government.
As she sketched, people wandered by but left her alone. She was known here, and most visitors respected her privacy. That was another reason why the Hall of Antiquities was the perfect choice for her assignations. Because this was a public place, even the deeply suspiciousPon Q’tar would never suspect that something so damaging to their cause might happen within these walls. Her hatred for this place and all it represented was the perfect fuel for her passionate devotion to the Vigors cause.
Closing her eyes for a moment, she called the craft.
“I am here,” she said silently.
“We hear you,” the many voices answered in her mind. Their harmonious timbre was reassuring. “Are you well?” they asked.
“Yes,” she answered.“There is much to tell you.”
“And there is much for us to tell you, child. Is your secret still safe?”
“Yes.”
“Then you may continue.”
For the next quarter hour Julia silently communed with her Vigors masters over vast distances incomprehensible to the average mind. She told them everything, including Vespasian’s impending campaign to take the Shashidan mines and its reasons. When she finished she sat and waited, all the while being sure to glance from time to time at the hated Ravennan landscape and to continue sketching a copy of it.
For a time her masters did not answer, causing a flood of fear to pour through her. Have I been detected? she wondered. Are centurions on the way to arrest me? Then she realized that it must have been the stunning nature of her message that had given her masters pause. When they finally replied, she was greatly relieved.
“Are you sure of these things?” the voices asked.“Defending the mines against such a major attack will be a huge undertaking, and you must be absolutely certain.”
“Without question,” she answered.“Vespasian even allowed me to help form the battle plan.”
Again the masters paused for what seemed an unnerving period. “Tell us of the plan,” the voices finally ordered.
After outlining the campaign, Julia again fell silent, waiting for a response.
“So Vespasian has requested that you go on this quest to perform the auspiciums,” they said.“That will prove useful.”
“Indeed,” Julia answered.
“Does Gracchus continue to subvert the auspiciums to help perpetuate the great hoax?” the many voices asked.
“I believe that he does,” the Femiculi answered.“He is still unaware that I know. I have also been informed that Persephone will accompany Vespasian on the campaign.”
“That is interesting and perhaps useful as well,” the voices said.
“There is more,” Julia continued, fearful that she was pushing the limits of her subterfuge. Since she had sat down, no Rustannican had tried to speak to her. But it would only be a matter of time until some fawning citizen wanting to be seen in the company of the Femiculi came over to address her.
“Vespasian is acting strange,” she told them.“He left the games for no reason two days ago. I believe that he could be ill, but I do not know what is wrong with him.”
“That is also of great interest,” the voices replied.“But time grows short, so we will discuss it more during our next communion. While on the campaign it is imperative that you find a safe place in which to commune with us. Thank you for all that you have told us and for your constant bravery as you continue to serve us from the belly of the beast. Before we leave you, there is something important that you must know. If it happens, the results will be earth-shattering.”
“What is it?” she asked.
“TheJin’Saiand some of his Conclave are about to try to cross the Azure Sea, ” the Ones answered.“They have seen subtle matter for the first time, and they also discovered the message that we left hidden in the Tome and the Scrolls so long ago. Tristan is the first Jin’Saito do so. If he reaches Shashida alive, our world will change forever.”
Julia began to tremble, her shaking hands suddenly drawing unruly lines. It was all she could do to keep from erupting in joy. Finally allowing her tired fingers to rest, she took a deep breath and calmed herself.
“It is time for us to sever our link lest our communion be discovered,” the Ones said.“Stay safe, Julia Idaeus, and remain brave in the face of the many changes that will soon come.”
Even before she could say goodbye, Julia felt the bond between her mind and theirs dissolving, then it was gone. She felt tired but elated. Gathering up her valise, she put away her drawing things and turned to leave the Ravennan chamber. As she walked across the hated room, several Ellistium toadies bowed and scraped to her and attempted to engage her in small talk. But she did not mind, nor did she need to hurry, for hope was finally at hand.
As the Femiculi finally left the Hall of Antiquity to navigate her way back through the busy forum, from behind the protection of her veil she smiled.
