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Klaudia began to argue with him.
Sebastianus raised his hand. We all fell silent. “Anna tells me that she still believes the lost cave city is here, under Casa Caligine. Is that right, Anna?”
I met his eye. “Yes.”
“Didn’t you tell us earlier that your calculations don’t support the argument?” Don asked.
Klaudia looked at us with an expression of incredulity. “Seb, I understand that you’ve been fixated for years on finding these caves, but let’s face it. They are a myth. Even if there is a shred of truth in it, even if they did exist, against all odds, right here under Corlivo”—she glanced at Don, who shook his head—“by the gods, who cares? The Imperator is searching for us. His soldiers are already here in the city. By vile Gurgexenes himself, we’ve got to flee.”
Sebastianus unfastened his cloak. “My uncle will forgive us everything if we find Arcadius’s treasure.”
“Or he’ll flay us alive,” she said. “You’d take that chance?”
“Yes. I think Anna is right.”
Don leaned his head back against the cushion of the couch and stared at the ceiling.
“I don’t ask any of you to come with us,” Sebastianus said. “You’ve all given enough to this effort already. Don, you and Pollux can ride north and then east across the border. If our luck holds, Anna and I will meet you in Ohrid before the year is out. Klaudia, my dear cousin, you’re free to go west or wherever you wish.”
A silence descended over the small room. Klaudia, Don, and Pollux looked at one another. Wordless communication seemed to pass among them.
Finally, Pollux spoke. “I’ll stay and help you, although I’m afraid.”
Don put his arm around Pollux and rubbed his shoulder comfortingly. “We’re all with you, Seb and Anna.”
“By the gods,” Klaudia said, “please be right.”
“Thank you all,” Sebastianus said. “Let’s make a plan.”
WE TALKED FOR an hour and agreed upon a course of action. Once the pieces were in motion, Sebastianus and I retired to the small bedroom to catch a few more hours of sleep.
I climbed gingerly onto the bed beside him and pulled a thin blanket over both of us. I settled in against his chest.
He put his arms around me. “I seem to recall you telling me that love takes time, that you have to know a person. I think you said that should be obvious to anyone.”
“I think it should be.”
“I believe I understand what you mean. I love you, Anna.”
“I love you too, Seb.”
“Whatever happens from here, falcon, don’t leave me.”
“I will never leave you.”
He kissed me. Heat raced through my body.
I pressed my mouth hungrily against his neck, his shoulders, the span of his ribs, and slid my fingers into his hair.
He laughed softly. “We’re not going to get any sleep at all, are we?”
“Not a wink,” I whispered in his ear.
BY MID-AFTERNOON, IT was time to put our plan into action. Don and Pollux were packed and ready to go, the horses, including my intrepid little mare, saddled and tied up outside the dressmaker’s shop. They would ride out of the city and wait for us on the Carrac road.
As they stood before us in the small garret, Sebastianus put a firm hand on Don’s shoulder. “If fortune smiles on us, Anna and I will see you tomorrow morning at dawn. If we don’t arrive by the time the sun is up, make for Carrac. Give us two days, and if we don’t appear, ride for the eastern border by the fastest road.”
A lifetime of friendship and affection seemed to pass between them.
