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He continued, “This letter was written by Straba, an explorer who lived five hundred years ago, not far from Panpirion. He traveled the continent to understand the world, recording information about people and places. Geographica is his most famous work, the account of his travels.”

“I wish I could read it,” I said.

“This manuscript looks like it might be an early draft. There’s a scholar at home I’m eager to show it to. But the letter interests me more. It’s a note of affection to a courtesan who lived at Casa Caligine a long time ago. It’s quite funny and bawdy—I’ll have to translate it for you. What’s important, though, is that it’s proof that Straba visited Corlivo during his travels. I believe you and I may be the first people to realize that important detail.”

I took the letter from Sebastianus and studied the words I could not read. “Why does it matter that Straba visited Corlivo? Many famous men have been to the city over the centuries.”

He tapped his walking stick absentmindedly on the floor of the carriage. “But Straba is the last known person to have seen the lost cave city of Arcadius the Mighty.”

I looked at him in amazement. “The place Lord Clemens Fabius discovered?”

“He did not discover it,” Sebastianus growled with sudden fierceness. “He did not offer one shred of proof that the caves he found were anything at all. The caverns near Vendel are far too small and shallow. They have nothing to do with Arcadius’s lost city. The local people have known about them for years. The whole expedition was an expensive, ridiculous waste of time.”

“He told me a very different story.” With chagrin, I remembered how eagerly I had lapped up his tale of heroics.

“I have no doubt he did,” Sebastianus said bitterly. “He told that false tale all over Panpirion.”

“So,” I pressed on, “You have evidence that Straba visited Corlivo, and now you wonder if perhaps the cave city is located somewhere near there.” The carriage bumped over a pothole in the road, jostling me against the side. I pushed myself upright. “Perhaps somewhere under the Kotol mountains.”

He looked at me with a flash of surprise. “Clever girl. That is just what I’m wondering.”

I felt heat rush to my temples.

Outside the window the grass and bushes went by in a steady procession.

“You should find the cave city and prove that Clemens Fabius was wrong.” The words came out with more force than I had intended.

He pulled out the stopper of the silver flask and took a long swallow. “It will take a large expedition to explore the entire mountain range. It will be time-consuming and costly. You’d like to see Clemens Fabius proven wrong?”

I met his eye and nodded.

He drummed his fingers on the flask. “Why?”

“I do not like him.”

“That much is clear. Why not?” Sebastianus asked sharply. “Did he do something to hurt you?”

After a moment’s hesitation I said, “He became impatient and nearly— He was not—he was not kind about things.”

Sebastianus grimaced but said nothing.

“You don’t like him either,” I pointed out. “I saw you threaten him the night of the first dinner I attended.”

He raised an eyebrow. “You’re right. I don’t like him. I too would like to see him proven wrong. More than that, though, I’d like to find the cave city.”

“Why?”

“Because it will strengthen the Empire at a time when we face many threats.”

“What about the fame and glory it would bring you?”

He put the flask down on the seat beside him. “It will improve my uncle’s opinion of me, at least, and that would be helpful.”

I handed the letter back to him. “So will you mount another expedition?”

“I’m not sure I want to risk my own fortune based only on this small clue.”

“Where did you get the gold for the last expedition?”