Koska clasped the gladius to his chest, and his face reddened with a deeper flush. “It will be done, sir. I promise.”
He dipped his head to Trajan and then to me. “Best of luck, my lady.”
“And to you, Koska.”
He hurried out of the door, leaving Trajan and me alone.
“So you plan to come back and break the German king out of prison on your own?”
“By that time, there will be no point in keeping it quiet. After tonight, Caesar will know I’m a traitor, just like Julian.” He huffed a laugh.
“What’s so funny?”
“I’d just love to see his face when he realizes he was fooled twice.”
“And if he knows you’re a traitor, how do you expect to get into the prison without being detected?”
“I don’t.” He walked toward his wardrobe. “I plan to kill my way into the prison.”
“You have a long way through the city first,” I reminded him.
He returned and laid one of his formal blue silk togas on his bed. “Not if I enter at the height of Lupercalia. The whole city will be in the thrall of the fertility festival.”
“That will help?”
He sat on the edge of the bed and clasped his hands, examining me with a curious expression. “Have you ever seen the festival?”
I shook my head. “I’ve heard stories, but Valerius never let me out of the house at that time.”
His eyes glazed cold the way they always did if I mentioned my former master. “Trust me when I tell you, the entire city will be in a state of aroused frenzy. No one will take note of me.”
I glanced at the toga he’d laid out. “Who is Horatius?”
“A tribune in the senate. And an ally. He also has two strong sons who are on our side as well. In that letter I sent with Koska, I’ve asked Horatius to send his sons dressed as litter-bearers to help us get through the city to the harbor tonight.”
“You’re expecting a fight?”
“Preparing for one. Just in case. All of Palatine Hill will be heading to the celebration at Caesar’s palace tonight. The praetorians will be in need there. Hopefully, we can slip by without any trouble.”
“Hopefully,” I agreed, stepping toward the open archway leading to the terrace, the rain having stopped. “The sky is clearing.”
There was a break in the storm clouds, the first stars glittering as the afternoon drifted toward night. Trajan stepped up behind me.
“Let’s hope that’s a good omen. That the gods are with us.”
“I’m not sure the gods care about us,” I admitted.
He wrapped his arms across my chest and pulled me back against his, pressing his mouth to the crown of my head. My pulse fluttered at yet another tender gesture from this man. That I craved it.
“They do,” he assured me.
“How do you know?”
He said nothing for a moment, the damp air from the rain misting the terrace. “Because they brought you into my life, Lela.”
Closing my eyes, I let his heartfelt words sink into me. I hadn’t thought to want another man to care for me again. I hadn’t thought that I’d ever want another man at all. Still, I couldn’t give him any tender words back, my heart still bruised from being so long in a master’s brutal vise.
I wanted no promises between us, for I knew better than anyone that promises didn’t keep people alive. Vows didn’t hold hearts together. Death was the only assurance any of us truly had.
