Page 78

I scanned the spines of the books until I found the one I was looking for, The Collected Writings of Brunus Aurelius. I flipped through the pages. “Here’s what he wrote:

‘With fear and power I subdued all lands.

I carved civilization from barest waste.

With my spear and my sword I conquered.

Men of all lands knelt at my feet.’”

“Your Kish has gotten very good,” Sebastianus said.

“Now, the key part. It goes on:

‘Greatest of cities, deep within the earth

In cave beyond cave I store my treasure

My treasure, my heart, secured by walls of stone

It will live when other cities fall.’

Those are Arcadius’s words, transcribed by Brunus. That is the reference to the cave city.”

“One reference,” he said. “Centuries of men searching, all in vain.”

“But that’s just it, Seb. Centuries of men searching.”

He narrowed his eyes. “What are you getting at?”

“As we know, I found a copy of Geographica in a dusty little library at Casa Caligine. Not the sort of place a guest would ever go. Most courtesans do not go there either. Who has time to sit around looking at old books when there are guests to entertain?”

“Except you.” He gave me a humorless smile.

“Yes, well, I was always wandering off. Anyway, take another look at Geographica. Read over this passage.” I handed him the book, open to the page that detailed the ancient history of Goddess worship in Corlivo, which Cassius had read to me during my first lesson with him.

He read it slowly. When he finished, he said, “A fascinating history. Sex as a form of worship. That’s a religion even I could endorse.”

“Do you see that sentence, ‘Worship of the Goddess was well established by the time of the Arcadian Empire, and is mentioned in the work of Brunus, scribe to Arcadius’?” I pointed to the place on the page.

“I see it.”

“So, Arcadius knew of the tradition of Goddess worship in the mountains. At least, Brunus did, and he was at Arcadius’s side for years.” I flipped along to another section in the Collected Writings. “Back to Brunus. Listen to this:

‘The mountains belong to the Goddess

The snow-covered peaks are hers alone

Her priestesses, deep in the grotto

Naked flesh shining with starlight

Beware their songs, O traveler

Your home calls you away.’

Think: what is another word for grotto?”

He thought for a few seconds. “It could also be translated as ‘cave.’”