Aries Fire (31 page)

“His name is Alexander.  After my mother died…” Seira paused for a moment.  “My grandfather arranged my escape from Alexandria aboard a merchant vessel.  Alexander was the captain,” she said.

Eudocia sat in wonder as she listened to Seira’s description of her escape from Alexandria. Seira sat down on the divan next to Eudocia where it seemed a lifetime ago she wept for her mother.

“The Ishtar was the name of the ship.  I was but a girl with fiery notions of grandeur,” Seira said and laughed. 

Eudocia laughed, too.

“There is something ancient and wondrous between us.  The stars collided with a few Roman soldiers and an unplanned escape from Ashkelon took me from him,” she said.

“Oh, that is tragic,” Eudocia said and shook her head and patted Seira’s hand.

“It seemed fate took me where it would.  I found myself in the company of my mother’s teachers, a rabbi and an old woman healer.  We traveled and I learned a great deal from them.  We finally settled in Hibernia.  It was there I met Attila when he was a young man,” Seira said and stopped.

Seira suddenly thought about Quinn.  She imagined Quinn a happy woman now, with faded memories of the Huns. 

The Empress displayed an awestruck expression.

“I didn’t see Alexander after that.”

“Well then we must find him!” said Eudocia, interjecting with fervor.

Seira took the Empress by the hand.

“You are as impulsive as I.  What a joy for me,” Seira said.  “There is no need to find him, Eudocia, as he is an imprisoned captain aboard Ruga’s ship.”

“Here… Now?”  Eudocia exclaimed.  “This is a remarkable and Divine account.  We cannot ignore the synchronous timing of the stars.  My Dear, your life is a tale that will be told for centuries!  Seira, what is your desire?”

Eudocia sat next to Seira once again and lowered her voice, hands holding tightly to Seira’s.  She spoke as if she could grant the wishes of Seira’s deepest hopes.

“I would make my life with Alexander, to be with him and… I…” Seira paused.

She appeared troubled.  Thoughts of lying with Alexander to know every shape of his body encouraged the thought of one day bearing his child.  Hope swept through Seira, mixed with longing and regret for Attila.

Paulinus entered the room with a scroll in his possession.  The Empress let go of Seira’s hands, stood then walked around the table.  The crumpled scroll slid into Eudocia’s hand as her obedient servant bowed and stepped backwards.

“In your presence I also dream that it would be possible to speak and teach the wisdom my mother attempted to teach me.  I know the Rabbi Isaac would…”

“The Rabbi Isaac! Of Palestine?”  Eudocia cried out. 

Her voice sounded out higher and higher with each revelation. She spun around to face Seira.  Even Paulinus showed shock on his face. Eudocia leaned forward on the table.

“Yes, he is the rabbi I mentioned…” Seira said slowly and suddenly stopped.

Seira looked at Paulinus and the Empress blankly.

“…these wishes give me back the hope of my life,” Seira finally uttered.

Seira’s words trailed off into the ethers.  Eudocia looked with earnest at her valet.  The Empress approached Paulinus and handed back the scroll.  She put her hand on his arm and for an instant Seira saw a sparkle of light emerge between them; their affection was evident.

“Paulinus.  I believe we’ll need the bigger map,” she said, turning to Seira with a mischievous look as Paulinus left the room. “I might need a potion to calm my nerves before this night is through, woman of mystery,” she said. “It seems that the one God is smiling upon you.  Now, let us talk about Isaac,” Eudocia said secretly.

“You also know Isaac?  But…”

How are all these things possible?  Seira thought.

“Seira,” Eudocia said.  “I am an ardent supporter of the freedom for the Jewish people, without my husband’s knowledge, of course. If only my dear, sweet husband knew his riches lined the pockets of his conspirators. The Imperial gold helps me to save the Jews from iniquitous treatment.  The Huns rank second to the Romans with immoral prejudices,” Eudocia said.

The Empress’ cheeks flushed slightly when she spoke passionately about her purpose.

“Paulinus and I have borrowed some of the gold, on more than one occasion,” she said.  “This is how we have plotted the escape of many Jews from this city. And it is Isaac who retrieves the Jews and ushers them to safe havens.  I have never met the Rabbi, yet we have created a mutual alliance, which assists so many innocent people.  The time nears, however, when we must act quickly.  There are Roman spies infiltrating my very home.  It won’t be long before my husband, pressured from the Church, removes all Jews from the palace. And perhaps even me,” she said in a burst of humor.

Paulinus walked softly into the room with another scroll. 

“Paulinus has studied with Isaac,” Eudocia said proudly.

Seira felt her own heart pound loudly.  Rays of light shined into her mind from all parts of the Cosmos. 

“Surely this is a road I am meant to take. And Isaac!” Seira said.

Seira’s disbelief faded quickly, replaced with renewed optimism.  The thought of being with Alexander, of seeing Isaac again filled Seira with great expectations of a meaningful life, of family and a home, especially at an age in a woman’s life when hope typically dies for such wants.

“Paulinus, is he well?  Where is he?  I am almost too excited to think about what this can mean,” Seira said as she stood and clasped her fingers together. “And what of Kiki?” she asked.

“Kiki? I know no such person,” he said.

Seira felt a solitary pang of heaviness with the thought of Kiki’s death. Isaac without Kiki could only mean that Kiki’s spirit hovers in the ethers. How can one person know if the last moment spent with another is truly the last? This thought plagued Seira since her mother’s death provoked her once again.

If I only knew, she thought….I would have made the last moment endless.

“Is it possible to live the life I choose?” Seira asked.

“Paulinus, the map,” said the Empress.

Paulinus unrolled the scroll and laid it across the table.  He slid palm sized glass weights to each edge of the map, holding it securely on the table. Eudocia looked at Seira sternly.  She pointed to the numerous scrolls behind her.

“Is it possible to choose your life? My dear, every word on those shelves say it is so. You would do well to read them and then believe them.  Ponder this time as your return to the world,” Eudocia said.

Seira held at the scrolls.  She remembered hiding from her nurse in Hypatia’s library.  Before Seira could read, she looked at the words and wondered what magic they held.  Seira turned toward Eudocia.

“‘As a man thinketh in his heart, so is he and so is the world wherein he dwelleth.’  Jesus spoke those words.  What thoughts would you use to create your world now?” asked Eudocia.

Seira looked at Paulinus and the Empress.

Alexander lay below deck, in the food store, separate from the Ruga’s sentries, Tarvel and Umar.  Alexander stayed quiet and pretended to sleep while he counted the steps of the Hun guards on deck: seven, eight, nine, ten, eleven. 

Earlier, Attila commanded Tarvel and Umar to keep a close eye on the shoreline should Bleda or Ruga need them.  Alexander wondered if Attila had some other purpose in ordering his hands untied.  It seemed all too favorable for Alexander, so he kept in observance for a Hun trap. A ship’s captain must be ready to act in any situation.

Alexander was unaware of Hunnish tactics. His knowledge of Attila lacked in truthful details so he relied upon his instincts as he waited, listened.  The wooden boards creaked above his head.

Alexander sat up as he heard Hunnish and finally Latin.  He climbed the steps to the main deck.  Tarvel and Umar neared the plank.  Alexander listened closely.  Two servants, sent by the Empress, attempted to board the ship with trays of cooked meats, ample wine, and fruits for the Huns. 

“Hazaad!” Alexander exclaimed as he stole behind a row of amphoras filled with oil.

His strong, steady hands held tight to the gunwale as he hoisted his body over the side.  He gripped the thick ropes that held the mast and furled sails.  Alexander slid down the ropes like a slithering serpent.   Cool water encompassed him as he held his breath and submerged, swimming silently, like the local balik that swam in these waters.  Moonlight shimmered just above the water, leaving gleaming shafts of light to lead his way to shore.  A dripping figure emerged from the lapping tide as he concealed himself behind a palm tree.  Here he would wait, calculate the movements of the guards by the gates, and pray for another miracle.

A quiet knock rapped on the library door.  Paulinus entered. He was one of four servants allowed to move freely in the Palace.  Direct communion with the Empress was a dignified honor.

“Madame Empress, the victuals are delivered to the ship,” said Paulinus.

“Oh, this is wondrous news,” she said.

“I do not understand your plot,” Seira said.

“No Hun can resist wine with dinner, save for perhaps one raised in a Christian household,” she said, referring to Attila.  “And even therein lies the contradiction, as the Romans gorge themselves upon drink.  Inasmuch, the gift of the Palace wine is somewhat treated with a sleep potion,” she said then added, “And the pork is salted to ensure an enormous thirst!” 

Eudocia burst out laughing and combed her fingers through one side of her head, gently shaping her hair.

“I am… speechless,” said Seira.

Seira acknowledged her own roguish thoughts, but none so actively sly.

“If your captain is worth his weight in sea pearls, my dear, he will make use of this gift.”

Seira ran to the balcony and pushed the fabric aside.   She scanned the night like a cat.  Her figure silhouetted by moonlight stood as a beacon to Alexander, although she didn’t see him crouched in the shadows behind the dunes.

This is all too easy, he thought as he looked up at Seira, his heart pounding, keeping up his guard, waiting for an attack.

Alexander suddenly dashed from sand dune to tree, closer to Seira’s outline.  A feminine voice permeated the air, although the words were inaudible.

“… and  I cannot relieve the Palace guards, however, so then it is up to Alexander’s prowess to follow our pathway,” Eudocia said.

It felt true; Seira had been away from the world in a chosen, confined commune that did not represent the whole of life. Seira inspected the sand dunes but saw nothing. The sea was black except for a stream of undulating moonlight.

“My dear, Seira, come inside. The damp air can be wicked to those with fatigue,” Eudocia said holding out her arm out to Seira. 

Seira hesitated but left the stone and marble balcony.

“It is a treacherous world for a woman and for a woman with power.  We must do what we must to survive and maintain our purpose.  Yes?”

“Yes, Empress,” said Seira.

“And without too much harm, if at all possible,” said Eudocia. “Never mind that. The hour is late.  Let us retire so that you might rest.  The negotiations will continue for at least another day or so. We have made much progress. There is still time,” Eudocia said confidently.

“Progress?” asked Seira.  “But I am still uncertain of what and to where we have progressed,” Seira said annoyed then paused to collect her emotions that began to scatter.  “I am tired, Empress, I mean nothing by…”

“No,” said Eudocia nearing Seira and putting her arms around her tightly. “No.  You will not give apologies for surviving,” said Eudocia softly.

The Empress pulled back and held Seira’s shoulders affectionately.  Seira smiled and relaxed for a moment.

“And you will call me Eudocia.  Paulinus has already dispatched a letter to Isaac.  We move with haste, tomorrow at dusk,” she said.

“Haste? Move to where?” asked Seira.

“Seira.  You leave Constantinople by sunset tomorrow.  And when Alexander arrives, he will leave with you,” said Eudocia.

Seira felt stunned.  Not having slept for so long made her dizzy. All the unexpected events in recent months led Seira to believe that she had even less control over her life than she ever realized.  Seira felt a sudden need to resist being told what to do.  Her stubborn nature that fit in so well with Hunnish life did not serve her now.  Seira had to release her fear and begin to trust.

“If I dare cry again I shall kill myself as we stand,” she said, putting her hands over her face.  “Have you any left of the sleep potion?” Seira mumbled between her fingers.

“Paulinus,” said Eudocia and nodded. Paulinus spread another map open wide.  On it held detailed sketches of each dwelling in Constantinople.  Eudocia pointed to the Palace outline.  Seira noticed that beneath the palace lay a tunnel which led to the church.  Behind the church lay a small road out of the city gates.

“But I cannot simply leave the city by this exposed road,” Seira said.

“Look,” said Eudocia.  “Beneath the church lies a secret vault.  It is symbolized here by an eagle.”

She tapped on the eagle emblem.  Seira leaned in closely.  It was the same eagle symbol affixed to Mundzuk’s gold necklace.  Seira recognized it immediately.

“Is that the sign of the Foederati?” She asked.

The Empress showed surprise.

“You know of the Foederati?”

“Attila’s father wore a necklace with this emblem.”

Seira peered at the map again putting the puzzle pieces together in her weary mind.

“I’ll go through the vault to where?”

“There is another tunnel which leads under the city gates,” Eudocia said and traced her finger across an imaginary road from the church beneath the city wall. “The egress is here, at this cave in the mountain.”

Seira nodded slowly. The plan came clearer in her mind.

“Eudocia, surely I cannot walk plainly in sight from the palace to the tunnel with my style of dress. Even cloaked I might be recognized or appear suspicious,” Seira said with concern.

The Empress said nothing for a short time. She reexamined the map then glanced at Seira.

“It’s simple,” she said, letting the map roll across the table. “We’ll dress you like a Jewess. No one notices the faces of the Jews, especially the faces of the women who are already invisible in this world of men.”