Selene of Alexandria (33 page)

"None, Master." The two continued to the Prefect's rooms. "The runners report Abundantius will be here with the troops by sunset tomorrow."

"Too late." Orestes ran a hand through his hair, releasing a shower of ashes. "Are guards posted where I ordered?"

Orestes scrubbed his tired eyes and said, "I fear I've met my match. Cyril's rage blows a bitter wind through this city that I cannot turn aside."

"It is surely a dark day, Master. Can you come to some accommodation with the Patriarch that will end this impasse?"

"The lines are clearly drawn. Only the Emperor, or possibly the city fathers, can rein him in." Orestes strode into his office. "I must write my report to the Emperor and make my needs clear."

Someone shook her shoulder. She put a name to the voice and opened one eye. Rebecca. Selene shot up, suddenly awake. "What?"

Tears streamed down Rebecca's face. "The Patriarch is expelling the Jews from Alexandria. My brother Aaron is in the kitchen."

Selene grabbed a robe and followed her friend. Aaron sat at the kitchen table with a bloody bandage on his arm and bruises around his neck. Although he had matured to a slightly built youth with the downy beginnings of a beard in the past two years, Selene knew his mind was still that of a child.

Rebecca placed her hands on her brother's shoulders. "Tell Mistress Selene your story, Aaron."

He relaxed slightly at Selene's encouraging smile. "I was home alone with Momma 'cause our brothers..." His eyes shifted quickly to Rebecca and back.

"I tried to protect Momma, but a bad man put his hands around my throat and squeezed. It got dark." He touched the bruises and shuddered. "I don't like the dark."

Rebecca put her arms around the boy and rocked him. "You were very brave to fight the bad man, Aaron. Tell Mistress Selene the rest of your story."

The boy took a deep breath and continued, shakily, "When I woke up, Momma was gone. I hid until it was real dark, then I sneaked here like 'Becca said to do if there was trouble. It's scary in the dark without Momma." Tears traced muddy runnels down his dirty cheek. "Where's Momma?"

Rebecca patted his back. "You did well, Aaron. You tried to help Mother and you found your way here all by yourself, just like I taught you. Come. You can sleep on my pallet tonight."

"What about Momma?" the boy pleaded.

Rebecca hugged his frail body. "I don't know, duckling, but you'll be safe here." She led him to the servants' quarters and returned shortly to sit opposite Selene at the table. Rebecca hung her head in her hands.

"What can I do?" Selene asked.

"Keep Aaron safe. I have to look for my mother. It's all over town. Jews are being beaten, killed, forced out of the city. The richer ones are trying to sell their businesses and possessions before moving on. The poorer ones have already lost everything. They're camping in the Boukolia."

Selene shuddered. The Boukolia, pasture lands of sparse shrubs and wild cattle, also boasted a fair number of brigands. The soldiers of Nicopolis kept order among the rough inhabitants, who were known to assault travelers, murder one another and break into open rebellion, but it was uncertain the troops could or would protect thousands of fleeing Jews.

"What about you?" Selene grasped Rebecca's hands. "I don't want you to go, but I've said many times I will help any way I can. Ask anything of me."

"I must try to find my family."

"But your shoulder! The Boukolia is not safe even if you were uninjured."

"I may not have to go to the camps, but if I do, I'll be in better shape than most." She glanced at the dark archway leading to the servant's quarters. "Please care for Aaron until I get back. He'll be frightened when he wakes up in a strange place." She shook herself and rose. "I hope to be back by dark tomorrow. If I'm not, wait another day before doing anything."

Selene rose and hugged her friend. "What should I tell Phillip?"

"Nothing! He must not follow me to the camps! It would be his death if they discovered he was Christian. If I don't come back, maybe Lady Hypatia or Mother Nut knows someone who can help, but please keep Phillip here."

"I'll do what I can. Phillip is a man grown, and I have little influence in such matters." Selene's mouth quirked in a lopsided smile. "After all, he is my brother."

"He is, indeed." Rebecca glanced despairingly at the empty doorway. "Do what you can…for his sake and mine."

Selene captured Rebecca's hand. "Be well, my friend, and stay safe."

Chapter 26

Selene waited anxiously for Rebecca throughout the next day. She set Aaron some small tasks to keep him busy. When the sun lowered, she had to calm his fears as well as hers. Luckily, Phillip was out of the house and she did not have to apprise him of Rebecca's absence.

On the second morning, Hypatia came to visit. Selene greeted her in the vestibule and conducted her to the solarium. "Honored Teacher, I'm so glad you're here. I missed your visit to my father two days past."

"I'm afraid that visit bore little fruit." Hypatia looked grim. "Your father was receptive, but we didn't have time to stop the Patriarch. Perhaps now that he has achieved his ends, Cyril will be more accommodating." She shook her head and smiled. "I've come on a more personal errand – to assure the health and good countenance of my favorite female student."

Selene snorted. "Lady, I'm your only female student. My health is good and – I'm told – my countenance fair, but my heart is troubled."

"How may I help?"

Selene told Hypatia about Rebecca and her fears.

"This is a delicate matter." Hypatia said. "Abundantius has arrived with his troops and is restoring order, but it is still dangerous." She looked sharply at Selene. "I highly recommend you do not rush off to the camps."

"I don't intend to." Selene blushed then paled. "But I have to do something!"

"I am not without resources, but in these times, it is difficult to get reliable information. I'll send word as soon as I can."

"Thank you, Lady. It is more than I hoped."

"More than you hoped?" Hypatia raised an eyebrow. "Do you feel I hold you in such low esteem that I would be unwilling to help?"

"No, Honored Teacher! Only that, with so many demands on your time, the troubles of a Jewish servant might not be worth your attention." Selene lowered her head.

"Ordinarily, the troubles of a Jewish servant would not be worth my attention," Hypatia answered dryly. "But these are not ordinary times and you are no ordinary student." She put her hand under Selene's chin and tilted her face. "When you see something wrong, your first impulse is to fix it – to be the strong one. You sometimes forget others can help. You needn't go through life keeping secrets and fighting all your battles alone, Selene. It sometimes helps to talk."

Tears tickled the back of her throat and blurred her eyes. Selene took several deep breaths to calm herself. Looking into Hypatia's concerned face, a dam seemed to burst in Selene's chest. Tears welled and she shook with deep bone-wracking sobs. Hypatia gathered Selene to her breast and rocked her with soothing nonsense words, until she quieted.

Selene pulled away, wiping at her eyes. "Thank you, Honored Teacher. I'm better."

"I had hoped by now, you would regard me as more than your teacher," Hypatia said with a touch of sorrow. "You once asked me if I missed having children and I said I've had hundreds. But they are all sons. You are my only daughter."

Selene acknowledged Hypatia's affection with a bowed head and a simple, "I'm honored." Still shaking from her emotional outburst, Selene told Hypatia of the last several days – the terror, anger and shame of near-rape; the horror and exhaustion of riots and death; her fear for Rebecca and Phillip; her self-doubts. Hypatia said little during Selene's recitation, encouraging her with nods and murmured syllables. Stumbling to a hiccuppy close, Selene felt drained.

"But I've nearly been killed – twice!" Selene frowned. "And it's not just me. I've put my friends in danger. Some would consider me supremely unlucky."

"We make our own luck, child." Hypatia gripped Selene's shoulder, looking deep into her eyes. "You wear your soul on your face. It is your nature to move, act, change. You could no more ignore those suffering people in Rhakotis or leave your brother to his fate than a flower could turn from the sun. You must not deny your nature or cripple your soul out of fear. That way lies bitterness and a wasted life. Many obstacles littered my path. Each one I overcame made me stronger and surer. You have set yourself on a similar road, Selene. Do not turn aside. However…" Hypatia's eyes sparkled. "…you might give some thought to safer ways to pursue your course."

"I will." Calmness settled over Selene after the storm of her emotions. "I didn't know who to talk to. Thank you."

A warm smile brightened Hypatia's face as she pushed a strand of hair out of Selene's face. "The most important lessons in life are not learned in the classroom, my child. Come to me anytime your mind or heart is troubled." Hypatia gathered her robes and rose. "Now I must be on my way. I'll send word of my researches."

Selene saw her out and collapsed on a bench by the entrance. She knew Hypatia spoke wisely and out of love, but Selene trembled at the thought of taking up her previous course. She needed time.

Rebecca did not come home by sundown that evening, but Phillip did. He looked around expectantly as Selene greeted him. "How's father? Where's Rebecca?"

"Father is fine." Selene sat on a bench and patted a spot beside her. "Sit with me a moment, brother."

He sat, a worried frown marring his handsome face. Selene told him of Aaron and Rebecca.

Phillip's face paled. "Rebecca left? I never thought she would go with the others." He jumped to his feet. "I've got to talk to her."

Selene grabbed her brother's arm. "Rebecca didn't want you to follow her. You can't help her by going to the camps and getting killed. Hypatia promised to find out what she can. Go to Orestes. Surely he has people who can help. Just promise you won't go into the camps after her."

"That's a promise I can't make." He shook off her hand and crossed his arms.

She crossed her own and barred his way to the door. "If you go to the camps, I'll have to follow, so we might as well go together." She gathered her loose hair at the nape of her neck. "What do you think? Will I be safer going as a boy?"

"You aren't going!" Phillip shouted, turning dusky red. "I'll tie you to your bed, if that's what it takes."

"I have many friends among the servants. I'll not long stay confined." She shook her head. "I am better suited to go to the camps and come back unharmed. The soldiers will pass a woman healer through and many will trust me. As a man, you will be suspect."

His face sagged. "I won't allow you to go to the camps in my stead."

"I'm only asking that you not go until we have more information – till we have a plan." She put her hand on his arm. "Rebecca said she would try to get us word. She wouldn't abandon Aaron. Think, brother, and promise me you won't be foolish."

Selene and Phillip exited the servant's quarters and proceeded to the east gate. They traversed streets filled with soldiers, but few civilians. A vegetable merchant waved as they hurried past. Few patrons meant spoiled goods, but at least his family could eat the wares. The purveyor of used clothes they passed and his family could not dine on cloth.

At the gates, Phillip showed the guards a pass from Orestes. Beyond the city walls, they crossed a canal and onto the road to the Boukolia. The sun grew hot in the sky as they passed the empty cattle market defining the boundary between the suburbs of Alexandria and wild pastureland. A troop of soldiers, stationed here, checked people in and out of the camps.

Refugees trickled onto the road, heading east to Judea. Selene watched them trudge past, despair stamped on their faces. A very few drove scrawny donkeys or goat-drawn carts but most traveled with what few possessions they had piled on their backs. Mothers with babies slung on their chests, bowed under the burden of a pack; young men pulled bundles tied to poles; even old ones and toddlers carried their own water. Selene looked at the worn, exhausted people and lost all fear.