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“Aren’t I too old?”

“You are never too old to enter into the service of the Goddess.” Julia smiled around her cup. “Just because there are some girls who are so eager to enter the temple that they come and act as little more than servants until the blossoming of their moon blood, doesn’t mean we would exclude a passionate woman like you.

“But if it was marriage you wanted…maybe a dowry you lacked…I could arrange that, too.”

“I should be thankful that I have the freedom to marry as I like,” Maggie said after a moment. “Once, I might have been worried about my age; but if you and the priestesses are willing to help me, just about any man may be willing to take me.”

She bit her lip. “I’m sorry, Rabbi; I shouldn’t be talking of freedom. Do you suppose the prefect will marry you?”

“I imagine he’ll have a soldier waiting to serve her with a divorce decree when she gets to Pompeii. As for me, I don’t know. Perhaps that was his intention in elevating me to Imperial Priestess—besides keeping me with him at all times, of course. Should I turn up pregnant in a few weeks…well, even better. At the prospect of a boy, he’ll be certain to marry me.”

“If Josh were here, this wouldn’t be happening,” Maggie said with some certainty. “It doesn’t matter that you didn’t follow him…I know he would extend the courtesy of a fellow teacher and use whatever influence he had to ensure that you could continue to serve your goddess in peace.”

She put her cup aside and rose. “I should go; but I thank you for your hospitality.”

“I’m sorry I wasn’t much help.” Julia got up to see her out. “You came here seeking solace, seeking answers, and I provided neither.”

“You gave me reason to believe I was not a fool. When I was concerned that I had wasted my youth following a rebel, you reminded me that I was really following my heart. Now that I know I have the means to marry beyond whatever my parents can give me, I know I can find a good man; one whom I hope will support me in my efforts to spread Josh’s wisdom.” Maggie hugged the high priestess. “I hope you don’t think I’m too maudlin, but I would like to thank you for reminding me why I’m still alive.”

“
Domina
Julia, I am Mikel, the administrator while
Dominus
Pontius is in Hebron. It is a pleasure to finally meet you.” To Julia’s surprise, Mikel took her hand in both of his and bowed deeply.

“Is it true that I hold power as
Flaminica Imperialis
?”

“Of course,
Domina
. Within reason.” He squeezed her hand and smiled. “Bear in mind, however, that the
dominus
might countermand what you order in his absence.”

Julia gave him a false smile and cleverly wrenched her hand away. “Summon my staff to the second best guest chambers. I want to meet them immediately.”

“The
second
best? But
Domina
, the
dominus
ordered us to prepare
Domina
Claudia’s chambers for you, in the event that you could not be persuaded to…ah…”

“Sleep with him?” She shook her head. “That would be unseemly; just as it would be unseemly to use the chambers of the mistress of the
domus
when she is out.” They both knew that Claudia was “out” permanently, but neither saw any reason to broach the subject. “You will prepare me the second best chamber, as the workmen will be remodeling the best.

“Which reminds me…summon the merchants who sell the finest rugs, furniture, clothing, jewelry…everything. I will not wear Claudia’s castoffs.”

“Of course,
Domina
.” Mikel looked a little dazed and Julia did her best to hide her smile. Surely everyone thought that “imperial priestess” was a euphemism for “the prefect’s next wife” or simply “the imperial whore”, but until Pontius returned and changed the household’s mindset, Julia was intent on proving them wrong. Just as she was ready to give her next order, a familiar face arrived.

“
Domina
Julia! How pleased I am to see you in
Domus
Pilatus!”

“Good morning, Lucius,” the priestess replied with a great deal more warmth than earlier in the week. “To what do I owe this pleasure?”

“Our
Dominus Praefectus
assigned me to you; it is your pleasure I serve.”

“Excellent.” She took his hand and glanced over her shoulder. “You’ll excuse us, Mikel…Lucius has expressed an interest in showing me to my chambers.”

When they were well away from the administrator, Julia put her head down and murmured into Lucius’s ear.

“I want to send a message. Several messages, in fact.”

“To whom shall I send these missives, My Lady?” Lucius asked in perfect Aramaic.

“The first message goes to every commanding officer in the province. No Jew is to be arrested or harmed unless they have committed an
actual
crime, such as trespassing or breaking curfew.”

“Bold move, My Lady.”

“The next is even bolder.” Julia looked around and nudged him into an alcove. “Send whomever you trust to Jesus of Nazareth’s apostles, including Mary Magdalene. Tell them to get out of Judea before the soldiers choose to disobey me. Or worse, the prefect returns to revoke my commands.”

“I will send them in disguise, my Lady Priestess.”

She nodded in agreement. “Those messengers should not look as if they have any connection to
Domus
Pilatus. If you can hire some of their fellow Jews to carry the messages, so much the better.”

Julia screamed so loud that half the household came running.

“
Domina! Domina
, are you all right?” Mikel cried, careening into her chamber.

“Oh, your beautiful hair!” Lucius slapped the nearest soldier. “Scoundrel!”

“What is the meaning of this?” Mikel demanded. “Who gave you the authority to lay hands on the
Flaminica Imperialis
?”

“The
dominus praefectus
ordered us to do it,” one of the soldiers said, rubbing his cheek. “He said, ‘don’t worry if she gets upset. The barber slave will fix it.’”

“Then
find
the barber slave,
stultus!
” The injured man hurried out of the room and Mikel turned on his partner. “Why are you still standing here?”

“I’m waiting for them.” He indicated a trio of slaves, who were hauling crates into the room. As the four of them watched, the slaves unpacked armor that was unusually identical to that of the prefect, save for sigils that indicated the wearer was a highly ranked tribune or some other officer. Everything was there—right down to the burgundy tunic and hobnailed boots.

“You may go,” said a middle-aged man who barely came up to the priestess’s shoulder. As the soldiers and slaves filed out, the little man bowed.

“
Domina
Julia, I am Jason. The
dominus
has told me that you will be riding out with him from time to time, but that he does not want to put you in danger due to your gender. He had this armor made for you and assigned me as your body servant. It will be my responsibility to teach you to put all of this on.”

Retainers and messengers of all sorts flooded him upon his return to the palace, but Pontius refused them all. Word had reached him that Jacobus had had no problem fetching the priestess and she was awaiting his arrival. A slave offered him a bowl of water just before he reached her chamber, and even though he was tempted to snap, the prefect stopped and washed his face and hands.

She was looking away from him when he entered. Jason had gotten her into full kit and was showing her how to tie off her bracers, tucking the strings carefully inside. Her body servant began to go into detail about how to make the greaves cooperate with her boots when Pontius circled around and drew the priestess in for a kiss.

She tasted
wonderful
. He had expected a hint of fear on her lips…instead; he found the woman he had taken to bed; the woman he was starting to love. He stepped back and realized he was stunned at how delicious she looked in armor that was meant to hide her femininity.

“Thank you, Jason,” he heard himself say. “I’ll take it from here.”

“Of course,
Dominus
.” He bowed. “I will see you at the stables,
Domina Flaminica
.”

Jason was scarcely out of the room before the prefect slammed the door and thrust Julia up against the wall.

“Holy Jupiter, are you
beautiful!
” He brushed aside the collar of her tunic and kissed the curve of her neck. “I don’t know why I ever let you go.”

When he’d had his fill of kisses, Pontius took Julia to bed. The frame had been moved out for a forum the month before and had yet to be returned, so a slave had put down a pallet scarcely big enough for the two of them. He tumbled her onto it, lifted her kilt, and laughed.

“What in the name of the gods is
this?
”

“My body servant said there was some concern about my ‘lady parts’ not being able to handle the rigor of horseback riding.”

Pontius fingered the softened linen wrapped around her hips and made a noise of pleasure when he found it easily came away. Without so much as a “by your leave”, the prefect parted Julia’s thighs and sought the sweet nectar below.

She closed her eyes.
I can’t believe the cruelest man in Judea is pleasuring me!
she thought.
What’s more, I actually
like
it!

Julia gripped the sides of the pallet as the tension built and when Pontius was finished, he slid up over her breastplate and straddled her hips. He thrust several times, awkwardly, and was about to undo her armor when he saw her freeze.

“A thousand pardons, Imperial Priestess,” the other woman said in Greek. “I am Constantina, wife of the scribe Lucius.”

The prefect rolled off Julia, glaring. “What is the meaning of this?”

“Just wait!”

“My husband asked me to bring you word,” Constantina continued. “I hope I am not interrupting your private time.”

Julia made a gesture of dismissal. “The news you bring is good, I hope?”

“Unfortunately, the soldiers will only agree to a thirteen-day moratorium,” the other woman replied. “However, most of the apostles intend to leave this evening, after
shabbat
. Peter assures me that those who do not make it out before sunrise will leave before the end of the week.”

“What of Miriam?”

“Miriam gives great thanks to the Imperial Priestess of Judea and sends that she has taken sanctuary within the Temple of Isis,” Constantina announced. She smiled. “My husband let me take the message. Miriam says that she’ll avail herself of Lady Livia’s hospitality, until such time that things die down and she is able to seek a husband.”

“I don’t know much Greek,” the prefect said just then. “But I understand enough to know that my priestess has gotten herself into quite a bit of trouble.”

Pontius shot a look at Constantina. “Repeat yourself in Latin.”

She gave a helpless shrug and glanced at Julia. The priestess made a small gesture, to which Constantina nodded, turned back, and spoke in Aramaic.

“At the request of the Imperial Priestess, all the soldiers stationed within the province have agreed not to persecute the Jews for the next thirteen days. In turn, the followers of Jesus of Nazareth have promised to leave Judea; most by sunrise tomorrow, the others by the end of the week.”

The prefect’s face was inscrutable. “I know you discussed the Magdalene.”

“Of course, My Lord. Lady Julia had encouraged Miriam to seek asylum within the temple of Isis. I was relaying the Magdalene’s thanks and sharing that she may be married within the next eighteen months.”

“I have heard enough…Constantina, is it?”

She nodded.

“You are dismissed. If I see you again without sending for you or outside of the company of your husband, there will be grave consequences.”

She squeaked something that sounded like, “Yes, My Lord!” and scurried from the room.

Julia didn’t have to look at him to know that there was anger boiling under the surface.

“I was trying to rid you of the Jews at long last.”

Pontius rose, swept past her, and shouted into the hall. “Jacobus! Mikael! On the double!”

His bodyguard was first to skid into the room.

“Round up all the followers of this…
Jesus Christ
, but stay within the province. And make it clear that you will be stepping up patrols, so that they don’t think they can slip back over the border under the cover of darkness.”

Jacobus thumped his heart with a fist. “Yes,
Dominus
.”

“And send one of your men to arrest the scribe Lucius and his wife Constantina. Put them in prison…I will deal with them later.”

“Of course,
Dominus
.”

Jacobus swept away just as Mikel stepped up.

“How may I please you,
Dominus Praefectus
?”

“Clear the temple of Isis. Priestesses, guests, petitioners…I don’t care.

“Shall I flog them,
Dominus
?”

“Astute,” Pontius replied. “When you’ve finished, send them all to Gaul—or to Sardinia, if that ship leaves sooner. Regardless, they are not permitted to go to Rome.”

Mikel shot a look at Julia. “And this one,
Dominus
?”

“Don’t flog her. Put her on the fastest ship to Hibernia, before I change my mind and crucify her.”

Once her friend, Mikel grabbed the former
Flaminica Imperialis
around the wrist. “Let’s go,
Domina
.”

As the administrator led her away, Julia Severide glanced over her shoulder.

“
I loved you…
” he whispered.

You’d probably have to be exceptionally brilliant—or know me really well—to realize that the characters in this novella are based on the depictions of the actors in Mark Burnett’s
The Bible
. Thus, in addition to the traditional historical notes, I’ll include a bit about each of the actors.