"Desolated isn't it?" Asked Sam referring to the famine-stricken land around them.
Jacob had seen enough and need not survey any longer; he saw that the majority of the crop was unusable and the people were very nearly starving. Rome saw fit to ship barges of grain twice a month but the foods were not being doled out evenly amongst Mauritania's citizens; the ones in power taking most of the goods for themselves.
"How did it come to this?" Jacob questioned Sam.
"It is the rains," he explained. "They were not bountiful this year. The river runs low and does not water the crop."
"Hmmm," Jacob nodded in understanding, seeing the predicament. "I understand but what can we do? Physically stand guard over the food stores and make sure it is evenly distributed? Gods that will never work Sam, there are but eight of us."
"That would only be a temporary solution anyway," Sam said. "What we need is Bella."
Jacob grimaced inwardly at the sound of her name; he missed his dear friend terribly and wondered at what she was doing, if she was alright even. Yes, Sam was right as ever—they needed Bella.
"What I do not understand is how things got so bad here, in Mauritania," Jacob mused aloud.
"The rains-" Sam began to explain once more but Jacob cut him off.
"Yes I understand that part, only this river is fed by the Nile is it not? And Egypt has not had a drought this year, how come then is the water this low, it doesn't make sense…" Jacob could not expound on the issue for long though as he was soon interrupted by the arrival of several men. He recognized a few to be Mauritanian citizens, but the other man looked distinctly Roman. Sam hastened to make introductions.
"Jacob," Sam began. "This is Octavian Sabina, he is the one that originally contacted us."
"Greetings," Octavian welcomed. "It is comforting to meet people from one's home country."
"We do not consider Rome our home," Sam said haughtily.
"Ah, well-yes," Octavian said uncomfortably. "Rome is stricken with many issues right now."
"That it is." agreed Jacob. "Tell me, how did you hear of us?"
"Word of your, er, relief efforts, has traveled the sailor circuits. We seek your help because we were told there are some among you capable of miracles, and Mauritania needs a miracle," Octavian explained.
"I see." said Jacob. "Well I cannot tell you how comforting it is to know word is spreading about our…organization." The sarcasm was clear in his voice. This the rumor becoming more wide spread, it is only a matter of time before they are caught.
"You have nothing to fear," Octavian assured him. "Those in Mauritania care not for the politics regarding Roman slaves."
"And what of you Octavian?" asked Jacob shrewdly. "You sport the family name of 'Sabina', are you not curator to that noble house?"
"I am of no blood relation," Octavian expounded. "Merely curator as I am for many. Once a freed slave myself, I was gifted the name 'Sabina' by Titus the first. This is merely business, I go where I am needed but I find I have a soft spot for desolated countries. Jupiter smiles on me when I take on work for the public good."
"Very well," Jacob said exchanging looks with Sam somewhat more convinced by Octavian's speech. "I must talk with my confident, you see, our miracle-worker as you call it did not make the journey with us and we must meet with her to see if she is available."
"Absolutely, we understand," Octavian smiled warmly. "The drought is not going anywhere after all. We will continue to do our best to distribute the food equally Rome has seen fit to gift us."
"Yes," Sam allowed. "And you see we may have to leave to retrieve her, I hear she is in Greece." He said the last part to Jake who wished Sam would wait to speak to him privately; he did not quite trust the Sabina curator.
"Greece you say?" Octavian said his interest clearly peeked. "Well be careful if you sail that way, I know it is but two day's journey from here if the winds are in your favor, but talk from the sailor's circuit has been quite rabid with gossip."
"How so?" Jacob asked interested in the Roman's words.
"You have heard of House Laurent?"
"Of course," Jake said steeling himself.
"The emperor and new empress have deemed it necessary to vacation there, and tales from the shores of Greece spread faster than the winds can carry them," he said in confidence. "But chief among them is the tale of a ferocious beast, a megaladon to be sure, that came to swallow the illustrious Laurent whole from his own pier no less, while the newly crowned empress watched but several feet away."
Sam and Jacob's jaws dropped to the floor at this revelation. Could Bella have taken part in something so rash?
"Yes," Octavian chortled. "I am sure the story is slightly embellished, but regardless, I would not dock your anchors in shallow waters on the way to Greece, not with the rumor of that beast swimming around anyway."
Jacob swallowed audibly resolved to discern the truth of this story for himself later.
"You have enough stores of food to last four days, that is how long our journey would take," he started. "Please see that it lasts and we will make all haste."
"Very well," Octavian said. "And may Neptune's grace be upon you."
The two friends hurried to their swiftest ship in their fleet, resolved more than ever to reach Bella.
000
Late in the afternoon…
"Alice," Jasper called alarmed. "Alice, are you alright?"
Alice snapped out of the vision that had consumed her, it had made no sense, not until the very end that is, when Alice finally recognized the piercing green eyes of the shabby bearded man shrouded and cloaked in her vision. But it was the feeling that gave her true alarm, it was a feeling of wild, churning danger, of chaos and menacing peril, and all she was able to discern from the purple and black plumes of smoke, was a lonely figure, clad in a concealing cloak, nothing but the beard and eyes that she could use to identify the wondering man in the desert.
"What is it?" Vaspian asked distressed. "What have you seen Alice?"
"It was Emperor Edward," she gasped. "But he looked so different, oh gods, I do not know why but I sense a hazardous threat on the horizon."
"I have sensed nothing of the sort," Vaspian pointed out.
"Alice is never wrong in her visions," Jasper negated.
"And I am?" asked Vaspian.
"You see far off into the future hazy things that are unclear and ever changing," Jasper reminded him. "She sees clear and crisp visions—they may be short and concise but they always happen."
"This one was not clear though," Alice said worrying her lip. "I do not know why but I am overcome with a sense of dread, for him, for all of us."
"Why?" Jasper asked confused. "A huge threat was taken out; you should feel safety for us."
"I cannot explain it," she lamented. "But I must get to the emperor, and Bella, I must warn them."
"It is too late," Vaspian called solemnly. "His ship left for Rome but an hour ago."
000
Early that afternoon…
"Ready my ship Emmett," Edward called impatiently.
"Your majesty?" Emmett questioned.
"We must make all haste to Rome, and we need to go much faster than our trip here my friend, no leisurely sail this time."
"If I may ask Excellency," Emmett began wearily. "What is the rush?"
"Titus Sabina is the executor of Laurent's estate you fool," Edward snapped in irritation. "Why do you think I allowed him to live? The legal issues are a lot less messy when I play by the rules so I have been. In just a matter of days this will all belong to me. There will be none wealthier."
"Oh I see," said Emmett the realization dawning on him as he seemed shocked in enlightenment.
Edward scoffed, "Well I am glad you have finally entered the land of the living. Do you think I would have hesitated to execute the head of House Sabina if I did not have future use for him? I am an emperor, not a Viking, it is better for my image if I do not simply take everything, at least not when I can come by it legally."
Emmett nodded gritting his teeth. Edward second guessed whether it was a good idea to reveal so much to his friend. The man was excellent in battle; he could take on many an opponent at once, but he was not a strategist, and perhaps it would have been better if he had stuck to his original plan revealing nothing to his second in command. Edward decided it would be better to backtrack a little bit; he had to keep his general happy.
"Do not look at me so Emmett I am only venting," he said attempting to assuage his fears. "I cannot shake the feeling that the Sabina's have ill intentions towards my family. You needn't worry though, I will be gracious with them."
"Of course," Emmett replied. "I know you to be one to make well-thought out decisions Excellency. I have faith in your discretion my liege."
"Very well Emmett. Now if you'll excuse me, I must meet with my empress before our departure."
Emmett nodded and hurried to the docks. Edward rushed to Bella's side, she had slept for eighteen hours straight and Edward could not wait any longer for her to awaken; patience was not a virtue he possessed. Reaching her quarters, he knelt down by her side. He marveled at how beautiful his empress truly was—beautiful and powerful. Really, everything about her was appealing to Edward.
He chuckled lightly at Bella's ire, it was clearly not something to be on the wrong side of, though she did seem to have a lot of patience with him, he noticed. He had strictly told her, it would take nothing short of an act of the gods to bring Laurent down before he was ready, no hastily concealed accidents and certainly no attacks from him, well his little empress had come up with quite the solution hadn't she?
Although he should be quite angered, he could not deny how fiercely proud he felt. Watching her lie there in her tunica, tangled about in the sheets, Edward was quite tempted to take her before he left—she looked so delectable. But alas, there was no time for that as he was in a hurry to get things squared away in Rome. He cursed himself for allowing so much time to lapse since the last joining with his enchantress.
"Bella," he sang lightly shaking her slight frame. "Bella wake up."
Bella stretched out deliciously revealing more of her chest the tunica did little to conceal as she arched her back. Edward had to stifle a groan at the notion he would not be able to enjoy his new bride today.
"Bella wake up, you have slept quite enough don't you think?" Edward had done little sleeping since the events of the night prior. Of course he had sidled up to his wife, molding himself to her compliant form, but he was thinking, scheming, as he always had—trying to gauge best just how to use these latest happenings to his full advantage.
"Have I been asleep that long?" Bella asked finally dragging herself into a sitting position. She reached forwards to put her arms around her husband. Edward let her embrace him, simultaneously rubbing lazy circles in the small of her back. She pulled back and he could see undeniable lust behind her still sleep-hazed eyes.
"There is no time for that wife," he chastised. "The world has not stopped on its axis simply because you rest for an eternity."
Bella sat back pouting. "Well at least there is a reason for my need to rest; contrary to you—I was actually busy doing something," she rationed.
Edward furrowed his brows in irritation. "You were under strict orders to not attack him," he reminded her.
"And do you think I take orders from anyone?" She asked in mock appall.
"You had better take orders from your husband," Edward said playfully grabbing her and pinning her to the bed playfully.
"Well perhaps I would if my husband took better care of me," she teased but there was a real bite to her words.
Edward growled at her insinuation, "I would love to show you just how well I could take care of you as you say, but alas I have a ship to catch."
"What?" she asked the rage clear in her tone.
"There isn't much time my sweet, I must make a quick trip to Rome. Papers need to be signed, work needs to be done, Titus Sabina is the executor of Laurent's estate and I must hurry to fetch him here myself, I do not trust the man will come willingly, he knows I will have no further use of him once the deed is done and all Laurent's wealth is ours."
"I do not care for anything of this," she spat. "I only care for us, you can let someone else undertake the task."
"But I do not trust anyone else my sweet," he leveled. "Why must you fear, I will be back in four days."
"It took four days for us to get here," she reminded him annoyed.
"The Apollo is the fastest in the fleet, we will not dally as we did on the way here, now do not worry, the sooner I leave the sooner I can return to you. You must settle things here, see that the daughter is taken care of, and the babe that shrieks non-stop, that should give you purpose wife."
Bella worried her lip as a sense of foreboding seemed to come over her. Edward hurried to comfort her.
"I do not see why I cannot come with you," she stated belligerently.
"I trust you to oversee things here," he placated. "You needn't worry so; I will be back in four days hence."
"Four days, you're sure?" She asked wearily.
"I promise." Bella hurried to throw herself in his arms.
Edward held her tight to him trying to understand the surge of feelings within him. He broke away from the comfort of her arms and hurried to the Laurent docks.
"See that we have safe travels?" He teased arching his eyebrow.
Bella smiled serenely back. "I will see that the winds are ever in your favor," she promised.
Edward reached down to catch her lips in an all-consuming kiss. Edward soon found himself lost in his wife's intoxicating embrace once more. With all the resolve he could muster, he broke away meeting her intense gaze with one of his own.
"I will be back soon, my love."
Bella's eyes widened at his declaration but she did not get a chance to respond as he turned hastily to leave. She watched his ship leave. Edward watched her from aboard the ship, lips swollen and puffy from their passionate kiss and cloak billowing in the wind, until she was but a dot on the horizon. Bella turned away from the sea. What was that? She asked herself about the interaction with the Emperor. She felt as if she was drifting away further and further from herself. Bella closed her eyes and told herself that with the love of the emperor she can gain his ear, and that is the true power in Rome.
000
Bella was a wreck, after soothing the swaddling babe and the panicky mother, it's okay, she had promised, you will be fine, your daughter will be fine, you will have your own villa on the palatine, and other houses to venture to, you needn't marry again unless you choose to, all will be well, you never need to see this place again, Bella could not take her mind off of what happened as she watched the Apollo take off for the sunset.
She had watched steadfastly, a breeze taking up in the air causing her cloak to whip around her as she called to the magic within demanding safe and swift journey for the ship before her. She was quite angered at first at Edward's refusal to take her, but then a little proud at the faith he placed in her, she thought he was truly beginning to see her as more of an equal. Only she wished he had not been so hasty to leave and claim his prize, hadn't they enough already anyway? Sure Titus Sabina was capable of making things difficult but it would all be his in the end, must he be so greedy?
The ship had disappeared from the horizon, when a wild and crazed Alice had ran up to Bella's side screaming for her. Bella whipped around just in time to catch her discombobulated friend.
"What's wrong Alice?" She asked befuddled.
Alice hastened to tell her everything of her vision, of her worries and concerns, Vaspian and Jasper appearing directly after her to confirm her ramblings. Bella looked back hastily to the shore, wishing she had more time to console Edward, he was always so rash in his actions, but alas, it was too late and they were long gone.
Now all Bella could do was simply busy herself with trivial things to do around the Laurent estate. Care for Claudia and the newborn babe she had names Diana, comfort the servants and assure them all would be well, she did not even feel like endeavoring in the clear, blue waters right after the shore, so nervous was she.
Finally, not even a day later, a ship appeared in the horizon once more, Bella hoped beyond measure that it was the Apollo. But there was no such luck, she should have been happy to have spotted Jacob's ship, it had been so long, too long since they had last conversed and Bella did feel a little guilty, but how she had wished it were Edward's!
When the ship finally came in to dock, everyone was there to greet them. Bella ran into Jacob's comforting embrace.
"Bella, you're safe," he cried surprised. "Have you been hurt?"
"No everything is fine," she said dismissing his concerns. "Edward and I are more than fine, in fact he has just left for Rome and I worry for his safe return."
Alice and the others hastened to fill him and Sam in on Alice's fearful premonition.
Jacob nodded thinking hard, "Perhaps we have a solution Bella."
"What is it?"
"The country of Mauritania is desolate and famine-stricken, maybe you are meant to come to the country's aid? If the Roman province reaches ruin, it could not bode so well for the emperor, the provinces could start rebelling again, thinking Rome will not care for them properly."
"I am not so sure," said Alice. "I do not think that was the cause of strife in my vision."
"What befalls Mauritania?" asked Jasper ignoring Alice's warning.
Jacob and Sam explained the state of the country and what they hoped Bella could accomplish there. When they were finished, they looked at her expectedly for her response.
"Well," she began. "It is only but a day or two sale from here, at the very worse I can be back before the emperor returns. Maybe this is part of the reason for Alice's vision, maybe not; at the very least I would rather do something rather than nothing."
Jacob nodded approvingly, "Then it is settled, we live now, no one need know you left."
"But the emperor asked you to stay put," Alice reminded Bella shrilly.
Bella turned putting a calming hand on her friend's arm, "I will entrust you and Jasper to run the estate in my absence. You have absolute authority. Now let me do something, I cannot let the people of Mauritania starve now can I?"
Alice shook her head resolutely. Bella turned taking Jacob's arm in her own, "Come Jacob, Sam, this must be a quick journey."
"I am sure it will with you on board," Sam teased.
Bella boarded the ship turning to wave goodbye to her friends. Jasper, Alice, and Vaspian waved back.
"I still cannot believe you did not see the danger," Alice mentioned to Vaspian.
"I did not see the danger," Vaspian admitted. "But at least I saw the babies."