Chapter 37
Lombard Keep, South Italia
The results of the war were grim and filled with sorrow. Rosamund witnessed her tribesmen being struck down by Lombard swords, respected leaders falling to Hun arrows, and women being bartered to slave merchants. The most harrowing image etched in her mind was that of her father's beheading at the hands of the Lombard king. Alboin executed the act with chilling precision, cleanly severing the head of the Gepid King. Rosamund could do nothing but watch in horror as her father's skin was peeled away like the skin of an apple.
Her father's skull loomed on the Lombard's dining table, transformed into a chilling wine goblet for their dinners. Rosamund watched intently as Alboin's hand moved toward the grim trophy. The ease with which he drank from it made her stomach twist and her pulse quicken. What a wicked man, she thought bitterly.
"You should count your blessings for being alive," the king would say to her. But for Rosamund, life under Lombard domination felt like a living hell. The cruelty she faced was relentless, and her sarcastic remarks often led to painful repercussions. She quickly understood that the quick wit her father admired was of no use in this harsh reality.
Alboin's wife and their young daughter were the sole sources of kindness in Rosamund's life. Albusinda, just a child of twelve, happily kept close to Rosamund, likely as a buffer against Alboin's anger. Meanwhile, the girl's mother was suffering from a dreadful cough, a sign of a hidden illness that seemed destined to end in sorrow. Although Rosamund had no wish to bear children, she cherished the time spent with Albusinda.
"The Byzantines have been seen relocating back to Constantinople," said Alboin, drinking from Cunimund's skull. "It's our opportunity to seize all of Italia."
His adopted brother, Helmichis, offered some guidance. "That may draw unwanted attention. We already have the church watching us. I am certain there are Roman Catholics acting as spies in this decrepit castle."
"You are much too paranoid, Helmichis. I want Justin and Baduarius to think we are going to take over Sirmium, while we are truly planning to take Italia under our wing."
Helmichis's brow furrowed. "Are we not going to take Sirmium?"
Rosamund quietly savored the boar stew, making an effort to appear uninterested in her surroundings. However, a gentle nudge from a boot against her ankle beneath the table coaxed a smile from her. Opposite her, Albusinda stifled her laughter, covering her mouth with her hand. Alboin certainly didn't deserve such a delightful daughter.
"Sirmium will be ours, and I would like to seal my bond with the Gepids with a marriage." He glanced at the redheaded woman, tapping his fingers on the table.
The old Rosamund would've lashed out at Alboin for proposing such a heinous thing. A wedding of all things! She did not want to marry him. The thought of marriage also disturbed his daughter. Poor Albusinda, caught between it all.
After they finished dinner, Rosamund guided Albusinda to her bedroom, helping her settle in for the night. With Clothsind on the brink of death, Rosamund instinctively stepped into a motherly role, her heart aching for both Albusinda and her sick mother. While looking after Albusinda offered a welcome distraction, she felt an overwhelming desire to escape before the impending wedding ceremony.
Inside her chambers, she combed her hair with increasing force, each stroke fueled by her anger. The mere idea of marrying a Lombard sent her into a rage, and she hurled the boar brush against the door. As she took deep breaths, her reflection stared back at her, revealing bloodshot eyes and a pallid complexion. To wed Alboin would only invite further torment.
A brief knock made her yelp. Helmichis opened the door to her surprise. "Don't be alarmed, princess. I've brought something for you."
"I am hardly a princess anymore," Rosamund snubbed.
Helmichis placed a burlap sack wrapped with string on the bed. Opening the bag, revealed an ivory gown. "The ceremony is in three days. You may try on the dress and alterations will be made, if needed."
She splayed her hand over the gown and immediately pulled back, as if it might catch fire. Helmichis was nothing like his merciless adopted brother. He was clever, somewhat attractive, and still in his youth. Rosamund felt a sense of trust in him, which prompted their weekly meetings in the garden to share their thoughts. It was evident to her that he valued her company.
"My brother is desperate for a male heir," he told her. "You must not let his seed enter you or you will be bound to this place."
She inhaled heavily. "What shall I do, then?"
"Be his queen," he said simply, displaying his grandeur smile. "Marry my brother and I will ensure he never lays a hand on you again, Rosamund."
The certainty in his voice made her insides quiver. Her trust in him wavered. "And how will you be able to keep such a promise?"
Helmichis smoothed his unruly blond hair, then leaned in closer, his fingers finding their way into Rosamund's vibrant auburn hair. The coastal breeze played with her locks, causing the strands near her forehead to curl and frizz.
"I'm going to kill Alboin and you're going to help me do it. Your first task is to secure a deal with the Huns after the wedding."
West Governing Khaganate
A few hours after Ulen returned to the encampment, followed Gabrielle. While he informed his uncle of his findings in the decimated Khaganate palace, Gabrielle stealthily went to her yurt. There, she told Xena everything she saw at the ruined palace. Ulen's crew seemed just as shocked as she did. Though, it was she who found Gohar's body. Ulen wasn't there to locate Gohar, or even bother to mention her, which meant he knew nothing about her.
"Aurora was there," said Gabrielle. "I found a symbol carved into a tree. She left a trail for us. We found her, Xena. We found her!"
The unsettling discovery of Gohar's body brought a strange sense of hope, but the markers left behind were a true blessing. Xena pulled Gabrielle close, enveloping her in a heartfelt hug and kissing her softly. With tears threatening to spill, she squeezed her eyes shut, inhaling the familiar scent of Gabrielle's skin while picturing Aurora's radiant smile. Just as that image began to slip away into shadows, she heard an inaudible whisper.
The voice that echoed was far too otherworldly to belong to Gabrielle. Startled, she recoiled, causing her wife to look up in surprise. Gabrielle furrowed her brow, gently placing a hand on her arm. The soft whisper was unmistakably Aurora's. Was it just her imagination running wild, or was her longing for Aurora so intense that it had summoned the sound of her voice?
"You look like you've seen a ghost," Gabrielle remarked with mild concern.
"Maybe I did," she mumbled.
Xena had her share of encounters with the supernatural. Among her family, it was a playful jest that Kreka Khatun would sometimes haunt her dreams. But for Xena, there was a deeper truth; she was convinced that Kreka's spectral visits were meant to alert her to potential threats. With every unsettling dream, she felt it was a direct warning from the Khatun herself.
Yet, this didn't strike her as something that could be traced back to Kreka. It felt as if it emerged from another realm. Or maybe she was on the verge of losing her sanity.
"We don't have much time. If you draw a map of the palace's location, we can have a soldier send it to Soran and Cera."
Gabrielle shook her head. "Our soldiers are supposed to be injured, remember? None of us can just leave the camp."
"You did."
Point well taken, but there was still a risk sending a soldier. She also went on foot to follow Ulen and the soldier would definitely need a horse to reach Cera. The two encampments weren't nearly as far away from one another as Gabrielle thought they were.
"If we find someone who isn't injured as badly, then he can leave in the middle of the night on foot. It will take longer that way, but..."
A corner of Xena's lip quirked up. "Not unless I leave my horse on the outskirts."
Guffawing, her wife said, "You'd let a common soldier ride your horse? I don't believe it!"
That ghostly eerie voice echoed in her mind. If this voice was in fact a message, then she feared something must've happened to Aurora. She so badly wanted to know if the warning was from Kreka and almost prayed that it was. Some more guidance would be nice, dragon lady.
"I want to find her, Gabrielle," she whispered, defeated.
"I'll start working on drawing the map." That brought a smile to Xena, which earned her a peck on the cheek. "And maybe you could work your magic and coax some information out of Pan Kül Tigin," she hinted with a playful smile.
Xena rolled her eyes. By gods, she hated indulging that man, but he liked her, for whatever reason. As long as she was one step closer to Aurora, she was willing to flirt with Pan Kül Tigin as much as she needed to.
"One of Ulen's men mentioned a prince who may have started the fire," she continued. "Might be worth finding out more about this prince. If he's the cause of all this then we might be dealing with another 'Issik'."
Xena nodded. "Good to know. Did you catch his name?"
"I wasn't close enough to hear it."
"Well, I guess I should start practicing my game-face for Pan Kül. I might even braid my hair."
"Don't try to look too attractive now."
The half of the encampment filled with men and their families was well protected. Gabrielle was permitted to go in the section where the Hun soldiers were. Many eyes followed her as she walked by. Their eyes did not convey mistrust, but curiosity.
She entered the tent, away from prying eyes. For once, she felt relieved to be in a tent with a handful of men—her men. All of the soldiers stood up, clearly healed from the wounds Xena inflicted them with. She wondered how long they had been faking it for the sake of the mission. It brought on a smile.
"I drew a map of where the Rouran Khaganate's palace is located. I need someone to deliver this map to Soran and Cera beyond the outskirts," she said, hitting the parchment against her palm.
One of the younger Nezak Huns approached. "How should I go about delivering this message? By foot?"
Gabrielle regretted saying this, fearing that the young man would immediately back out. "Xena's offered her horse. She's going to ride to the outskirts tonight and leave the horse. You will have to be careful so nobody sees you. It's easy to sneak out of this camp if you're aware of your surroundings."
His courage overrode his fear. Standing tall, he took the map and tucked it in his vest. "I'll make sure to deliver the map, governor, and keep the Khanum's horse safe."
She chuckled a bit. The young soldier was more afraid of riding Xena's horse than carrying out a life-threatening mission. Though, she supposed using the Khagana's grandmother's horse was daunting enough.
Walking out of the tent, she was ready to embrace the hundreds of eyes. Yet, it was a surprise to find the area empty. Up ahead, an entourage of men on horseback rode into the camp. Gabrielle kept her head low and weaved through the tents to get a closer look. The horsemen dressed in all black wearing headscarves to shield their faces from the harsh sandy wind.
One of the men dismounted and unveiled his face.
Gabrielle gasped.
It was Shapur. "Gods, what is he doing here?"
After Bawi was executed by the Shah, the last place Shapur was expected to be was in this rural Khaganate. His father must have told him to find alternative means of money and power. This Khaganate wasn't large, but it was next to China, which possessed many resources.
No! Shapur was stomping up the stairs toward Pan Kül Tigin's yurt. Xena was in there.
In a panic, Gabrielle watched Shapur enter the yurt after relinquishing his weapons. She hoped Xena's temper wouldn't get the best of her.
It was all but four seconds until Shapur was thrown out of the yurt. He tumbled down the stairs and landed flat on his back. Xena emerged, her hands balled into fists. Before she took another step, javelins surrounded her, blades pointing at her face and neck.
"How dare you treat my guest with such disgrace!" Pan Kül Tigin boomed as he trudged onto the wooden deck.
"Anything that man says cannot be trusted." Xena's eyes narrowed to slits at Shapur.
The look on Shapur's face expressed true fear. He stumbled, managing to stand up after his embarrassing tumble. When he entered the yurt, he didn't expect to be met with Xena's boot to his chest. It was the Shad he had to worry about now. Pan Kül Tigin glared at him with sudden suspicion.
"Why would she have reason to say this, Shapur?"
Shapur huffed. "Anything that woman says is not true."
"Please," she scoffed. "I don't know what this piece of trash promised you, but he is wanted by the Shah." Everyone in the tribe whispered audibly, shaking their heads. "His father was executed for attempting to murder Shehzade Xerxes' mother."
Pan Kül Tigin squinted, the flesh around his cheeks making his eyes disappear. "You have proof of this, Xena?"
"I was there when the poison was discovered, and Shehzade Xerxes is married to my granddaughter. I'd say that's more than enough proof and Shapur can confirm that what I say is true."
"Oh, Xena, why did you say that," Gabrielle whispered from afar.
While her words fell flat for many in the tribe, Ulen, standing a bit away, finally grasped the bigger picture. The connections began to unfold, leading him to the unsettling truth that Xena was not as she appeared. He sidled up to his uncle and whispered his discovery.
Pan Kül Tigin entered his yurt with a stern silence, dismissing Shapur without a glance. For now, the Persian would be confined to a tent meant for prisoners, sharing space with others in his predicament. The sharp javelins were lowered from Xena's neck, allowing her to enter the yurt without harm. She couldn't help but smile as she watched Shapur being marched across the camp, hurling insults and swinging his fists at the guards.
Gabrielle had twisted the ends of her coat so much that the fabric threads began to unravel. A hand grasped her and she jumped, swinging around. The group of Hun soldiers stood behind her, a bit nervous and shocked.
"Is the mission still on for tonight, governor?" the young soldier asked.
She breathed sharply. "Yes...I think so. The guards may be too distracted by Shapur to notice your departure. Just be careful," she warned.
"I have seen that Persian in Nezak land before."
This was news to her. "He comes close to the tribe?"
"No, but he has traveled around it. He knows that is Hun land, but he has been spotted before by me and a few scouts."
"Has Cera seen him?"
"I do not believe so, governor. The princess does not often stray too far from the tribe. The Persian may not know he has been seen by us."
Gabrielle hoped that was true, and it might very well be. Maybe Shapur was blissfully unaware that a small band of Hun soldiers had seen him in the forest and mountains. Still, a larger issue was at play. Shapur seemed to be forging some sort of alliance with the Khaganate.
He added, "I did not know he was an enemy or I would've reported him, governor."
She offered him a smile and a friendly pat on the shoulder. While walking through the field, she glanced at the yurt, anxious that whatever Xena was saying inside might put them all at risk.
Constantinople
General Baduarius leisurely walked through the long corridor of the emperor's palace. He was on his way to discuss the empire's budget for the remainder of the year. In his quarters, a letter sat on his desk and he read it as he strolled along. The letter came from Usdibad. It was brief but the contents were dangerous.
King Alboin married the former Gepid Princess, Rosamund. Now, she was officially his wife and the Lombard Queen, despite Alboin's first wife slowly dying. He wasted no time in claiming what he wanted. Baduarius knew to keep this letter close and only disclose it to the one person he trusted.
Nearing the throne chamber, arguing echoed in the marble halls. Justin and Sophia were fighting, which wasn't uncommon between them, yet this fight was so loud everyone heard every single word. Even the guards posted outside looked uncomfortable.
Baduarius listened intently. Sophia barked, "You've stopped paying the Huns. What do you think they're going to do? They'll attack us, Justin!"
"You dare raise your voice to me," Justin groaned.
"All you do is raise your voice at me. I am trying to talk some sense into you, Justin, but you don't listen! This is the most peace we've had with the Huns and you're going to throw it all away."
"They worked with the Lombards to grab Sirmium!"
Sophia let out an exasperated sigh. "Huns are notorious for securing temporary deals, even with enemies. They carried out their treaty with us. They got rid of the Gepids." She continued on until Justin reddened with anger. "Keep paying them or you will have another enemy on your back."
Baduarius had heard enough. It was clear he wasn't going to get to discuss the budget today. Instead of going to the training grounds, he exited the palace and hurried to a building connected to the basilica.
Once inside, he rounded a marble column and entered a backroom. Tiberius, a longtime friend of Justin's, carried a hushed conversation with a clergyman. The man looked to be from Roman land. After Tiberius dismissed him, Baduarius stepped forward, closing the door.
"Tiberius, it's good to see you once more. We've been apart for far too long!"
"Agreed, friend. Agreed." He scratched his beard. "How did you know to find me here?"
"I have spies," he boasted, arching his eyebrows in jest. "I checked all other areas I thought you might be in. This was the last place I thought of."
Tiberius smiled, always delighted by his friend's light humor.
"I have some news you might be interested in." Baduarius presented Usdibad's letter.
A smile appeared on his friend's lips. "One of these days, you will have to reveal your sources," said Tiberius.
"In due time."
"Well, with this news, I say I am moving on to the next phase of my plan."
Baduarius frowned. "Next phase?"
"Overthrowing Emperor Justin." He held the letter over the open flame. "We will have to meet up another time. I promised my daughter I would spend time with her before the birth."
Flustered by this so-called plan of overthrowing the emperor made his cheeks color. "I pray for a safe delivery for both mother and child."
"I appreciate it, my friend. This is her sixth little one, so I fear she's gotten a bit too comfortable," Tiberius chuckled. "I have to remind her to stay on her toes occasionally." He gave Baduarius a friendly pat on the shoulder, silently saying goodbye.
West Governing Khaganate
Xena jolted awake, rising from her bedroll. Sweat ran down her back, slick and cold on her brow. It was a terrible dream, she realized. She had seen Aurora, lying naked in a bed. A shadowy figure was beside her, face indistinct, but Xena felt it deep in her gut—Aurora was not alone. Aurora was in danger.
In her vision, Xena discerned the transformations in Aurora's physique, particularly in her face. Aurora bore an uncanny resemblance to Anastasia at the age of fifteen. It was this striking likeness that assured Xena that what she experienced was indeed a vision, not merely a dream.
If it was Kreka Khatun sending her warnings, the timing could not have been worse. Xena thought bitterly that she would have preferred these warnings weeks ago, back when Gohar took Aurora from the tribe.
She took a large drink of water, the coolness soothing her parched throat. As she wiped her mouth, she felt Gabrielle move beside her, but did not wake. Xena held back the urge to share her troubled dreams. She knew it would do more harm than good. The whole plan was a gamble, and she expected trouble. Shapur's arrival had thrown everything into disarray, complicating matters further.
Pan Kül Tigin felt a deep displeasure upon discovering the lie. He had an affection for Xena, and that alone allowed him to forgive her deceit. Yet, he understood her reasons. She kept silent about Aurora's disappearance and the slaughter at the palace.
Later in the morning, Xena dressed for the day, sharpened her blades, and polished her boots. By the time Gabrielle woke up, she heated some leftover sweet rice pudding and made tea. Gabrielle gave her an inquisitive look.
"Breakfast and tea? Who are you and what have you done with my wife?"
"I was up early," she shrugged.
"I know." Gabrielle nursed the hot cup of tea, taking a sip. "I heard you get up. Is Kreka haunting your dreams again?" she asked, observing the surprise on her spouse's face. "We are in her neck of the woods."
Somehow, Xena felt relieved that she didn't need to explain herself. "I saw her. I saw Aurora. She was naked," she winced saying that. "Someone was next to her, but I couldn't see the face. I don't know if my mind was playing tricks on me, but I saw Anastasia."
"She was in the dream too?"
"No, I—I mean she looked like Ana. Aurora looked like Anastasia."
"And it couldn't be a vision from the past?"
Xena had seen dreams like this before. There were memories that lingered, like the time before Anastasia's room went up in flames or when Eksama was revealed as Attila's daughter. But this was not a dream from the past. This was now. She remembered the hazy form of Aurora and the shape of her nose. It wasn't like her daughter's. Anastasia's was thinner, longer.
"No, it was definitely from the present," she said. "I don't know why that woman tortures me. Nothing about these dreams help me."
Gabrielle spooned some rice into her mouth. "Maybe you aren't paying attention to the right details. When you receive another dream, look at the smaller details."
Ulen's voice emerged, "Good morning. Are you dressed?"
Xena eyed her wife, urging her to cover her bare legs. "We are."
He entered the yurt and bowed. Now that he knew he was addressing royalty, in a sense, he felt obligated to show his respects. He wasn't going to dare dishonor his uncle by disrespecting his guests.
"The Shad would like to speak to the both of you. He wants to know everything about Shapur." He waited in long silence. "Tonight. Dinner."
Xena cocked her head and arched a brow. "I'll be there or...maybe I won't," she said, taking a sip of tea. "You can't have a Khaganate without a Khan or Khagan, yet every time I try to ask about it...my questions are dismissed. Any particular reason you and your uncle are hiding this Khaganate from us?"
"That is a concern for the Shad. I cannot answer your questions."
"Then we won't be joining him for dinner," Xena said with a smile.
Ulen grunted and shifted his weight on each leg, swaying slightly. "What would you like to know? Keep your questions brief."