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Gia shivered, hugging herself. Claudia waited until the room was empty before she reached out to rub Gia’s shoulders. Gia raised one hand over her own as they regarded the golden pantheon.
‘They were installed as a reminder for the incumbent ruler to do a good job,’ said Claudia. ‘It wasn’t always successful, based on past results, but the gods were more distant then. Perhaps emperors didn’t fear them as they should. Now they feel closer to Earth, especially after our close encounter with Jupiter.’
A group of praetorian guards trooped in, causing Claudia to fall back, watching in her peripheral vision as they entered the palace.
She couldn’t risk rumours spreading.
Her eyes glided over to the largest statue in the room: the king of the gods with his terrifying staff raised aloft, his face curled in a snarl of displeasure. Even the eagle on his shoulder looked hateful.
Had he always looked so enraged? Or had the statue changed, to reflect his current disposition?
She looked to Minerva, watching over her with cool golden eyes. Or at least, she hoped she was watching.
‘My goddess,’ she said, bowing slightly.
When Claudia had lost consciousness back in the cave, waiting out the volcano’s rage, she’d searched for Minerva in her delirious half-dreams. On the brink of death, she had sought comfort from her goddess, but her goddess had been nowhere to be seen.
Gia stared at the figure of her own goddess, Diana.
‘Do you think it was curious, that Salacia came to our aid and not Minerva?’ said Claudia. ‘Minerva is my own patron, and she’s a Capitoline goddess: far more powerful than a minor sea deity.’
Gia raised one eyebrow.
‘Not to sound ungrateful, of course,’ Claudia added. ‘But Minerva was the one behind the whole scheme.’
‘She’s a busy woman.’
‘She vanished in our hour of need.’
‘She cannot keep watch at all times.’
‘No,’ Claudia said uncertainly. ‘But how did Salacia become involved in the plot? Did Minerva send her, to help us?’
‘Maybe there’s a rebellion happening in the heavens,’ said Gia.
‘I do hope so.’
‘If Jupiter is breaking the rules to come after us, he probably has all the deities riled up. It could be the breaking point for the pantheon.’
‘We must attempt to make contact with the goddesses, as soon as possible. We need their guidance,’ said Claudia.
‘How? Diana comes to me only in times of crisis.’
‘We are in crisis. Jupiter is trying to kill us.’
‘Our lives are one endless crisis.’
Claudia was finally standing at the top of the mountain she’d spent so long climbing. She’d arrived in the place she was destined to be. But the king of the gods had broken through the veil of reality to attack her. The future seemed infinitely dark and unknowable.
When she reached for Gia’s hand, it was to steady herself as the world seemed to tilt, like she was still on the ship.
‘Princess?’
They broke apart as a tall, rotund, pointy-bearded man in red robes appeared before her.
Ten or so others gathered behind him, wearing different-coloured togas that designated their role without the house.
‘I’m the new consul. My name is Damocles,’ he said. ‘It is my great honour to receive you alive and well. We heard the news out of Pompeii and feared the worst.’
