“Gaius!” Tullia slapped the tribune away and huffed off. Diana lay back against the horse’s marble neck, her pointed face tilted up at the stars. “Are you making wishes?” Marcella couldn’t help but ask. A wild little thing perched on a statue—so beautiful. So beautiful she can get away with anything.

“I’m wishing things would change.”

“They have changed. The moment Piso and Galba died, things started to shift. Didn’t you feel it?”

“Things changed for Cornelia, maybe.” Diana’s eyes were still fixed on the sky overhead. “For Lollia. Not for me.”

“Then change them,” Marcella said over one shoulder, wandering off. “At least you can.” Nothing had changed for her either, but it never did. No matter what I try to do about it.

“I just heard Lucius is to accompany the army north as an observer!” Cornelia came to grip Marcella’s arm. “Is it true?”

“Yes.” Marcella shrugged. “And don’t bother being angry at me just because Lucius works for Otho now—you know he’ll toady up to anyone who can advance his career.”

Cornelia brushed that aside. “It could be terribly dangerous. Aren’t you worried?”

“Oh, it won’t be so dangerous as all that. Lucius never puts himself in harm’s way if he can help it. Besides, Otho won’t have far to march, since Vitellius got farther south than anyone anticipated. The two armies will meet somewhere up north, and there will be a battle, and that will be that. Otho’s taking eight thousand men, so I imagine he’ll win.”

“So many?” Cornelia sounded sharp. “I didn’t realize.”

“This is Nessus!” Domitian dragged up the plump young astrologer in his symbol-spangled robe, oblivious to Marcella and Cornelia’s frowns. “I recommended him to the Imperial steward when the Emperor was looking for astrologers to tell fortunes for his guests—Nessus, my Marcella here doesn’t believe me when I say you’re never wrong! Tell her fortune for her, that will do it—”

The young astrologer had quick bright eyes and a ready professional smile—a smile that blinked a little as he bowed over Cornelia and Marcella’s hands. “Ah, my good ladies. Always a privilege to read such lovely palms.” A certain amount of mystical chanting ensued, to Marcella’s amusement. “Lady Marcella, you should prepare for a long journey, and very soon! And Lady Cornelia,” Nessus continued, taking Cornelia’s unwilling hand. “Your heart may now be broken, but rest easy! A man comes to heal it. Now, if you will excuse me, I hear the fates calling.” His eyes flickered over Marcella and Cornelia for just an instant, and then he disappeared speedily into the throng.

“You see?” Marcella smiled at Domitian. “Charlatans always know a cynic like me when they see one. ‘A long journey’—couldn’t he have come up with something a little more original?”