Trajan led the parade in his red cloak, vaulting off his black horse like a boy and bounding up the steps of the Temple of Jupiter with a grin to split the sun. Plotina unbent enough to smile in return, extending her hands in welcome. He moved with shouts of greeting to the governor of Germania, to the other officials who stood hopeful for his attention. He barely contained himself as the priest droned a blessing and sacrificed a bull, and when he waved to the crowd the screams drowned the blessing. He picked Sabina up in a bear hug, smearing her with bull’s blood, but she just laughed and kissed him on both cheeks and he dropped her into Hadrian’s arms with a shouted, “Here’s the man who’s been missing you, and after just a week too!”

Sabina smiled as Hadrian righted her. “Hello again.”

“Vibia Sabina.” He kissed her hand as formally as if they had not met for months—which they scarcely had. “You look considerably cleaner.”

“Yes, I stayed days in the bathhouse when I got back to civilization. You look very splendid yourself.” His formal armor suited him, and he had dismounted his big horse with a flourish not one whit overdone. No one sat a horse as magnificently as her husband, not even the Emperor. Maybe it was because horses adored Hadrian—even now, the big stallion was nibbling at his sleeve. “I’ve missed you,” she said, and surprised herself by meaning it. They might have met once a day for a cup of wine or the occasional dinner, but their long conversations had withered away under his duties as legate and her hours with Vix.

A crinkle of surprise showed between his brows, but it quickly smoothed out as Plotina came forward. “Dear Publius.” She kissed his forehead possessively. “It’s been too long.”

“Much too long.” He took her arm. “Do I have you to thank for my new governorship?”

“Of course, dear boy.” The Empress waved politely to the troops below, getting a swell of applause. “I’d hoped to get you Syria. You aren’t disappointed?”

“Not at all. Pannonia will provide ample opportunities.”

“Pannonia?” Sabina lifted her eyebrows, turning to Hadrian. “You didn’t tell me!”

“Confirmed only yesterday,” Plotina said, sounding complacent. “Of course Publius must not leave until after the triumph in Rome. You must be at the Emperor’s side for that, he’ll have it no other way—”

Will he? wondered Sabina. Hadrian might have ridden at the Emperor’s back in the parade, but he’d certainly not been singled out from the other legates. Even now Trajan was roaring and backslapping among his tribunes rather than standing, waving, and bowing with his wife and her protégé.

“Wave and smile, Sabina,” Plotina called to her. “It is expected.”