He could see Amber and Scott returning from Boudicca’s tomb, an elaborate sword belt in tow, though one without precious metal.

“Abaddon, take us as soon as you have what you need,” Cade hissed.

“What was that?” the slaver called out. “I lose patience. The beasts that call this place home will be returning soon. We’d rather not be here to watch them feast on you.”

Cade gritted his teeth, hearing the increasing rattle of metal as the men behind grew restless. He had hoped that he would not have to give them what they wanted. Especially since there was no guarantee they wouldn’t attack anyway.

“Do you know who Caesarion is?” Cade asked.

The rattle of metal slowed.

“Yes,” the slaver replied simply.

“Who is his father?” Cade asked.

“Julius Caesar.”

The reply came quickly, and Cade was glad of it.

“And … his mother?” Cade asked. “His Egyptian mother.”

There was a sharp intake of breath. “Cleopatra,” the slaver said, intoning each syllable slowly.

Cade allowed himself a smile.

“Damn right,” he said.

CHAPTER

53

The slaver was silent.

“We came for her body,” Cade pressed. “She’s buried here with Mark Antony. Her son—your emperor—loved her with all his heart. He may not care much for history, but he does care about his history. So tell me, what would he do if he found out you let us burn his long-lost mother’s body?”

Behind him, Cade could hear the frantic patter of feet and the frustrated cries of Amber and Scott as they roamed from room to room, searching frantically.

“Say I believe you,” the slaver called. “Say you do have it. What do you propose we do? And how do we prove it is Cleopatra to Caesarion?”

Cade had not thought that far ahead. The exchange was practically a hostage situation now.

“Jens, we need to hurry,” a low voice muttered in another language, a Viking language of some kind, but the Codex translated it in Cade’s ears regardless, and that gave Cade an idea.

“We have a machine from the gods. It can tell you anything about Earth. Caesarion has one just like it. He uses it to communicate with the gods, as we do.”

There was silence once more.

“Show us!” Jens called.

“Codex, scan Cleopatra’s body and then reveal yourself to the slavers and give your answer,” Cade instructed loudly.

There was a flash of blue and a rush of air as the Codex whipped past Cade’s head, and then a gasp as the Codex revealed itself.

“Remnant is Cleopatra, last queen of the Ptolemaic Dynasty in Egypt. She was embalmed and entombed with her lover, Mark Antony, in 30 BC.”

“It can’t lie,” Cade said as the slavers erupted into discussion. “Ask it to inspect any remnant. It’ll tell you exactly what it is.”

“It … Caesarion has one of these?” Jens asked.

“Yes,” Cade said. “And he’ll use it when he’s alone with the body. There’s all the proof you need.”

“Oracle, tell me what this object is,” Jens said.