The Ascendant Stars - Michael Cobley [124]
‘The nearest sagaverse to this one,’ she said, leading the way out to the canyonlike concourse. Halting at the threshold, her eyes alighted on an immense, pillar-flanked entrance with an archaic bas-relief frieze above and wide white steps sweeping up towards it. Solid-looking black letters hung in midair, spelling out Welcome to Magnum Imperium.
‘That one,’ she said.
Harry obtained a swan-shaped jitney which they rode across the concourse, weaving through the frantic swarms of players, tourists and other Glowfolk. Some moments later they were climbing the white stair to a towering hall that was all obsidian columns, gold statues and immense mirrors.
The mirrors turned out to be the means by which their in-saga exters were chosen, after which Harry used the credit account to pay for an all-day access. This time Julia gave more attention to the milieu – an alternate Roman Empire that had developed steam power – and her options for choosing a character-exter. She settled on that of a female military praetor of middle years called Placidia. The exter’s attire was a combination of military practicality and feminine delicacy. There was a bronze breastplate and over it a loose patterned blue robe. A kirtle of scales, and a pale yellow sash tied about the waist. Shoulder pauldrons with long pegs from which little fealty pennons hung, and a muslin scarf wound about the head. And at the waist a long dagger in a plain scabbard. Once she had settled on her preferences, she only had to walk forward and through the mirror to emerge on a sunlit colonnaded arcade overlooking the river Tiber.
Rome was a hazy, smoky cityscape spread out beneath a midmorning sun. The river was busy with vessels, single- and double-funnelled galleys steaming up to the docks or down to the sea. Tugs hauled lines of covered barges to and fro across river-spanning viaducts while bulbous dirigibles flew overhead, trailing smoke and steam.
‘Quiet view, eh?’
Harry joined her at the stone balcony. He had on a mixture of battered grey armour and red-stained leathers, with the symbol of a black wolf clearly visible. He wore a long sword at the waist and carried a large satchel on his shoulder. He gave a flourishing bow.
‘Quintus Cornelius Vibiano, centurio-evocati of the Sixty-Third Legion, at your service, lady!’
‘Pleased to make your acquaintance – apparently I am Placidia Murcius, praetor and trader in fine wines. So, here we are, or rather here we still are.’ She frowned. ‘When should we … ’
‘Return to the Glow and try to reach the representatives ourselves?’ Harry shook his head. ‘I may be a cunning AI with friends in low places but in this place I wouldn’t know where to start.’
‘But time is not on our side,’ she said. ‘If this Nicodemus doesn’t show up we may have no choice.’
Harry arched an eyebrow. ‘Well, if it does come to that there is at least a sizeable amount in that account … ’
A crash and a rumble from somewhere close interrupted him. Leaning forward on the low balcony, Julia looked down ten floors to a cobbled street lined with small shops and odd kiosks on stilts. A steam-powered wagon had collided with the corner of the two-storey building opposite and tipped over, spilling its cargo of oranges across the street. A shop front was demolished and a stilted kiosk had also been knocked over. Some traders were arguing with the driver and his two loaders and before long harsh words led to shoving and thrown punches.
But before things got out of hand, several men in dark green cloaks and leather armour arrived and pulled the antagonists apart. They were armed with cudgels that were waved about or ostentatiously rested on shoulders.
‘The Vigiles Urbani,’ Harry said. ‘City police, basically.’
As she watched, Julia heard an odd metallic creak behind her, like hinges. When she glanced round she was stunned to see a skinny man in a long, grubby coat and wearing antique-style goggles emerging from a trapdoor in the floor of the arcade. For a moment they stared open-mouthed at each other, and he seemed about to smile and