The Betrayal Read Online Free

emperor’s eyes, and Silvester fought to control his breathing. The emperor obviously considered Silvester’s lengthy answer to be a delaying tactic—even subterfuge. He gave the emperor a weak smile.
    The emperor smiled back—the effect like a knife at Silvester’s throat. “I understand that Pappas Eusebios is, on many issues, our most vociferous opponent. He clearly believes he has some hidden leverage over us.”
    â€œYes, well, the old man is a nuisance,” Silvester agreed. His knees had started to quake.
    The emperor tilted his head. In a curiously inhuman voice, he asked, “Have you failed me, Silvester?”
    A cold wave of fear rolled through him. “No, Excellency, I—I require more time. We’ve persuaded many of his assistants to tell us what they know of the Pearl, but their knowledge appears very limited.”
    Silvester shot a nervous glare at Pappas Meridias, who stood just outside the door, waiting for instructions. In the gloom beyond the aura of firelight, the man appeared little more than a tall black silhouette. Fact was, his mere presence sent a cold draft down Silvester’s spine.
    â€œThen you didn’t use all of the means of persuasion at your disposal. Do better.”

    â€œI assure you, Emperor, leniency is not the problem. My people are very thorough.”
    Meridias sniffed at the affront, but did not enter the chamber. No one who knew him would call Meridias “lenient”—monster, bastard, animal, yes. But never lenient.
    â€œThe problem, Excellency, is that Eusebios has spent forty years dispersing his best library assistants to distant parts of the world where we can’t find them.”
    Constantine reached for a pinch of nightingale tongues, tilted his head back, and dropped them into his mouth. As he chewed, he asked, “Are they still part of the True Church?”
    â€œSome of them may be monks. Others have either become hermits or have simply vanished.”
    â€œYou should be able to locate the monks.”
    Silvester flapped his arms in frustration. “Men receive new names when they enter monasteries. It makes it difficult to track individuals, especially if they do not wish to be tracked. They can simply move from one monastery to another, taking a new name each time.”
    The emperor rose from his chair and straightened to his full height. He stepped purposely around the table; the metal of his jerkin, sword belt, and boot tops flashed in the firelight. The man always stood ready to defend himself from hidden murderers, which was prudent, given the number of attempts that had been made on his life.
    â€œAs you see it, what is the greatest danger?” Constantine asked as he stopped before Silvester and propped his hands on his hips. He towered over Silvester, his dark eyes like embers. The powerful fragrances of wood smoke and roasted meat rose from his clothing.
    Silvester had to tilt his head back to look up at him. “The danger is that they know the location.”
    â€œThen it may be gone.”
    â€œPerhaps, but I think it more likely that it was covered over around two hundred years ago—as were so many holy sites—by Emperor Hadrian in his zeal to destroy the Jews and everything they cherished. Do not forget that it was Hadrian who changed the name of Jerusalem to Colonia Aelia Capitolina, and as part of the construction of the city turned the Kraniou Topon, “Place of the Skull,” into a vast landfill upon which he built a
Temple to Aphrodite. 12 “Or”—he waved a hand—“it might have been obliterated in the year 303 when Emperor Diocletian ordered the destruction of all Christian churches and texts.”
    â€œThen you believe it’s buried?”
    â€œWe can’t know for certain, but must proceed as though it is.” He swallowed hard. “Because if it exists, Excellency, our doctrines will be cast aside like rotted