Firebird

They land at first light and walk the rest of the way to the military camp. Julian teases Malina for refusing to look at him after he transforms, due to his nakedness. When she finally looks, she notices a tattoo reading ‘SDCR,’ which Julian explains stands for ‘Senatus Dracones Romanus,’ or ‘The Senate and Dragons of Rome.’ All military personnel bear the same tattoo. Malina meets Koska, Julian’s enslaved soldier, and questions if she is supposed to mimic his excessively subservient behavior.

In his tent, Julian has arranged two beds. As he dresses, he reflects on how Malina has changed his life. His desire to protect her alters his original timeline to overthrow his uncle. 

He tells Malina not to leave the tent without him and that, after the battle with the Celts, he punished and removed those who disobeyed his orders or harmed prisoners. Malina worries that these actions draw too much attention to their relationship, but Julian insists that enforcing obedience takes priority. He shows her the small library in his tent, and Malina confirms she can read Latin. Julian departs to inspect the troops.

Malina explores the camp and observes that soldiers and enslaved people work together and share meals and laughter. Julian returns with Trajan, his tribune, and introduces him to Malina. Trajan jokes about the introduction, revealing that he suggested Julian allow him to look after Malina if she needs help. Julian had agreed, though reluctantly. 

Trajan explains the campaign’s dullness and the mysterious nature of the enemy. Survivors of marauders’ attacks cannot describe them. The enemy does not speak or leave any clear trail. 

Malina challenges Julian’s role in serving Rome and punishing rebels. He asks her to eat and talk with him, but she refuses. Julian then orders her to help him bathe. She cleans him using oil and a strigil, or hook, to scrape the oil off. 

During the bath, Julian confesses his reluctance to kill. He admits that he stays close to the emperor in order to dismantle his regime from within—he is part of a secret group that plans to kill the emperor and his successors. Julian refuses to name his allies but promises Malina that he fights for change. 

They go to bed, and Julian reveals that his mother, an enslaved Thracian, married his father after he freed her. Caesar never approved of the union but ignores Julian’s “mixed blood.” 

Malina asks about Stefanos. Julian explains that Kara rescued the boy after his mother died in childbirth. She found him in dragon form half-dead in the trash after his grandfather tried to kill him, per Roman law. Kara rescued the boy and brought him to Julian. Malina learns that Stefanos is six years old, though he seems older due to his dragon blood. She lies in bed and silently vows to help Julian.

Julian’s troops camp near Singidunum, modern-day Belgrade. Marauders have already burned the city to ash. Over the next two weeks, Julian hunts them by day and spends evenings with Malina, but they find only empty campsites. One night, the marauders wake up Julian’s camp and then vanish again. 

They finally locate the marauders’ main force. Julian estimates between 1,000 and 2,000 enemies and orders a maneuver to surround them. As his soldiers close in, Julian realizes the enemy is leading them deeper into the forest and orders a retreat. 

The forest erupts in flames and chaos. Nets drop, capturing soldiers. Some shift into dragons to escape, but others perish. A marauder taunts Julian, burning the Roman standard and declaring the end of the empire. Julian attacks, shifting to half-skin form, but the marauder wounds him. Julian sees golden light in the enemy’s eyes, proof of dragon blood. One of his men calls out, and Julian notices his blood loss before collapsing.

Trajan and another soldier carry Julian back to the tent. When the other soldier insults Malina, Julian attacks him. Trajan covers for Julian, saying he is delirious from blood loss. Malina notices that Julian’s wound bleeds too much. Trajan suspects poison prevents it from clotting, and a healer confirms this and shows Malina how to draw the poison out. When the healer leaves, Malina continues caring for Julian. In his delirium, Julian calls Malina his treasure, a gift from the gods.

Malina asks Trajan what happened to the marauders. He says they vanished, leaving no bodies behind, while 400 Romans are dead. This is Julian’s first defeat as legatus. Julian regains consciousness and confirms that the marauders must be dragons, too. He believes he fought their leader and that the dragons who escaped the woods belonged to the enemy. 

Trajan wonders whether they could form an alliance, but they agree to keep the truth hidden from everyone else. Later, Julian worries that his scar will repel Malina. She reassures him and shares a memory from childhood, when she and her sisters played by dancing across a log. That night, she watches the stars and recalls her bunica’s (grandmother’s) prophecy, that she and her sisters will one day defeat their enemy. Malina laments that she is the only one left but believes Julian will help her.

Most of the troops heal while waiting for Julian’s full recovery. Malina watches him sleep and realizes she also sees him as her treasure. She admits this aloud to Julian. They kiss and nearly make love, but Malina stops when she notices his wound reopening. She tends to it carefully, and Julian persuades her to stay in his bed. Malina connects to Julian with her empathic tether and feels his deep love for her. The sensation lulls her to sleep.

Julian wakes, and Trajan arrives with a letter from Caesar. The emperor commands Julian to return to Rome and report on the enemy. Malina protests that the soldiers need more recovery time, but Julian insists they have no choice. As Malina packs furiously, Julian stops her. She demands clarity about their relationship and expresses anger over her enslaved status. Julian offers to abandon everything and flee the empire with her. Malina refuses, saying she will not let him forsake his allies. They embrace as Julian tries to comfort her.