Page 83 of The Eagle's Vault

What wasn’t the matter with me? I was cold. I’d been betrayed. And I wanted Declan. “Nothing. How much longer?”

“Daniel,” Enzo said, “tell her about the Ninth Legion.”

“I don’t need him to tell me that,” I said. “The Legio IX Hispana is a mystery to historians. They were one of the greatest units in the Roman Empire, until Boudicca defeated them. More than half survived and then they continued serving.”

Daniel nodded and took another sharp turn, so the corridor narrowed again. “You know your history.”

Isaac glanced at me, lips a thin line. Keep your mouth shut, that look said.

Why bother, Isaac? Don’t want me to outshine you down here, too?

I’d done additional research after visiting Ferraro. “No one knows what happened in the end, but they vanished sometime around 108 AD. The most common theory is that they went north of Hadrian’s Wall and were decimated there. A few years ago, some artifacts were found in the Netherlands, which suggests they survived and moved, though it’s still hotly debated.”

I paused, looking at the walls around us, the weight of history pressing in. These catacombs were in use that long ago. The dead couldn’t be buried within the city walls, and the Christians didn’t believe in cremation. So, they built huge underground spaces which were cheaper than graveyards.

Daniel said, “There was a listing of all legions written in 197, and they weren’t on it.”

“They just vanished. Like ghosts.” A shiver ran up my spine. Would Isaac and I vanish forever down here? If we did, it was likely no one would ever find us. I swallowed hard.

We weren’t going to die down here. I just started standing up for myself. There was a whole new life for me to live.

“You still haven’t explained,” said Daniel, “what that has to do with a vault crafted by da Vinci?”

The sound of Pavel’s disdain bounced off the cool stone walls. What was the dynamic at play there? How long had they had Daniel? Ferraro said he’d gone missing a month ago. Had he been with Fenix that long? Was he a willing participant like Ferraro’s head of security suspected? Or was he a prisoner like us?

Either way, if Daniel didn’t understand the connection between the two legends, what use was I? I kept my composure and turned my attention to the more pressing matter at hand, trying to piece the puzzle together. When Giovanni had mentioned a Pope’s involvement, it had struck a chord in me.

My mind raced back to the stolen notebook from Cassaforte. It was a well of knowledge, a window into the research Daniel had done. Did Enzo and Pavel know I’d reviewed the notebook in detail? How much could I say without giving them too much? “We were on a tour here yesterday, and our guide said they found a door with markings that resembled da Vinci’s sketches. He didn’t really build a vault down here, did he?”

Daniel rubbed his forehead, his flashlight wavering. “From what I’ve seen, and the design intricacies of the vault itself, it’s possible. But the timeline doesn’t make sense.”

I’d said the same thing to Ferraro.

“Whether it was da Vinci himself or a student of his school of thought…” Daniel let out a sigh, rolling his shoulder and holding it close to his body. “Whatever’s inside isn’t just a treasure. It could be dangerous.”

Not more dangerous than the men walking behind me.

You just have to survive until Declan arrives. Be valuable.

“I think I can help.” If we ever got there. “Are there specifics you can share about this vault? Something that might help us figure it out?”

Daniel hesitated for a beat, then offered, “There are twelve symbols which evoke the zodiac carved into its front. Each has a slot, but my suspicion is only one of them serves as the true keyhole.”

That detail hadn’t been in the notebook. Too bad, since I could have done some research if I had the internet. “What do the symbols look like?”

“You’re a curious little one.” Enzo chuckled. “I like that.”

Isaac halted, and Enzo nearly ran into him. He didn’t even glance at me, though, his glower trained on Enzo. “Shut up.”

Daniel and I stopped, with Isaac between us and the thugs.

“Maybe we should hire her to help rebuild the phoenix.” Enzo said to Pavel, as he walked straight up to Isaac, easily four inches taller, stopping just before their chests touched.

“Isaac, stop.” I grabbed his arm. This was foolish. I had a plan—get to the vault and kill time. Not get killed before we even arrived.

But Isaac’s reaction wasn’t fear. It was confidence. He lifted an accusatory finger at Enzo. “She doesn’t belong down here!”

Enzo swatted the finger away, the scar on his cheek puckering as the corner of his lip curled into a snarl. “And yet here she is, ready to do whatever we need.”

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