Julian's jaw flexed. "Do you know what happened to Kyrian of Thrace?"
Ben let out a low whistle. "His wasn't a pretty end. He was captured and crucified by the Romans in one forty-seven B.C."
Julian flinched at the words. His eyes troubled, he toyed with his ring. "That man was probably one of the best warriors who ever lived. He loved battle like no one I've ever known." He shook his head. "I remember Kyrian once drove his chariot up and over a shield wall where he broke the backbone of the Romans. It allowed his soldiers to defeat them with only a handful of losses." He frowned. "I can't believe they ever captured him."
Ben shrugged nonchalantly. "Well, once Julian disappeared, Kyrian was the only Macedonian general worthy of leading an army, so the Romans went after him with everything they had."
"What happened to Julian?" Grace asked, wondering what the historians had to say about the matter.
Julian glared at her.
"No one knows," Ben said. "It's one of the greatest mysteries of the ancient world. Here you have this general who can't be defeated in arms by anyone, and then poof, at age thirty-two, he vanishes without a trace."
Ben tapped his hand against Selena's table. "The last anyone saw of Julian was at the battle of Conjara. In a brilliant move, he tricked Livius into giving up his impregnable position. It was one of the worst defeats in Roman history."
"Who cares?" Julian groused.
Ben ignored his interruption. "After the battle, Julian was reputed to have sent word to Scipio the Younger that he was coming for him in the name of vengeance for Scipio's defeat of the Macedonians. Terrified, Scipio gave up his military service in Macedonia and volunteered to fight in Spain instead."
Ben shook his head. "But before Julian could carry out the threat, he vanished. His family was found slaughtered in their home. And that's where it gets interesting." Ben looked at Selena. "The Macedonian accounts say he was mortally wounded by Livius during the battle, and in incredible pain he rode home to kill his family to keep them from being taken as slaves by his enemies. Roman accounts claim Scipio sent several of his soldiers to attack Julian in the middle of the night. Supposedly, they killed him with his family, then cut up his body and hid the pieces."
Julian scoffed at that. "Scipio was a coward and a bully. He would never have dared to attack m-"
"So," Grace said, interrupting Julian before he could give himself away. "Nice weather, eh?"
"Scipio was not a coward," Ben said to Julian. "No one can argue his successes in Spain."
She saw hatred flash across Julian's eyes.
Ben didn't seem to notice. "Young man, that ring of yours is absolutely priceless. I would love to know how someone got a hold of it. For that matter, I'd kill to know what happened to its original owner."
Grace exchanged an uncomfortable look with Selena.
Julian smirked wryly at Ben. "Julian of Macedon incurred the wrath of the gods and was punished for his arrogance."
"That's another explanation, I suppose." His watch alarm went off. "Damn, I have to go pick up my wife."
He got up and held his hand out to Julian. "We didn't meet properly, I'm Ben Lewis."
"Julian," he said, shaking his hand.
Ben laughed. Until he realized Julian wasn't joking. "Really?"
"Named for your Macedonian general, you might say."
"Your father must have been like mine. In love with all things Greek."
"His allegiance was actually to Sparta."
Ben laughed even harder. He glanced back at Selena. "Why don't you bring him to our next Socrates club meeting? I'd love for the guys to meet him. It's not often I find someone who knows Greek history almost as well as I do."
He turned his attention back to Julian. "It's been a pleasure.
"Later," Ben said, waving to Selena.
"Well," Selena said to Julian once Ben had vanished into the crowd. "You, my friend, have accomplished the impossible. You have just impressed one of the leading ancient Greek scholars in this country."
Julian didn't seem to care, but Grace did. "Lanie, do you think it's possible that Julian could be a professor once he breaks the curse? I was thinking he'd-"
"Don't, Grace," Julian said, interrupting her.
"Don't what? You're going to need something-"
"I'm not staying here."
The cold, emotionless gaze was the same one he had worn the first night she'd conjured him. And it sliced through her.
"What do you mean?" Grace asked.
He averted his gaze. "Athena has offered me a way to return home. Once the curse is broken, she'll send me back to Macedonia."