Return to Me - By Morgan O'Neill Page 0,25

the transition; he was a natural-born sailor, even more so than Gigi. She recalled their previous sailing vacations, which had convinced them that one day they’d buy their own sailboat, because it would be the perfect way to escape the hustle-bustle of her career. But all that had been put aside for now.

Placidia, hold on. We’re coming!

The huge Roman walls, with their round towers and heavily fortified ramparts, loomed close. Gigi suddenly noticed black flags draped along the walls, and her senses went on high alert. Before she could gather her thoughts, Magnus made a choking sound.

“No!” she cried, and collapsed into his arms. He held her tight. “No, no, no, it can’t be that, Magnus. Not after all we’ve been through, how hard we’ve tried — ”

Horns blared and Magnus relaxed his grip somewhat, allowing Gigi to turn. Another black cloth hung over the gate.

The city was in mourning.

Horrified, Gigi and Magnus passed through the gate and spotted the funeral procession in the distance. Light glinted off a silver casket atop a black-draped catafalque. Oh, God, if only they’d made it here sooner!

Choking back a sob, Gigi set off and followed the crowds streaming toward the cathedral. The people of Barcino were dressed in simple shifts of black or gray burlap, with their hair purposely dirtied — sack cloth and ashes. Many wept and some carried bouquets of black flowers fashioned from scraps of cloth. Others clutched wooden crucifixes, with black ribbons wrapped around Christ’s body.

Magnus caught up to her and pulled her aside. “We can’t follow them,” he said. “If Placidia or Athaulf saw us … no, they cannot, not yet. We must give them time.”

Gigi reluctantly agreed, and together they turned back, passing the main gate and heading for the castellum.

As the cathedral bells solemnly tolled behind them, Gigi and Magnus made their way up the castle steps. Surprisingly, there were no guards posted at the main door, so they entered and looked around, finding the corridor empty. They hoped to locate a servant who would recognize them and give them a room until the royal family was ready to receive them.

Gigi suddenly heard echoing voices and the faint clatter of dinnerware. She and Magnus followed the sounds into a great hall, where they found Leontius, Placidia’s longtime steward, directing preparations for the coming funereal supper.

As they approached, Leontius looked up, and Gigi watched as shock momentarily swept the grief from his face.

“Magnus, Gigi,” he spoke soberly and bowed, “it is truly a marvel to see you. We thought you dead, years ago. In fact, the emperor made quite a celebration out of it.”

“Dead? We know nothing of this!” Magnus said.

Stunned, Gigi wondered if their return would be too much for Placidia to deal with. “Should we leave, Leontius? We could come back later.”

“Then you’ve heard of our great misfortune.”

Gigi swept away her sudden tears and nodded. “We are so sorry. We knew the babe was sick, and tried to get here in time, to see if we could help, but we just couldn’t.”

Leontius frowned. “I do not know how you could have heard, wherever you were, since our little prince was ill but one day.”

“What she meant to say is that we worried,” Magnus interceded, “knowing Placidia was to give birth in the winter. It is always hard on the babes.”

Leontius narrowed his eyes and studied them, then shrugged and said bluntly, “Forgive me, but I have much yet to do. I don’t believe it would be fitting for you to participate this evening. As for that, I ask also that you wait for word from me before showing yourselves. And be warned, it might take a few days before anyone is ready to face such a … such an event.”

Gigi started to agree, but the steward turned away and called for a servant to show them to a room. Would their reception be as chilly with the others?

They were soon settled in a bedroom at the back of the castle. There was a single, threadbare tapestry on one wall, a straw mattress on a simple wooden frame, a bench, and a washstand.

Magnus dropped their knapsack on the bed and Gigi put her arms around him.

“Leontius is angry with us,” she said, looking up at him. “I never considered our return from their point of view.”

“Nor I,” Magnus replied. “We always thought the last they heard I was kidnapped and you left in the night to save me. And then what? They thought we had died,

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