Return to Me - By Morgan O'Neill Page 0,26

but now we’re back. For some unknown reason, Honorius pronounced us dead. Placidia and Athaulf will either think we took advantage of the moment and assumed new identities, or that we left before knowing anything about it.”

“Either way,” Gigi said, “they will think we abandoned them. We should just tell them the truth.”

“I disagree,” Magnus said. “Not yet, anyway. For now we must come up with a story as to why we simply disappeared, something that will placate them, and put us back in their good graces. I would not lose their friendship for anything.”

“I would not lie to them for anything,” Gigi countered, her voice muffled against Magnus’s chest.

“I know, my sweet, I know.”

• • •

After a long, miserable night of little sleep and endless waiting, the morning dawned gray and overcast. Gigi and Magnus sat on the bench in their bedroom, hoping for a royal summons, yet also dreading it.

Footsteps suddenly sounded in the hall. Magnus leapt up and opened the door before anyone could knock.

Heart racing, Gigi watched as he ushered in Leontius, Elpidia — and Vana. Elpidia cried out and grasped Leontius, and Vana burst into tears of joy. She fell at Gigi’s feet, hugging her knees.

Elated, Gigi pulled her up and they embraced. “I’m so glad to see you, Vana.”

“Dear Gigi, you’re alive, you’re alive! They said — everyone in Ravenna was celebrating your death.”

Gigi hugged her again. “We only just heard about it.”

“Dearest Gigi, I never had the chance to thank you. You saved my life.”

Smiling, Gigi drew back to consider Vana, who still wore bangs to hide the brand Honorius had seared into her forehead, the letter ‘F’ for fugitivus. But now, there was a light in her eyes Gigi had never seen before — the mark of freedom.

Vana touched Gigi’s face in wonder, “Are you a vision, or is this real?”

Gigi laughed and hugged her again.

“After I escaped,” Vana said, “I heard … Honorius had everyone from the royal kitchens killed.”

“No!” Gigi’s chest seized with anger and pain. Those poor women! They had all suffered so badly as that bastard’s slaves.

“I thought it was because he was seeking information about my escape,” Vana sadly continued. “I felt so guilty.”

Horrified by what she’d unleashed in saving Magnus, Gigi started to weep as Vana comforted her.

“Neither one of you is guilty,” Magnus said. “Guilt belongs to Honorius alone. Be thankful you escaped.”

“I think the others would be happy for us,” Vana added. “May they rest in peace.”

Wiping her eyes, Gigi nodded, forcing herself to look beyond the horror of that night. “All this time, Vana, I had no way of knowing if you had ever found Placidia, but I hoped.”

Stepping away from Leontius, Elpidia put a hand on Gigi’s arm. “It was God’s will, and, with your help, Vana came to us,” she said, then crossed herself.

“Leontius, ladies,” Magnus said, “we have learned much we didn’t know, but we realize you still must have many questions. We thank you for giving us quarter and allowing us to answer them.”

The steward acknowledged the thanks with a slight nod, but despite what had already been shared, he remained unmoved. Gigi hoped Magnus could bring him around.

“We were able to escape Honorius in Ravenna,” Magnus began. “He had General Sarus hunting us, but we slipped past him.”

Magnus paused and Gigi glanced at Leontius again, but his expression remained impassive.

“That was over four years ago, Magnus,” he said. “We heard you were burned to death and your corpses put on display. We all know Honorius is a fool, which may explain why he would concoct such a web of lies. Be that as it may, you did survive that night. Why did you not return to us?”

“We had no knowledge of the reports coming out of Ravenna,” Magnus said. “It was our belief, at the time, that we were being hunted, and that if we had run back to Placidia and Athaulf, we would have heaped trouble upon you. We watched and saw troop movement, so we went north, and then east to Constantinople, where I have family. No stories of our demise ever reached us, and we lived quietly, until we felt the threat had passed.”

“You didn’t think to help in the wars against Jovinus? Or show up for the royal wedding?” Leontius countered. “It would seem to me you acted very unlike yourselves. In the old days, you were quick to aid and defend Placidia, no matter the situation. And now we’re to believe you simply