Return to Me - By Morgan O'Neill Page 0,58
playing a role for the sake of the bishop, or anyone else.
Gigi wished she could tell her grieving friend what the future held, that she would find a reason to live — two reasons to be exact — but this was not the time or place for such a revelation.
Once outside, she, Vana, and the children moved as quickly as they could, keeping to the darkest shadows of Barcino’s back alleys.
After a few blocks, breathless and exhausted, Gigi gave Marga to Gaila and panted, “We must stop and think.” She glanced at the corpse, the wrapping stained with blood. “Put him down.” She needed to figure out a way to get rid of the body without anyone being able to trace it to the kids’ whereabouts.
She turned to Vana. “What do we do now?”
Vana’s eyes brightened. “What about the man we met at market, Lucius? Would he help us?”
That was it! “Vana, you’re brilliant! I’ll go get him.”
“No, I’ll go. You stay with the children.”
“He’s got a ship. You will find him at the docks.”
Gigi watched Vana leave and waited. Before long, she was surprised to see the dim light of a veiled lantern, Vana and Lucius coming up the alley.
Looking grim, Lucius was carrying a heavy tarp under one arm, and protectively holding Vana’s arm with the other hand. He tossed the tarp on the ground, and then hugged Gigi.
“Young man,” he said to Beremund, “unroll it. We’ll wrap the body in that, so the blood won’t soak through and arouse suspicion.”
“Thank God you’re here. Can you get rid of it for us?” Gigi asked.
“I can do better than that,” Lucius replied. “I can take all of you onboard my vessel and keep you safe at sea. We’ll dump the body there.”
Gigi’s mind hadn’t gotten that far, and she threw her arms around him in thanks.
“Vana has told me about the king,” Lucius said, extricating himself and stooping to wrap the body. “Is Cousin Magnus — ?”
“No!” Gigi replied, suddenly realizing she couldn’t know for sure. “No. But I cannot go with you. Take Vana and the children for now. I’ll go back to the castle to be with the queen. I don’t think there’ll be any more killing, but it won’t blow over, either. A rival, Sergeric, has taken over, and the children are in grave danger while he is in power.”
Lucius took Gigi’s hand. “I will keep them safe. There’s a cove northeast of the port. I’ll put in there and wait for you. If there’s trouble, I’ll leave with them and we can contact one another through my mother.”
“Give us a week,” Gigi said, remembering her history.
Lucius nodded, and Gigi hugged Vana, then kissed the children. She watched them leave, hoping she’d done the right thing. Once they were out of sight, she turned and ran back to the castle.
Chapter 17
Initially following the trail of blood, Magnus encountered a contingent of Visigoth warriors, along with their chieftain, Wallia. He told Magnus what he knew of the king’s death. He reassured him the body was well guarded, although he had no specific information about Gigi or the king’s family, other than that Gigi and Placidia had left the bedchamber.
Magnus prayed to Victoria and all the gods they were safe.
Word was starting to get out about the king’s murder and the corridors were filling with panicked people.
Several servants hurried toward them.
“Is it true? Oh, Lord have mercy, tell us it isn’t true!”
Magnus shook his head, but before he could speak, someone grabbed his arm.
“Why have you ordered the chapel barred to us? We would pray for our king’s eternal soul.”
Magnus exchanged a look with Wallia and together they took off.
As they approached the chapel’s closed door, no one stood guard. Magnus tried the door, but it was bolted from the inside.
He pounded on it and shouted, “Bishop, it is Quintus Magnus. I am accompanied by Wallia and his loyal troops. May we be admitted?”
He heard footsteps and waited as someone on the other side worked the bolt. The door swung open and Leontius stood there, gripping a short sword.
Before entering, Magnus turned to Wallia. “Stay out here and guard the door.”
Magnus went inside and secured the door, then surveyed the chapel. His guts twisted — the floor was covered with blood! The queen, on the floor, her gown blood-soaked, too, sobbed in Elpidia’s arms. The bishop sat on a bench, his head covered with a bloody bandage. There was no one else in the chapel.
Gigi!
But for the queen’s