princess enveloped Gigi in her arms. “How — why are you here? Oh, I have worried you were dead — what — who are these little ones? Where is Magnus? Tell me, you must tell me everything.”
“Placidia,” Gigi responded. “Please, can the children have something to eat first? Some soup or porridge? We haven’t had much, and they have been very brave, but they’re suffering.”
“Right away, and baths afterward,” Elpidia said, and rushed off toward the kitchens.
Placidia crouched down, eye to eye with the children, and took their hands. “My name is Placidia. I have met some of your leaders and hold your people in great esteem. What are your names?”
“This is Theodoric and Berga, prince and princess of the Visigoths,” Gigi responded quietly. “They are King Alaric and Queen Verica’s children.”
Placidia gazed up at her, mouth open. “Why are they with you? What has happened?”
“There was a battle at our camp near Ravenna a month ago. I think your bro … er, the emperor set up the ambush, because it happened while Magnus and Alaric were meeting with him about a treaty,” Gigi said. “The camp was burned out, we escaped, and so did many others, although we don’t know who survived, for sure. They left before we could find them. We’ve come to you because we had nowhere else to go.”
“Oh, my dear Gigi, how you and these lovely children have suffered!” The princess took a moment to gather her thoughts, then squeezed the children’s hands reassuringly. “We’ve heard some news of your people within the last week, and I want to reassure you your parents are very much alive and causing the emperor no end of problems.” Theo grinned at this, to which Placidia added, “I shall do whatever I can to find them and reunite you. I’ll take good care of you until then. You may trust me in that.”
The children looked relieved, then gratefully followed Elpidia when she returned with a servant carrying a tray of food.
Placidia rose and stared at Gigi. “Where is Magnus?” she asked, her tone hushed, as if she feared hearing the worst.
“I don’t know. I don’t know where he is.” Gigi’s resolve started to crumble, her shoulders to tremble. A huge lump formed in her throat, threatening to burst. “If he’s alive — oh, God, I don’t even know that much — he surely thinks — they all must think — we died in the fire.”
Placidia held her close, letting her cry at last.
• • •
Standing beside Placidia, Gigi watched Theodoric and Berga idle in the palace’s main atrium. Happily sprinkling food into an ornate, marble fishpond, the children were carefree, with no idea why they’d been summoned.
She, on the other hand, trembled with nerves. They had just received news the Visigoths had ridden on Rome, furious over Honorius’s ongoing deceit. They’d made a point of not harming the city this time, but they had demanded an audience with Placidia without any of the usual back and forth of envoys, so neither party had any idea what or who awaited them.
Glancing toward the entry, Gigi hoped with all her heart Magnus would be among the delegation. Placidia was silent, her gaze fixed on the doorway, and Gigi knew she was nearly faint at the possibility of seeing Athaulf again.
In an effort to steady herself, Gigi took several deep breaths. It was certain the Visigoths would find unexpected joy today. Would Placidia? Would she?
Leontius entered the atrium and bowed. “They have arrived.”
Placidia lifted her chin. “Show them in.”
“Children,” Gigi called. “Come and stand by me — now — hurry!”
They scrambled to obey, taking her hands, and waiting. Footsteps approached, and Gigi’s breathing grew shallow, tears of anticipation pricking at her eyes. “Please,” she whispered. “Please — ”
“Mama! Papa!” the children suddenly screamed in unison, rushing across the hallway as their parents cried out in disbelief.
Beside her, Placidia remained
“Placidia,” Gigi responded. “Please, can the children have something to eat first? Some soup or porridge? We haven’t had much, and they have been very brave, but they’re suffering.”
“Right away, and baths afterward,” Elpidia said, and rushed off toward the kitchens.
Placidia crouched down, eye to eye with the children, and took their hands. “My name is Placidia. I have met some of your leaders and hold your people in great esteem. What are your names?”
“This is Theodoric and Berga, prince and princess of the Visigoths,” Gigi responded quietly. “They are King Alaric and Queen Verica’s children.”
Placidia gazed up at her, mouth open. “Why are they with you? What has happened?”
“There was a battle at our camp near Ravenna a month ago. I think your bro … er, the emperor set up the ambush, because it happened while Magnus and Alaric were meeting with him about a treaty,” Gigi said. “The camp was burned out, we escaped, and so did many others, although we don’t know who survived, for sure. They left before we could find them. We’ve come to you because we had nowhere else to go.”
“Oh, my dear Gigi, how you and these lovely children have suffered!” The princess took a moment to gather her thoughts, then squeezed the children’s hands reassuringly. “We’ve heard some news of your people within the last week, and I want to reassure you your parents are very much alive and causing the emperor no end of problems.” Theo grinned at this, to which Placidia added, “I shall do whatever I can to find them and reunite you. I’ll take good care of you until then. You may trust me in that.”
The children looked relieved, then gratefully followed Elpidia when she returned with a servant carrying a tray of food.
Placidia rose and stared at Gigi. “Where is Magnus?” she asked, her tone hushed, as if she feared hearing the worst.
“I don’t know. I don’t know where he is.” Gigi’s resolve started to crumble, her shoulders to tremble. A huge lump formed in her throat, threatening to burst. “If he’s alive — oh, God, I don’t even know that much — he surely thinks — they all must think — we died in the fire.”
Placidia held her close, letting her cry at last.
• • •
Standing beside Placidia, Gigi watched Theodoric and Berga idle in the palace’s main atrium. Happily sprinkling food into an ornate, marble fishpond, the children were carefree, with no idea why they’d been summoned.
She, on the other hand, trembled with nerves. They had just received news the Visigoths had ridden on Rome, furious over Honorius’s ongoing deceit. They’d made a point of not harming the city this time, but they had demanded an audience with Placidia without any of the usual back and forth of envoys, so neither party had any idea what or who awaited them.
Glancing toward the entry, Gigi hoped with all her heart Magnus would be among the delegation. Placidia was silent, her gaze fixed on the doorway, and Gigi knew she was nearly faint at the possibility of seeing Athaulf again.
In an effort to steady herself, Gigi took several deep breaths. It was certain the Visigoths would find unexpected joy today. Would Placidia? Would she?
Leontius entered the atrium and bowed. “They have arrived.”
Placidia lifted her chin. “Show them in.”
“Children,” Gigi called. “Come and stand by me — now — hurry!”
They scrambled to obey, taking her hands, and waiting. Footsteps approached, and Gigi’s breathing grew shallow, tears of anticipation pricking at her eyes. “Please,” she whispered. “Please — ”
“Mama! Papa!” the children suddenly screamed in unison, rushing across the hallway as their parents cried out in disbelief.
Beside her, Placidia remained
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