After the Fall(59)
Another shiver and she pulled the covers close. She wished she could sleep … she was so tired … but she didn’t dare take her eyes off Randegund, who’d probably stab her, if given half a chance. She wished Placidia was with her, but Verica hadn’t wanted the reminder, since Placidia was now effectively the queen of the Visigoths.
Poor Placidia. If she ever found out what Athaulf had done …
In turmoil, Gigi sat up. How long does it take to murder that many people? Are they done yet, or are they still at it? What will Magnus be like when he gets back, how messed up?
Rubbing her eyes, Gigi regretted having argued with him. There was nothing he could have done. All she wanted right now was his soothing presence, his strong arms wrapped tightly around her.
Pulling on her boots, she crept out of Verica’s tent and slipped into her own. In the faint light, she was surprised to find their bed empty, then recalled telling him not to return that night. Glancing around, she could see the tent wasn’t as she’d left it. Obviously, Magnus had come back, his blades and cloak stowed in the corner, a mug of wine on the table, another lying on the floor near the bed, the wine spilled. Gigi grew uneasy, wondering at the overturned mug. Where had he gone? Why hadn’t he looked for her among the women? Was he ill?
She checked the nearest latrine, but it was empty, then one farther off, also empty. Fighting panic, she hurried toward Athaulf’s tent, reassuring herself she’d find him there. She passed the occasional night sentry, but no one else. It had to be well past midnight, she decided, because so few were around. Her concern grew when she saw there was no light showing beneath the skins. “Athaulf?” She knocked on a pole, then called out softly, “Placidia, is Magnus in there? Athaulf, where is Magnus?”
“Gigi?” Placidia’s muffled, sleepy voice sounded confused.
She heard movement in the tent, and moments later Athaulf was before her, looking rumpled. “What’s this about?” he asked with a yawn.
“I can’t find Magnus!” Gigi heard the rising panic in her voice, but didn’t care if she woke up the entire camp now. “He came back to the tent, but he’s not there anymore.”
Athaulf frowned. “Not there? He told me he was heading home, that he needed to make things right with you.”
“I’ve been with Verica the whole time, but he never went there — I would’ve seen him. Something’s not right. Please, help me find him.”
Athaulf disappeared inside, then returned almost immediately, fully dressed. “Is my mother with Verica?”
Gigi nodded. “She’s in Verica’s tent.”
Athaulf set off without waiting to hear more, Gigi close on his heels as he burst inside the tent.
“Mother!” he bellowed, sending several women scrambling, but Verica and Randegund slept on. Athaulf was across the tent in a few strides and threw back his mother’s blankets. “Mother, wake up!”
Her eyes flew open and she cowered for a moment, but then her gaze grew hard and she sat up, glaring and undaunted. “Why would you ruin a mournful old woman’s sleep?” she griped.
“Because the old woman is endlessly duplicitous,” Athaulf replied sharply. “Where is Magnus? What have you done?”
Gigi expected Randegund to deny any knowledge of his whereabouts, but a smile pushed back her wrinkles. In fear, Gigi sucked in her breath at the vision of pure hatred.
“Magnus is our bane, Athaulf, though you refuse to acknowledge this fact,” Randegund said. “Ill-fate and ruin have dogged our every step since he first came into our lives so many years ago. It was time to deal with him.”
Crying out, Gigi lunged at her, but Athaulf blocked her path.
Randegund’s eyes flickered toward the movement, her brows lowered over a venomous glare. “Oh, he still lives. I tried to rid us of his whore as well, but no matter, her fate will be sealed soon enough.”
“No!” Gigi yelled, struggling to get at her, but Athaulf held her fast.
“Where is Magnus, Mother? Where?”
Randegund grinned. “I slipped some of Verica’s sleeping draught into wine I left for them. At this moment he is amongst his own — though he won’t be aware of it yet — being taken back to his beloved emperor,” Randegund spat on the floor of the tent, “to Honorius in Ravenna.”
“You bitch!” Gigi screamed in English, then lunged at Randegund, but Athaulf wouldn’t let go.