Read Online After the Fall by Morgan O'Neill - Free Book Online
Authors: Morgan O'Neill
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everyday use, we also offer wonderful treasures from Egypt, Namibia, and Nubia: the furs of striped and spotted cats, crocodile hides, all exotic and very expensive,” Attalus went on as he held up a gleaming leopard skin. “Their patterns and colors are fantastical and beyond imagining. Use the leather for making boots and shoes, the fur for warmth and decoration.”
To Gigi’s relief this gift met with great approval, if the sounds of longing around her were any indication.
Attalus opened the fourth box. The senator took out a golden goblet sparkling with jewels and held it out to King Alaric. “A chalice fit for a king, my lord. We have much more here: gold and silver jewelry with gemstones of every size and color, Persian turquoise, and stings of pearls. It is all we have. We have even scraped the gold leaf off statues, columns, ornate carvings and lettering. As I told you … in all, five thousand libres of gold.”
There was little noise this time. Everyone looked tense as Alaric took the goblet and hefted it in his hand. Attalus lifted his chin and gazed at the other leaders, one by one, lastly at Magnus, before he opened the lid on the final box.
“As a token of goodwill, and a gesture to signify that, indeed, innocent Rome has laid herself bare before the steely determination of the Visigoths, and the callous indifference of our emperor in Ravenna, the Imperial Princess, Aelia Galla Placidia, has, as has all Rome, kept nothing for herself. In the most noble of gestures, she gladly hands over all she possesses, for, she said, ‘its value is as nothing, compared to the lives of my fellow Romans.’”
What was in the box? Gigi strained for a glimpse as Attalus pulled out an emerald-green silk gown with one hand, and held up an emerald and gold necklace with the other.
Gigi immediately recognized Placidia’s things from the night of the dinner. She glanced at Athaulf. He certainly did, too! A noise strangled in his throat, and he started toward Attalus, looking more shaken than angry, but Magnus moved forward and stopped him with a hand on his arm, then whispered something in his ear.
Randegund frowned at Athaulf, while Alaric and Verica looked amazed by his reaction.
Alaric stepped forward, still holding the goblet. “Senator Attalus, I thank you for your generous offerings. Please, take your ease.” He looked around and found Gigi, nodding to her. “Magnus’s wife will entertain you with her flute, and I shall call for some beer and food. For our part, we shall take leave of you, for we have much to discuss.”
As the people dispersed, Athaulf picked up Placidia’s box. “I will have no one meddling with anything inside!”
He stalked off to join the other leaders, while Gigi set down Berga, who scampered off to find the queen.
“Come, Senator Attalus,” Gigi said. “Come with me.”
• • •
The tent was crowded, already stifling from body heat and shared fervor. Magnus watched as Alaric picked up a skein and started to pour wine into the jewel-encrusted goblet.
“Alaric! No!” Randegund shouted.
Startled, Magnus, Alaric, and the others whirled about to face the old woman.
“Poison!” Her eyes were wide, ablaze with a fearsome blue light. “Do not drink from the goblet!”
Alaric shook his head. “Fear not, Mother. Senator Attalus does not seek to harm, and neither does Galla Placidia — ”
“But Honorius does,” Magnus interjected as he motioned for the goblet. “I would trust Attalus and Placidia with my life, but,” he took the cup and gazed at its interior, wondering if anything had been smeared on the gold, “but Randegund is correct. We must never forget Honorius’s arm has a long reach. If you will, I shall take the first drink.”
Randegund scowled at Magnus, but Alaric nodded.
Sweat trickled from Magnus’s forehead as he swirled the liquid, then put the goblet to his lips. He was glad Gigi wasn’t here, in case things went badly.
He took a sip and
To Gigi’s relief this gift met with great approval, if the sounds of longing around her were any indication.
Attalus opened the fourth box. The senator took out a golden goblet sparkling with jewels and held it out to King Alaric. “A chalice fit for a king, my lord. We have much more here: gold and silver jewelry with gemstones of every size and color, Persian turquoise, and stings of pearls. It is all we have. We have even scraped the gold leaf off statues, columns, ornate carvings and lettering. As I told you … in all, five thousand libres of gold.”
There was little noise this time. Everyone looked tense as Alaric took the goblet and hefted it in his hand. Attalus lifted his chin and gazed at the other leaders, one by one, lastly at Magnus, before he opened the lid on the final box.
“As a token of goodwill, and a gesture to signify that, indeed, innocent Rome has laid herself bare before the steely determination of the Visigoths, and the callous indifference of our emperor in Ravenna, the Imperial Princess, Aelia Galla Placidia, has, as has all Rome, kept nothing for herself. In the most noble of gestures, she gladly hands over all she possesses, for, she said, ‘its value is as nothing, compared to the lives of my fellow Romans.’”
What was in the box? Gigi strained for a glimpse as Attalus pulled out an emerald-green silk gown with one hand, and held up an emerald and gold necklace with the other.
Gigi immediately recognized Placidia’s things from the night of the dinner. She glanced at Athaulf. He certainly did, too! A noise strangled in his throat, and he started toward Attalus, looking more shaken than angry, but Magnus moved forward and stopped him with a hand on his arm, then whispered something in his ear.
Randegund frowned at Athaulf, while Alaric and Verica looked amazed by his reaction.
Alaric stepped forward, still holding the goblet. “Senator Attalus, I thank you for your generous offerings. Please, take your ease.” He looked around and found Gigi, nodding to her. “Magnus’s wife will entertain you with her flute, and I shall call for some beer and food. For our part, we shall take leave of you, for we have much to discuss.”
As the people dispersed, Athaulf picked up Placidia’s box. “I will have no one meddling with anything inside!”
He stalked off to join the other leaders, while Gigi set down Berga, who scampered off to find the queen.
“Come, Senator Attalus,” Gigi said. “Come with me.”
• • •
The tent was crowded, already stifling from body heat and shared fervor. Magnus watched as Alaric picked up a skein and started to pour wine into the jewel-encrusted goblet.
“Alaric! No!” Randegund shouted.
Startled, Magnus, Alaric, and the others whirled about to face the old woman.
“Poison!” Her eyes were wide, ablaze with a fearsome blue light. “Do not drink from the goblet!”
Alaric shook his head. “Fear not, Mother. Senator Attalus does not seek to harm, and neither does Galla Placidia — ”
“But Honorius does,” Magnus interjected as he motioned for the goblet. “I would trust Attalus and Placidia with my life, but,” he took the cup and gazed at its interior, wondering if anything had been smeared on the gold, “but Randegund is correct. We must never forget Honorius’s arm has a long reach. If you will, I shall take the first drink.”
Randegund scowled at Magnus, but Alaric nodded.
Sweat trickled from Magnus’s forehead as he swirled the liquid, then put the goblet to his lips. He was glad Gigi wasn’t here, in case things went badly.
He took a sip and
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