Priestess of Avalon by Bradley Marion Zimmer

Author:Bradley, Marion Zimmer
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: PENGUIN group
Published: 2010-03-01T05:00:00+00:00

The breeze that wafted through the open doors came laden with all the scents of spring, and suddenly I could no longer bear to remain inside. I slipped through the open door and stepped out along the path that led between two rows of beech trees to the high road. I should tell Atticus to give his pupil a holiday—it was too lovely a day to spend locked in one’s head debating philosophy. That was the mistake that some of the Pythagoreans, despite their understanding of the Mysteries, had made—to fix their minds so firmly on eternity that they missed the Truth proclaimed by this green and lovely world.

From our hill I could see fields and vineyards, and the gleam of the Mosella. The town nestled along the river, protected by its walls. Treveri was a place of some importance, a center for the production of woolen cloth and pottery, with good communications to both Germania and Gallia. Postumus had made it the capital of his Gallic empire, and now Maximian had made it his base of operations as well. They were repairing the bridge again; the local reddish stone glowed pink in the bright sun, but the temple of Diana, higher up on the hillside, was a glimmer of white amid its sheltering trees.

A good road ran up the hill and past our villa. A rider was moving swiftly along it, passing a farmer’s cart and continuing up the hill. My interest sharpened as he drew close enough for me to recognize the uniform and realized that he was coming here.

Had there been some disaster? I could see no unusual bustle of activity in the city. I waited, frowning, until the man drew up, retying the neckcloth with which he had been wiping his brow. I recognized him as a youngster on Constantius’s staff, and acknowledged his salutation.

“And what has my husband sent you up here in such haste to say? Is there some emergency?”

“Not at all. The Lord Docles has arrived, my lady, and your husband bids me tell you that they will be dining with him here this evening.”

“What, all of them?” I shook my head. “It is an emergency for me! We were planning to spend the day spring cleaning, not preparing a banquet.”

The young man grinned. “That’s right—Maximian will be coming as well! But I have heard about your dinners, Lady, and I feel sure you will gain the victory.”

It had not occurred to me to view a dinner as a military engagement, but I laughed as I waved him on his way. Then I hurried inside to consult with Drusilla.

Despite my words, a meal for three men accustomed to the food of army camps would not place any unusual demands upon my kitchen. They might not be so devoted to austerity as Carus had been, but I knew from experience that all three would pay more attention to what they were saying than to what they were eating. It was Drusilla who felt that

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