1976

The young woman, upon releasing Thaddai from her embrace, lowered her mantle to her shoulders revealing a dark and sensuous beauty with black curly hair cascading way past her shoulders, or so I imagined since her hair was still safely tucked behind her black shroud. said Thera."I wasn't expecting you this early". "The proconsul's chief manservant forbade me entry today, but gave me this bag of money.  I am not permitted to return, not ever again", she said tersely. "What did you do or say that might have offended him", said Thera wearily. "I imagine that it is time also to tell you as well.  You are going to be a grandmother." "Do you mean to say..." "That is correct, mother.  I am carrying the proconsul's bastard child..." Thera looked like she might have wept on the spot, but I could already tell that she had long ago emptied completely her wells of tears. She emptied the bag of its contents onto the table before her and began to count the coins. "It should be enough to keep us for a few months, said Melena. Without looking up from the coins, her mother replied, "if we eat just one meal a day it might keep us for a fortnight. Then I pulled from my tunic the bag of golden pearls. I handed them all to Thera. She looked at me in uncomprehending shock. "Take them to the money changers tomorrow. They must not know where you got them. If anyone asks, your kinsman has stepped up for you. There should be enough value in these golden pearls to keep you for two or three years. And, if I can count on your hospitality, Madame, I am a skilled saddle maker, and I could restart here my craft and their marketing, if that is right with you..."