But Lisa had been older and stronger than Cara, and Santara had managed to take her.
She looked down at her bandaged thumb. What would a broken thumb mean to Cara Delaney? What would it mean to her life and her music?
She found her stomach clenching at the thought. Cara was probably right about her being safe. But bad things happened, and they both knew it. They had different ways of looking at how to face and handle things. Of course, Lisa’s was the intelligent way to do it. So she should just get up and go back to her tent.
She didn’t move.
Even though she was right, she had an idea that it would not help this worry go away. So why not give in to it? After all, it was purely selfish and had nothing to do with actually protecting Cara. If it made Lisa feel better, it wouldn’t hurt to stay and form a barrier against some of those bad things that might possibly be waiting for the kid.
“Okay, okay.” Lisa waved an impatient hand. “Have it your way. But I might as well stick around until you finish. I liked that music you were playing when I came down here.” She stretched out and cradled her head on one arm. “But don’t be offended if I fall asleep.”
“I won’t.” Cara smiled into her eyes. “But you won’t fall asleep, Lisa.”
She started to play.
*
Music.
Cara was playing, Jane realized drowsily. How good it was to have her here. What a beautiful way to wake …
The strains of music streaming through the night, touching everything around it. Rippling over the lake, caressing the mist, creating a fragile rhythm on the path as she walked along the bank.
Soon she’d be there. Soon she’d be with him.…
*
“You’re certain about this?” Antonio asked. “It will be difficult to retrieve the chest if we ever have to flee here as we did Herculaneum.”
“Then the solution is never to have to flee,” Cira said. “I’m done with running away. We’ve built our home and we’ll fight to keep it. Here is where we stay.” She looked at Antonio. “Where I stay. I hope you’ll stay with me.”
“How good of you to include me, since I’ve given you a number of fine sons and daughters to start your dynasty.” He reached over and gently kissed her cheek. “I’m content in this land. I’m just trying to be sensible in case I have to defend my family in the best way I can.”
“You will do it very well right here,” she said unsteadily. “And I’m glad that you don’t choose to leave me. I would feel very much alone without you.”
“And I would feel as lost in the world as I do in this damnable mist. The torch helps a little, but not nearly enough.” His gaze left her to strain to see through the thick mist ahead. “I can’t understand how Marcus ever found his way through it. It’s a wonder he didn’t end up in the lake. I’m surprised you let him play down here without you.”
“He was full of dreams and he felt at home here. Me? I was just glad he had his dog, Galo. I could call Galo’s name and he’d come running.” She felt the tears sting her eyes. “And then Marcus would come running. So happy. So eager…”
“He’s still here, Cira.” Antonio’s hand closed on her own. “You’ve told me that you feel him sometimes.”
“Yes. But it’s hard for me not to be able to see him.” She wiped her cheeks with the back of her hand. “I think perhaps Galo sees him. Every now and then I see him cock his head and stare at…” She paused and shrugged. “Nothing. It doesn’t seem fair that a dog should be able to see my son and not me.”
“Imagination, love?”
“Maybe. How do I know? Perhaps Marcus needed his playmate and I couldn’t go where he goes. Galo didn’t want to leave him when we brought him to his final home here. And he’s always eager to run back to the cave whenever I bring him with me to visit Marcus.” She swallowed. “And I may think it unfair, but I pray that Marcus does still have his friend.”
“As do I,” Antonio said gently. “But may I suggest that you call Galo to come and get us and take us the rest of the way? Because we’ve reached the point where I can’t see a thing now.”
Cira laughed. “Nor I. But that means we’re very close. Galo!”
Barking.
Then the lean tan hound was dashing through the mist toward them.
He stopped short, his gaze on Cira.
Then he turned and moved slowly ahead of them, looking back to make sure they were following.
A few minutes later, the cave loomed ahead of them.
Antonio went forward and rolled the boulder aside.
Darkness.
It took Cira a moment to light the torch affixed to the wall.
Marcus’s beautifully carved wood and bronze casket with its polished granite inlay rested on a rock shelf directly ahead.
Cira closed her eyes for a moment.
“Hello, my dear love, I hope all is well with you.”
She opened her eyes and saw Galo lying contentedly beneath the stone shelf, his head on his paws. “You think it is? Then I will, too.” She said over her shoulder to Antonio, “Bring it in. I think over there in the cavity in the cave wall, don’t you?”
“As good as anywhere.” Antonio lifted the chest off the crude wagon they had been wheeling down the bank. He paused a moment, gazing at the casket. He blinked rapidly and then carried the chest over to the wall that Cira had indicated. “We have a duty for you, my boy. Duty is good. Not always enjoyable, but good.” He slid the chest deep in the cavity and then started to pile rocks up against it. “But I think you might want to help us in this way.”
“I’m sure of it,” Cira said unevenly. “You always liked the idea of playing that you were bringing me jewels out of the mist, Marcus. This is very close. Keep it safe to protect the family you love and who love you.”
She stood there looking at the casket, remembering all the vitality, the laughter, the joy of him. It seemed impossible that she had to turn away and leave him again.
A whimper, not of sorrow, but of joy.
Her eyes flew to Galo lying on the floor below the casket. But his gaze was not looking up at the casket as he was whimpering. His tail was wagging in welcome, but he was looking at her. No, not at her, she realized suddenly, something to her right …
Or someone?
She inhaled sharply as she felt the wave of overpowering certainty sweep over her.
Standing beside her in comfort and love? Trying to tell her that he had not really left her?
“Cira?” Antonio was beside her. “Are you ready to go?”
He didn’t understand and she couldn’t tell him right now. She was too filled with the closeness and the completeness of what Marcus was trying to convey to her. She would tell Antonio later, when she understood more herself.
She nodded jerkily and reached up to take the torch from the wall. “Come on, Galo. Lead us out of here. It’s time to go.”
Because now Cira knew what Galo knew, that there was no reason to stay.
She knew that she would never really go away from Marcus because he would always be with her.…
*
Jane realized tears were pouring down her cheeks even before she opened her eyes.
Darkness.
Dawn.
Sadness that was no sadness.
Love that never went away.
Cira.
She sat upright in bed and tried to stop sobbing. Stupid. There was nothing to cry about. That was what Cira had been trying to tell her, what she had discovered that night in the mist.
She took a long, shaky breath.
I’m okay now, Cira. I guess I’m not as strong as you are. You kind of blew me away.
She tossed her blanket aside and got to her feet. Then she was out of her tent and going down the hill toward the bank.
No music, she realized vaguely. No Cara. The camp was quiet. Everyone must be asleep. She had no idea how much time had passed since she’d become aware of the sound of Cara’s violin when she’d been on the edge of slumber.
The edge of Cira’s world.
It wasn’t important how much time had passed; it was only important that she stay here by the lake until she made sense of what had happened tonight.