"
He started on his long walk homeward and Lidia watched his strange,
wild-looking figure until it was out of sight.
"Our God protect thee," she said in her heart and going inside, closed
and barred the door.
Before she went to bed she sought out a woman called _The Old One_.
What her real name was, or whence she had come, even Aurelius
himself did not know. She had come into his possession as a legacy
from his father, who had said: "Guard and care for her well, for she
has view of the future beyond that of human kind." Now, she was very
aged, her form was bowed and her face covered with tiny wrinkles. Some
said that she had passed the century limits; but no one knew, and her
secrets were buried in her own heart.
The Old One was reputed to be very wise. Her expression was almost
queenly in its dignity, and placid and kindly.
To her, Lidia poured out the news brought her by Lucius, adding to
these some things that her father did not know, which bore light upon
the designs of Alyrus and his daughter, Sahira.
The Old One listened, quietly.
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