Chapter 23 #3
The Yule cats abandoned their resting places and bounded towards the Holy Door, stopping to wait for us to catch up. After encouragement from me, Garnet followed her new friends, as did Citrine and Peridot, leaving Tourmaline to ride on my shoulder.
I praised the little bird and gave him the petting he was rightfully owed. “Is it really okay the whole litter is coming home with us?”
“Your home will be good for them and for your carbunclo as well. Please don’t worry,” Pope Richard said, guiding us to the door, opening it, and gesturing us to go into the space beyond and down a staircase.
“They have been a joy here, but they will be happy in your household. Their behavior during the mass is a strong indication of this. They were content to be with you.” With a smile, he bent down and picked up my pillow thieving kitten, and he gave her a kiss on her head.
“You will find this darling to be the most daring of the litter, and she will be happy to steal your pillow and sleep with you and your carbunclo. The rest are less adventurous and not as inclined to join people in bed, although in time, you will likely require a larger bed to handle the furry bodies all wishing to join you. Yule cats are affectionate. They just need some time.”
Like I had done, the pope released the beast, who bounded over to cause trouble with the other kittens.
Rather than the dreary and damp catacombs typically portrayed, we stepped into a brightly lit series of rooms and crypts as resplendent as the ground floor of the basilica.
Pope Richard took the time to show us the crypts of the former popes, beginning with the most modern, his predecessor.
Unlike the ornately appointed sarcophagi I expected, the previous pope had an angled slab decorated with holy script and a bouquet of flowers.
As we progressed deeper into the basilica, traversing through the grotto and down to the necropolis, the age of the place weighed down, and I worried even our footsteps might somehow disrupt its sanctity.
“We are still working at excavating sections of the necropolis,” Pope Richard announced, waiting for the kittens to come down the stairs.
More than a few times, the playful animals tumbled over each other.
Garnet squeaked her excitement, darting to me for reassurance before diving back into the fray.
Citrine regarded the chaos with an ear twisted back, opting to return to Erik’s shoulder.
Peridot decided he needed a nap, making use of my father’s feet. He smiled, picked up his baby, and cradled him in his arms. “Have you made much progress on the excavations?”
“The newest room has been quite interesting. Thus far, we believe it may date to 300 BC or earlier, but we’re not sure.
It is rather eclectic. So far, we have identified Egyptian, Greek, and Persian inscriptions.
The styles of Egyptian are baffling our experts, as it’s a mix of writing forms, and one of them was in use closer to 3200 BC.
” Pope Richard gestured for us to follow him and guided us through the necropolis, taking the time to introduce us to the various occupants of the ancient crypts.
When we reached the newer excavation, he grabbed hard hats from a pile and handed them out.
He crouched to address the Yule cat kittens and said, “Please wait here, my darlings. This is not the safest of places within the necropolis.”
The kittens did as the pope requested, and they stayed in the ancient neighboring room, careful to stay away from the crumbling antiquities. I sent Garnet off to join them, asking her to keep an eye on her new sisters and brother. While Erik needed to coax Citrine, she joined them as well.
When I stared at my father and raised a brow at him holding his kitten, he warned me off with a soft growl.
I rolled my eyes at his antics, made certain the hard hat was secured on my head, and took care with my steps. To make it clear I could break the rules, too, I asked Tourmaline to stay on my shoulder.
He snuggled against my throat before settling into the serious business of preening.
Arming himself with a flashlight, Pope Richard guided us through a narrow hallway requiring us to bend over to navigate.
“One of the archaeologists accidentally discovered this passage; she tripped and fell against the wall, which collapsed. She escaped with minor injuries, which were tended to by a member of the faithful, a young purple dragon wishing to join the clergy. We have been working, albeit gradually, to open more positions within the church for women. Currently, the official stance does not permit women to serve as deacons, priests, or bishops. We will be making those changes within the next year, coordinated by the Children of the Christ. We will begin with a few promising women taking positions of priestesses, and they will be dragons appointed by God, of course.”
Of course. I eyed the pope with interest. “Is this purple dragon going to be among them?”
“Quite possibly; her healing talents are significant, and she would do well working miracles in the name of the Father Almighty. We will see as time unfolds.” Pope Richard ducked through a small opening, and he waited for us to follow.
“We have brought in a surveying team, and it appears there is an entire missed wing of the necropolis back here. So far, eighteen additional rooms branching off passages like this have been identified, although this is the only room we have breached thus far. I highly recommend against touching any of the bones; we do not know how or when they died, just that they were interred here long before we thought the basilica was being used for burials. Some pasts are best left secret—or handled in a careful manner where those with the sight gain wisdom intentionally.”
“I think I’ve had sufficient unscheduled manifestations of magic for one week,” I replied, careful to keep my expression and tone solemn. “Is the mix of Greek, Egyptian, and Persian writings unusual?”
“Not particularly. Ancient Egypt’s history saw many different invaders and incursions over its many years.
It’s more unusual those inscriptions found their way to here.
I suspect these burial sites were relocated during the reign of Alexander the Great before finding their way here.
That is our current theory, which makes the most sense.
Alexander the Great brought many changes to the world, but especially to Egypt. ”
My father braved going deeper into the space, examining the slabs embedded into the wall, each one holding a skeleton or mummy. He paused at one mummy, which wore a silver circlet on its brow, which was decorated with a pair of serpents. “Has anything been learned about this one?”
“Not yet. The silver she wears indicates she possessed wealth, but we’re not yet certain of the significance of the circlet.
Ancient Egyptian customs aren’t one of our strengths.
We’ve already put in a request for an Egyptology expert to come assist us; if these bodies were stolen from Egypt, and their original resting places can be identified, they will be returned to their proper graves.
However, it’s possible this is the original place of interment.
We will find out soon enough. In any case, I thought you might wish to be the first outside of the Vatican to behold the latest wonder of the basilica. ”
“You honor us,” my mother said with a smile. “Now that you’ve lured us to as private a place as you can, what do you want?”
Pope Richard returned my mother’s smile.
“You’re astute as always. I wanted to warn you to take special care with safeguarding your ward.
There were several attempts on the Waters of Life hosted within Italy.
What I do not know is if it is related to the incident in Dragon Heights.
You will want to keep your security strong after you lay her to rest—and keep careful track of who expresses interest in her and why. ”
My father’s expression darkened. “He is currently safe?”
“He rests as he should, and none of the attempts got close enough to his hiding place for us to be truly worried, but it is something to be aware of. The coincidence worries me. Italy has taken appropriate steps, so I don’t foresee the Waters of Life being endangered, but it takes time to assemble a proper guard.
If you decide to bury her, bury her deep and use every scrap of magic at your disposal.
I value what your daughter wishes for her, so I wanted to make certain you were aware that mankind’s greed persists as always.
This is also why I wished for Kellan to verify your daughter could drink from the cup without consequence, using her Waters of Life; we can throw our support behind her burial and protection this way. ”
“The warning is appreciated,” my father replied. “Is there anything we can do for you?”
“You go far beyond the call of duty as it is. Just keep an eye out, and should you find the reason why someone seeks the Waters of Life, pass word to me. It could be as simple as a misguided attempt to bring back the dead, but it could be something more. I do not know, and I dislike when I do not know.”
My father wrinkled his nose. “As do I. Should we find anything out, we’ll tell you.”
“Thank you. Now, please do allow me to escort you to where we might partake of dinner together tonight. It has been a long time since we’ve had an opportunity to keep each other company. Let us enjoy it while it lasts.”