I went ashore with Aristomache and Maia and Neleus. Erinna had gone in an earlier group, with Ficino, though she had patted my arm and nodded when Ficino had said he’d see me ashore. Father had also gone ahead, his lyre slung over his shoulder, but he was talking to somebody on the quay. He finished his conversation and came over to join us. “The Goodness was in Troy when Simmea was killed,” he said.

“Oh Pytheas, you didn’t still think we might have done it?” Aristomache asked, putting her hand on his arm.

“I wanted to be sure,” Father said.

“He’s been a little crazed with grief ever since it happened,” Maia said, in that language she and Aristomache shared.

“Death is a terrible thing without salvation,” Aristomache replied, in the same language.

“What’s that?” Neleus asked, perplexed.

Father and I exchanged glances, and I saw that he understood, as I did.

“Sorry,” Aristomache said. “Come on. Most people will have gone to the agora. It’s Easter day, we celebrate Yayzu risen. Tonight we will eat lamb and bread.”

Lucia was decorated for festival, with flower garlands set on pillars, just the way we did it at home. It seemed very familiar, laid out on the same pattern as our cities and as Marissa, with broad streets leading to a central agora. On the top of the hill was a colosseum. We passed another huge marble Madonna, also garlanded with flowers. “Auge?” I asked.

“She’s our best sculptor,” Aristomache confirmed, clearly proud of her. “She lives and works here, but her work stands in all our cities. This is Our Lady of Peace.” It was lovely. I could hear choral singing as we came toward the agora. A man passing handed me a honey cake from his basket. Everything seemed peaceful and pleasant. Father took a honey cake but tucked it into his kiton. I wondered suddenly whether I’d seen him eating in Marissa, or just sitting at the table moving food around? He took hospitality very seriously. Well, I had bitten into my honey cake, so it was too late. These people were my friends. I took a colored egg from a smiling girl, and Aristomache gave her a coin. I’d never get used to paying for things.