began heavy fighting against the Gauls.
While other Roman legions suffered major defeats at the hand of the Gallic barbarians, the Thebans marched, victorious in every battle. As a result, Captain Mauritius captured the attention of Emperor Diocletian. Usurped by Mauritius, General Galerius seethed with jealousy, not only for the young captain’s exemplary military skills, but for Valeria’s love as well. At their first encounter, the girl had ignited a passion in him unlike any he had ever known.
Galerius was a man who stopped at nothing to get what he wanted. Had Valeria not been the emperor’s daughter, Galerius would have forced himself into her sleeping chambers and stolen her virginity when he was a guest at the palace in Elephantine. Fortunately for Valeria, his lust for power burned hotter than his sexual desires. The fact that she was Diocletian’s daughter provided the ambitious Galerius with all the restraint he had needed to resist the nubile creature. He was confident that the plan he had devised for his future would soon get him everything he wanted, including Valeria.
Valeria and Nanu were inseparable after the men they loved left for Gaul. They spent their days together studying with Prisca at the monastery or at parties with other Egyptian girls, who were also forced to entertain themselves in the absence of the men they loved. On the days they stayed at the palace, Valeria and Nanu, who were both adept at needlework, spent hours with the ladies sewing Valeria’s trousseau. But Valeria’s favorite pastime was taking long walks upon the beach, where she retraced the steps she had taken with Mauritius. Meandering along the beach, she relived every kiss he had given her and repeated every word he had whispered to her. On one such walk, Nanu took Valeria’s hand in hers.
“My dear sister, I have exciting news for you today.”
Valeria’s heart leapt with expectation. “Are they coming home? Mauritius is on his way back to me!”
Nanu nodded. “I am sorry, but no. However my news should still make you smile.”
“Then please, do tell! The suspense is killing me.”
Nanu took her friend’s hand and placed it upon her own stomach to reveal her surprise. “I have a baby growing inside of me.”
Valeria squealed. “Nanu! This is wonderful news. You are going to be a mother, and I am going to be an aunt—once I marry your brother, of course. Oh, if only he would return to me so I could!”
Nanu touched her friend’s face. “You will be our baby’s aunt, regardless.”
Valeria embraced her. “I am so happy for you. Have you sent a message to Baraka?”
“Yes, and he has written to me that he is overjoyed with the news of our child. He says our baby makes him fight even harder so he can return home to me as soon as possible.”
“So you have known for some time.” Valeria’s face fell. “Why did you not tell me?”
“I wanted my husband to be the first to know that we were having a child.”
Valeria nodded. “I understand. Creating a baby together is such an intimate, beautiful experience that a husband and wife should share the news before telling anyone else. But how can you be sure the news has reached Baraka?”
“Just this morning a ship brought letters from Europe, and I received a letter from him. You will probably have one from Mauritius too.”
Valeria smiled as hope filled her heart. “Mauritius must know he will soon be an uncle. I am sure he is as happy as I am about the news. Will you forgive me that I must cut our walk short to see if a letter has arrived from Mauritius?”
“I will walk back with you, but you must slow down. Remember I have a baby inside of me now.” She patted her tummy affectionately.
Valeria slowed her pace and put an arm around Nanu. “Tomorrow morning we shall begin to sew clothes for your baby too. It has been so long since Mauritius and Baraka left us that if we keep creating clothes for my trousseau I fear there will not be enough drawers and chests in the land to hold them!”
Nanu giggled, and then looked down at her expanding waistline and sighed. Her eyes glazed over with a faraway look as she spoke. “I hope Baraka will come home in time for our baby’s arrival.”
Valeria grabbed her hand. “Of course he will. But if he does not for any reason, I promise you, my friend, I will be at your side holding onto your hand tightly as you bring this child into the world.”
The days of Nanu’s pregnancy flew by. The women filled these long months with their usual activities, spending more time on their needlework than on their studies with the monks. As a result the baby’s layette was so complete that there were more clothes than a child could possibly wear in a lifetime. Yet with the baby due any day now, the women had accepted the fact that perhaps the child’s father would not be home in time to greet the newborn.
Weary, Nanu began to fret. “I cannot do this alone,” she complained.
“I have told you that you will not be alone. Eugenia and I will both be there with you,” Valeria promised, though she, too, worried that their men had not yet returned.
The next day Valeria appealed to Alara, the young monk, during their studies. “Why are our faithful prayers for the return of the men we love unanswered?”
Alara was sympathetic, but he assured the young women that while they may not understand God’s reasons, they could trust His plan for their lives.
Valeria shrugged. “I suppose we have no choice. We will wait on the Lord.”
Valeria was up later than usual that evening, reading a letter from Mauritius, until she finally drifted off to sleep, clutching the missive in her hand. Barely an hour later, Eugenia came into her room, softly calling to her.
“What is it?” Valeria asked, pulling herself from a deep sleep and alarmed that Eugenia was the bearer of bad news.
“Nanu sent a servant to tell you she is having her baby.”
Remembering her promise, Valeria rubbed her eyes and jumped out of bed. “But it is the middle of the night,” she complained
“A baby waits for no one, not even the emperor’s daughter. Come, you must get dressed. Hurry!”
Eugenia and the servants helped Valeria dress. In less than an hour the women were at Nanu’s side, watching her writhe in pain. Valeria tried to comfort her hysterical friend, but to no avail. Exhausted and concerned, she whispered to Eugenia, “Is Nanu going to die?”
Eugenia laughed. “She will be fine. This is typical of what happens when a woman has a baby.”
Valeria turned up her nose with distaste, thinking that perhaps she never wanted to have a child of her own.
Several hours later the baby boy arrived, but Valeria was not there to welcome him. Moments after her arrival, she fainted and had to be carried to a nearby room, where she now slept soundly. Eugenia sat beside her and patted her back.
“Wake up, beautiful dreamer. There is someone you must meet.”
Valeria pushed herself up with her elbows. “What
