13, during the reign of Augustus, first emperor of Rome Esmeralda On the day after Samhain, when Elsigar and his councilors departed from Ynys Witrin, Esmeralda was on hand to bid them farewell. The earth is at rest now, but Elsigar has allowed a menace to stay among us. “Are you still resolved to allow Jesus to go to Ynys Môn?” she asked. I cannot stop him from bringing the young outlander. The others respect him too much to listen to me. “Do I take it rightly that you would not approve?” Elsigar asked. “Most definitely I would not. He has no respect for our gods, and he will bring down their wrath upon us all. Did you not see the light that was left burning through the night after our good people extinguished all theirs?” “It came from the hut he built for his mother. But what of it? We know these people have their own faith.” “It is impious.” “It is not impious to offer hospitality to those who come from afar and allow them to practice their religion if they keep it to themselves.”
