A Stray Drop of Blood (75 page)

Titus smiled almost too cheerfully. “Indeed. I suspect a large part of that is our fault actually; the emperor became rather intrigued by Abigail, and when she refused him, he grew angry.” Titus shrugged. “He will never send his soldiers here, though, he respects her too much. As long as our brethren gather with us, they will maintain at least a modicum of safety. It is more than they find elsewhere, and not only because of the frustrations of Caesar.”

Menelaus swallowed any reaction to the first part of that story. “Yes, I know. They meet with persecutions everywhere, though I have heard tales of even their persecutors being converted.”

“
Paul of Tarsus, yes. He writes us that he wishes to visit our church here, but the Lord has not ordained it yet. Still, many mutual acquaintances have made their way to us, and we keep each other updated on the growth of the church in the various countries.”

“
So you are a Christian, too, then?” Menelaus asked in disbelief.

Titus’s smile was not proud now, but something just as strong. “I was one of the first, my friend. Christ gained my faith when I watched him die that day I should have been watching Barabbas. It was that that drew Abigail and me together.”

He was not certain if that news made the present any easier to understand or not. Menelaus could not grasp this new man he saw in his old friend. Before he could think up any adequate response, movement caught his eye, and he turned to see Abigail enter the chamber.

If possible, she had only grown more beautiful since the first time he had seen her. He realized only by seeing her now, mature but still young, how close to being a child she had been ten years before. He realized too, seeing her dressed in Roman styles with gold glistening against her simple garment, that she looked more appropriate as mistress here than she had as slave in Jerusalem. She approached him with a resplendent smile and held out a hand. He took it.

“
Welcome, my friend,” she said in the same alto voice he remembered. “We have prayed you would come. Jason would have wanted us to keep in better communication.”

Hearing her say it, he knew it was true and felt a stab of guilt. “I know. How is his mother?”

She chuckled. “She is having a marvelous time chasing around her grandchildren with Titus’s mother. She will be eager to greet you, but she and Aquilia are out visiting another friend at the moment. I expect them back soon.”

“
I look forward to seeing them both again.” Menelaus smiled, even when Abigail stepped comfortably into the space Titus made for her at his side, his arm around her.

“
How long can you stay? Are you only on leave?”

Menelaus shook his head. “No, I have been released from service. I know not where I will go from here.”

“
Then perhaps you will find no need to leave at all.” She said it with such satisfaction that Menelaus found himself wondering if maybe she was right. “Any who come to us are welcome to stay.”

“
Come.” Titus held out an arm, indicating the rest of the house. “Let us give you a tour while a room is prepared for you. I think you will be intrigued by all we do here.”

Menelaus fell into step beside them, some of his exhaustion falling away and mirth taking its place. “And why is that? Are you running a small republic here to make Plato proud?”

Abigail laughed. “Our king has no need of philosophy, having the truth instead. But it runs as smoothly, and we like to think we have emerged from the cave into that light.”

“
Just be prepared,” Titus added with a measure of sobriety. “As Socrates warned, seeing it upon leaving the darkness can be painful for a while. But it is worth it, when you can finally see it shine for all the world to see.”

Menelaus looked around him, from the vineyards to the fields to the houses to the people, and felt a strange stirring within him that told him they spoke the truth. Which was odd. He had never expected to recognize such a thing if ever he found it.