As Sure as the Dawn (13 page)

Rizpah heard something crash against a wall. Startled, she stopped pacing and listened. From the moment the guard had come and told her Sertes had arrived and she was to remain in her bedchamber, she’d closed the door and begun praying.

Atretes shouted something indiscernible. She winced, wondering grimly what had transpired downstairs that had put him in such a foul temper. Not that he was ever in a good one, she thought, with grim amusement.

Someone rapped twice on the door. Taking a deep breath, she crossed the room and unbolted it. Silus stood outside. “Atretes wants to talk with you.”

“Now?”
Whatever had occurred downstairs, it appeared she would get the brunt of it.

“He said to leave the baby.”

“In whose care? Yours?”

Silus withdrew a step. “He didn’t say.”

She went back for Caleb. When the baby was settled warm and secure in the wrap of her shawl, she followed Silus out of the large chamber and down the upper corridor. Atretes’ chamber door stood open. She stopped at the threshold. Atretes turned. He saw the baby and swore in German. “I said to leave him!”

“There was no one to tend him, my lord,” she said, not entering the room.

“Where’s the wet nurse?”

“Hilde works in the kitchen now.”

“Not tonight. Get her!” Atretes said, jerking his head at Silus. The sound of the guard’s hobnailed sandals echoed in the upper corridor. Atretes paced, muttering in German. The furs from his bed had been tossed on the floor. He kicked one out of his way.

Hilde arrived breathless and red faced. Rizpah untied the shawl and laid Caleb in her arms. “He’ll sleep if you put him back in his bed,” Rizpah said and laid a gentle hand on the woman’s arm. “Don’t leave him alone.”

“I won’t, my lady.” She cast a nervous glance in Atretes’ direction and left. Silus stood to one side, allowing her to pass.

“Walk the perimeter,” Atretes snarled at him. “I’d like a word with
Lady
Rizpah in private.” Silus left her standing alone in the doorway. “Come in and shut the door behind you,” Atretes said in a tone that left no room for argument.

Rizpah obeyed, heart beating fast. Atretes’ agitation could mean only one thing. “Sertes knows about Caleb, doesn’t he?”

“No, but Sertes knows who you are.” He gave a dark laugh. “In fact, he probably knows more about you than I do!”

Rizpah let out her breath in relief. “There’s not much to know. And of what possible interest could a common woman like me be to a man like Sertes?”

“He intends to use you as leverage to get me fighting again.” He noted her look of confusion with growing irritation. His mouth curved cynically. “He thinks you’re my mistress.”

Color poured into her cheeks. “I hope you corrected his misconception, my lord.”

“I told him you had the tongue of a scorpion, which you do. I told him I was tired of you, which I am. He made a generous offer to buy you. I’m considering.”

She blanched. “You’re
what?”
she said faintly.

“I knew you were a curse on me the moment I laid eyes on you!” German oaths poured forth.

“You can’t sell what you don’t own!” She was trembling violently inside. Had the man gone completely mad?

“You’re a
Christian,”
he said in accusation.

“You knew of my faith before I came here.”

“It would seem having you in my house makes me suspect to a man who has the power to revoke my freedom.”

She closed her eyes. “Oh.” She let out her breath slowly and looked at him, troubled. She was not going to suggest she leave, for she couldn’t, not without Caleb.

“I’d like to throw you out.”

Biting her lip, she clasped her hands in front of her.
Not one word,
she told herself.
Lord, keep me quiet.

“Unfortunately, if I threw you out, Sertes’ spies would go back and report it. They’d also report that the baby remained here with me. He’d want to know why and he’d figure it out in a bow-snap.”

“O Lord God, protect us,” she murmured, quickly grasping how easily an innocent child could be used by a man as callous as Sertes.

Atretes swore again. “And so, because of
you,
I’ve got to go pay homage to some bloody Roman aristocrat or end up back in the arena!” His voice rose to a shout, and he kicked over a table and shattered an elegant clay lamp.

Rizpah winced, but remained standing where she was.
Father, show me a way. Give me words. What do we do?
Her mind suddenly whirled with an appalling, frightening idea. She didn’t even want to speak of it, but it was the only solution that came to her. “You said you wanted to return to Germania.”

He swung around, glaring at her. “I’d have done that months ago except for two things!”

“Your son,” Rizpah said, supplying one with complete understanding. Caleb was only four months old, and travel would be hazardous as well as difficult. “What other reason have you?”

Atretes uttered a short, foul curse and turned his back on her. Thrusting both hands back through his long blonde hair, he went out onto the balcony. Rizpah frowned. Whatever the other reason, it was clear he didn’t want to tell her. He came back inside, his resentment etched in his handsome features.

“It took months to get me to Capua,” he ground out. “Then I was transported to Rome. Sertes made a deal with Vespasian and brought me here. By ship. The journey took
weeks.”
He laughed almost hysterically. “I’d go back to Germania right now if I knew
how to find it!”

She saw how much his admission cost him and answered quickly. “We’ll find out exactly where it is and how to get there.”

Atretes tilted his head, eyes glittering.
“We?”

“You said you wouldn’t leave your son behind.”

“I won’t.”

“Where Caleb goes,
I
go.”

He gave a sharp laugh. “You’d leave Ephesus and all it has to offer,” he said dryly, unconvinced.

“I would rather stay here, yes,” she said frankly. “All I’ve ever heard about Germania doesn’t commend it.” She saw Atretes’ eyes harden as he took offense. “Caleb’s safety is more important than whatever fears I may have about leaving all I know. If Sertes is all you think he is, and I don’t doubt you, he won’t think twice about using an innocent baby in whatever way he can to get at you, would he?”

“No.”

“Then the only way to make sure Caleb is safe is to get him as far away from Sertes as possible.”

His continued scrutiny made her increasingly uncomfortable. What was he thinking? “The journey will cost a great deal of money,” she said.

He laughed grimly. “A fortune, no doubt, and most of what I earned was poured into this villa.” He looked around the room as though seeing it for the first time. “Now I understand why Sertes was so willing to arrange the purchase of this place,” he said darkly. “These walls close me in every bit as tightly as the ludus ever did.”

“You can sell it.”

“Not without him knowing about it, and I doubt I could manage it before Rufus Pumponius Praxus holds his little feast!” He swore in frustration.

“God can accomplish the impossible.”

He gave her a mocking look. “What makes you think your god is going to help
me?”

“What convinces you he won’t?” She didn’t wait for his response. “I’ll go and speak with John. He’ll help us.”

“You won’t leave this villa!”

“I must if we’re going to gather the information we need. There are people from every walk of life in the body of Christ. I know of one merchant who has traveled all over the Empire. If anyone can tell us how to find Germania, he can. Perhaps he could provide us with maps to show us the way.” Atretes looked ready to argue, so she plunged ahead.

“Another thing to consider: My leaving could throw doubt on Sertes’ speculations about me and about Caleb. If I leave,
with
Caleb, might not Sertes assume I don’t mean as much to you as he thought? And you would hardly send me away with a child of yours.”

Atretes frowned, thinking her idea had merit. Yet some niggling doubt remained. “Sertes might have you brought to the ludus for questioning.”

She glanced toward the balcony, troubled by his suggestion. “Is he out there under the terebinth, watching the house?”

“Sertes left. His spies remain.”

She put a trembling hand to her throat, slightly relieved. “Unless he left instructions to bring me to the ludus, I doubt they would act upon their own initiative. They’ll watch and report and await his instructions. By the time they get them, I’ll be back in Ephesus.”

“And within easy reach,” he said, annoyed. “At least one of them will follow you.”

“I’ve been followed before, Atretes. I know how to hide.” She knew immediately it was the wrong thing to say.

Atretes’ eyes narrowed in suspicion. “So,” he said with dangerous softness, “if you’re so good at hiding, how will I find you?” Sneering, he laughed. “You almost had me convinced. I’m not a fool. You think I’ll just hand my son over to you and watch you walk away?”

“Atretes, I give you my word—”

“Your word doesn’t mean dung to me!” He turned away, rubbing the back of his neck in agitation.

She let out her breath, struggling with frustration. He wasn’t going to trust her just because she assured him he could. Trust had to be earned, and there was no time. “Perhaps there’s another way,” she said flatly.

“There’d better be.”

“What if you went to this feast and appeared to enjoy yourself.”

He turned sharply.

Her exasperation grew. “Or you could go grudgingly, glower at everyone the way you’re glowering at me, and insult this Roman official to his face! That would salve your pride, wouldn’t it? And accomplish everything Sertes has planned for you!”

A muscle jerked in his jaw.

She came toward him, desperate in her appeal. “Atretes,
please,”
she said. “Set aside your anger for the sake of your son.
Think
before you do anything.”

Atretes gave a cynical laugh. “Perhaps I’ll tell Sertes I tire of being out here on this mountain and want to live in Ephesus where all the excitement is,” he said sarcastically. “That would please him.” He felt like one of the lions being prodded into the arena. No way back. No escape. Somehow, some way, Sertes would get what he wanted—and he wouldn’t care what he did or who he used to accomplish it!

“Let me go to John,” Rizpah said softly. “He’ll help us.” Atretes said nothing. She came closer and put her hand lightly on his arm. His muscles tensed. She took her hand away. “Please. I’ll learn what I can and send word. I promise, on my life!”

“It would appear I have little choice,” he said grimly.

“I should go as soon as possible,” she said, turning toward the door. “I’ll take enough to make it appear you’ve cast me out.”

Atretes caught hold of her. Whipping her around with one hand, he grasped her neck with the other. “Know this, woman. If I hear nothing from you in two days’ time, I’ll come looking for you. Don’t try to run away with the boy, because if you do, I swear by all the gods in the universe, I’ll use
any
means, even Sertes, to find you again! And when I do,” he said, his hand tightening slowly, “you’ll wish you’d never been born!” He let go of her as though merely touching her angered him.

Rizpah put a hand to her throat, her breath coming shakily. Tears of reaction filled her eyes. “I know you don’t trust me now, but perhaps when we’ve come through this together, you’ll know you can.”

Frowning, he watched her walk to the door.
“Two
days,” he repeated.

She went out, closing the door behind her. Heart beating fast, she hurried along the corridor to the bedchamber.

“Is everything all right, my lady?” Hilde said when she entered. “You’re so pale.”

“Nothing is all right,” Rizpah said truthfully. “I must leave.” She took up her shawl and wrapped Caleb into it, tying it securely around her shoulders.

“He’s casting you out? Where will you go?”

“I have friends in the city. I’ll go to them.” She looked at the small trunk of possessions and shook her head. “I have Caleb. That’s all that matters.”

“He’ll never let you leave with his son!”

“Caleb is
my
son, and Atretes will make no effort to keep me from taking what belongs to me,” she said. She could still feel where his fingers had pressed in on her throat.

As she went out the door, her heart jumped at the sight of Atretes in the corridor.
O Lord, God of mercy, don’t let him change his mind!
He looked uncertain and oddly vulnerable.

“Remember what I said,” he muttered as she passed by him.

She paused and looked back at him, her eyes swimming in tears. “Remember what I said as well.” She went down the stairs quickly. She crossed the barren yard to the gate where Gallus stood at his duty station.

“Where do you think you’re going?” he said, stepping into her path.

“Let her pass,” Atretes commanded, coming down the front steps and striding across the yard toward them. “I told her to get out.”

Gallus gave her a pitying look and opened the gate.

Atretes held out a pouch to Rizpah. “Take it,” he commanded. She obeyed, grimacing as she did so. The leather was dripping wet and slimy. It was the same pouch she’d flung at him the first day they met. Apparently it had remained in the fountain pool until today; it was heavy with gold coins.

“Consider it payment for services rendered.”

She saw his intent. Nodding, she turned away and went out the gate. She hurried down the road, bundling Caleb closer to protect him from the cold wind blowing in from the east, where winter was coming.

As she passed by the terebinth tree, she saw several men sitting and talking in the shadows. They appeared to have no interest in her. Reaching the bend in the road, she glanced back surreptitiously.

One was following.

Despite all her attempts to lose the man following her, Rizpah sensed he was still somewhere close by when she reached John’s house. Exhausted, she knocked at the door. Cleopas opened it and gave an exclamation of delighted welcome.

“John was called out earlier, but he should return soon,” he said, bringing her inside. “Sit. You look tired.”