A.D. 30(81)

“Only desire, I’m sure, Phasa, but you must listen—”

“I should have known! How blind of me! While I play the fool in his palace, he lies by the sea in the arms of a whore.” She shook a finger in the air. “Don’t think the religious leaders won’t cry out over this one, not for a moment.”

“They will object?” I asked.

“She is his brother’s wife! Yes, this will cause an outrage! He’s so sick in his head as to heap this trouble on top of my father’s rage! He’s lost his mind, I tell you!”

“Phasa—”

“Let him divorce me! I despise this cursed land anyway! I have wasted my life languishing here as his pawn for far too long. I cannot—”

“Phasa!”

Cut short, she spun to me. “What?”

“You must listen to me carefully,” I said. “It only stands to reason that Herod has no intention of divorcing you. The danger to him would be far too great. Rome might withdraw its support.”

“I don’t understand. You said he would marry Herodias.”

“I told you what was said. He means to be rid of you.” I approached her, lowering my voice. “By what means, I don’t know, but if you were to fall ill and die, his trouble would be far less.”

I watched the blood drain from her face, for she knew her husband well.

“A man as obsessed as Herod will stop at nothing,” I said. “Does his blood not run with treachery?”

“You’re saying he intends to kill me—”

“Would you risk thinking otherwise? If you die then Herod, after a show of great sorrow, will be free to marry Herodias. And if she is the woman you say, would she not encourage such a plot?”

Phasa paced again, staring at the floor, hands clenched to fists.

“You’re right. You’re right!”

“You must be very careful,” Saba said. “These are words that make wars.”

“Yes,” Judah said. “If Aretas’s daughter were to die, God forbid such a thought, Rome would protect Herod from Aretas’s rage. But if Herod throws his daughter aside in divorce—for this Aretas would wage war, and Rome might not come to Herod’s defense. Maviah is right.”

“Even if I am wrong,” I said, “there is now only one course you might take, Phasa.”

She looked up at me, nearly frantic. “To flee.”

“To flee now, before Herod returns. Once safe with your father, you will force his hand. He will have no option but to divorce you if he wishes to marry Herodias. She will insist. This is what Yeshua spoke over you in Capernaum. You must flee, Phasa.”

She stared at the window as her predicament settled about her. “I must. And fleeing will not be so easy.”

“No. But with us, there is a way.”

I looked at Judah and continued with assurance.

“We will take you to Petra on the safest route. Judah and Saba cannot fail you.”

“Petra?” Judah had gone still. “To Aretas, enemy of the Kalb? Impossible!”

“Do we have any better choice?” I snapped, bothered by my own fear. I took a breath to settle myself. “Our mission with Herod is crushed. If he intends to kill Phasa, then he will likely put all of us to death. Tell me this isn’t so.”

“It is,” Phasa said. “You stand to betray him.”

Saba exchanged a glance with Judah. “And Aretas will favor us? He backs the Thamud, who crushed Rami. To go to Aretas is to invite more death. Better to go to Rome with the dagger ourselves.”

“Rome?” Phasa said. “Herod has Rome’s ear. They will crucify you before they would give you audience.”

“Rome is too great a risk without an advocate,” I said, watching Phasa. “But Aretas will hear me. Phasa will ensure our safety in exchange for her own.”

She did not hesitate. “Yes. Of course I will. You will take me to Herod’s fortress, Machaerus, in Perea, only a stone’s throw from the border with Nabataea. Once we cross, we will be safe. Take me away from this cursed palace and I will be your advocate.”

“And what will you tell Aretas?” Saba demanded. “You will beg for mercy?”

“Phasa and I will decide,” I said. “You will only deliver me to Petra as charged by Rami.”

“My charge was to bring you to Herod,” he said.

“And Herod would have our heads,” I snapped. “I say now, Petra.”

My strong tone gave him pause. I had to be strong or else capitulate to my own worry.

“She says Petra,” Judah said.

“Yes, Saba,” Phasa agreed. “She says Petra.”