“You see that I was right,” Rashid said darkly, glaring at Alexander.
“Bring her some wine,” Alexander said. “We’ll talk of what is to be done later.”
“Who was the man who answered the door?” Hadassah said.
“Someone I picked up on the temple steps a few weeks ago,” Alexander smiled, sweeping the veils from her face so he could see if she was all right. His smile dimmed. “You’ve been crying.”
She put her hand on his arm. “It’s all right now. It’s finished, Alexander,” she said, eyes alight. “Julia has passed on. She accepted Christ at the end.”
He smiled wryly. “I will be glad if you are glad.”
“I am. She is with the Lord.”
Rashid handed her a goblet. “She has received justice. She is dead, and there it ends.”
Hadassah glanced up at him.
“A woman who ate and drank her fill of blood and lived a life of depravity will not receive reward,” he said with certainty.
“She repented.”
“A convenient repentance at the end does not alter her fate.”
“Not convenient, Rashid, heartfelt.”
“And you think that makes a difference to God who takes vengeance?” he said coldly, eyes black and glittering. “Has he not done it before? As long as they obeyed, God blessed them. Sons of Abraham.” His mouth twisted. “Look to Zion. Jerusalem was crushed for its iniquity. It is no more. Just as the Valerian is no more.”
Hadassah looked at him and saw what he was: a child of wrath. “She repented, Rashid. She proclaimed her faith in Christ. She is saved.”
“And so, despite everything she did to you and others, she receives eternal reward? A few words uttered with her dying breath and she inherits heaven with such as you?”
“Yes,” she said simply.
“I think not. God is a God of justice.”
“Oh, Rashid, if God were only just, we would all perish, down to the last human being on the face of the earth. Don’t you see? Have you not murdered in your heart? I have denied him when he gave me opportunities to proclaim him to others, and I let fear reign. Thanks be to God, he is merciful.”
Rejecting the Good News, the Arab turned away.
“You are back,” Alexander said into the silence and put his hand over hers. “That’s all that’s important.”
Just then, Andronicus entered. “Marcus Lucianus Valerian is here, my lord. He’s asking to see Lady Hadassah.”
Uttering a soft gasp, Hadassah covered her face with the veils.
Alexander rose and stood in front of her. “Tell him to go to Hades.”
“Tell me yourself,” Marcus said, striding into the courtyard. He saw Hadassah rising from the couch. He paused, then spoke quietly. “You left without word.”
Rashid’s hand went to the hilt of his knife, drawing it with a smooth ease of long practice as he moved to stand in Marcus’ path. “And you think to take her back?”
“By rights, she still belongs to my family.” Marcus’ words were more harsh than he had intended.
“My lord, your mother granted me freedom.”
“Where is the document to prove it?”
Alexander and Rashid both looked at her. She shook her head. “I don’t know,” she stammered. “I guess I lost it.”
“Lost it?” Alexander said, astounded. “How could you lose something so important?”
Marcus produced the small scroll from his belt. “She left it lying on the balcony.” He held it out to Hadassah.
Surprised, Rashid stared at the Roman for a beat, as though debating with himself, then, slowly, he stood aside and allowed Marcus to face Hadassah. Alexander was struck by the tender look in Valerian’s eyes.
He is in love with her! he thought, stunned by the realization. And he doesn’t care who sees it.
“You left without saying good-bye,” Marcus said, his voice soft again. “To Lavinnia or Iulius. Or even to Mother.”
“I’m sorry.” She could hardly breathe past the racing of her heart.
“Were you running from me?”
She lowered her head, unable to look at him.
“Mother tried to tell me you were alive, but I didn’t understand.”
“I thought it best you didn’t know.”
“Why, Hadassah?” His voice broke. “Did you think I had anything to do with what happened? Did you think I knew Julia sent you to the arena?”
Too filled with confusing emotions, Hadassah shook her head, silent. Love for him washed over her at the desperate sadness in his voice—but loving him made staying so much more difficult.
“I swear to you I didn’t know you’d been sent to the arena. As God is my witness, I didn’t know until I was sitting in the stands with Julia and—” He broke off, his face convulsing at the memory.