As Sure as the Dawn(116)
He crossed the room and leaned down to speak straight into her face. “If you’d told me everything the day you arrived, you wouldn’t be alive right now! I would’ve killed you without blinking an eye and been glad of it.” She stood uncowed, not even flinching. He straightened. “I wouldn’t have had the months of living with you to learn what sort of woman you are now.”
“So I’m good now, Atretes? I just threw a chicken leg at your head.”
He grinned. “And missed.”
“I still struggle against the flesh. Every day, sometimes every hour.”
“And you think I don’t?” he said, his gaze moving down over her.
She blushed, feeling hot all over. “That’s not what I meant.”
“Get the boy and let’s go.” He had to get out of this room, now.
She did as he said. They went down the portico and out through the main courtyard to the antechamber. Soldiers were everywhere, a good many of them noticing Rizpah. Ignoring them, Atretes clamped his hand on her arm and headed straight for the wide doorway into the street, eager to be out in the open.
“You’re hurting me,” Rizpah said and let out her breath when he let go of her. He was walking fast, too fast. She had to make two steps to his one and was quickly out of breath. “I can’t keep your pace, Atretes,” she said, hating to complain.
He slowed. “This way,” he said and started down a main thoroughfare that headed north. They passed through the gates, crossed a bridge, and headed up the road into the growing darkness. They passed one milestone, then another. Stars were beginning to appear. They passed another milestone. Arms aching, Rizpah shifted Caleb.
When they came upon the fourth milestone, she stopped. “It’s almost dark.”
“We can make another mile.”
“I thought you wanted distance between you and Theophilus,” she said and walked off the road. She sat down wearily against a tree trunk. Caleb was still sleeping. His day with Atretes must have worn him out. She placed him on the grass and then lay down beside him, curling around him to keep him warm.
Atretes dumped his packs, clearly annoyed to be stopping.
“I’ll try to do better tomorrow, Atretes,” she said.
He moved about restlessly and then sat a few feet away, knees drawn up, forearms resting on them. He looked at the sky. “We could’ve made another mile.”
* * *
They left as the sun was coming up, and Rizpah had nursed Caleb. Atretes bought bread and apples as they passed through a village. Rizpah fed Caleb bits of both as he rode contentedly on her hip. She helped him drink from a skin holding watered wine.
Near noon, a company of soldiers rode toward them. Rizpah saw Theophilus among them and called out to him. They paused as the Roman dismounted and untied his pack from the horse. Slinging it over his shoulder, he spoke cheerfully to the others before heading toward them. One of the soldiers grasped the reins of Theophilus’ mount and they continued on down the road.
Theophilus looked Rizpah over, noting the new cloak, tunic, and boots. “So that’s where you went,” he said to Atretes.
Glowering at him, Atretes started off again.
Theophilus fell into step beside Rizpah. “Have you two been getting along well without me?” he said, his mouth tipping up.
“Well enough,” Atretes answered for her and kept walking.
Theophilus grinned at Rizpah. “At least you’re glad to see me.”
They made good distance over the next days, passing through Campiglia Maritima, Cecina, Livorno, Pisa, and Viareggio. They camped each night near the road. Theophilus purchased more supplies in La Spezia. Atretes insisted on taking the shorter route along the mountainous coastal road rather than the one that went inland.
When they reached Genova, Theophilus arranged lodgings again, this time at an inn not frequented by soldiers and farther from the public baths. Atretes entered the baths this time without comment. When Rizpah asked permission to leave his side, he gave it without hesitation. She took Caleb into a bath chamber with other young mothers while he followed Theophilus into the main chambers.
Fewer people bathed naked in this place. Atretes decided the further one got from Rome, the more provincial the morals. He found himself relaxing in the environment and even enjoying it. He took his time while Theophilus waited, bearing the money pouches and talking with some men who appeared, by their bearing and build, to be soldiers.
“The roads are safe through the mountain pass,” Theophilus told him when he returned for his clothing.
“Good. We will make better time.” He donned his tunic and belt and took the pouches.
Theophilus wondered if Atretes realized his German accent got thicker the further north they went. “We’re not going to be able to keep the same pace,” he said, stripping off his tunic. “It’s a hard climb to Novi. Then we can pick up the pace again through Alessandria and Vercelli. We’ll be following the Dora Baltea from there to Aosta, and that’s a harder climb. Crossing the mountains to Novi is going to be difficult on Rizpah, but nothing compared to what’s ahead. We’ve got the Graian and Pennine Alps to go over.”