* * *
Rizpah reached the end of the path just as Rolf ran into the forest on the far side of the glen. She frowned when she saw him and entered the glen, looking toward the grubenhaus. Surely Rolf was not one of the ones Theophilus said came to him to learn about the Lord?
She had awakened the night before, feeling oppressed and filled with disquiet. The scene with Anomia was still fresh in her mind, and she prayed for Helda and the unknown others who had gone to Theophilus in the night. When she had finally slept, she had tossed and turned, troubled by strange dreams. She awakened abruptly in darkness, afraid for Theophilus for no explicable reason. Distressed, she awakened Atretes and said she was going to him.
“Dawn will be here soon. Wait until then.”
“I have to go now.”
“Why?”
“I don’t know, but I must. Please come as quickly as you can.”
“What about Caleb?” he said, sitting up and raking his hands through his hair. His head was pounding from the mead he had drunk the night before with Holt and Rud and the others.
“Leave him with your mother.”
Now she stood in the cool morning air, the sky sweetening with the hint of sunrise, and scanned the glen for a sign of Theophilus. He wasn’t in the grubenhaus and he didn’t answer her call. She found him on the far side of his garden, lying on the dew-covered grass.
“No!”
* * *
Theophilus rasped in pain, feeling strength flow out of him with each beat of his heart. “Lord . . .” He saw Rizpah above him, the sunrise behind her, and then she was on her knees beside him, pulling him up into her arms.
“God, no,” she wept. “Oh, Theo.”
“It’s all right, beloved,” he said. “All is well.”
“Atretes!” she screamed, tears streaming down her pale cheeks. “O God, please.” She pressed her hand over one of the wounds, but she saw it was no use. “Atretes! Atretes!”
“Keep . . . Caleb away,” Theophilus managed, having difficulty breathing.
“He’s at the longhouse. I didn’t bring him with me this morning. Something warned me not to bring him. I knew I had to come. O God, why didn’t I come sooner? Why did Rolf do this to you?”
“Sent,” he managed, coughing. “He didn’t want to do it.”
“But he did. He did.”
“Forgive him, beloved.”
“How can I when he’s taken you from us?” She wept.
“Jesus forgave.” Theophilus took her trembling hand. “Tell Atretes. Remember the Lord.” He coughed. Each breath he took made the wound in his chest bubble red, but he gripped her wrist with surprising strength. “Don’t tell Atretes it was Rolf. He’s weak. He’ll want revenge.” The heaviness of his own blood was filling his lungs. “Stand firm.”
“Don’t try to talk.” She saw her husband running toward her. “Hurry!” she called, weeping, cradling Theophilus closer, feeling him slipping away. “O Jesus, please, please don’t take him from us. Don’t take him. Hold on, Theophilus. Atretes is coming.”
And then he was there, going down on one knee, staring at his friend, his face ashen. “Who did this?”
Theophilus gripped his wrist. “Feed the sheep.”
“I have no sheep!” Atretes said, wanting to understand the ramblings. “Who did this to you?”
“Feed the sheep.” Theophilus said, fumbling until he caught hold of the front of Atretes’ tunic and held on.
Grief-stricken, Atretes looked at Rizpah in confusion. “What’s he talking about?”
“Feed the sheep.” Theophilus’ fingers loosened. He let out a long sigh and relaxed in Rizpah’s arms, his brown eyes still open and fixed on Atretes.
“He’s gone,” Rizpah whispered, fear coursing through her.
“Bring him back!” Atretes commanded. “Bring him back the way he brought you back!”
“I can’t.” Her hand shook as she gently closed his eyes.
“Why not?” he said desperately. “Try.” He put his hands against Theophilus’ chest, covering the wounds. “Try!”
“Do you think we can command God to give us what we want!” she cried out. “He’s gone.”
Atretes drew back.
Rizpah shook violently, her breath trembling. Father God, what will we do? What will we do without him? O God, help us!
And with a sudden rush of warmth, an answer came to her. She remembered the word Theophilus had taught her and said it aloud as it came back now when she needed it. “The Lord is our light and salvation; whom shall we fear? The Lord is the defense of our life; whom shall we dread?”