“Kill her!”
“No!”
“I heard the Roman say they were eating the flesh and drinking the blood of a man named Jesus!” Gundrid cried out, having crept close and spied upon them when they were unaware.
“The evil must be cut out from among us!” Anomia cried out. She saw her time had come. “You already have all the evidence you need. Do you remember the first day the Roman and this woman came to us? They spoke our language by the power of the demons. That is enough to seal her fate. We don’t need proof that she stole a newborn baby in order to capture the father. We don’t need proof that she slept with other men. We know these things to be true. Have you not seen the pull she already has upon all our children. Ask Usipi about Luisa, who goes to her each time she appears! Ask others how our little ones went into the forest to hear the Roman sing to them. Will you let her live so she can steal your children, too?”
“No!”
“She’s an enemy of Tiwaz!”
Freyja could not believe the things she heard, would not believe. “Let her speak in her own defense,” she pleaded. “By our law, she has the right.”
“She will cast a spell upon us as well,” Anomia said in consternation. “She must be destroyed before she destroys us.”
“Let her speak!” Rolf shouted. “Or are you afraid she has more power than you?”
Herigast joined him. “Let her answer the charges!”
Filled with wrath, Anomia looked upon the ones who had turned from her. She saw others doubting. She would make them sorry. She would make them pay.
“Let her speak!”
Atretes tried to lunge free. “No!”
Hearing what was in his voice, Anomia turned to him in veiled surprise. His fear was like a drug in her system, rousing her senses, making her mind buzz. Atretes didn’t want the woman to speak. Why? Turning, she studied Rizpah. At first, all she saw was a beautiful young woman, her enemy, standing before her. Then she saw more. She saw her quiet humility, her dignity, her integrity, and she knew why Atretes wanted her to say nothing.
Anomia raised her hand for silence. “Perhaps we should ask her.”
“Say nothing to them,” Atretes said, struggling with every ounce of his strength. He gained nothing. “Rizpah!” She looked back at him, face pale but serene, and he knew she would keep her word to him. No matter the cost, she’d said.
And the cost would be her life.
Rizpah saw his grief and shame. “I love you, Atretes,” she said and saw tears fill his eyes before he shut them.
Anomia struck her across the face. “Do not speak to him or look at him, witch!”
“This is your hour, Anomia, the hour of darkness,” Rizpah said quietly and looked straight into her opaque blue eyes without fear.
“You think to frighten me? You or your imagined god?”
“A day will come when every knee shall bow and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord. Even you will bow down to him.”
“Do you hear what she says?” Anomia shouted with a mocking laugh, her gaze still fixed upon Rizpah. “She would have us on our knees. She would have the Chatti, the greatest race on the earth, groveling before a crucified savior.” She turned to the others then, spreading her arms. “How long would it take then before Rome killed every last one of you?”
Rizpah bowed her head, praying silently and fervently. O God, you know my foolish heart and my every weakness. None of my wrongs are hidden from you, Father. Please may Atretes and Rolf and all those who have heard your Word and believed not be ashamed because of me. O Lord God, may those among these people who seek you not be discouraged or dishonored through me tonight.
“What’s your decision?” Anomia cried out.
Men shouted for her death, but some for pardon.
Herigast entered the circle. “Because the woman believes in another god doesn’t make her a harlot!”
Warriors shouted more angrily, hearing one of their own speak on her behalf.
“You never forgave Atretes for commanding your son to be drowned in the bog for cowardice!” Holt said.
“I have heard you speak often against him and his wife. Why do you now defend her?” another cried out.
“Because I heard the Word of her God from the Roman,” Herigast shouted back, “and it took the hatred and the pain from my heart!”
“And took your strength as well!” Anomia said contemptuously.
“The Ionian has bewitched Herigast as she bewitched Atretes!” Gundrid said, and more men shouted. “How many others has she bewitched!”
Anomia turned again to Rizpah. “Speak the truth, or may your own god strike you dead!”