As Sure as the Dawn(197)
Atretes dug his fingers into the earth and moaned.
“No,” Rizpah said.
“And his mother’s name was Julia?”
“Yes.”
“Did Atretes take his son back from you?”
“Yes.”
“Did you have a child by another man?”
“Yes.”
“And that child is dead?”
Rizpah closed her eyes. “Yes.”
“O God,” Atretes groaned softly.
“By her own lips, she has passed sentence upon herself,” Anomia said, her fist tightening in Rizpah’s hair as she looked around at the circle of stunned faces. “Tiwaz struck the tree and the holy emblems because we are forsaking his law by letting her live! See how the heavens clear now and the stars shine again!”
“Lord, you are my Rock and my Redeemer,” Rizpah murmured in complete surrender.
Anomia pulled Rizpah’s head back further, exposing her pale throat. “Atretes knows the law! He brought her here, for he knew in his heart that only we could set him free of the spell by which she’s bound him and his son. Once she is dead, he’ll be the man we used to know. He’ll lead us to victory.”
Atretes raised his head, his eyes awash with tears. “Kill my wife and I swear before God, I’ll lead you all to hell!”
“No, Atretes!” Rizpah said in grief. “No, beloved. Remember the Lord. Remember what we’ve been taught.”
Feed the sheep.
He wept. “They’re going to kill you because of me!”
“God is with us. Whom shall we fear?”
“I love you! I love you. Forgive me.” He saw in her eyes she already had.
“See the power she has over him!” Anomia cried out. “There is no deliverance for us if we let her live.”
“Take her to the bog!” Rud shouted, and as chief, his words were heeded.
“The bog!” Others agreed, until Rolf and Herigast’s voices were drowned out in the din and confusion.
Anomia’s eyes gleamed with malicious delight as she looked down into Rizpah’s face. “See the power I have over you,” she hissed.
“You have no power but what God has given you.”
“So even he heeds my voice,” she mocked. She leaned closer. “I thirst to rip out your throat with my own teeth, but they must do it.” She released her and stepped back. She called forth Rud to fulfill the law and the custom. “Shave off her hair.”
Rud took out his knife and proceeded to shave the left side of Rizpah’s head close to the scalp. On the right side, he cut the hair two inches in length, letting the luxuriant dark locks fell to the ground around her.
Rizpah saw Freyja weeping, clutching her amber amulet. “Turn to the Lord, Mother.”
Anomia struck her again, dazing her. “Strip her and put the collar on!”
Rud slit the back of Rizpah’s tunic and tore it from her. He took the heavy leather collar from Anomia’s hand and put it around Rizpah’s neck, then dragged her roughly to her feet.
“The Lord will bring to light the truth, if you but ask,” Rizpah said, using what time she had left. “Christ died for your sins. He was buried and raised on the third day. Through one man, Adam, death came into the world; and through Jesus Christ, our Lord, we have life everlasting.”
“Silence her!” Anomia said, her eyes flashing with fury.
Rud struck Rizpah a vicious blow and then shoved her in the direction of the bog. The others followed.
“Bring Atretes!” Anomia called back to them. “He must watch her die if the spell is to be broken.” She looked into his eyes, wanting him to know it was his suffering and not his redemption she sought.
Hauled to his feet, Atretes was taken along. Others, concerned for Rolf and Herigast, brought them as well.
Anomia led the gathering of Chatti warriors by torchlight through the dense forest to the edge of the marshland. She felt an eerie change around her, as though the air itself was charged with power. The hour of darkness was passing away. Dawn would be upon them soon. The deed must be done.
She hurried her steps, urging the others on.
Gray moss hung from the branches of ancient trees. The air smelled of decay. She came to the edge of bog and turned, facing those who had followed her. Atretes wept openly, his eyes never straying from his wife’s face.
The priestess looked upon Rizpah with contempt. Atretes’ woman, too, was broken, for her eyes were closed, her lips moving as though she had gone completely mad.
“By the power I’ve been given by Tiwaz, I proclaim this woman unchaste, a foul witch and deceiver, and I pass the sentence of death upon her. Let her be cast into the bog.”
Rizpah raised her head and looked from face to face. “My God, whom I serve, is able to deliver me from the pit.”