Atretes swore again. “And so, because of you, I’ve got to go pay homage to some bloody Roman aristocrat or end up back in the arena!” His voice rose to a shout, and he kicked over a table and shattered an elegant clay lamp.
Rizpah winced, but remained standing where she was. Father, show me a way. Give me words. What do we do? Her mind suddenly whirled with an appalling, frightening idea. She didn’t even want to speak of it, but it was the only solution that came to her. “You said you wanted to return to Germania.”
He swung around, glaring at her. “I’d have done that months ago except for two things!”
“Your son,” Rizpah said, supplying one with complete understanding. Caleb was only four months old, and travel would be hazardous as well as difficult. “What other reason have you?”
Atretes uttered a short, foul curse and turned his back on her. Thrusting both hands back through his long blonde hair, he went out onto the balcony. Rizpah frowned. Whatever the other reason, it was clear he didn’t want to tell her. He came back inside, his resentment etched in his handsome features.
“It took months to get me to Capua,” he ground out. “Then I was transported to Rome. Sertes made a deal with Vespasian and brought me here. By ship. The journey took weeks.” He laughed almost hysterically. “I’d go back to Germania right now if I knew how to find it!”
She saw how much his admission cost him and answered quickly. “We’ll find out exactly where it is and how to get there.”
Atretes tilted his head, eyes glittering. “We?”
“You said you wouldn’t leave your son behind.”
“I won’t.”
“Where Caleb goes, I go.”
He gave a sharp laugh. “You’d leave Ephesus and all it has to offer,” he said dryly, unconvinced.
“I would rather stay here, yes,” she said frankly. “All I’ve ever heard about Germania doesn’t commend it.” She saw Atretes’ eyes harden as he took offense. “Caleb’s safety is more important than whatever fears I may have about leaving all I know. If Sertes is all you think he is, and I don’t doubt you, he won’t think twice about using an innocent baby in whatever way he can to get at you, would he?”
“No.”
“Then the only way to make sure Caleb is safe is to get him as far away from Sertes as possible.”
His continued scrutiny made her increasingly uncomfortable. What was he thinking? “The journey will cost a great deal of money,” she said.
He laughed grimly. “A fortune, no doubt, and most of what I earned was poured into this villa.” He looked around the room as though seeing it for the first time. “Now I understand why Sertes was so willing to arrange the purchase of this place,” he said darkly. “These walls close me in every bit as tightly as the ludus ever did.”
“You can sell it.”
“Not without him knowing about it, and I doubt I could manage it before Rufus Pumponius Praxus holds his little feast!” He swore in frustration.
“God can accomplish the impossible.”
He gave her a mocking look. “What makes you think your god is going to help me?”
“What convinces you he won’t?” She didn’t wait for his response. “I’ll go and speak with John. He’ll help us.”
“You won’t leave this villa!”
“I must if we’re going to gather the information we need. There are people from every walk of life in the body of Christ. I know of one merchant who has traveled all over the Empire. If anyone can tell us how to find Germania, he can. Perhaps he could provide us with maps to show us the way.” Atretes looked ready to argue, so she plunged ahead.
“Another thing to consider: My leaving could throw doubt on Sertes’ speculations about me and about Caleb. If I leave, with Caleb, might not Sertes assume I don’t mean as much to you as he thought? And you would hardly send me away with a child of yours.”
Atretes frowned, thinking her idea had merit. Yet some niggling doubt remained. “Sertes might have you brought to the ludus for questioning.”
She glanced toward the balcony, troubled by his suggestion. “Is he out there under the terebinth, watching the house?”
“Sertes left. His spies remain.”
She put a trembling hand to her throat, slightly relieved. “Unless he left instructions to bring me to the ludus, I doubt they would act upon their own initiative. They’ll watch and report and await his instructions. By the time they get them, I’ll be back in Ephesus.”
“And within easy reach,” he said, annoyed. “At least one of them will follow you.”