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Authors: Darlene Mindrup
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women feel about being seen without a head covering.”
She wanted to object, but he was right. It would be unseemly to travel in the company of men and not be more modestly dressed. Because he hadn’t retrieved it from the trunk, she wondered how he had come by it, but she didn’t dare ask. She was learning that some things were better left unsaid and some gifts better taken without comment.
He then went to the trunk and removed the sack of coins Tapat had replaced earlier. He walked over to the bag that contained her tunic, opened it and dropped the coins inside. The look he gave her dared her to argue.
“Did you think I wouldn’t notice?”
Her face warmed with embarrassment. “You have given me too much already.”
“I thought we had settled that argument once and for all,” he said.
Tapat took a slice of goat cheese and glanced at his set face. She shrugged, knowing that he wouldn’t give in. “It appears that we have.”
She knew she sounded ungracious but she couldn’t help it. She frowned at his grin. He knew he had won this particular battle, and that irritated her more than the fact that she had been caught.
He seated himself opposite her once again and began choosing food from that provided. She knew that once they left this camp and struck out into the surrounding countryside, the fare would become much simpler.
She longed to be free from this camp and all that it represented, and she certainly didn’t want to be here when the true battle began, but, at the same time, she was reluctant to see the end of the trip they were about to embark on because it would mean she would no longer be able to see Andronicus.
The thought that he might be killed tore at her heart. But even if he did survive the battle, he would leave her in Pella and she would never see him again. Their worlds were too far apart. She knew this to be true, yet she couldn’t stop loving him any more than she could stop breathing.
She had prayed to Elohim to remove that love from her heart, but He had steadfastly remained silent. It was a thorn she would just have to live with.
“How long will it take us to reach Pella?” she asked.
He dipped the last bite of his bread into the bowl of olive oil. “I’m not certain. Usually it would take us four days moving at a good clip. However, having to travel slower along the way will significantly impede our progress. Probably a week at least.”
She knew without being told that she was the reason for the more leisurely pace. She didn’t know whether to be thankful for the consideration or not.
Andronicus gave her a long look. “What will you do when you get to Pella? Where will you live?”
Tapat dusted bread crumbs from her lap. “I have friends there. They will help me find a place to live.”
His only answer was a slight grunt. He was studying her again in that unnerving way. She cleared her throat nervously and began collecting the empty plates and stacking them for removal. “Will Nasab be going with us?”
He shook his head. “Not this time. I have duties for him here.”
Nasab entered the tent to remove the empty plates and gave Andronicus an affronted look, assuring Tapat that the decision was not his idea. She would miss the old man. She gave him an understanding smile.
“May Elohim be with you, Nasab. I hope we will meet again someday.”
The old man’s eyes shimmered with tears. “And I you.”
Andronicus glanced from one to the other, a frown drawing his brows together, and began to gather his gear; Tapat hastened to do the same.
A jingling of harness from just outside alerted them that the other soldiers accompanying them had arrived and were ready to leave.
Andronicus held the tent flap for her to pass through. She stopped abruptly, her eyes widening in alarm at the huge beast that was standing before her. She had to look a long way up to see the men mounted on their steeds.
She stared appalled at Andronicus, who was waiting patiently by one of the
She wanted to object, but he was right. It would be unseemly to travel in the company of men and not be more modestly dressed. Because he hadn’t retrieved it from the trunk, she wondered how he had come by it, but she didn’t dare ask. She was learning that some things were better left unsaid and some gifts better taken without comment.
He then went to the trunk and removed the sack of coins Tapat had replaced earlier. He walked over to the bag that contained her tunic, opened it and dropped the coins inside. The look he gave her dared her to argue.
“Did you think I wouldn’t notice?”
Her face warmed with embarrassment. “You have given me too much already.”
“I thought we had settled that argument once and for all,” he said.
Tapat took a slice of goat cheese and glanced at his set face. She shrugged, knowing that he wouldn’t give in. “It appears that we have.”
She knew she sounded ungracious but she couldn’t help it. She frowned at his grin. He knew he had won this particular battle, and that irritated her more than the fact that she had been caught.
He seated himself opposite her once again and began choosing food from that provided. She knew that once they left this camp and struck out into the surrounding countryside, the fare would become much simpler.
She longed to be free from this camp and all that it represented, and she certainly didn’t want to be here when the true battle began, but, at the same time, she was reluctant to see the end of the trip they were about to embark on because it would mean she would no longer be able to see Andronicus.
The thought that he might be killed tore at her heart. But even if he did survive the battle, he would leave her in Pella and she would never see him again. Their worlds were too far apart. She knew this to be true, yet she couldn’t stop loving him any more than she could stop breathing.
She had prayed to Elohim to remove that love from her heart, but He had steadfastly remained silent. It was a thorn she would just have to live with.
“How long will it take us to reach Pella?” she asked.
He dipped the last bite of his bread into the bowl of olive oil. “I’m not certain. Usually it would take us four days moving at a good clip. However, having to travel slower along the way will significantly impede our progress. Probably a week at least.”
She knew without being told that she was the reason for the more leisurely pace. She didn’t know whether to be thankful for the consideration or not.
Andronicus gave her a long look. “What will you do when you get to Pella? Where will you live?”
Tapat dusted bread crumbs from her lap. “I have friends there. They will help me find a place to live.”
His only answer was a slight grunt. He was studying her again in that unnerving way. She cleared her throat nervously and began collecting the empty plates and stacking them for removal. “Will Nasab be going with us?”
He shook his head. “Not this time. I have duties for him here.”
Nasab entered the tent to remove the empty plates and gave Andronicus an affronted look, assuring Tapat that the decision was not his idea. She would miss the old man. She gave him an understanding smile.
“May Elohim be with you, Nasab. I hope we will meet again someday.”
The old man’s eyes shimmered with tears. “And I you.”
Andronicus glanced from one to the other, a frown drawing his brows together, and began to gather his gear; Tapat hastened to do the same.
A jingling of harness from just outside alerted them that the other soldiers accompanying them had arrived and were ready to leave.
Andronicus held the tent flap for her to pass through. She stopped abruptly, her eyes widening in alarm at the huge beast that was standing before her. She had to look a long way up to see the men mounted on their steeds.
She stared appalled at Andronicus, who was waiting patiently by one of the
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