The Warrior (The Herod Chronicles Book 1)

by Wanda Ann Thomas

“Nathan! Nathan!”

  The urgent tone set Nathan on instant alert. He untangled himself from Alexandra. “Get dressed,” he directed her and crawled over to the edge of the roof.

  Peter ben Eli stood at the door, torch in one hand and knocking with the other. “Nathan!”

  Peter owned an olive farm a day’s walk south of here. The matter must be urgent for him to come so far during Shabbat.

  “What’s wrong?” Nathan asked.

  Peter’s head jerked up. He moved to the base of the ladder. “I know where Judas the Zealot is.”

  Alexandra scrambled up beside Nathan. “Lydia? This man knows where Lydia is?”

  Uneasy over his lovely wife’s close proximity to the edge of the roof, Nathan took hold of her upper arm. She was trembling. He put his arm around her and pulled her close. “Many thanks, Peter. I am in your debt.” This was exactly the lead he’d been hoping and praying for.

  CHAPTER 12

  Nathan and Pinhas ducked under the craggy mouth of a cave, not bothering to avoid the dripping water. “Do you see anything?” Nathan said.

  Pinhas knelt. “A large party spent time here. But the coals in the cook fire are several days old. If it was Judas, he’s likely miles away by now.”

  Disappointed, Nathan shook his head.

  They moved back outside. The midday sun parted the somber gray clouds.

  “At least the walk home should be drier,” Nathan said, struggling to find a bright side. Their clothes were drenched and their hair was plastered to their heads thanks to traveling a day and a half through driving rain.

  Pinhas grunted and gave Nathan a leery look. “What will you do with Judas when you find him?”

  The memory of Alexandra’s stark terror in the wake of the ambush replayed through Nathan’s mind. His blood heated. “The attack wasn’t your usual raid.” His fingers curled around the hilt of the sword strapped to his waist. “Judas didn’t just ambush the Onias family. He took great pleasure in torturing them.”

  Pinhas eyes locked onto Nathan’s sword. “You plan to kill him?”

  “No,” Nathan said, releasing the hilt like it was a red-hot poker. He bent and picked up one of the small stones littering the ground and heaved it. “Much as I’d like to, I plan to hand the fiend over to the Sanhedrin. The courts can decide his fate.” He turned to Pinhas. “I hear Hezekiah has another raid planned.”

  His friend’s face hardened. “Don’t ask for details. I don’t want to have to lie to you.”

  “Hezekiah’s rebellion will end badly,” Nathan warned. “I feel it in my bones. Promise me you will stay out of it.”

  “Hezekiah is a good man,” Pinhas countered. “A man worth supporting.”

  Nathan scrubbed his face. “I don’t doubt Hezekiah’s sincerity. I know he believes he’s doing the Lord’s will. I’ve also thought long and hard about the verses of scripture he uses to justify the raids, but I can’t see it the way he does.”

  Nathan and Pinhas had spent hours discussing the scriptures and wondering together how best to understand them. Hezekiah and his followers had definite ideas regarding the meaning of the holy writings, the teachers of Israel had theirs, and the Sadducees, Pharisees, and Essenes had theirs. Who had the right of it? Nathan knew what he believed, but he would keep searching the scriptures and continue to pray for insight.

  “I hate the division it causes,” Nathan finally said. “I hate that Jews are fighting Jews.” His voice dropped to a whisper. “I hate that you and I don’t see eye to eye over the rebels, old friend.”

  Pinhas picked up a jagged rock and examined it. “I don’t care one way or the other about hunting down Roman sympathizers. But my fellow priests are another matter. Did you know Justus and Saul are so desperate for money they are ready to place their daughters as bondmaids?”

  Nathan winced. “I plan on expanding my olive groves. I will hire them to work with me.”

  “That’s good of you, Nathan. And I’m thankful for the extra money I will earn building your house. But you can’t singlehandedly employ every destitute priest in Galilee. Even if you could, you shouldn’t have to. The Law makes provision for us. But High Priest Hycranus and his bloodsucking relations are taking what should rightfully be given to us common priests.”

  Pinhas performed his priestly duties at the Temple two times a year, receiving only a small share of the pelts from the animals sacrificed. The rest of the time he worked as a stonecutter. Poor priests without a trade, such as Justus and Saul, struggled to get by. A state of affairs stinking to heaven, given the river of coins and goods flowing into the Temple treasury. All God’s priests ought to be well provided for. But the bulk of the wealth was funneled off to members of High Priest Hycranus’s inner circle. Hezekiah and his rebels wanted this, and many other wrongs, set right.

  Nathan remembered Alexandra’s blood-spattered veil and James Onias’s ugly, purple scar. He crossed his arms to keep his hand from clasping his sword again. “I hate the corruption, but the raids aren’t the answer.” He looked his friend in the eye. “I plan to do everything in my power to stop Hezekiah, as well as Judas.”

  The rock in Pinhas’ hand slipped to the ground. “It’s why you’ve taken up with Herod again, isn’t it?”

  Nathan’s gut knotted. Pinhas had taken it hard when Nathan joined the army back when they were boys. The gentle-hearted man never understood Nathan’s love for the military and had been deeply hurt when Nathan had set aside their friendship to become fast friends with Herod. But Pinhas didn’t hold it against Nathan. When Nathan had quit soldiering and returned to the farm, shaken to his very core, Pinhas had welcomed Nathan home with open arms, never uttering a word of censure.

  Nathan wanted to look away, but didn’t. “I need Herod’s help. But it stops there. The last thing I want is for this to cause trouble between—” his voice cracked.

  Pinhas squeezed Nathan’s shoulder. “Promise me you will talk to Hezekiah before you do anything.”

  Nathan cleared his throat. “I was going to ask you to arrange a meeting.”

  “I’m glad to hear it.” Pinhas clapped his back. “By the way, I like Alexandra immensely. She is good for you.”

  “She’s going to be very disappointed when I return without her sister.”

  “I’ll speak to Hezekiah about the girl.”

  “I welcome the help.” Nathan cinched his sword belt tighter about his waist. “Let’s go home.”

  ***

  Two days later Nathan and Pinhas crested the small knoll behind his home. Nathan’s heart stopped. One wall of the house had collapsed. Mary and Timothy and a third person pawed at the wreckage. “No,” Nathan yelled and raced down the hill.

  Dizzy with fear, he dropped down on his knees beside Mary. The right half of Rhoda’s body was pinned under the muddy wreckage. Herod was there, and he and Timothy shoveled the mud away with their hands. There was no sign of Lex or his father.

  His sister threw her arms around him. “Nath...Nathan...” Beyond hysterical, the poor thing could barely get her words out. “Mother...Mother is hurt.”

  Rhoda was spluttering complaints. Nathan took it as a good sign. He gripped Mary’s arms and shook her gently to get her attention. “Where are Alexandra and Father?”

  “Inside.” Tears poured down the girl’s muddy face. “Alexandra was inside the house with Father.”

  Nathan groaned. His father’s bed was tucked up against the wall closest to where the partition had given way. Dread and despair constricting his chest, Nathan ran to the house and grabbed for the door. It swung away from him.

  Alexandra stood before him, supporting his father with her arm.

  “Thank God.” Nathan wrapped his arms around the pair and hugged them for dear life. “Thank God...I...”

  His father gripped his arm. “We heard the cries. Who’s hurt?”

  “They’re freeing Rhoda. She doesn’t appear too badly hurt,” Nathan assured his father. He led the pair to a safe spot, then turned his atten
tion to helping Pinhas, Herod, and Timothy free Rhoda. Together they quickly removed the rest of the dirt. Rhoda winced and cried out when they tried to lift her.

  “Let me examine her,” Herod ordered. Pinhas and Timothy moved aside.

  Herod’s hands moved methodically over Rhoda’s limbs, checking for broken bones. He nodded at the wreckage. “I’ve heard that heavy rain is brutal on these rock and mud houses. Has this happened before?”

  “Not in my lifetime,” Nathan said. Breathing easier, he surveyed the yard. Two horses grazed nearby. “Who does the second horse belong to?”

  Herod grinned. “It’s yours.”

  “Mine?”

  “It’s a wedding gift.”

  “It’s a warhorse,” Nathan growled.

  “It will get you to Syria.”

  “I can’t leave my family. Not now.”

  Herod finished his inspection. “Your arm’s broken,” he told Rhoda. “But I think between Nathan and I we can set it.”

  “You know how to set bones?” Alexandra stood behind them, holding a stone cup.

  Nathan took the cup of water and patted the ground, inviting her to join them.

  “Physicians are few and far between when an army is on the move or on the battlefield,” Nathan explained. “Herod and I have mended a few broken limbs in our day. We’ll splint it and pray the bone heals well.”

  “Stop talking and get on with it,” Rhoda said.

  Nathan patted her good arm. “It shouldn’t take long.”

  “I’ll go find what we need,” Herod said, standing and heading toward what remained of the house.

  Alexandra shifted closer to his stepmother and carefully propped her up. Gently caressing the side of Rhoda’s face, Alexandra crooned to her, “Be strong for just a little bit longer. We’ll soon have you tucked into a soft bed.”

  Nathan held the cup of water to Rhoda’s lips. She sipped at it. He allowed himself to examine to Alexandra. “How are you?”

  She offered him a tired smile. “I am glad you are home.”

  Indecently pleased with the reply, he winked at her.

  A pink blush spread across her glistening cheeks. The perspiration pearling on her face was the lone sign that something out of the ordinary had happened. He admired and appreciated her calm in the face of trouble.

  Nathan gave Rhoda another sip of water, then returned his attention to Lex. “I am proud of you. Thank you for taking care of my father, for making sure he got out of the house.”

  Flustered, Alexandra lowered her eyes. “It was nothing.”

  He scanned the barren hillsides surrounding his home “Out here we have only each other to depend on. You did well.”

  Alexandra lifted her chin and gave him an uncertain look. If they were alone he would tease a smile out of her. She wasn’t used to compliments—a sad shame he planned to correct.

  Rhoda knocked the cup aside. “If I drink any more I’ll spring a leak.” She cringed and rubbed her arm. “Help me sit up.”

  Nathan smiled down at Rhoda. “Give us a few moments to ready the tents.” He stood and turned to Pinhas. “We’ll have to get started on the new house right away. In the meantime, we can set up the festival tents and live in them.”

  Timothy gave a whoop of approval and raced over to hug Nathan about the waist.

  “I’m glad one of us is happy with the plan.” He rumpled the boy’s hair. “I’ll patch the old house back together again, and we can put it to use as an animal pen.”

  Alexandra’s gray eyes lit up.

  At a guess he would say she was amused at the idea she’d been living in a home barely fit for livestock. Bless her for her healthy sense of humor.

  ***

  Amber twilight settled around the quiet farmstead. Alexandra peered down into the dark well. Tugging hard on the rope, she promised her aching arms this was the last jug of water she would lug today. Rhoda was resting comfortably, the animals were watered, the clothes washed, dinner prepared and eaten.

  She couldn’t remember a day half so satisfying. Or exhausting.

  “Here, let me help.” Nathan hauled the pail up the rest of the way and set it on the ground. Turning to her, he took her fisted hands and tugged her fingers down, revealing the raw, red welts she had hoped to hide from him.

  He frowned and drew her into his arms. “My heart broke when I saw the wall down. I thought I’d lost you...I...”

  This was not the lecture she’d expected. She pressed her face to his solid chest. His heart beat fast against her ear. She’d never felt more safe and wanted, sheltered in his embrace.

  His mouth moved against her hair. “I’m glad you weren’t hurt.” He set her at arm’s length and smiled. “Come. My father wants a word with us.”

  Unnerved by the summons, she tidied her hair.

  Nathan took her hand, hefted the pail, and headed toward the tents. The small tent was to be all theirs. Praise heaven.

  They stepped inside the big tent. Oil lamps cast up a soft glow. Pinhas and Herod lounged by the entrance. Rhoda was resting on a bed along the back wall. Joseph, Mary, and Timothy sat around the large, circular mat serving as a table. Nathan and Alexandra joined them.

  Nathan poured wine into a cup and pressed it into her hand.

  Joseph offered them a tired smile. “Herod says Rhoda’s arm will need most of the winter to heal. I want to hire a bondmaiden to help with the work.”

  The children gave their noisy approval.

  “What do you say, Daughter?” Joseph asked.

  Though she’d done fairly well today, Alexandra knew she wasn’t ready to replace her mother-in-law. The stoic woman usually worked from morning to night serving the family’s many needs. She turned to Nathan.

  His smile was sympathetic. He knew she didn’t want a slave to do her work. “It’s for you to decide,” he said.

  She swallowed and looked around the table. Expectant faces glowed at her. A prickly heat crept up her neck. For her whole life she’d wanted this, wanted what she thought or felt to matter to someone. She never guessed it would prove so unsettling. She rubbed her sweaty palms on her tunic. “I think it might take two bondmaidens to replace Rhoda.” She laughed with the others, then returned her focus to her kindly father-in-law. “I will be grateful for the help.”

  She ducked her head. Nathan’s leg tapped hers and his fingers pressed lightly into her elbow. “Breathe,” he whispered.

  She inhaled deeply and let her breath go. And felt much better for it.

  “Son, I want you and Alexandra to make the trip to Syria,” Joseph said.

  Her head snapped up.

  Nathan wore an incredulous look. “But the house.”

  Her father-in-law waved the problem aside. “Men can be hired to assist Pinhas. Herod has need of you.”

  Alexandra looked over at Herod, hoping he’d release Nathan from his promise.

  The career soldier set down his cup of wine. “I’d like you to be there.”

  Nathan grimaced. “You can find other men to amuse you.”

  “Antipater and Herod are not asking you to go to war with them,” Joseph said. “They are asking for a show of support. Their friends are few and far between just now.”

  Herod nodded. “Once I know my father is safe, I’ll give you men to help build your house and to hunt down the bandits holding your sister-in-law.

  Nathan’s shoulders fell. He touched his hand to hers. “What do you think?”

  Herod trained his black eyes on her.

  It was all she could do to keep from squirming. Crossing Herod would be a mistake, especially since he held Lydia’s fate in his hands. And Nathan was convinced he needed Herod’s help to locate and retrieve her sister. Alexandra forced herself to stop twisting the folds of her tunic. “We promised we’d go.”

  Nathan laughed without humor. “I can’t argue with that.”

  Herod’s satisfied smile made her toes curl.

  “I’ll need to time to contract a bondmaiden and hire workm
en,” Nathan said.

  Herod picked up his cup, drained his wine, and held it out for a refill. “I’ll give you tomorrow to see to your affairs.”

  ***

  Alexandra stared up at the large gray-and-white-dappled warhorse named Royal. Another wave of dizziness struck. Holy angels! She was going to have to climb way, way up there and ride atop the spirited creature’s back. Royal galloped as fast as lightning. She’d watched with her heart in her throat yesterday while Nathan and Herod tore across the hills on their horses.

  The whole family was out in the yard to say goodbye, even Rhoda, who was up for the first time since the accident, her injured arm hanging in a sling. Herod was already mounted on his white stallion, more than ready to begin the journey to Syria. Nathan was stowing food in the leather packs that hung from the felt-covered wooden saddle.

  He came around to her side of the horse. “Are you ready?”

  She reached out and patted Royal’s soft, velvety nose and looked into the horse’s big black eyes. “You’re a good boy, Royal. Yes, you are.”

  She liked the horse, she just didn’t like the idea of riding on him. Romans rode horses. Israelites walked or used donkeys.

  Nathan climbed into the saddle and helped her up.

  Royal pranced in place.

  “Job’s bones,” she cried out, wrapping her arms around Nathan’s waist and burying her face in his back.

  The family chuckled and called out encouragements. Nathan patted her hand. “I promise to go slowly.”

  “You can stay behind,” Herod said, circling his horse closer to Royal and aiming his comments at Alexandra. “I’d bet good money the trip will prove too taxing for you.” He wagged his brows. “We haven’t left the yard and you are already being a pest.”

  Alexandra’s spine stiffened. A pest? Too taxing? She’d walk through a pit of snakes or jump into a pool of crocodiles just to prove him wrong.

  A growl reverberated through Nathan. “Don’t bully my wife.”

  Herod shrugged. “I meant well.”

  “Of course,” Alexandra muttered through gritted teeth.

  Royal tossed his head and neighed loudly. She yelped and grabbed Nathan.