Edge of Destiny by Darlene Mindrup

Author:Darlene Mindrup
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Barbour Publishing, Inc.
Published: 2013-03-05T05:00:00+00:00

Chapter 8

Decimus watched Chara ambling along in front of the wagon he was driving. She rode a horse well. He caught the eye of Caltupa and almost smiled at the man’s menacing glower. After all, he had reason to scowl. During the night, Thomas and Caleb had disappeared, slipped away when no one was looking. Decimus grinned. Even Galla had been unaware of their disappearance until morning.

Captain Caltupa had wanted to organize a search immediately, but Galla had forestalled him, telling him that getting the supplies and men to Britannia was more important than the disappearance of two slaves.

Decimus had been surprised when Trophimus had driven his wagon into the compound behind the others. He hadn’t had time to talk to the young Roman, but he was curious as to his reasons for staying. Had he not been able to slip away with the others? Surely Caleb would have waited for him, though everyone knew that the Jew had no love for Romans.

Chara turned and caught his eye, and her smile lit up her face. How was it that he had considered her rather plain in the beginning? She had beauty much like that of young Sara, the kind of beauty that seemed to come from within. Hadn’t the apostle Peter said something to that effect?

Decimus felt butterflies tumbling about inside him. How long could he continue to sleep with his wife and do nothing besides hold her gently? Every time he held her close, he felt himself drawn perilously near to holding her tighter, pressing his lips to hers, and. . . He frowned, considering the consequences.

If Chara were to become pregnant. . . The thought terrified him. He had no idea what would happen over the next several months, and he wasn’t about to take such a risk. Very possibly not one of them would come out of this alive. He could remember little of his life as a boy, but the stories circulating around the empire did nothing to calm his fears. Did the Druids truly offer human sacrifices to their gods? What kind of reception would they give to someone trying to teach them of another God, one who didn’t desire sacrifices at all?

But was that really true? Didn’t the Lord want His people to give their whole lives to Him? Even to the point of facing lions in an arena of Rome? There was no greater sacrifice than the one Antipus and Agrippina had made.

They traveled without incident the remainder of the day. The sun spilled its rays warmly across the verdant hillsides. Rolling, undulating hills met the eye wherever one turned. The scent of pine from the forests in the distance drifted to them on the cooling breeze.

Decimus noted that they were passing another mile marker. Every ten miles or so, one could find another station where soldiers could refresh their horses or stay for the night. According to his calculations, this made the ninth marker. He sighed, wondering if Galla would choose to press on.

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