The Advocate by Randy Singer

Author:Randy Singer
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: FICTION / Christian / Historical
ISBN: 9781414390789
Publisher: Tyndale House Publishers, Inc.
Published: 2014-05-01T04:00:00+00:00

Flavia’s first question was about Mansuetus. “Have you seen him?”

“Yes. A few hours ago.”

“How is he?”

I wanted to lie and reassure Flavia. But she would see the man tomorrow, and I didn’t want her to be shocked just before the trial.

“He appears sick. He’ll make it through the trial, but it’s been a long six days.”

“Are they torturing him?”

“I don’t know.”

The Tullianum, where Flavia was being held, was located on one end of the Forum, at the top of the Gemonian Stairs. Prisoners were dropped in through a hole in the ceiling, and I had been lowered the same way so that I could have this private meeting with my client.

I only had a few seconds of light to appraise Flavia before they placed the large carved stone over the opening and the place became entombed in darkness again. Her cut hair stuck out in short, jagged strands. Her eyes were red and puffy as if she had been crying. Her face looked even more drawn than it had six days earlier. Her cheekbones were protruding, and her eye sockets were hollow. Her skin was blackened with grime, and there were welts on her collarbone and arm. It was a picture I seared into my mind in the brief moments we were given.

After the darkness descended, she reached out and took my hand, and we both sat down on the cold stone.

“Are you eating anything?” I asked.

“No. I thought they might try to poison me.”

“What are you drinking?”

“The water. I have no choice.”

My eyes tried to adjust to the darkness, but no light came through at all. That was the point of the place. No hope. No way out. Only complete and utter blackness while prisoners contemplated their inevitable deaths.

And it was cold. I hadn’t needed a cloak that day, but I could have used one in this damp dungeon.

I stood and unwrapped my toga. “You must be cold,” I said.

“I’ll be okay.”

I reached over and touched her shoulder. “Stand up for a minute.”

When Flavia stood, I wrapped my toga around her. I could feel the bones of her shoulder blades, the coolness of her skin. The soldiers would laugh at me when they pulled me out in just a tunic, but it would be worth it.

“You didn’t have to do that,” she said.

“I know.”

I heard a noise on the far side of the dungeon. “Rats,” she said.

I couldn’t imagine how Flavia kept her sanity down here. We both sat back down on the wet stone.

“At least they’re well fed,” she said. “And the fact that they’re alive means there’s not too much poison in my food.”

When I started talking about the upcoming trial, Flavia placed a hand on my arm. “Thank you so much for coming,” she said, interrupting me. It sounded like she was on the verge of tears. “I didn’t know if you would.”

I wanted to tell her that nothing could have kept me away. I wanted to let her know the way I really felt about her.

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