Blind Ambition

by Carol Ashby

  The drive to the village had been uneventful. Valeria unhitched the mare and left her to graze in the green as Rhoda ran over to greet Bertha―a typical market day.

  She pulled the basket from the cart, balanced it on her shoulder, and strolled to her usual spot. Before she could even spread out her blanket, the old basket maker’s broad smile arrested her.

  “Valeria! Have you heard? The problem of the robbers on the southern road is over.”

  “That’s very good news. What happened?”

  “I never dreamed I would say this, but we have the Romans to thank. It was very clever, what they did. A few days ago, a man came through talking about his master being a wealthy merchant who’d be traveling with a wagon caravan through here yesterday. He seemed drunk, and he kept talking too much at the inn. We all thought him very foolish. Now I think he was hoping the robbers had a spy listening.

  “Yesterday two boxed-in wagons with only drivers and two guards drove through the village. When they passed through the gap, the robbers attacked them. But the wagons were full of soldiers, and they killed the ringleader and all but two of the robbers. They escaped into the woods, but only two shouldn’t be ambushing travelers any more now their leader is dead.”

  Valeria’s smile was as broad as her elderly friend’s. What a relief to know the road she traveled so regularly would no longer be stalked by the robber band. Then her smile dimmed. Two had escaped. For a moment, that made her uneasy. They might have headed in the direction of her farm. Still, God was their protection, and Decimus was at the cottage with Galen. There couldn’t be any real danger.

  Galen and Decimus were in the cattle shed when two men walked out of the lane through the trees into the farmyard.

  Astro whinnied, and Galen stepped over to look out the door. “Two men. I’ll go see what they want.”

  Decimus would have told him to wait, but Galen was out the door before he could say anything. He peered out the small window facing the corral. Something wasn’t right about those two, something sinister in the way they walked and the way they scanned the whole area. Then he saw the swords that hung at their sides.

  One of them was his own.

  His gut clenched. Galen was walking into mortal danger that he had no reason to expect and no way to handle.

  Decimus slipped out the back window of the shed and slunk through the trees, trying to stay out of sight as he circled behind the buildings. He stopped where he was still concealed by the cottage wall. He strained to hear their conversation.

  He had no weapon, and there were two of them. It was impossible to get into the cottage unseen to get the sword he’d noticed in the trunk of Gaius’s clothes. He would need the element of surprise if things turned nasty.

  The robbers stood by the corral as the youth walked toward them.

  “I know that stallion. It’s the one we left behind. Looks like he’s healed enough to be worth taking now. I don’t see anyone to stop us except that boy.”

  The second robber grinned. “That’s the same as no one at all.”

  Galen could hear their low conversation but couldn’t make out the words. He smiled as he greeted them. “Welcome. Can I help you with something?”

  The leader put his hand on his sword and surveyed Galen. “I’d like this horse.”

  “He’s a beauty, but he’s not for sale.”

  “I wasn’t planning on buying him.” The sword slid from its scabbard, and the sunlight glinted off the blade. “And I’ll take any silver and coin you have as well.”

  Galen’s eyes saucered as he froze by the corral. The second man had moved between him and the cottage to block his escape. His hand rested on the pommel of his sword.

  As Galen shifted his gaze back and forth between them, he caught a glimpse of Decimus in the shadows against the cottage wall. Time to stall.

  “We don’t have any silver, and we barter for everything. We don’t have anything you’d want.”

  “Then we’ll just take the horse.” He held the sword in position, ready to kill, and took a step toward Galen.

  Galen’s escape was blocked behind, so he dropped to the ground and rolled under the lowest rail into the corral where Astro was pacing.

  A string of curses sprang from the robber’s lips. “Big mistake, boy. You want games? I’ll play with you a while, but you won’t like it.”

  The robber vaulted into the corral and grabbed Galen’s sleeve as he was stumbling to his feet. Galen twisted down and out of his shirt, leaving the robber holding it as he scrambled away. He was almost clear when the robber grabbed his ankle and jerked, planting his face in the dirt.

  The second robber stepped over to lean on the rail of the corral while he watched the show.

  A cruel chuckle escaped sneering lips. “He was going to kill you quick. Now you’ll suffer before he does.”

  It was the chance Decimus had been waiting for. He sprang from his hiding place and reached the corral before the second robber even realized he was coming. With one quick twist, he broke the man’s neck.

  With the dead man’s sword now in his hand, he vaulted into the corral. As he landed, his left leg buckled, and he staggered as he fought to regain his balance.

  The first robber turned from Galen to Decimus. A mocking laugh rumbled from his chest as he grinned at Decimus’s clumsiness. An arrogant sneer twisted his lips as Decimus hobbled toward him.

  “Come on, farmer. Do I kill you first or your boy?” He moved forward, waving his sword. “Come on. What do you want?”

  “I want my own sword back and your blood for the death of my men.” Decimus flexed and twisted his wrist, swinging the sword in a tight arc to get the feel of it as he assumed a fighting stance.

  The robber’s eyes flared with fear. “Tribune!”

  With a limping lunge, Decimus was upon him. Metal on metal rang out four times before he drove his sword into the robber’s heart. Decimus pushed the body off the sword, then wiped the blood off on the dead man’s shirt.

  Galen sat, shirtless, in the dust of the corral. His eyes were enormous as he stared at the two bodies lying on the ground before him. He was silent, a strange condition for him. Decimus held out his hand and helped him to his feet.

  “You did well, Galen. Quick thinking. Better than most men.” He slapped Galen on the back, then wrapped his arm around Galen’s shoulder to steady him.

  “I almost got myself killed. What will Val say?”

  Decimus contemplated the two dead men.

  “We’ll bury them before she and Rhoda return, then say nothing. They would never feel safe here again if they knew what just happened.” And I don’t want her to know I killed two more men today, even if it was to save her brother.

  “I’ll get two shovels. Thanks...for saving my life.” Galen looked deadly serious―the first time Decimus had ever seen him that way.

  “It was worth the effort. It would be boring around here without all your jokes.” He tousled Galen’s hair and got a weak smile in return.

  It would be some time before Galen got over what had just happened. He seemed more like a man, less like a boy than he had at breakfast, and in some ways, Decimus was sorry to see it.

  He bent over the dead robber to reclaim his sword and scabbard. His own purse hung from the robber’s belt. When he looked inside, he found his gold signet ring. He would hide the purse and swords somewhere in the cattle shed where Valeria wouldn’t see them. What she didn’t know wouldn’t grieve her.

  Valeria glanced around the farmyard as she drove the cart to its usual place by the corral. Why hadn’t Galen come to meet her like he usually did? There was no sign of Decimus, either.

  Her lips tightened as she shook her head. They were probably in the high meadow. Galen should have known better than to take Decimus up there to help him. Decimus should have known better than to go. His leg wasn’t ready for such a long walk and a climb up so steep a trail. She would talk with the two of them late
r about making better choices. Foolish boy and stubborn man―the perfect recipe for Decimus hurting his leg again.

  As she was unharnessing the mare before turning her loose to graze, a movement in the woods caught her eye. Galen and Decimus were walking toward her. Decimus turned to Galen like he was saying something, and they both dropped whatever they were carrying. As they got closer, it was obvious he was limping worse than he had that morning.

  Valeria set her fists on her hips. “Galen, what have you had him doing with you?”

  “I’m sorry, Val. I didn’t mean to have him do something to hurt his leg. It’s just that ...well...we didn’t mean to... we just ended up...” He looked at Decimus as he struggled to find the right words.

  Decimus put his hand on Galen’s shoulder. “Stop. I’ll tell her.”

  Valeria’s eyebrows dipped. “Tell me what?”

  He took a deep breath before answering. “I killed two men, and we were burying them.”

  The anger in her eyes morphed into sadness and cut into Decimus.

  “I’m sorry...”

  He looked away from her, fixing his gaze on the cattle shed so he wouldn’t see her deep disappointment in him. He had no regrets that he’d killed two such men, but he was sorry that she knew he had. The death even of these murderers would touch her heart. He would have given almost anything not to have to tell her, but he wouldn’t lie to her.

  “He had to, Val. It was two of the robbers from the ambush. They were going to steal the stallion, and they were about to kill me when he stopped them. It was my fault for walking up to them without thinking.”

  Valeria’s gaze focused on Decimus’s face as he stared into the distance. He seemed genuinely sorry this time. Perhaps God was changing his heart.

  She stepped close to him and touched his arm. She offered him a weak smile when he turned his troubled gaze to her face.

  “Thank you for saving my brother. Come inside, and let me see what I can do to repair the damage you’ve done to your leg.”

  Valeria finished applying some liniment to relieve the soreness of Decimus’s strained calf muscles. The heat from the liniment and her massage of the sorest part made his leg feel much better.

  Decimus had been silent while she worked, thinking about what had almost happened to Galen and why.

  “Valeria, I need to talk with you about Galen.”

  Worried eyes locked on his as her breath caught. “They didn’t hurt him, did they?”

  “Not today, but they could have. He’s almost a man now, and there are things a man needs to understand and know how to do. There are things he needs to learn that you can’t teach him.”

  He paused, fearing she would not like what he was going to say. “He was almost killed today because he didn’t see the danger. He needs to learn how to defend himself. That means how to see and avoid danger...and how to use a sword. If his father were alive, he would teach him these things. I can teach him much of what he needs to know before I leave.”

  Her eyes clouded. “I don’t want him to think fighting is good.”

  “I don’t think you need to worry about that. He follows your god as devotedly as you do. He’s not going to want to become a soldier like me. I saw Gaius’s sword in the trunk. I’m sure he knew how to use it to protect his family. Often just being prepared for trouble keeps trouble from happening. I’ll teach Galen to be prepared for trouble, not to start it.”

  Valeria stared at the ground. As much as she hated to admit it, what he was saying made sense. She looked at his face. His eyes were intense as he waited for her response. He only wanted to do what he thought best for Galen.

  How could she ever hope to teach her brother what he needed to know as a man? She didn’t even know what all that might be. Decimus didn’t follow the Way, but she trusted that Galen loved Jesus enough that he could learn how to fight without wanting to. Perhaps Decimus was right. She could trust him to do what Gaius would have done.

  “Teach him what you think he needs to know.”

  Decimus nodded once, then smiled with satisfaction. He’d been afraid she would deny his request. Now he would have the chance to do something truly valuable for her family before he had to leave.

  The suppertime laughter and conversations were over, and tonight Decimus stayed at the table for prayer time. It was Galen’s turn to read, but he made his selection and handed the codex to Decimus. Somehow he’d become the official reader, but he didn’t mind. It delighted Valeria, and he was willing to read whatever she wanted to have that effect. Joining them made Rhoda happy, too. She curled up in his lap while he read, and snuggled in his arms as he continued to hold her while they prayed. Her father probably held her the same way before he was killed.

  “Father, we thank You for protecting Galen and Decimus today. We pray for the souls of the men Decimus had to kill, that You would deal with them in Your mercy.” Valeria continued to pray with Galen and Rhoda joining in. “We pray all this in the name of Your precious son, Jesus.”

  Galen and Rhoda echoed her amen.

  When Valeria headed out to watch the stars, she paused at the door. She held out her hand as she smiled at Decimus. Her invitation was irresistible. He limped over and wrapped her hand in his. She walked ahead of him to the bench and sat down.

  “I think we should sit tonight. Your leg had a hard day.”

  Decimus settled in next to her. “Not so bad, really. I can stand at the edge of the porch. The view’s not as good from here.”

  “But the company is just as good.” It startled him when she rested her head against his shoulder, but he masked his surprise. He let go of her hand and put his arm around her. She sighed contentedly and slid a little closer to him. “I love this time of night.”

  “Me, too.”

  Her hair was lying across her shoulder right by his fingers, so he started playing with a strand. Soft. Silky. A smile curved his lips as he imagined lying with her head resting on his chest, her hair spreading out across his skin.

  They sat together for a long time. Finally, she rose and took his hand. “Time to go in.”

  She led him through the door and paused at the foot of the ladder. Once more she pushed a loose strand of hair back from his forehead.

  “Good night, Decimus. Rest in peace.” She took a step up the ladder.

  “Good night, Valeria.”

  Valeria lay in her bed, thanking God that Decimus had been there today to protect Galen and that he seemed happy to join them for the reading and prayers. Surely he was starting to hear God’s call.

  Decimus lay on his bed, remembering how soft her hair was as they sat together in the dark, his arm around her as they watched the stars.

  Chapter 29: The Teacher

  As the breakfast conversation began the next morning, Decimus turned toward Galen.

  “Valeria and I talked about what happened yesterday. I’m going to teach you some things about defending yourself that your father would have if he were here. We’ll start your sword lessons after lunch.”

  Galen’s brows shot up. “Really? Otto’s father is teaching him now, and I was wondering how I’d ever learn.” He grinned. “I bet I’ll have the better teacher.”

  Decimus reached across the table and tousled Galen’s hair.

  “You might not think so after you see what a demanding teacher I can be.”

  It felt good to know that Galen thought so highly of him. It felt even better to know that he would be doing something of value for this family. The debt he owed was beyond what he could pay, but at least he could teach Galen part of what he needed to know as a man.

  After swallowing his last spoonful of porridge, Decimus rose.

  “Let’s get to work. I want to get the trees cut down. Then we’ll cut the trunks into the right lengths for the walls before lunch.”

  Valeria pursed her lips. “That seems like a lot to do after what you did to your leg yesterday.”

  A wry smile
tugged at the corner of his mouth. “With both of us working, it’s a reasonable goal. We can get everything cut today, and tomorrow we’ll use the mare to drag the logs up by the corrals. We can start building by tomorrow or the day after.” He shifted his weight off his injured leg. “Don’t worry, Valeria. I know exactly what’s needed, and what we’re going to do won’t hurt my leg as much as you seem to think.”

  Her lips parted, as if she was about to protest. He raised his hand to stop her.

  “Perhaps, but try to be careful anyway.”

  With lips pressed together to keep from laughing at her persistence and a shake of his head, Decimus headed out the door.

  Galen brought two axes from the cattle shed, and he and Decimus headed into the woods. Soon Valeria could hear the thwocks of ax blades cutting into tree trunks, followed by the crash of falling trees. After she heard the last tree fall, the thwacks continued as the axes cut the fallen trees into the lengths needed for the walls of the stable.

  Perhaps she didn’t have to worry about Decimus doing too much for his leg today. As long as she heard the axes cutting into wood, he would be mainly working with his arms, not his legs. His chest was broad, and his upper arms almost as big as her thigh. He was in superb shape for work that needed upper body strength, and nothing about his injuries in the ambush should be a problem there. Perhaps, as he said, there wasn’t any reason for concern.

  As the work progressed, Decimus started to wonder whether Valeria might have been right. Cutting down one tree wouldn’t have been a problem, but the walls of the stable were going to need more than a dozen, and the roof added to that number. He had to keep shifting his weight from his right leg onto his injured left to properly swing the ax while they were cutting down the trees.