by Sandi Rog
“He’s with my men, and he’ll stay with my men. He serves me now, not you.”
“Then let me see him. I want to know that he’s safe.”
“No.”
“Please.” She couldn’t keep the desperation from her voice. “I need to know he’s alive.”
Alexander stared at her, compassion in his gaze as he shook his head, and she felt certain he’d give in to her wishes. “You have my word. He’s alive.” He turned and left the tent.
Eyes filling with furious tears, Elianna threw the giant pillow at the door, but it fell short of hitting its mark.
Ω
Alexander went directly to his men. He hadn’t checked on Titus since he returned with Elianna. One thing was certain, she was definitely David’s daughter. The fighting spirit she had came from him, and the feisty spirit came from her mother. It made him grieve all over again that they were gone. He reached Mohar and Haru at their tent.
“How is Titus?” he asked. Alexander hoped he didn’t cause serious damage to the slave, especially since he not only cared for Elianna, but she cared so much for him. One thing was certain, he hadn’t killed him. He made sure of that.
Mohar and Haru exchanged glances.
“What do you mean?” Mohar asked.
“The man I fought. How is he?”
“You told us to take care of him,” Haru said.
Alexander shrugged. “Of course.”
“Well, we sold him.”
Alexander stepped back as if he’d been struck. “What?” He panted and sweat broke out all over him. “Where? To whom?”
“The lanista at the amphitheater,” Mohar said. “Got a fair deal for him. Figured he was a good fighter, he might do well there.”
Alexander raked a hand through his hair and paced. “How could you? The man is your brother in Christ!” He kicked one of the hay barrels and turned on them. “You just sent him to his death!” Alexander strode toward the amphitheater. He had to get him back. For Titus, for Elianna.
After two days of negotiating, no amount of bargaining, no amount of bribing, no amount of praying brought Titus back. “Lord, help.” What will this do to Elianna?
He trudged out of the office chamber of the amphitheater’s magistrate. These men knew when they had something special, and this Titus person was definitely that. How in the world would he tell Elianna this awful news?
Mohar grabbed Alexander by the arm, his eyes wide and his hand pointing. “We … ” Breathless, he bent over, placing his hands on his knees. “There’s a gladiator in there who fights just like you!”
Alexander’s heart plummeted. They were already making use of Elianna’s friend. He shook his head and began walking off, but Mohar grabbed him again.
“It’s not Elianna’s slave. It’s someone else entirely. Come!” Mohar pulled Alexander along.
They met Haru in the stands, and Alexander dropped into his seat, defeated.
“The man’s already beat one gladiator,” Mohar said. “They said they were bringing him out again. We think it might be Elianna’s father.”
Alexander wasn’t so sure. If it were David, that would mean he’d been fighting for six straight years. Most gladiators only lasted three, and if that were the case, they were usually promoted and set free. Yet, if David was sold under cover, it could be that they continued to sell him for personal gain, and witnessing firsthand the impossible way these men handled negotiations—or no negotiations—that could very well be the case. But to survive for so many years? A man would have to be an amazing warrior to accomplish such a feat. No. It couldn’t be him.
Alexander leaned his elbows on his knees, his hands in his hair. He really didn’t care to watch, especially with the chance that Titus might end up in the ring. After a number of fights, and thankfully, no Titus, Alexander nearly got up to leave. He was looking toward the exit, contemplating his escape, when Haru touched Alexander’s forearm. “There he is.”
The horns signaled for the fight to start. Alexander looked into the ring at the man fighting without armor, just a sword and a small shield. He moved around his opponent, eluding him, and then with a familiar side-kick and a punch, knocked the gladiator to his knees.
Alexander stood. Everything and everyone in the arena disappeared, everyone but the one man who knocked the gladiator over the head with the hilt of his sword. The one man Alexander knew as David, Elianna’s father.
Elianna paced inside her tent. She wasn’t allowed to leave, and when she tried, she discovered guards on all sides ready to capture her and return her to the tent. She even tried crawling under one of the tent flaps, digging a hole to make it through. But a guard dragged her back in when she tried to out crawl him. After that failed attempt, she realized how foolish it was. Where would she go without Titus? She wouldn’t be able to protect herself from anyone, let alone her own fiancé if he caught up to her. And the church in Cappadocia would simply send her back. All was hopeless.
But that left another question. Uncle Paulus had yet to make an appearance. If this was part of his plan, wouldn’t he make himself known? Why would he stay in hiding? And where did this Alexander person get all his wealth? Then there was Pappous. Petronius’s wife said this Alexander had cried when he learned of Pappous’s death. He also wore her hair on his wrist? Why would anyone do such a thing unless they were smitten? And what about his reaction to her taking off on his stallion? He seemed to be more upset over the fact that she could have died than the fact that he might have lost his horse.
Still, he had yet to prove anything to her, to show her actual evidence of the past they’d shared together, and there was only one thing he could do to make that happen. Everything he said was known to all, especially Uncle Paulus, but they shared one intimacy when they were young, one precious moment in time, that she would never forget. And she wouldn’t let anyone, no man pretending to be her Zander, steal that from her.
Ω
Alexander marched toward Elianna’s tent. Why hadn’t she told him? He reached her lodging, and without awaiting a nod from the female servant outside her door, flung the curtain out of the way and walked into her opulent chamber.
Gasping, she turned to face him, hugging herself as she stood in the creamy stola he’d purchased for her in Alexandria. Servants had adjusted the hem to fit.
“How long have you known?” he asked, bringing his mind to the subject at hand.
“Known what?” she asked, her dark eyes wide with surprise.
“How long have you known that your father is alive? Why didn’t you tell me?” Immediately, he realized that was a stupid question. Of course, she wouldn’t tell him because to her he was the enemy. He released a sardonic chuckle. “Never mind.” He ran his hand down his face. “I’d heard from Manius that he was killed, but then a Christian back in Rome hinted that he’d survived. I barely dared to hope.”
“What are you talking about?” Elianna straightened, her gaze holding his as she took in his words.
“You didn’t know?”
All she did was gape at him.
Alexander scratched his head. “I’ve been dreading telling you that my men sold Titus—without my permission—and while we were at the arena, I discovered that your father is alive.” Well, with such good news of her father being alive, perhaps she wouldn’t take the bad news about Titus too hard.
“You sold Titus?”
Of course, she’d latch onto that bit of information. “I didn’t sell him, my men did.”
“Well, don’t your men serve you? Buy him back!”
“I’ve tried.” He shook his head. “Didn’t you hear me? Your father, you know, the man who fathered you, his name is David … he’s alive.”
She scrunched her brow and shook her head. “What kind of game are you trying to play with me?” Burying her face in her hands, she said, “I want Titus. Please tell me you didn’t sell him. Please!”
“Yes, he’s been sold.” Alexander ground his teeth together. “But he’s also be
en sold to the same people who own your father. He’s alive, Elianna! I’m telling you the truth!”
With that, her face went pale, almost as pale as it had been when she’d jumped off his horse. She backed away, still hugging herself. “How can he be alive? He was executed with Mamma.”
“No. He wasn’t.” He stepped closer to her. “Didn’t they tell you? He didn’t die with your mother. He was forced to be a gladiator.”
“They would have told me!” Rapid breaths escaped her lips. “You’re lying! Why would you lie about such a thing?”
Alexander lifted his hand to her cheek. She stood frozen, unmoving. “I’m not lying. I’m sorry no one ever told you. But he’s been alive all these years, fighting to survive.”
“I want to see him.” She lifted her chin. “Take me to him. Prove to me that you’re telling the truth.”
“I’m not taking you there.” He shook his head. “It’s not a place for the innocent. That’s probably why they never told you. You’d probably dress as a boy and find a way to get in to watch the games.”
She moved away from him, glancing about the room, then hugging herself again. “After you saved me from drowning they took me to the gladiator training grounds. I saw gladiators then, so why wouldn’t they tell me this?”
“Yes! I pulled you out of the water, Elianna. That was me.” He moved closer to her. “I think somewhere in your heart you know it’s me. You just have to convince your mind.”
Swallowing visibly, she turned away, gazing into nothing.
Glad his words had an effect on her, he continued, “You don’t want to witness your father killing anyone, let alone being killed. I won’t take you there.”
“Why are you doing this to me?” She burst into tears and dropped into a wicker chair.
He stared at her, not knowing what to say. What was a person supposed to say in a situation like this?
Taking a deep breath, Alexander knelt before her. “I don’t blame you for doubting me, not after all you’ve been through, especially after hearing that your grandfather had kept this from you for so long. But you have my word. I’m telling you the truth, and I won’t hide anything from you … ever again. I’m sorry I didn’t tell you about Titus.” And he wouldn’t, no matter how painful the information, he would never put her through what she was going through now.
She continued to look away from him, her large brown eyes welling and spilling over with silent tears.
Ω
Alexander made his way to the amphitheater. Its wooden structure was rather crude compared to the stone structures he’d seen in Rome, Corinth and Ephesus, with their engravings and marble statues. This one had some woodcarvings of gladiators, but nothing spectacular. He shuddered every time he walked under its arches into the magistrate’s office chamber, but here he was again. The magistrate stood polishing a wooden sword, clearly won from his glory days. Alexander thought because this man was once a gladiator he would understand the importance of retiring. Clearly that wasn’t the case; he was more interested in money. He turned to see Alexander.
“You again, huh?” The man set down his polished sword. “I’m not selling him. Period. So, you’re wasting your breath, and your money.”
“I’m not here for Titus. I want permission to visit one of your gladiators.”
The man raised a brow. “As long as the games are over, you can visit. I don’t allow no promiscuity to go on before the games.”
Alexander opened his mouth to explain, but he closed it. He’d let the man believe what he wished as long as he let him in to see David. The magistrate’s guard led Alexander down a long hall and to a small chamber. The door creaked on its hinges as he opened it. Alexander shuddered. He still detested door hinges. The odor of human waste wafted over him, and Alexander held his breath. Inside was a bed with a blanket, a chamber pot, and a small window near the ceiling.
“Holler when you’re done.” The guard closed the door behind him.
Alexander looked for David, trying to make out the shadows on the walls in the dim light. His gaze fell on a lump crouched on the floor in the corner. Strange. David could have been sitting on his bed with the blanket where it was more comfortable, but instead, he chose the dirt-covered floor.
David glanced up at Alexander then back down. “What do you want?”
By now, Alexander was used to not being recognized, but his heart galloped like a herd of horses just being in the same room as David, the one man he looked up to as a father.
“It’s me, Alexander,” was all he could think to say.
David didn’t look up and continued staring straight ahead. “Alexander, who?”
“Your Alexander. The one you said could marry your daughter.”
David’s gaze came up sharply, catching the light from the window, and Alexander could see just enough to notice David’s eyes narrowed. David studied him for a long time, looking him up and down, then back at his face again. He pushed against the wall and got to his feet, clearly weary from the day’s events. He walked over to Alexander, meeting him eye to eye.
“You’ve shrunk,” Alexander said, voicing his first impression. He recalled always looking up to David, seeing him as a huge warrior, and now, they stood at the same height.
A light came to David’s eyes and they smiled, though his mouth didn’t show it. “It’s really you. I never would have known. You’re a man now.” His gaze dropped to the floor as if realizing something, and he turned his back on Alexander, facing his bed. “Galen’s been following me. I suppose he told you where I could be found.”
Alexander didn’t answer. In fact, he decided not to tell him that Galen was gone. David had enough suffering on his mind. He promised never to hold anything back from Elianna, and here was doing the opposite for her father.
“Have you married my daughter yet?” David faced him, hope in his gaze.
Alexander shook his head. “Not yet.”
“Yet.” David eyed him, the same way he used to when he sought the truth. “She’s well?”
“Yes.” Alexander nodded to reassure him.
“Have you remained faithful to the Lord? Remember, you can’t have her if you’ve turned your back on Elohim.”
Alexander smiled, glad to hear the old David coming through. “I remember. And I love Elohim with all my heart, mind and strength.”
“Good.” David nodded, pinching his lips together. “That’s good.”
Alexander wanted to hug him, but he was so distant, so closed compared to the man he remembered.
“Galen had given up hope on you.” David leaned against the wall, crossing his thick, muscular arms. “But I knew you’d find us. I told him he shouldn’t follow me, and stay put so you could catch up, but every time I was sold or moved, he came along.” David shook his head and rolled his eyes. “Don’t know what good it’s doing.” He studied Alexander again, as if searching for the boy beneath the beard and tanned features. “It’s good to see you, son. Who would have imagined it would be under these circumstances?”
His gut told him to go to David, that he didn’t dare come to Alexander because he was ashamed. But for some reason, Alexander couldn’t bring himself to move. Whether it was from the shock of seeing David in such an awful state, or something else, he didn’t know. He just simply couldn’t take that extra step forward. Alexander never thought he’d wish to return to the days of his youth as a slave, but if it meant having all his loved ones back, safe and sound— the way he remembered them—he’d do it in a heartbeat.
Alexander turned his back on David, grabbing the bars on the door, and pressed his forehead hard against the cool, iron rods. Tears burned his eyes and throat, and he swallowed to fight them back, but a choke betrayed him. He worked to breathe past it.
David’s hand settled on his shoulder. Alexander spun around, and David grabbed him into his arms.
“I didn’t think I’d find you alive,” Alexander said, his voice catching.
“I’m hardly alive, son.” Da
vid pulled away, scrubbing his face with his hand. “I’m so tired. Tired of not being able to just die.” He dropped onto his bed. “I can hardly pray.” He lifted his hand toward Alexander. “And here I’m asking if you’ve remained faithful.” He let out a mirthless chuckle and shook his head in defeat, his shoulders slumped. “All I can do is survive.”
Alexander sat on the floor next to the bed, listening.
“God left me years ago,” David whispered, and raked his hands through his hair, resting his elbows on his knees. “I’ve shaken my fist at the heavens.” Another mirthless chuckle. “More than once.” He stared at the wall in front of him, his thoughts brewing and his jaw ticking. “Elohim says if the temptation is too great, He provides a way out. The only way out available to me is death, but I can’t do it. I just can’t go out there and let them slaughter me. I’ve been given the means to defend myself, so that’s what I do. And now I have the blood of so many men on my hands that I’ve lost count.” His low voice filled the small chamber, exposing the heaviness in his heart. He shook his head and looked at Alexander. “Why? I’ve asked Him a thousand times. Have I not been faithful to Him in the worst of circumstances? Why couldn’t He have taken me then? Allowed me to die while there was still some good left in me?”
Alexander watched David. He had a feeling this was the first time he’d ever voiced his thoughts, so he didn’t dare remind him that no one was good enough for God. “Were you able to talk to Galen about this?”
David blew out a breath. “He visits me and all it does is remind me of how far I’ve fallen. He keeps bringing up Aulus, telling me I need to forgive him.” He lifted his hands in the air, motioning around him. “What does Aulus have to do with this? The man deserves to die, and that’s the end of it.”
This time Alexander blew out a breath, but he didn’t say anything.
David looked at him, watching. “I can tell you’re thinking. What thoughts are muddling around in that head of yours?”
Alexander cast him a side glance. “You don’t want to know.”