In Silvus' Home

Silvus’ servants met Emander at the gate. “Greetings Zebulun! Is my room ready?”

“Yes, Master Emander, and we have set to rights another room for your guest as Master Silvus commanded.”

“Father is here, then?”

“Yes Master, he has retired for the evening and bids you do the same.” Zebulun smiled, “but I stand ready to carry out your wishes.” Emander looked at me with a half-smile. “Food?”

“Yes sir!”

“Set us out a table full of food and wine.”

“I have drawn you some water for your feet. When you are finished there your table will be loaded for a meal.”

I hadn’t realized how hard walking on cobblestone was on the feet until I eased them into the water. A young boy gave us both a foot kneading which cleaned the grime away. I followed Emander to a low table surrounded by pillows. We lay to eat and I almost fell asleep before I saw her. She carried in a bowl heaped with fruit. I could just see her eyes over the top of the cluster of green grapes. Her hair was as black as a moonless midnight.

“Just set these down here, Rebekah. Rebekah, this is Benjamin. He is testing to see if he might become one of us, a gladiator. He is from Nowhere.” My face heated, like when my Father first hooked me to the plow.

“Then I will pray our Lord gives him wisdom to find his place. How may I serve you further Masters?”

“You may go to your prayers, Rebekah. We will take care of this food.” As she left the room, my appetite seemed to wander off with her.

Later that night I climbed onto pillows for my first night’s sleep off the ground in a day or so. . I reached under my tunic and held the phylactery box I received at my bar mitzvah. As I drifted off, I could hear someone humming the Shema down the hall, as my mother used to do.