Beloved Protector (Heartsong Presents) (10 page)

“Give your legs a moment to adjust,” he warned.

She clung to him a few seconds until her legs grew steadier, then pushed herself out of his hold and reached for the babe. Each time Andronicus held her, he was more reluctant to release her. Their time together grew shorter the farther north they went.

It took a few moments for Crassus to get the goat to calm down enough for him to milk it, but he finally presented Tapat with a bowl of the warm liquid.

She settled herself on a boulder in the shade of a tamarack tree and began the slow ritual of feeding the babe. He hungrily suckled on the stylus and Tapat smiled, making Andronicus’s heart swell with emotion. When her face was lit with such love, she was beautiful to him.

He went and sat on the boulder with her. The others sought sources of shade as well, pulling their water flasks from their saddles and refreshing themselves as best they could with the warm liquid.

Andronicus held his goatskin up for Tapat to take a drink because her arms were already burdened with feeding Hazaq. She drank thirstily, pulling back when her thirst was quenched.

Water dribbled down her chin. Smiling, Andronicus wiped it away with his thumb. Their eyes met, and he could feel the tension increase as it always did whenever they were this close.

“Thank you,” she murmured, turning her attention back to Hazaq.

He nodded, lifting the skin and quickly satisfying his own thirst. He only wished his thirst for her was as easily quenched.

He could tell he was making Tapat nervous, so instead of watching her, he studied the landscape around him. Heat shimmered from the surface of the hot sand, making the terrain move in waves.

The area was so desolate that he wondered again why these Jews fought so fiercely to keep such a land. In truth, it was something the Romans had never been able to understand and thereby often misjudged the people’s willingness to fight and die.

When Hazaq was once again replete, he stopped sucking and smiled around the straw still in his mouth.

“He’s smiling,” Tapat crooned and began cooing to him. If she wasn’t in love with the child before, he could tell she was a lost cause now. He shook his head wryly. Her God alone knew how this whole affair was going to end. Did Tapat have any idea of what it would be like to care for a child on her own?

Tapat interrupted his thoughts by handing Hazaq to him. His heart took a startled leap, and he swallowed an unfamiliar panic. Tapat grinned.

“He won’t bite. I need to get some changing rags.”

Andronicus slowly rearranged the child in his arms, wrinkling his nose at the stench arising from him. How could one little babe be responsible for such an overwhelming, disgusting odor? When Hazaq smiled at him, Andronicus felt a strange warmth spread through him. Those dark eyes staring up at him reminded him so much of Tapat’s.

Tapat went to her horse and pulled some cloths from the supplies the soldiers had confiscated from the village. Coming back, she spread a blanket on the sand. Taking the child from him, she laid him on it and began unwrapping the soiled swaddling cloths.

She talked to the child as though he could understand every word she said. She switched periodically from Aramaic to Greek, making it hard to follow her rambling conversation. He shook his head. He would never understand women and the way they turned into a puddle of mush whenever a babe was in the vicinity.

After she had rewrapped the child to her satisfaction, she placed the soiled garments in a leather bag to be washed later. In his opinion, she could just as easily throw them away and get new ones from the stockpile they had pilfered from the village.

He watched her interacting with Hazaq and once again felt an overwhelming tenderness fill him.

“How old do you think he is?” he asked.

She shrugged. “I’m not certain, but I would guess at least three months.”

Arius came over. As he glanced at the babe, Andronicus was certain he saw a softening of his features.

“It is time we move on, my liege.”

Andronicus agreed. He helped Tapat to her feet.

After they had remounted and traveled several more miles, Andronicus noticed a brown haze in the distance. He paused, studying the rapidly approaching cloud. Arius noticed it as well and held a hand up for their troop to stop.

He turned to Andronicus, his eyes wide in consternation. “It’s a sandstorm.”

Their eyes met in understanding. They needed to find shelter and find it fast. In the babe’s weakened condition, he would not survive the suffocating sand that would bear down upon them, infiltrating every nook and cranny, including one’s nose and throat.

Chapter 10

T
apat realized that they were in a terrible predicament when she saw the worried look on the men’s faces. She followed their gazes and saw the rapidly approaching sandstorm in the distance. Having lived in Judea all her life, she knew the danger they were in. What looked to be a great distance away would be upon them in minutes.

During a
sharav
summer, sandstorms were frequent and often violent. This had been one of those years.

“The only chance we have is to make it to the other side of that hill,” Arius yelled, pointing just ahead of them as the winds that preceded the storm began to increase.

Tapat measured the distance to the hill he was indicating and knew they would never make it, not at the pace they were traveling.

Andronicus glanced from the storm to the hill. His mouth set in a grim line. He held out the reins of Tapat’s horse. “Crassus, take the horse!” he commanded.

Crassus quickly pushed his horse ahead of Tapat and took the lines being held out to him. Andronicus then moved his horse alongside Tapat.

“Hold on to the babe!” he told her.

Tapat only had time to tighten her grip on Hazaq before Andronicus reached over and pulled her off her horse and across his lap. When he was assured that she was firmly seated, he looked sternly at the others.

“You know what to do.”

They nodded, and Andronicus twisted his horse around and dug his heels into the animal’s side. His sinewy arm wrapped around her waist was the only thing that kept her from sliding to the dirt as they leaped forward.

“Adeo!”

At his command to go, they took off in a bone-wrenching gallop that nearly shook Tapat’s teeth from her head. The pounding pace wakened the babe, who began to cry lustily, letting them know in no uncertain terms that he was not at all pleased. She tried to keep him from being jarred by the brutal pace, but, no matter how tightly she held him, the jostling was severe. She could hear the others galloping close behind them and could see Arius just ahead.

When they reached the embankment, Andronicus spurred his horse up, its hooves slipping and sliding against the rock outcropping as it plunged its way to the top and finally over the other side. They made it to the bottom of the hill just as the first of the sand began stinging their skin.

Before Tapat could even think what to do, Crassus was at their side reaching for Hazaq. Realizing just how much she had come to trust the young man, Tapat quickly handed him over.

Andronicus leaped from the horse, pulling Tapat into his arms and hurrying her to where Crassus had found a sizable depression in the hillside.

He pushed her into the cleft and Crassus handed her the screaming babe. As Tapat tried to soothe Hazaq, Andronicus tore off his cloak and dropped it over them, plunging them into sudden darkness. He then covered them both with his body to more fully protect them from the wind and flying sand.

In the suffocating darkness, Tapat could hear the wind increase in tempo. Buried beneath the cape and Andronicus’s body, she heard the sounds of the other men and the horses as though from a distance. She began a prayer for their safety, especially for little Hazaq, who was still weak.

The darkness increased and the wind and sand seemed to lessen when the soldiers managed to finally cover them all with a goatskin tent. They struggled to secure the tent against the now gusting winds. She heard Andronicus warn them to hang on tightly to the corners of the skin to keep the wind from whipping it away.

Andronicus carefully uncovered Tapat to avoid dusting her with the sand that had accumulated on his cloak. Tapat sucked in a breath, relieved to be free from the cloistered space, although the tent didn’t offer much more with all of them huddled close together. She could barely see Andronicus in the dim light.

“Are you all right?” he asked.

Between the sound of the sandstorm outside and the screaming child inside, Tapat could barely hear him.

She raised her voice above the din. “I’m well.”

He pulled her to him, wrapping his arms around her to make room for the others crowded into the small makeshift structure.

Tapat tried to soothe Hazaq, bouncing him gently in her arms. She stuck a finger in his mouth and he quieted, content to suck on the imaginary food source. She didn’t know how long it would continue to pacify him, but the relief from his screaming lessened her nervous tension.

As the storm continued, Tapat lost track of time. The air in their structure turned stifling. She could feel the perspiration streaming down her face and back.

Hazaq had given up on sucking her finger long ago, and his tormented screams twisted her insides. No matter what she tried, nothing could calm the child. If the heat was unbearable for her, what must it be like for him? It was long past the time when he normally would have fed. She could only hope that when the storm subsided the goat would not have wandered away nor have been buried by the flying sand.

Talk was minimal. The clamor from without and within precluded having any kind of rational conversation.

The air grew rank from seven sweaty bodies that hadn’t seen a bath in several days. When the babe added his aroma to the mix, the atmosphere grew stifling.

Just when Tapat thought she could stand it no longer, the wind began to abate. She sensed more than heard the other men as they relaxed from battling the elements.

Andronicus drew his cape over her again. “Stay covered,” he told her. “The wind has slowed but the sand is still blowing. Wait until we see if it is safe.”

She could hear the cover being thrown back and the men scrambling to their feet. She pulled the cloak away from her face and took a deep breath, but she kept Hazaq covered until the stinging sand subsided. His little fists fought against the stifling cover, his voice becoming hoarse from screaming.

She could see that both the goat and the horses had been hobbled to keep them from running away. They were a pitiful sight, heads hanging to the ground and covered with a thick coating of sand.

Crassus immediately went to work to get some milk from the goat while the others checked over the horses and supplies. He turned his back to the wind to keep the sand from entering the bowl, and she once again appreciated his concern for Hazaq.

The sand finally quit blowing when the wind settled down to a gentle, hot breeze.

She uncovered Hazaq and noticed that his face was red from heat and crying. His cries had become hoarse little croaks. She could only pray that he had grown strong enough in the past two days to withstand the afflictions they were putting him through. If only they could have remained in the village for a few more days.

Andronicus brought the water flask to her and helped her get a drink. “Spit out the first mouthful,” he warned, and she could see the sense in the command when she felt the grit in her mouth.

She did as he suggested and then he upturned the flask further to give her better access to swallow. The water was tepid but still soothing to a throat parched from heat and sand.

Crassus brought her the milk and stylus, settling himself beside her to help if necessary.

* * *

Andronicus watched Tapat and Crassus without appearing to do so. Crassus’s concern over the child had surprised him. He wasn’t certain if it was the child who drew him or Tapat. They conversed quietly. At times Tapat’s face became animated with an excitement he had rarely seen. She and Crassus seemed to have a lot to talk about. The thought left him feeling more than a little disgruntled.

The storm had put them even further behind on time. He had hoped to be closer to the Jordan River tonight, but at the slow pace they were setting, that wasn’t going to happen. The closer they were to Perea and away from Judea, the happier he would be. They were still too close to wandering bandit territory for him to feel comfortable, and Perea was much more tolerant of Rome than Judea.

Now, after the two-hour storm, they had to wait for the babe to feed.

Andronicus walked over and leaned on the rock face of the hill beside Tapat.

Crassus met his look, reading Andronicus’s lifted brow for what it was. He shifted uneasily and rose quickly to his feet.

“I have things to attend to,” he told Tapat. “Let me know when you are ready to go and I will help you with the babe.” His glance bounced off Andronicus before he quickly walked away.

Tapat was struggling to keep up with the babe’s thirst and hunger.

“If I had to stay under that tent one more minute, I think my screaming would have joined with Hazaq’s,” she told him with a faint smile that warned him just how close to telling the truth she was. “How could you and your men remain so calm?”

He gave a gentle snort, his glance searching out each of his men. They quietly and skillfully went about their work. If their nerves had been frayed by the squalling infant, they gave no sign. Regardless of the unexpected delays and surprises, they remained calm and focused. He felt a fierce pride in them and knew he had chosen well for this trip.

“You have never been near a battle, have you?” he asked her.

She shook her head, looking at him quizzically.

His voice deepened at best-forgotten reminiscences. “When you are in battle, bodies crush in on you from all sides. The sound of metal on metal, scream on scream, battle call on battle call echoes all around until you cannot hear your heart pounding in your ears.” He glanced down when she placed her hand sympathetically on his, and he felt a tremor ripple through his body. He almost forgot what he had been about to say.

“You learn to ignore anything around you until you no longer hear the sounds,” he finally finished. “All you hear is the voice inside your head trying to keep you alive.”

She swallowed hard at his description, her features wreathed with concern. He shook his head to free it of the encroaching memories. He hadn’t meant to sound so morbid. It was a way of life he had lived with for years.

Perhaps that’s what drew him so much toward Tapat. Her dark eyes were like calm, peaceful pools that he yearned to immerse himself in.

“These men have seen many battles,” he admitted, wondering if Crassus saw the same thing in Tapat.

Tapat glanced at each man with growing respect.

Arius joined them. “What now? The hour grows late. Do we stay here or move on?”

Andronicus glanced down at the sleeping infant. More than likely it was from sheer exhaustion instead of satiation. He would likely wake in a short time wanting more sustenance. He didn’t like the idea of staying here, but neither did he think it would be wise to leave. At least here they had some protection by the craggy hill.

“Let’s make camp here for the night. I think we could all use the rest, including the animals.”

Arius glanced briefly at Tapat. When his eyes met Andronicus’s, they held a warning.
“Periculum in mora.”

Andronicus frowned at the reminder that it was dangerous to delay. He didn’t need to be told that; he was well aware of the fact. And despite their many years of friendship, he was not about to have his orders questioned.

“Dixi!”

Arius straightened at the reminder of Andronicus’s authority. He gave a brief nod.
“Libet.”

Andronicus watched him walk away and give orders to the men. They quickly turned from packing supplies to making camp instead.

The tent normally used for his own personal use would be set up for Tapat and the babe instead. He had no problem with sleeping under the starry skies. It gave him a sense of freedom and camaraderie with his men that was lacking in the more formal setting when he was separated by his own sleeping quarters.

He noticed that Tapat looked weary. Crassus brought her more linen cloths to change Hazaq when he awoke, and she thanked him with a tired smile.

While the others went about setting up camp, Andronicus gathered dry brush and sticks for a fire. Although the fire wasn’t needed for warmth nor for making a meal, it was warranted in case of predators.

Hazaq awoke again after a few hours and Tapat began the feeding ritual. Andronicus settled next to her, watching as the babe hungrily suckled down the milk. His large brown eyes stared up at Andronicus with absolute trust, and the feelings that suddenly swarmed through Andronicus made him understand Tapat’s passionate desire to protect the child.

“I told you he was strong,” he told her, unaware of the pride in his own voice. He tickled the babe under his chin and was rewarded with a smile.

Tapat’s eyes met his and the warmth he saw in them melted his insides, his heart rate rising until it felt as if it would burst from his chest. He was once again reminded of how much power this woman seemed to hold over him. The rapid rise and fall of her chest told him that she was as much affected as he. When the pupils of her eyes softened and dilated, he knew he needed to quickly put some distance between them.

Dragging his gaze away, he got to his feet and went to arrange for the coming watches, forcing himself not to look back.

Arius stood on the perimeter of the camp staring outward, hands fisted on his waist. Andronicus joined him.

“Is something bothering you?”

Arius shrugged, his eyes narrowing. “Just a feeling.”

Andronicus truly became concerned. Arius’s
feelings
had saved his life more than once.

“What do you sense?” Andronicus asked, now studying the terrain more intensely.

“Something hidden,” he said. “Some hidden malice that we cannot see.”

At the other man’s prophetic voice, Andronicus searched for Tapat’s location to make certain she was where he had left her. She was calmly feeding the babe while the men reclined on their blankets and discussed the day’s storm. Crassus had once again made his way to Tapat’s side, and they were again in deep discussion. Everything seemed perfectly normal.

The encroaching night brought out the nocturnal creatures. Crickets chirped in the distance. He could hear an owl hoot not far away, and in the far distance he could hear the roar of a lion.

When the crickets suddenly stopped chirping, Andronicus straightened and Arius visibly tensed, pulling his sword from its scabbard.