Actually, I began writing the next chapter and it just flowed out of me. Up ahead of schedule!
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BOOK I
The Second Exodus
CHAPTER XXXI – Return to Kerkinitis
The two day journey to Kerkinitis was a somber one. Jehu and his companions, Pekah, Benoni, and Commius, were all pondering the many things that had happened to them recently. So much had changed. So many old friends had died. The world would never be the same.
Jehu’s mind was filled with memories. They now rode down the same road that he, his father, and Ezra had taken with Nikodemos and his men eleven years ago. Everything had seemed so new and wonderful then. The farms, the roads, the city. It had all been beautiful. Now that beauty was marred by the painful memories of loved ones now lost. His father, Nikodemos, Caleb, just a few of the many he had loved, who had seen these same sights with him, and now were dead. Killed. It was all he could do not to cry from the pain. But he kept a stern face. He was Chief now. And he would make Ahaz proud.
At last they reached Kerkinitis, with her massive walls. The guards at the gate stopped them, but Jehu announced himself as the Chief of the Hebrews. The guards then permitted him to enter, perhaps believing him to be Elihu. It was not likely that news of Jehu’s coup had yet reached Kerkinitis. As the four men entered the city, only Commius gaped in awe. He had never seen such a city before. The cities of
Pretannia could not compare to this. For the others, it had been nine long years since last they had seen Kerkinitis, but the memories were still strong.
Jehu led his companions to the
agora, which was the quickest way to the Jewish sector of the city, where he expected to find Agathe. As the four companions rode through the streets, Jehu and the other Hebrews were surprised at how many soldiers were present. It looked as if all four hundred of Iason’s
Agema, his bodyguard, were active, as well as several citizen-soldiers. Lemuel had been right when he spoke of martial law.
As they reached the
agora they saw there was a commotion. One of the
Agema was harassing a young woman. Jehu dismounted and went to investigate. As he got closer, he could hear her shouting, “Let go of me you brute!”
Jehu walked right up to the guard and asked, “What seems to be the problem here, soldier?”
The guard looked at him for a moment and said in a gruff voice, “Mind your own business, outsider.”
“I am Jehu Bar-Ahaz,” came the reply. “I am the Chief of the Hebrews, and a vassal of Iason, your Tyrant. I demand to know what is going on here.”
The guard sneered, “Last I heard, your ‘Chief’ was a man named Elihu.”
“Things change,” said Jehu in a very matter-of-fact tone. “Now, answer my question.”
“All right, I’ll play along,” said the guard. “This one here’s been causing trouble in the religious district, see? Been blaspheming the gods, she has. She spouts talk like them Jews, about this one faceless God, see? But unlike them, smart enough to shut up about it they are, she publicly denounces our gods. Says Demeter and the others don’t do anything for our crops or our people. Pins it all on that Jewish Adonai chap. I’m just teaching her what-for, you know? Making sure she don’t cause any more trouble.” As he said the least few words he twisted her write and stared right in her eyes. She cried out in pain.
“Unhand her,” said Jehu.
“On whose authority?” demanded the guard.
“On my authority,” came a third voice. Jehu and the guard both looked to where the voice came from. And there stood Iason himself.
Iason, Tyrant of Kerkinitis
The guard protested, “Sir, I, this girl, she…”
Iason would have none of it. He said calmly, “Let her go.”
The guard obeyed. The young woman retreated behind Jehu. But Iason merely smiled and said, “Now, what seems to be the commotion?”
The guard spoke up, “Sire, the girl, she…”
Iason help up his hand the silence the guard and said, “Let the woman speak for herself. This is not Athens, Lykos.
Every free person has the right to speak for themselves in my city. Now tell me, woman. What is your name?”
The woman slowly stepped forward from behind Jehu. Her blonde hair shimmered in the sun. She took a deep breath and said, “My name is Agathe, sire.”
“Agathe,” confirmed Iason with a nod. “Now tell me, Agathe, what exactly happened here, that caused this ruckus?”
“I was passing through the religious district,” said Agathe softly, “when a priest of Demeter asked me if I had made my sacrifices to the goddess yet for the harvest. I answered him that I do not worship Demeter. I worship Adonai, and Him alone. The priest said I did not look like a Jew, and asked me whence my blasphemy came. I tried to respond, but he began to accuse me and he shouted and called in the guards…”
“I see,” said Iason. “Tell me, Agathe, what is a beautiful Greek girl such as yourself doing worshipping the God of the Jews? Wouldn’t your time be better spend serving your own gods?”
Before the girl could reply, Jehu stepped forward and said, “Iason, I am…”
“I know who you are,” replied Iason. “I heard the whole thing. So, it seems you’ve ousted Elihu after all this time, yes? Ha, I should have known better to believe him when he told me you were dead. Nikodemos wouldn’t have sold his life against his own people unless he knew you’d be safe. I suppose there’s no point in asking if Elihu is alive?”
Jehu’s silence was answer enough. Iason continued, “It is no real loss. He was too coarse anyhow. I assume you’re here to reaffirm the treaty then? So what interests you so in this woman?”
“My interest in the woman is a private matter, Iason. I’m sure you will understand, was Jehu’s reply. “As far as a treaty between my people and yours, I intended to seek an audience with you about that very issue. Much has changed.”
“I have time right now,” said Iason. “Come for a walk with me, Jehu. Much has changed in Kerkinitis since you’ve left, as well. Let us ‘catch up’ so to speak, and then we can discuss the treaty. What do you say?”
“What of Agathe?” asked Jehu.
Iason shrugged, “Well, if she means that much to you. She’s free. I am the Tyrant after all. My word is law. And my word is that she be left alone. I may have instituted martial law, but this is hardly a military dictatorship. I am just as capable of mercy now as I was before. Lykos, let the woman go home. And Agathe, no more commotion now in the religious district.”
Jehu turned to his companions and said, “Escort Agathe to her house. I will find you later this evening.”
They all saluted him and obeyed. Agathe made one last glance at the crowd, who all glared at her harshly, and then she walked to her home, with her new protectors flanking her.
Agathe, scorned by her fellow Greeks for “blasphemy”
Iason then put his arm over Jehu’s shoulder and the two began to walk. Iason said, “Jehu, my old friend. The first thing I want you to understand is that I had
nothing to do with your father’s death or Elihu’s rise to power. I was as shocked as anyone when I found out what had happened.”
“Then what about the soldiers you sent?” asked Jehu. “The ones Nikodemos fought against, and who tried to kill us at the river
Dniepr? They killed two of my men in that river.”
“I was deceived,” explained Iason. “I had received reports of a coup, but I was told it had failed. I sent my men to hunt those who tried to kill my ally, your father. Those men believed you and your companions
were the traitors. Had we known the truth, those men would have
protected you and I would have helped you regain power then and there.”
Jehu was more than a little skeptical. But he did not want to reveal his doubts to Iason. He turned to face the Tyrant and said, “I believe you, Iason. Elihu deceived many. I appreciate your support now that you know the truth.”
Feigning a cordial disposition
“Of course, my friend,” said Iason with a smile. “Now, let us continue walking. There is still much you need to know. In addition to your own people, Kerkinitis is allied with Kalos Limen to the west. I don’t recall if you knew that as a child.”
“I did,” stated Jehu.
“Good, you were a perceptive lad. Now, the three of us combined are strong. Cherson has not interfered in our affairs even once since you left. But oh would she like to. We are preparing for war. It may come at any time.”
“Is that why you have declared martial law?” asked Jehu.
Iason shook his head, “No. That is a separate issue. My people grow restless, Jehu, as all people do from time to time. Some fear that our government is turning into a hereditary monarchy, as I inherited the position of Tyrant from my father. They fear that soon Kerkinitis will become a smaller copy of the Bosporan Kingdom, that I will seek a marriage alliance with the Bosporans, and that Kerkinitis will simply be absorbed into their kingdom, losing our independence and identity. I have tried to tell them that this is preposterous, but they do not listen. There have been four attempts on my life, and two attempted coups, since your departure, Jehu.
That is why I have declared martial law. And
that is why I need you and your people now, more than ever.”
Jehu looked at him in surprise and tried to hide his dismay. This would make it much more difficult to secure his people’s freedom and their chance to go to
Pretannia. He thought of Larissa, languishing in Dumnorix’s dungeons, and he wondered just how many more trials he would have to face before he could free her. Nothing could ever be easy, could it?