Sacred Scrolls; Chapter 47

 

Sacred Scrolls; Chapter 47

© 2021 by Amber Wright

MISUNDERSTANDINGS

“Eat every bit of it now,” Tiria sang out, cheerful once again. It was good to be back to her old self. Being the other her had been terrible. But why did Polycarp eat so slow?

Andronika giggled behind her. “Having trouble with your patient, Tiria?”

“Not at all,” Tiria felt her eyes laughing although she felt like growling. “I'm having trouble with my patience!”

“Perhaps,” Andronika toned down her grin, “you should let him swallow that bite first before giving him another.”

Tiria turned back to her patient. Polycarp was still chewing so she supposed he needed a little time before his next bite. She watched as his Adam's apple bobbed up and down. Slowest eater on the planet, she thought. Just as he was swallowing his mouthful of food, she swung her ready-piled-spoon towards his mouth again. Why did it take him forever to eat?

“A drink, please?”

Tiria handed him his cup of water and she watched him take long, slow gulps. At this rate, she'd be feeding him until supper. Then she'd have to feed him all over again. So much for romance—this was grating her nerves! To top it off, water began dripping from the sides of Polycarp's mouth. He picked up a part of her veil, wiped his mouth with it and little blotches of water sank into her beautiful blue veil—her best one. She held in a cry of horror, “That was my veil!”

“Sorry, I thought it was the blanket.” Polycarp opened his mouth for the next bite.

Too much was too much. Thanks! So he thinks my clothes look like blankets draped around me. Just like a man! Nobody notices me—and I don't care! She inhaled a shaky, decisive breath to steady the nerves that were rattling inside her, threatening to erupt, and she bit down on her tongue to keep from saying anything hasty or horrible.

Tiria fed him the anticipated bite, rose from the chair and forced a smile at Andronika who was tidying up the hut. “Here, your turn,” she faked a cheerful tone. “I need to help Junia.”

“Do what?” Andronika looked as confused as Tiria felt.

“I just do!” Tiria thrust the bowl of stew into her hands and rushed from the hut. You're not going to cry, Tiria. That won't help a thing. She mentally stomped her way out of the hut with noiseless steps.

~

Tiria had the look of a wounded doe when Junia spotted her walking towards her. The girl's frown was morbid and her eyes were cast to the cave floor. I'll wager it's got to do with Polycarp. Oh my—Polycarp! She watched Tiria approach.

“How is he?”

“Who?”

“Polycarp?” Junia wondered why Tiria's frown deepened. I hope he's not turned for the worse. Please no, he's—

“Fine,” was Tiria's flat answer.

“And you?” Junia tried smiling brightly to upturn Tiria's mouth from her “rainbow smile”. It did not work. “Are you doing fine?”

“I won't lie.”

“How about let's make bread? That always helps me when I'm having a difficult time.”

Tiria gave her a quizzical look as if to ask How did you know?

Junia only smiled pleasantly, “Shall we begin?”

~

“Here is the Exodus Scroll, Matthias.” Demetrius handed it to him after the greetings were over.

He noticed Matthias' sister staring at his burnt arms. He sighed silently. In one moment he had thought she had been Junia, but the only thing the two girls resembled each other were their heights and large eyes. Nothing else. He frowned at her, suddenly. “What are you staring at?”

In Ephesus, they had been friends. Philadelphia was like the sister he had never had.

Philadelphia giggled and tried holding her smirk behind her hands. “You're getting black.”

“Thanks!” Demetrius rolled his eyes. “That's just what I needed for inspiration. I'm Lydian—and I'm proud of my real color!”

Philadelphia gave him a sisterly frown. “You'd better take care of your skin or Junia will never marry you.”

Demetrius noticed Matthias visibly stiffen, and anxiety shot through him. No, not Matthias. Not one of my best friends! He tried to shake off the uneasy feeling from him by changing the subject. “How's your aunt?”

“Persis will always be Persis,” Philadelphia shrugged. “You knew she was in love with Saint Paul, didn't you?”

Demetrius nodded. “You told me. Is that why she never married?”

“She still loves him.”

“Imagine.” After all these years, he added silently. Let's hope I don't end up with her fate, in love with a person who never marries me. He clacked his teeth together twice, the uneasy feeling in him growing.

“Imagine what?” Matthias sounded stiff despite his half-smile.

Demetrius blinked, suddenly feeling foolish. “I was talking to myself.”

“Now you'd better take care of your mind as well,” Philadelphia teased him with another of her girlish giggles. “Junia will never marry a madman, that I am sure.”

Matthias stiffened again, making a crooked smile. “Don't worry, Demetrius. My sister would marry anyone—even a madman.”

Demetrius felt a bitter taste rise in his throat. Is Matthias matchmaking his sister with me so...? Please God, don't let me think this. I may be wrong. Matthias is my friend. He calmly swallowed the words he wanted to ask.

“I'm staying single—just like my aunt Persis.” Philadelphia declared importantly, clearing her throat a little and eying her brother with a slightly crooked head. “You know, Saint Paul says a single girl can serve the Lord better.”

“Only if you're not meant to marry,” Matthias almost looked miserable as he was saying it.

“Who says I'm meant to marry?”

“Nobody,” Matthias started to the entrance of the cave.

“Shalom, Demetrius.” Philadelphia brightly shook his hand with a teasing twinkle to her eyes. “Oh, and even if your skin turns black and your mind collapses, Junia will always be there for you. I'm certain.”

Demetrius watched Matthias' back muscles flexing. “Junia deserves somebody better than me. Let her choose.”

Demetrius found himself sighing after they had left. He had said the right words. Junia did deserve somebody better than him. And what better somebody would be than Matthias, he felt a groan suffocate him as he flexed his back that grew more tense with each miserable thought. Demetrius, let her choose. His sunburned neck tingled with pain which he ignored. No, God, I'd rather be dead than to not have her. If she's meant for Matthias or anybody else, I'm ready to die in these mines! He clenched his teeth in determination, adding almost frantically, But don't kill me off until I know for sure. Please? He raised his eyes to the dark ceiling where the only light came from the cave entrance; he extended his palms flatly, Meanwhile, here I am.

~

“No bubbles, perfect. Good job, Tiria!”

“Thank heavens!” Tiria felt happy, her frown long gone and feeling Junia's approving eyes on her day's work, slicing the warm bread she had made. And it had only taken less than an hour to make! “My very first time. I can't believe I can actually make bread—good bread!”

“You'll have to feed a slice to Polycarp topped with honey,” Junia gave her a teasing smile. “Sweet for the sweet.”

“Don't.” Tiria felt her cheeks flush and another frown appear.

“You have progressed very much,” Junia sobered up. “I'm proud of you, very much proud.”

Tiria broke into another pleased smile and gazed down at the bread in her hands. Her bread. She had at last found patience and purpose in this life in the cave where they dwelt for the unsettling present. Minutes later, she found her feet moving towards Polycarp's hut.

“I'm back!” Tiria entered the hut with the plate of her bread topped with honey.

Polycarp glanced up. “My mouth's watering,” he scooted up on his cot, a smile settling over his flat expression. “Do I smell fresh bread?”

“You do,” Tiria sat on the reed-woven chair beside his cot. “Did you eat all of your other food?”

“No.”

“Why?”

“Because you weren't feeding me.”

“Men!” Tiria rolled her eyes, yet felt pleased and confused all at once. “If we females weren't here, what would you all do?”

“Die,” Polycarp actually grinned, stretching his hand for the plate wobbling in her hands. “My bread—in one piece, please.”

Tiria felt inside her head wobble as well as she handed Polycarp his plate. Why do males have to be so confusing? One minute they're acting like you don't exist and the next minute they're telling you they'd die without you. She closed her eyes briefly, Lord, let me love the patience You've given me. She popped her eyes back open, one word poking at her, pounding into her heart. Or did you say 'patient', Tiria? At the thought, she chewed furiously on her bottom lip, nervous. Why was Polycarp still watching her? Probably wondering why she was using her eyeballs like a drumbeat. She cleared her throat twice and she bit onto her tongue before she fatally spoke anything improper or simply Tiria-ish.

~

July melted into August and the heat increased.

Junia fanned herself with both hands, sweat clinging to her robe and dribbling down her neck. She glared at the metal grinder in her lap, her sweaty palms caked with a thin layer of ground wheat and her eyes stinging from her salty sweat. Sweat! She blinked fiercely, hoping to dissolve the itchiness of her eyes but it only stung them worse. “I thought caves were cool, not hot.”

“Maybe you should sit further inside,” Dalmatia suggested, her face basking in the sun as it filled the huge entrance. “It's much cooler over there,” she pointed to the shadowy interior.

“But I wouldn't be able to see so well there. It's not light enough,” Junia stopped grinding again to flex her aching back. “I'll just stop complaining.”

She wiped her sticky palms against her dry robe and it made her hands feel even worse. When she lifted her fingers, she could see flecks of linen sticking to them. Seeing the linen and feeling the sweat, a thought popped into her head. Junia arched one eyebrow in exasperation, “Julia, please?”

“Yes, I'll take over from here.” Julia picked up the grinder and bowl of finely ground wheat. “You take a break.”

“Thank you,” Junia stood, stretching. “I don't want our bread having a linen taste to it.”

“You mean, a linen feel to it.” Tarsus quipped, standing to stretch her fingers high, still sitting on a blanket on the floor of the cave. “I need to wash my hands, too. Let's go to the creek and have a toe-dip.”

Junia wordlessly agreed.

Junia followed Tarsus through the passage that led to the creek where they drew their daily water. She was nearly at the end of the tunnel when she heard voices, outside and inside behind her. She turned to the closest voice—behind her.

“I thought the water sounded refreshing,” Andronika's smile looked radiant even in the dimness. “I left Nika with my mother. Hopefully, she stays this time.”

Junia entered the light, fiercely blinking until her eyes adjusted to the brightness. When her eyes dilated, she saw Chloe and Jason the archer talking. She gasped as Jason's head began lowering towards timid Chloe. Don't be so base, Jason! Stand back some. Her brows knitted. Andronika's voice startled her, and she found herself knocking her head into Tarsus' back.

“I said stop this instant!” Andronika charged over to Jason and Chloe, arms swinging and looking as mad as a hornet.

Junia stared. What had gotten into Andronika? She watched Jason glare down at Andronika, and Chloe took a step back.

“Who do you think you are?” Jason sounded annoyed.

“Her friend,” Andronika's answer was as dry as the ground below them.

The rest of Andronika's and Jason's words were blurred and only their facial expressions were crisp clear. Andronika was upset, Chloe was peeved and Jason was angry. Junia watched them, amused and confused. True, Jason shouldn't have been standing so close to Chloe but why is Andronika so upset? Chloe, take that scowl off of your pretty face. It won't do. Jason, please— She gulped. What was he saying? She felt her feet move toward the disorientated trio.

“You'll be sorry!” Jason strode away with a high air.

Junia stopped, staring after Jason and in between. Chloe stood wringing her hands, glancing from Jason's haughty back to them. She felt a stab of pity for the poor girl. The fault was Jason's, not hers.

“We weren't doing anything wrong.” Chloe sounded like she was going to cry. “We weren't!”

“Yet,” Andronika's blazing eyes began to soften. “Please don't be angry with me, Chloe.”

“How can I not be?” Chloe burst into tears, staggering off.

Junia watched Chloe disappear into the cave, and bit out a sigh. “Why do girls never learn?”

A Few Greek Words:

Fil'os: friend

Meh'tehr: mother

Pah'tehr: father

Adher'fi: sister

Adher'fos: brother