Page 45 of Of Love and Treason
“Yes.” Valens nodded. “Honor him as a man made in the image of God. Honor him as a soul Jesus died to save. I will never slur himnor wish him harm, but that does not mean I agree with everything he decrees.”
“Do you think it’s wise to stir up trouble now?”
“We already had trouble.”
“But with the unrest and the war, people are searching for someone to blame. When the war with the Persians went sour ten years ago, it didn’t take long for the people to side with Emperor Valerian against the Christians.”
Valens fell silent. Cato was right. Perhaps now was not the time to draw attention by taking a stand against the emperor’s edict. But why did the thought of staying quiet and safe churn his gut with guilt?
“What are my choices?” Valens lifted his shoulders. “The treason has already been committed. Stopping now won’t change my sentence if I’m caught.”
“If you stop now, they may not catch you. How often are you performing weddings?”
“Every night.”
Cato’s mouth tightened. “Val.”
“Marriage is a beautiful thing. Ordained by God. It was never meant to be withheld from a man and woman.”
Cato pinched the bridge of his nose. “I agree. I can’t imagine my life without Delphine. But you can’t keep doing this. It cannot be done in secret, not with your name on every contract. If you’re caught—” He shook his head. “Stop while you can. Please.”
“You would deny others the happiness you have with Delphine?”
Cato squeezed his eyes shut. “You’ve seen the new orders from the priests? Mandatory offerings to the gods. Noncompliance is viewed as treason and punishable by confiscation of property or death. It’s starting again just like it did ten years ago. A lot of believers are leaving Rome. Some have already been imprisoned and pressured to recant.”
“I’ve heard.” Valens nodded. “The scribes have been copying the notices for days. Are you leaving?”
“No. Mother and Father moved here expressly to aid believers during times like these.” Cato gripped his shoulder. “But you should go with those who are leaving.”
“A leader of a church does not run. What sort of shepherd would I be?”
“A live one. Leave the city while you still can.”
Delphine poked her head in the door. “Everyone’s here.” She smiled. “Ah, hello, Val. You brought your lute again, I see.”
Valens lifted the instrument. “I brought it to play while we sing.”
“You shouldn’t have.” Cato forced a half-hearted grin. “You’re really terrible, you know.”
“You’re just envious.”
Cato threw his head back and laughed. “Bless your delusional heart.”
Delphine left, and Valens and Cato followed.
Cato gripped Valens’s arm as they crossed the courtyard. “Think about what I said,” he pleaded. “Think about Beatrix.”
Valens nodded but didn’t offer assurances one way or another. Beatrix was the one he most worried about. But he couldn’t stop now, and truth be told, he didn’t want to. A thrill ran through him each time the contracts were signed and handed off, as if with each one, he set a small bit of the world to rights.
In thetricliniumon the far side of the courtyard, they met the other believers who had come to eat and worship together. Valens brightened to see the ex-legionnaire Felix and new wife, Vinia, had ventured to join them. The room, vibrating with friendly tones and laughter, swirled with the aromas of fresh bread, curried lentil pottage, marinated artichokes, and roasted fish.
As Valens greeted Felix and Vinia, Pax came and tugged at the lute in Valens’s hands.
“I’ll take that so you can eat.”
Valens released the instrument and Pax stowed it in a dim corner behind Aunt Bea and a throng of older women who shifted their bodies in front of it with conspiratorial nods.
Food eaten and dirty plates stacked on the now-empty table, everyone settled down, some on dining couches, some on stools and the floor while others leaned against the walls. The voices fell away into a gradual and reverent silence.
