Page 81 of Of Love and Treason
“Don’t be a fool, Valens,” he muttered under his breath, moving toward Cato’s desk. He shook his head. The weddings he’d been performing nearly every night must be affecting him. He was a wanted man, living in hiding. Nothing could be gained from entertaining thoughts like that about Iris. Still, he couldn’t deny the way she entered his mind at the oddest of times.
And he liked speaking with her. Her eyes lit with wonder and curiosity when they talked about God and with life and mischief when they spoke of other things. She could tease him, and he enjoyed it.
He rubbed his burning eyes. He really needed sleep.
He shuffled through Cato’s desk with renewed purpose. How could Cato find anything in this mess? He unearthed a half sheet of clean papyrus and cleared a space on the desk, moving empty cups to the floor, herbs and wine rings dried to the insides. He sat and began writing a note to the church members, proposing they use the offering funds to redeem two unnamed church members from debt and slave auction.
The door opened and Cato stepped inside, followed by Delphine.
“I borrowed some papyrus.”
Cato scrunched his nose. “Has Bea been in here? My office smells like roses.”
“That’s me.” Valens kept writing. “Very funny, switching my diluted sandalwood fragrance for rose concentrate. I used extra, just for you.”
Cato smirked. “I’d love the credit, but it wasn’t me.”
Valens looked up with a slight shake of his head as the two said in unison, “Abachum.”
Delphine rolled her eyes and shook her head as they laughed. Cato plunked a small wine amphora on the desk,C.C.stamped into the clay side.
“I got another delivery this morning from the Centaur’s Cup.” Cato dropped a receipt on top of Valens’s letter. Valens picked it up, noting the number 1 written next to the type of wine. He rubbed his eyes, relief pouring through him. Only one wedding tonight.
Ever since he’d gone into hiding and no longer walked past theCentaur’s Cup every morning, Valens and Hector had created an alternate communication system. Since physicians often ordered medicinal wine, Hector delivered an amphora to Cato whenever he’d organized a wedding. The receipt listed the number of couples to be wed each night. In the months Valens had been in the Calogarus house, wine had been delivered every morning but two. They’d worked out a rotation of the public gardens they would meet in, unless a location was otherwise specified on the receipt. It saved them from meeting in the same spot twice in a row. Valens glanced at the note scribbled on the bottom designating a delivery address, which usually meant a private home. He memorized it, then scraped the wax tablet clean.
“Thanks.”
Cato nodded.
“What needs to be done today, Val?” Delphine clapped her hands together.
Valens held up the finished note. “I need this message spread to the members of our church as soon as possible, and I need their answers.” He thought a moment. “Flavia Lucilla—the one on Grata Street—needs help with her rent this month. The food for the widow baskets should be delivered here as usual. I can help pack the baskets if you can organize for delivery. We’ll also need a few people to distribute bread to those in the Tiber shanties.” He scrunched his face, thinking, then opened one eye. “I think that’s it.”
Delphine nodded slowly, absorbing the list. “Are there enough funds for everything?”
Valens nodded. Many of the grateful brides and grooms had insisted on giving him gifts, usually monetary, although one had bestowed a kitten. Valens had set the money to work. The kitten he’d given to Lalia and Rue, despite Cato’s objections that it would eat all the mice and there would be no more dormouse pie at dinner. He was correct on both counts.
“And I’ll be heading out at dusk again.” Valens sighed.
“When did you last have a full night’s sleep?” Cato arched an eyebrow and ran a hand through his shaggy curls.
Valens shrugged. He tried not to think about it. Things would slow eventually. They had to.
“We’ll get it done, Val.” Delphine gave a determined nod. “But the widows are disappointed you’re no longer delivering the baskets and visiting with them. Most of them aren’t able to come to the gatherings and they aren’t satisfied with what encouragement I can offer.”
Valens nodded, thinking. “I could write notes... copy a passage of Scripture or something we can tuck in each basket.”
“Perfect.” Delphine brightened. “They’ll love that, and we can read them to the ones who can’t read for themselves.”
Valens looked from one to the other. “Thank you for all your help. I wish it didn’t have to be this way.”
“You’re family.” Cato slipped an arm around Delphine. “And we couldn’t leave you hanging.”
“Strangled more like.” A wry grin twisted Valens’s lips. “Beheaded—possible torture.”
Cato nodded. “Torn by beasts, gladiator fodder.”
“So many options when you think about it.”
