{"id":1126,"date":"2019-02-12T23:23:40","date_gmt":"2019-02-13T04:23:40","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/read.whitefire-publishing.com\/?p=1126"},"modified":"2020-06-01T09:07:07","modified_gmt":"2020-06-01T13:07:07","slug":"a-stray-drop-of-blood","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/whitefire-publishing.com\/read\/a-stray-drop-of-blood\/","title":{"rendered":"A Stray Drop of Blood"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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A Stray Drop of Blood<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

by Roseanna M. White<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Beautiful is a dangerous thing to be when one is unprotected.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

For seven years, Abigail has been a slave in the Visibullis house. With a Hebrew mistress and a Roman master, she has always been more family than servant . . . until their son returns to Jerusalem after his years in Rome. Within a few months, Jason has taken her to his bed and turned her world upside down. Maybe, given time, she can come to love him as he says he loves her. But how does she open her heart to the man who ruined her?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Israel\u2019s unrest finds a home in her bosom, but their rebellion tears apart her world. Death descends with Barabbas\u2019s sword, and Abigail is determined to be there when the criminal is punished. But when she ventures to the trial, Barabbas is not the one the crowd calls to crucify. Instead, it is the teacher her master and Jason had begun to follow, the man from Nazareth that some call the Son of God . . .<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Born free, made a slave, married out of her bonds, Abigail never knows freedom until she feels the fire of a stray drop of blood from a Jewish carpenter. Disowned by Israel, despised by Rome, desired by all, she never knows love until she receives the smile of a stoic Roman noble.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

\n\t\t\t\t\t

Chapter 1<\/span><\/span><\/h3>\n\t\t\t\t\t

Abigail\u2019s tears were unneeded. Mourners enough\nhad been hired by her mother\u2019s husband, and their loud keening drowned out her\ngrief. She risked a glance at Silas, who stood with an appropriately sorrowful\nexpression in the corner. Her mother\u2019s husband, but not her father. Her father\nwas dead. Mother too. And this family<\/a> would never be her own.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cAbigail.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

She turned to the doorway, where Rebekka,\nSilas\u2019s first wife, beckoned. Abigail darted one last look at the body laid out\non the table, but her mother could offer her no protection now. She left the\nroom, following Rebekka\u2019s voice down the hall. \u201cShe is eight years old. Very\nstrong\u2013she gets that from her father. But beautiful, as her mother was.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Even at eight years old, Abigail recognized the\njealousy in Rebekka\u2019s tone at the mention of Mother\u2019s beauty. She stepped into\nthe room, felt her head go light when she saw the man within.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A Roman soldier.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Rebekka motioned her forward, and though she\nwanted to remain rooted in place, she dared not. One step, another, and she was\nunder the Roman\u2019s full perusal. Deafening silence pounded her until the man\nnodded and reached to the money purse on his belt. Her fingers clenched, her\nbreath caught, her eyes ceased blinking. If possible, she would have stopped\nher heart from beating.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Had it come to this? First her father\u2019s death,\nthen her mother\u2019s, and now she was to be slave to a Roman dog?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The man drew out several coins, but as he handed\nthem to Rebekka, he offered Abigail a smile. And she knew. She knew that she\nwould have more of a home with this Roman than with these people she could\nnever call family.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Something inside shifted, making her shoulders\nedge back. That place from where tears sprang went cool, ran dry. An image of a\ncracked, parched streambed flitted before her eyes. That was what she would be.\nHard and empty. If her own people would sell her to their oppressors, then so\nbe it. She would be a humble slave. No more whimsy, no more dreams.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It was obviously what God<\/em> intended.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cDoes she speak Greek?\u201d The man\u2019s gaze stayed on\nAbigail, though his words were aimed at Rebekka.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cOf course. She is a bright girl, able to obey\nany command.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He nodded, offered that smile to Abigail again.\nStrange . . . it wasyounger than his dignified years suggested, not\nunlike those of the boys who ran the streets. And kinder than any Roman\u2019s smile\nhad a right to be. \u201cWhat is your name, little one?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cAbigail.\u201d Her voice sounded flat to her own\nears. Barely more than a breath.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He crouched down, much like her father had once\ndone when he wanted to speak to her. \u201cWell, Abigail, you are to be my wife\u2019s\nhelper. She is a Hebrewess and wishes for a young girl to teach and keep her\ncompany. You will enjoy spending your days by her side.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Enjoyment? Perhaps Roman masters could speak of\nsuch a thing, but Abigail had long ago given up on it. Ever since Father\u2019s\ndeath, there had been no joy to be had.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Her eyes sought the ground and stayed there as\nshe followed him out into the early-morning bustle of Jerusalem. With every\nstep that took her farther away from all that she knew, her heart grew heavier.\nOnly God knew what her future held now, and he had never shown her any favor.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

But he would not forsake her, no matter how much\nshe may wish it. Mother had died a loyal child of Jehovah, and Abigail knew no\nbetter end awaited her. The Lord would not relinquish her. Even if the Roman\nhad not come, she still would have been a slave to him.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

S<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Cleopas Visibullis glanced at the waif that\ntrailed behind him and fought back the urge to scoop her up and carry her the\nremaining distance to his home. Ester would take one look at her and admit her\ninto her heart as a daughter. The thought made him smile. He had known when she\nbegged him to go see about the girl for sale that if he brought her home, it\nwould be as a slave only in the loosest sense.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

But with Jason bound for Rome this afternoon,\nhis wife would need the distraction. A companion. The impending departure not\nonly erased his smile, it brought a pounding in his head. In some ways, he knew\nRome would do his impetuous son good. But in others . . . would he even\nrecognize him if or when he returned?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

They skirted the Praetorium, where Cleopas had\nserved as prefect for two years now. Even before the promotion, he had been a\nsoldier of import. Hence why his home abutted the compound. As they walked,\ncitizens of Jerusalem moved to the other side of the street to avoid him, all\nHebrew gazes flicked away.               <\/p>\n\n\n\n

He cast a glance over his shoulder. The girl\nstill stared at the ground as she kept pace, but she surely knew that the\nmoment she entered his house, her culture would by necessity change. Not as\ndrastically as she may think in this moment, but no one would ever look at her\nthe same, if they looked at her at all.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Simon opened the door for him as they neared,\nand Cleopas greeted the loyal servant with a nod. \u201cEster is in her chamber?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cYes, Lord, as is your son.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He nodded again and motioned the girl to follow\nhim. Angry voices sounded as they neared the bed chamber\u2019s door. His wife\u2019s\nfirst. \u201cYou will not speak that way, Jason. He will be back in a matter of\nminutes\u2013\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cHe should not have left today in the first\nplace. Buying a slave on the day his only son leaves? It is Simon\u2019s duty.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI asked him\u2013\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Cleopas halted the argument with a cleared\nthroat. Ester sat with a brush in hand, eyes glistening with unshed tears, and\nlooked to him with hope. Jason let out a growl and charged past him in the\ndoorway, nearly knocking the girl from her feet.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He would deal with his son in a moment. For now,\nhe ushered the girl forward with a hand on her shoulder. \u201cBeloved, this is\nAbigail.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

His wife\u2019s eyes lit, and she held out her hands.\nThough she looked awe-struck and terrified, the mite stepped forward. Ester\nsmiled. \u201cAbigail. A fine, strong name. First the wife of Nabal, but too wise\nfor such a wicked man. After his death, she married David. It is good to meet\nyou, Abigail. I am Ester.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Abigail dipped her chin, but her spine\nstraightened. \u201cAn excellent namesake as well, Mistress. A wiser, better queen\nhas never been recorded in all the history of our people.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

His wife laughed and tapped a finger to the\nlittle one\u2019s nose. \u201cYou know your history. Excellent. I shall teach you more,\nand we shall discover much together. You will be well taken care of, Abigail.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The girl nodded, but a tremble moved through her\nlips. Ester leaned forward and cupped her face with what looked to be the\ngentlest of touches. \u201cI am sorry you are no longer free, that you have lost\nyour parents. But I am glad you are here.\u201d She looked intently into Abigail\u2019s\nface, undoubtedly seeing into the depths of her pain. She gathered her close in\nthe next moment. \u201cMy sweet child.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The slight shoulders shook, and sobs tore from\nher throat. He caught Ester\u2019s gaze, gave her a tender smile, and motioned to\nthe door. She had the girl well in hand. It was time to try to do the same with\nhis son.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He found him in his chamber, looking out the\nwindow at the busy street. Cleopas paused in the doorway without making himself\nknown. His boy had grown up, stood at a man\u2019s height, had a man\u2019s strength. But\nthe wisdom had yet to come.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI am sorry I was not back sooner, Jason.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Jason spun around, a wry smile on his lips. \u201cI\nshould not have grown angry. It is but the first hour. Did I upset Mother?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIf so, she is soothing her wounds by lavishing\nadoration on our new little handmaiden.\u201d He sighed and joined his son at the\nwindow. A few soldiers hurried by, as well they should be. They were late for\nthe morning drills. \u201cI train soldiers every day, Jason. I could have trained\nyou here.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

His son shook his head. \u201cWe agreed that Rome\nwould be a better option, Father. I can attend the academies there, check on\nour family\u2019s property. Learn of our culture and escape this oppressive Judaism\nwhile learning to be a soldier.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cPlease do not speak ill of your mother\u2019s faith.\nYou are part Hebrew, and you will do well to remember it.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI have been submersed in it all my life.\u201d Jason\nwaved a hand, as if to dismiss it all. \u201cThe Jews will never accept me because\nof my Roman blood. Perhaps the Romans will overlook the Hebrew part and I will\nfinally find a place for myself.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIn Rome?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI could regain the status of your grandfather.\nOur reputation. Expand our estates.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The very thought wearied him. \u201cI would that you\njust safely return to your mother\u2019s arms.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Jason\u2019s lips twitched up. \u201cRest assured I will\nsee you both again, Father. Perhaps someday I will even serve with you.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He would do all he could to make sure of it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

S<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Abigail found that Simon was surprisingly\nfriendly; then again, he had no reason to feel threatened by an eight-year-old\ngirl whose main purpose in the house was to be Mistress\u2019s entertainment. So it\nmade sense that he welcomed her into the kitchen with warmth.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cYou, of course, will have little need to know\nthe particular goings-on in here,\u201d he said with a smile. \u201cAt least for a\nwhile.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Abigail sent her gaze around the room. There was\na woman rushing about in preparation for the soon-coming meal, the fire roaring\nin its place, and a table laden with a bounty that she told her mouth she would\nnot taste.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cMy wife, Dinah.\u201d Simon motioned to the cook. \u201cI\nwill introduce you when it is less hectic. For now, I will take you to meet\nAndrew. He serves the master, so it is imperative that the two of you learn to\nwork well together.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Abigail nodded. She even voiced her question.\n\u201cAre there only the four of us?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThere is also Mark, but he will leave this eve\nwith his lord, Jason.\u201d Simon led them through the kitchen, to a brief hallway\naccessible through it. \u201cYour room is through here. It exits also into the\ncorridor directly outside Mistress\u2019s chamber. For now it is your own, but if\never another female is brought, you will of course have to share.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Abigail nodded again; they did not stop at the\ndoor he pointed at in indication, but rather went to the next one down. He\ntapped upon the door and waited the two seconds it took to be opened.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A young man stepped out, girded to serve. He\nlooked surprised to see his fellow servant. \u201cSimon.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Simon smiled. \u201cAndrew, this is Abigail. She is\nreplacing Hadassah in our lady\u2019s service. I thought she should meet you before\nthe meal.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Andrew nodded and offered her a friendly smile.\n\u201cThis is a good house to belong to. I came here when but a child myself, and I\nhave chosen to serve my lord for life.\u201d He offered a view of his pierced ear as\nproof, the ring in it matching the one Simon had in his own.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Her new Roman master obeyed Jewish tradition\nwith his servants? Though surprised, she said nothing. Instead, she simply\noffered a small smile and went into her own room when Simon opened the door.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cGo ahead and change.\u201d He indicated the tunic\nfolded neatly on the pallet in the closet. \u201cOnce dressed appropriately, come\nback to the kitchen. You will serve our lady today.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He closed the door again behind her, leaving\nAbigail alone for a moment with her thoughts. She looked around the quarters\nwith a strange contentment. Here she was with a room of her own, people that\nwelcomed her, and, if nothing else, a degree of security. It was more than she\nhad ever had before.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It took her only a minute to shed her clothes of\nmourning and slip into the rough material that she knew she would have to get\nused to. Moving back to the kitchen, however, she found that it was actually a\ncomfortable garment to move around in. That<\/em> at least was helpful. As to\nthe task she was about to undertake . . . <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cJust do not drop anything,\u201d Dinah whispered in\na voice that reminded Abigail strongly of her mother. She immediately pushed\nthe resemblance aside and focused instead on the words. \u201cMirror Andrew, and you\nwill be fine. We send out a platter for each of them. Mark will take the one\nfor Jason, Andrew the one for the master, and you the one for the mistress.\nOffer it as he does and be sure to keep her glass full. Otherwise, just stand\nthere and be available.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Abigail nodded and accepted the platter that was\nplaced in her hand. Dinah put a hand on her shoulder to keep her back while the\nmenservants went through the portal into the family\u2019s dining area, then gave\nher a gentle push to follow after them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The tray was heavy; it was strength of pride\nrather than body that kept her from dropping it. But she managed even to keep\nit steady as Ester took the portions she desired, smiling.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

She followed Andrew and Mark back out of the\nroom moments later. They exchanged their trays for towels and pitchers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI will pour for our lady,\u201d Andrew said to\nAbigail. \u201cThe wine is still a bit heavy for you, I think.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Abigail wanted to say that she would manage, but\nshe did not. She had been here for perhaps an hour, he for nearly a decade. And\nhe looked as though he only wanted to be kind. So she muttered her gratitude\nand followed him once again into the outer room.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cYou know that Caesar has never cared too much\nfor our family,\u201d Cleopas was saying dryly to his son. \u201cIt was Augustus who\ndecided we were not equal to our reputation, but I do not look for Tiberius to\nbe any different.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cBut I thought you got along well with\nTiberius.\u201d Jason took a lazy sip from the freshly filled glass.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThat was many years ago, before he and his\nmother got it into their heads that he should succeed Augustus.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWell, if I<\/em> were even the adopted son of\nthe divine Augustus\u2013\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cJason!\u201d Ester\u2019s displeasure crackled through\nthe air like a living spark. \u201cI will not tolerate such heresy in this\nhousehold. Caesar is no more divine than\u2013\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cFather, please.\u201d Jason turned frustrated eyes\nto his father. \u201cTell Mother that as a Roman\u2013\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cNo.\u201d Both voices of argument died at his word. \u201cWe\nwill not argue today. Tomorrow, Jason, you will have only your conscience to\nguide your beliefs. But today, you will respect your mother. Ester, have you\nattended to what we discussed?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ester nodded and turned to empty-handed Abigail.\n\u201cAbigail, go to my chamber. Under the couch you will find a wrapped parcel.\nBring it to me, please.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Abigail wasted no time. She easily found the\nchamber again, and the package was right where she was told it would be. But\nher thoughts were elsewhere. Where exactly, she could not say. Somewhere in the\npast, perhaps back so far as to when her father yet lived. Perhaps she was\nremembering what it felt like to be in a house where Caesar was spoken of only\nas the monster he surely was. Perhaps she was remembering simply her own\nfather, and how he reprimanded her with that loving reproach.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Perhaps it was useless to even think about the\npast. She went back to the outer room with the object in her hands, handed it\nover, and then retreated to the wall.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Jason\u2019s attention was surely piqued, but to his\ncredit, he waited patiently for whatever gift lay under the wrappings to be\ngiven with introduction.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Cleopas cleared his throat. \u201cYour mother and I\nknow that this is the time when we need to let you go, son, to make your own\nway in the world. You are a man now. And while I will hope, pray, and pull\nwhatever strings necessary to see you back here,\u201d he paused to exchange a grin\nwith his son, \u201cthere is still the possibility that you will fall in love with\nRome.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cOr some lady there,\u201d Ester added with a twinkle\nin her eye.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Jason rolled his own but did not interrupt.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cSince we have no daughter, what remains of your\nmother\u2019s dowry will go to you when you wed. We do not want to burden you with\ntoo much, so we selected these few things to send with you now.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ester handed their son a smallish wooden box,\nornate in engravings that pictured the ark of the covenant. Jason barely\nglanced at the lid. He flipped it open and drew out a heavy chain of gold with\na pendant of surprising wealth hanging from the end. It was a large ruby, which\ncomplemented the words Ester recited as she watched him withdraw it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201c\u2018Who can find a virtuous woman? for her price\nis far above rubies. . . Favour is deceitful and beauty is vain, but a woman\nthat feareth the Lord, she shall be praised.\u2019\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Jason ignored the proverb and pulled out the\nother object.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIt was my father\u2019s,\u201d Ester offered by way of\nexplanation when he slipped the ring onto his finger.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Jason met his mother\u2019s eyes. \u201cI did not realize\nthat your family had such wealth.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ester held his gaze steadily for a moment before\nanswering. \u201cMy father was once high priest of the synagogue. When I married\nyour father, he would have no more to do with me.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cBut this jewelry\u2013\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWas his method of paying me to stay away.\u201d She\naverted her gaze. \u201cHe was a hard man, but a good one. I am sorry that he died\nbefore you could meet him; I have a feeling he would have taken you under his\nwing as though you were his son, rather than that of the daughter he claimed\nnot to have.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Jason ran his tongue over his lips, looking at a\nloss for words. Cleopas smiled softly and apparently decided to take pity on\nhim. \u201cHave you sent your belongings to Steven yet? He asked that they arrive\nbefore you so the caravan would be ready to leave upon your arrival.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Jason stood, tucking the closed box under his\narm. \u201cI will see to it now, sir.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Cleopas held Ester\u2019s gaze for a moment longer,\nthen got up to join their son.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cTwo days\u2019 journey to Joppa,\u201d Ester whispered in\na voice low enough for only Abigail to hear. \u201cAnd then the sail to Rome.\u201d Her\ngaze was on the seat that Jason had just vacated. \u201cSo long before I will even\nknow if he arrived safely. So long before I see my son again.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Abigail was shocked to see her small hand on\nMistress\u2019s shoulder and to hear her voice whispering just as softly, \u201c\u2018Rest in\nthe Lord, and wait patiently for Him.\u2019 \u2018For in thee, O Lord, do I hope: thou\nwilt hear, O Lord my God.\u2019\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ester\u2019s gaze was still focused on the absent,\nbut her hand came up to engulf Abigail\u2019s. \u201c\u2018Why art thou cast down, O my soul?\nand why art thou disquieted within me? hope thou in God: for I shall yet praise\nhim for the help of his countenance.\u2019\u201d Their gazes met, and a smile even crept\nonto her face. \u201cWe will learn a lot in these coming years, you and I. And when\nJason returns, he will find two women worth more than any jewels that bedeck\nthe finger of Caesar.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Abigail did not smile, but her face relaxed. It\nwas more than she could imagine right now, growing up beside this woman. So\nmany changes . . . only two days ago her mother had been alive, eager to tell\nSilas the news of their new child; now Abigail was an orphaned slave who had\nnot even seen her mother into the tomb. How could she possibly see far enough\ninto the future to visualize herself as a woman? How could she survive the\nnight, alone in that unfamiliar chamber that moments ago she had thought\nwonderful? How could she even now keep the tears at bay?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI understand that your loss is far greater than\nmine, Abigail.\u201d Ester tilted her head up with a gentle finger. \u201cI may be\nparting with my son, but he will return. You do not have that hope. And while\nnothing can replace a mother, I will do all I can to comfort you. We shall help\neach other through these times.\u201d She smiled. \u201cTake the rest of the day to rest.\nOur house will be busy with Jason\u2019s departure, but there is no reason for you\nto get involved. Tomorrow I will have Simon knock to be sure you are awake with\nthe others, and he will instruct you in the daily preparations.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Abigail nodded and took a step back as Ester\nrose from her seat. \u201cI will see you in the morning,\u201d the elder said in\nfarewell, leaving the room with grace that Abigail knew she could never muster.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

She made her way back to her room but did not\nimmediately close the door, as there were no windows to provide light. A lamp\nsat on the floor, but she had no desire for illumination. So she took a moment\nto look again at the space, her eyes finding first the other portal directly\nacross from her. She fully intended to open it soon, just so she would know\nexactly where it let her out. But not yet. First she would take a nap; sleep\nhad been impossible the night before. She took another second to notice the\ncrudely fashioned chest, small but sturdy, in the corner, the only other object\nin the room. Then she closed the door and let herself drop down on the pallet,\nsettling down with her eyes closed tightly against reality.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cFather Jehovah,\u201d she prayed almost silently, \u201cI\nknow you are with me still. And since you will never forsake me, I ask only\nthat you have mercy on your servant. I realize I will never be a man nor even\nfree, but what I am is your doing.\u201d Sensing that if she said any more it would\nbe more accusation than worship, she ended quickly and determined to fall\nasleep.<\/p>\n\n\n