Enemy of the Gods 13

Nicholas clasped hold of his mother, but her form was still and cold. Blood stained the back of her robe, and that of his father. Nicholas shuddered. They were both gone. Their bodies remained, but their spirits had gone to be with Christus. Nicholas choked with sorrow. He felt as he did one day when he was a young child, when he saw his father board one of the fishing ships and leave him behind for some days. Nicholas knew he would see him again, but inside he could still feel the same sting of parting that would not entirely go away until they met again.

Jason pulled the carriage to a halt and stepped down beside him. Nicholas said, “I feared bandits, but he was so certain they would not see the gold.”

“They were not bandits,” said Jason. He reached down and took hold of a sack from the hand of Epiphanius. It clinked with gold coins. “Your father was right. They did not see the gold.”

“But why?” asked Nicholas. “Why would they kill them if not for the gold?”

Jason had no answer.

Nicholas said, “We should report this to the magistrates.”

Jason shook his head. “It is getting late, and there is little we can do without the killers in hand.”

“How can we find them?”

Jason sighed. “Hours have passed. By now they are far gone.”

Nicholas stared in silence. Finally Jason said, “We need to get them home and give them a burial.”

Click here to go to beginning of the book