Rina tried on the new garment in the Roman style. She would have to layer it with some of her other clothes to keep with the Jewish law of modesty. Rina had never seen a garment that was so white in her life. She gingerly slipped it on. Her mother had remnants of myrrh-infused oil, which she dabbed on her wrists and feet. The oil lamp sent a cascade of shimmering light across her face, highlighting her natural beauty. Her mother fixed her hair with the same myrrh-infused oil then prepared herself.
She smelled as pretty as she looked.
Hadwin met his daughter outside, faking a smile for her sake. “You will make a bride fit for royalty.”
“Thank you, Papa.” She blushed, and for a fleeting moment, her sense of dread melted away as she looked up to see a horse and rider leading another horse for her to ride.
“I’m Shalom, servant of the merciful Asher of the house of Micah. He instructed me to escort you and your family to the gathering. If you need anything, consider me your servant as well.” He helped Rina onto the horse while he instructed Hadwin to take the other. Ester would walk behind with the servant.
Rina glanced at her mother, and a tear painted the corner of her eye as the horse clopped on slowly, allowing the servant and Ester to keep up. This lasted for the next three miles until they reached the palatial estate. Asher was there in his finest clothes of blue silk and clean linen.
Fine tapestries lined the walls of the stone building, giving the appearance of vast wealth. Inside were over twenty people of importance. Women and children were relegated to the background while the men lounged in the center of the floor, talking business and politics. Musicians were setting up their lutes and lyres and many kinds of drums Rina had never seen before. In one corner was a vat filled with a bubbly substance that had a faint resemblance to wine but smelled much stronger. Servants ladled the brown liquid into wooden cups and passed them to the men first. The men of Roman descent nodded approvingly as they drank.
“I see Asher has found a new prize for his desires,” said a man before taking a big swig of his cup.
“This is to be my wife, and you will treat her with respect,” said Asher.
“I’m sorry. I was just having a bit of fun. No harm intended.”
“Well, drink up, my friends. This is going to be the new drink of Galilee!” He proceeded to fill his cup with mead and instructed the musicians to play.
The guests danced to the folk song while eating and drinking. The heaviness of the mead was entirely different from the wine the Hebrews were accustomed to. Hadwin spat his out and asked for wine instead. The more adventurous ones of the group drank with abandon. The effects of the alcohol slowed their movements and made them jollier. Asher outdrank the entire group. Staggering to the middle of the floor, he raised his cup and proposed a toast to Rina.
“There’s the most beautiful creature I have ever laid eyes on. She’s spirited and will be a great accompaniment to all my adventures. May she bear me many children, and may they see the greatness of Rome and the great riches to be had. May the gods smile on our wedding.”
Hadwin immediately rose and gave his own speech. “May they ever acknowledge the one true God of Ibrahim, Isaac, and Jacob. May they never bow down to foreign gods and remember their heritage!”
Asher, humiliated, staggered toward Hadwin as quickly as he could. “How dare you defy me in my own house! I will have your whorish daughter for my wife, and she will answer to me alone. If you want any part of her life, old man, you will denounce your speech as too much wine.”
“Do you think I answer to you? Remember, you’re only half Roman. Will you denounce your Hebrew heritage, just so you can sell this sewage water?”
Asher took two steps back and reached under his cloak. He lunged at Hadwin with a dagger. The curved blade was made as an instrument of war, good at slicing the necks of unsuspecting warriors.
With one motion, Hadwin sidestepped the younger man and pushed him into a clay pot, causing him to stumble. The dagger dug into Asher’s leg, causing a crimson stain on his linens and silk.
The other men seized Hadwin and threw him out of the house. Rina was not far behind.
Asher slowly rose from his fallen position. He looked down at the dagger protruding from his leg. Wrapping his hand around it, he yanked it from his leg with a scream. The partygoers simply stared, not knowing what to do.
“Well, don’t just stand there! Bring that whore and her father before me. They will be tried in a Roman court!”
“Weren’t you the aggressor? You attacked that poor man, who was only defending his daughter’s honor. Would you overlook his offense?” his sister, Abigail, asked in a low voice.
“You should remember your place!” He brushed passed her.
“And you need to keep your cool, or all your plans will dissolve like a pillar of salt. I like Rina. I think she could be good for you. Hadwin will ultimately bend to your will. Play along until you’re married and then do as you wish.”
“I can’t let this injustice stand!”
“You won’t. Just wait until you have her in your possession, then do as you please. Hadwin will rue the day he stood up to you, and Rina will learn to love you.”
Asher knew she was right. He had to be patient. Then the room went black. The wound in his leg was bleeding fast, leaving a puddle on the floor. The men tried to bandage the wound but to no avail. The men carried him to his room.
His head burned with sweat as the blood slowly clotted to close the wound. Most left, and the few who stayed prayed to their gods for healing. One by one, they were allowed to enter the room where Asher lay fighting for his life.
Abigail asked to be left alone with her brother. Once everyone left, she stood over his pale, convulsing body. It was as if a weight had been lifted from her.
“For too long I watched you oppress the women around me. For too long I stood by as you sullied our name. You are just like our father. I cannot say I’m glad you’re on death’s door, but my heart cannot and will not mourn for you, brother. I fear if you’re to live, our family will suffer more of the same.” She took linen fabric and placed it over his face, pressing as hard as she could until she felt the life drain from his body.
Taking an oil lamp, she held it close to her eyes. The burning oil irritated her eyes enough to induce tears.
“He’s dead,” she cried in a voice loud enough for the household to hear. At once, her mother and the rest of the men rushed into the room. They confirmed his death.
“Hadwin must pay for this,” Abigail said in a small voice. Years of abuse had hardened her heart toward her brother. She only hoped her feigned grief was convincing. Now she was heir to the family fortune and, with her mother, would rule the vineyards and live a comfortable life.