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“Joses, make a note to transfer a platoon of soldiers here to Galilee from the fortress in Perea. Money is slowly being stolen from me in this region, and I want to know where it’s going.“
“Yes, master,” I said to Herod Antipas, as I scribbled a note on a chip of wood.
Antipas slammed his fist down on the arm of his throne. “And when you send that order to the fortress, I want you to ask them why the border skirmishes with the Nabateans haven’t been quashed yet. I don’t need Caesar stepping in to settle my arguments. But if these battles continue, word of it will get to Rome.”
I continued scribbling. A servant appeared in the doorway. “You Highness, Micah is here.”
Micah entered and bowed. “Your Excellency, you asked to see me.”
“Yes, I want to know how the collection of taxes is proceeding in the southwestern Galilee. I have expenses to pay, and the money isn’t coming in as fast as I need it.”
“Excellency, I have brought the levy with me. Except for a few who have not yet harvested their crops, everyone has paid in full.”
Antipas slammed his fist again. “Now that is the type of news I’ve been waiting to hear! How much have you brought me?”
Micah smiled. “A great deal, I assure you. Not quite as much as last year, but as I told you, the late harvests will make up the difference.”
My master scowled. “What do you mean, not as much as last year? How am I supposed to run my kingdom if you don’t bring in enough money? One of your sons is a soldier or mine. Don’t you want to make sure he is well cared for?”
The man flinched at the implied threat to his son. “Certainly Excellency, which is why I will follow up with the stragglers in a few weeks after they have brought in their harvests.”
“See that you do,” Herod said. “What else do you have to report?”
I did not move or make any noise. It never paid to attract attention when Herod was in a mood like this. Micah grimaced and looked toward me, but I would not make eye contact. I noticed, however, that his expression lightened slightly.
“I have learned a great deal about a man the peasants consider a local hero. I first saw him last month at a wedding in Cana. In fact, it was your brother-in-law’s wedding, wasn’t it?” He directed the question at me.
I spoke softly. “My brother-in-law did get married last month in Cana, but I did not know most of the people there. I think they were friends and family of the bride, and I had never met her before.”
But Micah wouldn’t let go. “I don’t think the man came from the bride’s side. They said he came from Nazareth, and that he provided the wine. When I first saw him, I thought he looked like your other brother-in-law, Judas. But Judas is a soft and weak man of the city. This warrior from Nazareth looked like he could battle gladiators in Rome.”
Antipas crinkled his face as he squinted. “Nazareth? That little gathering of huts up on the hill? I’ve never heard of any warrior there.”
I held my breath.
“But Excellency, certainly you have heard of the wine coming out of Nazareth these past several years. I guess this man — Jesus was his name, if I remember correctly — this man apparently produces the wine, and it’s become quite popular.”
Antipas harrumphed. “If the people have declared him a hero because he produces good wine, then maybe that’s why my tax collections are running behind. The people are too drunk to do their work.”
Micah tittered at the joke but shook his head. “No, Excellency, at the wedding there was much talk about some man they call the Righteous One. And I asked about this Jesus, and you would not believe the tales the people tell! They say he can defeat ten men in battle with his bare hands, but some of the country folk say he could beat a hundred. They say he worked with John, the so-called prophet you beheaded last year. And they say this Jesus can heal the sick. Some of them even call him a king. I heard him speak at the wedding, and he inspired the whole crowd.”
Herod had grown deathly still, his eyes narrowing as Micah spoke, like a snake coiling to spring. “Jesus of Nazareth, you say? I shall have to learn more about this king.”
After a moment’s pause, he snapped into a more jovial appearance. “Come, it is late. Why don’t you prepare for dinner, and I will join you shortly.” Antipas stood and walked out of the room, with his visitor trailing behind.
I waited until they had gone out the door at the end of the hall toward the feast room, and then I hurried the opposite direction toward my office. I left my chips of wood and writing utensils, and then made my way out of the palace.
I had to force myself to walk calmly. When I reached the estate and entered the gate, I walked to the main house instead of the smaller structure Judas had ordered built for Joanna and me.
“Judas,” I whispered as quietly but forcefully as I could without attracting the attention of the women in the other room. “You have to get word to your brother this very night. He has to get out of Nazareth. Herod is going to send soldiers to arrest him.”