Captive Heart (Truly Yours Digital Editions) Read Online Free PDF Page B

will not protect you.”
    Cassius looked at her and was mesmerized by the dark promise in her eyes.
    “You won’t have to, Tribune. If Jehovah is for me, who can be against me?”
    “Rome,” he ground out savagely.
    The word shivered through Samah, bringing pictures of the last few months. Indeed, Rome was a powerful enemy, but even the power of Rome had not been able to silence the words of the mighty Jehovah and His Son. Though Rome had tried to stamp out Christianity, the opposition had only caused it to grow. If not for the great persecutions by the Romans, the word would never have spread to the outermost reaches of the empire and beyond.
    Paul gave his life, as did Peter and James. As for the other apostles, no one was certain what had happened to them. Only the great John was left. But if the apostles could give their lives, she could do no less. The problem was, she wasn’t certain that she had their strength.
    Cassius leaned back upon his outstretched palms, fixing Samah with a steely look. “And your parents? Are they Christians, too?”
    Though she had little fear for herself, she wasn’t about to betray her parents.
    “Your silence tells me what I need to know.”
    Samah felt her stomach clutch with fear. She lifted frightened eyes to the Tribune’s face.
    “We are truly harmless, Tribune.”
    He laughed harshly, leaning forward and pinning Samah with a glare. “Harmless? I watched a friend executed because he refused to recant such a foul religion. He was a good soldier, but he was taken in by your false beliefs.”
    “Not false,” she refuted resolutely. “There is only one God, and He sent His Son to die for the atonement of the world.”
    Getting to his knees, Cassius reached forward, grabbing Samah by the shoulders and pulled her face close to his. “You will never speak such atheistic nonsense again! Do you hear me?”
    Cassius heard a low whine behind him, but he was un-daunted. Turning his head, he snapped at Sentinel. “Go. Lay down.”
    The dog refused to budge, though he made no other move towards them. Cassius turned his attention back to Samah.
    “You will remain silent on this issue. That’s an order.”
    Samah knew there was no use arguing with him. He had worked himself into a fine state of wrath. Dropping her gaze to the floor, she allowed him to think that she had agreed.
    He slowly released her. Getting to his feet, he looked from Sentinel back to her. Leaving his armor where it lay, he ducked out of the tent and disappeared from view.
    ❧
    The journey across the desert was long and arduous. At every province, Titus stopped and took time to relax. He used many of the captives to provide entertainment, and many of them were forced to kill one another or be thrown to the wild beasts. Cassius was careful to keep Samah away from the vicinity of these entertainments, but the rumors of them spread around the camp.
    For every person that died, Samah felt her guilt grow. She should share the love of Christ with them before they died. They should know that the Messiah had already come and that He had atoned for their lives. Even if they rejected her message, at least she would have delivered it. Yet Cassius’s command hung heavily on her mind, and she had to admit, she was afraid.
    The longer they traveled, the more wan Samah became. It was hard marching hour after hour using a crutch. Even now a sore had been rubbed under her arm, but she tried to ignore it. Regardless of her own troubles, she could see that she was far better off than the others.
    Finally, Titus decided to hole up and winter in Caesarea. To keep boredom at bay, the games continued.
    After a time, Samah could stand it no longer. She knelt on the ground one night and lifted her face to the star-spangled heavens. “Oh, Lord. I know they rejected You, but haven’t they had enough?” Her voice was ragged with despair. “There will be no more of Your promised people left.”
    Words seemed to echo through her mind.