The Bronze Bow - Elizabeth George Speare [63]
"Mattathias would do anything to gain favor with the tetrarch," said Joel with scorn. "How does Rosh know about the banquet?"
"Don't ask me how. He has his own ways. What he wants to know is what others will be there. The names of all of them, and the day and the time when the banquet will take place."
Joel nodded. "I can see why. It would give us a good idea which men would be against us. Any Jew who would eat at the tetrarch's table—"
"That's it. We need to know our enemies as well as our friends."
"Is that all I have to do? Just find out those things?" Joel looked disappointed.
"You may not find it so easy. Rosh didn't have any idea how you'd go about it. He left all that to you."
"How will I get the word to Rosh?" asked Joel, looking flattered.
"I'll take care of that. Bring what you find to me, or send it by one of the band, someone we can trust. I'll see that it gets to Rosh."
Joel's eyes began to sparkle at the thought of intrigue. "Let's see," he began. "It doesn't really help that people know me here. That kind would hold their tongues because of Father. I don't think I'd find out a thing. Besides, Mattathias and father don't speak to each other. No, the servants are the ones to talk to. If I could get in to the servants—If I could sell something—"
"Fish!" Thacia broke in. "You could get all the fish you want from Simon and Andrew." At moments like this, caught up in the same excitement, the brother and sister were unmistakably twins.
"Good idea!" Joel flashed. "I'll get a basketful of extra fine ones, and peddle them for a good price. I can say I'll take orders for any special occasion. You know how the kitchen slaves talk about a party. I'm sure it would work!"
Struggling with envy again, Daniel sit silent. Joel was too excited to wonder why he, the youngest of the group, should have been given this assignment. The truth was, Daniel knew, Rosh had no one else to send. The band in the mountains boasted more muscle than wit. How far would he himself get, with his smith's shoulders and his country manners? Joel had to be the one.
Then, watching Joel's rapt flushed face, Daniel felt not envy, but unexpected misgiving. If anything went wrong? He glanced at Thacia. Her eyes met his, and in them he saw his own doubt suddenly mirrored.
"Joel," he said. "You don't have to do this. Rosh has no right to order you."
"Why hasn't he? If he asked you—?"
"It's different with me."
"Why is it different?"
"I'm a nobody. You have your future to think of, and your father and mother—and Thacia."
"No," said Thacia quickly, "not me. I took the oath with you, remember? Only—Daniel, is this a dangerous thing?"
"Stop fussing, both of you," said Joel, with new importance. "Let me think. I can get the fish early, before it's light. But suppose Father finds out I'm not in school? Perhaps I could ask him for a holiday."
Thacia leaned forward. "Joel—I have an idea! What if you and Daniel were seen going out of the city tomorrow morning? Suppose you passed the guards and even spoke to them, so if we needed, people could swear they had seen you? Wouldn't that leave you free to do anything you like?"
Joel stared at his sister, and then his face came alive like hers. "Thace! Why didn't I think of it? Would you do it—honestly?"
"You know I would."
As always, Daniel was baffled by the swiftness with which these two caught up each other's thoughts and left him stumbling behind. "I don't see—" he said, annoyed.
Joel laughed. "We've done it plenty of times in the past just for the fun of it. When we were little and her hair was short we used to change clothes, and sometimes we fooled the neighbors—the nearsighted ones, at least. Of course, she's shorter now, but unless we stand side by side,