Step 12
Alter strode along, splitting his attention between watching the ambling sheep and the ridgelines and crevasses for possible trouble of the four or two legged kind. He knew the hilly area where he wanted the flock to grace today. It was just through that low saddle just off to the west, a small valley formed by three hills. It offered enough grazing for their flock for the day and few other shepherds knew about it. In fact, unless you looked closely you would miss the good grazing between the boulders and crags of the hills. The small valley captured just enough moisture to support a good growth of plants. It had been several weeks since they’d been there, long enough for the foliage to recover from the days grazing. As long as no one else had grazed there, they should find enough fodder for their needs. He’d thought of sending Demetrius ahead to scout out the valley but had decided against it. Demetrius was in one of his dourer moods and while in the grip of his smoldering anger liable to seek confrontation with any he met.
Perhaps today might offer a chance for conversation. Ever since Enosh had purchased and delivered Demetrius, Alter felt drawn to help the young man. Almost every slave felt some level of resentment at their lot in life. But Demetrius harbored a deeper hurt, and the resulting fury would destroy him if left unchecked. Besides, his volatile nature clashed with Enosh and threatened to spill over into their relatively peaceful existence. Self-centered and impulsive, Enosh was given to capricious acts of cruelty. If Alter could help it, he’d like to avoid such violence. No good would come from it. If only he could find the right words to help Demetrius. But what were those words? Perhaps some of the words he’d heard on that sunny hillside some years ago, words of forgiveness and forbearing. Words that somehow spoke healing into his soul, helping him find a way to release his own anger and hurt.
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