Antioch and safety were still at least three days or more of hard riding away through an area that was certain to be heavily infested with Persian troops. And since those who had escaped the brief battle at the river crossing were certain to report the presence of both his five hundred and the remnants of King Tiridates’ command in the area, the enemy was certain to come looking for them in force as soon as it was light.
For some strange reason, which he could not explain at the moment, Constantine found himself remembering the paintings on the walls of the ruined church nearby, particularly the slender figure of the shepherd cradling the lamb in his arms and protecting it from harm. He too was a shepherd he thought, with a flock of nearly seven hundred, now that Tiridates’ command had been joined with his. But he felt none of the assurance and confidence
that seemed to shine in the eyes of the slender shepherd in the painting. Remembering that look, Constantine felt a strange desire to study the painting again, to discover whether the confidence and assurance depicted in the shepherd’s eyes were real and not a trick of lighting, brought about by the torches they had used in examining the ruins.
Certainty of purpose
Only a moment was required to pick up a dry faggot and hold it in the coals until it burst into flames. Carrying the burning stick as a torch, he entered the ruins of the old church once again. The face of the shepherd had the same quiet look of peace and certainty of purpose. And strangely enough, as Constantine stood looking at the somewhat stylized figure, he felt his own doubts begin to ebb away and a new certainty of purpose flood through him like a warm protecting mantle. Leaving the ruined church, he returned to his place by the dry coals of the campfire and fell asleep instantly, to be awakened only when the camp began to stir at dawn.
In the hobes were being fed and the men were eating a hasty and frugal morning meal, Constantine, Tiri dates and Dacius held an informal council of war. Only one subject needed to be discussed how they might extricate themselves from their extremely hazardous position behind the enemy line.
“Your cavalry can move much faster than my foot soldiers,” Tiri dates told Constantine. “It isn’t fair to ask you to risk five hundred men to preserve our safety. Why don’t you ride on and overtake Caesar Galerius?”
“From what we saw yesterday, I would say he’s still running,” Dacius observed.
Read More about Jesus seemed to be waiting
