Alesia, knowing that Theodora was carrying another child, offered, “Let the two younger ones sit with my family. Ilena will look after them.”
Ilena looked at her mother in dismay; the children were not the easiest to keep quiet during the speaking.
“I will help,” whispered her mother.
John arrived accompanied by Lois and Alexander. Matthew excused himself from Silas and started to direct the people to find somewhere to settle, “It is almost time for the meeting to start.”
Looking around and not seeing his wife, Silas bellowed, “Hannah!”
Hannah bustled through bearing a tray with a jug of watered wine and a pottery cup for John, who was to speak to the group.
Seating himself on a stone bench John sipped the drink while watching people settle with their families. When all was quiet, Jo
