Destiny of Kings

by Fiona Tarr

  Her rooms were luxurious enough; a pitcher of cold water on the centre table of her sitting room, satin cushions on the corner divan. Beautiful sheer drapes around her four-poster bed, more satin cushions scattered on her silk bedspread inside her sleeping chambers. It was all as she had expected; what she was accustomed to in Egypt, right down to her own personal servant. Still angry, she tossed the cushions across the room.

  ‘I did not travel all this way, work this hard to have the luxury I was born into.’ She growled to the walls. She was after power, great power and Saul was the key. She needed to reconnect with him and quickly. She decided to take that walk in the courtyard after all. She needed time to contemplate her actions from here; especially what she was going to do to sort out Martinez. He was beginning to aggravate her. She had a feeling it was only going to get worse.

  ****

  Martinez walked through the palace corridors. Jezebel was such a spoilt princess. He had enjoyed dropping her to her rooms and leaving her there. Saul had been distracted lately. Since David’s, Jonathan’s and his own return to the palace, the King had seemed happy and relaxed; yet not really with his mind on his reign. Derai had been attending the King often. Martinez was pleased that their relationship was much improved, however he was also tormented with feelings of jealousy. His own heart was torn. Derai had been his childhood love and he adored her even now. There were so many things about her which he loved. Her strong will, her great beauty and her kind heart. However lately he had been thinking of Francesca; who also swamped him with deep feelings and strong emotions. They were very much alike—beautiful and strong—yet vulnerable in so many ways. Derai was a dream, while Francesca was real and attainable. Martinez still felt guilty just considering a possible future with Francesca. Resigned to accept his destiny by faith, he put thoughts of himself aside as he headed to meet with his King.

  Saul was deep in thought, he had returned to his life in the palace. He was growing closer to Derai once again. The people, even the politicians were pleased with the victory against the Philistine army. Young David was proving very popular with everyone. He had brought Jezebel to the palace, yet he had spared her no time. He felt somehow guilty about his relationship with her, which was absurd of course. Nonetheless, these were feelings he could not shake.

  'We have war on the horizon yet again my brother,' Saul spoke gravely to Martinez. 'It will not be long before conflict starts once more. I have lost the heart for it Martinez. I wish you, David and Jonathan along with my other sons to deal with this coming campaign. I will arrange David’s wedding to my daughter Miriam very soon. Then you can all leave to deal with restoring peace in our land.'

  Martinez smiled at the idea of David’s marriage. David had been on tenterhooks waiting to see what would happen regarding his promised bride. 'You will not be joining us on the battlefield?' Martinez was surprised. 'I had thought you were still keen to gain favour with the politicians and priests?’ Martinez was truly surprised the King no longer wished to be in the front line of battle, though he was pleased to see the King otherwise back to his usual self. For the first time in many months he appeared clear-headed and not in a black mood or distracted.

  'I am settled here my brother. Derai has softened to me once more. I see no need to stray from her at this time.' Martinez cringed on the inside, but did not show it.

  'How is Jezebel coping with this? I do not think she takes too kindly to being cast aside. I would watch her carefully my lord, I think she may be seething on the inside,' warned Martinez. Saul sighed.

  'A problem for another day. Call David to meet with me so I can give him the good news.' Saul quickly changed the subject.

  ****

  It had been another long day and Saul had not had the chance to see Derai, or talk with Jezebel about her future. He contemplated all these things as he slowly made his way from the atrium where he held his meetings to his apartment, flanked on both sides by his bodyguards, their presence lost on him. So deep was he in thoughts of David as he recalled the boy’s mixture of joy and sheer terror when being told his bride would be presented to him the next day, ready for wedding preparations.

  He slowly opened the door to his chambers, smiling to himself as he remembered the conversation. He would make a fine husband for Miriam who was a loving, dedicated and honest young woman. Saul stopped in the foyer of his rooms, lifted the pitcher of water from the table by the door and poured himself a goblet. It was still cool from the stone jug, which held its temperature after being drawn from deep springs nearby. Condensation beaded and rolled down the outside of his goblet. He ran his finger through it, making patterns while he held it up to the candlelight glowing from his bed chamber. He walked towards his bed as he sipped the cool liquid which soothed his tired, dry throat. Drawing back the curtains, he froze. Jezebel lay seductively on top of a pile of satin cushions her body almost naked except for a light gown of gold-threaded sheer linen. She idly ran her hand over her breast, lingering on her nipple and carrying on down her body to the inside of her long legs. Saul’s gaze followed her hand uncontrollably, flowing on to finish with her painted toe nails and pointed bronzed foot. Lust welled in him instantly. How had he forgotten the effect she had on him? She smiled her seductive smile and parted her legs as she continued to caress her body, playing with the tuft of black hair and rubbing the inside of her thigh. Saul’s gaze followed and he gave way to her with his intense feelings.

  ****

  Jezebel sat in bed with Saul’s head resting on her breast as he slept. She knew this was all it would take to gain her control back, such was Saul’s weakness. He had ignored her which infuriated her to the point of uncontrolled rage. She had asked to see him often, only to be told by servants that he was busy attending matters. In the end she had seduced her servant, a guard and now Saul himself to gain back her hold on the King. Derai would have to be killed or she risked having to go through this process often in order to re-establish herself with the King. He must want her above all. He must crave her so much that he could not think straight. Her plans depended on it.

  She would need to meditate on how to eliminate the Queen. Derai’s power as Saul’s wife was difficult to deal with. If she continued to have an emotional hold on the King it would be unacceptable and very difficult to overcome. She decided to leave the King to wake alone, deducing this would heighten his craving for her.

  ****

  When Derai realised that Saul would not be calling for her tonight, a mixture of feelings flooded her. Did she really want him to call for her? She had been so happy he actually cared for her. All this time she believed he was cold to her touch. Yet, she felt some sense of guilt over her feelings for Martinez. He was the father of her only child and he did not know this, neither did Saul. Now here she was in love with both men. Shame overtook her as she sat alone in her apartments. She gazed at herself in her bronze mirror. Her vision swam and she saw her image distort. Visions of evil came to her; she grew horns from her head, her eyes slitted and grew yellow in the iris. Derai recoiled from the vision. Fear struck her as she backed away from the mirror—tears welled up in her eyes—her vision was obscured. She ran from the mirror, tripped, slipping on the marble floor. Sliding with such an unnatural force, her body travelled through the courtyard doors; her head striking the carved stone balustrade on the balcony. Blood trickled from her nose and ears as she slipped into darkness.

  ****

  Jezebel, bathed in blood, ancient symbols marked on the stone furniture in her courtyard, the dried up body of her servant lying at her side, she smiled to herself. It had been too easy to manipulate the mind of the distraught and confused woman. Now she could move forward with her plans, but even more interesting, Jezebel now knew something no one else knew: not the King, not the son and not the general.

  Chapter 15

  Saul stroked her hand, her beautiful face looked so peaceful. Why had he spent the night with Jezebel? He was so weak! If he had been with Derai as he should have bee
n, she would not be lying here within an inch of her life. God really had forsaken him. Samuel said he had. Now Derai would probably die and it was his fault. God was doing nothing to stop it. Feelings of guilt and self-loathing threatened to drown him.

  Martinez could see Saul’s pain, yet he was overwhelmed with his own and struggled to hide it. Jonathan wept openly when the physicians told them Derai would probably not regain consciousness, his heart obviously breaking.

  He had found her lying in a pool of her own blood. She had been barely coherent then, slipping in and out of consciousness. Her face contorted in pain and fear, as if she were in a bad dream. Now Derai stirred momentarily, crying softly, 'no, no, get away from me.' All three men in the room moved closer to hear her words, which were confused by her fear and obvious anxiety.

  'What can you see Derai? What is it? Who is trying to hurt you?' begged Saul. He felt powerless, a King, yet he could do nothing to save her. Someone must have attacked her—it made no sense—the impact had been massive. Her injuries were far more than would have been expected if she had simply fallen on the marble floor.

  He turned to Martinez. 'Inspect her rooms find anything that will help us establish who did this. I will have their head on a pike.' Martinez was hesitant to leave Derai, but his duty was clear. He had no legitimate reason to stay in Saul’s rooms. He spun on his heels heading for Derai’s apartment.

  Saul looked again at Derai, lying right where he had bedded Jezebel the night before. Self-loathing washed over him once more. He bowed his head as the tears fell.

  Chapter 16

  David had never been so nervous in his short life. His hands were sweating, his stomach constantly threatened to empty itself over the altar. So much had happened in such a short time. Derai had been buried after a moving service at this very same altar. Now here he stood, with his brothers and sisters and his father and mother present to witness him become a man, to be joined in holy wedlock with a King’s daughter, a princess.

  His mind drifted to his first meeting with Miriam. She was indeed as Jonathan had described her, a truly beautiful woman on the inside. Thankfully, she was also very attractive. She stirred him emotionally and physically. He was looking forward to their first night together. Returning to the moment, he scolded himself, of all the things to be thinking at the altar of your wedding, while God was listening to his thoughts. Surely this was no place for lust and longing.

  The priest placed the cup of wine before them now, drawing David out of his daydream. First Miriam said her vows taking a sip from the cup. She gently handed it to David, who recited his vows somewhat automatically, then took his ceremonial sip from the cup of wine. The priest took another cup from the altar. This one contained holy water, which he dipped his middle finger into and then touched it to the middle of Miriam’s forehead, then David’s. He then wiped their foreheads with his thumb. The ceremony seemed to last forever. Finally Saul stepped forward. Taking Miriam’s hand, he placed it on top of David’s. He took a scarf from his neck. David noticed the gold threads in the sheer purple material and wondered at what was happening. No one had really explained the ceremony and he had never seen such a formal marriage take place in the deserts of his homelands. Saul gently placed the scarf over Miriam’s hand, then around David’s. He knotted it on top with a double knot. Then he backed away. While the priest motioned for them to both rise to face their family and friends, something that proved quite difficult and uncoordinated with their hands tied together.

  Their wedding should have been postponed for the period of mourning. However turmoil in the north demanded the wedding plans be moved forward. Saul did not want David going into battle before having fulfilled his marriage commitment. He had promised him his daughter’s hand and he wanted to fulfil that promise. No one could guarantee he would even return from his first major battle. It had been agreed that the ceremony must go ahead, the bond must be consummated.

  Martinez had worked tirelessly to discover who had attacked Derai, however there had been no sign of forced entry into her rooms. The only thing out of place had been the mirror by her bed which had been pushed over. Her death had perplexed everyone. It had left Jonathan truly heartbroken. The King had been in a state of denial, throwing himself into political matters and the coming war.

  The ceremony finally complete and the feast now over, David was becoming increasingly anxious. Martinez saw his discomfort and drew closer.

  ‘You are a young healthy man. This is your wife! You need only concern yourself with pleasing her. She will do the same for you. All will be fine.'

  David looked at Martinez. He could now look him in the eye as he had continued to grow recently and was now as tall as Martinez, although not as heavily built. He smiled then. ‘Thank you. How is it you always know what is going on inside my head?'

  Martinez shrugged. 'Age, experience or it could just be the doe-eyed look on your face. All of these together with the fact I now know you well my friend. She is a very beautiful young woman, go, love her.' With a gentle push on David’s shoulder towards his new wife, Martinez turned and left the atrium.

  David and Miriam departed, making their way to their new apartment set aside by the King. David had been given modest rooms when he arrived and Miriam being the King‘s daughter had ample accommodation. However princesses who were wed would soon have princes, thereby needing even larger rooms again. David opened the door for Miriam, who quietly entered. They had spoken a few times before the wedding however they certainly did not know each other.

  Inside their rooms, Miriam poured her now husband a wine. Adding cool water, she handed it to him with all the grace and charm of a young woman born into royalty. He accepted it with shaking hands, taking a sip from it. His stomach was already beginning to knot and roll. David handed the cup back to her. She smiled knowingly and took the wine. She too took a sip from the goblet and sat down on the divan in the open living area. She indicated with the tap of her hand for David to join her. There was something in her eyes which was difficult to read. David began to fidget nervously.

  'I have to be honest with you Miriam, I am young. I have not been with a woman. The thought both arouses and terrifies me all at the same time.' Miriam smiled once more, the look in her eyes taking on a confidence.

  Miriam placed the wine on a side table and standing, she removed her headscarf and the top layer of her wedding dress. She guided David to the bedchamber where she gently pulled him onto the soft silk cushions and brightly coloured bed. Taking his hand, she softly placed it over the top of her sheer, silky wedding gown and her full, round breast. She stroked his face softly, as she moved in to kiss him.

  ‘Some things, I am sure, are instinctive’ she whispered huskily.

  Hours later as David lay with Miriam in his arms, still wide awake; he had to agree that she was absolutely and totally accurate in her assumptions.

  Chapter 17

  The journey had been long, dusty and demanding. The soldiers had marched through settlements totally torn apart by war. People had begged them for food, physicians and clothing but nothing was available. All they could do was help to evacuate the refugees to neighbouring towns, which had not been so horrifically affected by the fighting. There were very few of these, therefore there would be many deaths as the winter months drew closer. David felt powerless, tired and frustrated. Already the army had fought many battles. David had proven himself on the field of battle time and time again. Jonathan had thrown himself into difficult situations, leaving David to protect him as best he could. He had been a killing machine, concealing his pain with fury, trying desperately to blank out the loss of his mother. Martinez had been distant and distracted. David assumed he was still disturbed by the strange circumstance of Derai’s death. His inability to get to the bottom of it was obviously a source of great frustration. David was adamant he would stay focused on the war they were fighting. He planned to stay alive and return to Miriam. Much had changed in him since marrying. Miriam had unlocked in
him emotions and deep feelings he never realised he possessed. She was beautiful, strong and devoted. David found himself missing her terribly.

  ****

  The troop of soldiers had won many battles. David was slowly becoming known throughout the nation as an heroic fighter. The enemy seemed to all know of his victory with the giant which had brought him into Saul’s service. David’s reputation was almost overshadowing the King’s, especially as the monarch had stayed in the palace, away from the battlefield. David knew this was necessary as Derai used to deal with many of the day-to-day politics while Saul was away. It was also rumoured that Jezebel had moved into the King’s quarters since the army had mobilized. It appeared the King had either recovered from his loss or was brilliantly masking it in the arms of Jezebel. David knew it was King’s business. Much of what he heard had come from his wife’s letters, which reached him from time to time.