by Fiona Tarr
Jezebel had fled the city, her death warrant sealed. With her unsuccessful attempt to kill David, she had given the new King no other choice.
Martinez looked at Francesca as he read, her interest piqued with his expression. 'What is it Martinez?' she asked, the creases on her forehead deepening.
'The King says he needs me back,' Francesca noticed the formal use of David’s title. 'Bartholomew is dead,' the sadness showing on his face now as he took a deep breath. 'The Philistines are rising once more. The King has married Bartholomew’s golden haired wife. She is with child.’ His hands were shaking now. ‘He seeks the Spirit of God, the Ark itself. I really thought David could manage the power, that he would be different.’
Francesca gently clasped his hand, squeezing it. She could think of nothing to console him. David was the son he never thought he had.
'If he seeks the Ark, he must be called by God to have it in Jerusalem, otherwise its power could consume him. What will you do?’ She hoped he would stay yet she knew he could not.
'I wish I did not have to go, but he needs me there. Someone has to remind him of the God he serves and the King he always aspired to be. He will listen to me, if no one else. I should have stayed longer in his service, trained him more. The loss of Jonathan was hard on him.'
‘You did what you thought was best Martinez. You have served the Lord and Kings all your life. It was your time.’ Our time she thought.
‘It was selfish of me.’ He looked into her eyes then. It had been a wonderfully selfish indulgence, but it seemed it would have to come to an end.
'There is nothing selfish about you Martinez. I have never known a more giving man. If you must go, I will return with you.' Samuel’s words returned to her then. 'Seek out the soldier who leads the King’s army, he needs you as much as you need him.’
****
Narayana was drawn from his meditation once more with visions of disorder. ‘No,’ he said aloud, turning the heads of all the monks in the temple.
Always a little eccentric for the order, prone to running off on tangents, this type of behaviour was not unexpected from him, but never the less, it was inappropriate for the temple. He returned their look of scorn with a smile as he jumped lightly to his feet. The Universe was calling him again. She was a nagging woman; that was how he saw the Universe. She had to be female, overrun with love for Her creation, yet She could nag the leg off a donkey if She chose to.
‘Time to restore balance again it would seem.’ He spoke out aloud as he made his way to the storeroom for travelling provisions. The world would be a better place without humans he thought, not for the first time.
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Books by Fiona Tarr
Covenant of Grace Series
Book 1 – Destiny of Kings
Book 2 – Seed of Hope
Book 3 – Legacy of Power
Book 4 – Heir of Vengeance
Book 5 – The Ehud Dagger (A Prequel Novella)
