by Summer Lee
King Asher walked back inside, mumbling to himself.
“You have done a good thing,” said the queen, following him. Asher then led their way down a wide staircase and to the royal hall below where Rachael was sitting.
“Mother? Father? What’s going on?” Rachael stood and quickly ran up to them.
“It is just royal business,” said Asher, ringing his small bell to call for the new cook. Bilhah arrived, and he said, “Bring me some wine.”
She left and returned with a jar of wine. Asher poured himself a cup, and looked at her. “There are rumors that your son killed an old lady. Is that true, Bilhah?”
Tears filled her eyes. “I hope not, your majesty.”
“I also hope not,” he said. “We will soon know.” He then walked over and looked out a latticed window. Beyond the palace walls, the city sprawled out over the valley below. He wanted to protect the citizens.
Kenana had said that she would keep Rachael and Ava close to her at all times. The three women would stay indoors, remaining composed. She stepped up to Asher and squeezed his hand. “Do not worry. El is in control,” she said. Following his gaze, she added, “What a beautiful sight. I am sure El will keep it safe.”
Someone knocked. Asher motioned to the maid to open the door. It was a runner. He said the soldiers had arrived at the fort. “Also,” he said, “Tyro may be back by now as well.” At this, Rachael felt hope surge within her. She rose and bid her parents good night.
When Rachael had retreated to her room, Asher turned back to the window and sighed. “If he’s not back yet, he should be. I’ll gather the local men and send them there. We need a few days of drilling before putting a sword or spear in the hand of a young man to do battle.”
“Be discreet. Don’t let the enemy know what you are doing,” said Kenana.
Asher walked to the door. “I will go out to meet the men now. I shall try to come back before we actually go into battle.”
Chapter Eighteen
KENANA
Kenana pulled the cord, which caused the bell to toll. This was how she invited the women of the kingdom to the palace for tea. Servants escorted them inside.
In the dining room, servants busily laid out food, ranging from melons to breads and meats. “Please help yourselves,” the queen invited.
“Would you be so kind as to tell us about yourself?” one of the women asked. “Most of us have never had a chance to meet you before today.”
Once the food had been served, she said, “I want to assure you that I come from good bloodlines, just like the king. I want to tell you of my heritage. I come from a holy line of prophets.”
The women seemed surprised. Kenana said, “I’m sorry I did not tell you sooner about us. My grandfather was the Prophet Enoch who was given visions of Heaven by El Almighty. He saw the Ancient of Days encircled by what appeared to be a brilliant sun. He saw fire and ice together.”
“Imagine! Fire and ice? Is that even possible?” Rachael said in a low voice. The women marveled.
“All things are possible with God,” said Kenana.
“I always went to hear the prophets speak. I listened to both Enoch and his son, Methuselah,” Ava said. “They spoke of a place called Heaven for those who obey God. I expect to go there when I die.”
“As do I,” said Kenana. “For those of you who do not know, Methuselah is the son of Enoch. He is my uncle.”
Maids came into the room with trays of buttered bread and fruit. Another refilled the cups with tea.
“I would like Rachael to tell you all about her father,” said Kenana.
Rachael stood and the women clapped.
“My father’s life story is much different than my mother’s.” Rachael said, “Some of you may remember him from when he was a small boy. There is a possibility that he was once your neighbor.”
As they all sat and listened, Rachael said, “We have a long line of royalty in our family. My father’s parents were king and queen here at Alalakh, but were killed in a raid.”
“How did your parents meet?” someone asked.
Kenana stood and said, “I was the wife of the late Prince of Adah when we met. Prince Jubal died during the first year of our marriage. I was expecting Tyro when he passed away.”
“My father, Asher, married my mother while my brother was a baby.” Rachael smiled. “And then, I was born.”
A couple of women looked shocked. “Really?”
“It is true,” said the queen. She was not about to confess her relationship with Malluch, the fallen angel. That might start another kind of war.
“My parents carried Tyro back here to my father’s birthplace,” said Rachael. “Ava is my father’s cousin.” She motioned and Ava nodded. “Now, my parents rule together over all of Mesopotamia, and this palace has always been my home.”
A small wind swept through the open window, running cold fingers over Rachael’s skin and ruffling her hair. The breeze swept through the room with a pleasant aroma. Rachael recognized the smell and believed that Aurora, the fair angel, was nearby. She hoped so. She did not see her, but saw the women all smile. “Prosperity only returned after my parents began to rule over the entire region,” said Rachael and sat down.
“We are loved by El, and He will see to it that we are victorious over those who wish us harm,” said Kenana.
The women clapped. They were soon chatting about the coming war and how they could protect each other. Kenana reminded them that when they heard the large bell gong, they were to go to the safety shelter. After a while, two or three at a time, they went home, walking in small groups and taking fresh bunches of grapes that Kenana insisted they have.
After they left, Kenana was alone with Rachael. She said, “I want to talk to you about something.”
“Yes?” said Rachael. “What is it, Mother?”
“Your brother,” said the queen. “He’s not just any young man.”
“I know.”
“His father was a fallen angel.”
“That shouldn’t matter,” said Rachael. “He’s my protector, one who has sworn his loyalty to protect me. He makes me feel safe when he is near, and I need that.”
“I did not like it when you went to Ava’s with him.”
“Why?” Rachael looked away to hide her tears. “He is my only brother. Don’t drive him away from being my friend.”
“I have your best interests at heart,” said Kenana. “You know that I once had a love affair with a fallen angel. His name was Malluch.”
“His fathering Tyro has nothing to do with how Tyro behaves. Surely you don’t think my own brother would desire me?”
“No, I don’t, but I am greatly worried about Tyro’s growing interest in women.”
“Mother! Don’t you dare even entertain the idea that Tyro’s desire in women would include me. He is a very good man! I am his sister! We are not…barbarians.”
As if Kenana did not hear Rachael, she said, “The only reason that I did not marry Malluch was that I was already married to the elder Prince Jubal.”
“I love my brother, and I love my father. I’m glad things turned out the way they did,” said Rachael. “I have a wholesome relationship with both of them.”
“It was different for me. Actually, I got married to Prince Jubal on the same day that I met Malluch.” Tears filled Kenana’s eyes.
“You loved him a great deal, didn’t you?”
“The sad part is that I still do. He stirred up passion in me like no other could. I’m just afraid Tyro might be like his father in some ways. Very persuaded by flesh. That’s all.”
“Well, he’s not. He is a perfect gentleman around me,” said Rachael. “Besides, he loves Leah a lot. They plan to marry. Tyro has been working to make our kingdom safe, risking his life to recruit soldiers and secure outlying areas. And if you trust him with that, why do you not trust him with something so small as the safety of his little sister?”
With that, Kenana nodded and excused hersel
f. She went back to her room with an aching heart. She longed to be held and fondled once again. Malluch was gone—in the universal prison. She would never see him again. There was one that could give her the warmth that she desired—the intimacy she longed for. But she dare not say so.
She believed that she was falling for her friend’s husband.
More than anyone, she wanted to be with Tall.
Chapter Nineteen
RACHAEL
Rachael insisted on talking to her new friend, Joel.
Kenana said that she could entertain Joel for a short time. They had to stay in plain sight, and they had to keep their hands to themselves. That was acceptable for Rachael.
She met Joel by the back door, and they walked in the garden between the rows of carrots and turnips. “Thank you for getting me off work for a while,” he said.
“I didn’t know you worked. What jobs have been assigned to you?” asked Rachael.
“I take care of the chickens. I feed them and gather the eggs.”
“Is it hard work?”
“No,” Joel laughed. “Actually, it is easier than any job I have ever had.”
“Really?”
“I have been a servant all of my life. So has my mother. My father served one man all his life, and his parents were servants before him.”
“My father was once a servant.”
“Really?” Joel frowned. “Do you mean the king?”
“Yes,” she said. “And my mother’s family were hardworking farmers.”
“How did that happen that a servant became a king?”
“Fate. Father was kidnapped by Nephilim and sold to an old prince when his parents were killed.”
“That is terrible.”
“My father was born a royal, but reduced by his captivity to a terrible misfortune. After the palace was attacked years ago, my father was purchased as a slave, but he was smart and rose to be head servant over five or six slaves,” said Rachael. “He has very little memory of the kidnapping, but with some help from God, he found his cousin who still lived here. She had papers to show he was the rightful king in this place.”
“What a strange stroke of fate.”
“True. It was even a stroke of fate that an old prince bought him and was good to him. No doubt that saved his life. The old prince had trusted my father enough to send him to Zoan to protect his wife, who happened to be Princess Kenana.”
“That is your mother’s name.”
“She’s one and the same.”
“Now she is the queen of the entire country.”
“Yes, but only because she married my father.” Her eyes narrowed. “Mother hated the old prince.”
“Did she kill him?”
“No. She was in Egypt when he died.”
“So, the princess is now King Asher’s wife. A queen.”
“Exactly,” said Rachael. “She inherited all the slaves when old Prince Jubal died. She set some of them free. My father is one of the servants to whom she granted freedom, and then married. The rest is history.”
“With the old prince gone, your mother was free to marry for love,” Joel said woodenly.
“Yes.”
“Yours is a wondrous family indeed.”
Rachael wasn’t sure she had heard right. “How is that?”
“Not many people encounter such good fortune.”
“True.” She nodded, explaining that the king had given up all hope of knowing about his past. “When he was set free, he began his own search for any living relatives.”
Joel’s eyes lit up. “That is amazing.”
“He came here and found a cousin, an older woman,” she said. “She lives in the backwoods, but is visiting us now.”
“What was the woman’s name?”
“The lady’s name is Ava.”
“I know Ava,” said Joel. “My father, who passed away, knew her. She’s a very kind and dear lady.”
“How did your father know her?”
“He put some crops in for her one year. He planted vegetables for her to eat and hay for the animals.”
“Did you ever visit Ava in her small hut?”
“Yes. I could see the stables of the palace from there.”
“My goodness. So, you didn’t know that Ava was staying here, did you?”
“No. I am confined to servants’ quarters. I am not free to walk the countryside. I must ask permission for everything.”
“I’m sorry. I forgot.”
“But I do not forget. Not ever. Princess.”
It got quiet. Rachael wanted to ask about the old lady. As she sat fidgeting with her dress, she said, “Joel, I need to know. Did you kill the old lady?”
“I can only tell you this. If anyone in this land deserved to die, it was that Lady Rita.”
“So, you won’t answer my question, will you?”
“No.”
After thinking about it for a while, Rachael asked Joel if he would like a tour around the property.
“Sure.”
“We just can’t get out of sight,” said Rachael. “I promised my mother there would be nothing untoward, that we are only friends.”
Joel nodded.
Once they were away from the palace, she took him up a hill overlooking the enemy camp and pointed. “You have to see this.”
“That looks dangerous,” he gasped. “You can’t be here, can you?”
“We’ll only stay a few seconds. We’ll hide,” she said and led him to a clump of bushes. “They were butchering some strange-looking pigs, obviously for the evening meal. “What is that?”
“That is a wild boar. Have you never seen one?”
“No, never.” She was puzzled. “I’ve seen pigs, but those look different.”
“Because of the long tusks.”
She turned to face Joel and said, “Did you know that Sethites are not allowed to eat the meat of a pig?”
“I don’t blame them. The meat is unhealthy. Full of worms.” Joel turned away.
“How do you know about the worms?”
“I’ve butchered a few pigs before.”
Using her hand, she turned his face forward. “Look there. Watch what those men are doing down there.”
“Insane.”
They were jumping about, dancing around the bonfire and roasting the boar alive. It squealed in pain. “They are really crazy.”
“And cruel.”
Rachael gasped as they watched.
Joel snarled, “They are extremely cruel! The poor beast! How did you find them out there?”
“I could hear noise from my room. I suspected they were out there, but I never had the courage to come look before yesterday,” said Rachael.
A ritual was being performed among the natives. They continued to howl and dance around the bonfire while the strange pigs cooked. A few of the boars were dragged out of the fire with a long pole and devoured. They were eaten, head, feet, tail and all.
“Barbarians,” said Rachael.
It was at that point that Joel cocked his head and said, “Listen, I hear something.”
Listening carefully, Rachael focused on the sound. She heard leaves crackling nearby. It was the sound of feet walking. Heavy feet. Eyes wide, Rachael opened her mouth to speak, and Joel put his hand over it. Her heart pounded hard. Then she saw them—two huge elephant-sized Nephilim. Dirty, with tangled hair, they tramped along the path below. A rock under her foot slipped and rolled down the hill.
The men both turned toward their direction and stared.
Joel and Rachael looked at each other in horror. Joel was pale. Rachael was stunned.
Rachael realized they had been spotted. The biggest one glared straight at her, catching her eye. When he started toward them, she shouted, “RUN! Go toward the palace. Now!”
They were being chased, so they ran hard. Rachael bounded up a bear-sized boulder, with Joel right behind her. Once out of sight, they mounted a nearby tree, and hid in it. They tried to sit quietly on a solid
limb, scared, they waited. Far below, the simple-minded giants looked around, grunted, and stomped away.
Once the Nephilim were gone, she said, “We have to get out of here fast.”
“Let’s go.”
They scrambled down the tree and headed over the opposite side of the hill. Soon, they were dashing toward the palace, running together, not pausing to even catch their breath.
When they finally reached safety, Rachael said, “Those creatures were spying on the palace. I just know it. I’ll bet they’re planning an attack soon. I need to get word to my brother.”
“How can you do that?”
“I don’t know. Help me think of a way.”
“I don’t know how that works.”
“Joel,” said Rachael. “Tell me about living in the mansion with Lady Rita.”
The two sat down on the old bench and thought. They leaned back and started talking about other things. They studied the strange cloud formation and talked about life as young teenagers. “I need to get back to work before I am found out that I was out of the servants’ quarters,” said Joel. “And running the countryside with you. We could have died.”
“Do you want to meet with me again?” Rachael looked at Joel and smiled.
“I don’t think I can. Or should.”
“Haven’t you thought about whether you want to be my friend or not?”
“I cannot deny that I do not enjoy the idea of getting a whipping for befriending the princess and running the countryside with her like I was royalty.”
Chapter Twenty
RACHAEL
Morning came with a bang in Alalakh. The big bell gonged twice, which was the signal to run to shelter in the palace. Various sounds from brass instruments were echoing across the hills, calling villagers to safety in the royal hideout. The room was massive, with a wide stone archway opening into the basement of the palace.
The people entered through a gated cave at the rear of the palace. It was a cave that was covered with brush when not in use. But now it was desperately needed to protect the people.
