by Summer Lee
Kenana bit her captor’s finger, sinking her teeth down to the bone. Her mouth filled with blood and then she was free. She spat out of the blood, and whirled to face her assailant.
It was the Nephilim soldier. He was unbelievably massive. Long blond hair streaming down over his bare shoulders. Arms endlessly muscular, camouflaged with black river mud. The corner of his mouth lifted in a sneer.
“We meet again,” he said.
She gasped and turned to run, but a hard slap across the face sent her reeling back to the deck. He picked her up by the throat. She gagged, kicking. The pain was unbearable. The Nephilim tightened his grip. She struggled for breath. The fighting and screams around her seemed to grind into slow motion. She had to breathe! The monstrous animal in front of her grinned wickedly.
She kicked futilely as the world around her continued to darken and the sounds of fighting drifted further and further away...
***
Consciousness returned slowly for Kenana, and when it did, horror surged through her. Was she even alive? Her last memory was of the giant crushing the life out of her....
“Kenana,” said a soft voice. “You are safe.”
The voice sounded so familiar, but so very distant, as if being shouted across the widest of deserts. She opened her eyes and saw a figure standing over her. She recoiled, gasping. Was it her assailant? Is that why the voice sounded familiar?
“You are safe, Kenana. I threw the Nephilim into the sea. He won’t be back.”
Now she recognized the voice: the strength, the confidence. Asher!
Waves of dizziness washed over her when she sat up. She reached out and wrapped her arms around Asher’s neck. His beautiful, smiling, blood-stained face was such a welcome relief. She pulled him down toward her and hugged him with all her strength.
“It’s all right, Kenana,” he whispered soothingly. “You are safe now.” He held her a moment longer, stroking her hair. She cried softly into his shoulder. She noticed he was covered in blood, but the blood did not appear to be his own.
“Are you injured?” she asked.
“Yes. Very minor wounds. We lost some sailors tonight, but the ship is safe now. The pirates have been dispatched. Most are floating dead in the sea.”
Kenana had a horrifying thought. “Where is Sarah?!”
“She is with Tall below deck. She is fine. The pirates never made it down belowdecks.”
“And that was because of you, my friend,” said a voice behind Asher. It belonged to Captain Zadok, and there were tears in the man’s eyes. “You are perhaps the greatest warrior I have ever seen. We all owe you our lives.”
“Tend to the wounded, Captain. I shall assist you soon enough.”
The captain nodded, looked briefly down at Kenana, nodded again, and then departed.
“I threw the Nephilim into the sea.”
Suddenly, Kenana was very much in awe of Asher.
***
The sun shone brightly the next morning. Seagulls hovered high above, screeching hungrily. Kenana, with Sarah trailing behind, wandered out onto the deck, where just the night before dozens of men had lost their lives.
Kenana shivered and scanned the horizon. Almost at once she spotted it.
“Land,” she said jubilantly, pointing.
“Thank El,” said Sarah.
Indeed, Kenana was very glad to see this leg of the journey come to a close. The Nephilim and his pirates had shattered what had been a wonderful sea voyage, and now, good men were dead.
The ship put into Port Zoan at midday. As Kenana gathered her belongings, she was met by Asher.
“Tall and I must see to the unloading of Jubal’s musical instruments.” He pointed to a wooden structure at the end of the pier. “We will meet you there. It’s an inn. They will be expecting us this time of year. Go to them, and tell them you are with me. The innkeeper is an old friend, and he will see to our rooms and provisions.”
“Asher, where do you sell Jubal’s instruments?”
Asher had turned to leave, but then stopped. His shoulders were impossibly wide. Kenana caught herself staring. “The central temple. We sell them to the high priest. He is a weasel, and for a holy man, he barters like a thief.”
“How much do you think the instruments are worth?” Kenana asked innocently.
“Much more than he will offer, but I would be happy to escape with forty gold coins.” Asher paused, his eyes narrowing. “I don’t want you going into the city without me, princess.”
“Why?”
“Because the local merchant are thieves who will cheat you. It’s the Zoan way.”
Chapter Twenty-four
The inn was set back from the harbor. It was largely constructed of sun-baked adobe and old wood tinted gray from eons of salt-tainted wind. Inside, Kenana found the proprietor and mentioned Asher’s name. He beamed fondly and showed them to their rooms immediately.
After Sarah helped her unpack and settle in, Kenana feigned fatigue. And when Sarah departed to her own room, Kenana waited impatiently for a few dozen heartbeats, then quietly eased off her bed and slipped into a fresh tunic. She peeked out her door, saw that the narrow hallway was empty, and then sneaked out of the inn through a back entrance. She crossed the empty pier and found the main road, which was deeply rutted and heavily trafficked by donkey-drawn carts.
A wonderful sense of freedom overcame her, and somehow, if forced to, she knew she would do well on her own. In fact, she knew she would thrive. And she was going to prove it by selling Jubal’s instruments and finding his doctor. Alone. No Asher, and no Malluch.
With the sun still high overhead, its heat nearly unbearable, she flagged down a carriage going into Zoan, driven by a young man who smiled at her shyly.
They traveled together on the outskirts of town, past small thatched dwellings, past irrigated fields of barley, until they finally came upon the bustling city. Everywhere were street vendors, selling everything from clothing to exotic pets. One man had a yellow and green serpent wrapped around his arm and neck. Children had gathered around him, gawking. Kenana gawked, too, turning her head in the cart.
She asked to be delivered to the center temple, and the young driver shook his head. He didn’t speak her language. She pantomimed prayers, and finally he nodded, grinning. He said something quickly and now it was Kenana’s turn to grin, for she had no idea what he said.
When the carriage stopped in front of a temple, Kenana got off and kissed the young man on the cheek. His face blossomed into something very red and hot. Grinning, he snapped the reins, startling his old donkey, and dashed off.
She admired the beautiful temple, its facade painted a brilliant white. Copper ornaments hung from poles set up around the temple’s exterior. It might have been the most massive building she had ever seen.
She walked through the main entrance, through gigantic open doors and into an endless courtyard.
A uniformed palace guard approached her, speaking rapidly in the Egyptian tongue. Kenana tried desperately to get her point across that she was looking for the high priest.
“Ah, Princess Kenana,” said a voice from her side, speaking in perfect Aramaic. She saw a very handsome man approaching, dressed in ornate, flowing robes. “I had heard Prince Jubal had been betrothed, but was unaware he had married such a beautiful young lady.”
Kenana was greatly relieved to find someone who could understand her. “Thank you, sir. I am afraid I am at a disadvantage, for I do not know your name.”
The handsome man bowed. “I am the one you seek.”
She gathered herself and bowed. “Then I bring lyres and pipes to add melody and harmony to your worship.”
He smiled warmly. “Wonderful. May I see the instruments? Not that I question Prince Jubal’s craftsmanship. Rather, I wish to admire his skill.”
“They are being unloaded as we speak, sire. My servant shall bring them on the morrow.”
“Very well. I assume the price will remain the same as last year.”
&nbs
p; “And what price would that be, sire?”
His eyes narrowed. “Surely he has provided you receipts, or a glance at his ledger books.”
She had no idea, so she sucked in some air and plunged forward. “The prince believes these instruments to be his finest work yet. He will accept no less than eighty gold pieces.”
The priest laughed, and said, “Does Prince Jubal not want me to feed my own children, of which I have many? If I pay you twenty, I might still have enough to feed scraps to them.”
This time, Kenana laughed. Truly, this priest was a skilled barterer, one who raised the simple act of negotiating into an art form. She saw his skill, and thought she could match wits with him; after all, was she not here in Zoan, far away from under her husband’s gnarled old thumb? Had she not successfully negotiated her way out of that situation?
“Before you feed your children maggoty bread, I would suggest first selling the fine rings that adorn your fingers,” she said, bowing politely. “It is but a suggestion.”
The man looked down at his bejeweled fingers, then coolly clasped his hands behind his back. “A fine suggestion, princess,” said the priest.
She plunged forward. “Prince Jubal has taken particular pride in this season’s instruments. He would consider anything less than seventy pieces a slap in the face, an insult to his skills.”
“You are good, young princess. I do not wish to insult the Prince of Adah. Perhaps Jubal will find sixty pieces not so offensive.”
“I believe,” said Kenana, grinning inwardly, “that sixty will keep you on good terms with the prince.”
The man laughed heartily. “Have your slave bring them to me right away.”
“As soon as they are unloaded, sire,” she said. “Now, could you tell me how to find the good Dr. Rue? He is known as a great healer.”
“It is always nice to be appreciated.” The handsome priest bowed. “I am he.”
She blinked, startled. “You are Dr. Rue?”
“I am both high priest and healer. How can I further assist you?”
“My husband, Prince Jubal, is ill. Very ill.”
Dr. Rue frowned, immediately concerned. “Prince Jubal is my old friend. I will see to him immediately.”
***
Elated by her success, Kenana left the temple with a satchel containing half of Dr. Rue’s payment for Jubal’s instruments. The other half would be paid upon delivery of the instruments.
To celebrate, she headed for the Zoan marketplace, still bustling in the late afternoon. Merchants called out to her in tongues she could not understand. Kenana spent the remainder of the afternoon working her way through the labyrinth of vendors. In the end, she concluded that shopping in Egypt was more fun than it had been in Mesopotamia, the colors were brighter and everything seemed of higher quality. Not to mention, she wanted to buy everything in sight, but refused to squander Dr. Rue’s payment.
In the late afternoon, she couldn’t deny herself a cold ale to celebrate her success, even if she had to drink alone. So, she purchased one from the first vendor she could find, and drank it quickly. Kenana promptly ordered another, and still another. After her third ale, an impossibly warm feeling of love and contentment seeped through her entire being. She really did love the Zoanians, everyone here treated her so nicely, even the young shopkeeper who kept refilling her clay mug. She might have loved him the most.
Kenana kicked off her sandals and twirled in the street. Many people, especially the men, stopped their work to watch her. Some of the men started clapping, giving her a rhythm to dance to, and soon she was kicking up her feet and swinging her hips. She wanted another ale! But on her next twirl, she lost her balance and fell on her bottom.
I am free, she thought, aware that she was sitting in the middle of the dirt road. A donkey-drawn cart worked its way around her, two young kids gawking at her. I am free and I love it.
“You are drunk,” said a voice beside her.
She looked up. And up. The man standing next to her was impossibly tall, blotting out the setting sun. But she could recognize that perfect silhouette anywhere.
“Leave me alone,” she said.
“I see that I cannot let you out of my sight,” said Malluch, his gentle hands lifting her to her feet.
She pushed him away. “Well, you do a good enough job of it. I was almost killed by the Nephilim and the pirates.”
“I was there, watching over you.”
“No. Asher was there. He saved me. You were nowhere to be found.”
Malluch frowned at Asher’s name. “Who do you think gave Asher the strength to throw the Nephilim overboard?”
Kenana opened her mouth to speak, until she realized she had no argument to that. Still she was fighting mad at him, and decided on her next best recourse. So, she beat his powerful chest with her fists. “Curse you for leaving me, Malluch. I thought you loved me.”
They were drawing a considerable amount of stares, even from the city guards. Malluch took her elbow and steered her to a back alley.
“I love you as much as an angel can love any woman,” he said, still holding her elbow tightly. Perhaps a little too tightly. “El gives people and angels choices, and makes us responsible for our actions, and expects us to control our own passions. It is all I can do to control how I feel for you, princess.”
“Do you love me, Malluch?”
He looked down at her, his face hidden in shadows. He reached out and brushed back her hair. The alley threatened to spin. She was still drunk.
“More so than anything,” he said finally.
She took a deep breath. She wanted this man, this creature more than anything at all. More than life itself. But, she couldn’t. At least, not yet. “I must remain yet faithful to Jubal, Malluch.”
He nodded once, slowly. “I know you will honor him, because you are a strong and moral woman. Jubal knows that, too. That is why he entrusted you with me.” He paused. “I want to take you somewhere special, but to get there we must fly again. Are you interested?”
“Interested? How about jubilant?” Kenana laughed and twirled in the alley. “Where are you taking me?”
“It’s a surprise, my dear.”
Malluch slipped his strong arm around her waist, smiled down at her, and suddenly, she was rising off the ground. She looked down, laughing. Her toes were pointed down, and the alley below was growing smaller and smaller. She saw a team of people surging through the Zoan marketplace. One or two pointed up at them. Kenana waved, and then Malluch picked up speed and flew swiftly over the barren countryside.
Chapter Twenty-five
Malluch stayed low to the ground, swiftly following the contours of the earth, dipping suddenly down into valleys, and rising rapidly to ascend sun-baked mountaintops. All the while, Kenana squealed with delight, holding onto Malluch with all her strength, occasionally burying her face into his chest.
But all too soon, they began to descend, and Kenana found herself standing before an enormous stone beast. The creature seemed to rise from the desert sand, as if its home were the underworld and it was only now emerging into the light of day. It had the face of a man and the body of a lion. It sat in perfect repose.
She squeezed Malluch even tighter.
“What is it?” she asked.
“This is called the Sphinx.” Malluch grinned proudly. “It’s one of the oldest and most important monuments on earth.”
Kenana stared at the great beast. “What makes it so important?”
“Millennia ago, it performed an important ceremonial function for the previous civilization.”
A small wind rose up from the desert floor, sprinkling her bare ankles with sand. The sun had baked the earth until heat rose up like steam from a boiling pot. The stone creature was massive beyond anything in her wildest imagination.
“What kind of function?”
“That, my dear, is preserved in a code within it.”
“Within it? Where is the door?”
He laug
hed. “You’ve always enjoyed a good puzzle, haven’t you? Yes, there are secret tunnels hidden within the creature. The code is hidden to preserve the mysteries of the previous civilization.”
“How do you know all this, Malluch?”
He paused, staring at the stone beast. He inhaled deeply. “Because I was one of its original builders.”
She sensed his great pride in the structure. “It is amazing, Malluch,” she said, touching his arm. “When was it built?”
“Before Adam’s time. A different time, a different civilization.” As he spoke, sunlight touched his beautiful face, caressing the ridge of his fine nose and highlighting his strong jaw. He was a perfect creature, man or angel. Kenana was overwhelmed with a desire to caress his exquisite features. She was amazed that Malluch’s splendor even overshadowed the great Sphinx.
“Was there a purpose for the code?” she finally asked.
“The time will come when a future generation will need the information of the secret codes hidden within. If the information is not found, I suspect all human life will be destroyed. If found, humans have a chance for survival.”
“Why hide the knowledge, Malluch? Why not give it freely to the world?”
He looked at her in amusement. “Because that is not the way. Humankind must earn this knowledge, and only then will it be granted. Only then will they be ready.”
“Humankind is not ready now?”
He grinned. “Hardly. Come.” He took her hand and led her underneath the great creature’s muzzle. Standing now in shadows, both looked up into the stone face. He pointed. “There’s a similar face on a planet called Mars. When the two faces line up cosmically at a time unknown even to me, they’ll release a destructive magnetic force. It’ll be a great catastrophe. Many will die. Come, for your tour is not over.”
He wrapped an arm around her waist and they rose together, and, like a leaf on the wind, they drifted over the desert landscape. In the clear night, she could see for hundreds of miles in every direction, and soon, too soon, an unusual formation took shape in front of her. It jutted high into the heavens, a manmade mountain with four sides. Malluch set her down before the gigantic edifice.
