Returned

by Kimberley Griffiths Little

  The image brought a smile to the men.

  “Jayden, no—” Kadesh started to protest.

  “We’ll ride side by side, my king,” I told him firmly. “Since our troops are down in number, you need as many riders as you can get. I wonder if my father will want to ride as well. He’ll be a great asset, but I know he’s distraught over this war.”

  “Yes, he will ride,” said a deep voice behind me.

  We all turned to see my father at the entrance to the suite. He held himself tall and rigid like a desert man, but his beard grew whiter each day. Time and weather and grief had taken their toll on him. Despite that, he stood before the group of king’s advisors, a man in a strange land, far from his homeland, and I was so proud.

  My father’s eyes caught mine. He gazed at me with love, and my eyes burned with affection toward him. I went to his side and he took my hand in his, pressing it tight. Comfort swelled inside me, and I was grateful that he was here to give aid to the Sariba soldiers’ daring plan.

  “After Horeb’s men suffer the plan we have in store for them, he will have to respond to my latest letter requesting his surrender,” Kadesh said. “He will finally yield to Sariba once and for all.”

  “I will pray it is so, my king,” Uncle Josiah said from the shadows of the suite.

  I understood their sentiments, but I’d spent the afternoon in Horeb’s tent. The memory of his lips against mine was sickening. His boasting and lust sent chills through me. He wasn’t going to surrender, no matter if we trampled and killed every single one of his fighters.

  30

  Waves of endless camels crossed my vision every time I closed my eyes.

  The day of preparation was intense. Nobody spoke openly about the camel stampede, but the palace staff and servants were more subdued than usual. Tension was thick, and with the incoming reports of the day’s battle and fresh casualties, it became apparent with every passing hour that the camel stampede was Sariba’s last chance for survival.

  After so many days of fighting, even Horeb’s foreign armies backed off before sunset. The kingdom seemed to breathe a sigh of relief. There were too many graves to be dug on both sides of the war.

  My father was gone all day with Chemish and Asher. Meals were brief and informal. The men didn’t return that night, sleeping at the Sariba camp instead so as to ward off any enemy spies and keep watch over the camels.

  When the moon slipped low on the horizon, I blundered out of bed in the dark. My eyes were red and scratchy when I donned a simple dress and headscarf, but I was already late.

  I hefted my freshly sharpened dagger into its sheath, then adjusted my sword and tied the sash tighter. My heart was beating rapidly. Today’s events would prove to have dramatic and devastating consequences. I could only hope that today was also the end of the war.

  The last of the moon before sunrise bathed the palace grounds with a silver glow, but most of the activity was out of sight on the desert, past the forest and the temple.

  Hurrying down multiple staircases, I raced across the royal complex to the horse stalls. Waking up a sleepy stable boy, I had him get a horse ready for me, and then took off as fast as I could.

  The horse and I were both heaving by the time I headed east out of the city where Sariba grazed its enormous herds of camels.

  The finest purebred camels were kept within an enormous fenced-in area—a fence I couldn’t even see the perimeter of—while the rest were allowed to forage the fertile valley at will, camel herders tending them round the clock.

  By the time I reached the high plain, the clamoring multitude of camels became my guide. Moments later, lamps came into view out of the darkness, held aloft by a few Sariba soldiers.

  I stopped short, astounded by the sight of camels stretching as far as I could see. There must have been several thousand. The animals brayed and spit and grumbled with such a commotion I was tempted to cover my ears.

  “Where’s the king?” I asked one of the soldiers hurrying by.

  “Somewhere in this sea of camels. He and the Edomite king are organizing us into lines and rows. A tight, deep formation. We have enough men to ride about five hundred camels. The hope is that another thousand will follow.”

  I pictured a sea of towering camels, twice as high as any horse, their large padded feet galloping across the harsh terrain with ease.

  The man gave me a crooked smile. “Camels and riders a league across.”

  “Are the camels trained enough to follow a group and a leader?”

  “These are Sariba caravan camels,” he said without reservation. “The best bred and trained in the desert world. Once they start galloping, there will be no stopping them.”

  The image of thousands of speeding camels was both terrifying and thrilling. I pushed through the crowd while Edomite captains shouted orders to the men already astride their animals.

  Slowly, lines began to form. I didn’t recognize anybody with their headscarves covering much of their faces, but when I pushed closer to the front of the massive ensemble I saw Kadesh conferring with Chemish.

  I ran toward him, eager for his comforting touch on my arm. Before I could reach him, out of the darkness, someone swung a small lantern close to my face.

  Asher glared down at me. “After what happened with Horeb yesterday, I can’t believe you’re here. You need to stay safely at the palace.”

  “I heard the plan last night, as you well know, Asher. So yes, Kadesh knows. He may not approve, but it’s my choice and you need all the riders you can get. I am his queen, and this war will be fought and won by both of us.”

  “You do realize that many of our men could die horrible deaths today. Not only Horeb’s foul soldiers. This strategy is dangerous for Sariba’s army. A stampede is rarely used. Only as a last resort when troops are falling faster than we can replace them. We’ll be riding so fast some of our own men will fall from the camels. Camels will stumble, break legs, and potentially trample the men galloping in from the lines behind.”

  A shiver quaked down my spine. Planting my feet in the shifting sand, I tried to steady myself.

  “Please go back, my lady,” the Edomite prince said. “Jayden,” he added more quietly. “I couldn’t bear it if you were hurt, or worse.”

  “Go tell your commander that I’ve arrived, and Kadesh and I will ride out together. Seeing us together will give the men courage to run toward the danger—and succeed. We have to win. There’s no longer any other choice.”

  Frustration sounded in his throat. “No—” Asher spun in the dirt. The muscles in his jaw twitched, but he paused to hold himself in check. “I need to round up my men into formation. I’ll convey your message to my father.”

  I let the air out of my lungs. “You are becoming a leader,” I told him gently. “I’m proud of you, Asher, Prince of Edom.”

  He bowed. “My lady, I pray to God that I see you after it’s all over.” His voice broke, and I could tell emotion had overcome him.

  “I’ll see you afterward,” I agreed with as much confidence as I could muster.

  The faintest gray washed the black night sky. The first sign of the approaching dawn.

  Quickly, I ran to find Chemish and get an assignment for a camel. I could tell he wasn’t too pleased to see that I was ready to ride with them, but he wouldn’t argue with me in front of the entire army.

  Finally, Chemish ordered one of his captains to find me a good, steady camel. “One who shows no fear or apprehension,” he told the man. “The Queen of Sariba will be riding with us.” Then he turned to me. “Once we’re in a full-out gallop, the camels need to keep moving. They cannot stop, not for anything. Any hesitation dooms the animal and you.”

  I swallowed past my dry throat. “Yes, my lord.”

  When a tall, muscled camel was led over to me, I smoothed my hand down its long neck, but the animal didn’t flinch. Our task was more difficult because we were strangers. “Trust me, my beauty,” I whispered to her.

  The
captain told me, “If you aren’t nervous or afraid, she won’t be either. She’s used to carrying strangers. This one is one of our best caravan camels.”

  I brought her head down between my palms while I stood on tiptoe to gaze into her eyes. “Then we will ride confidently into the fight.” Her long eyelashes blinked, holding mine, but she didn’t even twitch.

  My father appeared and touched me on the arm. “This camel reminds me of Shiz,” I told him.

  “I was thinking the same thing,” he said, his eyes moist as we reminisced about the camel we’d lost to Dinah in exchange for Sahmril’s life so long ago. Shiz had been my personal camel since her birth. The baby camel used to follow me around camp and kept me warm at night. My heart had broken to give her up to the selfish Dinah.

  “The King of the Edomites says there is no talking you out of this foolhardy venture,” my father said, eyeing me.

  I clenched the camel’s leather halter. “I can’t watch the final battle from the ramparts. This is my country now, my people, and my future husband. I have a role to perform with honor and unconditional love. How can I not do anything else?”

  My father placed a warm hand on my face. “I’ve raised the daughter I always wanted, then. Your mother would be immensely proud of you.”

  “Thank you, Father,” I said, hugging him tightly.

  The captain who had brought the camel helped me onto her back. I settled my legs around her wide girth, tightening my belt to secure my sword and sling, touching the dagger at my thigh to give me confidence.

  That day when I’d used Kadesh’s frankincense nuggets to purchase the knife seemed like a whole other world now. But the same fears were real. I’d bought the dagger in self-defense against Horeb, and once more I was confronting my former betrothed.

  There was one thing nobody had discussed. That once the stampede was over, there would still be foreign soldiers alive. We would have to fight them on the ground and close up. That part frightened me more than the stampede. I knew how to stay on a racing camel, as well as a camel that got spooked. During my childhood, I’d learned to never let go no matter how daunting the terrain or the camel’s temperament.

  My pulse pounded in my ears. The formation was filling in.

  Distant lanterns revealed dark-swathed Sariba, Edomite, and Sa’ba soldiers sitting motionless on their camels, waiting for the signal. Row after row of them, unmoving, quiet, not a single spoken word. A knot moved up my throat. Their solemn determination was almost eerie.

  “Your queen is here,” I told Kadesh when I moved into place beside him.

  His head whipped around, alarm in his face. “Jayden! I’d hoped you were too exhausted and that your maids wouldn’t wake you. I came too close to losing you two days ago. I’d rather know you were safe in the palace.”

  “But I couldn’t be safe waiting for you, my love,” I told him. “I’ve been riding camels longer than I’ve been able to walk. I can’t remain at the palace awaiting word of your death. If you fall, I will be at your side, holding you in your last breaths.”

  He took my hands in his, gripping hard, his black eyes steely on mine. “If I can’t talk you out of this, then don’t you dare move a hair’s length away from me. We ride tight together, all of us. There’s less chance of falling and breaking our necks. Or being trampled. No breaking away, not for any reason.”

  “We are prepared to ride!” Chemish shouted up ahead.

  “Come with me, my queen,” Kadesh said. I followed him to the front lines and we turned to face the regiments of camels and shadowy figures sitting astride their animals.

  The men’s surprise was tangible when they recognized me at their king’s side. There was a shift in the air. Reverence, confidence, a mood of fortitude and determination.

  Gray light gathered along the hills, and Chemish gave another signal from his animal.

  Behind the formation of men and camels, a row of lanterns brightened the scene. A platoon of Sariba men carrying lamps poured oil and fire along the dry grasses behind us.

  Sparks leaped in the shadows, and the flames spread quickly, crackling through the underbrush. The camels began to fidget, shying away from the heat and growing flames.

  The crackling noise turned them skittish. The camels were edgy and jumpy, wanting to flee, but held tight in formation by their masters. The noise of their agitated braying grew louder.

  With a sudden cry, Chemish and Kadesh and the other captains slapped the rumps of their animals, yelling a strange, delirious cry. It was unsettling. A breath later, the entire battalion of men screamed and shouted until the noise of men and animals was deafening.

  A blast of heat from the fire washed up and over me. Perspiration broke out along my forehead. I pulled my scarf up over my face. Glancing along the line, I saw each man’s disconcerting black eyes, their identities hidden by head wraps. A few of the Edomites gave me a brief nod and I nodded in return, grateful for these devoted men.

  Kadesh pulled out his sword and raised it high. “For Sariba!”

  As one body, the men, packed tightly on all sides, brought forth their swords and held them aloft. “For Sariba!”

  “For life,” I breathed. A surge of swords and shouts enveloped me. Emotion rose in my chest. Adrenaline in my thighs. My grip tightened when my camel tried to break free and run. We held them back, waiting for the exact moment to send the animals leaping forward with enough motivation to run and not stop for at least half a league.

  Tiny embers popped along the field under our feet. Each sizzle created an ominous, threatening noise.

  “Wait for it,” Kadesh warned, holding up both arms to force the army to wait, to remain motionless until his signal. Timing was everything.

  The fire spread and grew larger, a wall of flames and heat.

  Just as the camels were about to bolt and break formation, Kadesh brought down his sword with a glittering flash of bronze.

  The signal to run.

  The animals were off at an insane speed. A shriek escaped my mouth.

  We were so close, Kadesh was barely half an arm’s length away from me. “Stay on your camel. At all costs,” he yelled. “Whatever you do, don’t fall off!”

  I nodded, my arm muscles shooting spasms I was holding the reins so tight. I gripped my camel with my legs. I didn’t have to guide her at all. The camels would follow each other to the ends of the earth—or until they collapsed.

  Like the incoming tide of the sea, the sun soared above the horizon at that very moment, bathing the valley with yellow light.

  The stampeding camels galloped faster. I’d never felt anything like this frenetic speed, the sheer terror and majesty of pounding across the desert.

  Camels without riders began to sweep past, almost daring us to catch them. Clods of dirt spit into the air. The cloud of dust and smoke climbed as high as the camels’ bellies, engulfing our legs.

  Horeb’s camp grew closer. Shadows of men rising from their tents in the hour before dawn began to clarify into outlines. I tried not to think about what we were about to do, but it was impossible to shove it from my mind. Many men were going to die today. Men who would never see their wives and their children again.

  I shook cold tears out of my eyes. These soldiers had made a choice to bring war to Sariba, steal its wealth and take the lives of the people. I would not give way to remorse for these men who didn’t care if they killed every last one of us.

  I thought of my mother’s compassion for others, her selflessness, and kindness. I would probably never be like her. Dread of the unknown usually caused me to turn inward, not outward.

  Most of all, I wanted to stop living with fear. I wanted Horeb to find his life in the old lands of our people, in the stark deserts and oasis at Tadmur. He could be king. He could have all that he wanted if he would stop trying to possess me.

  All at once, the sun shot over the horizon. Warmth folded its rays over me. Horeb’s camp lit up in the golden light. Close now. Too close. We’d caught them at the
ir breakfast, dressing, taking care of their horses.

  Their mouths were slack-jawed, eyes baffled. Dazed by the sight of us.

  Before terror filled their faces.

  For a moment, I stopped breathing—and then we ran straight over them.

  31

  Camels are nearly double the height of a man and with the weight of three horses they created the perfect stampeding animal. I knew that if we packed hundreds of them together, Horeb’s armies stood little chance.

  Soldiers began to run from their campfires and tents, stumbling over gear and stakes.

  The sound of a thousand galloping hooves was deafening. I wanted to plug my ears, but I didn’t dare loosen my fists on the reins. Indeed, I gripped even tighter when we began to crash over tents and fire pits and brass pots and saddle gear.

  My camel barely flinched despite screams all around us as we tore at a frenzied pace through the campsite. Spears launched from Sariba soldiers sailed through the air, taking down men as fast as the camels were running.

  Next to me, two camels went down in a sudden crash when they trampled Horeb’s soldiers. From the corner of my eye, I saw the men jump off and try to avoid the camels coming up from behind.

  It wasn’t much longer before our core formation broke apart as men and animals tumbled and fell onto one another.

  Leaning close to my camel’s neck, the reins became sharp needles jabbing into my palms. I gritted my teeth and held on, knowing it was life or death.

  “Jayden!” Chemish yelled in my ear, although I couldn’t see him, my focus on the melee before me was so great. “Your sword!”

  My head whipped up. An enemy soldier was racing toward me on his horse, a sword leveled at my throat. Instantly, I pulled my sword and swung frantically. The Maachathite tried to grab it away. We tussled for a moment, swords clanging, but I lifted my arm and brought the weapon against his shoulder with all my strength. I knew the blow wasn’t enough to knock him off his horse, but before I could blink, the man disappeared behind me, cut down by Chemish bringing up the rear.