“Shh, shh, my love, all is well.”
“I can't...it's too much...I...I...”
“I know, I know. Your treasured flowers, your cherished book.” Kissing her head, he rocked her. He could not replace these precious things she had just lost—both of them in seconds.
She gazed up at him with red eyes. “This is a great loss to me, but it's all of the other things too—the note, the sheets, the dagger, the food. All of it. It's too much!”
“What is all of this you speak of?” he asked, brows furrowed.
“Did Neterka not tell you?” she spoke, her voice raised, eyes wide.
“None of that sounded familiar.”
Ismene, through her tears—some coming fresh as she recalled each event—recounted to him all that had happened, including the note she and Alonah had received and the night she found the sheets shredded and the dagger in the door.
Alistair listened, engrossed in her story, disturbed by all he was hearing.
“Why did you not tell me sooner?” he asked.
“I didn't tell you about the note because I didn't want to worry you. But after the sheets and dagger, I understood that Neterka would be sure you knew of everything that had transpired.”
He nodded, not sure what to make of that.
“Who do you think would be doing these awful things?” Ismene sniffled, trying to contain more tears that threatened to overwhelm her.
He paused for a moment. “I am not sure, my love. But we will find out.”
She pulled back so she could look up at him. “You know something you're not telling me, don't you?”
His eyes searched hers, not sure if he should tell her what he knew. How much would it worry her? Or was it unfair to keep any information from her? He decided the latter was truer.
“We are not the only ones being harassed by these people.”
“Yes, I discovered the same thing at a luncheon the queen held for some of the Greek ladies in the area. The ladies shared some of the things happening on their own estates.” Ismene's eyes fell, her face downcast.
Looking at her downturned gaze, he guessed she was feeling guilty about her relief that others were suffering the same things they were. He pulled her face up with a finger under her chin so that he could look her in the eyes.
“I, too, was relieved that it wasn't aimed only at us. We still have a common enemy out there to find, but it means there is not someone out there to get you or me. It doesn't mean that we are wishing evil on others.”
She nodded. “How will we ever discover who is behind all of this?”
“We must examine all of the evidence, piecing everything together. There is an answer there. No crime is perfect. There is going to be some crucial piece of information somewhere along the way and we will find it.”
His voice was so confident that she believed him without reservation. She leaned against him, feeling how worn she was from the events of the evening. He pulled the covers up so he could slip underneath and encouraged her to snuggle up to him more securely. Once settled, they both drifted off to sleep.
* * *
Alonah found it nearly impossible to sleep. She could not stop thinking about the events of the night before. Not the horrible events that had been transgressed against her mistress, but the wonderful, yet confusing things that had happened to her.
Jabari wanted to marry her. Imagine...she...the wife of a soldier. What would life be like to no longer be a servant, but to be a woman of some standing? Even now, her memory replayed their encounter while her master and mistress were at Pharaoh's party.
“My dear, sweet Alonah, I love you. And when people feel the way we do, they should be married.”
“Married? Don't tease me, Jabari!” She turned away from him.
“I would never joke about this, my angel. I want you to be my wife,” he said, placing his hands on her shoulders, then wrapping his arms around her.
She paused. “I do love you, Jabari.” She shifted to face him, pressing a kiss to his lips. “But can we actually do this? Can we afford it?”
“I can support us with my salary. Many men in the army keep a family on their pay. We may have a small house, but we will have each other.”
“I don't need a big house. I just need you.”
A broad smile crossed his face then and he took her lips in a kiss that seemed to go on forever. However, as usual, they'd had to part when she'd been summoned that Alistair and Ismene were to return home after Ismene had been assaulted. She'd made her apologies to Jabari and left him there with no real answer.
So, now that she was more separated from the situation, she had some space to think. What kinds of obstacles would they have to overcome? Were there many Greek-Egyptian pairings in Alexandria? Or would they be looked down on, even persecuted for this? Did that matter to her? Would she still work for Ismene? Would it anger Ismene that she would no longer be her lady-in-waiting? If so, that might mean that they would no longer be friends. Alonah counted on Ismene for support in the event she married. Could she do it without Ismene's friendship and support?
In the heat of the moment she had told Jabari all she needed was him, but she was not that naive. She knew that a person needed more than just a spouse in life to get by, especially when one was married to a soldier who was gone all day and absent weeks at a time. No, she dared not burn bridges with Ismene.
Nine
Secrets
“Can you please take this blindfold off?” Ismene loved surprises, but couldn't stand the waiting. Alistair had risen early to prepare a special breakfast for them and served her in bed. Then he had told her that he had something special planned for them today—a special place for them to visit.
“Not yet,” Alistair said as he gripped her waist. Their chariot went over a bump which caused him to pull her to him even more tightly. She smiled at the feel of his secure embrace; even after this short time it still caused butterflies in her stomach.
She felt the chariot continue to move down the smooth path with a little rocking here and there as the wheels found imperfections in the road.
“We're almost there, I promise,” he assured her. His voice was close to her ear and it gave her warm chills. She thought of the feel of those lips on her neck. There wasn't much time to daydream, though, because, true to his word, it wasn't much longer before she felt him slow the horses and still the chariot.
“Ready for your surprise?” he asked.
“Yes!” She feigned exasperation.
Only then did he reach up, untie her blindfold, and let it fall. “The great Library of Alexandria.”
Her breath caught in her throat. She had seen some amazing structures on her journey. Egypt boasted some magnificent buildings, and this was no exception. In fact, it proved to be one of the more breathtaking structures she'd had the chance to behold.
The building was U-shaped and their vantage point at the top of the U gave them the best view of the entire layout. Separating them from the entrance was a massive pool with beautiful gardens lining either side. The surrounding buildings opened to the inner yard with gorgeous columns that seemed to draw the viewer inward toward the main structure. Massive stairs invited Ismene upward into the facility and four large pillars at the entrance gave it ambiance. Potted palm trees livened the journeyer's heart and added to the sheer mass of the entrance.
“Shall we?” Alistair indicated that they should take the path she had just seen and make their way into the library.
All she could manage was a nod, unable to speak, still lost in the splendor of the building.
As they moved closer and closer, she felt smaller and smaller. Stepping inside altered that perception only somewhat as they found themselves standing in a massive lobby. As she gazed around the space, she noted that the floor and walls were covered with beautiful tiles. The floor tiles were dark and patterned, the walls light and clean. Even the lobby had a small, square pool in the center of the room with plants adorning the corners of the
room. Ismene could see that the library had three stories as the top two floors had decorative balconies that looked out onto the main lobby and pool. Overlooking the room were two grand pictures of Egyptian rulers. Who they were Ismene could not say and Alistair did not know.
Alistair escorted her into one of the book rooms. Just like the lobby, it was an open room. The tile work on the floor was different, light-colored with a gold-inlaid pattern. Dark-colored pillars dotted and decorated the walls of the room which were lined with bookshelves—diagonally stacked boards that formed diamond-shaped openings for the scrolls that contained each book. There must have been hundreds, thousands even, in this room alone.
“So many books,” Ismene said, at last able to find her voice as she reached out to touch one.
“Pharaoh Ptolemy has set a goal of 500,000 scrolls.”
She jerked around and met his gaze, wide-eyed. That many books in one place was unimaginable. It was difficult enough to wrap her mind around the number that filled this one room. Having access to books was a rare gift. The fact that she owned her own was rather special. Her book about Pegasus had been a prized gift from her father which he had paid a great amount for.
They continued to move from room to room. She couldn't get enough.
“What a grand library!” Ismene gasped. Did the people of this city know what a rare jewel they had?
“Your love of reading is admirable, so I wanted to share this with you.” Alistair smiled at her. “I knew that you could appreciate it.”
They came into a room where several men were working at a couple of tables. The men were in deep discussion. Several of the men were impassioned in their speech, others calm but insistent.
“Who are these men?” she said, lowering her voice.
“They are Jews whose land has been conquered. They are attempting to preserve their culture by translating their holy scriptures into Greek. Pharaoh has commissioned them to create this translation so that it is more accessible.”
“Oh?” Ismene lit up. She was excited to find such a grouping that spoke her native tongue. Though they were every bit the strangers to her that the Egyptian people were, she felt a camaraderie with them. They were rather intent on their work, a work to preserve a culture. She knew precious little of the Jews and, in truth, what she did know she did not trust to be completely factual.
“Are they holy scriptures about one of the Greek gods?”
“No...they believe in one god.”
“Hmm...one god. That sounds different.”
One of the men at the table closest to them had overheard and injected. “My lady, if you don't mind my saying, it is quite different. We are unique among peoples in that we follow one god.”
“And who is the god you follow? Zeus? Ra?”
He shook his head. “Jehovah.”
“I've never heard of a god named ‘Jehovah.’” Her eyes caught the man's gaze and moved between him and Alistair. For his part, Alistair offered only a slight shrug.
“I am not surprised.” The man's tone was gentle, but confident. “He is not a god, He is THE God.”
Ismene was taken aback. “You speak quite brazenly to someone you do not know.”
“Forgive me for any offense, but it is because I speak of what I know.”
Ismene thought on that for a handful of seconds.
“I would be happy to read you some of our holy scriptures and let you see for yourself,” the man offered.
“What are these holy scriptures?” Skeptical, but curious, Ismene couldn't decide what to think.
“They are the history of my people, passed down through the generations.”
Ismene pursed her lips. “I admit I know little of your people. I am willing to hear a little perhaps.”
“Then I will look for your return,” he said before getting back to his work.
Ismene and Alistair moved on, but her mind stayed in that conversation. She had met religious zealots before, but never someone who was calm, collected, sane, and still that confident in what he believed. Perhaps she would at least enjoy hearing the history of his people.
Before she knew it, they had completed their tour of the library. Ismene wanted to take every single book home with her, but knew that they would not allow her to leave with even one. She would have to make this a regular stop. To read, converse with the Greek scholars, and enjoy the solitude.
“This was...amazing. Thank you.”
“My pleasure. I had already arranged for Neterka to see that you are able to be brought here as you please, but I sense that you are already making plans for a return trip. And perhaps if I am to be away again, it can be a welcomed diversion.”
She nodded, but did not smile. As much as she appreciated his thoughtfulness, she loathed to think of that time of separation or imagine repeating that experience.
* * *
While her mistress was on her surprise outing with Alistair, Alonah sneaked out of the house and made her way to the barracks outside of the palace in hopes of seeing Jabari. She took up a spot behind a tree so that she was not easily spotted by the soldiers coming and going. After a couple of hours of waiting, she was rewarded when Jabari came out for a midday stroll.
“Jabari!” she called out, trying to remain hidden.
He twisted around, trying to discern where the sound had come from.
She glanced about and, after a couple of soldiers were back in the barracks, she stepped out from behind the tree. “Jabari!”
He spotted her and jogged over, looking out for others that might spot their rendezvous as well. When he made it over to her, however, all thoughts of onlookers were in the far reaches of his mind. Taking her in his arms, he kissed her deeply.
“I am so glad to see you,” he said. “I was a little worried after our last conversation.”
She cupped his face. “I know. And I'm sorry. I do love you, Jabari. And I want to marry you. I'm just concerned about all of the obstacles that are in our way.”
He rested his forehead on hers as he nodded. “It is selfish of me, I know.”
“No. I am so flattered. And you would be rescuing me from a life of servitude. Do not be sorry.”
“I should be. For my desire is selfish, Alonah. I fear my thoughts are not for freeing you, but of how much I want to marry you, for you to be mine...forever.”
“I want that too.”
He pulled her further away from the barracks. “Then why shouldn't we marry? Forget the obstacles. We will overcome them all...together.”
“If only we could forget them.” Alonah frowned.
“We could.” Jabari's eyes lit up. “If we marry in secret.”
She looked up at him questioningly, but his eyes were serious.
“We would be bound together forever, but we would have time to take on these obstacles you speak of at our own pace. It's the best of both, Alonah.”
“It's crazy, Jabari. You can't be serious.”
“But I am...quite serious. Can you not see how perfect it would be?”
She was starting to see how it could be. But there was something in her that hesitated.
“We would get what we want—to be married. But nothing else would change. At least not for now.”
Gazing into the eyes of the man she loved, she could not deny him. She loved him too much. “When? How?”
“I know a priest who will do it.”
“It will have to be in the middle of the night, I fear.” She did not want to get married like this—sneaking away in the dark of night. “I cannot know if or when I can get away like this again.”
He nodded. “It will be all right,” he said, reading the concern in her eyes. He pressed a long kiss to her lips. “I love you.”
She rested her head on his broad chest and savored the feel of his strong arms around her. “And I love you.”
* * *
The next morning, Ismene woke and reached for her husband. He responded by pulling her into his arms, kissing the top of her head.
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“I have to get up soon,” he said, regretting every word. They both knew what he was not saying—that he would also need to head out to spend the day with his troops instead of with her.
Ismene groaned in protest and hugged him tighter. She wasn't ready for her husband to be parted from her, but she knew it was inevitable.
They lay in each other’s arms for several more minutes before he gave her a warm squeeze and pressed a kiss to her lips. “It is time, my love.”
She nodded.
They both moved to their respective edges of the bed, pulling robes on, before moving toward the lounge pieces. Alistair rang for Neterka and sat down next to Ismene to get the last bits of morning snuggling before breakfast.
It wasn't long before Neterka came with their breakfast and they were forced to end their closeness to eat. There wasn't much conversation while they ate. They just enjoyed being together, and Ismene's thoughts kept drifting to the fact that Alistair would be leaving in only a matter of a half hour or so. Ismene had so enjoyed having him to herself the day before. She longed for a time when that would be the norm. But would it ever be? Not realistically. It didn't even matter how much he wanted to be here with her. His first duty was to Pharaoh and the army. That was that. Today she would be throwing herself into her work, trying to will the day to go by faster. No matter what, she knew she would be counting the minutes until his return.
As they finished the last bites on their plates, Alistair pulled Ismene to him again.
“I have to prepare myself and go, love.” He embraced her. “Oh, but how I hate leaving you for one second!”
She knew he spoke the truth. “I know. I hate it too.”
Ismene had often been thankful she had not been married to a politician or man of government. In that moment, she was jealous of those wives that would have more time with their husbands day to day. But he would not be Alistair if he didn't do what he did. If he were a politician, he would be a different person. She wouldn't change one thing about him. He was perfect.
The General's Wife (Ancient Egypt) Page 14