Queen of Sheba

by Roberta Kells Dorr

  Hadad’s face clouded over. “He’s my worst enemy and for years I’ve sworn to get even. Now with the coalition, Shishak of Egypt, Rezon of Syria, and you with your army from Sheba, we can utterly defeat him. I’ll not let anything stand in my way.”

  “So you think that by marrying me you’ll have the support of Sheba?”

  “At least you won’t be able to join him.”

  “What makes you think I’d join him?”

  At this Hadad appeared nervous. “It’s well-known that women can’t resist him. You’d be no different from the rest.”

  “So you think to win me over by holding me captive in this disgraceful manner and marrying me against my will. Well you are wrong. Even if Solomon doesn’t rescue me, certainly Ilumquh, the god of my people, will deliver me,” she said tossing her head with a bravado she didn’t feel.

  Hadad laughed. “If he should try to rescue you, he would find the god of my people is greater and stronger.”

  Bilqis was immediately alarmed. “And who is the god of your people?” she asked.

  “Dusares,” he answered.

  Bilqis’s eyes grew thoughtful. “Du means ‘Lord;’ but what does sares mean?”

  Hadad glanced at her in astonishment. His women were not interested in such things. He didn’t like it that a woman should ask about the name of a god. She had no need to know such things. He remembered just in time, however, that he wanted to impress this queen, and so he answered, “Shara or Seir is what these mountains are called. He is Dusares, lord of all these mountains.”

  “Our god is Ilumquh. He is the shining being that rises at dusk and gives us light in the darkness, brings seeds to life, and gives us a way of numbering our days.”

  Hadad smirked. “I have studied the gods of Egypt. Ra is greatest of them all. Without his shining we would be in darkness all the time.” He said this in such a smug way that Bilqis felt he was dismissing Ilumquh as unimportant.

  “If Ra is so great and powerful, why is he not the god of the Edomites?”

  Hadad again shifted uneasily. “This isn’t a matter for one as beautiful as you. Don’t concern yourself. Leave it for the priests and tribal leaders.”

  Now Bilqis felt insulted. “You speak to me as though I were only a woman,” she said trying to control her voice. “I’m not a woman, I assure you; I’m a queen.”

  For a moment Hadad was taken aback. He looked at her closely and then broke out into a hearty laugh. “Of course you are a queen, and it is fitting for you to ask such things. Now I remember. You are supposed to be traveling to the all-wise king in Jerusalem to ask him questions that will tell you what is truth.”

  Though he seemed to be saying the right things, Bilqis felt that underneath he was still amused that a woman should ask about one of the gods. “Truth is important,” she said. “How can we worship until we know who is the true god?”

  Hadad was amazed. He had never thought very deeply about such matters. “Why, it’s quite simple. In Egypt I worshiped Ra and now that I am here I worship Dusares.”

  “Can I see this god of yours?”

  Again Hadad shifted uneasily. “He is in the form of a white stone, very sacred. The priests guard him night and day. They may not let a stranger see him.”

  Bilqis was now quite interested. “He is a white stone? Your god is a white stone? You can touch him and could even crush him if you wanted. Ilumquh is totally unreachable. He’s above the tallest trees and the highest building. He rules in every place. Each night I see him no matter how far from home I might be. He is much greater than your white stone.”

  Now Hadad was angry. “Have you ever touched Ilumquh? No, of course not. Well I have touched Dusares. No matter what god or gods ride by in the sky, Dusares rules here in Seir.”

  Bilqis felt a chill of fear. It was true that not only was she hemmed in by these mountains but Hadad’s god seemed to be in complete control.

  In desperation she began to devise a plan of escape. Her only hope was somehow to get a message to Solomon in Jerusalem. Hadad was his vassal and still answerable to him.

  She went over in her mind each person in her company and found that only Rydan could manage such a feat. He would not only have to escape from this stronghold but he would then have to find his way up to Jerusalem. She wondered also if she could trust him. It was entirely possible that he would join Il Hamd and together they would seize her throne and ride back to rule Sheba. The time was short and she would have to act quickly.

  Once she had determined Rydan was her only hope, she had to figure out a way to see him alone long enough to devise a plan. Hadad or his servants were with her constantly, and it wasn’t until the night of an elaborate banquet held out under the stars that she was finally able to talk to her cousin.

  Rydan seemed surprised when she singled him out to sit beside her. She noticed that he was nervous and could hardly eat. He answered her questions with deference and was overly courteous. He no longer seemed to be the strong-willed, insolent young man she had so disliked in the past.

  The opportunity to speak privately to him came unexpectedly when Hadad was called away on business. “My cousin,” she said, “you know that we are all being held prisoner here. Hadad is now insisting on marrying me and forcing me not only to join him in the conspiracy against Solomon but to stay right here as his wife.” She could see by Rydan’s expression that he was horrified. “I must find someone who can escape and get word to Solomon. Can I trust you to do this?”

  “There’s a camp of Solomon’s men just outside the Siq,” he whispered. “They’re stationed there to keep the Edomites from doing anything rash. Each day a small battery of mercenaries rides through the Siq to check on them. If I can get to them, maybe there is some hope.”

  “There isn’t much time. Within three days Hadad has told me there will be a great sacrifice and immediately after that the wedding.”

  The next morning as Solomon’s guard marched through the Siq into the city some of them noticed an old woman dressed in rags begging for alms. She held out her hand and kept her face covered as though she was embarrassed to be engaged in such a humble occupation. Several of the guards were incensed to find her sitting so close to their station, and they accosted her, insisting she leave and find someplace else to beg.

  Strangely enough, no one seemed to notice that when the soldiers left and rode out through the Siq, the woman had also disappeared.

  That night when Hadad again prepared a feast and entertainment, Bilqis noticed that Rydan was missing. She breathed a sigh of relief knowing that he must have found a way to leave the fortress, but she doubted that he could get help in time.

  The sacrifice to Dusares was planned to assure the success of Hadad’s plans to defeat Solomon. He insisted that Bilqis be present. “Tomorrow,” he said, “you will come with the men of Edom to the high place, and there you will witness the power of Dusares. It has never been permitted before for a woman to witness this ceremony, but then, never before has a queen been my guest.”

  Bilqis knew instinctively that he was taking her with him so there would be no chance of her escape and to impress upon her his dedication and commitment to the coalition and their plans. “This sacrifice,” Bilqis asked, “what will it do for you?”

  “You’ll see. After the sacrifice, the wedding, the victory over Solomon, everything will happen as I want it.”

  “Can the god of a white stone do all of this?”

  “I sacrifice to Ra of the Egyptians also. Ra and Dusares are stronger than the God of Israel.”

  “And me. How do you think your god can force me to marry you?”

  Hadad laughed. “That’s the easiest. You are here in Dusares’ territory. Your god has no power to protect you here.”

  Bilqis was frightened but still curious. “What sacrifice will give you such power?”

  “You’ll see. However, I must warn you,” he added, “if it were found out that you were a woman, even though you are a queen, it could cost
you your life. I’ll give you a man’s garb, cloak, and head covering. You’ll stay near me, in my company. Of course you can’t speak or ask questions, and no matter what you see, you mustn’t cry out or object.” He looked at her as though he were enjoying her discomfort.

  That night she slept fitfully as she wondered whether Rydan had succeeded in getting to Jerusalem and if he had been able to deliver the message. There wasn’t much time left. Once the sacrifice was carried out, the wedding would soon follow.

  She wondered at the mysterious way in which Hadad had talked of the sacrifice. He seemed to be so sure his god would free Edom from Israel’s control. The very fact that women weren’t allowed made her suspicious. Could it be that she was about to see some dark horror? She would have to summon all her courage not to flinch or cry out no matter what was involved.

  The altar of the Edomites was at the top of one of their high stone cliffs. Bilqis, standing beside Hadad, shivered in the predawn darkness and wondered how they were to scale this sheer cliff. As the priests began to light torches, she saw a narrow passage in between two rocks that led to steps cut in the rock.

  The climb was steep and the steps worn. Bilqis had only gone halfway up when she felt exhausted. She saw Hadad and the rest only as dark shadows, and there was no sound but a steady chanting of magical phrases. She wished she had asked more questions. As this involved some vow Hadad was about to make, it could be something very serious. She knew that Hadad would be willing to pay almost any price for freedom from Israel.

  They arrived at the top and fanned out in the space behind the altar. Remembering Hadad’s warning, she edged away from him and off to one side where she could see everything but wouldn’t be easily seen. As the sky brightened she saw that there were dark outlines of two men, bound, standing in the well-defined circle near the raised area that was entirely covered with gold. Four steps led up from the golden platform to a low but broad limestone altar.

  She was vaguely aware of chanting and priestly rituals. Somewhere above them she could hear the flapping of giant wings, see exaggerated shadows on the rock face as huge birds circled and swooped and at times gave out the same wild call that had first startled her in the canyon.

  Across the valley beyond the dark mountain peaks, the sky grew crimson. One of the captives had been drawn by lot and was then given a drink from a golden ewer. The chanting ceased. There was only the steady, low insistent beat of drums. Every eye rested on the dark form. He was still only an outline against the sky. His features were blurred and indistinct. Someone coughed nervously. It became evident that everything must be ready before the sun rose.

  There was an audible sigh of relief as the victim sank into the priest’s hands and then was lowered to the altar. Just as the sun rose there was the glinting flash of a knife and the body lay motionless, head hanging over the altar’s side and a stream of blood flowing down into a catch basin.

  Bilqis had not been able to take her eyes from the awful sight. She found her lip sore from biting into the edge of her cloak. In Marib, back in her father’s time, there had been a threat of famine, and a human being had been sacrificed. She had never really thought about it before, but now she wondered about many things. Would this really accomplish what Hadad wanted? Were the gods pleased with such devotion? Could they be bought with such sacrifices?

  There was a slight stir as Hadad stepped up to the altar’s edge, dipped his finger in the blood, and wiped it on the four edges of the altar. Then in a loud, militant voice he cried, “O mighty Dusares of Seir and Ra of Egypt, by this blood I pledge to free your fortress of Edom from Israelite bondage. I’ll bring Solomon down to defeat. See that his eyes are put out, his sons slain, his wives desecrated, his house become an abode for vultures, and his temple ashes.” He paused, and then in a lower, more controlled voice he pled, “Grant me success, grant Edom success, and grant Egypt success. May our enemies be as dung.”

  Bilqis cringed. If Dusares and Ra were really as strong and as powerful as Hadad thought, then there was no hope. She stood transfixed by the horror of it all until suddenly, like a great tidal wave, there was first a rough, gutteral sound and then bursting upon the morning air the militant shout of men waving their arms, stomping their feet, and shouting “Edom, Edom” over and over again.

  Quickly the solemnity of the past hour changed to jubilation. Men rushed past Bilqis shouting and laughing in a hurry to get down to the valley, where the festivities were to take place. She edged to the side of the cliff and turned her face to the wall lest they see that she was a woman and almost faint with loathing. When all but the priests had gone, she turned to find her way back down the worn steps. She hugged the rough cliff side and tried not to look at the altar that now was flooded with bright sunlight that glinted and flashed from the golden platform. Though she didn’t look at the altar, she couldn’t ignore the sight of great ugly vultures that were swooping in and landing, ready to tear apart the sacrifice.

  With averted eyes and trembling lips she made her way down the steps to the oleander grove where she had left her retainers and her palanquin. Without a word she stepped in and let them pull the curtains while she leaned back exhausted and terrified. “This Hadad would stop at nothing to accomplish his goal,” she thought. “Even if Rydan can get to Solomon and gives him the message, there seems very little hope that anything can be done.”

  Hadad was waiting for her as she dismounted near the guest rooms.

  “The vow has been recorded, the sacrifice made, and tomorrow we will have the wedding.” His smile was smug and calculating.

  “I’ll need more time. Queens can’t be married like common women.” She tried not to let her anger show.

  Hadad laughed. “It’s the same everywhere. Women are always reluctant to marry, always finding excuses. They have no idea of what’s best for them.”

  Bilqis started to leave but was quickly stopped as Hadad reached out and grasped her arm and swung her around to face him. “You’ll find me to be a tireless lover. I’m a passionate man.” His eyes glinted with lust and Bilqis shrank from him.

  “I’m afraid you’ll find me quite cool to your ardor. I am a queen, not a simple village maid.” She pulled away from him and joined her maidens as they mounted the steps to the guest house. Behind her she could hear Hadad’s laughter. He hadn’t taken anything she said seriously. He had no doubt but that his plan would work.

  Bilqis spent a sleepless night. She paced up and down, restlessly looking out at the moon and wondering if there was a moon god named Ilumquh. If there was, did he care that his queen was hopelessly trapped in this small rockbound city? She thought briefly of Il Hamd and realized that he could say nothing to comfort her. She no longer believed he knew any more about the mystery of the gods than she did.

  The next morning there was still no news from Rydan and the wedding was to take place at sundown. She stalled for time, but it was useless. Each hour was now bringing her closer to her fearful fate. She stormed and raged and threatened but knew that without some miracle, Hadad would have his way.

  Just as she had given up all hope, there was a stirring among the maidens. They looked startled and whispered among themselves. Half of them disappeared and later reappeared looking nervous and frightened. Then to everyone’s surprise a young man plunged through the doorway and shouted, “The queen. Our king, Hadad, is calling for the queen.”

  Bilqis stood up and summoned her maidens, then, with head held high and a defiant look in her eye, she followed the young man out into the open courtyard. She had gone hoping to confront Hadad and demand her release. She had her threats prepared and her bargaining organized. But she was taken aback by the sight that met her.

  Hadad wasn’t anywhere to be seen. Instead, her own cousin Rydan stood in the midst of the courtyard with what seemed an army of light. Their helmets were of leather trimmed with glistening metal, the breastplates of highly polished brass, and their greaves of brass laced with leather thongs. Their shields were of
pure beaten gold that sparkled and glistened in the sun. Over and around them, rippling in the breeze, were brightly colored banners embroidered with lions rearing to attack. It was obvious that these valiant warriors were Solomon’s men and they had come to rescue her.

  “How did you get through the Siq without being detected?” she asked.

  Rydan pointed to the cliffs above them, and for the first time she saw that there were men standing with drawn bows pointed at the king’s palace and the open courtyard where the wedding was to have taken place. “Solomon understands these scoundrels and knows how to handle them,” Rydan said. “When I got to Jerusalem, the king had already been told of Hadad’s treachery and was sending his men to rescue you. This isn’t the first time he has had to put Hadad in his place.”

  By dusk the queen was back in her own camp with the familiar tent over her head and the whole episode of the last few days seeming like a bad dream. She had honored Rydan and elevated him to one of her chief counselors. He would be invaluable, she decided, in dealing with the Hebrews.

  “We’re to go on to Jericho tomorrow,” he told her. “The king has a winter palace there. When it is cold in Jerusalem they say it is warm and pleasant in Jericho. He knows you will need to rest before you make the last part of your trip up to Jerusalem.”

  “Then you actually saw Solomon?” she asked.

  “No, it’s very difficult to see him. I saw one of his brothers. A young man named Nathan. He will also be the one to meet you in Jericho.”

  “And Jerusalem. Did you go to Jerusalem?”

  “Yes, my queen, I went to Jerusalem, and it is all they have said and more, much more.”

  “Tell me, what was it like?”

  Rydan struggled for words and finally said, “If I told you, you wouldn’t believe me. You’ll have to see it to understand. It was like nothing I’ve ever seen before.”