Whispering Tower

by Katie Clark

  “Flowers please you, then?” Lilla asked. Again, she had that strange, determined look on her face.

  Confusion trickled in as a warning played in Skye’s mind. She couldn’t put her finger on it, but Lilla’s questions bothered her. “Yes, I like them very much.”

  Now Lilla grinned. “I am joyous to hear this.”

  Leah found them a few minutes later, and they returned to their bench for a cool drink of water. It wasn’t clear, definitely not as clean as the water coming out of their filtered fridge back home, but Skye tried to ignore the possible contamination as she sipped.

  Leah took the cup from her when she’d finished, then Lilla’s, before returning to the kitchen.

  “Have you had enough air?” Lilla asked. “We want to be sure you are prepared for tonight’s feast.” She emphasized the last word.

  Nerves twisted in Skye’s stomach. How big would this event be? How many people would be there to ask her questions she couldn’t answer?

  She pushed away the fears and followed Lilla inside.

  Leah met them back in Skye’s room, carrying a fresh pitcher of water.

  Sweat dripped down her own forehead, and as soon as Lilla had shut them in, Skye took the water from Leah. She poured a cup and handed it to Leah. “Drink. You are thirsty.”

  Leah’s eyes widened, and she shook her head. “No, Mistress. It is for you.”

  “And I choose to give it to you.”

  Still Leah refused.

  Skye sighed. “Things are different here.” She wanted to get home. Needed to get home, to a place where people weren’t treated this way. Where everyone had worth, even if they didn’t always know or believe it.

  Leah cocked her head to the side. “Different from where you come from? From the home of the gods?”

  Skye froze. She had explained to Leah the truth. That Skye wasn’t a god, there had been a misunderstanding, and she and Philip were trying to make things right. Didn’t Leah remember?

  It was no use. Just as Leah had refused the water, she was refusing to believe their story. “Different from where I come from, yes.” Skye relented. “Back home, if I offer water to a thirsty person, that person would accept.”

  Leah’s gaze clouded over, but she didn’t accept the drink. “Would you like to rest before I prepare you for the dinner? It will start soon.”

  Skye sighed again. “Sure, why not?”

  Leah frowned, confused.

  “You don’t have to answer that. It was rhetorical,” Skye explained.

  Leah still looked confused.

  Skye put her hand on the girl’s shoulder. “Thank you for everything you’re doing for me. I appreciate it very much.”

  Leah’s face brightened, and Skye allowed her to help her take off a few layers so she could rest.

  Philip needed to return, so that they could get out of this place. Hopefully, it would be soon.

  10

  The people in the market were heading home for the night. They tied down flaps and packed up carts. It was good to know the area would be empty if he and Skye could come back in a couple hours.

  Abdul was whistling as he went about his business, and Philip let a smile tug at his lips. He could do this. He could save them and save their friendship all at the same time.

  “Abdul, wait!” Philip stopped Abdul just before the kid ducked under a tent flap.

  The boy turned, his face full of excitement. The same look he’d had the first time Philip saw him. It seemed to be his regular persona. But when he saw Philip, he frowned.

  “You are looking for fruit?” he asked. “Mawmaw has gone for the night, but I can run and get her.”

  Philip swallowed hard and glanced around. “No, I’m not looking for fruit. I came with Skye—Hebat.”

  Abdul’s eyes widened. “Yes, I recognize you now.” He looked Philip up and down. “Why did you come after me?”

  Philip didn’t spend a lot of time with kids, but he had a cousin who was about nine, which just about lined up with Abdul’s age, he would guess. Dane talked all the time. And he was brutally honest.

  If anyone would open up to Philip, he had a feeling it would be Abdul. “Hebat and I have questions. There are things we don’t understand, and we were hoping you could provide us the answers we need.”

  Abdul’s whole face lit up. He puffed out his chest and nodded quickly. “I know many things. What do you want to know?”

  Philip glanced around again, glad he didn’t see any sign of the guy who’d practically growled at him. Still, he couldn’t risk anyone overhearing. “Can we talk somewhere quiet? Where no one will hear us?” What kid could resist a secret?

  Abdul grabbed Philip’s hand and yanked him inside the tent. Apparently, no one taught kids about stranger-danger back in the ancient day.

  The tent was dark but private, and Abdul let go of his hand. “Wait right here.” He shuffled to the back and lifted another flap. A stream of light filtered in. Philip joined him at the back and glanced up and down a narrow alley. It was empty.

  “It’s private?” Philip asked. “I can ask you questions, and no one will hear me?”

  Abdul shook his head. “Everyone has gone home for the day. I was finishing up Mawmaw’s business.” He stopped and frowned. “I have to hurry, or she will punish me for being late.”

  Philip let out a relieved breath, but he wasn’t sure how to word what he had to say. How could he navigate Abdul’s perceptions without lying? “I won’t get you into trouble. Skye—Hebat—isn’t sure why she was sent here. In fact, she isn’t sure what this place is. What is this country called? What year is it?”

  Abdul’s face clouded over, and he stared at Philip.

  Philip could almost see the wheels turning. Hear Abdul’s thoughts. What kind of goddess doesn’t know where she is or why she was sent?

  Finally, Abdul shifted in the dim tent. “This is Sumer, of course. She was sent to honor the temple to the skies, no?”

  Philip hesitated, trying to remember anything he could about Sumer. He remembered it was near present-day Iraq, but other than that he drew a blank.

  Still, the city was building a temple to the gods of the skies. That must be why they believed Hebat had been sent—the reason they’d latched onto the belief so quickly.

  He tried to play off his confusion. “The temple, of course. Yes. Do you know what year this is?”

  Abdul’s eyes clouded over. Philip had lost him.

  Philip managed a smile. “You know what? Never mind. Thanks for your help.” This was the point where he’d ruffle Abdul’s hair, but the head cap the kid wore made that kind of awkward. “Get home now before you get into trouble.”

  Abdul grinned, and Philip headed out the front of the tent while Abdul secured the flap in the back.

  As he emerged, a kid came running down the street. He was shouting something, hopping from foot to foot in excitement, but Philip couldn’t make it out. Abdul came out behind him, but when he spotted the boy he stopped.

  “Ariel!” Abdul shouted. He laughed. “What is all the excitement?”

  Ariel ran closer, and Philip could see he was Abdul’s age. His cheeks were flushed from running and shouting, and he shouted to Abdul as he drew closer. “The festival has been announced!”

  Abdul sucked in an excited breath. “The festival!” He laughed and danced, raising his hands and shaking his head. “Blessings on Hebat!”

  Philip put his hand on Abdul’s shoulder. “What festival? What are you talking about?”

  But Abdul was too excited to listen, and he and Ariel ran off to tell the next group of people a few tents down the dusty road.

  His best lead had just ditched him. Great.

  Well, at least he knew a little more than when he’d come. They believed Skye was Hebat because they were building a temple in her honor. They were in ancient Sumer—maybe Skye knew something about that, since she’d studied ancient stuff with Mr. Kilpatrick—and now there was a festival, thanks to Hebat.

&n
bsp; He needed to get back to Saul’s and warn her. Maybe they’d have a few days’ leeway, and they could get out before it all started. The last thing they needed was a whole day of attention. It would only make people focus even more on Skye’s arrival. They needed the opposite.

  Turning away from the marketplace, he began his trek back to Saul’s. The moon was higher in the sky, but the heat hadn’t let up at all. The robes Leah had given him were surprisingly cool. They were loose, letting a breeze blow through them.

  But he was still hot, and sweat dripped down his forehead. He wiped it and kept walking, hoping to steer clear of the big guy from the market. Skye had enemies. He had to keep her out of the line of fire and get her home before some crazy dude decided to assassinate her.

  The urge to protect her—to save her—was a strange feeling. He wasn’t her knight in shining armor. Far from it. But he’d thought about defending her back home plenty of times even if he’d never followed through. He’d been too focused on himself the last couple years. Maybe trying too hard to follow in Dad’s footsteps.

  This time he wouldn’t fail her. Staying in this place? No, thanks. The threatening guy from earlier gave him the creeps. He’d been so big he could probably kill Philip in a blow or two.

  Philip needed to get back to London. Play along. Return to America. He’d forget this crazy nightmare ever happened.

  People bustled in and out of the buildings around the city as he neared Saul’s. Two guards stood at the front door, and as he approached they stepped closer together, blocking him from the door. They wore short, brown robes with some type of rope tied around their waists. Their muscles bulged at the hemline of their short sleeves, and their faces looked as if they’d been in more than a couple of fights.

  “I’m with Skye,” he said awkwardly. “I mean Hebat. I’m her companion.”

  The two huge guards didn’t blink, just stared down at him.

  He swallowed hard. “I am Philip. I arrived with her, and I just left this house an hour ago. You were the ones who let me out.”

  Still, they stood frozen like statues.

  This couldn’t be good.

  “Can one of you go ask her? Or get Saul. He knows me.”

  One of the men took a deep, bored-sounding breath.

  Philip’s stomach sank. They were doing this on purpose. They weren’t letting him in for a reason.

  The dread settled into a resolve. He lifted his chin as if their nonchalance didn’t bother him in the least. “You’ll hear from me again.” He didn’t wait around to see their non-reaction, just turned and stomped away.

  What reason could Saul have to keep him away? Or had it been Lilla locking him out? She’d seemed evil from the get go.

  Regardless, if they were keeping Philip away, there had to be a reason, and it couldn’t be a good one. Did they think he was dangerous because he hadn’t protected Skye at the windows earlier?

  He maneuvered through the streets until he found the back alley of Saul’s house, and then he hunkered down. A guard was posted on each end of the home, but the two of them weren’t communicating with or even looking at each other. Two different doors led into the house from the alley. If he could get inside, he could sneak through the house until he found Skye’s room.

  Waiting the guards out was his best bet. Hopefully, it wouldn’t take too long.

  PART TWO

  “And they said, Go to, let us build us a city and a tower, whose top may reach unto heaven; and let us make us a name. And the Lord came down to see the city and the tower, which the children of men builded.” Genesis 11:4-5

  11

  Somehow, Skye managed to doze off. She dreamt the same dream she’d had for the last few months—sand, heat, and being lost.

  Mistress. Mistress, you must awaken.

  Skye sat up with a start, breathing hard and sweating through her robe. She glanced around, trying to make sense of her world. It only took a second to remember.

  Leah stood at her side, her eyes wide and her lips trembling. “Mistress?”

  Skye managed a smile. “What do you need, Leah?”

  “You were calling out in your sleep. I thought you were distressed.”

  “No, I’m fine. But thank you. It was very sweet of you to be concerned.”

  Leah’s face didn’t iron out with the reassurance, so Skye pushed off from the pallet on the floor to prove she was fine. Candlelight danced off the walls, intertwining with the moonlight coming through the windows. Icy fear trickled down her neck. She couldn’t be here overnight. They had to find a way out. They had to figure out how to escape.

  Escape? The word gave her chills. Was she being kept prisoner? It seemed crazy, but what other explanation could there be?

  “Has Philip returned?” Skye asked.

  Leah shook her head.

  Skye had no idea how long it’d been since he left, or since she fell asleep, but it had to be at least a couple hours. What could be keeping him? Glancing out the windows, she scanned for invaders. But the guards remained at their posts, keeping her enemies away in the torchlight.

  Skye shuddered. Enemies? This was crazier than walking through the hallways of her high school.

  At school, bullies had been her problem. Here, it was the masses. And Saul? He was the principal of the ancient city she’d been tossed into. Maybe she needed to become his pet. Then she’d have a way to keep the dissenters at bay.

  “Mistress.” Leah’s soft voice turned her from the window. “We must prepare for supper. Guests have already begun arriving.”

  Skye didn’t want food, but she had to play her part. “Of course.” She hurried to Leah’s side and allowed the girl to help her change into a sea green robe. Leah tied a gold-colored sash around Skye’s waist, then led her to the vanity where she’d brushed Skye’s hair earlier in the day.

  Again, she arranged Skye’s hair. Next, she applied makeup and jewelry. Finally, she pinned a gold-colored veil over the bottom half of Skye’s face and arranged a head covering over her blond hair.

  Skye’s heart beat out a quick rhythm as she allowed Leah to lead her to the distorted, dirty, copper mirror. Her reflection caught her off guard even though she had anticipated a different look from earlier in the day. Tonight, she had heavier eye makeup, richer colored clothing, and the veil that covered her face. The deep jewel tone of the robe, and the golden veil that covered her face gave her a definite princess feel.

  If she was supposed to be a beautiful goddess, she was succeeding at looking the part. What would Philip think?

  “Are you pleased?” Leah asked.

  Skye swallowed around the lump in her throat. She nodded. “Yes, thank you. You’ve done a wonderful job.”

  Leah beamed, and Skye reached to give her a hug. But when she leaned forward, Leah stiffened in her arms. Skye’s heart sank. Poor girl wasn’t used to being hugged or thanked, that much was obvious.

  Skye pulled away so she wouldn’t make Leah any more uncomfortable. Now she glanced toward the door. Where was Philip? He should be here by now.

  “Leah, can you do something for me?”

  Leah perked up again, her shoulders straight and her eyes bright. “Anything, Mistress.”

  “Will you find out where Philip is? I would feel much more comfortable for tonight’s supper with him by my side.”

  Leah bowed quickly and then hurried out. The huge door closed with a soft thud behind her, essentially locking Skye in.

  The fear in the pit of her stomach returned. She was alone in this strange place, and she couldn’t even get out.

  What if she tried? Would the guards at the door let her pass? She was supposed to be Hebat, for goodness’ sake! Shouldn’t they obey her?

  But the problem was, she wasn’t Hebat. She was no one, and she couldn’t pretend otherwise. Once these people spent any amount of time with her, they were sure to pick up on the fact that she wasn’t who they thought. They would see straight through her guise, and then what?

  Toss he
r out? Imprison her?

  Where was Philip?

  She moved to the lounge and sank into the seat to wait for Leah to return. Then, it would be time to face her guests.

  ~*~

  The golden bangles on Skye’s wrists clanged together, making it hard for her to take Saul’s hands when he came for her.

  “Hebat.” Saul kissed her hands. “You are stunning. You take my breath away.”

  Skye forced out a smile, uncomfortable with his praise. His large belly protruded underneath his robes, pushing the material out past the ropes tied around his waist. His scratchy beard irritated her cheeks as he pulled her close, and she silently wondered why he felt he had permission to touch her, even hug her.

  “Come, come!” he went on, obviously not noticing how uncomfortable he made her. “Our guests await!”

  She started to follow him out the door but then pulled him to a stop. Leah had not returned, and she needed to know. “Saul, wait.” She swallowed hard. “Please. Philip will be there, won’t he? I haven’t seen him for several hours.”

  “Do not worry over your friend,” Saul said in a friendly voice. “Saul takes care of everything.”

  He whisked her down the marble steps at such a fast pace that she couldn’t keep up with him and talk at the same time, but his answer was hardly an answer at all. The voices of their guests drifted on the air as she drew closer to the bottom of the steps. Her stomach twisted. If she was to be stuck in the past, couldn’t she have been deposited in the middle of the empty desert? Why a busy street in the middle of a city that would believe she was someone important?

  Saul steered her to the right, through a large sitting room and then to a type of dining room, nothing like the dining rooms back home. This one had a long, low table less than a foot off the ground. Pillows took the place of chairs, and many of the guests already sat around the table on the cushions.

  “My friends, please stand and greet our guest of honor!” Saul’s voice boomed around the room. His guests—mostly men—scrambled to their feet. They all bowed deeply, and Skye shifted uncomfortably. All this for her? They would be angry when she and Philip hightailed it out of there.