by Katie Clark
“Please welcome Hebat, goddess of the heavens. She has come to bless the temple, and we will celebrate her presence throughout the three-day festival, which will begin this very night.”
The guests clapped, and for the first time Skye was thankful for her face veil. If these people could see her clearly, they’d see how panicked Saul’s announcement made her. A festival? To celebrate her?
No, no, no.
“Come, Hebat. Dine with us!” someone called.
She glanced at Saul, and he urged her to a spot at the head of the table. Her stomach twisted again, and she couldn’t believe this was happening. She needed to be home, taking educational tours in London and hating every moment she spent with Philip.
At the thought of him, she hurriedly looked around, but Philip was nowhere to be seen, and there wasn’t an empty spot at the table. With a sinking feeling in her stomach, she realized he wouldn’t be here for this meal. How could she do this on her own?
Fear returned, but Skye forced herself to stay put while everything in her screamed to flee.
Lord Jesus, help me.
Skye took her seat, crossing her legs and hoping she could stay balanced on the cushion. Saul sat to her right, and Lilla sat across from him. A young man sat on her left. Skye guessed he was a few years older than she was. His dark eyes held hers, and he offered a friendly smile. Downright congenial.
Still, Skye wasn’t in the mood to make friends. She forced out a smile and then looked away.
But the guy didn’t give up that easily. “I am Seth,” he said. His smooth, soft voice drew her out of her shell, and she reluctantly looked back at him. He was clean shaven, with nice, smooth skin and a strong jaw. His arms and broad shoulders showed through his cream-colored robes.
Skye wasn’t used to anyone paying her attention, let alone handsome men. Her cheeks burned, and she bit her bottom lip. “It is nice to meet you,” she said.
“You honor me with your presence, Hebat.” He bowed his head to her, she supposed in reverence.
She smiled nervously, not wanting to lie but willing herself to play her part.
Oh, where was Philip?
“Are you happy with the announcement of the festival?”
Her smile faltered, but she worked to paste it on. “It honors me greatly,” she squeaked out.
He held her gaze an extra moment, almost too long, before turning away. She looked down and took a deep, steadying breath. Had he noticed too much hesitation in her answer?
A server brought out a platter of food, and over the next few minutes, more servers brought more dishes. Most of it was unrecognizable to Skye. The smells were foreign—a mixture of cinnamon and beef?
Right now she would give just about anything to be back at home with Mrs. Garrison.
Or Mom.
What was going on at home while she and Philip were stuck in the past? Was time moving forward with Mom and Mr. Matthews noticing their kids were missing? Was Mom’s work going well, or had she been double-crossed as she’d feared?
Skye wanted to be home, not here.
She glanced around at the people. The place. The customs. Where was she, and what time period? Philip was supposed to find that out, but he hadn’t returned. He could have been hurt or captured, but Skye didn’t think so. She was used to being pranked at school, and she could spot a gag a mile away. Saul was holding something back when she’d asked about Philip. He was lying to her, and she didn’t know why.
If things were to work out for Philip and her, she had to stop cowering and start being proactive. She swallowed hard. What she needed was a plan.
Ideas formed in her head. Slowly, she leaned toward Seth. “Will you be attending the festival?”
He raised his dark eyebrows. “Certainly, Hebat. The entire city will be there. Probably even the entire countryside!”
What country is that? her mind screamed. But how to ask that?
“How far do the borders reach?” she asked instead. If she could get him talking, maybe she could put the pieces together. Thank the Lord, she’d studied with Mr. Kilpatrick.
Seth straightened. He was obviously proud of whatever he had to share. “Our borders shift every single day,” he said. “We grow because of our prosperity. Sumer will soon be the center of the civilized world!”
Score!
Sumer. She could deal with that. It was in ancient Mesopotamia, made up of various, self-governing cities in the area that was now called Iraq. The area played a big part in different Biblical stories.
She opened her mouth to ask what brought the prosperity that was spurring the growth, but then she remembered how Saul had mentioned the temple to honor her. She was supposed to be here because she was pleased with their growth. She couldn’t go asking about things she was supposed to know.
A commotion at the doorway drew her attention, and a guard stepped forward. He bowed deeply. “Saul, forgive me. We have a single guest who insists his invitation was forgotten for tonight’s feast.”
Saul’s eyes narrowed, and he didn’t even try hiding his irritation. “Who?”
“Come, Saul, there is no need for the formalities.” A man breezed past the guard. His skin sagged, and the bushy hair coming from under his head covering was billowed and white.
Skye gasped softly. He was the man from the alley, the one who had stared at her.
Saul’s scowl changed, though Skye guessed it took much effort. “Of course you are welcome here, Ezekiel. Please, have a seat.”
This was Ezekiel? The man whom Leah had worked for? She had called him kind.
Skye watched him closely as he interacted with Saul, and servants hustled to provide an extra cushion. They made a place for him at the opposite end of the table from Skye.
He caught her eye and winked before moving into a conversation with a man seated nearer him.
But Skye’s nerves went on high alert. He was here for her, and she knew it.
12
Philip crouched low in a recessed doorway as the guard turned his way again. The guard moved constantly. Ten steps forward, ten steps back. But over the last thirty minutes, the guard’s eyes had grown droopy, and not a single person had come near the alley since Philip had staked it out. The guard had to be getting bored. Tired. Careless, which was perfect for Philip’s chances at getting inside.
Philip had memorized the alley’s layout. Two doors on Saul’s house on the left, and a ladder leading to the roof of the house on the right. The ladder was made of wood and rope and didn’t exactly look dependable.
Philip froze when the guard stopped and glanced around. Then he leaned against the building. After a few moments, his head bobbed and stayed down. Philip held his breath.
A loud snore erupted from the man’s mouth, and Philip jumped, but this was his opportunity. He shifted, scanning the area to make sure it was safe to move.
Just as he began stepping from his hiding place, the guard on the other end of the alley started toward the snoring guard. He picked up a rock and tossed it, and it struck the sleeper in the gut.
The guard woke up with a snort and glared at the retreating guard. “I know that was you!” he growled.
The other guard didn’t turn around. “Keep your eyes open.”
The now fully-awake guard huffed and moved to the doorway of Saul’s house that was closest to Philip, and Philip tensed. If the guard stayed put, Philip wouldn’t make it inside Saul’s.
Then, his gaze fell on the rickety ladder. He glanced around again and took note of the other buildings. They were mostly low, and close together. Did the other buildings have ladders? If they did, he might be able to jump from roof to roof.
His heart picked up speed as he considered the idea. Riding up to the seventeenth floor of the hotel in London had been terrifying enough. These buildings were only two stories high, but they weren’t exactly built to withstand the ages.
Still, he had to get back to Skye. Had to tell her what he’d learned. And what he hadn’t learned, which
was a way home. Once he’d been back at the marketplace he’d made sure to take notice of where they’d come through time. It was the middle of a street. Nothing was there to make him think it would get them home. Maybe if they just stood there and said the words, they would make it.
The guard yawned again as he leaned against the doorframe at Saul’s house.
If he was to climb onto the roofs, it was now or never.
Philip slipped from his hiding spot and pressed his body against the building. Hurriedly, he scooted around the corner and then broke into a jog to find the first ladder he could see.
One house. Two houses. Finally, at the third house, he came to a ladder. He glanced around to make sure no one watched in the dark, then he gripped the first rung. Sweat broke out on his forehead, and he stared upward. Just his luck that he’d picked the building that was at least three stories tall. Licking his lips and taking a deep breath, he barreled ahead, climbing rung after rickety rung.
By the time he reached the top, his back was covered in sweat—as much from nerves as heat. He hauled himself onto the roof and glanced around. The houses weren’t far apart, so jumping shouldn’t be a big deal. Figuring out what to do once he got onto Saul’s roof, that would be harder. He’d need to find his way in, and then his way to Skye’s room, without being noticed.
The moon shone bright overhead, but dark clouds cast shadows as they drifted over the orb. The buildings were uneven, some with nothing more than branches for roofs. He’d have to avoid those ones. There were no doors on the roofs—he wasn’t sure what he’d expected. Maybe a rooftop entrance like the skyscrapers Dad and Mrs. Guthrie designed.
Gravel crunched beneath his feet as he neared the first ledge he’d have to jump from. Swallowing his nerves, he stepped onto the rough-hewn edge. He kept his eyes straight ahead, refusing to look at the distance to the ground.
Why was he doing this again? He laughed nervously to himself. He’d done all of this for a stupid car. Didn’t sound all that bright anymore. He should have stayed home.
Three buildings away. All he had to do was jump three times. Couldn’t be that hard, could it?
Slowly, he backed up. Five feet separated the buildings. He could do this.
Bending slightly at his knees, he lunged forward and then threw himself over the edge.
The weightlessness made his stomach drop, and for a half a second, he wished he’d told Dad to drop dead when it came to hanging out with Skye. But then, his feet hit the next roof and he rolled hard in the gritty rock that lined the area. His heart thundered, and he inhaled quickly. This was insane. He was insane. Jumping from roof to roof?
Not something he’d ever planned on doing, especially not for Skye Guthrie.
He paused, mid-hyperventilation. Would he do it for someone besides Skye? If he were being honest, no. But he needed Skye to get home. And he sort of owed her.
Besides, she wasn’t so bad. And the way Leah had dressed her in robes and sashes? She would turn every guy’s head at Mari’s yearly costume party if she went like that.
The image filled Philip with determination to move forward. To get out of here and to get Skye out of here. They’d gotten into this mess together—him and his stupid need to experience something awesome. He had been just as responsible as Skye, if not more. Hopefully, it wouldn’t cost him big time.
He stepped toward the next roofline as he considered what would happen if they didn’t fix this. If they didn’t find a way home. Being stuck in ancient Sumer was impossible. He still wasn’t sure this wasn’t some sort of medically induced coma.
Taking a deep breath, he bolted and leapt across to the next roof. He landed with a grunt but managed to keep his footing this time. One more leap and he’d be beside Saul’s house.
Now that he was on a second-story roof, things weren’t as scary. He had one last jump before he’d need a more solid plan. He might as well get on with it.
The clouds rolled away from the moon, brightening the entire sky. Philip moved toward the next roof, but his foot shifted in the gravel and he slid. Catching himself before he fell, he maneuvered into a crouched position then glanced around to make sure no one had heard him.
He turned slowly, taking in the panoramic view, but this time he wasn’t alone. A figure stood on the roof he’d just come from.
Philip gasped and took off running. He expected a command for him to stop, but he heard nothing. If he turned around he’d take the chance at slowing down and being caught, so without another glance he threw himself off the ledge and landed with a rolling thump on the next roof.
At last, he allowed himself a look, but the figure hadn’t budged.
Confusion filled him. What was this guy up to? Why watch Philip and say nothing?
He didn’t look like a guard. Maybe he was only an innocent bystander who didn’t want to get involved with whatever mischief Philip was up to. But why had he followed Philip onto the roof in the first place? If it had been the guy’s own roof, there was no way he would have let Philip pass over without stopping him.
They faced off in a thirty-second draw. Philip had to take a chance—either risk getting caught or forget the stalker and keep moving. Skye was waiting for him, so he really only had one choice.
Slowly, he moved to the edge of the roof. Saul’s house was only a few feet away. Crouching down, he peeked over the ledge. The two guards still watched, one at the far end and one in the doorway almost directly across from where Philip had hidden. But this time the guard was fully asleep. His mouth hung open, and his chest moved up and down in a steady rhythm. Now was the time to move, but how?
Philip studied Saul’s roof. There was no way to get inside from the roof, at least not that he could see. The ladder to this house was only a few feet away, but what good would climbing down do him? The big guy was blocking the door, and the other door was guarded by the goon who was awake.
His gaze roamed up from street level to the second floor and fell on the windows lining the second story of Saul’s house. A small rectangle to his right, and larger, arched windows directly beside it.
Skye’s room?
It would be completely fantastic if it was, but he wasn’t sure how to tell.
Jump.
Philip paused. Where had that thought come from? He wasn’t sure, but the urge to follow it was strong.
The two buildings were so close. Besides being scared out of his mind at being off the ground, jumping between them wouldn’t be that hard. If he could leap from the ladder into Skye’s window, he might be able to squeeze between the bars and get inside.
Philip closed his eyes and took a deep breath. Was he serious? It was about the craziest idea he’d ever had. The stupidest, too.
Dad might say the most brilliant. If Dad were here, what would he do? Dad had always been practically perfect. He had the job. The house. The car.
He would know what to do, and he wouldn’t be hiding out on a roof waiting for someone to tell him.
But Dad had gotten where he was by stepping on everyone else. Philip had always followed along, but why? He’d already decided that wasn’t who he wanted to be anymore.
Straightening, Philip made up his mind. He was jumping, and he was doing it right now. Not because he wanted a new car, but because he wanted to help Skye and get them both home.
Besides, the guard was asleep, and there was no one to witness his stupidity.
Goosebumps broke out across his skin as he remembered the stalker. Turning slowly, he checked for the figure two roofs away, but no one was there.
Now or never. He moved to the ladder and looked around to make sure the coast was clear one last time, then he turned backward and put his feet on the ladder’s first rung. If he fell to his death, would he just wake up in his own time and place?
He climbed down until he was a few feet above Skye’s window. Now he just had to make the jump, land on the ledge, and be able to fit through the bars. Her room was dark, which meant she was probably still downstairs
at whatever feast Saul had planned for her.
God, help me.
He leaped.
13
Skye sat beside Seth, gripping her clay cup so tightly it numbed her fingers. She evaded as many questions as she could, but for the most part, she played her part. She kept her eye on Ezekiel, too. As he did her. He seemed to be trying to tell her something.
The longer the night went on, the more Skye got the feeling that he wasn’t a threat to her. Hadn’t Leah said he was kind? Maybe Skye needed to hear what he had to say.
“Mistress,” Seth said. He leaned close to her, his eyes merry. “Saul has called to you three times.”
She sucked in a tight breath and turned to her host. “Forgive me, Saul. I was lost in thought.” Playing her part wasn’t easy, especially when she had to pretend to be honored to be sitting at his table. Especially when she really wanted to find Philip and work out a way to get home.
Irritation replaced her worry. They were in some strange place and time, yet Philip willingly left her? He would never change, and besides, where had he gone?
A small voice in the back of her mind whispered that she was being unreasonable. She had to forgive him for his past at some point. She hoped he wasn’t hurt, but her gut told her he was fine. And his being fine, but leaving her behind, irritated her.
Saul seemed relieved that she was finally responding to him, and he puffed up his chest. “The festival will run for three days, and we were hoping you would grace us by speaking to the city tonight after the feast.”
Panic swept through Skye’s mind. Speak? To the people of the city? It was already late. Didn’t these people sleep?
Play the part.
Lord, please help me.
Praying wasn’t something she’d really tried too often, but maybe now was the time to get in the habit.
Calmly, she smiled. “Speaking to the people would please me.”
Saul’s puffed up chest stretched even more. “It would please me as well. Excuse me while I make arrangements.” The meal was mostly over, and Saul left the table along with several others.