by Katie Clark
Now was the time to speak to Ezekiel. To corner him and demand to know why he had been under her window—why he came here tonight and watched her so studiously.
“Would you care to walk the gardens, Mistress?” Seth’s voice pulled her around to him. Her refusal was on the tip of her tongue.
But his large brown eyes were so hopeful and enamored. Something moved inside her stomach. Butterflies?
Surely, she wasn’t crushing on Seth in ancient Sumer. That would be absurd.
But it wasn’t that. Something inside her pushed her to go with him. Make friends with him.
“Lilla told us how you enjoyed the flowers.” Now his voice softened.
Skye’s heart picked up speed. “I would enjoy seeing them very much,” she heard herself say. As soon as the words were out of her mouth, she froze. Closing her eyes, she took a deep breath. She couldn’t take a walk with him. This was ridiculous! She had to tell him no and then approach Ezekiel.
Slowly, she opened her eyes and looked around for the elderly man in the colorful robes, but Ezekiel had slipped out.
Great.
“Are you ready at this moment?” Seth asked.
Skye smiled tightly and nodded. “Thank you, yes.”
He helped her rise from her pillow on the floor. His large, warm hands almost made her forget how stiff her legs were from sitting for such a long time.
Seth led them through the large buildings, around corners, and finally out an arched doorway into a different area from the small alcove Lilla had led her through. The moon shone high above them.
A few clouds dotted the sky, but overall it was a clear, bright night. Skye watched the stars, stunned by their brightness and clarity. She’d been jaded by the city lights for too long, and the presence of true, unadulterated light from the heavens was breathtaking.
“Beautiful, isn’t it?” Seth asked. “You must miss your home in the skies.”
Skye turned to him quickly, fear replacing the awe she’d felt for the stars. She knew so little about Hebat, and if they started asking specific questions she’d definitely trip up. An eerie coldness wrapped around her, and she shivered.
Seth’s eyes changed. “Are you cold?” He quickly removed his head covering and wrapped it around her shoulders, revealing his thick, black hair and adding to his handsome features.
Skye managed a smile for him. “Thank you.” They walked for a few minutes in the warm night air, and again, Skye was pulled in by the beauty of the gardens Lilla had created. What did the rest of Sumer look like? Was it a brown desert, or was there lush vegetation like she found here at Saul’s?
“Where are you from, Seth?” she asked.
“Here, Mistress.” He seemed confused by her question, and she realized that just because people moved around a lot in modern days, it didn’t mean they did in ancient times.
Her cheeks warmed, and she smiled again. “Of course. Do you live near Saul?”
“No. My home is almost a day’s ride outside the city walls. I happened to be in the city when word came that Hebat—you—had arrived. Saul and my father are close allies, which is why he invited me for tonight’s supper.”
“And will you stay for the festival?” she asked. It was sort of nice having someone else she knew, at least until she and Philip found a way home.
“I will,” he said. “Saul has invited me to bed down here in his villa.”
A villa. What a fancy, nice word. Why hadn’t she thought to call it that? Still, his proximity brought a whole new set of nerves. She needed less people around, not more. They rounded a corner, and a brightly colored garden area came into view. Flowers in orange, peach, white, and pink bloomed in glorious splendor.
Back home, Mrs. Garrison kept a small garden around her front door. But she worked it tirelessly and proudly, and her small flowers bloomed in riotous color.
Lilla’s work put Mrs. Garrison to shame. The plants towered over Skye’s head, weaving in and out of trellises, and winding up nearby trees. Greenery mixed with the colors made everything pop.
“Beautiful,” she breathed.
Seth nodded in agreement. “I have only seen Lilla’s work once before, as a boy. My family stayed here while the city leaders planned the temple.” He paused and then turned to her. His gaze seemed hesitant, almost as if he was afraid to ask her something—or of what she would answer. “Does the temple please you?”
Warnings ran through her head. Answering the wrong way could be dangerous, but how could she say yes? Instead of giving a direct answer, she said, “The leaders have been planning since you were a boy?”
He didn’t seem to notice her diversion. “That is right. For many years they have longed to offer sacrifice to the heavens. Now they’ve found a way to do that, all the while celebrating Sumer’s greatness.”
Something nagged at her from the back of her brain. Something about Sumer and a story she’d learned at the soup kitchen—or maybe with Mr. Kilpatrick. But she couldn’t quite put her finger on it. “That’s amazing,” she said.
A rumbling growl came from around the next twist in the path. Without waiting for Seth to lead her, Skye moved toward it. Best to get out of conversations about Hebat as quickly as possible.
Seth hurried behind her, but he gently took hold of her elbow. “Mistress, you may wish to move slowly.”
She stopped and frowned. What could be around the corner that would be so bad?
Slowly, they bent forward to get a better look. Skye gasped.
A white tiger lounged behind a barred wall. It stretched and yawned, dipping a paw in the small pond.
Seth smiled and shrugged. “You see now why I stopped you.”
She nervously returned his smile. “I do see. Thank you. I do not wish to stir up a tiger’s ire.”
Ire? Where were these words coming from?
Seth raised his eyebrows, and he nodded toward the tiger. “It is beautiful, no? This is the only white tiger I have seen.”
Every zoo back home had white tigers, but Skye kept that to herself.
The tiger yawned again, rolled onto its back, and stretched its paws over its head. Just like a big cat.
A wave of homesickness swept over Skye. She’d only been here a few hours, but as far as she knew she had no way home. And she wanted to be home more than ever—even just back to London with Mom. Even with Mom working eighteen-hour days. Did Philip miss his dad?
Seth frowned. “You are upset, Mistress?”
The way he stared at her, watched her, made Skye squirm. No one had ever paid as much attention to her as the people in Sumer. It was weird.
Did these people believe they could have romantic relationships with goddesses? Greek mythology was all about mortals and immortals, but what about ancient Middle Eastern mythology? She hadn’t learned enough with Mr. Kilpatrick.
“I am ready to return to the house,” she said.
His face clouded over. He tried to hide his disappointment, but it was obvious to her. “Of course. As you wish.”
Poor guy. She didn’t want to be mean to him, but she had to protect herself.
Even if he was cute, and he looked at her with those big brown eyes. And he was very muscular.
Thankfully, he moved forward and she refocused her thoughts. Traveling through time must have messed with her head.
He reached out to open the door back into the house, and Skye caught a glimpse of the bracelets under his robe. She froze.
“Seth, may I see your jewelry?”
He raised his eyebrows at her, but he closed the door again and slid the bracelet off. “Of course, Mistress. Does it please you?”
“Yes, it’s lovely.” She took it from him and studied it. Her gut twisted, and she pushed away the fear creeping into her mind.
The bracelet looked like copper, and strange stamped marks ringed the entire circle. She had seen a bracelet like this before—it had sat on her nightstand for a week before she’d pawned it for money to buy groceries for Mrs. Garrison.
<
br /> Was this why she felt a weird pull to be friends with him? Were they—connected?
Afraid of what it all meant, and ready to get back to her room, she thrust the bracelet back toward him. “Thank you. I’m ready to return now.”
Again he raised his eyebrows, but he didn’t argue. Once they were inside, they found Leah waiting.
Skye started. “Have you been waiting all this time, Leah?”
Leah smiled and bowed slightly, but her eyes drooped. Did she have to wait on Skye hand and foot from dusk until dawn?
Seth led them back to the dining room, which was mostly empty now. “It looks as though the party has moved to the streets,” he said.
Torches from outside cast strange, glowing images through the dining room windows. Nerves rolled in Skye’s stomach. She was supposed to give a speech to commence the festival. That wouldn’t be easy.
“Seth, I’m not feeling well. Perhaps it would be best for me to give my speech in the morning.”
“Do you require anything, Mistress?” he asked, the concern back in his eyes.
“No, but I do need to lie down.” So much for catching Ezekiel.
Leah took her by the arm. “I will take you upstairs, Mistress.”
“Thank you, Leah.” Skye filled with relief. She turned to Seth, her new friend. He really was sweet. “Can you speak to Saul on my behalf?”
His face paled, and something passed over his eyes. Fear? But he nodded. “Of course. Rest well, Hebat.”
She managed a smile and then hurried after Leah. They climbed the towering staircase to the top, and Skye glanced around. The area near her room was empty—no guards. It might be easy to escape after all.
Leah pushed the large doors open, and two guards came from the opposite end of the hall. They quickly took up post on either side of her door.
She sighed at the guards then stepped inside her room, and Leah closed the door behind them. Darkness filled the room, but Leah squeezed her hand. “Do not fear, Mistress. I will light a candle.” She hurried out, leaving the door slightly cracked to let in a stream of light.
Skye wasn’t afraid of the dark, but being in this strange place set her heart to pounding.
Leah returned a moment later with a lit candle, and she moved to light a torch on Skye’s wall. The room was bathed in light, and two figures emerged from the opposite side of the room.
Skye gasped, but before she cried out she recognized Philip.
Tears burned her eyes, and she ran toward him. “Philip! I’m so glad to see you. I was so worried.” But her happiness at seeing him embarrassed her, and she let her earlier irritation seep out. “What took you so long?”
He paused but seemed to let her last comment go. “It took a while to get back, but I have a lot to tell you. Or we have a lot to tell you.”
Skye’s gaze moved to the second figure, and she froze. Ezekiel. He was waiting for her.
14
Ezekiel stood, smiling kindly as he had at dinner.
Skye looked back at Philip. Embarrassed or not, seeing him was like breathing. A lifesaver.
The realization startled her. Since when had Philip Matthews become her protector? The feeling was new, and uncomfortable. She tucked it away for later and turned her attention to Ezekiel.
“I saw you watching me outside my window and downstairs at supper. What do you want?” She inflicted as much authority into her voice as she could muster—she was Hebat, after all.
But Ezekiel didn’t cower. “You are not safe here, Mistress. I know not what Saul has in store for you, but I do know the prophecies.” His voice held a distinct warning.
Fear clawed its way inside Skye’s gut. She turned a worried gaze to Philip, but he was staring at Ezekiel.
She didn’t know what to say to Ezekiel. Didn’t know what to think. “Philip,” she said, instead. “Where have you been?”
Now he turned to her, taking a deep breath. “Leah brought me these clothes to wear, and then I went out into the market to see if I could find that Abdul kid. I found him all right, and he told me about the festival. But when I returned here, to Saul’s, the guards wouldn’t let me inside. I got the impression they’d been ordered to keep me out.”
So her fears had been right. “I got that feeling, too, when I asked Saul where you were.” The fact that Saul was keeping Philip away from her made her believe that Ezekiel was telling the truth about Saul wanting to harm her. It confirmed her inner warnings about Lilla and needing to avoid her.
Philip shifted. “I found my way onto a neighboring roof and hopped from building to building until I could jump into your window.”
“What?” Was he crazy? “You jumped into my window? From where?” She hurried to the windows, looked out, and then spotted the ladder on the other building. She shook her head. “This is unreal.”
People milled around the outskirts of the alley, talking, laughing, and shouting. So many people.
She turned to Ezekiel. “Why do you want to help stop the prophecy?” Suspicions about Saul, Lilla, and definitely Ezekiel overshadowed anything else she felt at the moment.
But his face softened, and he spread his hands wide in a gesture of surrender. “You do not expect me to believe you are truly Hebat?”
Skye’s cheeks flamed, and she turned to Philip. He shrugged and shook his head.
Swallowing hard, she looked back at Ezekiel. “I don’t know what you mean.”
Now he chuckled, his big belly gently shaking the brightly colored cloth of his robes. “You know exactly of what I speak, and I believe you will be interested to hear the prophecy.” His face sobered, and he took a deep breath. “The prophecy says Hebat would come, and she would be sacrificed in a burnt offering to the greater gods of the skies.”
Skye gasped. A burnt offering? She backed away, an urgency to get away taking over.
Philip rushed toward her and grabbed her wrists. “Wait, Skye. Ezekiel is here to help you. He knows you’re not Hebat, and he doesn’t want you to be sacrificed.”
But panic had set in, and she glanced between Ezekiel and the door. What if Saul came for her? Did he want to sacrifice her?
Ezekiel seemed to read her mind. “I do not know Saul’s intentions. I have known him many decades, and have never seen him harm another. Lilla, on the other hand…” he left the sentence hanging, and cold fear gripped her.
“How are we supposed to escape with this stupid festival going all night?” she snapped.
Ezekiel sighed and shook his head. “This I know not, but if you can escape, you will find refuge at my villa. It is outside the city walls, and those with me will give you sanctuary.”
Leah’s words from earlier that day played in Skye’s mind. She’d called Ezekiel kind. Said the villa was where her mother worked.
But could Skye trust him?
She shook her head. “I don’t know what to do.”
“I understand your hesitancy,” Ezekiel said, “but the time draws short. You must decide as quickly as you can.”
Philip took her hand again, and warmth spread through her. Skye clung to him. “We’ll work it out,” Philip said. “We don’t belong here, and we’ll find our way home.”
Ezekiel stepped forward, a frown on his face. He opened his mouth, but before he spoke, someone pounded on the door.
Skye gasped. “You have to hide. Now.”
Ezekiel and Philip scrambled to hide behind the trunks in Skye’s dressing area, and Skye hurried to the door. Taking a deep breath to calm herself, she opened the door in the most composed manner she could manage.
The door swung open, and Skye almost bowed to Saul. She caught herself just in time as she remembered Saul should technically bow to her.
He didn’t, though. Instead, he pushed past her and cleared his throat. “Mistress, you are unwell?” His tone was abrupt—unhappy. “I received your message from Seth; however, we are looking to you to speak to the city’s residents before the festivities begin tonight.”
A din came
from the streets beyond the windows. Why should she open the festivities? The people had already started their party. She racked her brain, hoping for an epiphany. When one didn’t come, she faced up to her problem.
“Saul, my host, I thank you for allowing me to stay in your home. The truth is, I know not what to speak about. I am tired, after having only arrived today.”
His worries seemed to fade away, and he smiled. “This is something I can fix, my dear Hebat. Your speech can be made from this very villa. There is a balcony off the main hall. I will take you there myself. Your speech need not be lengthy. The people simply wish to hear your feelings of honor over the memorial they’ve all worked so hard to create for you.”
If only the memorial really was for her. But she saw no way out of it, so she agreed. “Very well. I will do as you request.”
He grinned and swept an arm out for her to lead the way into the hall.
Glancing behind her one last time to make sure Philip and Ezekiel stayed hidden, Skye started toward the hallway. Once out of her room, Saul took the lead. They stayed on the second floor and went to the right, around a corner and down a winding hallway that led them to the front of the villa. Large windows overlooked the streets outside Saul’s home, and an arched doorway led to a balcony, as promised.
The din from the streets was much louder than the noise coming from the alley behind her room. She turned to Saul and worked to keep the worry from her voice. “How will they hear me?”
“Do not worry, Mistress,” he said with a smile. He placed his hands on the small of her back and nudged her forward. “They will quiet once you step forward.”
Skye didn’t trust him, but she allowed herself to be propelled forward. As she stepped to the edge of the railing, her face veil flapping in the gentle breeze, the crowd did exactly as Saul had predicted. The street became as quiet as the dead of night.
The crowd stretched out like a forest full of trees, person after person stacked into lines. She hadn’t noticed before, but Saul’s villa was situated on a small hill, and from this vantage point, she had a great view of most of the city. Buildings rose and fell in the distance, reminding her of the whack-a-mole game she’d played a hundred times. Torches lit the night, casting a glow over the city and the people, lighting their faces with hope. She glanced up, looking for the comfort of the stars she’d found with Seth just a half hour ago, but with all the torchlight it was impossible to see many stars.