Shulamit, feeling bold, turned her head and kissed Aviva on the cheek.
“Would you mind not doing that right in front of my shop?” called an unfriendly voice.
Both women started, and looked for the source of the complaint. It was the man with the mustache, the one whose lemons they’d been about to buy. Shulamit felt her face grow hot, and her heartbeat quickened.
“Excuse me?” Aviva asked politely.
“You two. You’re disgusting. If everyone was like you, the human race would go extinct.”
A poisonous sea began to boil in Shulamit’s stomach, and she felt tears of anger spring forth from her eyes. But then she heard familiar voices behind her, one very deep, and both murmuring in the northern tongue -- and she knew she was not alone. Still afraid but ignoring it, she took a deep breath, lifted her head, and said haughtily, “Nobody’s like me, and you can bet nobody’s ever been like her -- we’re pretty amazing!”
“And we don’t need lemons that badly if they’re going to be as sour as you,” Aviva added over her shoulder as they turned around.
Of course, Isaac and Rivka had been right there. Rivka’s mask was secure, but it was still easy to tell that she was grinning heartily. “That’s the spirit, Malkeleh!”
“I’m proud of you,” said Isaac, smiling warmly. He had changed into a simple white tunic and trousers, newly purchased at one of the stalls.
“That wasn’t fun,” said Shulamit, trembling. “But I felt like I could do it because I knew you were there.”
“That’s what we’re here for,” said Rivka.
“May God always allow us to be there for you,” added Isaac.
Aviva was peering around the marketplace quizzically. “Is anyone else selling lemons?”
***
They spent the night at a different inn with a reputation for reliability, and then one more day of traveling put the four of them within the palace walls. It was dark when Isaac finally landed in the garden before the great entrance, but people were still bustling about in the space between dinnertime and sleep. One of the guards, a tall, fit older man with shoulder-length hair, rushed up to greet them.
“Tivon!” Shulamit called out, hopping off Isaac’s back and rushing toward him.
“Your Majesty! It’s good to see you safe and home. I have news--” Then he broke off, noticing Aviva. “Aviva? Aviva the cook? Wherever did you find her?”
Shulamit waved away the question. “Never mind that for now. Where’s Nathan? I have to see him, immediately.”
“That’s what I was trying to tell you,” said Tivon. “He’s gone off.”
“What?”
“Left early one morning with only a bag of clothing and a sword,” said Tivon to the astonished young queen. “His wife woke up and found herself alone. We were all eating breakfast in the courtyard when she came storming in, a babe at her breast, frantic to find him. It was all I could do to comfort her, poor thing.”
Shulamit clapped her hands to her face. “The treasury! We have to get to the treasury.” She rushed past Tivon into the palace.
Tivon hurried to catch up with her, with Rivka, Aviva, and Isaac in his human form following after. “Your Majesty! What is it?”
“She thinks Nathan stole from her before he left,” Rivka called out.
Tivon whipped his head backward. “Stole? Not possible. Others were guarding it that night. Why would you think that?”
“He had already stolen from it once before,” said Aviva, “to pay for my mother’s surgery. That’s how he bribed me to leave the palace.”
“I remember him talking about some fool scheme like that,” mused the guard. “He knew His Majesty King Noach, may he rest, disapproved of your -- er, begging your pardon, Majesty -- and thought he would get rewarded for sending you away. He was rewarded with words, not coin, poor wretch. I did wonder where he’d gotten the money from. He was already up to his ears in debt. That’s why he left town -- to escape the debtors.”
“They’ll come to scratch at his wife and children, won’t they?” asked Aviva.
“I suppose we have to do something for them,” said Shulamit, who had stopped rushing around at Tivon’s reassurance that the treasury had not been under Nathan’s responsibility during the time of his departure. “Oh! My mind is racing from traveling all day and then coming home to such excitement. I’ve forgotten my manners. Tivon, you’ve met Riv already, he whom you hired to retrieve me from the kidnappers.”
“Yes. I enjoyed his company last week before you left for the temple. Good to see you, sir.”
Rivka nodded. “Likewise.”
“This is Isaac, his...” Shulamit dithered helplessly.
Sensing Shulamit’s panic, Aviva faked a very loud sneeze.
“Isaac’s a wizard,” Shulamit added. “He’ll be added on to the guard as auxiliary.”
“Your Majesty, about the guard--” Tivon stopped, his eyes a bit uneasy.
“Yes? You were second-in-command under Nathan,” Shulamit pointed out, girding her emotional loins for a conflict. “I suppose you’re asking about the captaincy.”
“Actually, I am. Your Majesty, I’m set in my ways and don’t wish to change my role. I wish to continue serving you and doing my duty, but I don’t want the responsibility of heading up the company. I don’t want to let you down, but I need to be realistic.”
Shulamit relaxed. “This works perfectly -- Riv’s going to be your new captain.”
“Splendid!” Tivon clapped his hands together. “I’ll find rooms for you both in the guards’ quarters.”
“We only need one room,” Isaac piped up.
Shulamit and Aviva exchanged pleased looks. For an ordinary man to commit willingly to spending the rest of his life being mistaken for one of them was to win their admiration.
Tivon shrugged. “Fine by me.”
Shulamit seized the opportunity to ask, “Tivon, are there any others in the guard who will be unhappy to see Aviva return, now that Nathan’s damage has been... patched up?”
Tivon shook his head. “May I speak freely, Your Majesty?” When Shulamit nodded, he continued, “We’d rather your companion be someone we trust, and a resident of the palace. You’re our queen and we’ve sworn to protect you with our lives; however, you have to meet us halfway. Anyone can pose as a willing woman. You simply can’t put yourself in a position of that much vulnerability with a stranger. You owe it to your people not to make it that much harder for us to do our jobs.”
Shulamit smiled. “I understand now. But I -- well, never mind. Aviva’s back.”
“Will she be rejoining the crew in the kitchen?”
“I’d like to,” said Aviva.
“Speaking of kitchens,” said Isaac, “I’d like a meal, if that’s possible. I should remind you all that I wasn’t riding back there with the rest of you.” He bestowed upon them a graceful, subtle smirk.
“Hurray! I can be useful again!” cried Aviva with joy. She grabbed his hand and pulled him toward the cooking houses.
Shulamit and Rivka watched them go, Rivka laughing softly to herself.
“Riv?” Tivon’s voice broke into their reverie. “Let me show you where to put your things. Then you can go and join your companion in the kitchen.”
As Rivka and Shulamit walked back from the guard quarters to the kitchens, they realized they were alone again for the first time in days. “Riv--” said Shulamit, turning toward her on the moonlit path, “thank you. Thank you for everything. I’m so blessed and lucky to have found you -- and not just because you brought Aviva back to me. Before our adventure, I felt like an overgrown princess. Now, I know that I can be a proper queen.”
“I have to thank you as well,” said Rivka gravely. “It makes me sick to think that if I hadn’t taken you up on your offer, I’d have grieved for Isaac forever -- with him right there under my nose.”
“And under your rear,” Shulamit quipped.
“See what good comes of helping people?” Rivka poin
ted out. “Think if you hadn’t agreed to help turn the holy women back from stone. And if Aviva hadn’t put her mother before herself, you’d never know who stole from your father.”
“I’m so glad I gave you that second mango,” said Shulamit, grinning. “You remember, back in the Cross-Eyed Tiger? When I bought it I couldn’t make up my mind if it was an extra for me, or if it was for you.”
“So, nu, Queenling -- I know this is none of my business, but it will be eventually -- have you thought about what you’re going to do about producing an heir?”
“A bit,” said Shulamit. “Someone in my position can’t afford to ignore the question forever. I know it seems like this is my solution for everything, but I was pondering the existence of a young man with my own preferences. He could be Prince Consort, with his own companion, and then I can fulfill my duty to my country.”
“How do you propose seeking such a man?”
A sheepish grin spread over Shulamit’s face. “I hear there’s a mercenary called Riv who’s particularly experienced at such things?”
“Oh, you! Well, you’d still have to lie with your prince without pleasure, so you might want to reconsider that plan.”
“I did have one other idea,” said Shulamit. “You and Isaac might have a baby someday--”
“Never mind, never mind! I think I’ve heard enough ideas for one night.”
Laughing, Rivka followed Shulamit back to the lights of the kitchen house, where both their sweethearts were waiting for them.
END
Acknowledgements:
Infinite thanks for the following golden souls:
My spouse, for putting up with having these characters move into our apartment with us, and invaluable revising help and advice. Not easy on me, but easy on my spirit.
My mother for introducing me to things like Judaism, Wagner, and feminism, all of which went into the crock-pot, and for always making sure I had enough to eat growing up.
My family, for encouragement, Yiddish consulting, and the connection with my heritage.
My amazing cheerleading in-laws, especially Kat.
Katharine “Kate the Great” Thomas O'Gara, for being the kindest, most patient critique buddy I could ever ask for, and Dr. Tof Eklund, for always being there to answer random questions even when hir schedule was eating hir like a rabid three-headed rhino.
Jane, Erika, Rachel, and Mina for their artistic enthusiasm.
Sarah, Rania, Erin, Lorena, Rosie, Beverly, Louise, Dr. Tony Offerle, and Dr. Alana M. Vincent for varied and assorted help.
Bonnie, for believing in my ability to write a novel since before puberty.
Two German musicians, Richard Wagner and René Pape, who inspired me to fly beyond my boundaries.
And finally, Jessica, my stalwart editor; Allison and Jo who helped proofread; and everyone else on the Prizm team!
The Second Mango (The Mangoverse Book 1) Page 15