by Summer Lee
“Wonderful.”
“Keni, dear,” said Asher in loving tones, “There is no law in Alalakh that you have to wait a full year before marrying again. That is only an Adah law.”
She wrapped her arms around his strong neck. “Oh, Asher,” she said, her voice choking with joy.
Asher lifted her in his arms and gently pressed his lips against hers. She responded, and for several minutes, they enjoyed each other’s kisses in a new and fresh way. “I love you,” he said. “Always have.”
“I love you, too.” She rested her head on his chest, and as he held her close, Kenana asked, “Asher, why were you so late returning from town?”
“We need to go back to my cousin’s place as quickly as possible.”
“Why is that?”
Asher set his jaw grimly. “There is bad news,” he said. “The Nephilim are rising, and they are on the move.”
Chapter Twenty-nine
Back in Reba’s barn, as Kenana, Asher and Ava prepared the wagon for their short trip back to Alalakh, there appeared in the doorway an ungainly man who cast a long, fidgeting shadow. Kenana thought the man looked familiar, although she was sure she had never seen him before.
The man cleared his throat, and smiled.
Asher looked up from working on the wagon’s wheel. The new king grinned broadly and immediately strode over to the newcomer, pumping his hand vigorously.
Asher draped his arm around the man’s narrow shoulders and turned to the women. “Oh, yes. I forgot to mention that we have a new traveling mate. Ladies, let me introduce you to my good friend, Sethra.”
Unable to help herself, Kenana said, “You look familiar.”
“As well he should,” said Asher, grinning. “He’s Tall’s brother!”
Sethra came over to her, walking a bit bandy-legged, and bowed deeply; his forehead nearly brushed the hay-covered floor of the barn. Embarrassed, Kenana urged him to stand. He did so, his face crimson with the rush of blood.
“Thank you, my queen, and thank you for the kindness you have bestowed upon my brother. He speaks very highly of you.”
“Tall is a good man and a good friend, and he is very obviously your brother,” she giggled, eying the long-legged man before her.
Sethra blushed slightly. “We are a tall bunch.”
Ava had stepped next to Kenana and was staring up at Sethra, her mouth slightly open, a curious look on her face.
No, not curious, Kenana realized. She’s smitten!
Asher seemed to notice as well, and introduced his cousin to Sethra. Sethra’s eyes widened with pleasure. He bowed again and gently took her hand. He brought it to his lips and kissed it.
“It is a pleasure, madam,” he said.
“I would say so,” Ava said.
He held her hand longer than protocol required; finally, he said, “I believe we have met before someplace.”
“Possibly.” Kenana noticed Ava was not quick to retrieve her hand. She smiled and nodded. “Possibly.”
“We must talk to see if that will help us remember.”
“Yes we must talk.” Ava turned slightly pink, her hand limp in his. “Soon.”
Kenana also noticed that Sethra seemed to squeeze it gently before releasing it. Ava’s cheeks were now burning furiously red.
“Kenana,” said Asher, “can I see you alone for a moment?”
Asher led her away, deeper into the barn, and when they were out of earshot, Kenana covered her mouth and almost squealed. She was pleased to see Asher grinning himself.
“It appears those two might just hit it off,” he said.
“Oh, I hope so!” said Kenana. “She has been alone for so long, and she is such an amazing woman. But where on earth did you come across Tall’s brother?”
Asher chuckled lightly. “He has been in my employ for some time. He is, in fact, my best spy.”
“A spy?”
“Yes,” he said, laughing. “You would never expect it, eh? Our enemies don’t expect it, either, and have divulged much information to him.” He pulled Kenana closer, and whispered into her ear. “In fact, our friend Sethra is a Goel, himself.”
“A Goel? I would never have guessed!”
“Aye. He is truly touched by El, and a man even I would not want to tangle with.”
“It is good, then, that he is on our side.”
“Indeed,” said Asher.
That was when she saw the large Arabian horse in the corner and suggested they look it over. “I would love to own that horse,” she said. “See if you can get Reba to sell it to you. It could be my wedding present.”
“I’ll do just that right after we marry,” said Asher and he leaned down and stole a small kiss from Kenana. As he pulled away, Kenana reached around his neck and yanked him back to her lips, where she kissed him for much longer than she should have.
Chapter Thirty
The small party set out for home in the late morning. Along the way, Kenana learned from Sethra that Jubal’s son, Ham, was fighting for the Nephilim.
He explained, “In return for his help, the Nephilim appeared to have promised Ham the palace in Adah, along with Asher’s homeland.”
“I can’t imagine the Nephilim keeping their word,” said Kenana.
Sethra laughed mirthlessly. “You have cut to the heart of the matter, my queen. Indeed, they rarely do. Ham is playing with fire.”
“The funny part is that it is not theirs to give. It is mine.”
“That is a problem that they intend to solve quickly.”
Kenana shuddered.
Alalakh was only a half-day’s ride away, and as the sun began its slow descent into the western sky, they arrived at Ava’s small cottage.
On the hilltop above, Kenana could see that the palace was now a beehive of activity as men swarmed in and out of the structure. Apparently, word had reached them of the coming Nephilim army. The workers had also added something new and very strange to the landscape: Two long rows of thorny briers stretched out from either side of the palace, reaching down the hillside as far as the eye could see. The thick hedges formed a sort of funnel leading into the palace. Kenana frowned at this, unsure what Asher was up to, but trusted his judgment.
Kenana had also learned on the ride back from Buto that the Nephilim were still a week away, but they were coming with one of their biggest armies ever, led by their evil general, Nod. Kenana knew of Nod, of course. She had had many run-ins with the wicked Nephilim as he’d relentlessly pursued her from Adah to Egypt.
Now he was coming for her again. And this time, he was bringing an entire army.
*
Work on the palace continued at a furious pace. The sounds of hammers striking metal and stone rang continuously into the night. Men and women hauled all manner of material up the hill. Everyone did what he or she could to fortify the palace walls.
Kenana and Ava oversaw the distribution of food and drink to the hardworking men and women. Ominous reports of the advancing Nephilim spurred each of them to push past physical exhaustion.
“Ava,” Kenana said. “I don’t want to die.”
“Nor do I, but we must always stay ready before El.”
“How is that done?”
“Through confessing your sins to him. A holy man can sacrifice a lamb in your place. The lamb dies for your sins.”
“I’ve done that already.”
On the third night, an exhausted Kenana and Asher had a rare break together, eating stew and mostly sitting in silence.
“Asher,” Kenana said weakly when she had finished her meal. She was exhausted beyond all hope or feeling.
“Yes, my queen,” he said, flicking his tired gaze over to her. Amazingly, there was still merriment in his voice. The man was unbreakable.
“Asher, I hate to question you, but I can’t help but notice that you don’t have—” She paused. This was harder than she thought.
“Have what?” he asked, leaning his head against the fortified wall and closing his eyes.
“Well, an army,” she said.
He laughed and rolled his handsome face toward her. “Let me worry about that, my queen,” he said. “I am your Goel, remember? I will protect you and those around you.”
“I am worried,” she admitted, verbally acknowledging the sickening feeling that had gripped her since their return from Buto. “I am deathly afraid of losing you, just when I found you again.”
He smiled warmly, and some of the flickering torchlight reflected in his dark eyes. “I don’t plan to be lost, my queen.”
“I trust not.” Kenana sighed deeply.
He reached out and took her hand, pulling her into him. “Darling Keni, let me tell you something. It is the glory of El to conceal a matter, but the glory of kings to search it out. I am a searcher, my dear. I search for wisdom and knowledge.”
He was filthy, but truth be known, Kenana loved the smell of him, even after a hard day’s work. With his arm around her, he stroked her hair gently. His rough fingertips massaged her scalp and played with the tips of her ears. She loved his gentle touch. “Asher,” she said, “After I returned from Zoan alone, I spent some time at home with my parents. We went to a family feast one day at Grandfather Enoch’s home. He sacrificed an animal for the sins of his entire family. At that point, I believed my sins were all covered.”
“That was a wonderful thing to do. Perhaps that was why I felt safe to leave you and search for my roots.”
“I’m sure it was. I was safe at home with my family. My mother and I had a long talk and settled differences that had brooded between us for a long while.” She smiled from the inside out. Asher made her feel like a queen—even if she had not been one. And it was here, in Asher’s arms, where Kenana finally felt genuine love. He would never violate her and never hurt her. This brought Kenana peace of mind—even while she worried about the coming Nephilim armies. “Now that you are back, please never go away again.”
“I won’t go anywhere without you. You have been hurt deeply, my queen,” he said soothingly, as if he could read her thoughts. “I will never hurt you.”
“I know.”
“Sometimes, it is best to release such pain, to let go of it forever, and not allow it to take root in our lives.”
“I do not know how, Asher.”
“I can teach you, child.”
“Please,” she said. “I will do anything to be free from the pain.”
A cool wind swept over the hillside, bringing with it the scent of wildflowers and freshly turned soil. It was a good time to drop the fetters.
“Close your eyes,” said Asher soothingly.
Kenana did so. She trusted Asher completely, and this in itself was a miracle. Men had hurt her. Men had betrayed her. It was a testament to Asher’s kindness and love that she trusted him with her heart and her life.
His voice came to her from far away. “Pretend you are on a boat going downstream. The ones who hurt you are on the shoreline. Just go forward, and leave them behind. If you don’t look back, they won’t follow you.”
She did so, closing her eyes tightly, and picturing the scene as he described it.
“Now the river is flowing rapidly. The ones who hurt you are behind you now—far, far behind. Keep your eyes shut and pretend the boat is many hundreds of clicks downstream. Where are your abusers now?”
“They are gone,” she heard herself whisper. “They are gone.”
“Keep them gone,” he said quietly, his voice coming to her as if from a great distance. “And don’t ever let them back into your heart or mind.”
“How?”
“Shut the door of your mind to bad thoughts, and open it only to pure ones.”
“Is that what you do?”
“Yes, and I pray. A lot.”
“El helps you?”
“Yes, because I ask Him.”
“Will He help me if I ask?”
Chapter Thirty-one
On the fourth day of their return from Buto, a small wagon approached the palace. Kenana paused in her work, wiped her sweating brow and watched the wooden cart work its way up the deeply rutted path. Two riders were sitting high on the wagon’s bench. One rider, however, was sitting much higher than most.
It was Tall! And Sarah was sitting next to him holding Blue!
Tall pulled back on the reins and the wobbling cart came to a rest. Blue, now fully grown, jumped down. The cat squealed, and Kenana saw that Blue had found a playmate as they both took off into the wooded area.
Sarah, spying Kenana, immediately leaped off her perch and dashed across the uneven road. The two women embraced like sisters, both crying.
“Any room in there for me?” asked Tall, stepping down from the perch and grinning.
Kenana laughed and wiped away tears, and waved him in.
As soon as Tall had unloaded their supplies, he kissed Sarah lightly on the cheek, bowed slightly to Kenana, and dashed off to lend a much-needed hand.
Indeed, they all worked late into the night.
*
The following morning, Kenana awoke to find Tall and Sarah asleep together on a floor mat. Kenana grinned when she saw they were holding hands. Ava was still asleep on her padding, and Tyro lay in his playpen, cooing to himself. Only Asher was alone in the separate bedchamber.
Now, with the sun beginning to rise over the distant foothills, Kenana tiptoed her way through the mass of sleeping bodies and found her way into Asher’s bed.
There she watched him sleep, analyzing his facial features. The man, amazingly, was actually sleeping with a smile on his face.
Maybe he’s dreaming of me, she thought.
She hoped!
There were more lines on his face than she remembered. The effort of building a palace and protecting an entire people had certainly had an effect on him. And, yet, he was as handsome as ever. Perhaps even more handsome.
She loved him, and she loved him with all her heart. He had made her believe she was special, that a relationship did not have to be perfect to be wonderful. He taught her to trust men and angels alike. He caused her to believe she could find true love, and that she could truly give herself to another.
And someday very soon, she thought, I will give myself to him. Completely.
As her Goel, he had pledged his love and protection. He now promised to always be there for her, and she believed he would be. His gentle voice had often soothed her soul. He was the one who had rescued her from Malluch in Zoan. His honest approach and simple manner made her confident of his love. This man was truly one sent by El to protect her.
And as she sat there gazing at him, he opened a single eye and smiled warmly at her. He beckoned with a finger and she came to him, nuzzling deeply into his strong arms.
*
While the men slept, Kenana and Sarah sat around Ava’s small dining table. Ava herself had gotten an early start, mentioning something about helping Sethra with a task. Kenana smiled as Asher’s cousin departed.
She’s in love. El bless her.
“I like her,” said Sarah.
“I do, too,” said Kenana, and despite herself, allowed for a little gossip and filled Sarah in about Sethra and Ava.
Sarah clapped her hands lightly. “Oh, good! They would be perfect for each other. Sethra is such a good man, with such a good heart.”
“I think Ava sees that,” said Kenana, laughing lightly, sipping from her tea.
“Time will tell.”
Outside, upon the hill and along the nearby winding road, the sounds of hammers striking and wagon wheels rattling never ceased. But in the kitchen, the two good friends caught up over tea and cakes, while the exhausted men continued to sleep. Kenana was not sure how much more work there was to be done, but she was sure that Asher and Tall could use a much-needed break.
Now, sitting at the small kitchen table, with the early morning light streaming in, Kenana told Sarah of her remarkable meetings with her grandfather Enoch and his strange riddle.
“What does it mean?” Sarah ask
ed.
Kenana ran through it with her, showing her how the number ten, in fact, relates to her cousin Lamech’s son, Noah. Kenana also explained what she thought was behind the meaning of the three words: spoor, spore and door.
“And as you can see,” said Kenana, pleased with herself. “It makes sense that a great ship could survive a worldwide flood.”
But Sarah had gone a bit pale. “Should we be worried? Is this flood coming soon?”
“When Uncle Methuselah dies, then we have cause for concern,” said Kenana. “But I had a dream just last night that Methuselah was going to live to be the oldest man on earth. Ever.”
Sarah let out a sigh of relief. “That is good!”
“And besides, Lamech’s son, little Noah, is no older than Tyro.”
“Then we have time yet,” said Sarah.
“And we should spend it serving El,” said Kenana. “And saving those who might otherwise perish in the flood.”
The two women were silent, both sipping from their steaming mugs. A warm fire crackled in the central hearth. Both men were snoring loudly, and the women looked at each other and giggled at the sounds.
“I am not sure who is louder,” said Sarah, laughing.
“They sound like wild beasts,” said Kenana.
“We are in love with wild animals!”
Kenana thought about that, and said, “We are in love with those rascals, aren’t we?”
“I love Tall more than you know.”
“Truly?”
“Of course.”
“Then why haven’t you married?” asked Kenana.
“Money and time,” she said. “But we hope to have both someday.”
Kenana was silent, thinking.
“I know that look in your eye, Miss Keni,” said Sarah. “What are you up to?”
“Asher and I will marry soon. I think we should have a double wedding!”
“How soon would that be?”
“As soon as a holy man comes through here to perform a ceremony.”
Sarah set down her clay mug a little louder than she probably had intended. She covered her mouth, eyes sparkling. “But what about Ava and Sethra? They would be left to themselves.”