by Summer Lee
Leah said, “In the sky, I see their angry faces and their overpowering dark wings all the time now. I’m so scared. Something bad is going to happen to me. I just know it. They will make me fall down and hurt myself again. Or perhaps they will even carry me off!”
“I will not let you go! I will not let you fall.”
She clung tighter to Tyro.
Tyro had been feeling the same unusual urgency all day himself. What could all this mean? He pulled her close, pinning her face into his neck. “No,” he said. “That can’t be true. You are a kind person. You are a good person. You cannot attract demons. They are attracted to evil and you are good and kind.”
“Help me, please. They come for me, over and over. And each time, I fear them more.”
As he pondered the situation, a thought struck Tyro like an arrow piercing his heart. He realized that he had come to Leah when he did for a reason. He was supernaturally guided to her. Perhaps that is why he had the same experience. Did she need to be rescued from her own imagination? Was everything she said true? As the wicked would be punished on Judgment Day, so the evil angels needed to be sent to the pit now.
Leah’s heart seemed to have collapsed inside her. Her voice quivered. “I sense the dark clouds are telling me that one of the fallen angels desires me. He aims to plant his seed in me.”
“No!” Tyro answered with strong words. “We will not let them have you. If allowed, they would take over. Their sons, the Nephilim, want to destroy us—all of us. But we must be brave. And we might fight them, even a maiden like you.”
“Pray. Ask God to help me know how a maiden can fight.”
“I will ask him to help you right now, darling,” said Tyro and he prayed, “My God, please bless Leah. Take the dark fallen angels away, and don’t let them touch her. Not ever. Let your overwhelming compassion flow into her. Let the fervency of love that is evident in my family, flow through me to her. I ask you to make the evil go away. Keep demons away and show my Leah what to do. Please, please keep her safe.”
“Thank you.”
He ran his hands through her hair, clasped the back of her head, he pulled her head onto his chest. “Your safety is my first concern. Oh my, your heart is pounding so fast!”
“Yes, I am terrified. Right now, I need you with me, Tyro.”
“I’ll keep you close,” he said. His voice was sincere. Tyro remembered the stories his mother had told him. “Humans pay a terrible price for seeking forbidden pleasure with spiritual beings. The fear of that has been passed on to you, but no more. Fallen angels will be judged severely for ignoring the law of God, because they had no redeemer.”
She dropped her head. “I know fallen angels don’t like or love women. They just lust after them for their own pleasure.”
“You are a wise and spiritual woman.” He remembered his own mother, who was a mystic and could see into the spiritual realm.
“I hope I am wise,” she said in a small, cultured voice. “I want to be wise.”
“God is big enough to keep the wicked angels away from you now.” Tyro felt energized from within. “We prayed. You must believe that prayer to El has power.”
“I agree,” she said. After a moment, she started to relax. “The fear is leaving.”
He smiled. “I am happy.” Tyro kissed her. “I love you.”
She looked up into his eyes. “I feel your love. I think I feel God’s love as well.” Suddenly, the black clouds faded into gray and then it was blue again.
“Look! We drove away the evil,” said Tyro as he compared it with the same experience on the trail. The young prince looked up. “Thank you, God, for your help.”
Leah smiled. Her step was lighter, and laughter came easily as the two walked back to the palace and went inside.
Tyro left her at the door. He was well aware of the contours of her shapely body as she went inside, shutting the door behind her. He slept in the servants’ quarters with thoughts of Leah on his mind, thoughts of how she must look as she undressed for bed.
Chapter Six
RACHAEL
Rachael had never seen a whirlwind before. Frightened, she ran outside to check it out, but she was too late. It had moved past. The dervish was now twirling out over the field, leaving a trail of disarray behind. It was a gray day with no real danger, just an overcast sky above.
She saw her parents talking out by the stables. Her mother then turned, coming back toward the palace. As she came across the yard, she approached a middle-aged woman standing on the step with a youth by her side. Rachael headed toward her mother.
“May I help you?” asked the queen.
“My name is Bilhah. Your son, Tyro, hired me to serve you as a cook,” she said. “He bade me to come to you and introduce myself.”
“He did not tell me he had hired anyone new, but please come in.” Kenana directed her into the courtyard.
The new cook was ushered into the courtyard, with a boy Rachael’s age alongside her. Rachael was very interested, so she walked beside her mother, a few paces back, to escape her notice.
Kenana motioned for the new cook to sit on a stone bench. “Bilhah, I’ll need to know of your meeting with Tyro.”
“I worked for a wealthy lady in Babylon, but lost my position in her house. Your son had mercy on me.”
“Prince Tyro is generous like that.”
Rachael looked at the young man, her heart fluttering in surprise at a new face in the house. A boy. “My name is Rachael,” she said bluntly, slightly raising her eyebrows and batting her eyelashes. “And your name is…” She bowed and paused for him to speak.
“Joel,” he whispered, glancing at the queen to see if she disapproved.
Kenana did disapprove. She frowned at her daughter, and spoke firmly. “Rachael, I do believe you are needed upstairs. Go tidy your bedchamber.”
“The maid already straightened my bedchamber. That’s her task.” Her tone was quite disrespectful.
Kenana glared at her. “Your actions are out of place for a young princess.”
“I forgot.” Rachael put her hand over her mouth and giggled, not budging.
Her mother looked angry. “Go upstairs, young lady. Now!”
“I’ll go when I please,” Rachael said, twisting her body back and forth in a mocking gesture.
“Now!” said Kenana loudly, glaring at her. “Princess Rachael of Mesopotamia!”
Now she knew she was in trouble. Rachael left the courtyard instantly, almost running. As she was leaving, she winked at Joel. A soft, knowing grin formed on his lips. The mothers did not see their silent communication.
Once in her room, Rachael began to make plans to see Joel again. Removing her clothes, she splashed rosewater on her body. She rubbed her cheeks to make them red. After putting on a pink tunic, she combed her hair and put a matching rose in her strawberry-blond braid.
Back out in the long hall, she slipped down the back stairs, to avoid her mother. She sneaked into the kitchen through the servants’ quarters. Excitement filled her soul as she thought of what she would say to Joel.
Rachael knew the rules for a princess were strict. She was supposed to obey them, but often ignored them. Rules were boring. She knew it was silly for a fourteen year old to be looking for attention from a boy, especially someone who was beneath her family in society. She was a royal. He was not.
Rachael knew what her parents would think, but she needed a little excitement. If Kenana had had any idea what Rachael had planned, she would probably lock her away in chains for the rest of her days. But Rachael did not care about the consequences. Right now, she only cared about finding out more about the mysterious boy, Joel.
She sat in the back corner of the lower-floor kitchen, knowing Joel would eventually come in to get something to eat. As she waited, she let her imagination wander. She wasn’t sure just how to approach him. Rachael decided she would start with simple conversation and see where that took her.
She cleaned off a small table in t
he corner of the meal area, and laid two place settings. Shortly after, Joel arrived with his mother. Bilhah didn’t notice Rachael, and immediately went to the head cook to begin working.
“Psst,” said Rachael to get Joel’s attention, and motioned for him to come to her. “Come and eat with me,” she said.
Joel hesitated. “Are you sure we can do that?”
“Yes. Sit down while I get the food,” she prompted with a smile.
With a foolish grin, he sat down in the chair offered to him. “I hope you’re right.”
She looked at Bilhah. She already had her hands immersed into a pan, scouring the plates with clean sand and then rinsing them with water. Then she wiped them dry with a rag and put them into the cupboard. One by one, the plates were cleaned.
Rachael went over to the table where food was being prepared and filled two clean plates. She returned quickly with some bread and cheese. As they ate, Rachael chattered away, talking about everything she could think of. She shared local news with her newfound friend. She had never conversed freely with a boy before, and found herself enjoying it immensely.
He studied her face for a moment and then looked at her mouth. Smiling, he shyly looked away.
Rachael liked that. She suddenly wanted to embrace him. She definitely felt an attraction to this boy, but they did not know each other well enough yet, and he seemed very anxious. She thought perhaps he was afraid he would be in for a whipping for befriending a princess.
“Do you have a girl of your…liking?” She didn’t even know the proper words for what she was asking.
Taken aback, he shook his head. “No, I am too young for girls. My mother says when I can grow a beard, it will be time. What about you?”
“I haven’t met any boys yet,” she said with a smile, “not until now. You are the first.” He blushed and ducked his head.
He appeared quite nervous as he looked toward his mother and then toward the doorway. “I have never had time for friends.”
“Oh, really?” Rachael asked. “What do you usually do during the day?”
“I help my mother in all that she asks.”
“Have you ever had a tutor?”
“No. What is that?”
“It is a person who teaches you things, like how to count, read and write on a tablet, and recite the history of Mesopotamia from memory.”
“Oh, lessons! No, I have never been in a house with lessons or a tutor. I did not know that was what they called the teacher.”
“I must have lessons from a tutor almost every day, except during the harvest.” She felt a little jealous, someone with no lessons to learn. “How old are you?”
He told her that he was fifteen and he had lived in servant quarters all of his life. His parents had hired themselves out to work, so their lives were better than slaves who had been purchased. “Everything was well with us until my father died. It was not long after that, my mother was told by her mistress to look for work elsewhere.”
“Why do you think she did that?”
“She said I ate too much.” Joel fidgeted. “Prince Tyro told my mother to come here, that there was plenty of food for hard workers.”
“I’m sorry to hear of your misfortunes.” Rachael cocked her head. “Do you hear someone coming down the steps?”
He listened. “I don’t know. I haven’t been here long enough to know the sounds of your house.”
“It’s not a house. It’s a palace. And I do hear someone coming…It is my mother. I recognize the sound of her sandals slapping against her heels. I’ll talk to you another time,” Rachael said, winking as she stood and rushed to the door.
It was too late. Kenana walked in, looked at her and then at Joel. “What are you doing in here?” she asked Rachael.
“Oh, Mother,” she stammered, “I was just looking for something to eat.”
“I know precisely what you were doing. You are not allowed to visit with the servants. Especially not a boy. You are to be confined to your room, young lady,” said Kenana. “Go!”
Rachael turned and looked at Joel. He quickly dropped his head onto his chest. He was shaking his head back and forth. She knew what he was signaling to her. Don’t betray me. She turned toward the door. Obeying her mother, she left the room and went upstairs.
“How can I get a friend?” she sadly asked aloud.
No one was there to answer.
She went to bed without her dinner, her heart breaking and she didn’t even know why.
*
Aurora the angel had taught Rachael the value of solitude. It was not something that Rachael pursued. But at times like this, she needed the strength that came from being alone. She remembered Aurora’s words, Solitude is the furnace of transformation.
Even though it was morning, it was too hot in her upper room. She went outside to the flower garden to be alone with her thoughts.
It was in that quiet place that she battled with her own thoughts. The garden provided the peace where she could allow spirituality and physical desire to battle for her soul. The thoughts of selfishness had to die and give way to compassion. The idea was amazing. But the reality of it seemed impossible.
“How can I get a friend when my mother treats me like a prisoner?” she asked in prayer.
She waited for an answer. She often heard the voice of God on the wind. There was now a gentle breeze blowing about her. She smelled the aroma of the roses. The finches chirped in the bushes. A squirrel ran across the path in front of her and up a tree. It seemed that the darkness that sometimes surrounded her was now behind her. It was a new day starting and light shone in her heart.
Just then, Joel came out of the servants’ door carrying a basket for gathering eggs. He walked toward her and asked, “Princess, what are you doing out here so early in the morning?”
“Just enjoying the silence.”
“That is stupid.”
“Have you learned no manners?”
“I just spoke my mind.”
“That you think I am stupid.”
“No,” he said. “That doing nothing is stupid.”
“You have a problem with me,” she said.
“Not any more than you do with me,” he said.
“Your problem,” said Rachael firmly, “is that you are around servants all the time and they are vulgar and ignorant. You are not refined.”
“My mother is refined. She was only reduced in circumstance by my father’s death. She was once very respected.”
“I’m sorry,” she apologized, blushing.
“To just sit and do nothing, I can’t imagine. And to be in a totally quiet place makes me nervous,” said Joel.
“I know. My angel told me about people like you.”
Joel frowned. “Now, you are rude.”
She had a smirk on her face. “No, I’m not. I am just learning how to grow up.”
“Grow up faster,” he said. “I have chores to do.”
“I’m sorry you have chores,” she said. “I so wish you could be my friend.”
“Really?”
“Really!”
“But you are the princess.”
“That does not take away the loneliness in my heart.”
“How can you be lonely? You have so much. Surely you have all the friends you wish.”
“No. Not one. My mother makes me stay in my room a lot.”
“That is why you have learned to be a friend to silence.”
“I suppose it is not all bad then.” Rachael grabbed his hand. “Sit by me for a time.”
He sat down and looked into her eyes. “Now we are sitting. And you are holding my hand. How is it?”
“Good,” she said. “I want to know something about you. Why are you here?”
“We had to leave my mother’s place of work quickly. Your brother seemed to like us. So, he told us to come to your palace.”
Rachael wondered why they would have to leave a place so quickly, but let it go. Rachael asked the questions, but Joel did n
ot supply the answers that she wanted.
They stared at each other and burst into laughter after a while.
Finally, he pulled his hand back and said, “I must go gather eggs now and take them to the larder. Or someone will want to know what I have been doing all this time.”
Chapter Seven
KENANA
The queen had once been Princess Kenana of Adah, wife of Prince Jubal. At that time, she had been the sweetheart of the land, married to a maker of musical instruments. The old prince had died about the same time that Kenana learned that she was expecting her first child, Tyro.
Upon the prince’s death, she had set his slaves free. One of those slaves was Asher, the legal heir to the throne of Mesopotamia. After her required time of mourning, she had married Asher. She was blessed to reign with Asher in Alalakh. It was a fresh start for her. Everyone knew all about her in Adah—the young bride who had bought for an old prince—but in Alalakh, no one even knew any gossip about her. It was freeing.
Kenana now reigned over all of Mesopotamia as Queen Kenana, wife of King Asher. She had a stately appearance as she sat in the great hall waiting for the king to join her. Her slender arms were adorned with a dozen gold circlets. She wore matching earrings. The fine linen tunic was royal purple, as befitted her position. The purple dye had come from the collected secretions of a certain type of sea snail. Thousands of them. She had cried aloud in wonder when she had seen the color of the fabric, which was only permitted for kings and queens. She wore a belt of beaten gold threads that had been braided tightly; on that belt hung a single golden key to the palace storeroom of wine jars, and large baskets of threshed grain, smoked fish and dried fruit.
Kenana sat at the table, alone. Her thoughts wandered to the men who had bedded her. The old prince had been a man of vile tastes in the marriage bed—sleeping with him had nearly destroyed her mind. She was never so glad to hear that someone had died.
Then there had been Malluch, the fallen angel, who had known exactly how to seduce her body and romance her heart, and was still her favorite kiss of all time. If not for his disobedience to El, perhaps they would still be together. She smiled to remember his kisses. They had curled her toes inside of her sandals. And even now, she tingled to think of those kisses.