Glorious Companions

by Summer Lee

  She heard footsteps approach. It was Joel.

  “What are you doing?” he asked.

  “What does it look like? I’m knitting.”

  “Do you like to knit?”

  “No, it’s punishment.”

  “I guess you need more silence?”

  She rolled her eyes. “I’m glad you are here. I need to ask you something.”

  “What is that?”

  “I overheard the magistrate talking to you and your mother yesterday. Is what he said true?”

  “What did he say?”

  “That someone killed the old woman that your mother used to work for.”

  Joel shrugged his shoulders. He said, “I don’t know. I wasn’t there when it happened. People can say anything. Doesn’t mean it’s true.”

  Rachael noticed that his face paled.

  “Are you sure you don’t know?” she asked. “You look as if you knew something about this.”

  “Just shut up about it.” His white face turned crimson as rage filled his eyes.

  “You did something wrong, or you would not act this way. And how dare you speak to me in that manner? You forget yourself.”

  “Maybe you should mind your knitting punishment and keep your nose out of my business, Princess,” he said sarcastically.

  “Maybe you should go gather the eggs, servant boy,” she said and pushed him away.

  He knew something about the death of Mistress Rita. Maybe it was him. She watched Joel go, his shoulders hunched in a hurt posture, and wondered if she should tell on him. Guessing it was not the right time, she changed her line of thinking.

  Now alone, she allowed her mind to wander, trying to make sense out of life. What caused her mother to be mean at times and nice at other times? And what caused Rachael to be mean to Joel? She liked Joel, but every time she saw him, they argued about something. She didn’t understand what was happening.

  “I wish Aurora were here now,” she said to herself. “She would understand. She would explain.”

  A small air current blew across Rachael’s face, running cold fingers over her skin and ruffling her hair. At the same time, a light wind swept through the garden with a sweet aroma that smelled angelic. It was a familiar sign that Aurora, the fair angel, was close. Did this mean that Rachael was in danger, or was she about to be blessed? She would soon find out as she whispered, “Aurora, are you nearby? Have you come to talk to me?”

  “Yes, dear.” Golden dust filled the air about her. “I have come to you.” Aurora stood on the tip of her toes like a dancing girl. Her skirt whirled into a spiral. A broad smile crossed her face. Aurora had definitely come to her side.

  Aurora clasped Rachael’s hand and twirled her around, too. Her heart fluttered with excitement. She was dancing with her angel! “Thank you for coming, Aurora.”

  Aurora reached her hand out to touch the cheek of the budding young woman. “I have come because you called for me so desperately. So, tell me what I can do for you.”

  “Help me find a friend.” Rachael paused. “I feel so alone.”

  “Oh, child. No need to worry. There will be a time for friends,” the angel said. “Time alone can be good—a blessing in itself. A time for reflection.” A breeze meandered through the garden, bringing with it the fresh scents of the geraniums, roses and marigolds.

  White-lipped, Rachael shook her head. “Not to me. I don’t like to be alone.”

  “Remember that God is always with you.” Aurora sat on the bench beside her.

  Rachael frowned. “God can’t hold my hand or talk to me while I’m knitting. I need someone I can touch. Only then will I be happy.”

  “I understand your pain, dear girl, but for now, you must honor your parents. And I will guide you.” Aurora clasped her hand. “These things take time.”

  As Aurora touched her, Rachael felt a wave of peace sweep through her soul. She believed something good was going to happen for her. Her guardian angel often communicated with her during times of change. She realized that blessings often followed her visits.

  The idea that her personal angel would bring a curse was unlikely. Aurora had been with Rachael all of her life. She was Rachael’s friend. They would talk about everything. Boys. Love. Her parents and her brother. Rachael sometimes talked to the angel about the suitors who would someday come to call. She truly wanted to find and marry a prince who would love her passionately. Only God knew where to find such a prince.

  Rachael often talked about her hopes and dreams to Aurora. “Just help me.”

  Aurora lovingly replied, “You are still a child, my dear. A young, naive, vulnerable girl. Now is the time to play, study your lessons and listen to your parents.”

  “I’ve far outgrown childish games and have no playmates anyway, and I’m tired of my studies,” Rachael countered.

  “Don’t be so quick to make rash decisions.” Aurora kept her voice low.

  “I know what I need.” Rachael narrowed her eyes. “My goal is to marry a prince. I need to be looking for him. That will occupy my mind.”

  “Not now, darling. You do not know enough about life to marry a man.” Aurora reminded her, “You are simply too young. At your age, you should be a dreamer of what will someday be yours. Something for you to strive for.”

  “When will I be old enough?”

  “When you can care for an infant and never think of your own needs. For, when you marry, you shall soon find yourself a servant to a tiny person who you must feed and clean and rock. And you will hardly sleep at all.”

  Rachael thought for a moment about Aurora’s words. She moistened her lips. “I did not think of that. I will try to be patient.”

  Aurora smiled. “Let’s try to think of something constructive, other than flirting with boys just because they are already in your house and forbidden to you. And just because you can get a rise out of your mother.”

  “Oh, dear! Just don’t say that I need to knit a hundred cubits or until I promise not to even look at a boy.” Rachael threw her yarn to the ground.

  Aurora smiled and sighed. “What interests you, my dear?”

  “Maybe it is time that I learn about what is going on in the world, and why evil people want to attack us. The fear of the people in Alalakh is very serious.” Rachael believed she had made a mature decision.

  “Good idea.”

  Rachael told Aurora the tales of danger she had heard in the kingdom. She asked, “Do you think that what I have heard is really true?”

  “I do believe they are,” Aurora replied.

  Rachael would never have listened to anyone else except her angel. But her absolute respect for the angel caused her to ask questions and trust her answers. “Tell me what I should do now.”

  “Mostly you need to hear from God.”

  “I want to. My mother seems to believe in God so easily, especially when she talks to him.”

  “You will learn in time.”

  “But my mother is not always patient or kind.”

  “No one is. All humans have their bad days.”

  She put her hand on her heart. “I need some answers right here in my heart. I want to know what is forthcoming in Mesopotamia. Please help me.”

  “Rachael,” Aurora began and stopped.

  Rachael brushed her hair out of her face and flipped it over her shoulder. “What?”

  “You need not worry about the future of the entire country, darling.” Aurora rolled her eyes. “You are too young.”

  “What should I do?”

  “Increase your own strength by spending time meditating and listening to your heart.”

  “I do that.”

  “Good.”

  “Well then, will you take a message to God for me?” Rachael asked, gripping the angel’s hand.

  Aurora nodded. “I will take a prayer request back to him if you want. I am a messenger. What do you desire?”

  “Freedom. I feel closed in.” Rachael cocked her head to one side. “I want to be free to
come and go as I please,” said Rachael. “I don’t want to ask my mother every time I want to go outside to pick flowers.”

  Holding Rachael’s hand, she said, “A wish such as that will take more time than you think. I know it is hard on you now, my dear, but it is for your own protection. You must work on growing up first.”

  “That will take too long.”

  “Patience,” said Aurora.

  Rachael groaned.

  “You do know that danger lurks in the encampments of the giants. It would be unsafe for you to go anywhere outside the palace grounds.”

  “I won’t go near the giants.”

  “But, the question is, will the giants go near you? And if so, what would you do?”

  Rachael thought about what Aurora said. “Very well. I will wait. I want to be a queen like my mother. I want to marry a king like my father.” Rachael smiled and sighed. “That is what I am waiting for.” Her answer had always been the same. Rachael believed that the queen and king had a splendid life, and she wanted the same for herself.

  “You are not yet fifteen, my dear. You have plenty of time to decide on your marriage partner. Someday, God will send a handsome prince your way. But, he may be disguised as a frog.” She pinched Rachael’s nose and pointed to the ball of yarn and knitting needles. Grinning, Aurora wrinkled her nose. “In the meantime, practice your knitting.”

  Rachael laughed. “You are joking about the frog.”

  “I am. But I did see your brother recently. I think he is would like to do some fun things with you when he returns home in a few days. I have asked him to take you places with him. You will be safe with him, and you can enjoy the fresh outdoor air,” said the angel.

  “Is that all you can say?” asked Rachael. “Running around with my brother is supposed to make me happy?”

  “You will enjoy your time with him,” Aurora said seriously.

  Rachael threw her arms into the air. “That wasn’t what I had in mind. There is a new boy that just moved in. He is my age. I’d rather keep company with him.”

  “You know your mother will not allow that, my dear. You are a princess and she wants the best for you.”

  “How does she know that Joel isn’t the one for me?”

  “Forget it. And, you must always be aware that danger is lurking in the air. Things will be changing soon in Alalakh, and you may not be safe outside at all.”

  Rachael heard Aurora’s words in stunned disbelief. “Are you referring to a war?”

  “I certainly am.” Aurora smoothed Rachael’s hair and said, “You need to stay safe.”

  Rachael sighed as she saw love for her in her angel’s eyes. “I’m sorry.”

  “You will grow up soon enough, my dear Rachael. You will not spend your entire life submitting to your parents. Tyro will be here momentarily.” Aurora twirled and slowly faded from the room. The words “Tyro is a good brother” lingered in the air.

  Rachael felt the smile linger in her heart. She knew Aurora loved her. She knew her parents did, as well. Someday, her dream would come true. She would find her prince. Until then, she would have to settle for finding excitement by following her eighteen-year-old brother around in Alalakh.

  Perhaps he would take her across the Mesopotamia Valley. He always told her of wild adventures when he came home. And he should return home soon. She heard the royal dogs barking and making a terrible commotion. Was it Tyro? She turned and saw Tyro ride up in the yard.

  The knitting abandoned, she ran to greet him.

  Chapter Nine

  RACHAEL AND TYRO

  “How do you fare, little sister?” Tyro asked Rachael while wiping down his horse down with a cool, wet cloth.

  “Terribly,” said Rachael. “I met a new friend and Mother disapproves of the friendship.”

  “Why? Is it a boy?” Tyro asked, smiling.

  “Yes,” Rachael sighed wearily.

  “Of course she disapproves, silly.”

  “No one suffers the queen as much as the princess.”

  Tyro laughed. “I have a couple of things to do today. Why don’t you come with me, just to do something different?”

  “Whose idea was it?” she asked with a pout. “Aurora’s?”

  “I thought Aurora already talked to you about it.”

  “Where did you see her?”

  “She met up with me on the trail.”

  “What did she talk to you about?”

  “You. After all, she is your guardian angel.”

  “I was knitting when she came. I don’t remember what she said.” Rachael preferred not to remember.

  “Yes, you do. She told you that Mother would not let you talk to boys yet. And she asked me to take you someplace with me today,” Tyro said.

  “If I go any place, I will run away.”

  “You can’t run away. Nephilim are hiding out there. Didn’t Aurora tell you about the coming danger of war in Alalakh?” Tyro asked with a confused look.

  “Of course she did. But I’m tired of hearing about trouble.”

  “The danger is real, and we all just want to keep you safe.”

  “Everyone just wants to have their control over me.”

  “There is going to be a horrible slaughter in the near future, dear Rachael. There has been nothing like it since the king was forced out of his home when he was a small boy,” Tyro said firmly. “You had better listen to your elders.”

  “Do you really believe that Father’s story is true?” she asked.

  “I certainly do.”

  “He never convinced me of it.”

  Surprised at her statement, Tyro was struck with an idea. “Go with me to talk to Father’s cousin, Ava. She will tell you what she remembers. It will send chills down your spine.”

  “You know that Father already told me about it when he was a boy,” said Rachael.

  “He only tells the short version that a five year old remembers.” Tyro studied her face. “Ava was in her teens when it happened, and she tells the story like no other.”

  “She is getting old,” said Rachael, feeling disappointed. “I can’t imagine what she can say that I do not already know.”

  “You just wait and see.” He whistled for a stable boy to bring Rachael’s horse. He instructed the lad to put a blanket on the mare for her.

  Rachael stared at Tyro with concern. “Do you know the story as she tells it?”

  “Of course I do,” he said firmly. “Ava told me when I was your age. It was a tale that changed the direction of my life.”

  “Surely?”

  “Yes,” Tyro said, “surely.”

  Rachael sighed. “If you say so.”

  “Why does Father want you to go see her?”

  “I have to see if she wants to come here until the area is safe. It can be dangerous at her place during times of war.”

  Amidst the talking, Rachael heard her father’s voice as he approached. “Welcome home, son,” said the king, as he mounted his own horse, ready to leave.

  “I completed my mission,” said Tyro, walking over to Asher. Rachael heard him quietly say, “Guards will arrive shortly. I’m going to warn Ava now.”

  “Where are you going, Father?” asked Rachael.

  “Just taking care of business of the kingdom. I’ll be back in time for the evening meal.”

  A young slave brought Rachael’s mare to her. Tyro helped her as she stepped into his hands and mounted the horse.

  “I am going with Tyro,” Rachael said to her father.

  Tyro said, “We should be home in time to eat with you.”

  Asher nodded. “All right. Be careful.”

  “Very well.” Tyro patted the rump of Rachael’s mare and said, “Let’s go.” She waved to her father as they rode one way and her father rode the other.

  “Be sure to tell Mother,” she called back over her shoulder. Asher did not look up and Rachael guessed her words were lost on the wind.

  Rachael and Tyro headed toward the back of the property. Gui
ding her mount, she followed Tyro out of the yard and down the dirt road.

  After passing the stables, the horses were allowed to gallop across the pastureland and to the backwoods where a small hut nestled near running water. This was the location where Ava had requested to live alone.

  Momentarily, Rachael felt free.

  While she had earlier felt slightly chastised by Aurora, there was another part of Rachael that experienced liberation now. She was going to enjoy spending time alone with Tyro for a change. She was curious as to what her father’s gray-haired cousin might say. At the very least, it was a way of passing the time. After all, Aurora had said that it was not as if she would spend her entire life at home with her parents. Her prince would come for her. Someday.

  Rachael focused on the path ahead as she squeezed the mare’s ribs with her legs, urging her to keep up with the stallion. “Tyro, can I ask you something?”

  “About what?”

  “That lady you sent to work for our mother.”

  “You mean Bilhah?” He turned and looked at her. “What troubles you about the new cook?”

  “Her son.”

  “Oh! Now I understand.” Tyro laughed. “You have an interest in her son. What’s his name?”

  “Joel.”

  “You don’t want a servant boy for a future husband.”

  “I don’t want him for a husband. I just want a friend.” She sighed. “But that is not what I want to talk to you about. The magistrate came yesterday and wanted to talk to Bilhah and Joel.”

  Rachael’s mare reared up and neighed when a bush moved in the breeze. Rachel calmed the horse by stroking her neck.

  Tyro frowned. “Why would he want to speak to them?”

  “Some old lady was killed. The magistrate asked them questions about her death.”

  Tyro stopped under some trees and allowed his horse to munch on the grass under it. Rachael followed Tyro toward the trees and slid off the back of her horse.

  “So, how does the boy, Joel, fit in?”

  “I overheard Mother snap at him after the magistrate left.” She watched the horse move over to a puddle of water and begin to drink. “That is not all. When I tried to talk to him about it, he got angry.”

  “So?”

  “I think he killed the old woman when she made a fuss over him eating off her dirty plate when he was clearing the table.”