Crown in the Stars (37 page)

Adoniyram chided himself silently, riding behind Ra-Anan and Kuwsh through the city. Twice today he had broken his own resolution to avoid speaking to Shoshannah in public.

Not wise. And perhaps I said more than I should. Now I will see if she can keep my secrets
.

Prodding his horse forward, he joined Lord Kuwsh and Ra-Anan, who were still arguing about how to proceed with building the tower and the temple. But listening to them quarrel over paints, pillars, and stairs, while he tried to suggest his Lady-Mother’s preferences as she had instructed, had been dull work today. How could he concentrate after speaking with Shoshannah and, earlier, watching her embrace that baby? He had imagined her holding his own child.

Dangerous
.

Willfully Adoniyram subdued those thoughts, which might remain only thoughts if all his plans ended in disaster. He also had to deal with Shoshannah’s belief that he wasn’t the Promised One.
Is she right?
he wondered, looking up at the clouded skies.

You don’t love the Most High; you cannot be the Promised One
.

Could he trust or believe in a God who had probably foreshortened his own life, as Shoshannah had said?

A voice seemed to whisper at the back of his mind,
But if Shemesh is your god, you must ask the same question of him
.

Adoniyram considered this, surprised. He felt as if this new thought was whispered by a teacher who was reasoning with him kindly, telling him to be fair.

“You’ve been talking with
her
quite a bit today,” Kuwsh observed, startling Adoniyram into the present.

Composing himself, Adoniyram smiled sardonically to convince Lord Kuwsh that he was annoyed with Shoshannah. “Earlier, on our way to the tower, she was upset by marks that trader had carved in his arm. I persuaded her that they were nothing. Then she had to hold some merchant wife’s baby—did you see her? We must convince her to behave more cautiously in public. Otherwise my mother will take offense.”

Kuwsh glowered at this, casting a dark look at Ra-Anan.

Coolly, Ra-Anan said, “I will speak with Shoshannah tonight.”

Adoniyram maintained a perfect, disinterested mask. But he warned Shoshannah in his thoughts,
If you reveal my secrets to our enemies, beloved, then you won’t deserve my protection in the future. Prove to me that you can be cautious
.

Shoshannah tried to remain calm as Ra-Anan scolded her after the evening meal.

“If you insist on resuming your mother’s tradition of openly honoring every baby who’s offered to you, Shoshannah, then you must understand that you will cause Lord Kuwsh to turn against you.”

Softly, severely, Zeva’ah added, “You will also provoke our Queen of the Heavens. She’s already threatened to kill you. Do you understand how serious this is?”

“Yes, Aunt.” Aware of Demamah’s subtle, tense concern, Shoshannah suggested hopefully, “Perhaps Demamah should accompany me whenever I go out into the streets. She can accept the babies and everyone will be satisfied. She would enjoy it, wouldn’t you, Demamah?”

“Of course, but not if my parents are against the idea,” Demamah agreed, worried.

Zeva’ah shrugged and glanced at Ra-Anan for his opinion.

“I have no objections. Yet.” Ra-Anan frowned at Shoshannah. “What were you talking about with Adoniyram today?”

“I’m sorry I delayed you this morning, Uncle; forgive me. We were discussing that peddler’s arm; it was covered with dark slashes. Adoniyram said that certain tribes cut themselves deliberately and rub dye into the cuts and—”

“What else?” her uncle demanded, looking dangerous.

Shoshannah squirmed uncomfortably. “Adoniyram was flirting with me. He said that he had to stay to protect me, but I told him I wanted him to just ignore me. Please, Uncle, can you speak to him? I don’t want anyone to talk and say things that aren’t true.”

“If his behavior becomes inappropriate, yes. What else?”

What else could she safely tell? Slowly, painfully, she said, “Adoniyram believes that the Most High is cruel, and that He isn’t protecting me, or anyone else.”

His voice lowered, hard, Ra-Anan asked, “And do you still trust in the Most High?”

Demamah stiffened beside her. Zeva’ah, too, seemed to be holding her breath.

Looking her uncle in the eyes, Shoshannah answered softly, “Yes.”

Ra-Anan stared at her as if she were manure scuffed into his clean house. “If you wish to live, child, you will not repeat this foolishness to anyone—particularly not to Rab-Mawg or our Lord Kuwsh. Now, leave the room.”

Shoshannah hurried away, disgraced, but thankful the questions had stopped.

Shoshannah looked up. Demamah entered the sleeping area, shaking her head, upset. “Father said that if he had struck you, he would not have been able to prevent himself from killing you. He asked me if I’ve been hiding things from him.” Demamah’s big eyes glimmered with tears. “I gave him my word that I wasn’t keeping information from him to protect you. At least not
that
information… confessing you still follow the Most High…”

She sat beside Shoshannah on the makeshift bed now, staring at her, whispering, “Why did you say anything at all?”

“It was the truth; he would have known if I was lying.”

Demamah pushed a hand through her straight, glossy hair. “It would have been better to remain silent. Now he will suspect everything I say.”

“I’m sorry.” Wondering, Shoshannah asked,
“Is
there anything to suspect of you?”

Clearly unwilling to answer the question, Demamah changed the subject. “Why do you suppose your parents haven’t tried to rescue you from here? Surely they love you.”

They are trying. But I’m not going to tell you that
. Aloud, Shoshannah answered, “They do love me. But I’d rather die than have them risk their lives, and I’m sure they know it.”

“You
will
die if you speak so foolishly again, defending your Most High.”

Softly, Shoshannah asked, “Isn’t your Shemesh worth defending?”

Demamah stared at her, silent.

Alone in her ornate bedchamber, Sharah lifted a small, oval obsidian mirror and stared hard at her reflection in the mirror’s dark surface. Her makeup, skin, teeth, and hair were all perfectly groomed. She put the obsidian down and picked up a mirror of highly polished metal and frowned into her gleaming, now goldish-pink image. Still perfect.

Restless, she thrust the mirror away and poured herself some wine. Perhaps she should have ridden out into the city today with Adoniyram. Attention from the citizens usually lifted her sense of gloom. She could have also prevented Adoniyram from speaking to that girl. And she could have taken that infant for herself, forbidding Shoshannah to accept the citizens’ adulation.

You are scheming against me
, she thought, frustrated.
You’re stealing my son, and my citizens. I’m going to insist that Ra-Anan keep you hidden. If he doesn’t …

A respectful cough interrupted her. She frowned. “What?”

“Lady?” One of her maidservants approached timidly, her dark head bowed. “A woman has come to the gates with news of your family. She won’t talk to me but says that you will want to hear what she says.”

Sharah was about to send the woman away unheard, but curiosity and boredom changed her mind. “Bring the woman to me, then leave. And don’t let me catch you listening!”

As she waited, Sharah smoothed her expression deliberately and practiced a benevolent smile. If this woman was some fool with news of a cousin or something equally stupid, Sharah would send her away immediately. Hearing footsteps, Sharah flashed her practiced smile toward the entrance of her private rooms.

A nondescript brown-skinned woman bowed toward her, then knelt shakily, obviously scared.

Becoming irritated, Sharah said, “It’s late. Not a time I usually receive pleas from citizens.”

Moistening her ashen lips, the woman whispered, “This is about Keren, your own sister, Lady. I saw her. Please believe me; there’s no mistake. I know where she is.”

Sharah took in a breath, then exhaled, delighted. “Does anyone else know? If you’ve told anyone…”

“My husband and children know. And my husband’s brother… who is married to your niece Yelahlah. But we’ve remained silent. We will also leave your city at once, if only you could give us the means to support ourselves
as we try to return home. There were terrible floods on our lands this year, Lady…”

Donning her generous, loving mother expression, Sharah said, “I’ll provide for your family this once. But I warn you: If I find out that you’ve lied, I will have you hunted down and punished. You and your family.”

The woman’s brown eyes widened, terrified. “I’ll tell you the truth, Lady. And others are with her. Please, listen…”

As the woman poured out names and descriptions in a muted monotone, Sharah listened, elated. This was news worth paying for, worth hiding. Worth celebrating. Ra-Anan and Kuwsh were going to have fits when she rubbed her victory in their smug faces. Laughing to herself, she hurried away to summon her guardsmen.

Twenty-Two

SHELTERED JUST INSIDE the doorway of Ra-Anan’s home, Shoshannah dropped her spindle into her lap and peered outside. As she watched, Adoniyram strode into the crowd of merchants and visitors seated in Ra-Anan’s busy courtyard and bowed graciously to Lord Kuwsh and Ra-Anan.

“Look at him,” she murmured to Demamah. “Late and not caring a bit.”

Kneeling beside her, Demamah stopped combing a puff of wool. “I hope he doesn’t upset Father.”

Kaleb followed Adoniyram, his usual brisk walk now slow and measured. He positioned himself in a corner, cautiously eyeing everyone. Shoshannah was concerned by his unusual behavior but dared not look at him for too long; Demamah would notice. Reluctantly, she glanced toward the gate just as two trainers entered, guiding two
of Adoniyram’s leashed leopards in their golden, jeweled collars.

The sleek, showy, almost sacred leopards were reminders of Nimr-Rada, Adoniyram’s mighty hunter-“father,” and symbols of Adoniyram’s status in this kingdom. Everyone in the courtyard watched the leopards, unnerved. Kal, however, studied the pampered beasts as if he were planning how to stop them if they attacked anyone. Adoniyram merely smiled.