Before the Fall (12 page)

She could see why a lot of the women swooned whenever he gave them the slightest bit of attention. Rather than the thick beards other men wore, he had a smattering of stubble that lined his strong jaw. His eyes were like sapphires that brightened when he smiled. He was taller than most men and every inch of his body was pure muscle.

A strand of golden hair brushed against his devastatingly handsome face. He ran a thick hand over the loosened strand and secured it in place with a leather band. The movement alone caused sighs from the girls standing next to her.

Jeremiel was interesting to watch. He didn’t hang his head in defeat like the others when he lost. He had a quiet dignity. No one could help but look at him as he walked slowly to the side after every defeat with a sly smile on his face, knowing that all eyes were on him. Even though he had lost, he took in the glory that was given to him from his admirers.

And though everyone seemed to have their eyes on Jeremiel, she couldn’t tear hers away from Lahash. He was so different from his brother. Though Jeremiel lost to each of his opponents, Lahash actually beat a few. With each win, Lahash’s hazel eyes would brighten as if he hadn’t expected it. And then he did something that the other competitors didn’t do. He went up to them, patting them on the back. She couldn’t hear what he told them, but whatever it was, the defeated person smiled at him with gratitude.

When Lahash was finally put up against Saleos and Jeremiel, she found herself yelling for him just as loudly as her sisters. She wanted him to win. He deserved it.

He had tried so hard. His square jaw would tighten and veins popped out against his muscular arms as he strained to bring down Saleos. All it took was a simple twist of Saleos’ arm and Lahash was flipped into the air, landing on the ground on his back. Even in defeat, Lahash had headed to Saleos to speak to him. Unlike the others, Saleos turned his back to him.

Naomi was brought out of her thoughts when she felt a tug on her tunic.

“Do you
have to
kiss the winner?” Leah asked.

She sighed. Leah was so young. How could she explain to her that when you were a woman, you had no choice?

“I’m afraid so.”

“Even if it’s him?” She pointed to Saleos.

Naomi looked at Saleos and shuddered. “Yes.”

Please, don’t let it be him.

She turned her attention back to Lahash. He was crouched low to the ground, his face tense in concentration. His right foot dug into the dirt, swiveling back and forth, readying to propel his body forward.

“I don’t want the scary man to win,” Lilia whined. “I want Lahash.”

Her eyes drifted to Lahash’s face and then down to his lips.

“So do I,” she said under her breath.

Lahash stopped moving and a smile flashed across his face.

Her breath hitched. It was as if he had heard what she said!

Before she could think of anything else, Baka yelled ‘Go!’ and the men ran down the city streets and through the city gates.

Naomi found herself screaming at the top of her lungs along with the rest of the crowd as they followed after the runners.

She jumped, pumping her fist in the air. “Go, Lahash!”

A hand gripped her arm and pulled her away from the crowd.

“Stop this,” her father hissed. “You will conduct yourself as a lady should.”

“Naomi?” Leah ran to her side with Lilia close behind her.

She opened her mouth and then slammed it shut. She wanted to tell him that she would conduct herself in any way she pleased, considering that he’d sold her to the winner for a few coins. But she couldn’t. He was her father and it was her duty to obey his wishes. Women who didn’t obey were cast out of the home and deemed wicked. She would never see her sisters again.

“Yes . . . Father.” She could barely get the words out.

“If you are to cheer for any, you will do so for Saleos. Baka has paid handsomely.”

She made a face. She couldn’t help herself. Baka and his sons were vile men. Some of the loose women of the city were enamored with them. It was rumored that the brothers had lain with such women. She had seen these women’s bastard sons and they bore a resemblance to Saleos and his brothers. It was clear that they had used those women, taking advantage of their weakness.

“Watch yourself, Naomi. It is your mother’s as well as my hope that you will be betrothed to Saleos.”

“No.” She staggered back, blood draining from her face.

This was all her father’s doing. Her mother would never want a life like that for her. Saleos was exactly like his father. Baka treated his dogs better than his wife, and she had no doubt Saleos would follow his lead.

“Please, not him.”

Her father smiled. “Fear not, my daughter. There is another that I would consider worthy of your hand.”

Hazel eyes flashed through her mind.

“Jeremiel is admired by all in the city. Word of his reputation has spread even to Jericho. He has been called ‘a god among men.’ Someone like that is worthy of being my son-in-law.”

“Look. They’re coming!” A voice yelled.

“It can’t be,” another voice said. “It’s too soon.”

A murmur of disbelief ran through the crowds. Then from a distance, three runners came into view.

“It’s true! It’s true! Look for yourselves!”

The crowd roared.

Her heart pounded when she saw Lahash running at Saleos’s side. Jeremiel was close behind.

“Father, may we go near the city gates to watch the runners climb the wall?” Lilia’s big brown eyes looked up at her father.

“Of course, child,” he said, patting her head. “Naomi, take your sisters. Make sure you return to the square as soon as the first runners have passed. We must make sure you are ready to give the winner his prizes. And maybe soon thereafter, our family will have our reward.”

Naomi ran with her sisters toward the city’s sixteen-foot wall. As they neared it, she lost sight of Lahash. There was a lull as the crowd waited to see who would be the first to climb over it.

Then she saw a thick hand slap down on the top edge of the wall, followed by a slender one right next to it. Her heart leaped into her throat. Lahash. It had to be him.

The crowd roared as Saleos and Lahash both emerged on top of the wall.

Sweat rolled down Lahash’s face, which was darkened by streaks of mud, highlighting the intensity of his hazel eyes. He grunted and clenched his teeth as he pulled himself over the wall. He then pulled the rope over the wall and tossed it down. When he was half way down, he let go of the rope and landed with a hard thud on the dirt.

“Go, Lahash!” Lilia and Leah squealed as they ran closer to the wall, trying to get a better look.

“Lilia! Leah! Stand back!” She rushed after them. They were much too close to the wall.

At that moment, she heard a loud roar.

Everything seemed to go in slow motion as she struggled against the crowd to reach her sisters.

Saleos pushed himself off the wall and flew through the air in an attempt to land ahead of Lahash, who was scrambling to get onto his feet.

When Saleos hit the ground, he swung around to face the square. His sword jutted out and hit Lilia across the face.

“Lilia!” Naomi shoved a woman out of the way and dropped to the ground next to her sister.

Her sister lay on the ground, a red slash across her cheek.

“Oh no. Lilia!” she sobbed. “Leah, go get Mother. Hurry!”

Leah balked as she looked at her motionless sister. She then darted off into the crowd.

“Move. Let me get to her.”

Naomi looked up and saw Lahash pushing his way through the crowd. Concern filled his handsome face.

“Lahash, what are you doing?” Jeremiel grabbed his arm.

His eyes met hers for a moment and then he looked in the direction Saleos ran. He was getting farther away from them and closer to the finish line.

“Don’t let him win,” he growled at his brother.

Jeremiel hesitated for a moment and then glanced down at Naomi. Without a word, he took off in a blur after Saleos. Most of the crowd followed after him, cheering.

Lahash sat down on his knees and gingerly lifted Lilia onto his lap. “She’s wounded.”

“Saleos’ sword. It hit her across the face. Why won’t she wake up?”

“I don’t know.” He looked down at his mud-splattered clothes. Then back up at her.

“What are you looking for?”

“I need something . . . give me your shaviss.”

She quickly took her head covering off and handed it to him. “Why are you doing this? You were winning.”

He took the corner of her head covering and gently wiped the blood from Lilia’s cheek.

“This is more important than winning a race.”

Naomi watched as his slender fingers brushed Lilia’s cheek. After a moment, Lilia stirred and her eyes fluttered open. She looked up and her brown eyes grew wide as she stared up at Lahash.

“Well, hello there. You gave us a scare,” he said.

Lilia cried.

He chuckled. “I think she’s going to be fine.”

Naomi let out a breath of relief.

“My poor Lilia,” her mother said as rushed over with Leah.

“Thank you...”

“Lahash,” he said as he placed Naomi’s crying sister into their mother’s arms.

“Son of Raphael and Rebecca?” Her mother asked.

Lahash looked surprised. “Yes, I—”

There was a loud roar in the distance, followed by chanting.

“Jeremiel! Jeremiel! Jeremiel!”

“You must get to the square quickly. Do not embarrass your father. Please, Naomi.”

“Yes, Mother.”

Naomi glanced at Lahash. A sad expression crossed his face as he held out her shaviss.

She reached out to take it and placed her hand over his. The simple touch sent a jolt through her body, making her heart flutter.

“Thank . . . thank you, Lahash. And I’m sorry you lost the race and the . . . prize.”

He swallowed thickly.

“Me too.”

L
ahash leaned against the front wall of the inn as he watched Jeremiel weave his way through the crowd, waving a red sash. Men cheered him, slapping him on the back. Young women reached out their hands to him in hopes of touching him. A glow emanated from within him, making his handsome face even more impossibly glorious.

“Jeremiel. Jeremiel.” The crowd chanted.

Jeremiel basked in the admiration that they gave to him freely, and Lahash wondered what it felt like to be loved by so many. Was this why he was such a disappointment to his father? Because he didn’t have his brother’s skill to draw people to him? As hard as he tried, he could never live up to the skill and strength that Jeremiel had. And he so wished that he could. Not that he didn’t love his brother, he did. All he wanted was for his father to be proud of him too. His mother loved him. He felt it from her every day. But his father? It was clear that he held Jeremiel in high esteem and cared nothing for him.

Jeremiel stepped onto the small platform that was placed in the center of the square. The governor went up to him and shook his hand. He then waved over Naomi, who stood in the corner of the platform with a small bag in one hand and her head covering in the other. Her father stood behind her, keeping careful watch.

Naomi handed her shaviss to her father and walked slowly toward Jeremiel with her eyes down. The crowd yelled louder when she came into view.

Lahash felt a pain in his chest at the sight of her. He could tell she didn’t want to do this, and he wished he could help her out of it. Unlike his brother who thrived on being the center of attention, it didn’t look like Naomi liked it.

She finally reached Jeremiel’s side. Holding out the leather pouch, she waited for him to take it.

Jeremiel took the bag from her with a large grin on his face. Naomi was about to take a step back when he placed a finger under her chin.

Lahash pushed himself off the wall and took a step forward.

Pink tinted Naomi’s face as she looked up at Jeremiel.

“Thank you.” Jeremiel’s voice was deep. It wasn’t a tone that Lahash had ever heard him use before.

He took another step forward, his jaw tensing.

The crowd cheered, making her blush a deeper shade of red.

Jeremiel turned his attention back to the crowd. “People of Ai! Today is a day of celebration for us all!”

He opened the bag and dumped its contents into his hand. Then he swung his arm up, releasing the gold coins into the air.

The crowd went wild. Everyone jumped up, trying to catch the gold coins.

The crowd continued to chant. “Jeremiel. Jeremiel.”

Lahash looked to Naomi as she slowly took another step back, and he chuckled. She was trying to sneak off the stage. With the crowd distracted and the governor and her father congratulating each other, it seemed like the kiss was all but forgotten.

He scanned the audience in search of Saleos and Baka. They were nowhere in sight. Maybe she wouldn’t have to kiss his brother after all.

Just as Naomi was about to step off the platform, the crowd’s chants changed. It started with an elderly woman who stood in the back of the crowd.

“Kiss!” She yelled. “Where’s the kiss?”

Lahash stiffened and quickly looked to Naomi.

He prayed that no one else heard and that she would make it off the platform and disappear into the inn.

Then there was another voice, followed by another, until the entire crowd was chanting. “Kiss! Kiss! Kiss!”

Lahash saw the governor wave at Naomi. Her father scowled when he saw her standing at the edge of the platform.

Biting her lip, she went back to them.

Jeremiel turned his attention to her. He grinned at the sight of her, his dimples flashing.

With each step she took toward him, the crowd’s chants grew louder. When she was finally beside him, he gave her a wink and bent down, sticking out his cheek to her.

Lahash let out a breath of relief. Naomi appeared to be just as relieved. She only had to kiss his brother’s cheek.

Even though Jeremiel had bent down slightly, she had to step up on her toes to reach him.

“Kiss! Kiss!” The crowd yelled as she slowly reached out to his cheek.