Crown in the Stars (12 page)

Sharah had stormed and screamed and thrown dishes as soon as she reached the privacy of her own residence. All her rage had been directed at Shoshannah for being like her mother, Keren, who stupidly trusted those old storytelling Ancient Ones in the mountains. Worse, the girl had dared to voice a truth that the Queen of the Heavens didn’t want to accept.

My mother never betrayed you as you betrayed her, and you know it!

Shoshannah’s words also implied knowledge of the past that Adoniyram didn’t have. What did she know about his mother?

“I say she’s dangerous,” Rab-Mawg declared. “If she’s been in our Great City for less than a day and already created such furor, what else might she do?”

“What else indeed?”

“And,” Rab-Mawg’s voice rose vehemently, as if coercing Adoniyram to accept his opinion, “you won’t be able to prevent someone from killing her eventually. If you decide what should be done with her, my lord, I will assist you in whatever way I can.”

“Thank you, Rab-Mawg.”

What should happen to this Shoshannah?
Adoniyram wondered. She was too straightforward. And evidently honorable. Combined, the traits could be ruinous. That, added to her looks—which were extraordinary now that she was clothed in a civilized manner—made her thoroughly unsettling. Might she be the tool he needed to pry those two vultures from their lofty perches? And to counteract his mother’s influence within the kingdom?

Mother
, he fumed,
you didn’t even consider that, if what this girl says is true, you will live to see my death. Your thoughts were all centered upon how offensive she was toward you. Am I worth so little to you?

He knew the answer but pushed it away.

As soon as Adoniyram had departed, Rab-Mawg hurried inside the tower’s chilly, gold-decked, half-built temple,
which was lit by lamps and a hearth and guarded by his own followers—his three fellow priests of Shemesh. They eyed him as they finished their evening meal. All three were thin, black eyed, bald shaven, trustworthy, and devout as he was, clad in pale woolen robes and sandals. And like Rab-Mawg, they despised the arrogant Ra-Anan, the worthless, temperamental Lord Kuwsh, and his equally worthless and temperamental daughter-in-law, the Lady Sharah. They longed for Adoniyram to take hold of the kingdom.

“Listen,” Rab-Mawg said darkly, knowing they would hate his news. “Don’t repeat this to anyone: We have a potential adversary…”

Shoshannah hadn’t realized that the comfortable little sleeping room was Demamah’s own room. As the servants brought heaps of straw, furs, and coverlets for Shoshannah’s bed, she realized that Ra-Anan and his wife intended for her to stay with Demamah, at least for tonight. The thought both consoled and worried her.

While they were combing their hair and preparing for sleep, Demamah was silent. But she cast a wounded look at Shoshannah, which made Shoshannah feel like a traitor.

Clearing her throat meekly, she said, “I’m sorry. You trusted me, but I hurt you the instant I started talking. Forgive me. I should have kept quiet.”

Demamah nodded. After a time, she said, “Were you lying?”

Reluctantly Shoshannah shook her head. “No. Our tribal leaders say it’s probably true. And I watched our First Father Shem and our I’ma-Annah together with my
parents and grandparents. The differences between their generations are obvious.”

Demamah settled onto her low, fleece-covered bed, staring upward at the roof beams. Shoshannah adjusted her makeshift bed, smoothing the light woolen coverlet, then flopping back limply to also gaze at the roof.

In a tiny voice, Demamah said, “If it’s true, then it’s unfair.”

“I’ve thought the same thing countless times. And I’ve wondered if, perhaps, it’s because of this new earth. Our ancient I’ma-Naomi has said that the earth was more welcoming and easier to live in before the Great Destruction.”

Now Demamah looked at her, troubled. “Do you believe her? Some say the Great Flood is just a story.”

“It’s not,” Shoshannah said stoutly. She turned on her side to face her cousin. “I’ve seen the pen, the huge boat they lived in with all the animals. It’s wonderful and frightening. I’ve walked through it. Not only that, but if you could meet our Ancient Ones, Noakh and I’ma-Naomi, and our First Father Shem and his I’ma-Annah, you’d know they were telling the truth.” Angrily she added, “How could anyone doubt them?”

“You love them,” Demamah observed, sounding wistful.

Something about her voice made Shoshannah stare at her. “Tell me.”

“Tell you what?”

“You aren’t happy with your life here, are you?”

It was a long time before Demamah answered. “I think I should be more upset by what you’ve said tonight. But if the remainder of my life is the same as its beginning, then I really don’t care how long I live… or don’t live.”

As Shoshannah gaped at her, Demamah whispered, “I haven’t been truly happy since your mother left me. When she was here, though I was just a little girl, I knew I was loved.”

“What do you intend for her, Master-Uncle?” Adoniyram asked quietly, as he rode out to the tower with Ra-Anan the next morning. Their retinues of servants and guardsmen clattered behind.

“Whatever is most useful for the kingdom—that is what we should intend for her,” Ra-Anan murmured, his dark, hooded eyes revealing nothing.

Adoniyram noticed the meaningless polite “we” and the vague explanation. Determined, he said, “Our Lord Kuwsh sees her only as bait for his prey—the Lady Keren.”

“It’s natural that he does.” A brief flicker of distaste passed over Ra-Anan’s face at the mention of Kuwsh.

Pleased, Adoniyram said, “I wonder what the Lady Keren’s role in this kingdom would have been if she hadn’t betrayed my father.”

“She gave her oath to be the Protectoress of the Tower: the most revered servant of Shemesh. She would have received sacrifices and offerings from the people.”

Adoniyram made his words sound as if he were musing aloud. “I can imagine how my mother and our Lord Kuwsh would resist any suggestion that the Lady Keren’s daughter should take her place.”

Ra-Anan looked around, as if uninterested. “Our Lord Kuwsh desires only what is best for the Great City. Your Lady-Mother, too, desires the best for her people, I’m sure.”

And I’m sure you know she doesn’t
, Adoniyram thought.
Sighing, he asked, “Do you believe that Shoshannah was intentionally spreading rumors last night?”

Ra-Anan looked at him blandly. “I’m sure she believes she was right.” Without a word, Ra-Anan conveyed a sense of triumph, a silent,
I shall outlive you, Adoniyram, so your ambitions to rule this kingdom are useless
.

Adoniyram stifled the urge to smash Ra-Anan in the face; he would probably lose a physical conflict with his tall uncle. Ra-Anan was a devious, unprincipled fighter. Keeping his voice pleasant, he only said, “She might be hiding secrets from us.”

“We will learn whatever she knows,” Ra-Anan promised.

“If our Lord Kuwsh and my mother allow her to live.”

“If they do,” Ra-Anan agreed, bland again, staring at the water-and wall-encircled tower, seeming more interested in its emerging form than in the life of the unhappy Shoshannah.

Adoniyram looked over his shoulder briefly and changed the subject. “I see you are training some new guardsmen. I should find some others; mine are becoming complacent and bored with our morning hunts.”

“I’ll let you know if I acquire any exceptional bowmen during our scoutings.”

Bowmen who are also exceptional spies for you
, Adoniyram told himself grimly. “I’d welcome your suggestions, Master-Uncle. Will you join me for a hunt tomorrow?”

“Perhaps.”

“If not, then don’t worry. My Lord Kuwsh might go with me.”

Ra-Anan gave him a sidelong look that was surely intended to discourage any hunting or talking with Kuwsh. “Let’s see what we can accomplish today; I might have time to ride out with you in the morning.”

“Thank you, Uncle.” Pretending to think aloud once more, Adoniyram said, “That Shoshannah wore a quiver of arrows yesterday. Do you suppose she hunts?”

“Undoubtedly, if she is Zehker’s daughter. We should test her during our hunt tomorrow.”

“As you say, Master-Uncle,” Adoniyram agreed, smiling inwardly. His mission had been easily accomplished: He would see the girl tomorrow.

After their evening meal, when Zeva’ah had gone to supervise the servants in cleaning and putting away the food, Ra-Anan beckoned his daughter.

Demamah approached and knelt before him quietly, folding her hands in her lap. Her unfailing obedience pleased Ra-Anan. She never argued or behaved sullenly, and her looks and manners were perfect. Her mother had trained her well.

“Did Shoshannah say anything to you last night?”

Demamah looked distressed. “She asked my forgiveness for causing a scene. And she insisted that she had told the truth. She also spoke of the Ancient Ones.”

“What of them?” Ra-Anan demanded, scornful. “Another story?”

“She spoke of the Great Flood, but not much more. She loves the Ancient Ones.”

“Did she say anything about their worship of the Most High?”