Enchantress: A Novel of Rav Hisda's Daughter (37 page)

I forced myself to reply in a civil tone. “Chama is almost twenty. We need to plan his wedding.”

“I don’t care where we marry, as long as it’s soon.” Chama smiled, and as always, I had a vision of his father.

We agreed to hold the wedding here in Sura. Ukva was relieved to leave it to Abaye and me to decide on an appropriate date. I had no doubt that Father would gladly host his grandson’s wedding banquet.

“Grandfather has been teaching me priestly magic, so I want to stay in Sura as long as possible,” Chama said.

My heart swelled to hear what Chama was studying. I hadn’t known my son was interested in sorcery. Unbidden, the incredible thought struck me that one day Rava might teach Chama about the secret Torah.

 • • • 

On First Day, Rava lectured to Father’s students while Rav Nachman watched. Nachman’s face wore such an impressed, yet avaricious, expression that I wasn’t surprised by Rava’s announcement that night when we were preparing for bed.

“We are to move to Machoza.” He hugged me tight and then kissed me enthusiastically. “I will be Rav Nachman’s disciple and colleague, while you study with Yalta. I can hardly believe our good fortune. I will be learning from the most exalted rabbi and judge in Bavel, and you from the head sorceress herself.”

I returned Rava’s kisses with pleasure, but eventually I pulled away and asked, “What about your secret Torah studies?”

“Rav Nachman has promised to search the entire countryside for such a master and then bring him to Machoza for me.”

“How soon does he expect us?” I had no intention of leaving Sura while Mother still lived.

Rava must have heard my anxiety, for he squeezed my hand reassuringly. “I insisted that we would not leave Sura until after
sheloshim
for your mother, even if it took months.” His excitement was contagious and soon, proud and awed to be Yalta’s student, I was feeling giddy myself. “Will we have our own house or live in your old home with your brother?”

“Rav Nachman wants us to live with him . . . at least to begin with,” he added when he saw my surprise. “Their home is so large it’s almost a palace. Entire wings are empty. It will be a great honor—and think of the money we’ll save.”

“I suppose it will be more convenient for our studies.”

“Of course it will,” he gushed. “Especially as Rav Nachman intends to stop teaching other students altogether. He says it will be my responsibility to instruct them.”

“But you’re not yet forty.” This was beyond astonishing. It was unheard of for a student, no matter how learned, to teach Torah in front of his master. Anyone who even ventured his own opinion in his teacher’s presence was severely censured.

“Rav Nachman insisted. He said he has too many other demands on his time and he doesn’t care if Rav Yosef is upset.”

“What did Father say?” Years before my birth, Father had moved away to Kafri, where he could issue his own rulings rather than compete with his teacher, Rav Huna, in Sura.

“He agreed that as head judge in Machoza, Rav Nachman could delegate as he pleased.” Rava could not suppress a smile. “But he told me in private that I was a far better teacher than Nachman and he was glad that Nachman not only recognized the fact but found a reasonable excuse to act on it.”

I returned Rava’s smile, delighting in his happiness.

“Best of all, I’m going home.” He kissed me again, only this time with growing desire. “Finally, after all these years, I’m going home to Machoza—with the wife I adore and our sons.”

 • • • 

The next day Mother was well enough to teach me some new spells, including those for igniting a fire and extinguishing it. “The secret to invoking angels is to have them hear your incantation as an appeal, not a demand,” she advised. “A successful and powerful
charasheta
has the angels eager to do her a favor, not resentful at being coerced.”

I recalled how I’d repelled the sandstorm by pleading with the angels, not commanding them. “I understand. Rava told me the same thing.”

“Good. Many mediocre
charasheta
don’t.”

“What about amulet and bowl incantations? In Pumbedita there were weeks when I wrote more than one a day.”

“Spells for healing and protection from demons are not trivial. I’m talking about lighting the hearth with magic because you’re too lazy to use a flint, or to show off.”

I had a sudden insight. “Or using your bare hands to stir a boiling pot instead of a spoon.”

She smiled and nodded. “I’m not surprised you will be moving to Machoza. Nachman has coveted your husband since your betrothal.” Her expression sobered. “Studying with Yalta will not be so pleasant as with Em. She has not taught any students after her daughters.”

“I will do my best to satisfy her.” A princess like Yalta, who did what she wanted despite what others thought, could be a powerful ally. Or a formidable enemy.

My heart sank when Mother replied, “Yalta won’t be easy to satisfy.” She must have noted my anxious expression, for she continued, “Fortunately you have two strengths she lacks: an excellent memory and the ability to sense magic.”

Reassured by her confidence, I nodded.

“Another factor will work to your favor.” Mother smiled conspiratorially. “Nachman needs to keep Rava content as his disciple, so you can depend on him to overcome any recalcitrance from Yalta.”

“Why should Yalta be recalcitrant? I am a good student and well able to assist her. Besides, her husband will be pleased that Rava is studying with him.”

“Daughter, the last thing Yalta cares about is pleasing her husband.”

 • • • 

Yalta arrived a few days later. She was thinner than when I last saw her, at my wedding, making her high cheekbones and hawk nose even more prominent. Again she wore purple, a reminder of her royal status. I was surprised to see gray at her temples; surely a woman as prominent as Yalta would dye her hair.

Later, as Yalta’s slaves set up her and Nachman’s things in the bedroom next to ours, they continually complained about the inferior quality of the linens, bedding, and furnishings. Not long after Rava and I went to bed, Yalta and Nachman began arguing.

“How dare you foist that would-be
charasheta
on me just so you can steal her husband from Rav Yosef!” Yalta’s voice was unmistakable, as was her fury.

“How dare you question my actions,” Nachman shot back.

I heard Rava’s sharp intake of breath and, knowing he was awake, sat up to hear better.

“The least you could do is consult me before acquiring a student for me,” Yalta hissed.

“Why should I consult you? I am master here.”

“Not of whom I will teach.”

Nachman matched her strident tone. “The decision is made. Rava is coming to Machoza to be my disciple, his wife and children will live with us, and you will treat them with the hospitality of our patriarch Abraham.” He paused ominously. “And you will teach
charasha
to his wife.”

“I do not interfere in your choice of students and I will not tolerate your interference in mine.”

“Be quiet, woman. The entire household will hear you.”

Yalta’s next words were too soft to understand from the bed so, careful not to make a sound, I tiptoed to listen at the wall between our rooms. Rava soon stood next to me, his ear pressed against the plaster.

At first it was difficult to hear, but slowly their argument got louder. Yalta had apparently changed her tactics.

“I won’t have time to teach anyone, not with my new responsibilities. Why can’t she stay in Pumbedita and study with Rishindukh and Shadukh?”

“Rava insists that she live with him,” Nachman replied, causing me to reach out and squeeze Rava’s hand in gratitude.

Yalta snorted her disgust. “Most Torah scholars go away to study and leave their wives at home. Why is he so special?”

Nachman didn’t deign to reply. “I would have suggested that she train with another
charasheta
in Machoza, but I assumed you’d rather keep an eye on her yourself instead of giving her over to one of your competitors.” He coughed and then corrected himself. “I mean your colleagues.”

“Haviva says she has special talents, but I thought that was just a mother praising her daughter.” Yalta sounded less sure of herself. “If so, I definitely don’t want her studying with Nebazak. And if I try to pass her off on someone else, that will only make Nebazak more interested.”

Nachman wisely remained silent.

“Very well, I will accept her, but only because I have no choice,” Yalta said bitterly. “She can follow me around and assist me if necessary, but whatever she learns, she does on her own.”

Nachman had the final word. “Do as you like, but if I hear any complaint from Rava about his wife’s education, or lack thereof . . .” He left the threat unspoken.

Stunned at Yalta’s animosity, I let Rava lead me back to bed. “Don’t worry, Dodi. You will win her esteem,” he whispered. His words were encouraging, but underneath I could hear his anger. “Especially if I cast that spell to influence her opinion in your favor.”

“Don’t do that, Abba.” A powerful enchantress like Yalta might recognize the spell and counter it, leading to further opposition. “I will gain her approval on my own.”

TWENTY-THREE

Y
alta made sure she was the first one in the sickroom once Mother was well enough to receive visitors. Then Mother’s health declined so precipitously that Em limited access to Father alone. I grew frantic that I would miss my chance to have one last talk with her and threw myself on Em’s mercy.

Thus I found myself surreptitiously entering Mother’s chamber from the garden door. My nose was immediately assaulted by the pungent odor of herbs strewn on the floor. Mother looked ghastly. Her skin had a grayish tinge and her lips were more blue than pink. Her breathing, when she wasn’t coughing or gasping for breath, was shallow. But she opened her eyes when she heard my voice and beckoned me to sit next to her.

“There are two secrets known only to the most experienced
charasheta
,” she whispered. “Alas, I cannot rely on Yalta to teach them to you.”

I leaned closer to be sure I’d hear every word.

“If you want to counter a spell, to prevent it from taking effect, you have two remedies.” Mother locked eyes with me. “If you sense an evil spell, even if you can’t see who is casting it, say, ‘Not on me, not on me. Not
tachim
and not
tachtim.
Not spells of a sorcerer, not spells of a sorceress
.
’”

“What or who are
tachim
and
tachtim
?”

“I don’t know. The important thing is to say it as soon as you detect the dark magic, before it can take effect.”

“How many times?”

“Once is sufficient. The evil incantation is rendered ineffective immediately and recasting it is useless.”

“What is the second remedy?”

“If you can see the
kashafa
, don’t wait until her spell is cast, but without delay say, ‘Hot excrement in torn baskets in your mouth,
charasheta
.’ This will silence her.”

Mother closed her eyes and lay so still I feared she might be dying at that moment. But then I realized that the Angel of Death was not approaching. “I have an important question I hope you can answer.”

She didn’t open her eyes. “First I must tell you one more thing. If you need to strip Zafnat, or any
kashafa
, of her magic, you’ll have to pull out her top front teeth.”

I gulped in dismay. “I have to pull them out myself?”

“Anyone can do it. The important thing is to render her incapable of articulating incantations properly.”

“Mother, what if people realized that any
charasheta
could be prevented from doing magic by someone strong enough to remove her teeth?” I asked in alarm. “We would all be in danger.”

She nodded. “Now you see why most
charasheta
prefer healing and protective spells. Who would want to stop her from helping others?”

“And why the head sorceress must control those doing dark magic. It is for our own safety.”

“It’s good that you understand that.” She smiled weakly. “Now, what was it you wanted to know?”

I explained how Rava and I were determined to lift Eli’s curse. “Do you know how it can be done?”

“One way to avoid it would be by cursing Homa and Bibi’s wife so they do not bear sons. . . . Either Rishindukh or Shadukh can teach it to you. But to remove a curse placed by Elohim Himself . . .” She paused again, even longer than before. “I am not aware of anything so powerful.”

I sighed with resignation. “At least Abaye and Bibi will live as long as Em does.”

Mother clutched my hand and pulled me closer. “Does Rava know how to consult the recent dead?”

I nodded. “But only on Erev Rosh Hashana.”

“Good. I will see what I can learn about this in the next world and reveal it to him then.”