CHAPTER
Forty-one

Mordecai left his new living quarters at the palace and walked to the offices that had once belonged to Haman. He paused at the entrance, still struck by the strangeness of it all. To sit where his enemy had plotted his demise, to wear the ring he once wore, to hold the power he once wielded . . . He glanced toward the tall ceiling. To thank Adonai here felt wrong. He would do so later, when he could walk outdoors and look at the heavens. But his heart held gratitude just the same.

He nodded to the guard who kept the room secure and entered the chambers. Clay tablets and records Haman had kept were things that would take months, perhaps years, to document. For now, he set his attendants to helping him uncover every piece of writing related to Haman’s decree. If there was anything missing that needed amending or changing, he wanted it in hand before he met again with Esther.

They could not afford to wait much longer, but he also could not approach the king without every detail. That Xerxes seemed to feel no need to do anything since Haman’s death left a hollow feeling in Mordecai’s middle. He would still act, wouldn’t he? He could not possibly think that killing Haman was enough to protect the Jewish people.

But Xerxes had a habit of acting quickly and then forgetting a problem still existed, until either he missed what he’d driven away or something jarred him into realizing it was still a problem. Exactly what Mordecai needed to do.

What he needed Esther to do.

He rubbed the back of his neck, his thoughts troubled. He did not want to concern Esther in this matter again any more than was needed. He had hoped that Xerxes might have broached the subject or Esther might have had reason to bring it up to him in their time alone. But when he had spoken with her last, nothing had been said or changed.

He bent over a letter his attendant handed to him from one of Haman’s friends.

Most Excellent Haman,

Greetings in the name of your friend and servant Artabanus. I trust you are well and that your plan against the Jews is nearing a date to complete the task. Troublesome business, these priests and the casting of the Pur. I do agree that you need the blessings of the gods before you begin this enormous endeavor. May the gods grant you favor soon.

As you know, I am in contact with the king’s wife from time to time, and she is deeply concerned about the line of succession for her son to wear the crown once the king departs this earth. It would be in your best interest to help her in any way you can to ensure an easy transfer of power long before such a time comes. It will not be an easy task for you, of course, but one you will find more agreeable than this business with the Jews. Her son deserves to rule, and any of his other children, even if one is born to the current queen, cannot usurp his reign. She is depending on your help.

Consider my words, for they are wise, and you know of whom I speak. She will not take kindly to you discarding her wishes.

The gods be with you.

Mordecai read the script three times, trying to take it all in. Who was “she”? Amestris? One of Xerxes’ many wives? He shoved back his chair, clutching the tablet, and walked to the window, then moved toward the gardens. He must mean Amestris, for who other had a son old enough to consider wearing the crown?

Who else would Artabanus be in contact with? He had heard of the man but did not know him. Memories of years past surfaced, and he considered the times Haman had traveled to Persepolis to bring reports on the building projects to the king. Vashti had been exiled there, but that rumor was of long ago. Surely she had been moved outside of the king’s immediate realm since then. But what if she hadn’t? Could Artabanus be in league with her to see her son rule in his father’s place? Vashti’s son had been born before Xerxes was crowned king, so no one had ever considered such a thing, but he was the oldest. Might Vashti have designs on the crown to make up for her years of exile?

He rubbed his forehead to forestall a headache. In any case, the future king did not matter nearly as much as seeing the Jews’ fate changed. He must get Esther to speak once more to the king. And if Artabanus had conspired with Haman or even approved of Haman’s desire to see the Jews destroyed, he must be found and destroyed as well.

How many other friends of Haman were enemies of the Jews?

He reached the garden, then did an about-face, returned to his office, and summoned an attendant, who bent on one knee at his approach. “Yes, my lord.”

“Find out what has become of Artabanus. I want his every move traced, and when he is found, bring him into custody by order of the king.” He sat at his table, quickly pressed instructions in clay, and sealed it with the king’s ring.

His attendant took the tablet, bowed again, and hurried to do his bidding. The list of Jewish enemies could be far greater than Mordecai once thought. He stood, left his office again, and took the long walk to Esther’s chambers.

“I have never heard of Artabanus,” Esther said as she walked with Mordecai in the palace gardens that afternoon. “That is, I do not know many of the nobles’ names, especially those who were close to Haman. I fear a queen is only told what her servants tell her or the king decides to divulge. Xerxes and I never talk about the kingdom or the problems he is facing with anyone in it. We do not talk about war either. Only building projects and intimate things.” She felt her cheeks heat and looked away. “Even then, it is only when he calls for me that we speak. I still do not have the freedoms I had the first few days after Haman’s death. It is as though he has returned to the way things have always been.”

They stopped near an almond tree, and Mordecai glanced around. Esther drew in a breath, the fragrance giving her a sense of peace. But peace could be misleading, and she knew they could not let the atmosphere lull them into thinking all was now well.

“What else do you know, Abba?” She briefly touched his arm.

“Artabanus could be as big a threat to us as Haman was, with the exception that he does not hold the power,” he said. “But he has been conspiring with someone, probably Amestris. Though I’ve wondered if even Vashti could be meeting with him. One of them wants to see their son named Xerxes’ crown prince and heir. In either woman’s case, once Xerxes is gone from the earth, it would allow one of them to take your place.” He looked at her, his brows knit in a frown. To lose her place before she could save her people would have dire consequences for all of them.

“But Xerxes is well. And is guarded to the point of obsession.” She smoothed her robe and briefly wondered what to do with her hands.

“Assassination plots can come from anywhere, my daughter. You know even the king’s own eunuchs conspired against him not so long ago.” Mordecai rested one hand on her shoulder. “I have sent men to find this foe Artabanus, but this also means we cannot wait to approach the king again. You must go to him, Esther.” He took her hand and held it. “I know it is not easy for you, and I do not wish to risk your life, but surely Xerxes will look on you with favor if you but ask.”

Esther placed her hand over her father’s. “You want me to appeal to him again to beg for the people.”

“Yes.”

She lowered her hand and turned away, walking along the garden paths. She glanced to the side, but Mordecai did not follow. Oh Adonai, why must I do this again? Why could not the first time have been the end of it? Must relief from evil come in stages?

She lifted her gaze to the cloudless sky and felt the slight warmth of the breeze, a sign that summer would soon be upon them. In less than a year, her people would be condemned to slaughter if she did not act. Her people. Her family. How could she bear it?

A deep sigh escaped as she turned back and walked toward her father. “I will go,” she said, feeling the weight of anxiety in her middle. “I will do my best to plead with him, even if it costs me his favor.”

When had his favor mattered so much to her? Were her feelings for him so strong? But the very idea of love caused her to fear that he did not return the feeling. While he was attracted to her, he was also attracted to many women. She had always wanted her husband to be hers alone. But queens should not hope for such a thing.

“We shall pray as we did before,” Mordecai said, interrupting her thoughts. “We shall pray and fast for three days. Then you can approach the king once more.”

Esther nodded, though she wondered if her maids would be as willing to fast as they had the first time. “Very well. We shall ask our God to intervene. Then we will see what He will do.”

On the third day, Esther again entered the inner court near the king’s throne. He saw her and summoned her at once. She fell at his feet, weeping.

“What can I give you, dear Esther? Ask me anything, up to half of my kingdom.”

“Please, my lord, do something to stop the evil plot devised by Haman against the Jews. Otherwise, I and my people will soon perish from the earth.”

The king held out the scepter to her, and she stood. “Speak,” he said, clearly expecting her to say more.

Esther recalled the words she had crafted with Mordecai. “If it pleases the king, and if I have found favor with him, and if he thinks it is right, and if I am pleasing to him, let there be a decree that reverses the orders of Haman son of Hammedatha the Agagite, who ordered that Jews throughout all the king’s provinces should be destroyed. For how can I endure to see my people and my family slaughtered and destroyed?” She watched him as she spoke, forcing her emotions in check. The very thought of her nieces and nephews, her cousins, their wives, her friends. . . she could not bear it.

“Call Mordecai the Jew,” the king said to a waiting attendant, startling her. Esther moved to the side as the king indicated. Moments later, Mordecai appeared before them both.

Xerxes looked from one to the other. “I have given Esther the property of Haman, and he has been impaled on a pole because he tried to destroy the Jews. Now go ahead and send a message to the Jews in the king’s name, telling them whatever you want, and seal it with the king’s signet ring. But remember that whatever has already been written in the king’s name and sealed with his signet ring can never be revoked.”

“Thank you, my lord,” Esther said, bowing once again at his feet.

Mordecai knelt as well. “May my lord King Xerxes live forever.”

The king extended the scepter to both of them, and they rose. “You have my blessing.”

Esther and Mordecai walked away from the king’s audience hall and stopped in a private alcove. “See what our God has done?” Mordecai asked, searching her gaze. He cupped her face and smiled on her with fatherly affection.

She nodded, feeling like a child again under his tutelage. “Our God is mighty. And His ways are beyond understanding.”

“Now we will trust Him to help us write the decree to undo the damage our enemy has done.” Mordecai kissed her cheek and left her with her guards to return to her chambers, while he sent word to the king’s secretaries to meet with him the next day. They had much work to do.