Chapter 20

Open up.” Naamah’s commanding voice resonated from outside the locked door of Adah’s room. Clutching the light wooden box to herself and trying not to think about the contents, Emzara spun and looked wildly at Adah. Her new friend motioned to a curtained balcony to the right of her massive bed. After ducking behind the fabric, Emzara crouched down.

Thankful for the height of the railing on the third-level terrace, Emzara stayed low and glanced at her surroundings. Other than a low table, a few benches, and several poles with unlit oil lanterns hanging from them, the balcony held few furnishings. A heavy curtain that hung over the columned entryway back into the room was on her right. That and a large potted plant against the railing were the only means of concealment should Naamah come out here. Her heart pounded. What are we doing? It all seemed so simple when Adah and I talked in the comfort of the beach home. This isn’t simple anymore.

The holes in the box next to her were necessary, but she hoped they were small enough to keep the contents inside. She shuddered, thinking about how close she had cradled the container against her body. She gently moved it an arm’s length away and focused on the conversation inside.

“So this time, you and my mother are to be seated at the top of the main platform, one on either side of Nachash’s statue. Da wants everyone to see that his queens are just as involved as his daughter is. Now, here’s the order of the ceremony.”

Emzara let her thoughts about what had led to this situation drown out Naamah’s voice. Was it only this morning that Noah left for Garun’s family? And now it must be beyond the time for midmeal. She hoped her insides would remember the few smaller items that she and Adah purchased to munch on as they traveled through the city. A grumbling stomach would be as good as a gong with Naamah standing so close.

Angry footsteps paced inside the large room just beyond her, and she clutched at her knees in an effort to make herself smaller. Get it together, girl. You’ll be in a far scarier place tonight. Her tense muscles persisted until she reassured herself that Naamah seemed to have no intentions of coming outside.

She rested her head against the curtain, pushing it into the pillar behind it and thought back to the morning. She and Adah had bonded instantly over their shared anguish of losing close family. Adah’s ability to understand the loss of a child acted as a balm to Emzara’s grieving spirit. However, it was not long until their sorrows were overtaken by another emotion. The words between them repeated in her mind as clearly as when they had first been spoken.

“It’s not fair that he can just get away with something that hurt us so badly.”

“I know.” Adah looked down and twisted a thick bangle on her wrist.

“I just wish there was more we could do.”

“Like what?”

“Well he took the life of your son. He took the life of my father, and I hold him responsible for the death of my child as well. He deserves more than humiliation tomorrow.”

Adah spoke their thoughts aloud. “He should die so that other lives can be spared from his evil.”

Emzara nodded. “Yes. But . . .”

A loud slap broke Emzara’s reverie. “I don’t care that you’re the queen. You will not speak to me like that. And yes, you will wear this special garment that was made especially for tomorrow. The seer demands it.” She barely heard the faint sound of cloth hitting the stone floor.

“The seer!” Adah’s scornful tone rang out. “I will not take orders from him. Even if you try to hit me again.” Suddenly the queen’s voice softened. “Naamah, I know you and I have always been at odds, and I understand why. But I can’t help but be concerned for you. I don’t like how you’ve changed under his influence. He’s leading you into some very dark places. You’re no longer the happy, beautiful girl I’d occasionally see around this place. You’re angry now and too hungry for power. It’s going to come back to bite you someday.”

Ironic choice of words, Adah.

“You’re just envious because my father replaced you with me as first in his affections. And yes, you’ll wear this because I’m in charge of the celebration.” A chair scooted on the floor.

“We’ll see about that. Don’t bother me again.”

“Oh, I have no intention to. Besides, I thought you were supposed to be at the beach house until tomorrow.”

“That was my plan, but I remembered that I’d invited a few ladies to the palace and will be entertaining them for dinner tonight in the main hall.”

“Then I’ll just inform Da not to concern himself with you tonight. And I’ll make sure mother looks her finest.” Emzara pictured the flash in Naamah’s green-flecked brown eyes. Shaking her head, Emzara knew that comment did not hurt Adah as intended. The door slammed shut.

Moments later, Adah made her way outside and leaned back against the solid stonework that lined the balcony. “Are you okay?” She kept her voice low and her head level. Concern filled her eyes, but anyone seeing her from the town below would just see the back of her head and assume she was alone, enjoying the fresh air.

“Yes, but I’m concerned for you. Did Naamah slap you?”

Adah placed a hand softly on her own cheek. “Yes, but that’s not important now. Let’s discuss our plan.”

“I still can’t believe that all just happened.”

“I know, but it actually helps us. Now, Naamah will inform Lamech that I’m here and that I have visitors tonight. I’ll stay on one of the couches in the main hall, and it’ll look like I fell asleep where I was after a long night of hosting.”

“But will that really make you above all suspicions?”

“I’ll be surrounded by well-respected ladies and several guards all night. There’s no way I could legitimately be blamed for anything that happens up here.”

As she pondered Adah’s words, Emzara stared past her, noticing the beautiful scenery beyond the southern edge of the city for the first time. Rolling green hills stretched as far as she could see. The telltale patterns of crops interspersed with small patches of wooded areas blanketed each rise. Straight in front of her, a path, wide enough for at least two large wagons to pass each other unhindered, extended from the city wall and divided the landscape in two. Smaller trails broke off from the road, connecting the small farms dotting the countryside.

“Are they still in there?” Adah stared at the box.

Emzara nodded.

“Good. Stay in here until after you hear that his room is empty. If I know Lamech at all, once he hears from his daughter about the ladies I’m hosting, he’ll be sure to look his finest before joining us for evenfeast.”

“How will I know when it’s clear?”

“Don’t worry. Because our rooms are adjoining, it’s easy to hear any commotion in there.” She rolled her eyes in contempt. “And it can get noisy since he makes a grand deal out of even the simplest things.”

“That’s when I slip into his room?” Emzara asked.

“I don’t think so. That’s too risky.”

“But he deserves to die.”

“And I’d rather you didn’t. You can hide in here. In fact, come with me.” Adah reentered her room. Emzara “walked” forward on her knees, using one hand to keep her skirt from getting tangled, and carefully holding the package away from her body with the other. She stood up once she was inside and the curtain had fallen back in place.

“What are you thinking?” After setting the box on a side table, she arranged some scrolls that had been lying there to partially cover it.

“Here — where is it?” Adah rifled through several long and expensive cloths hanging on hooks. “Ah.” She held up a length of cloth the same tawny color as a young bovar. “This is similar to what our servant girls wear. Let’s wrap it around you, so that if someone discovers you, they’ll think you’re one of my maids tidying up in here.”

“So I stay here, but what about . . .”

“You’ll hear when the king makes it back to his chambers.” She walked over to an ornate wooden door to the right of her main entrance and placed her hand on it. “This leads to his room. When you open it, you’ll see a little hallway only about six cubits in length, and on his side there’s a thin golden tapestry. It’s slightly transparent so don’t have any lamps lit in here.”

“So I wait until all is still and then carefully open this door. Sounds easy enough. Then I’ll just crawl and release the contents before coming back here and making sure this door is shut tight.”

Adah nodded. “I certainly don’t want any of those things to get in here.”

“Adah, what if what Naamah said was true? What if her mother comes back with the king?”

Adah shrugged, “I’d be very surprised if that happened. Naamah was trying to upset me, but the king’s affections shifted away from Zillah after I arrived.”

Later, as Emzara sat in the darkness listening intently for any movement in the adjacent room, her mind raced through memories of her father and Aterre. She placed a hand on the box and imagined the movement inside, aware of the calamity these creatures could deliver. Am I no better than Lamech? Willing to kill someone just because they wronged me? She shook her head emphatically, changing the direction of her thoughts. Don’t back down now. There’s no comparison. Aterre was only defending himself, and Lamech killed him and Baba for it. A serpent bite is a fitting end for the king. And besides, I’m not really the one killing him.

Her breath snagged in her throat as she heard the unmistakable confident tread of the king entering his room. He behaved just as Adah described. You think you’re so powerful; well you’re no match for the Creator. Most High — she immediately and instinctually leapt into prayer, but for some reason, she just couldn’t ask Him for help. I guess I’m in this alone. She sighed internally but then shifted her focus back to her task. Sounds like the king is alone too. Good.

After everything grew silent, she waited for what seemed like eternity. Taking a deep breath, she silently opened the door and took hesitant, soundless steps toward the tapestry. She held onto her precious cargo of death, before laying it on the floor. She lifted the lid and slipped back into the hallway.