Chapter 3

Iri Dekkel — Noah’s 499th year

Emzara stared blankly at the wall opposite where she sat on a large woven mat. The golden hue of the evening sun cast shadows from the surrounding foliage onto the sand-colored canvas of the tent. Sighing, she played with the band tied around her upper left arm. The carved medallion carried the same rainbow design as the wooden one Noah had tied on her when he had asked her to marry him. How long before you get here, my husband?

At Garun’s insistence, they had moved across the wide river from Iri Dekkel for protection in case some of the people who decimated the city returned. Lamech’s former guard had silently taken in the surroundings and selected a small clearing in the undergrowth. Using ropes and wooden pegs from the ship’s supplies, he created a framework to support the large piece of fabric. Now Emzara and her still-unconscious charge rested under the tent while Garun busied himself with the finishing touches.

Small breaks in the trees allowed them to watch the river without being seen from the opposite shore. The surrounding forest also served to block much of the cool wind that had picked up earlier in the evening. Thankfully, Garun’s shelter intercepted any stray drafts that occasionally made their way into the clearing. Biting a nail, she glanced at the severely injured man lying on elevated bedding about three cubits from her. A large purple-and-black bruise on the side of his chest stood out like a gold pikka among a pile of silver piks. Dried blood coated parts of the fabric under a pair of wooden braces holding his lower leg in place. Although hidden by a cloth at the moment, thoughts of the large gash and bump on his head made her wince.

Grateful that he remained asleep after he stirred slightly, Emzara sighed. Everything in my life is about waiting right now. I don’t know if I can take much more of just sitting here until the next thing happens. A beautiful pattern from the shadows of the leaves danced all about her. Fluttering, they crossed and then moved apart from one another in the breeze. I wonder if this is how the Most High views our lives: events slowly unfolding as we run about interacting with each other. The wind ceased and the leaves stood still. She stared at the silhouette of a lone leaf. And then we’re alone while we wait for more movement. But I’m never really alone, because the Most High sees me.

O Creator, waiting is hard when you think you have the answer but you have yet to see proof. You chose Noah to build Your ark, so I know he will be safe, but I would be happier if I could see him, hold him. My view of life is obscured, just like I only see the shadows from within this tent, but You see all the detail and colors of the leaves as if from the outside. And You know just how it will all unfold.

Feeling movement inside of her, she looked down and the corner of her mouth rose. Emzara placed both hands on her belly. I guess not all waiting is bad.

“One more thing.” Garun stood at the opening of the tent. He held up a thick, dark cloth. “I just need to attach this to the top so that you have a little privacy curtain. I’ll hang a second one on the other side for me and Laleel. That way we can still hear if he makes a noise.”

“Do you need me to get up?” She put weight on her hand and moved her feet out, readying herself.

With shoulders hunched and knees bent, Garun began attaching the fabric to the apex of her dwelling. “Thanks. I’ve got it.” He carefully stepped by the back of the tent, making sure not to disturb the bedding near Purlek’s head, and continued his work. “There, that should do it. You’re sure you don’t mind looking after him tonight?”

“Of course not. He’s like my son; I wouldn’t have it any other way.”

Garun looked as if he were going to respond, but with his stooped posture and the tilted angle of his head as he avoided the top of the tent, his focus quickly returned to his task.

Em suppressed a laugh. “Thanks for doing all of this.” She gestured to their temporary lodging.

He dropped his head even lower. “Well, I have much more to do.” He stepped out from under the flap, straightened up, and stood tall. Arms crossed, he sternly glanced around. Emzara guessed that he was imagining their camp from the vantage point of any potential enemies. But as each chore merged into the next, she wondered if something else was behind his busyness.

After a short jaunt into the woods, Garun returned with his arms laden with branches. He placed the wood beside the campfire, sat next to Laleel, and the two talked in hushed voices while she stirred a clay pot resting above the coals. Laleel frowned and looked over at the tent quickly before turning her attention back to the meal.

Emzara shook her head to clear her thoughts and knelt beside Purlek. Slowly she removed part of the stiffened bandage on his head, taking care not to reopen the wounds. She poured some water into the shallow dish and gently cleaned away some of the dried blood. Sensing a flicker out of the corner of her eye, she looked at his closed eyelids. Had they moved? She focused on his face but saw no change.

“I brought you some dinner.” Laleel’s voice was soft as she made her way inside the tent. “It’s a light broth in case he’s able to have some. Any signs of waking?”

Emzara sat back on her bed and accepted the bowl. “Well, I don’t know. I thought maybe he opened his eyes, but I must’ve imagined it. What if he’s like this for a while? What will happen if we have intruders intent on harming us?”

“Garun said we’re to run to our boat and he’ll move Purlek as quickly and carefully as he can.”

“Good. I wouldn’t be able to face Adira knowing we hadn’t done all we could to rescue him. But what if he—”

From where she still stood at the tent’s entrance, Laleel held up a hand. “Let’s not think about that. So far, we’re hidden and safe.” She swept her arm toward the campfire behind her and laughed, although it came out slightly forced. “I mean, look at this. Garun is so restless he may have a whole village constructed by the time Purlek wakes up.”

Emzara returned a small smile, appreciating her friend’s efforts to be cheerful. “I don’t blame him at all. I’m just as restless on the inside. I’m thankful for all that both of you have done, but it’s not easy just sitting here. I know I could do more.”

Laleel leaned forward and patted her hand. “Yes, of course you could. But that’s not the point. You’re helping by letting Garun do all the work, believe me.” Both laughed, Laleel’s deeper tones melding with Emzara’s higher ones.

“Now, you need to eat something.” Laleel pointed to the utensil on the bed between them.

Emzara obediently raised a bite to her mouth. When the tiniest sputter of a cough caused both women to look down, Purlek shifted a bit to the side but didn’t wake.

* * *

Emzara bolted upright at the sound. She struggled to make sense of her surroundings in the semi-darkness. Heart racing, she blinked several times, willing the fog of sleep to subside. Another quiet moan was all she needed to put together the pieces and rush from her bed, flinging aside the curtain that separated her from her patient.

She bent low and tried to keep her excitement at a whisper to keep from waking up Garun and Laleel. “Purlek. It’s Emzara.”

His wide-open eyes and a large grimace revealed his pain. He thrashed violently, but winced and lay back. Only the tiny spasms from his limbs told her that this mostly motionless state was purely due to his will.

She used the moonlight to find a tiny bottle in her care bag. Holding it up, she unhinged the cap and dumped a portion into her hand. “Here, this will help. Chew it.” She placed a small bark bit in his parted lips and his jaw moved slightly.

“Don’t talk, dear, and try to stay still. I know it hurts.” She wanted to reach out with a reassuring touch, but she pulled her hand back, afraid to cause him more pain. “You’re going to be alright, but it will take some time. Your leg is broken, and I think you broke some ribs, too.” She paused and studied his face for understanding. “I’m here on a journey up the river with friends, Laleel and Garun. Do you remember them?”

Gritting his teeth, Purlek nodded slowly.

“It’s gotten pretty bad in Iri Geshem, and Noah’s taking care of a few things before joining us. We came to see you and pass along greetings from your parents, but found Iri Dekkel in shambles — you as well.” Holding up a waterskin, she gave him drink. “We’re safely hidden in the trees across the river now.”

The tension slowly eased out of his face as he raised his head barely a handbreadth to manage a few swallows before lying back. “Ma-Zara.” His nickname for her came out low and weak.

“Yes, dear.”

“They attacked. Suddenly.” Each word was measured.

As much as she wanted to know the details, she shushed him. “Never mind that. What’s important right now is your recovery. You need your strength.”

“It helps. To talk. Helps me not think. About pain.”

“Very well then, go ahead.” She blinked back a tear as she recalled the morning Purlek had been born. The youngest child of Tubal-Cain and Adira had grown into the spitting image of his father, except for his eyes. Those are definitely Adira’s. His broad shoulders, muscular arms, and sturdy frame made it seem as if he were born to follow his father’s profession. Yet despite his strength, here he was before her, helpless, just like the first time she met him.

“So fast.”

“Who were they?”

“Nod—” He blinked hard. “Nodites.”

A pit suddenly formed in her stomach. “Nodites?” So far west? “Do you know why they attacked you?”

“No. Barely any warning at all.”

Her mind flashed to Noah and Iri Geshem. “We didn’t hear anything about an attack.” She rubbed her forehead. Noah could be in danger. “Why would their raiders travel so far? Why now, after centuries of peace?”

He slowly shook his head. “Money? Slaves? Sport?” His eyes dulled.

She sighed. “What do you remember?”

“Hit him.”

“Him who? A Nodite?”

“He. Attacked. Home.”

Piecing this story together was slow going, but now that he had begun, she was determined to get as much of it as possible before he fell back asleep. “He attacked you. And you were at home?”

“Uh — no.”

“We found you at your smithy, is that where you were?”

“Yes. Just started . . . the day.”

“How many showed up?”

“Don’t know. A lot.” He shifted gingerly and closed his eyes.

A pang of guilt assailed her. “Purlek, you don’t have to talk. You should rest.”

“It’s alright.” He took a slow breath between each sentence. “Not. Much more. They burned . . . place.”

She gently placed a hand on his arm, the need for contact outweighing her fear of hurting him. “Oh, I don’t know how you survived everything. We saw the charred remains.”

“Forge.” He chuckled, coughed, and then winced.

“Huh?”

“Fireproof.”

“Yes it is! So you crawled in there and waited for the flames to pass?” The image of the wrecked building and his body lying under the rubble filled her mind. “But we didn’t find you there.”

“Came out early. Roof fell.”

“Of course. That’s the beam we found you under. It must have knocked you out. Thankfully, they’d left by then, but of course you wouldn’t have come out until you were sure they were gone.”

His labored breathing smoothed into a more peaceful rhythm. He placed his hand on top of hers and forced a smile. “Thank you.” He closed his eyes and fell asleep.

Emzara mused over this new information. She considered heading back to her own pallet for some much-needed rest, but dwelled on Purlek’s abbreviated retelling of the attack. She shuddered in the dark. With concern for Noah and the possibility of marauding Nodites in the region, sleep would be impossible.