13

Skye sat beside Seth, gripping her clay cup so tightly it numbed her fingers. She evaded as many questions as she could, but for the most part, she played her part. She kept her eye on Ezekiel, too. As he did her. He seemed to be trying to tell her something.

The longer the night went on, the more Skye got the feeling that he wasn’t a threat to her. Hadn’t Leah said he was kind? Maybe Skye needed to hear what he had to say.

“Mistress,” Seth said. He leaned close to her, his eyes merry. “Saul has called to you three times.”

She sucked in a tight breath and turned to her host. “Forgive me, Saul. I was lost in thought.” Playing her part wasn’t easy, especially when she had to pretend to be honored to be sitting at his table. Especially when she really wanted to find Philip and work out a way to get home.

Irritation replaced her worry. They were in some strange place and time, yet Philip willingly left her? He would never change, and besides, where had he gone?

A small voice in the back of her mind whispered that she was being unreasonable. She had to forgive him for his past at some point. She hoped he wasn’t hurt, but her gut told her he was fine. And his being fine, but leaving her behind, irritated her.

Saul seemed relieved that she was finally responding to him, and he puffed up his chest. “The festival will run for three days, and we were hoping you would grace us by speaking to the city tonight after the feast.”

Panic swept through Skye’s mind. Speak? To the people of the city? It was already late. Didn’t these people sleep?

Play the part.

Lord, please help me.

Praying wasn’t something she’d really tried too often, but maybe now was the time to get in the habit.

Calmly, she smiled. “Speaking to the people would please me.”

Saul’s puffed up chest stretched even more. “It would please me as well. Excuse me while I make arrangements.” The meal was mostly over, and Saul left the table along with several others.

Now was the time to speak to Ezekiel. To corner him and demand to know why he had been under her window—why he came here tonight and watched her so studiously.

“Would you care to walk the gardens, Mistress?” Seth’s voice pulled her around to him. Her refusal was on the tip of her tongue.

But his large brown eyes were so hopeful and enamored. Something moved inside her stomach. Butterflies?

Surely, she wasn’t crushing on Seth in ancient Sumer. That would be absurd.

But it wasn’t that. Something inside her pushed her to go with him. Make friends with him.

“Lilla told us how you enjoyed the flowers.” Now his voice softened.

Skye’s heart picked up speed. “I would enjoy seeing them very much,” she heard herself say. As soon as the words were out of her mouth, she froze. Closing her eyes, she took a deep breath. She couldn’t take a walk with him. This was ridiculous! She had to tell him no and then approach Ezekiel.

Slowly, she opened her eyes and looked around for the elderly man in the colorful robes, but Ezekiel had slipped out.

Great.

“Are you ready at this moment?” Seth asked.

Skye smiled tightly and nodded. “Thank you, yes.”

He helped her rise from her pillow on the floor. His large, warm hands almost made her forget how stiff her legs were from sitting for such a long time.

Seth led them through the large buildings, around corners, and finally out an arched doorway into a different area from the small alcove Lilla had led her through. The moon shone high above them.

A few clouds dotted the sky, but overall it was a clear, bright night. Skye watched the stars, stunned by their brightness and clarity. She’d been jaded by the city lights for too long, and the presence of true, unadulterated light from the heavens was breathtaking.

“Beautiful, isn’t it?” Seth asked. “You must miss your home in the skies.”

Skye turned to him quickly, fear replacing the awe she’d felt for the stars. She knew so little about Hebat, and if they started asking specific questions she’d definitely trip up. An eerie coldness wrapped around her, and she shivered.

Seth’s eyes changed. “Are you cold?” He quickly removed his head covering and wrapped it around her shoulders, revealing his thick, black hair and adding to his handsome features.

Skye managed a smile for him. “Thank you.” They walked for a few minutes in the warm night air, and again, Skye was pulled in by the beauty of the gardens Lilla had created. What did the rest of Sumer look like? Was it a brown desert, or was there lush vegetation like she found here at Saul’s?

“Where are you from, Seth?” she asked.

“Here, Mistress.” He seemed confused by her question, and she realized that just because people moved around a lot in modern days, it didn’t mean they did in ancient times.

Her cheeks warmed, and she smiled again. “Of course. Do you live near Saul?”

“No. My home is almost a day’s ride outside the city walls. I happened to be in the city when word came that Hebat—you—had arrived. Saul and my father are close allies, which is why he invited me for tonight’s supper.”

“And will you stay for the festival?” she asked. It was sort of nice having someone else she knew, at least until she and Philip found a way home.

“I will,” he said. “Saul has invited me to bed down here in his villa.”

A villa. What a fancy, nice word. Why hadn’t she thought to call it that? Still, his proximity brought a whole new set of nerves. She needed less people around, not more. They rounded a corner, and a brightly colored garden area came into view. Flowers in orange, peach, white, and pink bloomed in glorious splendor.

Back home, Mrs. Garrison kept a small garden around her front door. But she worked it tirelessly and proudly, and her small flowers bloomed in riotous color.

Lilla’s work put Mrs. Garrison to shame. The plants towered over Skye’s head, weaving in and out of trellises, and winding up nearby trees. Greenery mixed with the colors made everything pop.

“Beautiful,” she breathed.

Seth nodded in agreement. “I have only seen Lilla’s work once before, as a boy. My family stayed here while the city leaders planned the temple.” He paused and then turned to her. His gaze seemed hesitant, almost as if he was afraid to ask her something—or of what she would answer. “Does the temple please you?”

Warnings ran through her head. Answering the wrong way could be dangerous, but how could she say yes? Instead of giving a direct answer, she said, “The leaders have been planning since you were a boy?”

He didn’t seem to notice her diversion. “That is right. For many years they have longed to offer sacrifice to the heavens. Now they’ve found a way to do that, all the while celebrating Sumer’s greatness.”

Something nagged at her from the back of her brain. Something about Sumer and a story she’d learned at the soup kitchen—or maybe with Mr. Kilpatrick. But she couldn’t quite put her finger on it. “That’s amazing,” she said.

A rumbling growl came from around the next twist in the path. Without waiting for Seth to lead her, Skye moved toward it. Best to get out of conversations about Hebat as quickly as possible.

Seth hurried behind her, but he gently took hold of her elbow. “Mistress, you may wish to move slowly.”

She stopped and frowned. What could be around the corner that would be so bad?

Slowly, they bent forward to get a better look. Skye gasped.

A white tiger lounged behind a barred wall. It stretched and yawned, dipping a paw in the small pond.

Seth smiled and shrugged. “You see now why I stopped you.”

She nervously returned his smile. “I do see. Thank you. I do not wish to stir up a tiger’s ire.”

Ire? Where were these words coming from?

Seth raised his eyebrows, and he nodded toward the tiger. “It is beautiful, no? This is the only white tiger I have seen.”

Every zoo back home had white tigers, but Skye kept that to herself.

The tiger yawned again, rolled onto its back, and stretched its paws over its head. Just like a big cat.

A wave of homesickness swept over Skye. She’d only been here a few hours, but as far as she knew she had no way home. And she wanted to be home more than ever—even just back to London with Mom. Even with Mom working eighteen-hour days. Did Philip miss his dad?

Seth frowned. “You are upset, Mistress?”

The way he stared at her, watched her, made Skye squirm. No one had ever paid as much attention to her as the people in Sumer. It was weird.

Did these people believe they could have romantic relationships with goddesses? Greek mythology was all about mortals and immortals, but what about ancient Middle Eastern mythology? She hadn’t learned enough with Mr. Kilpatrick.

“I am ready to return to the house,” she said.

His face clouded over. He tried to hide his disappointment, but it was obvious to her. “Of course. As you wish.”

Poor guy. She didn’t want to be mean to him, but she had to protect herself.

Even if he was cute, and he looked at her with those big brown eyes. And he was very muscular.

Thankfully, he moved forward and she refocused her thoughts. Traveling through time must have messed with her head.

He reached out to open the door back into the house, and Skye caught a glimpse of the bracelets under his robe. She froze.

“Seth, may I see your jewelry?”

He raised his eyebrows at her, but he closed the door again and slid the bracelet off. “Of course, Mistress. Does it please you?”

“Yes, it’s lovely.” She took it from him and studied it. Her gut twisted, and she pushed away the fear creeping into her mind.

The bracelet looked like copper, and strange stamped marks ringed the entire circle. She had seen a bracelet like this before—it had sat on her nightstand for a week before she’d pawned it for money to buy groceries for Mrs. Garrison.

Was this why she felt a weird pull to be friends with him? Were they—connected?

Afraid of what it all meant, and ready to get back to her room, she thrust the bracelet back toward him. “Thank you. I’m ready to return now.”

Again he raised his eyebrows, but he didn’t argue. Once they were inside, they found Leah waiting.

Skye started. “Have you been waiting all this time, Leah?”

Leah smiled and bowed slightly, but her eyes drooped. Did she have to wait on Skye hand and foot from dusk until dawn?

Seth led them back to the dining room, which was mostly empty now. “It looks as though the party has moved to the streets,” he said.

Torches from outside cast strange, glowing images through the dining room windows. Nerves rolled in Skye’s stomach. She was supposed to give a speech to commence the festival. That wouldn’t be easy.

“Seth, I’m not feeling well. Perhaps it would be best for me to give my speech in the morning.”

“Do you require anything, Mistress?” he asked, the concern back in his eyes.

“No, but I do need to lie down.” So much for catching Ezekiel.

Leah took her by the arm. “I will take you upstairs, Mistress.”

“Thank you, Leah.” Skye filled with relief. She turned to Seth, her new friend. He really was sweet. “Can you speak to Saul on my behalf?”

His face paled, and something passed over his eyes. Fear? But he nodded. “Of course. Rest well, Hebat.”

She managed a smile and then hurried after Leah. They climbed the towering staircase to the top, and Skye glanced around. The area near her room was empty—no guards. It might be easy to escape after all.

Leah pushed the large doors open, and two guards came from the opposite end of the hall. They quickly took up post on either side of her door.

She sighed at the guards then stepped inside her room, and Leah closed the door behind them. Darkness filled the room, but Leah squeezed her hand. “Do not fear, Mistress. I will light a candle.” She hurried out, leaving the door slightly cracked to let in a stream of light.

Skye wasn’t afraid of the dark, but being in this strange place set her heart to pounding.

Leah returned a moment later with a lit candle, and she moved to light a torch on Skye’s wall. The room was bathed in light, and two figures emerged from the opposite side of the room.

Skye gasped, but before she cried out she recognized Philip.

Tears burned her eyes, and she ran toward him. “Philip! I’m so glad to see you. I was so worried.” But her happiness at seeing him embarrassed her, and she let her earlier irritation seep out. “What took you so long?”

He paused but seemed to let her last comment go. “It took a while to get back, but I have a lot to tell you. Or we have a lot to tell you.”

Skye’s gaze moved to the second figure, and she froze. Ezekiel. He was waiting for her.