Authors: Roberta Kells Dorr

Abraham and Sarah (54 page)

BOOK: Abraham and Sarah

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The Egyptian came and with her all the women of the bed chamber. They had heard that the High Priest was waiting, and they were curious to see what Bilqis would do. “I will go to the priest in mourning wearing no makeup and no jewelry,” she said.

There was a gasp of astonishment that Bilqis enjoyed thoroughly. She tossed her head and glanced at them pleased to see that they were all cringing in awe of her.

When she finally appeared in the reception room, she was composed and sure of herself. She noticed with satisfaction that the High Priest could hardly recognize her. She saw his eyes travel over the black robes
she wore and then linger on the lovely crown of Sheba. Again and again his eyes returned to her face, which was painted with the chalk white of mourning and to the veil that covered the lower part of her face leaving only her eyes free. This veil was worn usually when talking with foreigners or dignitaries of another tribe, and it was now meant as a quiet affront to the High Priest and her own tribesmen.

He, for his part, was dressed in his most ornate robes, and his long fingers were covered with rings. She noticed this because he kept fingering the fur trim on his robe and pulling at his short beard. His priestly turban sat well down on his forehead, making his nose seem enormous and his eyes protrude.

He was surrounded by dignitaries. Among them she immediately recognized her own chief counselor, her uncle, and her cousin Rydan, the young man they all wanted her to marry. She noticed that Rydan stood with his chin jutting out and a look of injured defiance about him. It was obvious they expected her to agree to marry him, and he was ready to accept her.

For a moment she stood with her head thrown back looking at the High Priest and he returned her gaze with an almost imperceptible smirk. There was no doubt that all of them had come to see how she would take defeat. They wanted to see her forced to choose the cousin she had rejected, and even the High Priest she had viewed as a friend was defiantly gloating over his power.

The High Priest raised both hands above his head and clapped for the scribes, who came running with their reeds, inks, and parchment. “We have the papers all drawn up your highness,” he said, as he bowed slightly and picked up one of the parchment rolls. “We need only the royal seal here.” The High Priest was pointing with one finger at a space near the bottom.

Bilqis looked down at the parchment and noticed only that the High Priest wore a ring on his finger fashioned like a snake with the eyes made of small red rubies. She was standing close enough to smell the heavy odor of stale incense that she always associated with the house of Ilumquh. She looked up into those intense, protruding eyes and realized he had not a doubt in the world that she would stamp the parchment with her seal and marry her cousin.

With one quick movement she reached out and snatched the parchment
from the High Priest, then quickly rolling it into its original cylinder, dropped it into the scribe’s lap. “We’ll not need that,” she said. “I’ve decided against it. For many reasons it isn’t wise.”

At first there was a shocked silence and then an uproar. Everyone tried to talk at once. The High Priest finally raised his hands again and clapped for attention. “But the stars and the goat’s liver all agree. It is dangerous to go against such signs.”

“I’ve no intention of going against such signs or of bringing needless hardship on my people.” She paused for a moment to enjoy their look of puzzlement. They were obviously taken aback. Her uncle had wiped the sweat from his brow with his sleeve and her cousin no longer had the bored look on his face. Instead he had crossed his arms and lowered his head so that he looked at her through mere slits.

“I’ve decided to become the bride of Ilumquh.”

She stepped back and watched their mouths drop open with surprise, and then a look of awe took its place as one by one they fell to their knees. Most of them were afraid of Ilumquh. To them he was the raging bull with bloodshot eyes, pawing the earth and snorting fire. None of them would dare go near his pillared dwelling place. It was all they could do to stand in the oval of the great assembly and observe the offerings and sometimes add to the chanting.

It was obvious they could hardly imagine a frail woman like their queen being strong enough and fearless enough to invite an encounter with the god. What would happen they couldn’t imagine. She could lose her mind or be burned by his brightness.

Only the High Priest remained standing and showed no emotion. “The decision has been made,” he said in sonorous tones. “At the height of Ilumquh’s strength during the full moon, the queen will come to his pavilion. Let her make every preparation for her meeting with the great and terrible Ilumquh.” With that he turned and walked from the room.

Bilqis had enjoyed the whole episode. Seeing the High Priest’s puzzlement at her dress and then his sureness that she would stamp the parchment with her seal was exciting, but not half as exciting as seeing the horror and awe on her uncle’s face when she had said she would marry the god Ilumquh. And her cousin, he had looked bored and impatient when she entered the room, but he had been one of the first to fall on his knees.

She didn’t wait for them to recover their senses and rise, but lifted her skirt and hurried from the room with all of her women following behind. She had proposed something more daring than the bravest men of Sheba even imagined. There was no turning back now; she would have to go through with the venture.

We hope you enjoyed this excerpt from
Queen of Sheba
. For more from Moody Publishers in this genre and others, visit your favorite local or online bookseller.

Look for more captivating biblical stories to come from River North and Roberta Kells Dorr.