Aries Fire (9 page)

He stared blankly at her.

“Where?”  he asked, puzzled.

“In Jerusalem.”

Isn’t he listening? she thought impatiently.

“No.  My family was from Syria, lost in the great earthquake.”  He turned to face the sun and was silent for a moment.

She eyed him with greater curiosity than before. Seira felt the urge to suddenly grieve with him, but he showed no signs of sadness.  She admired him more and was comforted by his manner. He seemed so accepting of death.

“I was brought to Egypt and raised by my uncle, an adept sailor in his day. He taught me all he knew of sailing and gave me his ships to man. Ishtar is my favored. You called her, Queen of Heaven, didn’t you?  Hazaad, she’s got Mercury at her bow, too, the Queen’s escort.  He entices her to move quickly,” he said, slapping the gunwale and caressing the wood the way a lover caresses his dearest.

“Too bad we won’t see much of Ashkelon. Um… I’ve heard of a grand temple, where there is a tremendous mosaic of the stars.  It would aid my studies to see it,” she finally said.

“Not in Ashkelon,” he was thoughtful for a moment.  “You must speak of Jerusalem.  There are others in Galilee and Naaran, as well.”

“You know of them?”

“I know what I know and not much more,” he shrugged.

“You appear quite cultured, Alexander.  Not in style of dress, of course, but in manner and words.”

“Thank you.  My uncle was a proponent of social dignities, too.”

“Woo more trade with courtesies than with warm piss?” she cooed.

He burst out laughing.

She truly liked this captain of Ishtar.

“I have, on more than one occasion, done business with the rabbis of the synagogues in Palestine, or rather with one in particular, Isaac of Jerusalem.  Tough businessmen, those Jews, but fair once the haggle is ended and a price reached. I’ve hauled stone slabs for one such temple.”

“For the Rabbi Isaac?”

“Yes, long ago,” he nodded.  “I hear it’s an exquisite place.  Although I’ve not seen it, I’ll venture to say that you’ll not see it either.” 

“Why not?” she asked.

“Well, Seira, in Alexandria the women can own property without the consent of a man and can divorce and retain their possessions without shame.  Overall, Egyptian women have more freedom.  Truth?” 

“Oh, yes, of course.  Oh, but not so in Jerusalem?”

“No.  Not in Jerusalem.  Not in much of the world.  In the eyes a Jewish man, you’re not only a pagan, but a female as well. They wouldn’t let you set foot inside one of these temples, to be sure.”

While he spoke, she looked at the color of his eyes, without effort she had a very clear image of this forbidden, temple doorway.

“Aren’t golden eagles a bit ornate for Jewish architecture?” she asked bluntly.

“I, ah, am uncertain,” he said, then added, “I thought you’ve not yet been past the great Lighthouse of Alexandria?”

“What?  Oh,” she stopped, focusing on his face again.  “Is there an eagle at the temple?” she asked.

“Not at that temple,” he said. “But there is one in Constantinople, at the Imperial Palace.” He looked at her curiously.

She instantly realized that the image she had seen was a vision. It was the clearest one yet and the first one to be confirmed. She’s had so many before; but they had been blurred and jumbled images.  Her visions were usually preceded by headaches. This one came without warning.  Seeing it caused her to speak without forethought. Even though the event was minor and harmless, she had no control over it, her thoughts, or her words. Seira trembled slightly and felt a bit apprehensive. Should she explain her gift of sight? She was untrained, not ready.  Alexander looked at her intently.

“I haven’t actually seen, but… I’ve heard, that is, about that one, from my mother.  Isn’t it famous?” She fumbled with her words.

The image of the eagle lingered in her mind. She was struck by the clarity of the vision. It wasn’t just seeing it as if it were real; it was that she knew she’d actually seen it that really frightened her. To add to it all, she shuddered even more having used her mother’s memory in a lie.

“You’re shivering.  Perhaps it’s sun fever,” he said.

He took her by the arm and escorted her into the shade of the sail.  She was thankful that he left the matter of the eagle alone.

As they walked, Alexander kept casual watch on his men who went about their duties. It gave Seira time to regain her sense of calm.

“You know, I don’t see any harm…” he said.

“What?” she asked quickly, sensing the direction of his thoughts.

“No. No. The idea of it is too dangerous,” he decided.

Aries fire! Seira thought as her mind turned toward escape.  She would have to get ashore and bide her time in a marketplace, and then she’d be able to lose herself in the crowd without his help.

 Alexander suddenly called to his first mate. “Ho there, Mahmoud!  Excuse me, please,” he said, and was off giving orders.

Alexander’s muscular, bronze legs appeared solid and brawny, yet he darted between ropes, oil filled amphoras, and crates as a gazelle might.

 Seira glanced over at Lem.  He caught her eye and held up a purse, looking very proud of himself.

“Oh, Jupiter be praised,” she laughed loudly. Then in a mumble as she waved at him, “You gamble while I formulate my escape plan.”

Her impatience returned. How would she get to Jerusalem? 

A camel of course.  Anyone would know that.

She looked at the water to calm her nerves and let them drift away with the tide. Her mother taught her to focus on passing clouds to gain mental composure. Water would work just as well. 

A vivid picture of the golden eagle appeared like an apparition in the water. The sun glinted off of the ocean and caused the eagle to sparkle. Images fused together with Isidorus’ face and Alexander’s words of a moment ago—not only a pagan but a female as well.

Of course, Seira thought. I shall seek out this Rabbi Isaac, a respected holy man in the temple of Jerusalem. That temple is recognized as having the most revered astrological mosaic in all of Palestine. His sympathies must lie with me, as I, too, am studied in the ways of the stars. Well, somewhat. The only obstruction is getting off this accursed ship!

Chapter Three

Karmic lesson number one; get out of your own way

Or, Neptune transit the 11th

A
T LAST, A
coastal port in view and her freedom on its shores. A surge of nervousness swirled through her stomach and settled in her groin.  It was the same feeling that led her through daydreams of Alexander.  What was the source of this desire?  How did it rest in one place and become so excited by different experiences?

Seira stuffed her shoulder sack and readied herself. She put the jeweled shoes on her feet. They reminded her of her room and her possessions and she felt safer with something familiar.

She decided she would create a commotion by throwing amphoras over the side.  When no one’s attention was on her, she would make way down the plank and run into the crowd.  It was a feeble plan, but the best she could do with so little time.

“Seira.”

 “AH!”

The voice made her jump and she flung her sack into Lem’s face.  He caught the sack with a quick reflex and held it out to her. His unwanted intrusion into her cabin caused her mood to explode into silent anger.  She clamped her teeth together, inhaled slowly, and gripped the edge of her cot. She had to appear at ease.  She didn’t want him to suspect her intentions.

“Yes,” she said and sat on the cot. “What is it?” 

He walked past the door and looked about. Lem smiled at her. He put the sack on the table.

“I thought you might want to see the port of Ashkelon,” he said. 

He stopped abruptly at seeing her fixed in position, with both of her knees tilted to one side. She was trying to look casual.

“Have I interrupted?  The door was opened and…” 

Lem turned his face away.  He lowered his eyes in an expression of unexpected embarrassment and his cheeks flushed, turning a bright red color.

He suspects nothing! 

It was her suspicion that acted with guilt.

“How thoughtful of you, Lem.  Yes, I would like to see as much as I can,” she said feigning innocence.

Seira stepped past Lem and moved into the hallway. It was narrow and blocked by crates. A vile stink permeated her nose.

“What is that stench?  Move now.  I can’t breathe.” 

She pushed her way toward the sky and air.  Behind her, Lem had been pulled aside to assist the cargo bearers. His face protested, but he said nothing. Seira shrugged at him and left him behind.

Jupiter be praised, she thought.  She would wait until he was distracted and go back for her things.

“Fish,” a voice said in her ear.

She was aware of Alexander’s breath on her neck as he spoke.  His warmth calmed her. She turned toward him with a curious look on her face, as if he were the only one on Earth who could stop her thoughts.

“You asked what that stench was,” he said.

“What fish smells of waste?”

“All fish that’s been left to rot in a barrel,” he laughed.

All things appeared to stand still when he was near. She suddenly wanted to talk to him, to know him. 

Alexander held a log of inventory and marked it scrupulously as he spoke to her. A crewman called out to him and his attention turned away for a moment. In a blinding flash, an invisible fist struck her head. It was the type of pounding that usually preceded one of her visions.  Seira tried to catch her breath. Alexander finally turned to address her.  Her head throbbed and drowned out his voice.

What she heard instead were a wealth of sounds, so familiar and yet so completely foreign.  Instruments played all around her.  Stringed instruments and chants echoed across the water. She felt herself moving away from Alexander; walking toward the plank, drawn like an entranced dervish.  She raised her hand to her head but felt neither hand nor head.  It seemed as if she rose above her body. She could see all things about her. All the while, Seira saw Alexander watching, walking toward her.  His actions were slow, dream-like in motion.  His mouth moved but she couldn’t hear his words.

A man’s voice cried out in pain. 

Alexander? 

Her body moved by some other, unknown force.  She could only witness the events as they were presented to her.  Someone sang; a woman, yet there were no women or singers on board the Ishtar. She was terrified and didn’t know how to stop it. 

As she surrendered, simultaneous visions herded through her mind.  She witnessed dark skinned singers and dancers, primal in movement, and animals being dragged to slaughter.  Flaming arrows shot into the sky.  A dark face marked with a triangle on his forehead laughed at her.  Blurred images obstructed her vision.  Drums beat on the shore and echoed on her breast.  A young boy’s eyes met her. Suddenly, she was looking inside her own body and saw a dagger’s blade slice through her flesh.

Alexander! 

She needed him but couldn’t see him.  She felt desire from deep within her. It was potent.  Desire for a man first, then desire for freedom.  She imagined freedom from her body.

All the images, except one, exploded in a rush then suddenly faded.  Even though she stood on the ship, she could see as if she floated above everything. The Ishtar was making its way into the Ashkelon port while repetitive sounds screamed into her ears; whistles, clicks, and shouts. 

She was old, ancient, and nameless, as if she were in another time and place. She believed she saw the planets in the universe. She counted them while they revolved effortlessly and found their numbers to be greater than ever suspected.  She had witnessed the planets forming and heard her own voice proclaim a new science.  No one believed her.

“SEIRA!” 

The booming voice cracked and shattered all other sounds. Alexander grabbed her shoulders and gave them a quick shake. It silenced everything.  The vision receded. How small everything seemed.  All things returned to their proper places, but were insignificant, temporary.  She too, was smaller and weaker. 

She turned her head to the voice but experienced a dim blindness.  Her eyes burned as though she suffered through a sand storm. She floated in a nebulous place.  Seira knew better than to rub her eyes or to move unnecessarily.  She let herself alone and allowed herself time to readjust to the present world. That was the strongest vision yet and her body pained from the venture.  Everything slowly came into focus.

“Seira, girl.  I said, you’re bleeding.”

She could hear Alexander’s alarmed voice, but was still unable to perceive or respond to the fear in it. She groaned as she finally tried to move her arms.

Hands held her.  The familiar grip not only comforted her, but also pulled her back into her body, into her senses.  She instantly became queasy.  Her head throbbed with a dull ache as if she drank too much wine.

As she came out of her vision sickness, she leaned into the hands that held her and realized that they belonged to Alexander. He pushed the hair away from her face and stroked her temples. 

“Seira, be still.  I’ll get a cloth and ointment for the wound,” he said.

By the time he returned, the pain in her head was gone and her body ached less.  The vision had left her completely but its imprint remained.  The rhythm of the music from her vision still reverberated in her. 

Was that the rhythm of life? 

She remembered hearing it while witnessing the planets revolving in the heavens.

She wouldn’t forget that dark man’s face, swarthy and creased, eyes that had seen too much death. But who was he?  The screams she heard were battle cries.  She was certain of that. Seira had witnessed a war. Alexander was there. She had to warn him.

“Have you fallen, mistress?”  Lem interrupted her as she recalled the images of her vision.

Alexander handed Lem a bowl of water and a clean cloth. He knelt at her side. Lem didn’t know about her visions.  She could hear the tinkling of water drops as he wrung out the cloth.  She focused her sight on Lem as Alexander stood up beside him.