{"id":1129,"date":"2019-02-12T23:28:25","date_gmt":"2019-02-13T04:28:25","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/read.whitefire-publishing.com\/?p=1129"},"modified":"2020-06-01T09:07:08","modified_gmt":"2020-06-01T13:07:08","slug":"jewel-of-persia","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/whitefire-publishing.com\/read\/jewel-of-persia\/","title":{"rendered":"Jewel of Persia"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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Jewel of Persia<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

by Roseanna M. White<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

How can she love the king of kings without forsaking her Lord of lords?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Kasia grew up in a poor Jewish home with more siblings than luxuries. But when a chance encounter forces her to the palace of Xerxes, she becomes a concubine to the richest man in the world. She alone, of all Xerxes\u2019 wives, loves the man beneath the crown. She alone, of all his wives, holds the heart of the king of kings.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Traveling with Xerxes through Europe as he mounts a war against Greece, Kasia knows enemies surround her, but they\u2019re not the Spartans or Athenians. The threat lies with those close to the king who hate her people. She determines to put her trust in Jehovah\u2013even if it costs her her marriage.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Years of prayers are answered when Kasia\u2019s childhood friend arrives at the palace after the war, but even as she determines to see Esther crowned in place of the bloodthirsty former queen, she knows the true battle is far from over. How far will her enemies go to see her undone?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Combining the biblical account of Esther with Herodotus\u2019s Histories, Jewel of Persia is the story of a love that nearly destroys an empire . . . and the friendship that saves a nation.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

\n\t\t\t\t\t

Chapter 1<\/span><\/span><\/h3>\n\t\t\t\t\t

Susa, Persia<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The third year of the reign of Xerxes<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The river called to Kasia before\nshe saw it, the voice of its sweet waters promising a moment of unbridled\nsensation. Kasia cast a glance over her shoulder at her young friend. She ought\nnot go. Abba forbade it\u2014rarely enough to keep her away, but today she was not\nalone. Still. Esther was not opposed to adventure, once one overcame her\ninitial reservation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Kasia gripped her charge\u2019s hand and\ngrinned. \u201cCome. Let us bathe our feet.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Esther\u2019s creased forehead made her\nlook far older than twelve. \u201cWe could get in trouble.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Kasia laughed and gave the small\nhand a tug. \u201cThat is half the fun. Oh, fret not, small one. My father is too\nbusy to notice, and your cousin will not be back from the palace gates until\nevening.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cBut the king\u2019s household is still\nhere. It is unsafe.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe will only be a moment.\u201d She\nwiggled her brows in the way that always made her young friend smile. \u201cIt will\nbe fun. Perhaps we will even glimpse the house of women.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Esther\u2019s eyes brightened, and she\nlet Kasia lead her another few steps. \u201cDo you think Queen Amestris will be out?\nI have heard she is the most beautiful woman in all the world.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cOnly until little Esther grows\nup.\u201d She tugged on a lock of the girl\u2019s deep brown hair and urged her on. The\nChoaspes gurgled up ahead, where it wound around Susa and gave it life.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Esther laughed and plucked a lily,\ntucked it behind Kasia\u2019s ear. \u201cI will be blessed to have a quarter of your\nbeauty, Kasia. Perhaps if I do, Zechariah will marry me.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cAnd then we shall be sisters at\nlast.\u201d Kasia twirled Esther in a circle. A merry thought, though it was hard to\nimagine Zechariah settling down. He was two years her elder, but showed no\nsigns of maturity at eighteen. If anyone could inspire it, though, it was sweet\nlittle Esther. Once she grew up, half the men in the Jewish population would\nprobably bang at Mordecai\u2019s door . . . and probably a few of their Persian\nneighbors as well.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Esther joined her in her impromptu\ndance, then sighed happily. \u201cI should very much like sisters and brothers. I am\nblessed that Cousin Mordecai took me in, but having him as a father provides no\nsiblings.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Kasia smiled but knew she had\nbetter change the subject before Esther fell into memories of the parents she\nhad lost. Though three years past, the tragedy could still pull the girl into a\nvortex of pain. \u201cAny time you want to borrow one of mine, you are welcome. Ima\ncertainly has her work cut out for her today, trying to keep a rein on them in\nweather so fair. I daresay much of the royal house will be out to enjoy it.\nSurely we can spot a few of them.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cAnd how will we know the queen?\nWill she be encrusted with jewels?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Kasia laughed, even as guilt surged\nto life. She ought to get home and help her mother with the little ones. Soon.\nFive minutes and she would be on her way, back in ample time to check the bread\nand sweep the day\u2019s dirt from the floor. For now, she could spare a thought or\ntwo to the palace. \u201cShe will be decked out in the finest Persia has to offer,\nsurely.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cCousin Mordecai says that the king\nwears jewels in his beard at his feasts.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

She had heard the same stories but\nwidened her eyes with exaggerated shock for Esther\u2019s benefit. \u201cIn his beard?\nWhat if one were to fall into his soup?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Their laughter blended into that of\nthe river, and Kasia\u2019s pulse kicked up. The weather was warming again, and when\nthe sweltering summer heats came, the king\u2019s entourage would leave. Kasia could\nnot wait for the change in seasons. Her body may not tolerate it for long, but\nthere was something intoxicating about feeling the sun\u2019s burning rays upon her\nhead. She always volunteered to gather up the barley seeds they roasted on the\nroads in the summer, and not just to spare her mother the task. To feel it. To\nbe nearly overwhelmed. To watch the world around her quiver in the rising heat\nand let herself sway with it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Esther paused a fathom from the\nriver\u2019s bank. \u201cIt will be freezing. The snows still cover the mountains.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Perfect. Kasia grinned and sat down\nto unfasten her shoes. \u201cWe will only step in for a moment.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Esther sat, too, and soon they\ntossed their shoes aside and helped each other up. They ran the six steps to\nthe river, where icy water lapped at Kasia\u2019s toes. She shrieked. \u201cOh, it is<\/em>\ncold! Why did I let you talk me into this?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Esther laughed and pushed her\nanother step into the water. \u201cI? Ha! And you are supposed to be the responsible\none, taking care of me<\/em>.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cResponsibility begs to be escaped\nnow and again.\u201d She waded out one more step, careful to lift her tunic above\nthe water.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

When Esther stepped in, she gasped\nand leapt back onto the bank. \u201cYou are mad, Kasia. Your feet will be ice all\nnight.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A price worth paying for this\nfreedom slicing through her. How could something that touched only one part\naffect her whole body? Her feet felt the prickles of a thousand needles that\ncoursed like spears up her legs. A shiver sped along her spine, down her arms,\nand left her laughing. She turned to Esther, intending to tease her into\njoining her.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

 The levity died in her throat. Faster than she\nknew she could move, she jumped back onto the bank and put herself between\nEsther and the men that stood a stone\u2019s toss away, watching them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cKasia? What are you . . .\u201d Esther\nbroke off, having apparently spotted the men. Fear sharpened the intake of her\nbreath. \u201cYour father will kill us.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cHush.\u201d Kasia reached back with one\narm to be sure her charge remained behind her. Her gaze stayed on the men. They\neach had a horse beside them, and gold roundels on their clothing. Bracelets,\ntorcs, gems. A million things that shouted nobility and wealth. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

A million things that meant\ntrouble.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

She dipped her head, gaze on the\nground. Had she been alone, she would have grabbed her shoes and run, perhaps\nwith some vague apology as she scurried off. But she could not risk it, not with\nEsther there too. What if the girl tripped? Or moved too slowly? Kasia could\nnever leave her young friend exposed to two strangers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

One of the horses whinnied, fabric\nrustled, and footsteps thudded. Kasia tossed modesty to the wind and glanced\nup.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The taller of the two men moved\nforward. His were the more expensive clothes, the heavier gold. He had a dark,\ntrim beard that did nothing to hide his grin. \u201cMy apologies for startling you.\nWe should have continued on our way after we realized your cry was not for\nhelp, but I was intrigued. You often wade into the river swollen from mountain\nsnows?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Esther gripped Kasia\u2019s tunic and\npulled her back a half step to whisper, \u201cKasia, just give your apologies so we\ncan go<\/em>.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Sage advice, except she doubted a\nman of import would take kindly to his questions going unanswered. She forced a\nsmall smile. \u201cNot often, lord, no. I rarely have the time, and I should not\nhave taken it today. My parents are expecting me home. If you will excuse me.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The man held out a hand. \u201cFar be it\nfrom me to detain you, fair one. But it is not safe for a beautiful young woman\nand her sister to be out alone. Do you not know that the court is yet in Susa?\nWhat if some nobleman concerned only with his pleasure came across you?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The words ought to have terrified\nher, given the sweep of his gaze. But his tone . . . teasing, warm. A perfect\nmatch to that easy smile.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Her chin edged up. \u201cI expect if\nsuch a man were to come upon me, he would try to charm me before accosting me.\nThen I would have ample time to convince him that his pleasure would be better\npursued elsewhere.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He chuckled, took another step\ncloser. \u201cBut on the off-chance that your wit would fail to persuade such a\nman\u2014there are some very determined men in the king\u2019s company\u2014I feel compelled\nto see you safely home.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cNo! I mean . . . it is not far, we\nwill be fine. I thank you for your concern . . .\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The man\u2019s eyes narrowed, his smile\nfaltered. \u201cYou must be a Jew.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A logical deduction\u2014her trepidation\nat being caught with a Persian man would not be shared by a woman of his own\npeople.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Still. The tone of his voice when\nhe said the word Jew<\/em> was enough to make her shoulders roll back. As if\nthey were less because they had been brought to this land as captives a century\nago. As if they had not proven themselves over the years.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

She narrowed her eyes right back.\n\u201cProudly.\u201d Not waiting for a reply, she spun away and grabbed Esther\u2019s hand.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cKasia, our shoes.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe shall grab them on the way by\nand put them on when we get back,\u201d she murmured.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A mild curse came from behind them,\nalong with quick footsteps. \u201cCome now, you must not walk home barefoot. Please,\nfair one, you need not fear me. Sit. Put on your shoes.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He reached the leather strips\nbefore they did, scooped them up, and held them out. The gleam of amusement\nstill in his eyes belied the contrition on his face. He offered a crooked\nsmile, his gaze never leaving Kasia\u2019s.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

She had little choice. Esther\u2019s\nfingers still in hers, she reached out and took their shoes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Esther pressed closer to her side\nand hissed, \u201cKasia.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The man\u2019s smile evened out. \u201cThat\nis your name? Kasia? Lovely.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI will pass the compliment along\nto my parents.\u201d She would not<\/em> ask him his. Certainly not. Instead, she\nhanded off Esther\u2019s shoes to her with a nod of instruction.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Esther huffed but bent down to wrap\nthe leather around her feet and secure it above her ankles. Kasia just stood\nthere.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The man arched a brow. \u201cI have no\nintentions of hoisting you over my shoulder the second your attention is\nelsewhere.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cAnd I would see you prove it with\nmy own eyes.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He shook his head, smiling again,\nand backed up a few steps. \u201cThere. You can sit and put them on, and you will be\nable to see if I come any closer. Is that satisfactory?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Though it felt like defeat to do\nso, it would have been petulant to refuse. She sat and swallowed back the\nbitter taste of capitulation. Glanced up at the man and found him watching her\nintently, his smile now an echo.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Who was he? Someone wealthy,\nobviously. Perhaps one of the king\u2019s officials, or even a relative. She guessed\nhim to be in his mid thirties, his dark mane of hair untouched by grey. He had\na strong, straight nose, bright eyes. Features that marked him as noble as\nsurely as the jewelry he wore.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

But it was neither the proportions\nof his face nor his fine attire that made her fingers stumble with her shoes.\nIt was the expression he wore. Intent and amused. Determined and intrigued.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He fingered one of the ornaments on\nhis clothing, gaze on her. \u201cWho is your father, lovely Kasia?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

She swallowed, wondering at the\nwisdom of answering. Surely he had no intentions of seeing her home now, of . .\n. of . . . what? What could possibly come of such a short encounter? It was\ncuriosity that made him ask. It could be nothing more. \u201cKish, the son of\nBen-Geber. He is a woodworker.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Esther made a disturbed squeak\nbeside her, but Kasia ignored her.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The man\u2019s mouth turned up again.\n\u201cKish, the son of Ben-Geber. And I assume he is not inclined toward his\ndaughter socializing with Persians? It is a prejudice I find odd. Are you not in\nour<\/em> land? Have you not chosen to remain here, even after King Cyrus gave\nyou freedom to leave? It seems very . . . ungrateful for you Jews to remain so\naloof.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Kasia sighed and moved to her\nsecond shoe. \u201cPerhaps. But it is an outlook hewn from the continued prejudice\nthe Persians have against us<\/em>.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cSome, perhaps.\u201d The man flicked a\ngaze his companion\u2019s way. \u201cBut most of us recognize that the Jews have become\nvaluable members of the empire. Take Susa for example.\u201d He waved a hand toward\nthe city. \u201cIt is such a pleasure to winter here largely because of the Jews who\nwithstand the heat in the summer and keep the city running. We are not all\nblind to that.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

She inclined her head in\nacknowledgment. \u201cAnd some of us<\/em> recognize the generosity of Xerxes, the\nking of kings, and his fathers before him, and are grateful for the opportunity\nto flourish here.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cBut . . .\u201d He cocked his head,\ngrinned. \u201cYour father is not one of those?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Kasia sighed and, finished with her\nshoes, stood. \u201cMy father has lived long under the heel of his Persian\nneighbors. Were it not for the size of our family<\/a>, he would have returned to\nIsrael long ago.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cAh. Well, fair and generous Kasia,\nI thank you for taking the time to speak with me. Your wit and eloquence have\nbrightened my day.\u201d He stepped closer, slowly and cautiously.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Esther shifted beside her,\nundoubtedly spooked by his nearness. But Kasia held her ground and tilted her\nhead up to look into his face when he was but half an arm away. \u201cAnd I thank\nyou, sir, for your kind offer to see us home, even if I must decline.\u201d            <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cHmm. A shame, that. I would have\nenjoyed continuing our conversation on the walk back to the city.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

With her eyes locked on his, she\nwas only vaguely aware of his movement before warm fingers took her hand. She\njolted, as much from the sensation racing up her arm as from the shock of the\ngesture.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He lifted her hand and pressed his\nlips to her palm. Her breath tangled up in her chest. If her father saw this,\nhe would kill her where she stood.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

But what was the harm in a moment\u2019s\nflirtation with an alluring stranger? He would return to his ornate house and\nforget about her. She would go to her modest dwelling and remember this brief,\namazing encounter forever.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A stolen moment. Nothing more.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

His other hand appeared in her\nvision even as he arched a brow. \u201cA gift for the beautiful Jewess.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

That tangled breath nearly choked\nher when she saw the thick silver torc in his hand, lions\u2019 heads on each end.\n\u201cLord, I cannot\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI will it.\u201d He slid the bracelet\nonto her arm, under her sleeve until it reached a part of her arm thick enough\nto hold it up, past her elbow. Challenge lit his features. \u201cIf you do not want\nit, you may return it when next we meet.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI . . .\u201d She could think of\nnothing clever to say, no smooth words of refusal.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

With an endearing smirk, he kissed\nher knuckles and then released her and strode away. Kasia may have stood there\nfor the rest of time, staring blankly at where he had been, had Esther not\ngripped her arm and tugged.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cKasia, what are you thinking? You\ncannot accept a gift from a Persian man! What will your father say?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cNothing pleasant.\u201d Blowing a loose\nstrand of hair out of her face, Kasia let her sleeve settle over her arm. It\ncovered all evidence of the unrequested silver. \u201cHe need not know.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cKasia.\u201d Esther\u2019s torment wrinkled\nher forehead again. \u201cWhat has gotten into you? Surely you are not . . . ?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

She glanced over to where the man\nmounted his horse and turned with one last look her way, topped with a wink.\nBlood rushed to her cheeks. \u201cPerhaps I am. He is a fine man, is he not?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Esther sighed, laughed a little.\n\u201cHe seemed it, yes. But your father will never allow you to marry a Persian. As\nsoon as he decides between Ben-Hesed and Michael, you will become a fine Jewish\nwife to a fine Jewish man.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cYes, I know.\u201d Her breath leaked\nout, washing some of the excitement of the last few minutes away with it. \u201cIt\nhardly matters. The loss of one bracelet will probably not bother him. He will\nconsider it restitution for our dismay and think of it no more.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Esther lifted her brows. \u201cBut he\nsaid he would see you again.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cDo you really think a man of his\nstation will bother himself over a Jewish girl whose father cannot afford a\ndowry?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI suppose not.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Kasia looped her elbow through\nEsther\u2019s. \u201cCome, little one. We had better hurry home.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Esther renewed her smile. \u201cYou have\nquite the romantic story now. Someday, when you are an old married woman, you\ncan pull out that torc and give it to your daughter along with a tale to set\nher heart to sighing.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Yes . . . someday.<\/p>\n\n\n