Banished by Kimberley Griffiths Little

Author:Kimberley Griffiths Little [Little, Kimberley Griffiths]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: HarperCollins
Published: 2016-02-02T06:00:00+00:00

20

I was shaking on the return trip to camp. I couldn’t stop thinking about the queen, her unparalleled beauty, the warnings, and the need for a clandestine meeting.

My growing suspicions about Sariba and Kadesh’s riddles about his past life were coming true. Something bigger than me or Horeb was happening here. But what did the Goddess of Sariba have to do with anything—except my sister Leila was a follower of Ashtoreth. And Ashtoreth was a sister Goddess to Sariba. That was the only connection, right?

Perhaps the queen was subtly referencing my sister in all this talk of war. Did she think I’d abandon Kadesh and turn to the religion of idol worshipers? Leave him to be overthrown in a revolution?

I stopped on the dark trail. “What is the Queen of Sheba to you?”

Kadesh looked puzzled. “She’s my cousin, my strongest ally. Two tribes linked by generations of blood and family.”

A sick sensation churned at my stomach. “Cousins marry all the time. We both know that. What better way to unite two kingdoms than through you and her? I’m surprised you haven’t already joined together.” I hated the words, but I had to speak them out loud. “If things are as bad as you both say, wouldn’t that be the best solution?”

Kadesh grasped my hand, whirling me close. “What are you saying, Jayden? You want me to marry the Queen of Sheba?”

“No! Of course I don’t want you to. But she—you—” Tears bit the corners of my eyes. “The way she looked at you. The way you kissed her hand.”

His eyes searched mine under the starlight. “I’ve known her all my life; of course we love each other. We’re family, but she’s also more than ten years older than I am.”

“Age never stopped marriages between royal families before.”

Kadesh put his hands to my face, leaning into me, his lips a breath from mine. “The Queen of Sheba has her king, a prince of Ethiopia. They have children. The wealthiest royal couple in the known world. Long ago, King Hammurabi tried to woo her, but she refused, although he would never admit it.”

“I see.” My voice sounded small and foolish. “I’m sorry. The queen has just given us disconcerting news, and I’m acting like a jealous child.”

He wrapped me in his cloak and pressed his lips into my hair. “There was never a question of her and me. She married while I was a young boy. You are my love, and will remain so for the rest of my life. I only wish we were already married. I’m sorry you misinterpreted tonight’s meeting. If we were already married so many things would be easier. I just want to get home and show you my world. But . . . the queen gave us sound advice. My aunt Naomi will help us prepare a royal wedding fit for a king and his bride and leaving no doubt as to my loyalties and alliances.”

Just when I thought I understood what was going on, more rose up to confuse and confound me.

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