Behold Your Queen! by Gladys Malvern

Author:Gladys Malvern
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Pickle Partners Publishing
Published: 2016-01-26T05:00:00+00:00

9:—The Conspiracy

ESTHER awakened next morning still oppressed by a sense of foreboding. Even when, shortly after the noon meal, Malme brought her a new robe just finished by her sewing women, she viewed it lethargically, and in a toneless voice told Malme to put it in the closet. Then, motioning Malme to leave, she walked to the window and sat staring over the courtyard.

Haman was just arriving. Followed by servants and sycophants, he strutted through the crowd and the people made their obeisance before him.

Her face brightened when, a little later, she saw Mordecai take his place at the gate.

Acratheus had gone on an errand and she knew that he would stop on his return to tell Mordecai that she sent him her love. Mordecai looked in excellent health. Older, but still strong. For all his quietness and inconspicuous attire, there was an air of importance about him. She remembered how, as a little girl, she had always turned to Mordecai with her troubles. And now she saw someone else turn to him, someone obviously in trouble, too.

It was a short man who moved tensely and kept peering about as though afraid of being observed. He approached Mordecai and began to talk, though it was plain that they did not know one another. They talked earnestly, and Esther wondered what they were talking about. Mordecai looked grave. Esther saw him nod. Then with singular abruptness the short man left the court. Now Mordecai appeared worried. He kept moving his head from side to side as though impatient to see Acratheus.

Minutes lagged. There was a tenseness about Mordecai now. What was keeping Acratheus?

The afternoon passed and she fumed at the absence of her servant. Where was he? The sun was sinking and the crowd in the court was dwindling. Ah, there was Acratheus, hurrying as usual, and wiping the perspiration from his forehead. He stopped and spoke to Mordecai. Acratheus seemed to stiffen as Mordecai talked.

Then in a great rush he took leave of her uncle and hastened to the queen’s palace. Mordecai left at once. A few minutes later, Acratheus was bowing before Esther.

“Where have you been all this time?” she asked.

“Your Majesty, I was delayed. I shall explain that later. Oh, this is terrible!”

“What is it? Something my uncle told you?”

“He told me of a plot to kill the king tonight! A man named Bar Nabazus had just told it to him. Your uncle said that you must find a way to warn His Majesty. You know the two men who have the title ‘Keepers of the Door’?”

“Bigthan and Teresh. Yes.”

“They have been in service upon the king for about eight years. They stand at the door when his meals are brought. They taste everything first. Now, the servant of Teresh, this Bar Nabazus, is a Hebrew.”

“A short man?”

“Yes. Bar Nabazus overheard Bigthan and Teresh plotting how to do this thing! When Bar Nabazus was sure of not being detected, he made haste for the palace. He pleaded to see the king at once, but was told he would have to wait his turn.

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