Queen of Incense by Signe Kopps

Author:Signe Kopps [Kopps, Signe]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Historical fiction
Publisher: Signe Kopps
Published: 2017-10-15T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter Fourteen

That night we feasted on roasted goat meat, dates stuffed with soft cheese, and spiced nut cakes that Samsi and Timora bought at the market. The women around my fire had dressed in their fine silks. We ate and drank and talked of Jerusalem, so close now, of our families in Myrb and how big the children we left behind would be when we returned.

I briefly thought of Amida and wondered how she was faring with her pregnancy. I was surprised that I no longer felt pain at the thought of her living in my house or welcoming me home with her newborn baby in her arms. My thoughts now were filled with meeting King Solomon. Samar had visited my camp in the late afternoon. He stayed to drink cooled wine with me and we talked about Jerusalem. How would King Solomon hear about us? I asked. Samar said he would send a messenger to the king the day before we reached Jerusalem. The messenger would bear a large bag of incense for the king to announce the arrival of the Queen of Saba.

“And you?” I asked. “Will your name be linked with mine?”

“Your name will be known before mine. Darmalay planned it so. King Solomon will greet the beautiful and wealthy Bilqis of Saba. You will present me as your advisor.”

As we talked, I realized I had not thought of my husband for many days. I would not see Darmalay or my home again for a long time. I might remain in Jerusalem for months, however long King Solomon wished me to stay, and our return home would take another three months.

Wa’dab drank cup after cup of wine and talked louder than the other women around my fire. Her face looked thinner from the hard travel behind us. “My husband says we are safe now.” Wine glistened on her chin. “He believes we are close enough to King Solomon’s lands that no one dares attack us.”

“Damri Samar tells my husband that another attack will come when we are far from this village,” said Shadru. She looked ill since I saw her last. Her eyelids were covered with wrinkles and her neck was ringed with lines, as if she had lost flesh.

Wa’dab waved her fingers, brushing away her words. “Our guards say there are no signs of bandits. We are safe.”

“Damri Samar said tracks are hard to see in this rocky sand.” I spoke mildly, not wanting to argue with the woman.

She lifted her cup to me, “Ah, Bilqis, you would believe your Samar. He eats at your fire day and night. Yahmed says he looks to your camp first when he seeks Samar.”

I set my cup on the rug and looked at her. “My husband commanded Damri Samar to accompany me to Jerusalem. We are enjoined to treat with King Solomon for his protection when our caravans approach his lands.”

“You will not make a treaty with the king,” laughed Wa’dab. She swallowed another mouthful of wine. “Samar, Yahmed, and other wealthy men from the caravan will talk with King Solomon.

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