The Queen's Handmaid by Tracy Higley

Author:Tracy Higley
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Tracy Higley

Chapter 20

The Jericho palace had enough halls and corridors for Lydia to wander with her thoughts, and she strolled with little awareness. They had been in residence several days, long enough for her to memorize its layout, from the tiny chamber at the end of a corridor in the lowest level, where she slept and kept the scrolls hidden, to the huge stone pool for swimming on the south side of the palace walls. A luxury Herod insisted upon when he rebuilt this palace, proof that he was as modern as any Roman.

She had lived with this family, this strange hybrid of Idumean, Greek, and Jewish, for nearly five years now and had brought her Greek-Egyptian heritage with her. Simon’s patriotism showed her that it was time to choose, time to become her true self. Was there a way to learn more about her parents? At least she could learn what it was to be Jewish, not simply from David’s lessons and Mariamme’s example, but by a studied pursuit. She would find a synagogue when they returned to Jerusalem. Ask questions about the prophecies of Daniel, discover an expert. Someone who knew of the Chakkiym and the lost scrolls.

“Lydia!”

She jerked her head upward at the sudden call.

Mariamme stood against the wall near the end of the corridor, the light from the courtyard beyond outlining her figure and that of another, a man. Mariamme shifted slightly away from her companion.

“My lady.” Lydia bowed.

The man kept his gaze on Mariamme. It was Sohemus, captain of Herod’s guard. His personal friendship with Herod had earned him the unenviable position of Alexandra’s keeper, so he had come to Jericho with the family. He wore the insignia of his position but did not seem engaged in official business at the moment.

“I was just . . . asking Sohemus . . . if he had seen you.” Mariamme cleared her throat and pushed away from the wall. “Come, I have a task for you.”

Lydia followed, passing Sohemus, who did not move, and giving him a polite smile.

Mariamme led her to a small, windowless chamber off the central courtyard. The room was lit by a single oil lamp on a desk, half blocked by the man who sat before it.

“I have found her, Simon.” She entered the room. “Now I have you both.”

Simon turned from his scrolls and pens, neatly organized on the desk, then stood.

Lydia hovered in the doorway and did not meet his gaze, which felt a bit cold even from this distance.

“Lydia, I have given Simon instructions about a banquet to be held tomorrow evening. We are going to entertain the finest of the city’s nobles in style.”

Simon ran a hand through his dark hair. “My lady, it will be very difficult in such a short time—”

Mariamme waved away his protest. “It must be immediate.” Her attention drifted to the empty doorway. “My sister-in-law, Salome, is already trying to set herself up here as though she were queen. We must demonstrate that Herod’s wife is the true queen.

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