Wisdom's Daughter: A Novel of Solomon and Sheba by Edghill India

Author:Edghill, India [Edghill, India]
Language: eng
Format: mobi, epub
Publisher: St. Martin's Press
Published: 2005-11-15T00:00:00+00:00

Just as I had never seen such a dog as Moonwind, I had never seen such a horse as Shams. The horses my father dealt in were small fierce creatures, pullers of war chariots. They were never ridden, nor used for any purpose less noble than warfare, or the hunting of wild beasts.

Shams was different: tall, sleek-muscled, sweet-tempered. When he saw the queen, the stallion’s ears pricked forward, tips almost touching. His nostrils flared wide, and he uttered soft whuffling sounds.

The queen laughed and cupped her hands over his soft muzzle. “So you have missed me? Or is it what I bring that you yearn for?” The queen pulled a dried apricot from her pouch and offered it upon her palm; Shams took the fruit delicately and nudged her, plainly hoping for more.

“No, that is all.” The queen stroked his gleaming neck and said to me, “And that slothful creature is for you to begin upon. She is both gentle and patient; heed her and you will learn much. Will you not, Dawn?”

I drew my eyes from the glory of Shams and studied Dawn. Smaller than the queen’s stallion, plump and sturdy and gray as her name, Dawn regarded me with soft dark eyes. “I am to ride that one?”

“Of course; did you think to begin upon a horse like Shams? Your first ride would be your last, child, and you lucky to escape shattered bones.”

Then she nodded and a groom came forward, knelt and cupped his hands. The queen set her foot in the man’s hands; sprang from them onto the horse’s back. Shams danced impatiently as she settled herself and gathered up the gilded leather reins. “Well, Princess?” she said, looking over at me, “do you wish to remain at home after all?”

Not only had I never flung my leg over a horse’s back in my life, I had only rarely even ridden in a chariot. But what the Queen of Sheba did, I swore I too would do. And so I drew a deep breath and walked up to Dawn; as the queen had done with Shams, I laid my hand upon the mare’s thick neck.

“I am to ride you,” I said, feeling no shame at talking to a dumb beast. “Be kind, and forgive my ignorance.” Swallowing hard, I nodded to the groom as the queen had done. And just as he had done for the queen, the groom locked his hands together for me to set my foot upon.

This is the last chance to turn back. I ignored my fear and its coward’s warning and forced myself to forget I wore leather trousers that showed the shape of my legs to all the world. Trying to pretend I had some notion what I did, I grasped Dawn’s mane in both my hands and placed my left foot onto the groom’s waiting hands. A heartbeat later I sat upon the mare’s back, hardly daring to breathe.

“Are you well-settled?” the queen asked. “Then come, follow me—slowly and gently; you must learn balance and judgment to ride well.

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