I will do it.”
Did I perceive wrongly, or did those eyes hold promises withinthem, the faintest smolder? My gaze lit on the back of his hand, traveled the line of his wrist to the strong forearm, corded beneath the skin.
I leaned back against the cushions.
“You understand my purpose. Then understand this: I want our language and gods and the exploits of our water engineers carried north beyond Phoenicia. I want the world to hear of our dam and canals and the breeding of our camels. And the twin paradises of Marib that are our oases, and the walled city our capital, and her many-storied houses.”
“And the beauty of her queen?”
I quirked a smile, amused. “You have never laid eyes on my face.”
“Nevertheless, when I tell the tale of you, my queen, I will be accused of exaggerating as much as you have accused me in my telling of Solomon. But why do you want the world to hear of Saba’s marvels? It cannot be for mere right to boast.”
“You are right. But boast we must. I want to lure the world’s most educated sages and skilled artisans to my capital. I am longing for the day when bronze workers and builders from Phoenicia and astronomers from Babylonia and textile workers with the secret of silk from the edge of the east flock to Saba for our abundance, and because their knowledge will be richly rewarded here.”
He drew in a slow breath. “Ah, and now I see. And so I will see to it that Saba is spoken like the name of a god, with mystery and wonder . . . and the name of her queen, as a goddess.”
I laughed then, and it was a very different sound from that of earlier.
“I expect that you will soon receive many gifts from Egypt now that the rains are over,” Tamrin said, watching me. His eyes drifted down my veil.
“Egypt’s golden days are behind her,” I said.
“But her Libyan mercenaries grow more powerful by the day. Egypt has lost Nubia, but she will soon be a new and more militant kingdom.”
“We have always had good relations with Egypt. But the priests rule Egypt now. We will send gifts to the temples in Thebes.”
“As you say, my queen. These visions will be costly.”
“Yes, and you will stand to profit. I will make you rich—richer than you are,” I said. Only a man of means with nothing to prove would dress in such plain quality and carry himself so well. “But now tell me: what gods does this king Solomon worship?”
“The god of his forefathers.”
“Which is?”
“They call him ‘the God That Is,’ the ‘I Am.’ ”
I raised a brow.
“What is the god’s name?”
“It is a god with an unpronounceable name. The god they believe to be over all gods.”
“Surely this king is bound for a fall!” I chuckled. “Does he not know how well this was done in Egypt, when Akhenaten proclaimed worship of Aten alone—a god with at least a name—and how miserably it failed? Akhenaten, who is ‘the enemy’ in their own archive!” I had read the account years ago of the temples neglected for years after Akhenaten’s death and the plague that ripped through the population. No wonder history hated him for angering the gods.
“What is this unspeakable god’s symbol? Have you brought back an idol with you?”
He hesitated. “The god has no symbol. It has no idol.”
I broke out in truer laughter than before. “A god who cannot be spoken or seen.”
“Their law forbids the graven image of any god—including their own.”
“What atheism is this, that they annihilate the name and face of the divine?”
“I assure you his priests are devout,” he said somberly, “though the king’s wives practice their cults in the high places he has built for them outside the city.”
I shrugged. “He will not be long for this world.”
“As you say.” Tamrin bowed his head. “But while he is still in it, what gifts shall I prepare to bring with my caravan when we depart?”
I looked at him squarely. “None.”
His brows lifted.
“Take your usual
Did I perceive wrongly, or did those eyes hold promises withinthem, the faintest smolder? My gaze lit on the back of his hand, traveled the line of his wrist to the strong forearm, corded beneath the skin.
I leaned back against the cushions.
“You understand my purpose. Then understand this: I want our language and gods and the exploits of our water engineers carried north beyond Phoenicia. I want the world to hear of our dam and canals and the breeding of our camels. And the twin paradises of Marib that are our oases, and the walled city our capital, and her many-storied houses.”
“And the beauty of her queen?”
I quirked a smile, amused. “You have never laid eyes on my face.”
“Nevertheless, when I tell the tale of you, my queen, I will be accused of exaggerating as much as you have accused me in my telling of Solomon. But why do you want the world to hear of Saba’s marvels? It cannot be for mere right to boast.”
“You are right. But boast we must. I want to lure the world’s most educated sages and skilled artisans to my capital. I am longing for the day when bronze workers and builders from Phoenicia and astronomers from Babylonia and textile workers with the secret of silk from the edge of the east flock to Saba for our abundance, and because their knowledge will be richly rewarded here.”
He drew in a slow breath. “Ah, and now I see. And so I will see to it that Saba is spoken like the name of a god, with mystery and wonder . . . and the name of her queen, as a goddess.”
I laughed then, and it was a very different sound from that of earlier.
“I expect that you will soon receive many gifts from Egypt now that the rains are over,” Tamrin said, watching me. His eyes drifted down my veil.
“Egypt’s golden days are behind her,” I said.
“But her Libyan mercenaries grow more powerful by the day. Egypt has lost Nubia, but she will soon be a new and more militant kingdom.”
“We have always had good relations with Egypt. But the priests rule Egypt now. We will send gifts to the temples in Thebes.”
“As you say, my queen. These visions will be costly.”
“Yes, and you will stand to profit. I will make you rich—richer than you are,” I said. Only a man of means with nothing to prove would dress in such plain quality and carry himself so well. “But now tell me: what gods does this king Solomon worship?”
“The god of his forefathers.”
“Which is?”
“They call him ‘the God That Is,’ the ‘I Am.’ ”
I raised a brow.
“What is the god’s name?”
“It is a god with an unpronounceable name. The god they believe to be over all gods.”
“Surely this king is bound for a fall!” I chuckled. “Does he not know how well this was done in Egypt, when Akhenaten proclaimed worship of Aten alone—a god with at least a name—and how miserably it failed? Akhenaten, who is ‘the enemy’ in their own archive!” I had read the account years ago of the temples neglected for years after Akhenaten’s death and the plague that ripped through the population. No wonder history hated him for angering the gods.
“What is this unspeakable god’s symbol? Have you brought back an idol with you?”
He hesitated. “The god has no symbol. It has no idol.”
I broke out in truer laughter than before. “A god who cannot be spoken or seen.”
“Their law forbids the graven image of any god—including their own.”
“What atheism is this, that they annihilate the name and face of the divine?”
“I assure you his priests are devout,” he said somberly, “though the king’s wives practice their cults in the high places he has built for them outside the city.”
I shrugged. “He will not be long for this world.”
“As you say.” Tamrin bowed his head. “But while he is still in it, what gifts shall I prepare to bring with my caravan when we depart?”
I looked at him squarely. “None.”
His brows lifted.
“Take your usual
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