BRIDE OF JERU

Chapter 3: Do not leave me alone

~∆~ Naamah's POV ~∆~

"Get up, Princess."

A rough grip on my arm pulled me from sleep before the sun had fully climbed the sky. The voice was harsh, almost scared. My maid, Shira, stood over me, her face white, her lips pressed tight.

I sat up, hair falling over my shoulders in disarray. "Shira, what..."

"They're here," she said, looking toward the open window where morning light poured in.

"Who?"

Before she could answer, the sound came, heavy pounding, a rhythm that did not belong to Jeru's peaceful mornings. Many hooves and horse sounds. Many of them. The ground shook beneath my feet, and I wondered if horses could actually shake the earth.

I pushed past Shira, threw open the carved doors, and ran down the stone hallway. Servants pressed themselves against the walls, their eyes wide as if Death himself had ridden through our gates.

How had Jeru come to this? I ran panting and by the time I reached the courtyard steps, the first horses were bursting through the entrance.

A wall of dust rose with them, stinging my eyes and making me cough. The smell of sweat and dirt filled my nostrils.

I looked at the soldiers, they were not ours. Their armor and style of design were different from those of the soldiers of Jeru.

Theirs was traced with gold sewn in intricately. Their helmets were shaped like the heads of wild dogs. At their center, a rider on a black horse kept his dark eyes fixed on me. 'Yeshua save me.' his eyes scared me.

The horses slowed, forming a circle around me as I kept praying to the holy one for strength. My heart kept pounding. Slowly it dawned on me that I couldn't escape even if I wanted to.

The leader swung down from his horse in one smooth movement. He was tall and huge. Even my brother didn't come close, as big as he was.

"Princess Naamah?" His voice was low. They have been allowed into my personal palace, which shows they have no regard for me.

I did not answer. My father's voice came from behind me. "She stands before you."

I went stiff but did not turn. He had not spoken to me since the day, I confronted my stepbrothers. Not even one word.

The soldier stepped closer to where we are. "King Ashur of Babel sends his greetings," he paused and then added "And his claim."

His claim. The words made my blood turn cold.

I finally found my voice speaking before thinking. "Jeru bows to no king but the Most High," I said, my words sharper than I meant them to be.

The soldier's mouth curved, but not in a smile. It was in warning. "You will find, Princess, that King Ashur does not bow either. But he takes what he wants."

My father stepped past me; he was already dressed, unlike me. "She is ready to leave with you."

I spun around. "What? I never..."

His eyes became cold and bright, like ice in sunlight. "Babel offers more gold than this kingdom has seen in twenty years. Jewels, spices, horses, silk..."

"And the price is me?" My voice broke, but I did not lower it.

"You speak as if you are worth nothing," The soldier said with a thin smile. "I promise you, Princess, you are worth a kingdom's treasure. You should feel honored."

"Honored," I whispered. The word tasted like poison in my mouth.

From the covered walkway above, soft laughter floated down, my stepbrothers leaning against the stone pillars, scorning down at me.

I know I shouldn't hate anyone, but at this moment, I did. I hated them. My father sent Elior in their place to save them, but he was killed, and now they mock me.

"Careful, sister," Zarif called down. "Your pride is showing again."

Malchi grinned. "Perhaps the Babel king will teach her to obey."

My hands curled into fists. "Better to be an obedient wife than a coward son who hides in the palace while others fight and die," I shot back.

Their smiles died. But my father's face went dark with anger. "Naamah!" He screams. Looking like someone who might have a seizure soon. "You dare speak to your brothers of courage? You, who cannot even forgive those who hurt you, as your Yeshua commands?"

The words hurt, deeper than any sword. Forgive. That word always felt like a heavy stone on my chest. I am always forgiving even when it hurts. I am always forgiving.

"Perhaps you hide behind your prayers," he said, stepping close so only I could hear, "because you know it is the only thing that makes you more than a game piece."

I opened my mouth to answer, but my maid's hand touched my arm. "Princess," she whispered, "please don't."

I swallowed the words that burned in my throat, but they stayed burning in my eyes.

The Babel soldier watched us, looking amused. "Shall I give you time to cry and pray, Princess, before we ride?"

"No," my father said before I could speak. "She will leave now. Jeru will not keep King Ashur waiting."

Shira made a small, hurt sound. "Your Majesty, she has no clothes, no..."

"Be quiet," my father snapped.

The soldiers began to move, their black armor making sounds. One brought a horse forward, its mane braided with gold ribbons. I stood still as stone, even as the dust swirled around my bare feet.

Shira moved close to me. "You do not have to break before them," she whispered in my ear.

I lifted my chin high. "I will not break," I said, though the ground beneath me felt less sure than it had when I woke.

The soldier who had spoken first held out his hand to help me. "It will be a long ride, Princess."

I did not take his hand. I climbed onto the horse myself, my sleeping dress catching on the leather seat. I did not fix it. I would not look comfortable for them.

As we moved toward the gates, I heard my stepbrothers again, their voices carrying on the morning air.

"Will the little maid go with her?" Joktan asked, pointing at Shira.

"I will go," Shira said, her voice steady and brave. "Someone must watch over her."

They laughed like jackals. "Watch over her from what? From her own holy act?"

I bit the inside of my cheek until I tasted blood. I did not look back. If I did, I might jump from this horse and strike them both.

The hooves began pounding again, this time carrying me away from the only home I had ever known. Ahead lay Babel, the city of gold and false gods. I held the leather straps tighter, whispering the only words that still felt real and solid.

"Most High, do not leave me alone."