“Maviah, daughter of Rami. Do you know what happens now in Dumah?”
“Only that the Thamud butchered many Kalb for position and wealth,” I said. “Only that Kahil bin Saman threw my son to his death for sport.”
This seemed to give him pause and I knew he’d not heard of my son’s death.
“My condolences,” he said. “But now know more. The Thamud raid the Kalb as far as the Kalb can run, because the Kalb are headless. Your women are taken and your men killed. There is no mercy for either. Saman bin Shariqat ignores the Bedu code of honor and takes life where none is owed. The desert flows with blood.” He took a deep breath. “This is what happens when my daughter dies in the care of Rami bin Malik. This is the consequence of defying Aretas, king of the Nabataeans, friend of his people, and his people alone. Without my direction the Bedu only butcher each other. So be it. But make no mistake, one word from me and my army would crush the Thamud where they stand.”
I blinked, taken aback by the extent of the devastation.
“And yet Dumah pays me my full tax,” he said.
“My father?” I asked.
“Awaits execution at my word. So you see who it is that you stand before now?”
I dipped my head in respect. “I stand before the king to whom I entrusted my life in coming.”
Shaquilath flung a dagger from the table. It clattered to the floor and slid to a stop three paces from me.
The dagger of Varus.
“And what was your intent in presenting this to that snake, Herod?”
I studied her before speaking. “So you have heard from Sepphoris?”
“Answer my question.”
Before I could, Phasa spoke for all to hear. “We have heard. Herod has announced to his advisers plans to marry Herodias. As you said, Maviah. I live only because of you.”
“Phasa…” Aretas warned.
She sat back and crossed her arms, satisfied for having said her piece.
“Well?” the queen demanded. “Answer my question. The dagger.”
I addressed her with care, knowing that she was the one who would decide my fate.
“I was thrown aside by my father when I was born, and sold into Egypt as a slave, where I served a Roman house. But the mistress sought revenge when I loved a slave whom she desired, though her passions were unknown to me. I was cast out again and sent to Dumah with my infant son. There only Nashquya loved me and called me her sister, though Rami was shamed by my presence. Being the stronger, she persuaded Rami to keep me.” I looked at Aretas. “When Nasha fell ill, she feared your retribution on Rami and begged me to flee. But I could not abandon my father and be shamed once again.”
“And what does this tale of gloom have to do with Herod?” the queen snapped.
“Suspecting that his son, Maliku, might betray him, Rami sent for me. When the Thamud descended upon Dumah, he gave me the dagger of Varus and begged me to find Herod.”
“To what end?” Aretas said.
“For the purpose of securing an alliance between the Kalb and Rome. He would offer Rome the northern trade route if they would drive the Thamud from Dumah.”
The king’s right brow arched. “The Thamud and their Nabataean allies.”
“Yes,” I said without pause. “Rami saw no other way to restore his honor.”
This much I guessed they knew, but my forthrightness was unexpected, judging by the stretch of silence that followed.
I pressed on while I had their ear.
“So I made my way to Palestine as any honoring daughter would do. I entered Herod’s courts and presented Rami’s offer. It was there that your daughter, Phasa, and I became like sisters as much as Nasha and I had been sisters.”
“Yes, yes, of course,” Aretas said. “Sisters all, so we have heard. We have not heard, however, how you learned of Herod’s intentions.”
“What the king is asking,” Shaquilath interrupted, “is how we know this courageous act of yours isn’t some elaborate plot between you and that snake, Herod, to undermine the Nabataeans.”
I blinked, confused by her line of thought.
“But my queen—”
“I am not your queen. I am Shaquilath, queen of the Nabataeans, not the Kalb.”
I felt my anger rise, but dipped my head. “As you say. How could I conspire to undermine you by rescuing your daughter? Surely there is no longer any question of my own risk in saving her.”
“Is it so difficult for a slave to understand?” Shaquilath spoke through twisted lips. “Herod’s purpose was to rid himself of Phasa. Yours was to gain our support to reclaim Dumah for your father. Isn’t this what you have said?”