Mordecai nearly jumped when the king spoke his name. Never in his life had he been so jittery as these past three days, since Esther had been admitted into the house
of women. He was not accustomed to hiding anything, especially something as soul-deep as his love for his adopted daughter. Still, he knew she must keep her heritage, and
hence their relation, secret. Much as he liked Xerxes, the king would never give the crown to a Jewess.
Now, Jehovah willing, he could face his king without letting on that his daughter was one of the new brides. “My lord.”
“You are coming from a meeting with a few of my lesser officials, are you not?”
Mordecai inclined his head and met the king’s gaze. Nowhere in it did he see an accusation ready to strike. “Handling what we can without your involvement, my lord, yes.”
The king smiled. “Are you in a hurry to get home?”
As if there were anything to go home to now. “Not particularly.”
“Then you can walk with me. I have been meaning to speak with you since I returned to Susa, but time has not allowed it.”
“The king has been busy.” Given that he had ears, he had heard the rumors as to how he had been occupied. Given that he had logic, he knew most of those rumors would be
false.
The father in him would have liked to know which parts held the kernels of truth.
Xerxes chuckled and led him into the gardens, but discomfort filled his eyes. “When we last spoke, you said I would see the power of Jehovah for myself.”
Enough small talk then. Mordecai nodded. “Perhaps you did, while at war?”
“More than once. Still, it took me nearly a year to admit there was something about him that my god lacked. Something he lacked that my god unfortunately did not.”
Yet still he called him his god. Mordecai nodded. “It is difficult to change one’s views on such things.”
“Yes, but I cannot deny the power of your God. He saved my wife more than once. Saved me and my army, according to her. She says other Jews were praying with her, though I
know not how they could have known to.”
Mordecai drifted to a halt, hoping the king did not misinterpret his frown. Usually only the queen would be called “wife” with a stranger, but he obviously did not mean
Amestris. It sounded, rather, like he had a Jewish wife. A faithful one.
But who? He knew all the Jewish families in Susa, and none had given a daughter to the king. Perhaps one from another of the capitals?
Irrelevant. “There were indeed times I felt a strong urge to pray for the army. One time in particular, it was strong enough that I roused all my people to pray for you as
well. I later learned it was during the battle at Thermopylae.”
The king’s breath leaked out. “Just as she said. Amazing. And interesting. I see her pray daily, yet I am always surprised when I see what results from it.”
The curiosity was too great. “She must be a woman of strong faith. I confess I did not realize the king had a Jewish wife.”
“No?” The king’s lips curved, his eyes lit. More love saturated his face than Mordecai had ever expected to see from the ruler of nations. “I thought I mentioned her
when last we spoke, but perhaps not. She is my heart.” The love flickered into pain. “Though not very pleased with me right now. You have heard the rumors.”
“All of Persia has, my lord. As a rule, I do not believe them.”
“You are a wise man. Suffice it to say enough is true that my favorite wife is rightly angry.” He shook his head, erased the emotion from his face. “It has been a long
while since she has spoken to another of her people. I think she would enjoy a few moments to exchange these stories with you.”
Mordecai chuckled and nodded. “I would be honored to meet your wife. And if that regains you a bit of favor in her eyes, all the better.”
Xerxes laughed. “You obviously know how one thinks when trying to sweeten a woman’s mood.”
“My wife and I had our share of squabbles before she passed away.”
“This goes beyond a squabble, but I will not bore you with it.” Instead, he led him through a maze of paths, beyond hedges, and into the heart of the gardens. Here
children’s laughter rang out along with feminine voices. He saw none, though, as he followed Xerxes to a secluded little nook surrounded by trees, shrubs, and myriad
blooms.
Several figures occupied the space. He saw first the servants, two maids and two eunuchs. They stood in a protective circle, but upon spotting the king, they broke apart.
Mordecai halted. He was not so sure his heart did not stop too. Even before she looked up, he knew her. Knew the cascade of her hair, the slope of her shoulder. Knew the hum
that reached his ear the moment he entered this sanctuary. Knew the spirit that pulsed from her.
“Kasia.” He could only pray no more came out in the word than should have. None of the love, none of the loss, none of the wonder and worry.
He had never expected to see her again, never expected to watch her eyes go wide with shocked recognition, her mouth curve into that brilliant smile. Never expected to be
told she was the favorite wife of the king.
She sprang up, at which point he noticed the babe in her arms. “Mordecai!”
“You know each other.” The king sounded pleased.