Did her face pale? Was there a twitch in her cheek? He could not be sure, but it hardly mattered. Whether or not she knew who caused her undoing, the point remained
she would be destroyed. Finally.
Chest full of satisfaction, he left the room with its glowering but oblivious eunuch and headed for the inner court. His place of honor. He summoned a scribe and smiled when
the servant stood with tablets at the ready. “Take this down. ‘To every satrap, governor, and officials of all the people under Xerxes, the king of kings over all Persia
and Media. That on the thirteenth day of the twelfth month, the month of Adar, every Jew shall be annihilated. Young and old, children and women, and their possessions shall
be taken and added to the king’s treasury.’ Let the word go out to all the land and be read in every public place.”
Chuckling in delight, he took his seat beside the throne. His gaze fell on the signet circling his finger. With its seal, he created law. And no Persian law could ever be
undone—even by the king himself.
Forty-Seven
When his parents fled, weeping, Zechariah took their spot beside his sister. Poor Kasia. To look at her, one would think she only slept. Her hair was neatly arranged around
her, no pain on her face. But her cheeks were pale, and even at Ima’s urging, at Abba’s begging, Kasia made no response.
Zechariah took her hand and sighed over it. Closed his eyes. “Dear Jehovah, whatever your purpose here, I ask that you minister to us. Kasia needs your strength and, if she
can still hear, will grow frustrated. Soothe her spirit as you heal her body. And the rest of us need you too. Need your support and peace.”
“Amen.” The sweet, soft voice flowed into the room like a brook.
He jerked up, spun around. His breath snagged. Esther. All these years, he had managed to avoid her whenever he visited his sister. He had never felt up to facing her,
seeing her exactly as she was now—regally dressed, elegant and beautiful. He never could have given her the things that suited her so well.
He inclined his head. “My queen.”
Her lips twitched up. “No need to stand on formalities. You are my dearest friend’s brother, after all.” She stepped into the room, one hand behind her. Behind her skirts
he spotted a little girl with an adorable mess of dark curls.
He smiled at the little one and crouched down. “You must be Amani. Kasia and Zillah have told me all about you.”
The girl buried her grin in her mother’s leg. Esther turned to her servants. “I would like a few moments to speak to Kasia’s family. Please take my daughter with you.”
One of the maidservants scooped up the girl with a tickle, then the mass of them bowed out and closed the door behind them. Esther released a pent-up breath. “How have you
been, Zech?”
Throat suddenly too tight to answer, he could only stand up again and nod.
She moved to the bed. The resignation on her face confirmed that Kasia had looked exactly like this for the past two days. “I believe that was the first time I ever heard
you pray.”
That observation earned a breath of a laugh. “Mordecai and I have spent much time together these past years. He has taught me how to pray from the heart, and how to listen.
”
“Your sister has taught me the same. It is necessary, if one wants to remain faithful in this faithless place.” She blinked rapidly and wiped at her eyes. “The physicians
can tell us nothing. But I have hope.” Yet her voice broke on the word.
“There is always hope. Jehovah has performed bigger miracles for her than this would require.” He took Esther’s hand, but only so that he could urge her into the chair.
And perhaps to test himself.
Not so many tingles anymore. Not so much regret. It had been a long, busy five years since she took the crown.
“I know.” She settled into the seat and wrapped her arms around her middle. “I will make sure someone tells the king you and your parents came. He will let no one but
their children stay while he is here. I tried to speak with him yesterday. That did not go over so well.” She nodded to a large pottery jug on the table, missing one of its
handles.
He nodded, well able to imagine the king’s temper. But one thing he had not yet convinced his mind to picture was the king and queen together. Every time he had seen Xerxes
over the years, it had been as Kasia’s husband. Not Esther’s.
She drew in a shaky breath. “I have met her, you know. Quite a number of times now.”
He blinked, then sighed. “Ruana?”
“Mmm hmm. The first time was at one of my banquets for the wives of the court. I let myself feel superior when I realized who she was, even toyed with the idea of snubbing
her so that others would have to do the same.” Her lips turned up into a self-deprecating smile. “But then she sat down beside Kasia and began asking her questions about
Judaism. I think, were it not for her husband, she would have converted by now.”
Bijan told the same tale. He never knew what to make of it. “Bijan has mentioned that the queen always has a smile for her.”