Read Online Blink of an Eye by Ted Dekker - Free Book Online

like a queen. And when we are successful in taking the throne, your wedding will be celebrated in the open.” He paused. “The groom has requested that the ceremonies of marriage be properly followed, including halawa, ” he said, speaking of the traditional removal of all body hair below the neck. The practice had been instituted by Muhammad in the seventh century, when bathing was not common.
    Miriam nodded, suppressing an urge to vomit.
    â€œNow go.” He smiled. “Before you are missed.”
    She dipped her head, replaced her veil, and left the tent without another word.

    Samir dropped Miriam off at the souk and agreed to pick her up in one hour. He’d tried to find out what was bothering her and didn’t have a clue about the wedding. To tell him would only crush him. She couldn’t bring herself to do it, not yet.
    The market bustled with merchants peddling their wares. Women, floating around in black, inspected products through their veils. She found Sultana at their favorite stall for fresh fruit.
    â€œThe pigs!” Her voice trembled. “How could any sane man drown his daughter?”
    So Sultana knew. But the dread of Miriam’s own troubles had blunted the horror of Sita’s drowning.
    â€œI am being given in marriage,” Miriam said.
    Sultana took Miriam by the arm. The fruit vendor was staring their way. She grabbed Miriam’s arm and pulled her to the end of the row. She kept her voice low. “What are you talking about?”
    â€œI met with my father this morning. He has given me in marriage.”
    â€œNo!”
    â€œNo. My real father. Sheik Abu al-Asamm.” Her voice trembled.
    Sultana looked at her as if she were mad. “The Shia sheik? What are you talking about?”
    â€œHe is my blood father, Sultana. I was adopted into King Abdullah’s family in exchange for loyalty.”
    Sultana appeared dead on her feet.
    â€œSultana, did you hear me? I am to be married—”
    â€œTo whom?”
    â€œTo the son of Khalid bin Mishal. Omar. The wedding is in four days.”
    â€œOmar bin Khalid!”
    Miriam glanced around, self-conscious. “I’m scared, Sultana.”
    â€œOh dear! Oh dear, oh dear, this is terrible.” Sultana hurried toward the brick wall that surrounded the market, stopped after four paces, and urgently swept her arm for Miriam to follow.
    â€œSultana? Sultana, please.” Sultana’s anxiety heightened her own.
    â€œWhat should I do?”
    Safe from bent ears, Sultana spun to her. “Do you know who Omar is? He’s my first cousin! I could tell you things about this man that would make you vomit.” Sultana was shaking with fury. “I have spoken with Sita’s mother. Do you know who pressured her father to drown her? I’ll tell you. It was Omar bin Khalid.”
    â€œOmar? But how . . .”
    The words of the man who’d dragged her to the drowning crashed over her. He said that the drowning was a message. From Omar!
    â€œYou can’t marry him!” Sultana cried. “I once saw him kick my niece in the head when she was three years old. For taking a toy from one of his nephews! She was in the hospital for a week!”
    Miriam swam in fear. “I have to do what the sheik says! Look at Sita!”
    â€œAnd look who killed Sita!”
    â€œAnd if I don’t obey, then Omar will kill me too; is that what you want?”
    â€œStop it!” Sultana said. “Just stop for a minute.”
    They stood under the shade of a palm, breathing steadily in the afternoon heat.
    â€œWe’re not thinking clearly,” Sultana said. “Why does the sheik want to marry you to Omar bin Khalid?”
    Miriam told her. She included Omar’s message as well.
    â€œKnowing of this is enough to get us both killed. We’re still not thinking clearly. Omar is a beast who orchestrated Sita’s drowning, don’t you see?”
    She was