Read Online Providence by Barbara Britton - Free Book Online Page B

battle.
    Columns stood, one after the other, on both sides of the doors to Hadad’s place of worship.
    As the chariot slowed, she turned and clutched Mereb’s robe. A fine layer of dust lightened the grooved scowl in his dark-raisin skin.
    “I cannot do this.” Her voice quaked with a holy fear.
    “You must do as our master’s wife says.” Mereb gripped her wrists.
    “ Which master?”
    “You will do what Reumah asks of you. Nothing less.” He pulled her toward the back of the chariot. “Our mistress waits.”
    Official-looking men stood outside the temple, heads shaven, bodies dressed in finely woven tunics. Their arms and ankles glimmered with polished-bronze bands. Slow of stride, she and Mereb followed behind Reumah. The bald men clasped their hands together and smiled broadly as Reumah sauntered toward the entrance to the temple.
    “What will my duty be?” she whispered to Mereb while the officials greeted Reumah. “You must have accompanied Reumah here before.”
    “Do not worry. You will be shown what to do.” Mereb hooked his arm through hers as they entered a dim foyer. An official’s gaze dropped lower and lower as he inspected the drape of her gown. His seductive stare slithered across her skin.
    She slowed her steps and adjusted to the lack of light in the large room. In the distance, lamps burned in a semi-circle around a statue she assumed was Hadad. The Aramean idol had eyes sculpted like flaming suns and a gaping mouth, which seemed to mock her.
    They walked on a stone bridge, over a sunken arena, and toward the false god. Something moved below the bridge. A haze of incense smoke clouded the room, making it difficult to see what lay below.
    She squinted into the depths. “Are those snakes?” she asked Mereb.
    Mereb’s chuckle blended into the faint chants and moans that filled the arena. “You would think of animals with your Hebrew sacrifices. Those are people. Worshipping with their bodies.”
    “Together?” Her mouth gaped open.
    More Moabite laughter.
    She coughed from the smoke, or shock, or both. “But we are not…I mean…Reumah is not here to have relations?”
    No answer.
    She hesitated. Would Hadad’s priest lie with a foreigner? Her ears buzzed with the gasps from the shadows.
    Mereb tightened his grip on her arm.
    They followed Reumah through a door and entered a private, candlelit chamber.
    Blinking, she welcomed the brightness of the room. An older priest sat on a golden throne, fully clothed in an embroidered robe and flanked by an ornately dressed elder. Releasing a pent-up breath, she mumbled a prayer and embraced the calm like a cool trade wind. At least she wasn’t in that wanton arena.
    “Holy one.” Reumah bowed before the priest. Her voice was reverent but unsteady.
    Hannah locked her knees in protest. How could she bow to this man? You shall have no other gods.
    Mereb yanked her down to the floor. Her arm went numb. Forgive me, Lord.
    The priest reached out to Reumah. “I have heard of your need. If your offering is acceptable, I will intercede with Hadad on the king’s authority. Your husband will be spared.”
    The priest stood.
    The robe fell.
    Hannah gasped. All she saw was flesh and gold. Gold bracelets on the man’s arms. Gold piercings through his nipples. A gold ring through his navel. She scanned no further.
    The man looked from Reumah to…her. “She is a virgin?”
    Reumah nodded.
    No, no, no!
    He stretched his gold-ringed hand toward her.
    A shiver streaked through her veins. The walls swayed—leaning left, spinning right. This was not what her father and brothers practiced in the temple.
    Hannah scrambled to her feet.
    Mereb fisted a clump of her skirt.
    She kicked at his chest. “You told me not to worry.”
    “I lied.”

11
    Hadad’s priest snapped his fingers at Mereb. “Bring her to me.”
    Hannah desired to see Naabak healed but not in this manner. She would not lay with this pagan priest, a priest with no power to restore Naabak.