The Crimson Cord: Rahab's Story Read Online Free PDF Page A

self-control.
    “Please, my lord, if you just give me more time . . .” Gamal’s voice sounded thin and strained as it lapsed into silence.
    “Time is not on your side, Gamal.” The prince cleared his throat. “I am ordering the confiscation of all you own. You will be escorted to debtors’ prison until we can find suitable buyers to take you or until you can work off your debt in the king’s stone quarries. Your wife will be sold as well.”
    Rahab stuffed a fist to her mouth, unable to stifle a soft cry, but the sound went unheard as Gamal’s cries rose above hers. He fell to the tile floor, face in his hands, weeping.
    “Please, my lord, I beg you, do not hold this thing against your servant. If you will have mercy on me and cancel the debt, I promise I will make it up to you.” His voice broke on a sob as guards stepped closer. They stopped at the prince’supraised hand. “Please, remember the kindness done to you by your servant, and if you will release me from this bond, I will never again mention the king’s reward in your presence, nor consider myself worthy of anything else from your hand. Only please, have mercy on me!”
    Rahab pulled the cloak tighter, clenching her jaw to keep it from trembling. Did the moon god hear the prayers of gamblers begging release from debts they owed? Or was it some other whose amulet she should have purchased who deserved her sacrifice? Her sister would know. Why hadn’t she asked her long ago?
    Bile rose in the back of her throat as she watched the prince stare down at her weeping husband. Why did he wait? What point was there to watching a man humiliate himself?
    She grew faint as the full force of Prince Nahid’s words hit her. What did it mean to be sold into slavery? What would she do? Who would purchase her? The images in her mind’s eye were not pleasant.
    My darling Rahab, you are much too beautiful to be a common harlot. Dabir’s words mocked her now. If she were sold, no one would see her weaving skills worth nearly as much as her beauty.
    She moved farther into the shadows, silently cursing the gods for making her desirous to men, suddenly wishing she could fly away like a bird and disappear where no one could find her.
    “Stand up, Gamal.”
    The command snapped her thoughts to the prince once more.
    Gamal rose slowly, using both hands to hold on to his bad leg to gain his balance. He stood and wiped his eyes, shoulders slumped, head bowed.
    Silence descended in the hall as Prince Nahid sat, arms crossed, his gaze raking her husband. What was he doing now? Did the prince enjoy this game of torture?
    “I will cancel your debt.” He rested both hands on the arms of the chair. “See to it that you do not squander my mercy.”
    The room closed in on Rahab, the breath sucked from every pore as every man stood still, processing the prince’s words. A moment later a gentle breeze returned, touching Rahab’s cheeks, freeing her from the prison of her fear. Had she heard correctly?
    Gamal’s weeping returned, and he fell once more to his knees. “Thank you, my lord! You are the greatest of princes. May you live forever!”
    “Help him up and take him home.” Prince Nahid’s lips twitched, but he did not smile, and Rahab did not miss the hint of skepticism in his eyes, nor the complete scowl on Dabir’s square face.
    Two guards stepped closer to Gamal and lifted him from the tiles, half carrying him toward the doors near where she waited. He met her gaze as they approached, his expression a mixture of relief and something she could not define. If she did not know better, she might think Gamal thought everything had turned out exactly as he’d planned.

3
    R ahab stood at the bronze kettle set over the fire, dipping her spun thread into the red dye. She had spent yesterday with her sister, gathering poppies for the scarlet color, as she could not find enough crimson worms to produce the color in large amounts. Poppies weren’t nearly as rich a shade,