guards would be on top of them, swords drawn. By tomorrow morning, their heads would be lopped off and their bodies tied to the wall!
“Even the king has drunk wine from my cup and eaten bread from my hand!”
The taller one stopped and looked up at her again. “Why do you honor us with your attention?”
His mockery stung, but she swallowed her pride and answered plainly. “Because I have wisdom beyond my years, young man, wisdom I can share with you if you’re wise enough to listen.” She kept her tone teasingly seductive, for they were close enough to the gate that one of the guards might take note of the conversation. “I know what you want.”
“Oh, do you?”
Save her from self-righteous, callow youth! “Every man needs to eat and rest.” If he turned away again, she would throw a jug at him. “And a few come for intelligent conversation.” She noted the sudden tension in his body. Just to be sure he understood her, she smiled. “The Jordan is high this time of year, isn’t it?” She raised her brows and said nothing more.
Perhaps she had gone too far, for never had she seen a fiercer look.
“We are tired and hungry,” he conceded.
“You will be glad you tarried with me.”
“How do we find you?”
“I’ll meet you inside the gate and show you the way.” She blew them a kiss for the sake of the guard who had taken a sudden interest. She was shaking with excitement as she stepped down off the stool and yanked the cord holding the curtain back. Raking her fingers through her hair, she braided it quickly before hurrying out.
Rahab raced down the steps and around the corner. It was the hottest time of day. Few people were on the walkway that ran along the inside of the city wall. Many had worked during the morning hours and were now resting. When she entered the gate, she saw that Cabul had noticed the men. Slowing her pace, she sauntered closer, leaning against the cold stone. “Cabul!”
He turned and grinned, then left his post and came to her. “What brings you out so late in the day, my beauty?”
“You, of course.” She kept her tone light and teasing.
He laughed. “More likely a wealthy merchant or an emissary from the Philistines.”
She raised her brows and gave him a shrewd look. “One never knows.”
Chuckling softly, he took her hand. His eyes narrowed. “You’re shaking.”
“Too much wine last night.” She moved closer, toying with the hilt of his sword while looking past him. The two men were entering the gate.
“You weren’t drinking with me,” Cabul said and tipped her chin. “What do you say I come up after I get off duty and we’ll get drunk together?”
“I think I’ll forgo wine for a few days.”
“Then we could—”
She slapped his arm playfully. No one was challenging the two strangers. Several city elders were arguing among themselves, and the soldier who’d taken Cabul’s post seemed more interested in them than in two young Amorites dusty from travel.
“Did you come down here just to tease me?”
“Never.” She raised her head again, gazing into Cabul’s eyes. “You know I think you’re the most handsome fellow in the king’s service.” And he was arrogant enough to believe her.
Cabul grinned and started to say something when two elders started shouting angrily at one another. Glancing back, he spotted the two strangers. When the taller young man looked her way, Cabul frowned. “Amorite soldiers? I never thought you’d stoop that low.”
She shrugged. “Who knows? They may have news that will be of interest to the king.”
Troubled, he looked at them again. “These are dangerous times, Rahab. They could be spies.”
Her pulse rocked. “Do you think so?”
“Their hair is too short.”
“Maybe they’ve taken some kind of vow.” She touched his arm and smiled up at him. “I must say I’m touched you’re so concerned for my welfare, but let me conduct my own business. The king
“Even the king has drunk wine from my cup and eaten bread from my hand!”
The taller one stopped and looked up at her again. “Why do you honor us with your attention?”
His mockery stung, but she swallowed her pride and answered plainly. “Because I have wisdom beyond my years, young man, wisdom I can share with you if you’re wise enough to listen.” She kept her tone teasingly seductive, for they were close enough to the gate that one of the guards might take note of the conversation. “I know what you want.”
“Oh, do you?”
Save her from self-righteous, callow youth! “Every man needs to eat and rest.” If he turned away again, she would throw a jug at him. “And a few come for intelligent conversation.” She noted the sudden tension in his body. Just to be sure he understood her, she smiled. “The Jordan is high this time of year, isn’t it?” She raised her brows and said nothing more.
Perhaps she had gone too far, for never had she seen a fiercer look.
“We are tired and hungry,” he conceded.
“You will be glad you tarried with me.”
“How do we find you?”
“I’ll meet you inside the gate and show you the way.” She blew them a kiss for the sake of the guard who had taken a sudden interest. She was shaking with excitement as she stepped down off the stool and yanked the cord holding the curtain back. Raking her fingers through her hair, she braided it quickly before hurrying out.
Rahab raced down the steps and around the corner. It was the hottest time of day. Few people were on the walkway that ran along the inside of the city wall. Many had worked during the morning hours and were now resting. When she entered the gate, she saw that Cabul had noticed the men. Slowing her pace, she sauntered closer, leaning against the cold stone. “Cabul!”
He turned and grinned, then left his post and came to her. “What brings you out so late in the day, my beauty?”
“You, of course.” She kept her tone light and teasing.
He laughed. “More likely a wealthy merchant or an emissary from the Philistines.”
She raised her brows and gave him a shrewd look. “One never knows.”
Chuckling softly, he took her hand. His eyes narrowed. “You’re shaking.”
“Too much wine last night.” She moved closer, toying with the hilt of his sword while looking past him. The two men were entering the gate.
“You weren’t drinking with me,” Cabul said and tipped her chin. “What do you say I come up after I get off duty and we’ll get drunk together?”
“I think I’ll forgo wine for a few days.”
“Then we could—”
She slapped his arm playfully. No one was challenging the two strangers. Several city elders were arguing among themselves, and the soldier who’d taken Cabul’s post seemed more interested in them than in two young Amorites dusty from travel.
“Did you come down here just to tease me?”
“Never.” She raised her head again, gazing into Cabul’s eyes. “You know I think you’re the most handsome fellow in the king’s service.” And he was arrogant enough to believe her.
Cabul grinned and started to say something when two elders started shouting angrily at one another. Glancing back, he spotted the two strangers. When the taller young man looked her way, Cabul frowned. “Amorite soldiers? I never thought you’d stoop that low.”
She shrugged. “Who knows? They may have news that will be of interest to the king.”
Troubled, he looked at them again. “These are dangerous times, Rahab. They could be spies.”
Her pulse rocked. “Do you think so?”
“Their hair is too short.”
“Maybe they’ve taken some kind of vow.” She touched his arm and smiled up at him. “I must say I’m touched you’re so concerned for my welfare, but let me conduct my own business. The king
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