An Instrument in His Hands

Part 1 Chapter 8

Part 1

Chapter 8

Muloki quickly explained, ‘Aaron’s been travelling for a few weeks. Now that he’s back, he’ll be in charge of Andrew’s recovery.’

I decided to be gracious to Aaron. After all, he’d already done so much for us, paying the servants and arranging for my brother to come home and be cared for. I turned back to him, holding my dirty apron.  ‘Was your journey pleasant?’ I asked with a smile - mostly friendly.

Aaron seemed pleased that I spoke to him. He lifted an eyebrow. ‘A mutual acquaintance of ours was married. I attended the wedding.’

‘Oh, who was that?’

‘Alma.’

‘Alma???’ I said, my jaw dropping open. Alma was even older than Aaron, so I did not know him personally, but I had felt the effects of his influence on my peers. Prior to his conversion he had been the ringleader of the rebels against the church. Before I could think, I added, ‘Whoever would marry Alma?’ He had such a terrible history.

The smile left Aaron’s face.

I realized how rude that sounded, and blushed. ‘I beg your pardon, but – Alma?’ I was still shocked.

Muloki laughed at my expression. My horror was quite genuine. ‘Are you jealous of her?’ he teased.

That brought me out of my shock. Relieved, I turned away from Aaron. ‘Muloki, you are being completely absurd. I hardly knew Alma, thank goodness. I only wonder what type of girl would marry him. I know at one time all the unbelievers were mad about him, but now…with his history…’

Aaron stated, ‘He married the granddaughter of Helam, from the land of Gideon. Their families go way back together from their days in the Land of Nephi.’

That explained it. She hadn’t known him in his rebellious days. ‘I see,’ I told them. ‘That makes sense.’

‘Don’t you think a girl would like to marry the man who will most likely be the next High Priest of the church?’ Aaron asked her.

I slapped my thigh and laughed. ‘Alma, the next High Priest? You’ve got to be joking.’

‘I’m not joking. I’ll probably end up taking my father’s place as king. Believe me, that’s no joke!’ He rubbed his neck uncomfortably.

But I continued to chuckle. ‘Now, that would be interesting!’

‘In what way?’ he asked pointedly.

I sobered up. ‘I’m sorry. It’s not really humorous, only you have to realize that I haven’t had dealings with you since you changed your ways. The image of you as king, like you used to be… well, it certainly wouldn’t be fun for your subjects…’ I paused and scraped my toe on the stone floor, remembering some of his persecution of me. ‘I suppose you have changed a lot since then…’ Then realizing how ungrateful I sounded, I tried to redeem myself by saying politely, ‘And I suppose you will make a splendid king.’ I smiled a large fake smile with lots of my teeth showing.

Aaron looked at Muloki. ‘I suppose it would be a lot easier to marry a man who has less responsibilities, like Muloki, .’

Muloki and I both doubled up with laughter at that.

Aaron looked his question, ‘What’s funny now?’

‘Well, you know how you spoke of replacing the cook you hired here because all the volunteers complained about the soup?’ said Muloki. ‘Well, Abigail has been cooking the soup. But she’s making a gallant effort to learn to cook! There is hope for me yet.’

‘I simply will not marry,’ I told him and looked down at my corn meal mess.

Both men laughed at the unlikelihood of that happening. But I was entirely serious.

‘You could marry me and be the queen,’ Aaron joked, pretending to preen his collar. ‘Then you wouldn’t have to cook.’

I wrinkled my nose. ‘But that would be like marrying Alma,’ I retorted. ‘Besides, I don’t have a dowry, so I’m entirely safe from you.’

‘Safe from me? Safe?’ Aaron answered. ‘Do you think someone like Muloki is safe?’

I looked him straight in the eye and said, ‘Actually, yes. Muloki is an amazing person. I hold him in the highest esteem.’

Muloki blushed, which I thought was interesting for so bold a man.

‘Do you think that Muloki was always a follower of Christ?’ Aaron asked.

‘Of course.’

Muloki looked down and admitted, ‘I wasn’t. I was just like your brother, Andrew. That’s why I try so hard to help him.’

To say I was shocked at this revelation would be an understatement. I’d trusted Muloki and even flirted with him. He’d been my rock for the past few weeks as we struggled with Andrew.

Muloki and I locked eyes. A tear slipped down my cheek. How could such a fine young man have followed the unbelievers? Were all the young men of my generation such a disappointment? Hadn’t any of them been stalwart?

‘I’m sorry,’ he said. ‘I’m really sorry.’

‘I am too,’ I said before I turned and ran out of the kitchen to climb my tree. There were no young men to marry. Not one.