Star of Persia

Chapter 3

"My name is Hegai, ranking eunuch of the king," the towering man announces as whispers break forth among the women. "I will be your custodian and guardian for the next year."

Emitta lets out a small whimper at his words and turns to me with fresh tears.

"A whole year?" She says sorrowfully, "I want to go home to my mother!"

"I know," I soothe her quietly, wrapping an arm around her back to offer her a small semblance of comfort. She leans into me, shuddering. My own heart burns with grief. I can never go home. Never wander curiously through the city market again or sing sweet songs with my cousin on a Sabbath evening.

Icy fingers of anxiety rise through my stomach, gripping me. I take slow, deep breaths as Hegai continues speaking.

"You will spend these coming months in beauty preparations, etiquette lessons, and preparing to meet and spend the night with the esteemed King Artaxerxes of the Medo-Persian Empire. One of you will become the next queen."

Hegai studies the crowd of women with a testing eye. It feels as if for a moment, his gaze lands on me, and lingers there before shifting away to the next face.

"Once your night is over with the king," he says solemnly, "if you are not chosen as queen, you will be moved into the custody of Shaashgaz, eunuch over the king's concubines."

Commotion erupts as Hegai's words create confusion and uproar among the gathered women. Emitta bursts into wailing sobs, and she is not the only one. I stand in shock, barely comprehending the meaning of those significant words.

Concubine. That is the future that awaits me. A sudden urge to join in the weeping and cries of turmoil nearby flashes over me. The overwhelming thought threatens to break down the little courage I have built up.

Then, as if at just the right moment, the quiet words of a psalm of David my cousin always sings to me fills my panicking mind.

God is our refuge and our strength, an ever-present help in trouble. Therefore, we will not fear, even if the earth is removed, and the mountains thrown into the sea, though waters roar and mountains shake with its swelling. The Lord Almighty is with us, the God of Jacob is our fortress.

My breathing evens out as the words act as a soothing balm to my trembling spirit. I am not alone, even here in the court of a powerful king. I straighten my back and reassuringly stroke the still crying Emitta's shoulder.

I lift her chin, look into her pained eyes and smile tenderly.

"It will be okay," I tell her in a hushed but confident tone. "We'll be okay."

"R-really?" Emitta stutters back, clinging even more tightly to me. I nod calmly.

"We have a year to prepare, and even then, the king only calls on a few of his favourite women," I say encouragingly. "Concubines live in luxury here, it is nothing to be afraid of."

I am not sure I believe my own words, but Emitta seems to soften and her tears slow.

Hegai's booming voice thunders over the assembly yet again, and my young friend jumps at the sudden intrusion. The eunuch has been watching the mass of women, as if knowing that his words would inspire such an emotional reaction.

Now, he claps his hands and shaved men dressed in similar plain white robes appear out of the building and begin to round up the women and direct us inside.

"We will take you to your temporary quarters to rest for the evening," our custodian says loudly, "tomorrow we begin our official introductions and preparations."