Before the Fall Read online

  It could have been worse. He could have been born a girl. Then he would have nothing except for the hope that the man who offered a betrothal gift would treat her well.

  Something soft hit him from behind, shaking him from his thoughts. He turned, looking down at the curly-haired girl he had seen earlier, staring up at him. She couldn’t have been more than five. Her jaw hung open and her eyes were wide with a mixture of fear and awe.

  “Hey there,” he said, squatting down to her eye level. “Are you hurt?”

  Her eyes widened even more and her mouth moved as if she wanted to say something, but nothing came out.

  He glanced at the ground and next to his feet was an apple. She must have dropped it when she bumped into him.

  He picked it up, and using his tunic, he wiped it clean.

  “Here you go.” He held the apple out to her.

  She looked at the apple and then up at him.

  “Uhhhh.”

  Her chubby cheeks turned red and she began to cry.

  He looked around, flustered, not knowing what to do.

  “Shh, little girl.” His hands waved around her as he decided whether or not to comfort her. What if he made her cry even more? Then he remembered what his father had told him. He was stronger than the others. What if the girl had hurt herself running into his backside? He hadn’t thought his body was any different from anyone else’s.

  “Tell me if you’re hurt. I can help you.” What would he do if she were? Maybe Jeremiel could help. His brother had interacted with people more than he had.

  He looked to his brother, who was in a deep discussion with Uriel. Uriel was animated, waving his hands and pointing to the city walls. It sounded like they were going over the race strategy.

  He turned back to the little girl and as gently as he could he placed a hand on her arm and patted it. “Shh, please don’t cry.”

  She cried louder.

  Great. I broke her. He would never hear the end of it from his father.

  “Lilia!”

  Lahash turned toward the sound of the voice and his heart slammed into his chest when he caught sight of a pair of the most stunning pale blue eyes. She had hair as dark as midnight that lay in soft waves down her back. She wore a pale blue shaviss that partially covered her hair.

  “What happened?”

  His brain seemed to have stopped working. Pink lips formed words he couldn’t hear. He was drowning in her eyes. They were kind, gentle, without a hint of anger.

  “It’s my fault, Naomi,” said a small voice from behind her.

  “Naomi,” he repeated under his breath, his brain finally starting to function.

  Naomi blinked and tilted her head as she continued to look at him.

  Great. Now I sound like a lunatic.

  She turned to the eight-year-old girl behind her. The girl had coffee-brown eyes and straight dark hair. She looked like she was Lilia’s sister.

  “What did you do, Leah?”

  Leah’s face flushed a bright pink.

  “Tell me.” Naomi’s voice was stern.

  She curled her finger, motioning for Naomi to lean down, and then she whispered into her ear.

  Almost daily, Lahash’s father reminded him and his brother that they had special gifts that other people didn’t have and to use them cautiously. Being able to hear things that other people normally couldn’t (like a girl’s whisper in a noisy, crowded city square) was one of them.

  “We thought he was handsome and I dared her to give him the apple.”

  Naomi glanced up at him. He quickly looked down at his sword, pretending to readjust it to his body.

  “Oh, I see,” she whispered back to Leah. “He is as nice as he is handsome.”

  Leah giggled.

  Naomi turned her attention to him and he felt his heart pounding as he gazed into her eyes.

  “Sir, my sisters, Lilia and Leah, meant to give that apple to you . . . as a token of luck in the competition today,” she said.

  “Thank you . . . Naomi.”

  She smiled.

  “And you too, Leah and Lilia.” He looked down at the apple in his hand and then back at the still crying Lilia.

  “Why is she crying?”

  Naomi pulled Lilia close to her and brushed a hand through her dark curls. “Poor thing. She’s overwhelmed.”

  “By me?”

  She nodded.

  This was a first. He could imagine Jeremiel having that effect on girls young and old. In fact, his brother was having that effect even now—and all he was doing was talking with Uriel.

  Naomi stood on her toes and leaned in as if to whisper in his ear. A delicious shiver swept through him as she placed a hand on his chest. He ducked his head and the scent of jasmine filled his nostrils as silky hair brushed his cheek. Her hot breath caressed his ear as she spoke, “I think she likes you.”

  Pulling away from him, clear blue eyes crinkled teasingly. He was mesmerized.

  “What is this?”

  Jeremiel walked toward them and Lahash groaned. This was all he needed. Naomi would take one look at his brother and all thoughts of him would disappear.

  “Making the girls cry already, brother?” Jeremiel turned to Naomi, his dimples flashing as he spoke. “I’m Jeremiel, son of Raphael and Rebecca. And I see you have met my brother, Lahash.”

  She gave him a warm smile. “I am Naomi, daughter of Gideon and Esther. And these are my two sisters, Leah and Lilia.”

  “What a treat to be introduced to three such lovely young ladies.” He gazed down at the girls and flashed them a perfect smile.

  Leah and Lilia both began to cry.

  He turned to Lahash with a questioning look.

  Lahash shrugged.

  “Jeremiel. Lahash. Come!” Uriel cried with excitement. “The games are beginning.”

  Jeremiel took hold of Naomi’s hand and kissed the top of it. His sapphire eyes sparkled as he looked up over her hand and continued to hold it. “It was a pleasure meeting you . . . Naomi.”

  Lahash watched as she wore the familiar expression that he was used to seeing when Jeremiel turned his attention to a woman. When he finally released her hand, she blinked and let out a breath of air.

  With a heavy sigh, Lahash followed his brother and Uriel to the center of the square where all the competitors were gathering. He didn’t know why he even bothered looking at any of the women in Ai. They all had their eyes on Jeremiel. He should have known that Naomi would be no different.

  12

  Lahash sat against the wall of a nearby building, panting. He had never felt as exhausted as he did at that moment, and he loved it. It was a perfect day and he was having the most fun he’d had in years. He only wished that he could win at least once.

  It wasn’t for lack of trying. In every competition—sword fighting, spear throwing, even log tossing—Saleos was the victor. Jeremiel always came in a close second. At times, it looked like his brother was going to overtake Saleos. But then at the last moment, he’d turn to Lahash and give him a knowing look and suddenly Saleos would win.

  Lahash placed the gourd ladle into the bucket, taking out a scoopful of water. He gulped it eagerly. He studied the crowd as he drank. Most of the men surrounded Jeremiel, slapping his back. And of course, the women fawned over him.

  Off to the side of the crowd he saw a man talking to Uriel and Baka. The man looked familiar but he couldn’t quite place him. He was tall and lithe with dark hair. He had the same appearance as his father. One could tell he was older by the way he carried himself, but his face was ageless.

  He had first noticed the dark-haired man during his wresting match with Saleos. The man must have been someone of great importance because right before the match began, Baka had given up his place and allowed the man to have the perfect view of the match. Lahash didn’t know Baka well, but by the look of him, he didn’t seem to be the type of person to give anything to anyone.

  Despite his father’s warnings, Lahash had used every
single bit of his strength trying to out-perform Saleos. The harder he tried, the more Saleos laughed. Through it all he had felt the dark-haired man’s gray eyes following his every move as if expecting something. It was a strange feeling.

  Lahash tossed the gourd aside. It was so frustrating. Even using his full strength, he couldn’t beat Saleos. Jeremiel lost to Saleos too, but he could tell that his brother wasn’t putting forth his full effort. He had to admit it. Jeremiel was just better than he was.

  The only thing that surprised him was Naomi. As expected, most of the female spectators swooned over Jeremiel, everyone except for Naomi. Naomi and her sisters cheered loudly for Lahash. It was a wonderful feeling and he loved it. Then he wondered if Naomi was just being nice and supportive of her little sisters.

  Great. The only girls who found him remotely interesting were barely old enough to string words together to make a coherent sentence.

  Lifting the bucket and pouring the water over his head, he closed his eyes, enjoying the feeling of the cool water as it dripped down his face.

  This was it. He had done his best. He was just going to sit here and watch the final competition of the day.

  An odd sensation went through this body. Someone was watching. If Baka’s dark-haired friend was still watching, he was going to have a word with him. His staring was starting to annoy him.

  His eyes flashed open, ready to catch the dark-haired man in mid-stare. Across the square standing under the arch of the inn’s doorway was Naomi. Her blue eyes widened when he caught her watching him. Her flush made her look even more stunning. She gaped at him for a moment. She had turned to escape inside when two men stepped out of the inn.

  “Look. There’s the governor, Dathan,” Jeremiel said as he sat down next to him.

  “Who is the other one with him?” He asked when he saw the man next to the governor place an arm around Naomi’s shoulders.

  “That is Gideon. Oh, that’s right.” Jeremiel snapped his fingers. “He owns the inn. I’ve been in there before with Uriel. Hmm, you would think I would remember seeing someone like her.”

  I’m sure you would.

  Jeremiel glanced into the bucket.

  “What happened to the water?”

  “There’s a well over there.” He slapped the bucket against his brother’s chest.

  “What is wrong with—”

  “People of Ai!”

  Jeremiel stopped talking and turned his attention to the governor as he called the crowd to attention.

  “For our final competition of the day, our contenders will have a footrace. The winner of the race will win this bag of gold coins,” the governor said as he held up a small brown leather bag. “And there is one other treat.” He threw a glance at Naomi. Her face was pale.

  “The victor will receive a congratulatory kiss from one of Ai’s most lovely flowers.”

  Lahash sat at attention when Gideon pushed Naomi forward. From where he sat, he could hear her pleading with her father not to do it. Along with the crowd, Jeremiel was so distracted by what the governor was saying, it didn’t appear that he was paying attention to the skirmish.

  “Father, please,” Naomi whispered, her voice shaking.

  “You will do what I say. Baka has made payment on having you as the prize for the victor.”

  Naomi’s eyes grew wide and her eyes glanced over at Saleos. He gave her a wicked smile.

  Lahash curled his hands into fists.

  The governor took hold of Naomi’s hand. “Here is our beautiful Naomi. Men, who of you will win the gold and her kiss?”

  ***

  Naomi watched Lahash as his body bounced from one foot to the other, his lean muscles flexing as Baka gave instructions to the contenders. Next to him were his brother Jeremiel and a dozen other men.

  “You are to go to the stream and with your spear catch a fish. You are to drop the fish in the basket at the foot of the city’s wall. Then you must climb over the wall using one of the five ropes that are tied to it. You must then go to the inn where you will find a red sash tied to the door. The first man to return to the square with the sash will claim his prizes.”

  Naomi cringed at the words. She was one of the prizes. If only she had stayed and helped her mother at the inn like she did every year. However, Lilia and Leah had pleaded with her to take them to watch the games. It was hard saying “no” to the pair.

  She’d had fun with them, watching the games and watching their crush, Lahash. At first, she had thought he would be like the other men. During each game, the men showed off their brute strength. Saleos was who she expected him to be like, showing no mercy to his competitors. Everyone knew what he was like, and many feared him. Baka’s son looked down on his opponents as if they were insignificant and not worthy of his time. He was so much like his father. With each win, he pounded his chest and let out a cry of victory. Even when Jeremiel came close to beating him in the wrestling match, Saleos took his victory as something he expected.

  “Stand at your ready!” Baka yelled.

  She watched Jeremiel as he glanced at Baka and then at Saleos. He looked too relaxed compared to the others, who bent down low, readying themselves for the final call to start. For some reason, that bothered her.

  Then as if sensing her, he looked in her direction. He smiled, dimples flashing. She heard giggling from a group of girls standing next to her. She should have felt flattered that he was singling her out—she wasn’t.

  She could see why a lot of the women swooned whenever he gave them the slightest bit of attention. Rather than the thick beards other men wore, he had a smattering of stubble that lined his strong jaw. His eyes were like sapphires that brightened when he smiled. He was taller than most men and every inch of his body was pure muscle.

  A strand of golden hair brushed against his devastatingly handsome face. He ran a thick hand over the loosened strand and secured it in place with a leather band. The movement alone caused sighs from the girls standing next to her.

  Jeremiel was interesting to watch. He didn’t hang his head in defeat like the others when he lost. He had a quiet dignity. No one could help but look at him as he walked slowly to the side after every defeat with a sly smile on his face, knowing that all eyes were on him. Even though he had lost, he took in the glory that was given to him from his admirers.

  And though everyone seemed to have their eyes on Jeremiel, she couldn’t tear hers away from Lahash. He was so different from his brother. Though Jeremiel lost to each of his opponents, Lahash actually beat a few. With each win, Lahash’s hazel eyes would brighten as if he hadn’t expected it. And then he did something that the other competitors didn’t do. He went up to them, patting them on the back. She couldn’t hear what he told them, but whatever it was, the defeated person smiled at him with gratitude.

  When Lahash was finally put up against Saleos and Jeremiel, she found herself yelling for him just as loudly as her sisters. She wanted him to win. He deserved it.

  He had tried so hard. His square jaw would tighten and veins popped out against his muscular arms as he strained to bring down Saleos. All it took was a simple twist of Saleos’ arm and Lahash was flipped into the air, landing on the ground on his back. Even in defeat, Lahash had headed to Saleos to speak to him. Unlike the others, Saleos turned his back to him.

  Naomi was brought out of her thoughts when she felt a tug on her tunic.

  “Do you have to kiss the winner?” Leah asked.

  She sighed. Leah was so young. How could she explain to her that when you were a woman, you had no choice?

  “I’m afraid so.”

  “Even if it’s him?” She pointed to Saleos.

  Naomi looked at Saleos and shuddered. “Yes.”

  Please, don’t let it be him.

  She turned her attention back to Lahash. He was crouched low to the ground, his face tense in concentration. His right foot dug into the dirt, swiveling back and forth, readying to propel his body forward.

  “I don’t w
ant the scary man to win,” Lilia whined. “I want Lahash.”

  Her eyes drifted to Lahash’s face and then down to his lips.

  “So do I,” she said under her breath.

  Lahash stopped moving and a smile flashed across his face.

  Her breath hitched. It was as if he had heard what she said!

  Before she could think of anything else, Baka yelled ‘Go!’ and the men ran down the city streets and through the city gates.

  Naomi found herself screaming at the top of her lungs along with the rest of the crowd as they followed after the runners.

  She jumped, pumping her fist in the air. “Go, Lahash!”

  A hand gripped her arm and pulled her away from the crowd.

  “Stop this,” her father hissed. “You will conduct yourself as a lady should.”

  “Naomi?” Leah ran to her side with Lilia close behind her.

  She opened her mouth and then slammed it shut. She wanted to tell him that she would conduct herself in any way she pleased, considering that he’d sold her to the winner for a few coins. But she couldn’t. He was her father and it was her duty to obey his wishes. Women who didn’t obey were cast out of the home and deemed wicked. She would never see her sisters again.

  “Yes . . . Father.” She could barely get the words out.

  “If you are to cheer for any, you will do so for Saleos. Baka has paid handsomely.”

  She made a face. She couldn’t help herself. Baka and his sons were vile men. Some of the loose women of the city were enamored with them. It was rumored that the brothers had lain with such women. She had seen these women’s bastard sons and they bore a resemblance to Saleos and his brothers. It was clear that they had used those women, taking advantage of their weakness.

  “Watch yourself, Naomi. It is your mother’s as well as my hope that you will be betrothed to Saleos.”

  “No.” She staggered back, blood draining from her face.

  This was all her father’s doing. Her mother would never want a life like that for her. Saleos was exactly like his father. Baka treated his dogs better than his wife, and she had no doubt Saleos would follow his lead.