In the Eyes of the King: Chapter 17

Throughout that day and the next morning, Helena kept herself confined to the cookhouse as much as possible, helping Ruth and the other women who had come from the village to assist. Helena’s job was to help Diara deliver the food to the guests.

She didn’t mind taking food out to the soldiers in the courtyard. In fact, she kept volunteering for that task so she could avoid having to go anywhere near the king.

But she couldn’t avoid it forever. When it came time for the midday meal, Ruth thrust a full tray into Helena’s hands and told her to take it to the manor house and set it before the king.

“No, please, ma’am, I can’t do that.”

“Shush! I don’t have time for arguing, girl. Now get you going.” She shooed Helena out the door.

Helena’s hands shook all the way down the portico. She pushed open the manor house door and halted in the doorway. There sat the Temanite king at the head of the table, looking right at her. Others at the table were Lord Justus, Lady Mari, Stephen, Anna, Philip, Paulus, and that intimidating General Garth.

Diara hurried toward her. “Don’t stand there with the door open!”

Helena took one step inside and stopped again as Diara shut the door behind her.

Mari said, “Look, that must be the plum goose. Just set it over here, please, Helena.” She motioned to an open area on the table right in front of the king.

Helena swallowed hard. Walking ever so gingerly, she made her way toward him, eyes glued to the platter, concentrating on not dropping it. Very carefully, she set the platter in front of the king.

Once the dish was safely on the table, she hoped to back away quickly, getting out of the house as fast as possible. But before she could take a step, she heard Lady Mari say, “Josephus, this is Helena, the one I was telling you about.”

Telling him about? What did she say? Helena’s heart jumped to her throat and pounded so hard she thought it would burst right through her skin.

“Helena, this is my brother, King Josephus,” Mari said.

Helena managed a curtsey, keeping her gaze toward the floor. She could feel him looking at her, studying her. What must he be thinking? She felt like an insect. No, smaller than that.

He said, “Look up, child.”

Against her fears, Helena drew her eyes upward to look at his face.

“Thank you for your service,” he said.

“You… you’re welcome, sir… Sire.” Odd. She had served a king and his mistresses for a year and never once heard a word of thanks.

“Mari tells me you were found on the road in the snow.”

Helena gave a timid nod, eyes lowered again, keeping watch on her feet in their soft leather shoes.

“How old are you, child?”

Hardly able to speak, her voice came out in a whisper. “Fourteen.”

In a move that surprised and shocked her, King Josephus took her hand in his. “Whatever happened must have been awful. I am truly sorry.”

Helena dared to look into his eyes again and was startled by what she saw. Underneath the golden crown and the curly brown locks of hair, his brown eyes spoke volumes. They said she was more than an insect. Much more. She saw compassion in the eyes of the king.

Something in his eyes made her want to tell it all, to confess and lay it all bare. Before she could stop herself, she fell to her knees at his feet and spilled out the entire ordeal in front of everyone.

Tears flowed down her cheeks as she told about being sold by her father three times. The third man had her only a few days, and during that time he severely abused her. Finally he gave her to a fourth man in exchange for some money he owed him.

She was forced to walk in the snow behind the man and his mule, but the wind began to blow and the snow became thick around her feet. She was so tired and weak from the beatings that she couldn’t keep up. Soon she couldn’t see where he had gone.

She continued down the road as long as she could, but she was so very tired. That was the last thing she remembered before waking at the Corden manor.

At the end, she blurted, “And now I’m carrying a baby, and I don’t even know who the father is. And my father owes a tremendous debt because of me, and if he ever finds me, I don’t know what he’ll do.”

The entire room was deathly silent except for a quiet sniffle from Anna.

As Helena knelt there sobbing, she felt two warm hands touch her cheeks and lift her head. The king of Teman brushed the tears from her face and said, “Have no fear, child. You are worthy, and you are loved.”

Helena shook her head, but Josephus kept his hands on her cheeks and said, “Our God loved you so much he died for you. Greater love has no man than this—that he lay down his life down for a friend.”

The next sound was the scratching of Lady Mari’s chair as she rose and went to Helena’s side, wrapped her arms around her and held her tightly.

* * *

As the guests finished their midday meal and the servants began their afternoon chores, Josephus pulled Justus aside. “When is the meeting with the Rygian council?”

“Tomorrow, midday.”

“That gives me just enough time. Can you tell me where Helena’s father lives?”

Justus scratched his head. “I don’t know, but my steward Demas might. Why?”

“Do not ask me why. Please send for your steward.”

When Demas arrived, King Josephus spent a few minutes asking him questions about Rygian law. When they were finished, he said to Justus, “Now I need a guide.”

“I’ll go with you.”

“No, I want someone less… forgive the word… obtrusive. Someone who won’t attract attention yet who knows his way around Archella.”

“My messenger Camon fits that description, but what do you plan to do?”

“I would like to keep my business private. I’m sure you understand.”

Justus agreed and sent for Camon.

When Camon arrived, he said, “What can I do for you, Your Majesty?”

“I need you to escort me to Archella immediately.”

Camon’s mouth dropped open. “You need me? To escort you? Forgive me, Your Majesty, but I’m only a messenger, not a bodyguard.”

“I need no bodyguard,” Josephus said. “Just get me a long, hooded cloak.” On second thought, he added, “And a quill.”

Camon said, “You know Archella’s a half-day’s journey, right? It’ll be dusk by the time we arrive. Do you intend to spend the night there?”

“No, we’ll return during the night. The skies should be clear.”

“Very well, Your Majesty.”

King Josephus informed Generals Garth and Corden when they could expect him back, just in case he met with any trouble. But he said no more about his intentions and refused to let either of them accompany him.

* * *

Stars began to peek overhead as King Josephus and Camon rode side by side along the wooded road leading to Archella, Camon carrying a lantern. Josephus’ appearance was entirely concealed. The brown cloak Justus had given him reached to his knees, showing only his brown boots below the hem. The large hood extended beyond his face, leaving dark shadows underneath.

When they reached Helena’s cottage, they dismounted and approached the door.

Camon held the lantern up to the notice on the doorpost. “Look at this, Sire.”

Josephus sidled up to him. “Do not call me Sire while we are here.”

Camon nodded, then read the notice. “Let’s see… twenty-five for the first man, plus four weeks’ interest, then sold two more times…” He scowled. “Look at this. This guy wants him to pay for the food she ate.”

Josephus frowned. “The last fellow who bought her expects her father to repay the three silver pieces if he does not find and return her. Three silver pieces! What kind of people are these who place such little value on life?”

“The total comes to one hundred pieces of silver,” Camon said. “That’s a lot for a servant girl.”

“Any life is worth much more than that.” Josephus pointed to the names on the notice. “Do you know where these men live?”

“I can find the houses by their craft emblems.”

“Then let us go.”

One by one, they went to the homes of those to whom Helena’s father owed a debt. One by one, Josephus paid each of the debts, dropping silver pieces into greedy white hands and keeping his own tanned hands concealed under the cloak sleeves.

Finally the two returned to Helena’s father’s cottage and knocked on the door.

A gruff voice from inside called, “Whaddaya want? Don’t ya know it’s late?”

“I have come to purchase your daughter,” Josephus called.

He could hear sounds of someone moving about inside. The door opened, revealing a rough man with dirty yellow hair, a scraggly beard on which the remains of his dinner still lingered, and fermented breath strong enough to kill a wild boar.

Josephus said, “I wish to purchase your daughter. Let me in so we may talk.”

“She ain’t here, an’ I don’ know where she is.”

“I know where she is.” Josephus pulled the edge of his cloak aside to reveal a bulging leather pouch hanging from his belt.

Gant’s eyes grew wide. “Well, in that case, you come right on in.” He stepped aside.

“I have little time to waste,” Josephus said as he entered. “How much do you want for her?”

Gant cast another glance toward the money pouch. “One hundred fifty silver pieces.”

Camon nearly choked, but Josephus nudged him and tossed the pouch onto the table. It landed with a muffled jingle, tipped over and spilled several gold coins.

“You will find one hundred gold pieces in there. That is thrice the value of your hundred and fifty silver pieces. Take that for your daughter and consider her no longer your own. You can never again lay claim to her nor use her to buy your own folly.”

He exited the cottage, and Camon shut the door behind them. Josephus pulled the peg from the debt notice on the doorpost. Folding the notice in half—thus doubling it—he said in a quiet voice, “Helena, you have received from the Lord’s hand double for all your sins.”

“What does that mean?” Camon asked.

“It means her debts are paid. The Rygian laws Demas explained to me are not too different from the laws in my own land. Once the note is doubled, or folded over like this, it’s illegal to open it or remove it. Never again can anyone see what the debt was, but all can see it has been paid.”

He laid the folded notice against the doorpost and pushed the peg back into place. “Do you have the quill?”

Camon pulled the quill from his cloak and laid it in Josephus’ hand.

After scratching something on the paper, Josephus said, “Tell no one what I have done here.”

“But Temanite gold pieces? That’s a lot of money. You know he’ll only waste it.”

“It matters not. The money was not for him, it was for her.”