Chapter 1

The Councillors were in session all night. Aretas set forth their dilemma, expressing it as his opinion that Herod knew what he was talking about and had not exaggerated the threatened disaster.

Dumah made bold to say, ‘I had rather be enslaved by the Romans than allied to the Jews.’

‘As for you, yourself, yes,’ said Tema, ‘but how about your wife and daughters? The Romans are shameless butchers!’

‘But how can we be certain that there is to be an invasion?’ scoffed Dumah. ‘This fellow Sosthenes would be directly in the path of it—and he doesn’t appear to be much upset.’

‘Well, he will be,’ muttered Tema, ‘when Herod tells him how much is expected of him—in gold!’

‘Ah—so that’s why we’re meeting in Petra, is it?’ queried Adbeel.

‘It’s a good enough reason,’ said Tema wearily. ‘No—it’s quite useless to debate this matter. We’ve been over all the ground—and there’s no way out. An alliance of the Jews and Arabians is quite as distasteful to Herod as it is to us. He knows the danger or he would never have made this proposal. We may be sure of that!’

‘It is asking too much of our Princess,’ said Adbeel. ‘She will have a wretched life with this young Jewish scamp.’

‘Doubtless,’ agreed Naphish, ‘but at least she will live.’

‘I think she would prefer to die,’ muttered Adbeel.

‘But that is not the point,’ said Mishma. ‘If the Princess marries Antipas she will be saving her country. When this is explained to her, she will consent.’

There was a long interval of moody silence, broken by Jetur, who ventured to raise the question that was on everyone’s mind: What would young Zendi think of all this?

Ilderan was prompt with a reply.

‘My son will be deeply grieved,’ he said slowly, ‘but he too loves Arabia.’

Aretas nodded his head, without looking up.

‘Is there anything further to be said?’ he asked; and when no one spoke, he rose, walked toward the door, and dispatched the fateful message to Herod. The Council adjourned, but not to sleep. Breakfast was disposed of shortly before dawn. The tents were quickly packed. By the time the Jews in the park were astir, the Arabian camp-site on the hill was deserted.