Chapter 2

‘I am not to have breakfast this morning, my dear. This is a fast day.’

‘All day?’ Arnon’s eyes widened incredulously.

‘Until evening. Then there will be a bountiful feast. You are not expected to do any fasting, but we will want you to attend the banquet.’

Arnon sat up in bed, pushed her tousled black hair out of her eyes, and inquired what this fast was about.

‘It is the Day of Atonement,’ explained Mariamne. ‘Of all our special occasions this one means the most. It really begins the day before, with all the faithful Jews going about making things right with one another—doing neglected duties, paying their debts, returning things borrowed, and asking forgiveness for wrongs done and hot words spoken. Damaged friendships are mended, estrangements are cleared up. And then today—with clean hands and a right spirit—everyone brings a gift to the Temple and receives a blessing.’

Arnon’s eyes shone.

‘It is very beautiful!’ she whispered. ‘May I do it, too? It would be a relief—to go to the Temple and be blessed.’ She bowed her head dejectedly. ‘My heart has been so bitter.’ Slowly she raised tear-filled eyes. ‘Your Majesty, I have been very unhappy.’

Mariamne slipped an arm around her compassionately.

‘Arnon, dear, would you like to call me “mother” instead of “Your Majesty”? Don’t do it if—if it takes an effort,’ she added, ‘but it would please me.’

With that, Arnon’s tears overflowed and she sobbed like a little child.

‘I should like to,’ she murmured brokenly. ‘You have been so good to me. I want you to be my mother. That’s the way I think of you.’

Mariamne drew her closer.

‘Tell me, Arnon,’ she said softly, ‘has the Prince been unkind to you?’

Arnon indecisively shook her head, but the pent-up tears ran unchecked. When she could speak she said, ‘No; he has not mistreated me—mother. I see very little of him, you know. But the Prince is a busy man. He can’t be spending all his time entertaining me.’

‘Men are always busy, my dear.’ The Queen’s usually placid voice showed a trace of asperity. ‘There are the games at Gath and a new Greek play at Askelon—and other important engagements.’ She paused for a moment. Dropping her tone of raillery, she went on, ‘Our Antipas is really a sweet boy. He wouldn’t intentionally hurt a fly. But he is selfish and spoiled. How could it be otherwise? Too much money; too much leisure.’

‘And too many people wanting to win his favour,’ added Arnon.