Recap: Jenna and Saman leave for Jerusalem. Galla’s family hears about the bris milah that was performed, and they leave the palace in a huff. They say they are heading to the Noris’ home. The servant who traveled with Jenna and Saman returns briefly to warn Aunt Annabelle that King Marmar heard about the bris milah and is sending his army to the palace. He advises her to escape quickly. All the servants apologize and tell Aunt Annabelle that, due to the danger, they must leave. Only one loyal servant remains.
Aunt Annabelle looked down at her hands. Slowly, she raised her head. “It was so kind of you to come to warn us. I will ever be grateful. You don’t think there is a chance the rumor is false?”
“I wish that were so. We heard it firsthand from one of Marmar’s servants bragging in the inn. That was how we heard the plan. Saman urged me to come warn you at once. There is grave danger, Your Majesty. As I said, with those Egyptian stallions, the king’s men could be here by mid-morning.”
“Hashem sent us the message. You were brave to come.”
She paced the room back and forth. Then she froze. “What about Nazanin and Omer? The Arab will know they were our guests. There are people who inform, and so now they are in danger, too. We must warn our cousins.”
The man sighed. “I apologize, Your Majesty, but I can’t go to them now. I must go back to my master. They need help on the treacherous journey. Send one of your servants to your cousins. Time is of the essence!”
“Very well. We will act on this at once. G-dspeed. Send our love to my dear son Saman and my dear Jenna.”
Aunt Annabelle didn’t tell him the only servant we had left was Arash. He was too old for a long, fast horse ride to the Noris’ house.
“I wish you safe travels,” he said and bowed.
We watched him ride away into the moonless night.
This didn’t feel real. How could all this be happening? Would I wake up and it would all be a bad dream – a terribly bad dream?
“Ava, what shall we do? We must find a way to save our cousins.” My aunt began pacing the room again.
“They said such cruel things about Jews. Why should we help them?” I thought of the angry way Galla’s family had left.
“Ava, that is not the Jewish way. They are our relatives.” She stopped speaking and closed her eyes. “There is something you don’t know about them.”
I didn’t know what she meant by that, but I did know we were running out of time. My heart pounded. I thought of the King of Arabia and his soldiers marching into the palace.
Someone had to gallop at high speed to the other side of Aurora to warn Galla’s family and then gallop back just as quickly. Arash was too old to complete a ride like that in time. Aunt Annabelle didn’t ride. That left me.
“Aunt Annabelle, I will go.”
“My dear, brave niece. Hashem shall be with you. I will daven for your quick and safe return.”
Arash packed a water jug and some bread and fruit. I mounted our fastest horse. The night was moonless. I pulled my cape close around me to ward off the chill of night – and the chill of fear as well.
I’d never ridden this horse. I tried talking to it. We’d be together for many hours. The lives of Galla and her family depended on this ride. I prayed for Hashem’s help and then I tapped the reins. The horse sped ahead toward the mountain road.
I knew where the Nori house was. It was over the mountain trail and down in a valley. We’d gone there once for a wedding. I pictured the large mansion with four courtyards and a domed roof, and the large fountain in the back.
I rode on and on.
I gripped hard with my right hand. I ignored the weakness in my right hand and forced myself to grip harder.
Insects buzzed and chirped. I heard the bark of a sand cat and the screech and flapping of bats.
I ducked. I always feared bats.
I asked Hashem to help me not feel afraid.
My right hand was growing numb. I galloped on and on.
I heard a pounding sound. Was it hoofbeats?
The sound drew closer.
Sweat beaded my forehead. Were Arab soldiers coming after me?
I pulled away from the trail and trotted into the shadows. I patted the horse to keep it calm.
I waited, my heart thumping. “Hashem, please save me!”
I recited the psalm I knew by heart. It was one Aunt Annabelle taught me – Psalm 121. I could hear Aunt Annabelle whispering to me, “Hashem is your shadow. Don’t be afraid.”
Many minutes passed. I gazed at the sky. The dawn would come too soon. I needed to go, but I didn’t want to encounter an Arab.
I waited and prayed. Many minutes passed, and the sound was gone.
“Thank you, Hashem.”
I moved back to the trail and galloped on faster than before. The horse flew across the desert like a cheetah. I gripped the reins and leaned forward. The wind whipped my hair.
Thunder rumbled.
I gasped.
“No! It can’t be. Not now!”
I galloped on.
A sword of lightning slashed the sky.
There was no rain.
Heat thunder.
Slowly the sound faded.
“Thank you, Hashem!”
Then I heard a crackling noise.
I galloped on.
I smelled smoke. It was hard to breathe. I coughed and coughed.
A flame torched the trees in front of me.
Tongues of fire lapped at trees and bushes. Branches snapped and popped.
I tried to steer my horse in a different direction. It whinnied and reared.
We were surrounded by a wall of flames.
To be continued…
Susie Garber is the author of a newly released historical fiction novel, Captured (Menucha Publishers, 2025), as well as historical fiction novels Please Be Patient (Menucha, 2024), Flight of the Doves (Menucha, 2023), Please Be Polite (Menucha, 2022), A Bridge in Time (Menucha, 2021), Secrets in Disguise (Menucha, 2020), Denver Dreams, a novel (Jerusalem Publications, 2009), Memorable Characters…Magnificent Stories (Scholastic, 2002), Befriend (Menucha, 2013), The Road Less Traveled (Feldheim, 2015), fiction serials, and features in Binah Magazine and Binyan Magazine, and “Moon Song” in Binyan (2021–2022) and Alaskan Gold (2023–2024).
