Page 43 of Warrior’s Lady

"You are a daughter of a great man, and you will become a great lady in this castle for your uncle. Your people already look up to you as an example. In time, you will lead them."

The young girl's eyes went wide. "Me? A leader of my people?"

Rhiannon smiled, her face radiant. "Many women have become leaders and examples over the centuries."

Violet scooted closer, staring up at Rhiannon with adoration in her eyes. "Tell me of these women."

Rhiannon's brow arched in question. "Did your mother ever tell you stories?"

Violet shook her head. "My mummy was very busy healing people in the local villages. She didn't have much time for other things."

A twinge of sorrow moved through Camden at the young girl's confession. James and Clara had had many responsibilities. He wished he'd taken more time to help them with those obligations after his return from the Holy Land.

Violet stared down at her sliver of chalk, then smiled. "Tell me a story, then I promise to pay more attention to my sewing."

Rhiannon dropped onto the floor beside Violet, absently stroking the little girl's fair hair as she pressed her lips together in concentration. "A story … that might have meaning for you." She hesitated, then smiled, her face radiant as she drew Violet closer to her with her arm. "There is the story of Esther from the Bible. She was a woman of deep faith, courage and patriotism, who ultimately risked her life in order to save her people."

Violet stilled, her attention caught as she waited for Rhiannon to continue.

Camden found himself edging into the room, just as eager to hear what Rhiannon would say.

"Esther was an orphan and a descendant of those taken from Judah in the Babylonian captivity. She lived with her cousin who held an important office in the household of the Persian king. This cousin of hers, Mordecai, was responsible for thwarting a plot by two palace guards to assassinate the king.

"King Ahasuerus was a wealthy man. He held a feast for one hundred and eighty days in order to display his vast wealth and the splendor of his kingdom.

"To further show his prosperity, he ordered his wife, Queen Vashti, to join him and his guests. When she refused, the King asked his wise men, the seven princes of Persia and Media, what he should do. They advised him to make an example of her for other disobedient wives and he had her banished from the kingdom."

Camden edged closer to the pair. They were so engrossed in their storytelling they did not hear him approach.

"The king then began a search for a new wife. Beautiful young women were taken from their homes within the province and brought to the palace. Esther was one of the chosen women."

"Before she was taken, her cousin Mordecai advised her that if she were chosen, that she should hide her true heritage from the king. There was much unrest in the land, and one of the princes, a man named Haman, wanted nothing more than to put all the Jewish people to death because of crimes committed against his family. Mordecai, afraid for his cousin's life, advised her to change her name from Hadassah to Esther. He also begged her to stop worshipping in the ways of her faith so that she might not be identified as a Jew and killed."

Violet frowned. "Why did they want to kill the Jews?"

"That is an excellent question that has a very involved answer. For now, let's just say that the Babylonians disliked the Jews. And because of that intense dislike, they wanted to see them dead."

Camden froze as the impact of her story hit him squarely in the gut. His own dislike for the Ruthvens had caused him to make a similar decision to put them to death. At the time that he'd made the decision, it did not seem as heartless as it did in this moment.

"What happened to Esther?" Violet asked, breaking into Camden's thoughts.

"She and the other women entered the king's harem and over the course of twelve months were cleansed and groomed to meet the king. Each woman appeared before the king. And it was from that meeting that the king chose Esther to be his new queen."

"What's a harem?" Violet interrupted.

Rhiannon sat back as though considering her answer. "A harem is a special place in some cultures where women live."

"Do you and I live in a harem?"

"Do you want to hear the rest of the story?"

Violet nodded.

Camden held back a chuckle. She would answer Violet's question by not answering it at all.

"King Ahasuerus was distracted by warring factions surrounding his territory. In order to protect his people while he was away fighting, the king gave Haman all the power and authority of his kingdom."

Violet's eyes went wide. "But Haman was a bad man. He wanted to kill the Jewish people."