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Sage and Song, Chapter 18: The High Horse

Chapter 18: The High Horse

Also Solomon had horses imported from Egypt.

1 KINGS 10:28

Kester hung back, unsure what to make of the confusion at the gate. Heavy doors swung on well-oiled hinges to admit the king and his general. Soldiers rushed into line, and their captain sent runners in the direction of the palace and stables. Moments later, Solomon���s stallion clattered through the gate, closely followed by his general���s. Both horses pranced and wheeled.

���Concede!��� Solomon exclaimed. ���You were both overridden and outridden!���

In aggrieved tones, his general said, ���My lord the king is as swift as he is confident. But I cannot ensure your safety if you embrace recklessness.���

Solomon laughed. ���Are you questioning my wisdom?���

The man lapsed into tight-lipped silence.

A squat building against the city wall emptied, effectively tripling the guard. Their torches cast wavering shadows on white limestone, and their leader handed down orders in a gruff undertone. Kester eyed the crowd of men uneasily. All of them seemed to be well acquainted with their king, for they offered greetings. He could hear Solomon asking after one man���s family, then another���s upcoming wedding. Are these not enough to welcome the king? More and more, Kester felt unneeded.

���If you dawdle, you���ll miss your chance,��� said Benaiah. ���Solomon can���t see you from here.���

Taking a deep breath, Kester entered the fray. He sidled past tall soldiers, working his way closer to the two horses.

One of the bodyguards stopped him with a hand on his shoulder. ���Are you from the stables?���

���I am not.���

The man���s eyes dropped to Kester���s golden arm band, and he released the boy. Attention straying to a point beyond the busy gate, he muttered, ���They���re taking their time.���

Kester slipped away, weaving between guardsmen who dismissed him with similar disinterest. As soon as the boy was close enough, he caught the creak of leather and jingle of harnesses. The stallions were still breathing hard from their run, their nostrils flaring as their sides heaved. Kester didn���t fear the horses, but his toes curled when the king���s mount swung around, dancing closer on polished hooves. Suddenly, the young angel found himself nose-to-muzzle with the beast.

���Fear not,��� he whispered. ���I am also a friend of the king.���

The stallion nickered softly, then proceeded to lip Kester���s hair. Which drew his rider���s attention. Solomon did a double-take and leaned sideways. ���Kester?���

���My king,��� he replied, offering a small smile. ���Welcome home.���

Surprise melted into delight, and Solomon reached down. Rings glittered on the fingers that wiggled demandingly. Kester stepped closer and clasped his hand.

���Jump!��� Solomon ordered.

Kester sprang, and the king used his momentum to haul the boy across his saddle. A short scramble found him straddling the tall horse, who tossed his mane and shifted his weight from foot to foot. Sitting astride a powerful animal was unexpectedly unnerving. Do I hold onto the horse or the king?

He was still desperately searching for a handhold when Benaiah suddenly appeared at the king���s knee, one hand resting on the stallion���s neck. ���Easy, now. Easy,��� he soothed.

���So it was you? Did you bring him down here, Captain?��� asked Solomon.

���As it happens, Kester and I were out for a stroll.��� With a vague gesture, the old guardsman said, ���Imagine our surprise at finding you here.���

���So this is happenstance?��� the king asked blandly. ���Yet again.���

Benaiah���s brows arched. ���Let���s call it providence. After all, God directs the steps of His servants.���

Solomon grumbled, ���I can find no other explanation for your uncanny ability to turn up at my side whenever you���re needed.���

Benaiah���s gaze sharpened. ���Is there a need?���

When Solomon didn���t immediately answer, Kester tipped his head back, trying to see the king���s face.

The king���s tight smile didn���t reach his eyes. ���There is always a need for a man to surround himself with true friends. Find me in my rooms.���

���I will.��� Benaiah caught Kester���s eye and asked, ���Ever been on a horse, newbie?���

Kester managed a tiny headshake.

���Then I should warn you. Riding a fine steed with a reckless man is like flying.��� The captain smirked. ���Hold tight.���

��� Has anything providential happened in your life lately? Do tell!

��� Have you ever been on a horse?

��� Knowing what you already know about adult Kester, do you think he���ll enjoy his first ride?

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START AT THE BEGINNING

Author���s Note: This story is a prequel to Christa Kinde���s Threshold Series [Zonderkidz] and updates on Thursdays. More information can be found on the Sage and Song index page. Sage and Song, �� Copyright 2015 Christa Kinde, all rights reserved. If you want to receive an email whenever my stories update, subscribe to this blog. You can also watch for notifications on Twitter.

OUTTAKE: Gold and Pearls

Gold and Pearls

The royal daughter is all glorious within the palace;

Her clothing is woven with gold. She shall be

brought to the King in robes of many colors.

PSALM 45:13���14

From within the old trunk, Prissie lifted a smaller box. ���I used to play up here a lot when I was younger. Only in winter, though. It���s too hot in summer.���

Koji rested his hand on the roof of a handmade dollhouse as he peered around the attic. ���Beau showed me this space when we were sent for the Christmas adornments.���

���Ornaments. But this is definitely counts as an adornment.��� She brought out the small box���s hidden treasure, a tiara of gold and pearls. ���Momma wore this on her wedding day.���

���Of which this is the anniversary.���

���The way Momma tells it, Daddy fell in love so hard, she had to pick him up off the floor. And Daddy says he botched so many things, it���s a miracle Momma took him seriously.��� Prissie giggled. ���Only Uncle Abel knows what really happened, but he���s too good at keeping secrets.���

Koji knelt down in front of Prissie. ���I would like to hear their story.���

���Maybe you can find out more at dinner tonight. Observers know how to ask the right questions.��� She explained, ���Daddy will make something special for dessert, and we always bring out the wedding albums.���

���And this?��� Koji asked, indicating the tiara.

���I thought Momma might like to see it again.��� Prissie laughed in embarrassment. ���I loved trying it on. Having a crown made it easier to pretend I was a princess. Even if the attic isn���t much of a kingdom, I felt beautiful.���

Koji took the small crown and carefully placed it on Prissie���s head. ���Behold,��� he whispered. ���I saw the Holy City, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride beautifully dressed for her husband (Rev. 21:2).���

Prissie blinked and blushed. ���I suppose being a bride is next best to being a princess.���

With a small smile, her friend quoted, ���All glorious is the princess within her chamber; her gown is interwoven with gold.���

���Is that in the Bible?���

���The forty-fifth psalm is a wedding song.���

���Gold and pearls. Princesses and brides. It sounds a little like a fairy tale.��� She touched her mother���s tiara and quietly asked, ���Is it all true?���

���Every part. Even the pearls and gold.��� Koji���s eyes took on a faraway look, as if he was seeing past the dusty attic into heaven���s glories. ���The twelve gates were twelve pearls, each gate made of a single pearl. The great street of the city was of pure gold, like transparent glass (Rev. 21:21).���

���I want to see that for myself.���

���You will.���

���And you���ll be there, too?��� she shyly asked.

���When your Bridegroom comes to claim His bride, he will be attended by His angels.���

���So I guess that means you���ll be at my wedding?���

Koji���s eyebrows rose slightly, and he answered, ���Indeed.���

����� ��� ���

OUTTAKES INDEX >>

Posting Schedule

My schedule has taken an unexpected turn toward the busy, so this past week, I made an executive decision regarding serial posts of Sage and Song. Instead of twice-weekly updates, it’ll be weekly. And on Thursdays. ���

SALE: Threshold Series e-books

It’s come to my attention that e-books for volumes 1, 2, and 4 in the Threshold Series are currently ON SALE on Amazon for just 99 cents each. If you haven’t already added these books to your virtual library, it’s the perfect time!

Book 1: The Blue Door | Book 2: The Hidden Deep | Book 4: The Garden Gate

Sage and Song, Chapter 17: The Night Watchmen

Chapter 17: The Night Watchmen

The eyes of the Lord are in every place,

Keeping watch on the evil and the good.

PROVERBS 15:3 NKJV

Kester ran his fingers along the edge of his new arm band. Smooth and cool to the touch, he found its unfamiliar weight distracting. And a little confusing. Was this not a token of the king���s favor? Yet as soon as Solomon placed it on Kester, his visits stopped.

Seeing the king three times in quick succession had shaped the young angel���s expectations. Hadn���t Solomon wanted to keep him close? Wasn���t he supposed to be playing the lion���s head harp? Kester rubbed his fingertips together. He missed playing the instrument, but the king���s absence bothered him even more. Is this loneliness?

At the sound of sandals on the storeroom stairs, Kester jumped to his feet, but it was only Asaph.

���I found them,��� his mentor said, holding up the scrolls Kester had left behind.

���Sorry.���

Asaph waved aside the apology, returning to the shelves where the rest of his night���s work waited. Kester slumped onto a pile of rolled tapestries and went back to fiddling with the arm band. Solomon was the king. He probably busy with royal responsibilities. Things of greater importance than a not-so-ordinary boy who longed for sweet harmonies.

���What���s wrong, Kester?���

���I was sent away again.��� This morning was the fourth time Ichi had refused to open the back entrance to the throne room. And for the same vague reason. ���The king was not holding court. No harpist was needed.���

���Ah.��� Asaph���s gaze held compassion. ���That explains much.���

What was keeping Solomon away? When would he return? Kester fidgeted unhappily. Have I displeased him in some way?

Footsteps sounded on the stairs, and Kester rushed to the door once more, only to stumble to a crestfallen halt. The captain took one look at his face and snorted. ���You could try to hide your disappointment, newbie.���

���Welcome, Captain,��� Asaph smoothly interjected.

Kester���s gaze dropped to the floor. ���I apologize for my rudeness.���

���Relax already. Or cheer up.��� Turning to Asaph, the guardsman said, ���Can I borrow the kid for a while? I promised to show him the safe ways through the palace grounds.���

Asaph���s eyebrows arched. ���At this hour?���

Benaiah shrugged. ���The halls are quiet. Won���t take long.���

Something seemed to pass between the two, and Kester waited to see what his mentor decided. With a soft chuckle, Asaph said, ���Permission granted.���

The captain strode out, forcing Kester to scramble in order to catch up. But once they were in the wide hallway above, Benaiah slowed his steps. ���This is the oldest part of the palace,��� he explained. ���And the hardest to navigate. Pay attention.���

���I will.���

And so their tour began���unhurried and informative. The captain showed Kester which halls connected the network of courtyards and what sections to consider off-limits. The fish gate. The dung gate. The cisterns. The stables. Kester learned where the rest of Solomon���s exotic menagerie was kept and how to bypass the part of the palace that belonged to his many wives and children.

���And this is the quickest way up onto the walls,��� the captain said, indicating a narrow stairway at the base of a guard tower.

���Am I allowed?���

���When you���re with me, yeah, but I wouldn���t recommend it otherwise. The guards would probably mistake you for one of the princes.���

Kester���s interest stirred. ���Do I resemble the king���s sons?���

���With so many mothers, even the king���s sons don���t resemble the king���s sons. It���s tough keeping track of them all.��� With a faint smirk, he added, ���And tougher keeping them out of trouble. I���ve lost count of how many times we���ve had to chase Solomon���s brats off the walls.���

���I have no wish to cause trouble.���

���Good policy. Now stick close.���

Kester struggled to memorize their route, but he soon realized that Benaiah was leading him away from the palace. They climbed more stairs, finally reaching the outer wall, with its many gates and fortifications.

Pacing soldiers. Guttering torches. Low greetings. Kester shadowed Benaiah���s steps so closely, he bumped into him when he stopped directly over the city���s main gate. ���Look there,��� the captain said gruffly.

From this vantage, the sky���s expanse dazzled Kester���s eyes, a vast banner ablaze with stars. Its beauty made his throat ache, and he bit his tongue to hold in the song his awe inspired.

But the captain tapped his shoulder, then pointed down. ���I meant there. Along the road.���

Kester spied a procession of torches snaking up the slope. Two horsemen broke away from the entourage, racing toward the gate. ���Who are they?���

���Those two? Solomon and one of his generals.��� The captain casually added, ���He���s been away.���

The boy blinked several times. ���The king has been away?���

���For the last few days. Didn���t anyone tell you?���

Kester shook his head.

Benaiah looked at Kester out of the corner of his eye. ���Did you miss him?���

Still mute, Kester nodded.

���Come on. The stairs are over there,��� the captain said with a jerk of his thumb. ���You can welcome him home.���

���Me?���

���That���s the idea.��� The old man dropped a hand on Kester���s shoulder and steered him toward the top step. ���Pay attention, Kester. This is the part that makes waiting worthwhile.���

��� What advice would you give Kester, who���s dealing with things like waiting and loneliness for the first time?

��� Are you waiting for anything right now?

��� We know how many wives and concubines Solomon accumulated. Have you ever wondered how many children he had?

<< PREVIOUS CHAPTER�� |�� NEXT CHAPTER >>

START AT THE BEGINNING

Author���s Note: This story is a prequel to Christa Kinde���s Threshold Series [Zonderkidz] and updates on Thursdays. More information can be found on the Sage and Song index page. Sage and Song, �� Copyright 2015 Christa Kinde, all rights reserved. If you want to receive an email whenever my stories update, subscribe to this blog. You can also watch for notifications on Twitter.

MONDAY: Have you ever had a madeleine?

Looks like I’m finally shaking this cold! Very grateful to have a clear head again and the ability to concentrate. Over the weekend, I was finally able to get back to writing, so updates to serials should be back to normal this week. Thank you again for your patience with me while I was under the weather. ��� My small pile of clutter isn’t very tall, but it has its merits. Come and see!

Get Well Wishes. First off, thank you to everyone who emailed me well wishes and prayers while I was sick. As always, your encouragement means so much to me!

Prize Postcards. Two of you were good enough to share pictures of your prize postcards! Thank you so much to Tyme and Jesslyn. Does anyone else have pictures to share? I love show-and-tell! ; )

Watercolor Portraits. I’ve been commissioning paintings from chernotrav for quite some time. She’s responsible some of my favorite illustrations for the Threshold Series, and she painted the watercolor for the cover of Pursuing Prissie. In addition, she’s been working through a lengthy character list, creating small portraits. Like this brand new one of Othniel.

Just in case you don’t recall, you’ll find Othniel in Rough and Tumble. He’s a Guardian in the Pomeroy family’s Hedge, and Lucan is his apprentice. Well, okay. I’ll let you in on a little secret. Othniel is also a crossover character; he has a role in that new trilogy I mention from time to time. ; )�� Here are thumbnails to lead you to other chernotrav art:

���� ���� ��

��

Pursuing Prissie. I’m behind schedule again, but I’m also very happy to be back at this book. The end is in sight, and I’m having so much fun! Here’s a snippet for you patient souls. This moment takes place in the kitchen of Loafing Around. ���

Zeke bounded over, bobbling a madeleine between his hands like a hot potato. ���Try one, Sis!���

The shell-shaped sponge cakes smelled wonderful, but Prissie bypassed him, aiming for the shelf where tall glasses were kept. ���If it���s too hot to touch, it���s too hot to eat.���

Disappointment flickered briefly through her brother���s blue eyes, but Zeke took her statement as a challenge. He bit off half the madeleine, then puffed out his cheeks, sucking in air. His words were muffled by his mouthful. ���Burnt muh tongue!���

���Of course you did,��� she chided, splashing cold milk into a glass for him. ���Be more careful!���

���Too late. Damage���s done,��� Zeke mumbled around his food. Downing the milk, he popped the rest of the cake into his mouth. ���What if I brought ���em home for later?���

���Sure, sure,��� their father interjected. ���Your mother and grandmother will want a sample.���

Zeke hadn���t changed much. His blond hair was as unruly as ever, and he still he came up with insane plans. But Prissie had to admit that he was fun to work with ��� provided she didn���t have to clean up his messes. In a way, she admired her little brother. Zeke had always known exactly what he wanted, and he was making it happen. He���d never wanted to follow in his father���s footsteps; he wanted to work side-by-side with his dad. So he did. Simple as that.

���excerpted from Pursuing Prissie

coming in Spring 2015

Book Signing. In local news, I have another book signing on the schedule. I’ll be joining a handful of other ACFW authors at the Mira Mesa Barnes & Noble on Saturday, April 25 from 3���5 p.m. If you’re from this part of the country, I do hope you can drop in!

Have you ever had a madeleine? What’s your favorite bakery treat?

<< LAST MONDAY�� |�� NEXT MONDAY >>

Angel Unaware, Part 3: Paper Boy

The March issue of Christian Fiction Online Magazine has released, which means you can now read the new installment in this year���s Threshold-based serial! Are you ready to meet the paper boy?

He was the new kid, and he needed a friend.

Story Summary: Marcus had never been a typical cherub. Raised on earth instead of in enclaves, he blended right in with humanity. The perfect Graft. But what Marcus wanted more than anything else was to become a warrior. So he asked God for a mentor. Marcus gets his armor fittings and swordsmanship lessons. But he also ends up with a couple of well-meaning foster parents, three nosy siblings, a lonesome landlord, and a new best friend.

Angel Unaware, �� Copyright 2015 Christa Kinde, all rights reserved.

Part Three: ���Paper Boy���

Christian Fiction Online Magazine, March 2015 | Read it now >>

After you���ve read there, I hope you���ll come back here with any comments and questions. : )

OUTTAKE: Doctrine of Angels

Doctrine of Angels

And there are also many other things that Jesus did,

which if they were written one by one, I suppose

that even the world itself could not contain

the books that would be written. Amen.

JOHN 21:25 NKJV

Prissie was working on the group project. But her research into the tenants of the Christian faith had taken an interesting turn. Or uninteresting. She wasn���t entirely sure what to do with the information she���d found.

Koji slid into the chair beside hers and remarked, ���You have read much and written little.���

���I���m on a rabbit trail.���

His head slowly tipped to the side. ���You are reading about ��� rabbits?���

���Angels.��� She showed him a paperback she���d borrowed from the church library. ���This distracted me from the other theologies I needed to look up. You guys made it into books.���

���Angelology.��� Koji accepted the book and checked the back cover. ���The theology of angels.���

���I was curious.���

With a vague hum, the young Observer fanned through pages. ���What have you learned?���

Prissie grudgingly admitted, ���Not much. It���s hard to read.���

Koji glanced up. ���Does this record���s vocabulary exceed your understanding?���

They���d run up against this problem before in research, but this wasn���t one of those times. ���No. It���s hard to read because it makes you sound boring. It���s all lists and facts and cross references.���

Slowing down to read, Koji nodded solemnly. ���This is a faithful record of the biblical passages in which angels appear.���

���But ���!���

Again, he gave her is full attention. ���Why have you become frustrated?���

���Because it���s boring,��� she stubbornly repeated. ���And you���re not.���

He closed the book and folded his hands over its cover. ���Can you be more specific?���

���Well, it says you���re bright as a flash of lightning. But they don���t explain that it���s not a cold flicker with a thunderclap chasing it. You���re warm and steady. And there are always songs. This book says that angels in the Bible don���t sing, they only speak!���

Koji���s lips quirked.

Prissie went on. ���And I don���t like that angels are these nameless, faceless generalities. I���d never put Harken and Jedrick and Baird on the same page. Angels are individuals. You���re people with personalities. And you���re each nice in your own way.���

Scooting closer and taking her hand, Koji quietly said, ���What this book says is true.���

���But it doesn���t go far enough.��� Prissie fumbled for the right words to explain her dissatisfaction. ���It skips all the good parts, all the friendly things.���

The young Observer patted her hand comfortingly. ���In the same way, you have shaped my understanding of humanity. If I were to write your account, I am certain my attempt would fall short. You are also more than words.���

Prissie lowered her voice to the tiniest of whispers. ���Is it the same with heaven and ��� with God?���

Koji���s expression shifted between awe and relief. ���You do understand. Indeed, yes.��� Joy sparkled in his eyes, he whispered, ���If everything were written down, the whole world would not have room for the books that would be written. And still, these faithful records would fall short.���

���Because God is so much more than words,��� Prissie ventured.

���Amen and amen.���

���������

What words describe you best? Pick three and share them. ; )

OUTTAKES INDEX >>

Feeling Better. It’s been quite some time since I was sic...

Feeling Better. It’s been quite some time since I was sick for more than a week.�� I’m certainly on the mend, but this cough/cold has clogged my head and bogged down my creative process. One more week, m’dears. Thank you for your prayers. ���Christa

Necessary Delay. I need to take some sick days. Rather th...

Necessary Delay. I need to take some sick days. Rather than worry over missed deadlines, I’m simply going to give myself a break. Sage and Song will resume next week. Thank you for your patience. ���Christa