Free Holiday Magick by Rich Storrs Page A

the better of me. What had possessed me to usurp the king’s day like this? The thought entered my mind that if I displeased him he could very well strike me across the face, or worse. Just as I decided to recall the messengers and undo my work, he woke up.
    I trembled as I told him what I’d done.
    He paused when I finished.
    I braced for a blow.
    Instead, he embraced me and kissed my cheek. “What a wonderful idea! Let’s stay here and…” He drew his finger across my collarbone and across the top of my breast. “…get to know each other better. We did have a rushed courtship.” He pulled me to him and I instinctively arched my back while he kissed down my chest.
    I released a sigh of contentment, and then forced my mind to focus. But how could I, when his lips felt so warm and soft against my skin, his beard so coarse and masculine? I pushed his head away, gently, and giggled like a girl at the soft, unfocused look in his eyes. “I really do want to talk with you, husband.”
    His shoulders slumped and he breathed out an exaggerated sigh. “Whatever my queen wants, she shall have.”
    â€œLet’s start with you.” I held his hand and settled myself against his side. “Tell me your favorite memories of childhood, and then I’ll tell you mine.”
    And so we talked through the morning, and when lunch was brought to us, we talked still. He opened up to me, told me stories of his mother and father, of his childhood in Persia, and of his plans and dreams for the future. I, in turn, told him of my girlhood, changing a few details here and there to match previous stories. Hibernia became Gaul, and since Ahasuerus had never been to either place, he did not know the difference.
    By the time our evening meal arrived, we had laughed, we had cried, we had made love, and we had bared our souls.
    Ahasuerus lay on his back with his head in my lap while I dipped a bunch of grapes into his mouth.
    â€œTell me, my Esther. Now that you know all there is to know about me, and I about you, what shall we do?”
    â€œWhat do you mean?”
    â€œI still have not given you a wedding gift. I am but your humble servant. Whatever you ask, I shall give to you.”
    My mouth dried up. I swallowed, but it did not help. My mind cleared as my own thoughts deserted me. There was no way Ahasuerus could not hear my heart attempting to break free of my chest.
    â€œBut whatever would I, a simple girl from Gaul, ask of the mighty king of Persia, who will someday rule all the world?”
    â€œWhatever your heart most desires, my love.”
    â€œAnd you will give it to me?”
    â€œGladly.”
    â€œWithout question?”
    â€œWithout hesitation.” He sat up and his face was a mask of seriousness. “What is it you want? Land? Gold? Jewels? Emeralds to match your eyes? Copper jewelry to match your hair? Slaves?”
    The words formed on my tongue, but my mouth would not say them.
    â€œYou need but ask, and it is yours, Esther, my love.”
    â€œHaman…” I whispered.
    Ahasuerus’s brow crinkled. “Haman? You want Haman?”
    I shook my head. “He’s going to kill all the Jews in Persia.”
    â€œOh,” Ahasuerus relaxed and sat back. “This again.”
    â€œMy love…” With all the tenderness I could muster, I cupped his cheek in my hand. A single tear escaped my eye and plummeted down my face. I licked dry, cracked lips and made myself speak. “I am a Jew.”
    Ahasuerus said nothing, but neither did he pull away.
    I pressed on. “I do not wish not to be killed in two days, nor any of my people. Haman has plagued my people for…for…for longer than you can know. I wish for him to leave us alone, once and for all. In fact,” I dropped my glamour, and felt a weight lift from me, “This is how I really look.”
    He still said nothing, but got up and walked out of our room. I did